Worth it in The End

Booming sounds, the world's finest DJs, yet retaining a micro-feel - it's a unique combination that makes

Considering the involvement of such experienced dance music players as Mr C (of The Shamen) and Layo (of Layo & Bushwacka!), it's no real surprise that The End has grown in strength year on year, and celebrates its eighth birthday this weekend.

On Saturday, Mr C takes time out from ITV's Joy Of Decks to do his techno thang while Layo & Bushwacka! (whose mix CD All Night Long is one of the year's most refreshing and includes 4Hero, Orbital, Bebel Gilberto and Depeche Mode) take care of the main room, with party animals Sancho Panza looking after AKA.

It's been the year that live music became an accepted and integral part of clubland as this weekend's hip hop, breaks and funk extravaganza, X-Festival, amply demonstrates. And with the exception of New York DJ Mark 'Oh Wee' Ronson, X-Festival is dominated by some of the UK's finest hip hop talent - the most exciting of which is beatboxer Killa Kela.

There's never been any doubt of Kela's ability, but as his performance at the recent Knowledge Awards indicated, he's taking the art to unprecedented levels. Think beatboxing meets cabaret - and it's accessible to boot, with Timberlake and The Neptunes popping up in his electrifying oral rendition of beats, breaks and bass. Also performing are The Nextmen, Vadim's Russian Percussion and the tireless Ty, whose recent Upwards LP is rightly receiving props from all over.

Relatively new label Crosstown Rebels heads to The Key for the second of its Slash & Burn parties. This is of note because the man behind Crosstown, Damian Lazarus, is A&R for the 21st Century Bodyrockers label, which has been responsible for some of independent music's brighter moments in the last couple of years, such as Felix Da Housecat, FC Kahuna, The Boggs and Tiga.

So when Mr Lazarus hosts a night dedicated to showcasing the cuttingedge international underground gems he's discovered, you know it's going to be different, of high quality and a jacking electro-house party. Future Berlin popsters Kiki & Silversurfer are joined by Phonique and Israel's Ran Shani, with Rob Mello, Styles and Mr Lazarus himself completing the line-up.

Sundays are usually spent dreading the start of yet another week of work. But it doesn't have to be that way. Deepbluemusic and Perverted Science join forces for NODISKO, where a roughly hewn soundtrack drawing on Europe's cool and yet-to-be-hyped-to-death scenes - like Italo disco and Scando house - prevails. But there's also a cheeky random element to NODISKO, which might well see new-wave electro, dub, New York punk funk, deep disco and electronica make an appearance. Doing their bit for European relations are deepbluemusic's Zak Frost, Circus Love (both part of the ICA's recent Trans Europe Express festival) and Magic Jase. Future guests include Cosmo and Headman.