Solomun goes full cinema!
Week of August 1 – August 6, 2026: The past few days delivered thoughtful writing on one of dance music’s most enduring visual symbols, a major new album announcement from Jacques Greene, continued discussion around AI and creativity, a high-profile Chicago nightlife legal outcome, club closures and licensing pressures in the UK, and a new mini-documentary celebrating jungle history.
CULTURE & CONTEXT
Solomun’s Alexandra Palace Concert Film
Beautifully shot, high energy dance music documentation of what makes Solomun so beloved worldwide.
Solomun’s Alexandra Palace Concert Film - Full Film available on YouTube now
Solomun released a near-three-hour long-form film capturing the second night of his sold-out February 2026 shows at London’s Alexandra Palace. Shot largely from the floor rather than the booth, the film includes guest appearances from K.I.Z, Antony Szmierek and Inéz of ÄTNA, and several unreleased or rare tracks. It functions as both a document of a major headline performance and a reminder of how carefully Solomun frames the relationship between DJ, room and crowd.
Stayin’ Alive: The History of the Disco Ball
DJ Mag published a rich, wide-ranging feature that traces the disco ball from its late-19th-century origins as a “myriad reflector” through jazz clubs, Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable, the Paradise Garage and Trocadero Transfer era, and into today’s clubs and art spaces. The piece treats the mirrorball not as kitsch but as a genuine cultural object that has reflected underground dance floors, queer nightlife, and commercial spectacle for more than a century. It is the kind of writing that rewards readers who care about the physical objects and visual language of the scene as much as the records themselves.
Thomas Bangalter on AI and the Creative Process
In a conversation recorded at Art Basel for CHANEL, former Daft Punk member Thomas Bangalter spoke carefully about why he remains uninterested in the creative use of generative AI. He described his own process as something that happens below the level of language and prompting, rooted in feeling rather than verbal instruction. Coming in the same week as continued coverage of copyright battles involving AI music tools, the comments offer a clear artistic counterpoint from one of electronic music’s most influential figures.
Essentials
RECOMMENDED READING
Ricardo Villalobos: Slipping Through Time - Resident Advisor. Oli Warwick’s summer cover interview with the electronic iconoclast.
Jeff Mills: Seeing Is Believing - Resident Advisor. Summer cover story examining the health and meaning of techno.
Jacques Greene announces new album jg and shares “Presence” — Pitchfork / Stereogum
WORTH WATCHING
Jumping Jack Frost / Burial Mini-Documentary - Resident Advisor - The first recommended documentary: a new mini-film exploring the heritage, culture and impact of jungle through Frost’s career, from Brixton sound system roots through the acid house era to his legacy as a jungle pioneer. Released exclusively on RA’s YouTube channel this week.
Love Is Stronger – From Love Parade to Rave The Planet — ARD / Rave The Planet. The first recommended documentary: a thoughtful 90-minute film tracing the Love Parade from its 1989 political beginnings through the 2010 Duisburg tragedy and the careful revival as Rave The Planet. Still streaming and due for television broadcast on August 12.
DJ FOCUS
Technics has announced a special all-vinyl performance by ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U filmed at the top of Tokyo Tower to mark the approaching 55th anniversary of the SL-1200 series. The film will premiere on Resident Advisor’s YouTube channel on August 18 under the concept “THE LEGEND KEEPS SPINNING.” It is a clear nod to the turntable’s foundational role in DJ culture.
GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS
Spybar Co-Owner Sentenced in Ketamine Case
Dino Gardiakos, co-owner of Chicago’s Spybar, was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty in a case involving the smuggling of approximately six kilograms of ketamine through O’Hare International Airport in 2024. The sentencing closes a long-running legal process that had already seen Gardiakos on probation from an earlier drug investigation. Spybar itself had previously issued statements distancing the club’s operations from the allegations. The story is a reminder of the real-world legal risks that still sit behind some nightlife scenes.
Jacques Greene Announces New Album jg
Montreal producer Jacques Greene has announced his third solo album, jg, due October 16 on LuckyMe. The record is framed as a return to the club after more ambient and collaborative work, with features from DJ Boring, umru, CFCF, Ouri, crushed and others drawn from his personal network. Lead single “Presence” is already out and sits in a bass-heavy two-step space. Greene has described the album as feeling “firmly planted inside” the club rather than merely about it.
RA Reveals London Leg of RA25 World Tour
Resident Advisor has announced the London date of its 25th-anniversary world tour. The night at the Outernet (part of AVA London 2026) will feature Mala, Blawan, Bitter Babe and AliA. The series is rolling out across multiple cities later this year as RA marks a quarter-century of covering the electronic music scene.
Technics Marks SL-1200 55th Anniversary with Special Performance Film
Technics has announced a special all-vinyl performance by ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U filmed at the top of Tokyo Tower to mark the approaching 55th anniversary of the SL-1200 series. The film will premiere on Resident Advisor’s YouTube channel on August 18 under the concept “THE LEGEND KEEPS SPINNING.” It is a clear nod to the turntable’s foundational role in DJ culture.
Crossfader continues strong weekly output with practical DJ technique and gear content, including recent deep dives into club setups and the new AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X workflow for working DJs.
GENRE UPDATES
Techno
RA’s London RA25 booking of Blawan alongside Mala and others keeps current techno and bass-adjacent sounds in the conversation.
The ongoing availability of the Love Is Stronger documentary also keeps Berlin’s techno history in the cultural frame as Rave The Planet approaches later this month.
House
Jacques Greene’s jg album announcement is the clearest house-leaning story of the week, positioning the Montreal producer back on the dancefloor after a stretch of more atmospheric work. The record’s guest list and stated intention suggest a club-focused statement rather than a conceptual one.
Mainstage / Big Room / Commercial EDM
Coverage this week remained relatively quiet on pure mainstage announcements, with attention still focused on fall festival lineups already revealed and ongoing Ibiza season activity. Solomun’s Alexandra Palace film and the continued conversation around major festival returns kept the larger commercial end of the spectrum visible.
REGIONAL UPDATES
UNITED STATES
Chicago
Spybar Co-Owner Sentenced: As detailed above, the six-year prison sentence handed down to Spybar co-owner Dino Gardiakos is the most significant U.S. nightlife story of the week. The case originated with a 2024 airport seizure of roughly six kilograms of ketamine and follows an earlier probation period.
INTERNATIONAL
Belgium
Gula Gula Festival Unveils 2026 Lineup: The two-day Vilvoorde event has released its 2026 bill, including mad miran and Nosedrip among the confirmed names.
United Kingdom
RA25 London Lineup Confirmed: Mala, Blawan, Bitter Babe and AliA will play the Outernet as part of AVA London 2026 for Resident Advisor’s 25th-anniversary series.
Sheffield’s Tank Nightclub to Close After 12 Years: Sheffield’s Tank Club will shutter this weekend after 12 years, citing spiralling monthly running costs and the difficulty of maintaining high production standards while keeping tickets and drinks affordable. The 400-capacity venue has been an important hub for the city’s electronic scene, spanning bassline, house, techno and garage. Final parties take place this weekend.
Japan
Technics SL-1200 55th Anniversary Film: ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U’s special performance filmed at Tokyo Tower will premiere on RA’s YouTube channel on August 18.
Spain / Barcelona
Mira Festival Completes 2026 Lineup with Arca: The November weekender has added Arca to a bill that already included Max Cooper, Shygirl and Tortoise.
Australia
Melbourne’s TOPIA Festival Unveils 2026 Lineup: Amaliah, babyxxan and Cousin are among the names confirmed for the October one-dayer.
LOOKING AHEAD
Rave The Planet returns to Berlin on August 15, with the Love Is Stronger documentary still available to stream ahead of the parade.
The Technics / ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U film premieres August 18.
Jacques Greene’s jg arrives October 16.
Fall festival season continues to fill in, and DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs 2026 voting remains open through mid-September.
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