SOMA club Studio Z is home to a rather eclectic bunch of events, from the weekly reggae party "Club Dread" and the local rock night "The ANT Show" to one-off parties showcasing everything from psychedelic rock to spoken word to peace-totin' hip hop, but a house music night isn't frequently in the lineup. Which makes "Castle: The Ultimate House" a little odd -- but the welcome sort of odd. Two of S.F.'s most popular veteran DJs, Jenö and Spesh, lead a bill that also includes up-and-comers Scott Carelli, Kevin Knapp, Ken Deep, and Kuze. Hosting the night is MC Duh, who cut his microphonic teeth during the drum 'n' bass heyday. Open till 5 a.m., Studio Z is the best place to hear house music in the area without stumbling into the Endup, and it all goes down on Friday, Oct. 21; call 252-7666 or visit www.studioz.tv for more info.
The 6-year-old monthly party "Dhamaal" (held at Club Six) mixes live performances and DJs spinning traditional North Indian dance music like bhangra (a favorite sample source for hip hop over the last few years) and other continental forms alongside urban electronic grooves from around the world. This beloved event in San Francisco club life has helped pave the way for other recurring events to expose us further to South Asian rhythms. This year saw the debut of "Non-Stop Bhangra," which seeks to educate us on both the sound and culture of bhangra through dance lessons and performances (via Vicki Virk's Dholrhythms) as well as DJ sets (from Cheb i Sabbah, Soul Salaam, Jimmy Love, DJ Amar, and DJ Earflaps) and live dhol (drum) shows. "Non-Stop Bhangra" isn't on a fixed monthly schedule like "Dhamaal," so now is a ripe time to catch it in action. Get there early (8:30 p.m.) to learn some moves on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Rickshaw Stop; call 861-2011 or visit www.nonstopbhangra.com for more info.
