The Global Gathering presents Hi:Fi festival revealed in the last issue of Hot Press will be officially announced at the end of March. Godskitchen owner James Aldgate told Beats & Pieces to expect “a monster line-up, covering all styles of dance music. It will open us up to a wider audience than before.”
However, he refused to confirm any of the headliners, and was reluctant to discuss the recent MCD and Clear Channel buyout of his company – although he did express the hope that the deal would strengthen Godskitchen’s hand in the US (where Clear Channel is the dominant event promoter). The event will run at Belvedere House, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, on August 5th and 6th.
Incidentally, Ireland’s original boutique festival, the Electric Picnic, is due to unveil a staggering line-up in April – though more big names are likely to be confirmed before than. Pet Shop Boys, Basement Jaxx, Massive Attack and Gary Numan are among the acts tipped to be headlining at Stradbally in Co Laois from September 1st to 3rd, and tickets are already selling extremely well for what promises to be a hugely successful festival.
Irish ex-pat Fergie has scored a huge underground techno hit with his first release of 2006, ‘Ken The Men’ (named in tribute to his older brother, apparently) on the acclaimed Punchfunk Records stamp. The young gun’s effort – sounding like early Plastikman meets early Harthouse – also comes in a hot remix from Tolfrey & Silvester. It’s released on March 24th under the banner of Excentric EP Volume 1.
The Fergster plays Lush in Portrush on April Fool’s Day, incidentally, and headlines a special one-off party at Cork City Hall on June 4th – the first rave at the venue in almost a decade – which also features bosh beatmaster, Eddie Halliwell.
Aspiring electronic producer Dara O’Neill’s plans to launch his first release as Dancepig, the Electrolites EP, by parading a litter of cute piglets across Dublin city centre was hindered somewhat by the outbreak of a major riot on the afternoon in question.
However, the EP has survived and is currently available to buy or loot from specialist record stores.
Belfast house head Jupiter Ace has been considered for a remix of a forthcoming U2 release. U2’s management requested a copy of his remix showreel and reportedly liked what they heard. The Ace – aka Gregory Ferguson – has previously remixed artists such as Fatboy Slim and MVP.
Dublin breaks duo Splitloop – who were nominated in three categories in the recent Breakspoll Awards at Fabric in London, where their performance was broadcast live on BBC – have licensed two tracks to MTV for use in its global show, Barrio 19.
This fortnight’s most essential albums are Roots Manuva’s Alternately Deep (Big Dada), a superb mid-priced collection of outtakes and rarities, Nightmares On Wax’ In A Space Outta Sound (Warp), as trippy and dubby as their Smokers Delight set, and Stereolab’s Fab Four Suture (Warp), a collection of recent singles that whets the appetite for next year’s brand new album.
Choice compilations vying for your cash include The Cuban Brothers’ A to Z (Sunday Best), which launches Rob da Bank’s new series, Joe Clausell’s Translate (NRK), which is interwoven with specially created cinematic excerpts, and DJ Kicks: The Exclusives (!K7) (featuring tracks from Kruder & Dorfmeister, DJ Cam, Tiga and Chicken Lips).
Jorge Jaramillo’s Winter Sessions Volume III (Subliminal) will probably be the biggest selling club compilation of the month. It includes two CDs and a DVD of Jorge in action. But the B&P favourite is Mash Up from French mix mistress, Missil (Discograph), which veers from M.I.A. to Afrika Bambaataa to Rodney P and takes in our own Alloy Mental along the way.
Finnish production wizard Jori Hulkkonen will be joining the Stereotonic crew at Wax in Dublin on May 19th. The eagerly anticipated bash is preceded by an ultra-rare Irish visit on April 7th from Detroit legend Carl Craig, whose seminal Paperclip People singles ‘Throw’ and ‘Climax’ remain two of the most wonderful dance records ever. And his ‘Bug in a Bassbin’ track (as Innerzone Orchestra) is widely regarded as the most important record in the history of drum ‘n’ bass.
Soulwax bring their Radio Soulwax party to Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre April 12th. Too Many DJs and Scott MacNaughton complete the line-up. Tickets are on sale now, as they are for One Track Records Easter Saturday party at Kennedy’s. Quentin Harris is the guest.
On April 22nd, the inimitable Coldcut will be performing at The Village with a full live band. Unlike the duo’s Matt Black and Jonathan More, the gig is close to selling out, so bag your tickets soon.
Belfast club Reckya presents a superb line-up on Easter Monday at The Limelight, with Roni Size, James Lavelle and Doves set to ensure that Planet Love’s Spring party at King’s Hall isn’t the only full house in Belfast on April 17th.
On St Patrick’s Day you might like to dance the night away at Mash-Up (featuring retro-futuristic breaks producer Headman) at TBMC, one of a number of clubs running in Dublin on the national bank holiday.
While on St Patrick’s Eve, there will be a lot more dancing going on with the B&P recommendations being the four-roomed Revolution at The Vaults in Dublin (with D.A.V.E. The Drummer, Slipmatt and John Askew among the DJs performing) and Access at Dolan’s in Limerick, where Go Deep, Musiklab, Vinyl and Nu Killa Cru are among the clubs teaming up for a three-roomed all-Irish DJ festival.THE BEAT GOES ON!