Are you experienced?: Smirnoff Experience

After a weekend of large scale dance events all around the world, taking in Toronto, Cape Town and São Paulo, the grand finale for the inaugural round of Smirnoff Experience clubbing extravaganzas was reserved for Dublin’s Point Depot. Boasting a truly diverse line-up that united house music in all its various hues, as well as some good old fashioned rave attitude courtesy of Orbital, this was an extravaganza that lived up to the hype: Smirnoff have to be lauded for their willingness to back such adventurous programming.

As the doors opened, FM 104 DJ Al Gibbs warmed the cavernous Point venue with his deep, progressive house, setting the pace for Chicago eccentric Green Velvet’s live performance. Known to his Mum as Cajmere, the Windy City producer has all the right ingredients – chiselled good looks, twisted yet infectious tunes, a wacky, surreal view of the world – to make it big. Going on tonight’s performance, he shouldn’t have to wait too long. Teasing the crowd with his skewed tech funk, Green Velvet dropped some of his best-loved tracks – ‘La La Land’ and ‘Flash’ – before stripping down to his waist and firing laser guided synth riffs into the crowd.

After a brief but entertaining funky house interlude from Eoghan Young, The Point’s house lights dimmed and the brothers Hartnoll, wearing their trademark miners’ lights took to the stage. Having toured the world in 2001, Phil Hartnoll said he was “glad to be back in Dublin; we always love playing here” – and, listening to the reception their re-working of Belinda Carlisle and the Dr. Who theme received, it’s not hard to see why Orbital are regular fixtures in Dublin.

Apart from these much loved party pieces, the Hartnoll brothers impressed with some new, melodic material, before going right back to the beginning with ‘Chime’, arguably the greatest tune of their career.

NY house DJ Roger Sanchez brought proceedings to a close, blending soulful diva vocals with tough, tribal house rhythms, and previewing his soon to be massive ‘Animal’ track to a rapturous response. “It’s amazing how big dance music has become, I never expected to be headlining an event like this,” Sanchez said, relaxing before his slot. Indeed this event was a testament to house music’s increasing appeal – but also proof that Smirnoff have made a serious commitment to Irish club culture.

With dates confirmed for Lush!, South and Red Box, the year ahead should be quite an experience. (Sorry!)