Yes festival is taking place at The Epicentre in the East Point Business Centre on the greenest day of the year MErol Alkanarch 17th. With a fabulous venue in a unique location it promises to be a great one. Confirmed already are Matador, Eddie Brennan (Meath), Kid Handsome and Jeff Walters.

Early bird tickets are already on sale for LIFE festival taking place at the Belvedere House and Gardens in Mullingar, co Meath 4th – 6th June. Now in its fifth year and with a capacity of 5,000 if makes for a great small scale festival amongst many in Ireland.
With new areas being added yearly showcasing mainly home grown talent we are looking forward to an interesting line up as none have been revealed just yet. Despite this you can throw caution to the wind and purchase early bird tickets at 95€ for 3 days entertainment! Deal done www.life-festival.com

Any Beastie Boys fans out there will be glad to hear Mixmaster Mike is landing in the Button Factory on the 16th of March (you have a day off the next day remember!). Support is coming from Gift of the Gab (Blackalicious). Not only known for his great productions he has also received a lifetime achievement award for the advancement of the turntable as a musical instrument from the International Turntablist Federation!

The Irish Music Dance Awards are getting things moving with the list of nominees to be revealed at the end of February. Your votes can then be cast till the end of March with the main event will take place in April so better get your thinking cap on as to what venue or dj floated your boat in 2009…. Some of the catagories are Best Large scale club, Best Producer, Best Promoter, Event of the Year and many more….

Candy Collective is one of the most creative forces in Ireland with their ongoing eagerness to bring new media formats and alternative events to the masses. The latest event will take place at the Sugar Club on the 25th of February. This time round we are catching up with the local talent who are a collection of photographers, graphic designers and animators. I urge you to attend these events if you are involved in electronic music in any way as the fusion of these arts is the way forward. www.candycollective.com

Beyond the Wizard Sleeve aka Erol Alkan is finally about to release the remix of ‘Roscoe’ originally by Texan band Midlake. Only 500 10 inch’s will be released and you can get it through www.erolalkan.co.uk

International heavyweights on the decks – Derek Carter (Chicago) and Claude Young are flying in to the big smoke for Hype events at Pod, March 16th and March 26th. Support at the Carter gig comes from locals Toirse and Mr Rossworth.

Hypertic from Dublin have been doing well in the Beatport charts coming off a Techno Top 20 with their track Less Ket More Success which is currently out on Italian label Malatoid Records. They also have a track in the Beatport Chill Out Top 100 called Sunny Side Up and that’s on an American label called Cold Busted. Hypertic have managed to secure a 3 track EP on one of my favourite labels Resopal Schallware from Berlin. The lads also have tracks coming out on FVF Records, Aciitone & Love Hertz in the next 2 months as well as a remix on Resopal Schallware.
The duo also has an upcoming show on RTE pulse on March 11th to catch their sound.

On the harder edge DJ Karl Davis is in the running for Best New Face at the Hard Dance Awards, which see’s him playing the event at Atomik Weekender this March in North Wales. To follow this up Hard Eire has also been nominated for best Radio show on the website bangingtunes.com

Takeover Recordings drops a suitably grinding piece of techno from label co-founder thatboytim. Down in the Hole is the name of this dark slice of techno with a remix from rising star The Parallel (Komisch/Static). Sunil Sharpe (Mantrap / Bastardo Electrico) gives things a twist with a stalled 3 to the floor intro before dropping us in to his industrial strength concoction
Finally thatboytim dons his terror boy cape to give an unapologetically jacked up version which steers towards early nineties mayhem. Released on the 11th February in all good download sites!

Till the next time ….. www.twitter.com/claireroche

Ireland was hit hard overall but clubland managed to keep its head above water. In fact it deconstructed slightly and developed some really fantastic local nights in the capital and surrounding cities. One such night is War on Friday nights at Spy. Glitter and electronic pop were the criteria while dressing up to escape from it all seemed all the rage here and abroad. Horse MEAT Disco was also a great hit with the kids at this venue and at Electric Picnic keeping the party vibe alive with the masses…

Horse MeaT Disco - take off in Ireland

Escaping was easy when Bodytonic and Nightflight gave birth to their first festival abroad in Petrcane Croatia. A 3 day event with a heavy emphasis on Irish acts such as Jape, RSAG, Barry Redsetta playing along side the Europeans Marcel Dettman, Alexander Robotnik and of course Ben Klock,  who appeared to come home with the revellers to give one of the most memorable sets of 2009 at Twisted Pepper.

Yes festival held in East Point Business Park also proved to be quite a success as the larger scale festivals such as Electric Picnic changed hands to massive promoters Festival Republic. Irish promoters are seeing the need and benefits of ‘having your own’ party and keeping it local.

One promoter who made an enormous effort in 2009 is Ronan Flynn of Subject Events, managing to bring over the Bellville 3 on separate occasions to the Pod Venue. Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and of course the ever chatty Derrick May who all performed interesting sets as the Detroit sound always shifts and changes beyond the regular 4 / 4 European effect. Innovators, gods, creators… whatever your title on this trio is, hope you at least caught one of the events. Watch the movie HIGH TECH SOUL if you are new to the world of techno… one born every day thankfully.

Dubstep seeped into every release in some shape or form with artists like Skream, Loefah, Caspa, Rusko and of course Benga all breaking top tracks and leaking them into sets across the genres. Remixing the new ladies on the block such as La Roux and Bat for Lashes, giving more dept again to some great music and opening it up to other audiences. More please!

With the FM dial only giving us a few electronic shows nationwide it was the appearance of POWER FM back on FM that made May / June of 2009 quite enjoyable to drive your car and listen to the radio. A range of shows across techno, house, soul and funk were all welcomed for 10 weekends in a row. 2010 hopes to see another 10 weekend session from

www.powerfm.org and its 45 alternative DJ’s

Music releases from the Irish was high in 2009 with Orla Feeney in the trance world. Brian Taffe assisted in remixing David De Valera on Club 66 records with the Say That EP. Glen Brady flew all over Europe djing and released several new tracks. Arveen joined him for the Resistance Tour where djing sent a strong message to the masses – stop smoking and free yourself from corporations pushing addictive substances on your soul! Arveen and Misk also had a busy year on their own tour around Ireland.

Corks Mark O Sullivan released the album ‘Fragments from a Long Country’ to great reviews on the international circuit. Dara O Neill and Mano Le Tough kept things moving in Berlin while at Sonar the FVF label tore the house down at an offshoot event in a warehouse on the outskirts of Barcelona.

Hip Hop had the heavies over to the capital with the rather large Biz Markie playing in the rather small Whelan’s and Q Tip stormed the Button Factory while people queued around the corner to get in!

Shit Robot aka Marcus Lambkin gave us Simple Things (Work It Out) released on the ever reliable DFA label. An album is on the cards from the Robot in 2010 as is one from DJ Kormac and his Big Band…..

The Trinity Rooms in Limerick had a wild night with one big techy mouse DeadMau5 in June. While Greg and Shane celebrated 21 years of FISH GO DEEP back in February in the Pavilion in Cork… nothing going to stop those lads. Northern Irelands Jet Project aka Timmy Stewart and John McIver released ‘Heads in the Clouds’ album on Darkroom Dubs Label. . .

Looking for something to do instead of the office Xmas party then hit The Good Bits for Neil Landstrumm, Sunil Sharpe and also Lief Ryan hitting the decks….  December 18^th… see you there…

My promoter of the 2009 would have to be Choice Cuts for always taking risks and never giving in to the latest trends. Keeping it real and packing out venues with quality local dj’s and international acts while giving bands such as Hypnotic Brass Ensemble a new home on Irish shores. www.choicecuts.ie

Looking for something to do instead of the  ghastly office Xmas party then hit The Good Bits in Dublin as N.O.S and Surge present Neil Landstrumm, Sunil Sharpe and also Lief Ryan(Growth Recordings) hitting the decks December 18^th or NYE at Electric Avenue in Waterford Sunil plays again.

I have one wish on my list this year – as we look towards 2010 we live in hope that licensing laws may change to allow club hours to extend further into the night. As predicted public order offences have not decreased as a result of early closing times…Staggered closures will give promoters a chance to allow international acts longer sets, give punters value for money and create more jobs within the entertainment industry all round and add to tourism overall. At present with club times in sync with bars no one is winning. Being completely European now – There is room for change….!

Catch Claire on Decks and the City www.powerfm.org Friday nights 11 – 1 am

SPLITOOP are one such act who are hot hot hot down under at the moment on a 9 date tour across Oz finishing up with a massive NEW YEARS EVE party in Melbourne which runs for 20 hours over 2 venues… now thats a party…. The boys also have 2 new releases about to come out that have been shaking the dancefloors worldwide in the live sets… Toast Club and Badman. www.myspace.com/splitloop

The Nightflight promoters may have narrowed their events at Dublin’s Button Factory to monthly occassions – but when they host an event they do it with quality –  Hamburgs Tensnake is over on the 11th December. Always reliable for his melodies and analogue synths, vocals and a twist of disco in there too… Top gig not to be missed…. www.myspace.com/tensnake for a taste of the party.

Iirish label FVF are doing the chaitable thing with Marc Ashken’s Movember EP special release and are giving 50% of all label profits directly to the men’s health charity, Movember, with whom the label is working with. See www.movember.com for more information.

The EP consists of three tracks by Marc Ashken and a remix by the Donk Boys. Donk Boys feature with a tech remix of The Second Mouse, perfect for those frenetic dancefloor moments.

RTE PULSE has its hands full with Adam Fogarty constantly activating various projects. Fogarty is about to launch ‘Breakdown Records’. A digital and 12″ vinyl label with international distribution for the 12″ and the obvious digital outlets such as Juno and Beatport for digital releases. The label’s focus will be nu funk and big beat mainly. With a focus on Irish and emerging talent, as well as developing our roster with UK talent – The first release is Johnny Pluse ‘Market Street EP’.  As always the show continues on DAB and online with Adam’s show Breakonomics Sunday 10 – 12 pm on RTE PULSE……

On Friday the 4th of December also on RTE PULSE -  celebrating 4 years of Ceoltronic Radio and 1 year of RTE Pulse being on the airwaves, DJ Will Kinsella will be doing a feature called “a Day with Minus“, based on Minus events at the ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) in October of this year. Will had back stage access to all the artists and has some exclusive interviews on the show. Magda, Ambivalent, HOBO, JPLS, Fabrio Maurizi some of the Minus crew featured on the show…

If your thinking what do I buy him / her / granddad for Xmas than I am recommending MANDY – The Mix Collection – Renaissance – album currently out but with something on it for all the family at Xmas time! Artists include Claude Vonstroke & Christian Martin to Schneider TM & Kpt. Michi.gan, one classic track to catch on the album is Crowdpleaser & Ly Sander – Walking Home – great opener for all sets. It’s a complete journey with 44 tracks. You can catch Mandy at the Watergate Club in Berlin on the 12^th of December…

Clubs opening all over the place at the moment with Dara O Neil AKA DANCEPIG launching a new club in the very heart of BERLIN in Kreuzberg 4^th of December. With a capacity of 300, a void sound system and my favourite structure of a basement premises. The name of the club is to be Kleine Reise – which means Little Trip in German. The venture also has involvement from the 52 Funk crew now set up in Berlin. December 4^th sees Night guy [Kompakt – Stockholm) and introducing the Kleine Reise residents...Dara O'Neill, Peter Power, Patrick Reddy.  On the 26th Dec
Hoito [FVF - Dublin] is performing. Line ups look strong and reliable with a New Years Eve line up revealed next issue.

Happy Birthday to TP Towers – the Twisted Pepper who made it to 1! Looking forward to many more years of it….

More local clubbing and The Good Bits in Dublin formerly Radio City which plays host to a new night called PUNCH on Saturdays featuring Arveene and new kid under his wing Josh Josh Josh – say what? Guests include Lorcan Mak whose tracks have been play listed all over the world by the likes of Laidback Luke, Brodinski and Sinden. He has just finished a remix for Kitsuné and his debut EP will be available on Anabatic Records very soon. One to watch! www.myspace.com/lorcanmak

December 17^th in Belfast sees SOULWAX performing at the Ulster Hall for a SOULWAXMAS! With support sets to be announced but normally some of their friends Erol Alkan or Justice make an appearance. Oh what a life!

It’s all safe on the dance floors for another edition….

CATCH CLAIRE ON www.powerfm.org Friday nights for DECKS AND THE CITY

We are still eagerly awaiting the release of DJ Kormac and his Big Band’s Album on the Scribble Record Label. Word has it that there are some very interesting collaborations but he is holding tight on who these are … I will be the first to know he has said…

Irish label Omnis Recordings has hit a milestone with its 50^th release to date coming out in November. Infusion – Dogtown with mixes by D-Nox & Beckers (Germany) giving it the big room anthem swing while Alex Kenji slides it onto the progressive techno feel,  finally Infusion who hail from none other than Australia give it the full techno once over. It’s the Infusion mix that does it for me and straight into my sets.  Once again Omnis Recordings label cracks it again…

Irish DJ and presenter Annie Mac who has taken over PETE TONGS Radio 1 show on Friday nights is back in Ireland soon performing at the Academy on the 12^th of November. She will be spinning along side BENGA one of the finest DUBSTEP producers at the moment.

Another Dubstep landing into town is MALA playing at Crawdaddy on the 20^th November part of Digital Mystikz support on the night comes from Safetyboy.

One to watch is Peter Kruders latest treat on Gigalo is ‘HARD TO FIND’ after some great 12” releases earlier this year he returns with an A sider sounding like those from Detroit and the b side we find a more gentle approach with ’25 West 38^th Street’.

Detroit innovator of techno Derrick May gave us a memorable and interesting night at the Pod some time back and has finally released a track on his label Transmat Records for the first time in many years – a digital release sees things move forward with Toronto-based techno artist Greg Gow with ‘The Pilgrimage EP’. Gow will be putting his school teacher books aside as his career takes off with this whopper. If you wanna learn a heck of a lot more abut the TECHNO Scene in Detroit watch HIGH TECH SOUL on google which also featured in the Deaf Festival this year. Top documentary.  WWW.MYSPACE.COM/TRANSMAT

With all the ranting and raving about THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT in Manchester it is worth skipping across the water to see what all the fuss is about. It is a proper ‘hands in the air’ style event with absolute homage paid to the various producers / dance acts and DJ’s that perform there regularly. Friday the 4^th of December presents a Cadenza Records party with the famous Luciano. Annie Mac Presents is also at TWP on the 28^th of November with her usual suspects including Boy 8 Bit who plays at Twisted Pepper regularly. www.thewarehouseproject.com for more details

Its birthday time again with Greg and Shane celebrating 21 years,  at the Pavilion in Cork on the 21^st of November. Apparently they will be digging out the classics from Henry’s Sweat to present day. There is also a FREERANGE REOCRDS night there on the 28^th November… SHUR I KAN will be the labels representative…

Chicago’s DJ Rahaan goes back to Kennedy’s  Dublin on Friday November 13th. He can always be relied upon to hit you with the upfront disco and house bringing you the real sound of Chicago.

Louis Osborne set up Mija Recordings some months back and already it is racking up the cred from the head honchos. Their first release MIJA 001 Android Cartel – Notorious Saints EP – with Alan Fitzpatrick & Jet Project Remixes – the Alan Fitzpatrick remix on this EP has just been licensed to Emerson Todd’s “Electric” DJ Mix Compilation on EQ Records – Out in November. A label worth watching and one to consider when sending out your own demos to labels and local too. www.myspace.com/alanfitzpatrick

Alan Fitzpatrick has been highly tipped as one of the new leaders in production and named by Adam Beyer. Fitzpatrick will also be debuting for the Drumcode label at Berghain’s Drumcode Total Bash night in Berlin in December. If you can handle that you can handle anything !

Till next time…

Get in touch with Claire at www.twitter.com/claireroche

Tune into www.powerfm.org for DECKS AND THE CITY on Friday nights at 11- 1am.

Oíche Shamhna, the night of the dead….. All souls are out and soul certainly is the order of the day with Mayer Hawthorne arriving into town on the 31^st October presented to you by the reliable Choice Cuts at Crawdaddy to ease you into your night of disguise and spectacular clubbing. We gotta start you off gently..

From there you can do your thriller dance moves over the Ha Penny Bridge to the Twisted Pepper where DEAFS two week session comes to an end with the Electric Shock gang providing an old school night with HARDFLOOR live on stage. Get your Roland 303 impersonations at the ready. Also Dutch wonderboy LIKE A TIM who appears mainly on the D Jax label (owned and run by Miss Djax- Saskia Slegers) will be mixing it up in the basement.

Also in the venue on the night Dublin Promoters Nightflight are hosting a fancy dress party called, wait for it, RELAX. Yes indeed it a 1980’s theme, forgive me for this but have we not been having a 1980’s revival for the last few fashion seasons! Should be an easy one to prepare for then.

One fire breathing monster from Cork (Chymera) just back from performing with Sven Vath has a new remix coming out – Darko Esser – Zuurkool on Wolfskuil records this autumn. We can expect a new album from Chymera early 2010.

On the 29^th of October Solas on Wexford Street is at is again with one half of 4hero Dego McFarlane.

From their early days as frontrunners of the Jungle / Drum and Bass scene through a Mercury Music Prize nomination to their last critically acclaimed album “Play with Changes”, 4hero have always remained at the very fore front of musical innovation and just simply slickly produced modern beats. It’s a free event as always, you can’t get better than that on a Thursday after work or the ever winding dole queue! De stress here !

Something new and exciting is brewing on the north side of Dublin at an old venue called The Pint with a new lick of paint and management. Laundry is the name of the night and don’t worry if you didn’t get time to iron your shirt before you head out as ironing boards, washing lines and washing powder will be there to give you a new, clean and intelligent night of house and techno.  A collective of 7 DJ’s rotating with international guests. Halloween night is no exception with Conky (jacKit), Conor Feeney (Big Dish Go) Phil Long (www.powerfm.org) and Jeff Walters (Winter Beats). No dirty whites allowed at this one!!!

Shine in Belfast is a real gem for the Halloween party session. Not only is it a night for the creepy crawlies but it is also their birthday.

After 14 years lashing out the beats with artists such as Laurent Garnier, Dave Clarke, Adam Beyer, Green Velvet, Marco Carola and all the greats over the years, while always supporting new and local talent with Timmy Stewart and Japanese Popstars who are now international circuit players.

On the 31^st of October they have a full house with DJ Sneak, Paul Woolford, Pendulum(Dj Set) Skream & Jesse Rose, Alan Simms, Timmy Stewart & Space Dimension Controller. Hot Press wishes you a very happy birthday Shine…

Galway’s boy Darren Nugent (Elevation Record Label) aka Aruba has a new remix out with Sydney based Rodskeez on new label from Barcelona .- Splendid Lo Fi. Steinwiese’s original track Wool Mix has been given the nice techy once over by the pair for playing in the dark dancing hours over Halloween.

Also over in the west Sat 31 October the Disconauts Halloween Party featuring P & Keith on 1′s & 2′s and the man like Mark Logan on latin percussion. Padraic and Keith will be dropping party tunes old and new while Marvellous Mark Logan helps get the party started with those congas, timbales and cowbells

Sat 28 November, Disconauts present Luke Unabomber brings some Northern Sulphuric Soul to Galway as one of the men behind the seminal Manchester club Electric Chair., Luke’s Galway show’s not to be missed. Both shows at the Cellar Bar.

Go Deep into the Haunted House at the Pavilion Cork with Greg and Shane on the 31^st of October. While one to watch in December for the house crew is French boy Sebastian Ledger at the Tripod…

The DEAF closing party happens to fall this year on the 31^st of October so not only are you getting quality music and beats that go bump in the night!

MARK BROOM, Aux 88(live, Mad Scientist Tour 2009) Education performing live (D1Records) Paudi Ahern (TEST)  are all on the line up for the final show down of this intelligent electronic music event. Venue to be announced for this one but please get your tickets in advance as it ALWAYS sells out….

Now what to wear for Halloween, Diana from V should conquer the dance floors!

Catch Claire on ‘Decks and the City’ Friday nights on www.powerfm.org & at Laundry on the 24^th October at The Pint Eden Quay www.laundrydublin.com

The legend that is David Rodigan will be playing his very best reggae and roots et all else at the Candy Collective / Choice Cuts event on the 22^nd October at Sugar Club.

An intelligent booking with the Candy Collective, graphic designer Vaughan Oliver also talking shop on the night too

There will also be an Irish Record label party at the newly popular venue PYGMALLION on the 24^th October featuring Aciitone, D1 Recordings, Elevation, FVF, Mode Music, Nice & Nasty, Psychonavigation, SeedyR, and Stereotonic. A free event from 5 – 3am,

Other acts to watch out for and a favourite of mine – Tim Green, Mark Broom, Cristian Vogel and Irelands Spilly Walker, Jamie Behan and  technical techno genius on vinyl Sunil Sharpe. Miss out on this festival and you are missing the essence of it all.  For dates and tickets go to www.deafireland.com

Ireland’s Berlin based DANCEPIG aka Dara O Neill is making a return to our shores at WAX venue Dublin on the 10^th October. With several releases under his belt and – The Countdown remix has just been released this week online at www.kingnail.com DANCEPIG is a sure bet on a night out for live sets.

Proud as punch DJ / Producer Dave De Valera has just had his ep ‘Say That’ signed to club66 Records with remixes coming in from Brian Taaffe, Def Disko and LOKO whom has also remixed Aki Bergen. De Valera’s ep will be available in November.  Also on the 20^th November Dave will be playing at MINISTRY OF SOUND in the UK.

Ben Watts performed a very memorable set at Twisted Pepper some months back so if it is something similar to this you are after then check out the BUZZIN FLY parties back in the basement of PLASTIC PEOPLE in East London with the labels own Chris Woodward will be spinning the typical BUZZIN FLY sound.

German DJ / Producer Gregor Tresher is releasing his album The Life Wire at the end of October on his self owner label Break New Soil. Both Laurent Garnier and Ritchie Hawtin and Ivan Smagghe (come to Ireland soon Ivan!) are showing serious love for his work. Top track on the album and one to definitely get hold of is The Very End, remixes of this track due to follow the album release

Dance music with a greater conscience is The Resistance Tour – a traveling party with a mission visiting some of Europe’s most exiting club nights and venues through out the autumn.

Resistance DJs are Arveene (Clampdown) and DJ Wool (Plant NYC) will be joined on stage by some of Europe’s hottest DJs and emerging local talent. Their mission is not only to play great electronic music but to high light TOBACCO as a product with no discernible attributes, other than the addictive qualities of some of its constituents. Why is this drug still on the market they ask you when other drugs are prohibited? Corporations continue to drain massive wealth and power and convince individuals to voluntarily addict themselves. These events are being organized in conjunction with www.help-eu.com and the European Union.  Catch the tour in Berlin 2nd Oct at the Magnet Club www.magnet-club.de and then onto Rotterdam 3rd October: Off The Wall at Factory 10 www.factory010.nl

DFA’s duo STILL GOING have a new release out beginning of October called Spaghetti Circus / Untitled Love… top tune with pianos, synths and vocals coming from Reggie Watts and Andrew Rapposo on bass (formerly of Hercules and Love Affair). Another anthem for the duo and a long and worth while wait for this one too since their last release in 2007 the Still Going Theme.

We await their arrival in Ireland as they have not yet made an appearance on the circuit here. ? Any takers?

Something a little different coming to Ireland under Rap Ireland crew is Wu Tang’s RZA on October 8^th at Button Factory while Tinchey Stryder is their guest in PortRush’s Lush Nightclub on the 27^th October, A promoter who appears to be gaining strength over the last year.

In the next edition of Hot Press I will be taking a look at the best Halloween events to attend but one worth giving a mention now for fear of it being sold out is SHINE in Belfast who will be celebrating its 14^th birthday on the 31^st of October.

Spread over 3 rooms with DJ Sneak, Alan Simms, Pendulum, Jesse Rose and Belfast man Timmy Stewart. The rest of the country has a lot to compete with on this one… but more on that next issue…

Catch Claire on DECKS AND THE CITY Friday nights on www.powerfm.org 11 -1am

With the quietest month in club land behind us promoters across the country are preparing for the onslaught of the next round of students and due to the economic cycle we will have a large amount of mature students too to cater for too… thanks god for that..

Dance floors will be full, bars will be hopping, music will be created during study time and the libraries will have tumble weed drifting through.  Welcome back to one and all of you, I look forward to your energy bouncing around the cities again and brining club land up a notch..

One special student night that has been a complete success in the last few years is TRASHED at Andrews Lane every Tuesday night for the best in Indie and Electro. Celebrating 5 years on the go on the 29^th of September special guest with the Toxic Avenger aka Simon Delacroix from Paris in town to assist in celebrations.

Loud, noisy and will wake all the neighbours. Bring it on.

Waterford’s Republik has a few gems in store with a Freerange Records night on the 26^th of September featuring Jimpster; also on the 10^th October Glasgow’s Slam will be squeezing into The Loft after a healthy tour of Australia.

Just when you thought the festivals were over and your head was sane again after Electric Picnic along comes another one – a day festival. The YES FESTIVAL being held in the middle of a business district in Dublin’s IFSC. The day time event has over 25 DJ’s from around the country performing over 3 stages with a great little outdoor area.

Al Keegan (Mixed Salad / Rubberband / Aciitone) will team up with Lil Dave Redmond and Al Kennington (Nightflight / Airbound / Hang Tough). The event is cheap as chips with just a 20€ cover charge, sure how can you not attend this as your kick off to the collage year of parties and debauchery … DJ’s at the event are Sunil Sharpe of Spin dizzy records, Colour TV DJ’s, Mark Alton and Pulse FM’s Saoirse Ryan and plenty more in store too…

One producer mentioned in a previous piece getting top reviews from all the right places is Cork’s Mark O Sullivan. His album Fragments from a Long Country’ has Resident Advisor recognising the album as ‘an accomplished piece of work’ www.residentadvisor.net for more…

I can’t keep up with the activities of Dublin’s DJ Wool aka Glen Brady. Currently based in Berlin he is about to embark on a run of 25 shows around Europe and the states both as The Glass Live and DJ Wool. Glen is also about to release DJ Wool featuring Subtitle “Strobelight’ featuring remixes by Fantastadon, Arveene & Misk, Royal Rumble and Computer Love. This will be released on digital format and also on the black stuff (vinyl) in October on a new LA based imprint Little Owl music.

Also to be released is The Glass ‘SuperHero’ featuring remixes by legend Luke Solomon, and my favourites Ursula 1000, Bit Thief and Sam Rockwell available in November on Plant Music NYC

More birthdays in club land with 110^th Street in Galway celebrating 11 years on the 11^th of November… details to be revealed here shortly with SiSi (Cyril Briscoe & Cian Ó Cíobháin also spinning on the 3^rd and 25^th of October. The Bernard Shaw in Dublin is 3 years young on the 27^th of September with a secret special guest coming into town.

Choice Cuts have a fantastic selection of gigs forthcoming – The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble appear as though they have moved to Ireland with 4 performances around Galway, Cork Dublin and Limerick from the 22^nd October onwards.

Hip Hop style and always alternative is Parisian ONRA who will also be performing at Twisted Pepper on the 18^th September, a visual show with live performance. There is something special about this act that I recommend a view with Olan from All City Records in Support.

Derrick May who is on a mission to save the world from bad music is bouncing into HYPE at POD on the 16^th October; he is taking no prisoners on his quest as he reveals intelligent sets and hi tech soul. The origin of dance music has arrived……

One thing about the lack of finances in the air is the little secret parties that seem to be appearing in the oddest of locations in the wee small hours.  I could mention them here but secrets are secrets for a reason. Now more than ever it is a good time for new promoters to take advantage of venues that are in need of a little assistance and bars and clubs are open to ideas that will draw in a crowd. So get your thinking caps on a put the college books aside and throw that party you always dreamed of… (And let me know about it too) ………

Catch Claire Djing at POD in 18^th September for POWER FM’s September Weekender and DECKS and the City on Friday nights online on www.powerfm.org

www.twitter.com/claireroche