There are four Irish tracks among the 21 included on the new Eddie Halliwell CD, Fire It Up, on New State Recordings. The bosh-master chose two tunes from Belfast ex-pat Greg Downey, one from John O’Callaghan in his Joint Operations Centre guise and one from Donegal duo Timmy & Tommy.

German trancemeister Paul van Dyk has included two Irish cuts on his summer double-CD. Cream Ibiza features Dubliner Paul Webster’s slamming ‘Engaged’ and Northern duo The A&N Project’s ‘Just When I Think There’s An Answer’. The latter is also the sole Irish representative on Judge Jules’ Judgement Sundays 2008 album on Ministry.
‘Beautiful Sound’, the tech-trance anthem from Spin FM host John Gibbons and production partner Scimon Tist is finally out this fortnight on CD on London DJ Ali Wilson’s renowned Tekelec stamp. The firm Irish clubbers’ favourite, the Paul Webster remix, topped the online sales charts within four days of its recent digital release. The CD also includes new remixes from Northerners Mog & Crawf and Ricocha.
Barcelona-based Leesider Chymera has a new single out on Berliner Len Faki’s techno label figure. The a-side ‘Ellipsis’ is a mesmerising builder, while b-side ‘Eulogy’ is equally atmospheric but with a tougher techno skin.
Dublin-based house label Queep has lined up two storming singles for release in July. Limerick duo Ross & Buddy’s electro-house vocal epic ‘Why’ is already building a huge buzz in its original mix, and the commercial package out on July 11 will also include fresh remixes from Alex B, Groove, Jackindabox, Kris Benton, A.C.K. and Simon Point.
It’s preceded this month by Jackindabox’s ‘Feeling Naughty’, an uplifting slab of vocal electro house.
Queep is also launching a sister label on July 4, Shabuum, which will focus on electro. It opens its account with the dirty French workout, ‘Wow’, from Washing Majazz. Remixes from Humantronic, Yud Kei and Jackindabox add to the magic.
Urban Hussy is an exciting new project featuring the combined talents of vocalist/songwriter Chelonis R Jones (Get Physical) and Dublin-based producer Edwin James (Corrugated Tunnel). The beautifully haunting ‘Mardi Gras’ comes out in July on Galway-based Elevation Recordings in a few different flavours, depending on which way your musical tastes swing.
France’s Elegia (aka Laurent Collat) makes a long overdue return to the world of house music with a superb techy remake, while Belfast’s golden boy Timmy Stewart delivers another top quality remix with a nice twisted dub to boot.
June 21 sees the second Planetlove Summer Session at Fairyhouse Racecourse, and plans are afoot for a special tribute to the late, great Tony de Vit in the Polysexual Arena. To mark the Trade legend’s tenth anniversary on July 3, Lisa Lashes, Lisa Pin-Up, Tidy Boys and Anne Savage will all play at least one Tony record in their sets.
Attention in Northern Ireland has already switched to the tenth birthday celebration weekend of the parent festival Planetlove, which runs this year on Friday September 5 from 7pm to 1am and on Saturday September 6 from 2pm to 2am. More than 130 DJs and dance acts will appear on the Saturday, but Friday is all about Dutch superstar Tiesto, who will perform a five-hour set.
A limited number of early bird weekend tickets are on sale from planetlovemusic.com and independent ticket outlets in the North, priced Stg £85 (plus booking fee), which includes admission on Friday and Saturday, free camping and car parking.
Jennie’s Night is a special non-profit night featuring John O’Callaghan, John Gibbons, Beats & Pieces, Paul Webster and Neal Scarborough, which we are urging Hot Press readers to support.
The event is being run to help raise funds to aid the recovery of Jennie Courtney, an ardent clubber who was involved in a tragic car accident recently. Jennie’s Night is the only Dublin appearance of Irish jet-setter John O’Callaghan this summer. Admission is €20.
Belfast after-hours club Yello is hosting a massive 20 years of Acid House Weekender on August 23 and 24, featuring Haçienda DJ Graeme Park, S-Xpress chart-topper Mark Moore and Boy’s Own’s Terry Farley.
Clampdown is going from strength to strength in its new home at Andrew’s Lane Theatre in Dublin. The warehouse-style design of the venue itself has been the subject of much excitement among clubbers recently, and promoters Johnny Moy and Arveene have been adding to that with their stunning summer line-up.
Hot Chip will DJ on June 14, while Skint Records founder Damian Harris dons his Midfield General guise on June 28 to promote his second album, General Disarray.
Glamorous house club Hed Kandi is replacing 515 at Tripod for a summer run of nine weeks, beginning on July 4 and wrapping up on September 5. Advance tickets for every week of the run are €20 … THE BEAT GOES ON!