A-Trak
Friday, February 13 at Smartbar, 10 p.m.; $5
A-Trak kicks off his North American tour to support his new mixtape, Infinity+1, at Smartbar tonight. A-Trak’s biggest claim to fame may be as Kanye West’s DJ, but it’s among the nightlife crowd where he really shines, thanks to his infectious remixes and original production work. Just this past year, he gave us Kid Sister’s “Pro Nails” and produced an original running mix for Nike, so we can’t wait to hear what he’s working on now.

VHS or Beta
Friday, February 13 at Debonair Social Club, 9 p.m.; $10
Debonair Social Club is the perfect venue for VHS or Beta to DJ. The group comes from the same dance-rock and rave backgrounds as most of the Debonair’s young, vivacious party crowd, and plays the style that has come to define the latest trends in club sounds. Basically if you like Debonair, you’ll have fun tonight.

Eliot Lipp

Friday, February 13 at Subterranean, 10:30 p.m; $10 in advance, $12 at door
Electro and IDM-inspired hip-hop producer Eliot Lipp comes back to his hometown to celebrate his latest release, Peace Love Weed 3D. As on his last few tours, he’s supported by two diverse acts, DJ/MC Count Bass D and hip-hop act Spark1Duh? Don’t miss tonight if you’re in the mood for something different, fresh and dance-floor worthy. Youngsters, the show is 17-plus, so you can finally do something on a Friday night that doesn’t involve a house party or a hookah bar.

FlosstraPromus (click the link for a hilarious, possibly NSFW video)
Saturday, February 14 at Abbey Pub, 9 p.m. ; $5, 18+
The thought of doing prom again at a legal drinking age (well, the show is 18+, but most attendees will be old enough to drink) with fun dance music you actually want to hear, while dressed up in a tacky dress/pieced-together thrift-store suit, sounds fun. Add in the fact that the music is from the hottest DJs to come out of Chicago in years, Flosstradamus and it?s easy to see why this party has been one of the best things for the young crowd to do on Valentine’s Day for the last few years. Single or coupled up, wear your best prom outfit (be as fancy, hip or cheesy as you want, anything goes) and just be ready to have a fun time.

Disco Unusual Social Club
Saturday, February 14 at Danny’s, 9 p.m.; Free
Money is tight, but you can still manage to have a fun, affordable and special Valentine’s Day. Head to Danny’s for the monthly Disco Unusual Social Club party, where host and head DJ Lono Brazil always kills it with his glam yet funky disco grooves. Drinks are always affordable at Danny’s, and because it’s a smaller, packed space, you’re bound to have a reason to get extra close to your Valentine.

V-Day in Purgatory
Saturday, February 14 at Purgatory Pizza, 9 p.m.; $5, $7 after 11 p.m., free for MizzChicago.com members
The EarthTone DJs and Dirty Girls Chicago join forces to host a Valentine’s bash for girls who like girls, curious girls and their girl friends. This event kicks off a new weekly party at Purgatory, Chopped & Screwed, and nightlife photographer Jenny S. of MizzChicago.com celebrates her birthday. The first 20 ladies to arrive receive special V-Day mixtapes. Become a MizzChicago member and admission is free.

The Cooler
Sunday, February 15 at Crocodile, 10 p.m.; Free
Crocodile has officially become the new hot spot for Wicker Park nightlife, due in part to the cool layout and daily free-pizza deal. Now, it’s adding a new night to the popular basement lounge. The Cooler is Shala’s weekly party for the cool-kid set. He’ll be providing the music, along with special guests DJ Trew, Chuck Inglish of the Cool Kids, Madrid, Papa G and more, plus live drummers and live art.

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Lindstrom
Friday, January 30 at Smartbar, 10 p.m.; $10 before midnight, $15 after
We’d be remiss not to mention Lindstrom‘s latest release, Where You Go I Go Too, when bringing up the disco resurgence. The album, which only has three tracks (the shortest of which is almost 11 minutes), is much more techno and electro-influenced, than the catchy pop style and lyrics of, say, Hercules and Love Affair. Still, Lindstrom, who rarely comes stateside (Chicago is one of three US stops) won’t disappoint disco and dance-music fans tonight at Smartbar. Jerome Derradj and Chicago’s leading lady of the nu-disco sound, SR-71 round out the lineup.

Hey Champ
Friday, January 30 at Lumen, 9 p.m.; cover TBD
Riding high off its recent tour with Lupe Fiasco and subsequent signing to his label, 1st and 15th, Hey Champ brings its fun, synth and keys-heavy dance/pop/rock music (yeah, it really is all of that) to Lumen tonight for a live performance. We think the sleek lights of Lumen and Hey Champ’s futuristic (in an ’80s way) sound make a perfect match. RSVP and get there early for the hosted cocktail bar from 9-10 p.m. and stay late for DJ White Shadow, who takes over the sounds after the band’s performance.

Dance Party Magic
Saturday, January 31 at Sonotheque, 9 p.m.; $7
It’s time for some Dance Party Magic. Tonight, E-Six and Matt Roan of Crossfader King bring their signature party to Sonotheque along with special guest Bean and rising local star, DJ A-Cup. Roan and Six are doing their unique, live four-turntable Audio Visual set (that?s dance music with live mixing of video footage) and we’re sure that since they’ve recently returned from Europe, there’ll be all types of good Euro footage and maybe even some shots from their Friday-night party to celebrate the signing of Crossfader King?s newest talent, DJ Galvan.

The Mess Around
Saturday, January 31 at Rodan, 10 p.m.; Free
Sometimes, you just need a place to meet up with friends, throw back a few drinks and have a good time. Well, the last Saturday of the month at Rodan, with DJ Intel and Maker behind the decks, is perfect for this. Although the music is definitely worthy, the chances of a full-blown dance party breaking out are slim, but hey, if you feel the urge to bust a move, no one will stop you.

Get Loose
Saturday, January 31 at Subterranean, 10 p.m.; $5 after 11 p.m.
Trew and the Comeup Crew moved down the street to new hotspot Crocodile, but Zebo is still holding down Saturdays at Sub-T. The new(ish) night, Get Loose, features him, Derek Berry, Richard C and special guests playing the dance party jams for the Saturday night crowd. Better yet, with just a $5 cover after 11 p.m., $2 PBR and $4 Grey Goose cocktails, it’s about as economical as a Saturday night out can get.

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DJ Babu/The Goodness
Friday, January 23 at Lava Lounge, 9 p.m.; $10 before 11, $15 after
DJ Babu, the famed turntablist/DJ from California underground hip-hop group Dilated Peoples and the Beat Junkies shows off his famous turntable skills at Lava Lounge tonight. Babu, who released the mixtape/breaks album Duck Season Vol. 3 in late 2008, is joined by local hip-hop DJs Rude One and Tone B. Nimble for the type of organic, funky and imaginative hip-hop night that Chicago hasn’t seen in quite awhile. If you don’t know by now, Lava is the size of a Logan Square studio, so get there early or don’t expect to get in at all.

Would you dress up like this to save $10?

Spandexxx
Friday, January 23 at Sonotheque, 9 p.m.; $10, free if you wear over 70 percent Spandex, $5 with RSVP to urchicago.com
Rocktapussy, the all-female DJ act comprised of Mother Hubbard and DJ A-Cup, have appropriately teamed up with Venus, the pro-lady magazine that touts talented women, for Spandexxx, a new monthly dance party at Sonotheque. Tonight, they kick off the event with special guest Silverghost and Million $ Mano’s electro-rock-dance group He Say She Say. Save some cash by wearing at least 70 percent spandex (aka a bodysuit) for free entry and get there early for hosted bar from 9-10 p.m.

Aquarius
Saturday, January 24 at 5th City Center, 9 p.m.; $5 with RSVP to going.com
Be warned! Aquarius is for the youngins! So young that they throw nu-rave parties instead of rave throwback jams at quite possibly illegal venues. But it’s cool. We get it and as long as the extensive lineup of practically unknown DJs delivers (more recognizable names include Perfect Kiss, Lance Milk and Mr. Bobby), we think it’s Best Beats-worthy. Besides, if you’re a young Aquarian, where else are you going to go to party from 9 at night until 5 in the morning for just a $5 cover?

East of Edens Soul Express
Saturday, January 24 at Hideout, 9 p.m.; $10 if arriving for the Celebration of Soul Party, $5 for East of Edens at 11:30 p.m.
Just because this party doesn’t go until the sun comes up, it doesn’t mean that it’s not a good bet for a ragin’ fun time. It’s that time of the month when soul and funk masterminds John Ciba and James Porter bring the best soul and funk jams to the Hideout. Cheap drinks, fun music and an unpretentious crowd make the East of Edens Soul Express party one of the best and most affordable bets for Saturday night. Get there early for the St. Timothy’s Day “A Celebration of Soul” Party at 9 or just show up with the late-night revelers at 11:30 for the soul throwdown.

Disco Biscuits, Prefuse 73, RJD2
Saturday, January 24 at Congress Theater, 7 p.m.; $25 (free if you write the winning user review of the week!)
We’ve noticed a string of groups that easily fall into the jam-band category have been hitting the tour circuit with acts known more for hip-hop beats. Tonight, Disco Biscuits headline a tour with Prefuse 73 and RJD2. These acts have never been afraid to experiment with different genres, sounds and artists, which means anything goes at this Congress Theater show and it’s likely well worth the $25 ticket price.

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DJ Ravi Drums
Tuesday, January 13 at Lumen, 9 p.m.; RSVP to info@lumen-chicago.com for discounted cover
Celebrity DJs are a dime a dozen, except for DJ Ravi Drums. He’s played all the big clubs and special-event parties as other certain well-known tabloid favorites, but Ravi brings a little something more than just hype for the cover charge. As his name implies, he plays percussion and synth drums along to hip-hop, house, funk and latin grooves. It’s not as raw as the drummers who parade the floors of Boom Boom Room, but with resident DJ Just Joey spinning the house tunes and the well-regarded industry-night crowd dancing along, it should make for an interesting night.

Juke What Yo Momma Gave You!
Friday, January 16 at Smartbar, 10 p.m.; $10, free before 11 p.m.
Since we last checked in with Gant-Man, he’s been busy keeping juke going strong and rockin’ parties for everyone from the South Side crowds all the way for the hipster set, busy pushing his Bang the Box Recordingz record label. Tonight, he, Power 92′s DJ Nehpets, Houz’Mon and Willy Joy of Fly By Night fame bang it at Smartbar for an all-night, all-juke party.

Drummer vs. The Technician 2
Friday, January 16 at Hideout, 10 p.m.; $8
Drummer vs. Technician pairs popular local DJs with live musicians for a unique night of analog and digital sounds. This time around, DJ Maker does live production, hip-hop act Meat Number 5 blends drums with turntables, as do DJ MTM and drummer Makayah McCraven, and it’s all topped off by The Sound Conspiracy playing live dance music. Expect house, hip-hop, afrobeat, samba and more, and be prepared to dance.

Soul Train
Saturday, January 17 at Betty’s Blue Star Lounge, 9 p.m.; Free
Regular readers of Best Beats have surely noticed that disco, soul and funk parties have made a strong comeback. Tonight, General Pacman spins all the funky stuff mixed with classic Soul Train video clips and performances for what is sure to be the ultimate throwback Soul Train party. There’s even a Soul Train Scramble Board for a chance to win prizes.

Slow Burning Afterparty/Uberjam
Saturday,January 17 at Crocodile, 10 p.m.; Free
Slow Burning, a huge collaborative art show with artists from San Francisco, LA, Chicago and New York, opens at the A.Okay gallery in Lakeview at 6. By 10, when the show starts to dwindle down, everyone heads over to the new Crocodile Lounge in Wicker Park for the ’90s throwback party (recently transplanted from Subterranean), Uberjam. Yeah, unfortunately, poor art appreciator, you’ll have to throw down a lot on cab fare or take a few buses to get from A.Okay to Wicker Park, but take heed, not only will the music – provided by resident DJs Trew, Intel, Maker and Pickel – be good, but if you spend $5 on drinks you get a free personal pizza as well.

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Bonobo
Sunday, January 4 at Sonotheque, 9 p.m.; $12
Despite the blog-house craze and the preponderance of overpaid Serato “DJs” (I’m looking at you, Samantha Ronson), it’s good to know that talented and thoughtful producers and DJs can still get the attention and respect they deserve. Take for example Bonobo; he doesn’t fall into a specific dance-music category and he isn’t concerned with the latest trends in electronic music, but he’s developed a strong following thanks to his releases on the prestigious Ninja Tune label. With little to no advertising, he packed Sonotheque when he came to town last year. Best of all, he draws the kind of crowd that cares less about what you’re wearing and much more about just having a good time and appreciating a talented musician who only makes it to the States once a year.

Sizzled
Friday, January 9 at Lava Lounge, 9 pm.; free

Lava’s house-music party, Grizzled, is taking on a sexier, more inviting name, Sizzled. For 2009, resident DJs Karl Almaria and John Mork (The Sound Republic), are moving away from strictly jacking house to encompass a larger selection of all the many subgenres of house music. Tonight, special guest Mr. Timms from Milwaukee spins an early downtempo set and a late-night deep house set. Oh, and there?s also free bacon (seriously) until it runs out.

One Love
Friday, January 9 at Butterfly Social Club, 9 p.m.; Free
Last time we recommended this event, we weren’t sure how the turnout would be since Butterfly lost its pristine, superfoods-club vibe and went for more of a traditional beer-and-shot crowd. But Papa G’s One Love party turned out to be one of the more happening events in December, with a multi-ethnic crowd of cool kids, pseudo-hippies and yes, even Buddha rejects, all getting down on the tiny dance floor. Just be warned, bartenders here can be extremely slow and the more people belly up to the bar, the slower they move. Just be patient, don’t let it ruin your night and you’ll have a good time.

Africa Hi-Fi: Barack Obama/Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration
Saturday, January 10 at Sonotheque, 9 p.m.; $10
Africa Hi Fi is likely the only party that could have a legitimate celebration for Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as well as the election of Barack Obama without it coming off as contrived. Host Sonia H. and resident DJ and dance-music legend Ron Trent have built the AHF name to be known as an event not only for good music, but also unity, appreciation of culture and positive vibes, things that both MLK and Mr. Obama would definitely support. Let’s face it, you?re not getting anywhere near Washington, DC on the night of the actual inauguration, so make this the night you celebrate a historical figure and history in the making.

Big Fun
Saturday, January 10 at Crocodile, 9 p.m; free
Yes, it’s true. Spend $5 on a cocktail at Wicker Park’s Crocodile and you’ll get a free personal margherita pizza. It’s a great deal in these harsh economic times and the pizza is the perfect size to soak up a few too many cocktails and/or keep you from making those dreaded late-night burrito mistakes. But this is Best Beats, not Cheap Eats and the weekly Saturday-night party, Big Fun, is shaping up to be a major contender in the neighborhood. The usual suspects from neighbor Subterranean, DJ Trew and Maker, are joined by DJ Butterfly for a night of reggae, house, hip-hop and dance music.

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We’ve never really been fans of spending a ton of money to get into a club that you can go to on most nights for $10 or less, especially when that cover charge includes a lame open bar and maybe a champagne toast at midnight. If you’re not taking chances on random house parties, check out our picks for the cheapest and best beats for NYE.

Class of ?08
Wednesday, December 31 at Motel Bar, 9 p.m.; free
Brock and Tobias (the Beta Theta DJs) host a free high school-themed party at Motel Bar. There’s no cover, no reservations accepted (which means you should get there early) and no fancy bar packages. Just show up ready to drink, smile pretty for the yearbook photo booth and pray that there will be a bit of room for dancing. As an added bonus, Motel Bar has food and those fancy Dyson hand blowers that dry your hands in less than 10 seconds.

Super Soul Party
Wednesday, December 31 at Town Hall Pub, 9 p.m.; free
Town Hall Pub could possibly be the best bar in the city at which to celebrate New Year’s Eve. First of all, it’s a slashie, so whether you’re taking it to go or sitting at the bar, you can always have a drink there. Second, it’s a bit of a dump, so there’s no need to get all fancy and wear some expensive dress or sneakers, because trust us, they will get ruined! Town Hall was the place where Flosstradamus came to fame, throwing their crazy dance parties and honing their floor-packing skills. Tonight, DJRC helps ring in the New Year with throwback soul, disco, Motown and Stax classics and Town Hall provides the super cheap drinks, giveaways, a champagne toast and free jello shots. As an added bonus, Town Hall is in the middle of Boystown (it’s not a gay bar) and you can just imagine how insane that neighborhood’s going to be once everyone starts stumbling out of the bars.

Walk this Way vs. Gutter Butter
Wednesday, December 31 at Hideout, 9 p.m.; $20
If you’re looking for a no-holds barred, silly, fun NYE party, the Walk this Way vs. Gutter Butter event at the Hideout is a sure bet. DJs Logan Bay, Ben Fasman and Friar Tuck play whatever they please, but don’t expect typical mashups or dance-party anthems. This is ironic, debaucherous DJing done smart. Seriously, one look at the flyer and you’ll want to pop open a bottle of cheap champagne and start getting low on the dance floor (or your bedroom). Be sure to stay sober enough for the giveaways from Incase and the toast at Midnight.

Future Rock
Wednesday, December 31 at Abbey Pub, 8 p.m.; $25 in advance/$30 at door/$75 all-inclusive package
The Abbey hosts a party with three eclectic electronic music acts, giving you some serious bang for your buck. Future Rock, an electro-rock trio headlines with glitchy sample master Daedelus and hip-hop act Dark Party (beatmaster Eliot Lipp and Leo 123) rounding out the roster. All three acts have gained a following of Sound Tribe Sector 9 fans, but Daedelus and Dark Party are much closer to hip-hop and beat machines than three-hour electronic jam sets. Regardless, if you like dance music, you’ll probably find something you like here, even if it is just the open bar and appetizer that the $75 tickets get you.

Leslie and the Lys
Wednesday, December 31 at Berlin, 9 p.m.; $25 in advance/$25 at door
Leslie and the Lys make the kind of fun, silly dance music that will have you saying things like “you’re hotter than a stick of glue and I’m gonna scrapbook everything with you” to your secret crush (in your mind, of course). Expect this party to have the same youthful energy of the Outdanced events you know and love, but with an increased frenzy to help bring in 2009.

Green Velvet
Wednesday, December 31 at Smartbar, 9 p.m; $30 in advance / $30 at door
If you live in Chicago, like house music and/or techno, consider yourself a seasoned clubber but have never seen Green Velvet, you need to ring in the New Year with a lesson on how Chicago really parties. The legendary Green Velvet doesn’t play out very often, but when he does, he kills it at Smartbar. A great option for those who like to go out where people dance, GV always brings a crazy dance-floor energy.

Yo! New Years Eve II
Wednesday, December 31 at Subterranean, 9 p.m.; $50 (includes open bar ’til midnight)
Last year, Yo! New Years Eve turned out to be a surprise hit and this year should be no different. The cover may seem steep, especially because DJ Trew, Kool Hersh, Maker and Jose Garibaldi are regular acts on the Sub-T weekend dance party/hip hop circuit, but partygoers raved about this event last year. Besides, the cover includes a 3-hour open bar and champagne toast, so get there early, drink your fill and by the time it’s 2009 you’ll be having too much fun to think about the cover charge.

Revolution NYE 2009
Wednesday, December 31 at Congress Theater, 7 p.m.; $60
No, this ticket price doesn’t include an open bar, champagne toast, nasty, lukewarm hors d’oeuvres or anything else that clubs use to try to validate their New Year’s Eve cover charge. Tonight, you’re paying for an incredible lineup and the ticket price is worth every penny. French electronic duo Justice, who are almost solely responsible for making dance music, hip, popular and cool again, headline. Stones Throw’s Peanut Butter Wolf, France’s SoMe and locals Hey Champ, Willy Joy and Zebo are just some of the acts making this event amazing. The old Congress Theater may literally come crashing down. And if you really need to be pampered, spring for the $200 VIP package and you’ll get a cocktail reception from 8 p.m.-midnight, backstage views, a private bar and bartender and express entry.

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photo: Clifton Henri

Million $ Mano and the Creme de la Creme DJs rock it ’til 3 a.m. Saturday at Lava.

DJ Funk
Friday, December 26 at Zentra, 10 p.m.; free before 11 p.m. with RSVP, $10 until 1 a.m. with RSVP to zentranightclub.com
Okay, so you really want to sweat off holiday stress, maybe grind up on someone under the mistletoe and blow some of that holiday cash like it’s burning a hole in your pocket? Then head to Zentra for Jack Fridays with DJ Funk. The ghetto-house master is joined by local house legend DJ Lego for a night of infectious dance music. Wallflowers are encouraged to stay home.

DJ Eleven/The Rub
Friday, December 26 at Evil Olive, 11 p.m.; $5 after midnight
Zebo and PreFrosh are joined by DJ Eleven of the Rub for a very special post-Christmas version of the Booty Up. The Rub is the famed party-turned-Scion-radio-station that helped reintroduce the fun house-party vibe at clubs in New York. The DJs share similar styles, in that they can rock the crowd whether they’re playing packed loft parties or rocking bi-level clubs in Wicker Park ’til 4 in the morning.

Creme de la Crème
Saturday, December 27 at Lava Lounge, 10 p.m.; Free with RSVP to Chicago@dubfrequency.com , $5 after 11 p.m.
Oh snap. Mom and pops hooked you up this year, and as soon as you got back to your neighborhood you hit the freshest boutique to get the hottest gear. If that sounds like you, you probably already know about Creme at Lava, and if you don’t, you need to come here tonight to show off your Christmas swag and dance ’til 3 am to the sounds of DJ Chuck Inglish of the Cool Kids, Million $ Mano, Willy Joy, Hollywood Holt and Mark Gertz of Dark Wave Disco.

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Mark Farina Mushroom Jazz Vol 6 Tour
Thursday, December 18 at Crescendo, 9 p.m.; free before 10 with RSVP, $10 after (with RSVP)
Crescendo opened and closed with a bang after the owners (the same folks behind Reserve) were busted on tax evasion, but now the folks behind Sound Bar have taken over. They’ve brought in Zentra promoters HouseArrest Events, which is why Mark Farina, a big-name DJ who would be more at home at Smartbar, is playing here. While we can’t guarantee what type of crowd will show up here, we’re sure the music will be solid, as evidenced by his successful Mushroom Jazz mixes. Farina’s scheduled to play two sets, one featuring the mushroom jazz sound and the other a classic house set.

DJ Lego

House Arrest Christmas party
Friday, December 19 at Zentra, 9 p.m.; Free before 11 p.m. with RSVP to Zentra
Back to its usual stomping ground, HouseArrest Events hosts its holiday party tonight at Zentra. Derrick Carter headlines as the Grinch, alongside Just Joey of Boom Boom Room and local legend DJ Lego. The HouseArrest website boasts of a hope to steal Christmas and bring it to Zentra for one night.

Holiday Party at Burlington
Saturday, December 20 at The Burlington, 9 p.m.; Free (check website for flyer)
The best of the Burlington DJs get together to spin at the bar’s holiday party. Wear your best holiday sweater, enjoy free Sparks until 11, $1 PBR ’til midnight and Burlington eggnog (probably the kind with rum in it) all night long. You’re almost guaranteed to have a blast; just do yourself a favor and don’t mix eggnog and Sparks.

Uberjam – The Glamorous Life
Saturday, December 20 at Subterranean, 9 p.m.; $5 after 11 p.m.
Uberjam’s idea of a “glamorous life” does not include bottle service and a dress code. Instead, DJs Trew, Zebo, Intel, Maker and Pickel spin the best of ’90s hip hop, Miami bass, R&B and dance all night. Get there early for free drinks and gift bags with goodies from local t-shirt/design collaborative Formula Werks, Frank151 and more.

Check out Centerstage Chicago food and drink deals!