AFRICAN music is more popular than ever before.

There's been the revival of the mysterious William Onyeabor, the cult Nigerian funk singer who recently brought his "exhilaratingly strange" Afrobeat on tour at almost 70 years old.

Optimo has its Autonomous Africa alter-ego, while last year's celebrated vinyl compilation Music From Saharan Cellphones brought together never-before-heard tunes collected via Bluetooth and mini SD card in Northern Mali.

And then there's the increase in love for international DJs like Awesome Tapes from Africa, and local ones like Highlife and Ghana Soundz.

We can't get enough kologo, Soweto and soukous music in our lives right now, so the arrival of Ebo Taylor in town tomorrow is timely.

The 79-year-old Ghanaian and his nine-piece band will be playing their first gig in Scotland at The Art School, their chaotic, rump-shaking Afrofunk backed up by modern Ghanaian dance star King Ayisoba.

Support comes from local Afrobeat DJ Ghana Soundz on what should be a particularly bizarre night in all the right ways.

l Ebo Taylor, tomorrow, The Art School, 7pm - 11pm, £10

Nicole's debut

SLAM'S seminal house night Return To Mono turns 10 tomorrow, their celebrations at the Sub Club bolstered by the presence of the outstanding techno producer Nicole Moudaber.

Her story is an intriguing one: after growing up in Africa and the Middle East, she moved to New York, put on NY disco parties in Beirut and ended up in Ibiza, as a resident in Space alongside Carl Cox.

She makes her Subbie debut tomorrow, the bill also featuring Slam and their blistering live show.

There are also birthday celebrations at Queen Street's La Cheetah club: they have a mammoth six-hour set from Washington DC's Detroit techno king Theo Parrish.

And over at SWG3 the veteran Chicago-based acid house creators Phuture line up alongside Billy Woods and residents from Let's Go Back… and Supermax.

Founded in 1985, the headliners can lay claim to being the first ever acid house group: their 22-minute 1987 release Acid Tracks spawning the squelchy genre that later gave us the KLF, 808 State and The Shamen.

And if that isn't reason to celebrate then I don't know what is.

l Return To Mono with Nicole Moudaber, tomorrow, Sub Club, 10.30pm - 4am, £12

l Phuture, tomorrow, SWG3, 9pm - 3am, £15

l Theo Parrish, tomorrow, La Cheetah, 10pm - 4am, £tbc

Party night

SUBCITY Radio's packed-out party at The Art School was the highlight of Freshers' Week, with station mainstays like Argonaut Sounds, Handpicked's Mr Tuner and Echobloom destroying the venue's Main Hall.

Tomorrow night they're back at Sauchiehall Street's Broadcast with another big line-up: newcomers R.E.S.T spin house, acid, techno and everything in between, while Beat Beneath bring banging techno and deep, raw house to the table.

The highlight, though, is Sunday afternoon regulars Lava Lava. A duo consisting of Barrientos and DVRS, they play soulful electronica and sunbleached house and they never get it wrong. Ever. Their show is every second Sunday at 4pm on Subcity, too, if you're into that kind of thing.

l Subcity Party, tomorrow, Broadcast, 11pm - 3am, £5