Last updated 11:37, Thursday, 12 June 2008

COSMIC Cat and Jaca play The Source, Denton Holme, Carlisle, on Saturday.

DANCE music is a universal language. Steve Linney’s travels across Europe have taught him this and on Saturday night he brings a decade of international DJ experience to Carlisle.

Linney, whose house tunes have recently had crowds bouncing in Denmark and Russia, plays at Spirit for the Crosby Street venue’s Statik house music night.

“I tend to play ‘up for it’ music to get people dancing, something with a nice bassline,” Linney tells Nightlife ahead of his first visit to Carlisle.

“There are so many genres. You have to keep on top of what’s happening but don’t be a slave to it. If you just go for the big tunes you’re not doing your own thing. If you download the top 20 tunes you’re not defining yourself.

“My set starts off with some jacking house then it gets a bit more dark. And it’s always good to throw in a couple of old tunes.”

Later this summer Linney is due to play in New York, Washington and South America.

As well as DJing he also produces. Linney’s blend of dirty house mixed with twisted tribal and electro was heard last year on New Era Recordings and MoxiDigital. His work now features on Tim Andresen’s What Happens label, Fragile Recordings, Adjust, and his own Push It Recordings.

Linney’s first releases for What Happens (Excessive Consumption / Push It and Plastic Demon / Get in the Flow) are available on download sites, as is his remix of Steve Mill's Wonderkid, which Linney proudly describes as “a quality slice of peak time house music”.

Now based in Newcastle, Linney has been involved with some of the north east’s biggest nights. Residencies with notorious after-hours club Sunday Trading and Newcastle’s legendary polysexual night Nice have seen him play alongside many big hitters.

Also at Statik on Saturday will be residents Gaz Foskett and James Henry. The fun begins at 10pm; admission £5.