UK 2-step specialist Wicked ~Without a Doubt~

Tokyo' leading 2-step/UK garage event, Steps, relaunches tomorrow with a new tag, Wicked ~Without a Doubt~, and a new home at Shibuya's Harlem, following the closing of Club Kuaile in Roppongi. The event kicks off with a debut Japan visit by Professor T, a DJ at the forefront of London's underground dance scene.

A radio host for Ice FM since 1997, Professor T spent ten years honing his skills before his recent successes, which include the closing set at London's megaclub Ministry of Sound during the May bank holiday. A specialist in the ultra-urban beats of 2-step, the DJ also spices his sets up with hardcore drum'n'bass, swing, reggae and '89-'91 club classics. Last year he raised his profile as a producer with his self-produced Da Professor EP.

At Harlem, Professor T will be joined by MC RB, a past visitor to Kuaile who rocked the house with his versatile style ranging from raga rapping to sweet vocals. Also on hand will be Japan's own 2-step specialist, DJ Testuya, as well as residents Takako, SyU, and G.J. Blair, the "Tuff Sexy Dancers: Saki, Kuma, Sanae, and more" (sounds tempting, eh?)...

Meanwhile, over at Liquid Room next Saturday, jam band promoters Phatleaf take a look at the intersection of old-school Grateful Dead psychedelia and contemporary electronica when ex-Dead keyboardists unit Dose Hermanos head up a night that will also feature ambient-dub unit Sub Oslo.

With the motto "Hips & Traditions of Psychedelics," in the latest installment of their Organic Groove events Phatleaf will be hosting Bob Bralove and Tom Constanten, who formed Dose Hermanos following the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995. The visit will be historic in a sense, as the Dead never toured Japan.

Austin, Texas-based Sub Oslo, on the other hand, represent the new wave of electronica, forming in 1996 and releasing their debut album, Dubs in the Key of Life, just this year. An eight-piece collective, Sub Oslo have authored a work of delicate beauty, which sits firmly in the ambient dub camp while at the same time giving a nod towards the free-form improvisation of the '60s psychedelic movement. Joining Sub Oslo as special guest will be keyboardist Dave Palmer of New York's experimental downtempo Ponga group.

If that weren't enough, in the lounge room talented Japanese chill-out DJs Artman (veteran DJ Kudo), Izuru Utsumi, Kazuma, PhaTone, and Zombo will be manning the decks.

Wicked ~Without a Doubt~@Harlem (BX Cafe Harlem 3F), 7/7, 10pm, JY3000, w/2d. Tel: 3461-8806.

Organic Groove@Liquid Room, 7/14, 10pm, JY5000 (adv), JY5500 (door). Tel: 3200-6831. www.organicgroove.com