First up is Fran Hartnett. He has a release with DSNT in the later part of June. DSNT is a Belfast-based Electronic Arts Collective. Activities include artist management, events, a record label, graphic and motion design, filming and editing services, curating art exhibitions, creating visual arts and motion graphics.
They’ve brought a host of high-profile international acts to Belfast, including Marcel Dettmann for their second birthday party.
Fran is one of the truly great talents to emerge from Dublin’s clubbing scene. He’s played live in Fabric in London. He has a Masters degree in Media and Music Technology from Trinity College. Fran’s live sets are legendary; he’s an authority on Elektron drum machine, synthesiser and sampler technology. His latest release with Belgian label Plector featured a remix from Sleeparchive.
Next up is Sunil Sharpe, another long-serving member of Dublin’s underground. Sunil has a 12’ release coming out on Trensmat in August and a remix on the way for Uretran, aka Bleaching Agent. He’s playing in Westerunie Amsterdam (June 20) and The Factory, Galway (28) and will return to Berghain later in the year.
Another man going from strength to strength is DeFeKT. He's just launched the Tinfoil label with Sunil. He played on Dave Clarke’s White Noise 400 show that aired on RTÉ 2fm. He performed at Barn Dance in Dublin and has a string of vinyl releases behind him. DeFeKT has an EP out this month on Komisch, his remix for Hardfloor will be available in late July. And he's releasing under his E.S.S. moniker for Aaron Costello’s label Signal Code shortly.
Chunk is working with a new Irish label, Dolphin Friendly, in July. Jay Riordan has a new EP out on his label ToneKontrol Recordings. Robert Mash Tomcik has released his Deadly Silence EP on Carypla. Jason Young has a record out with Whartone Records on June 23.
Irish deep house duo Word Of Mouth have unleashed their Rumour Has It EP on Underground Source Records. Ciara Cunnane has released her debut EP on London label Protohype. It features vocals from Dublin diva Antoinette, who's sung on tracks for David Morales, Fish Go Deep, Legowelt and Corrugated Tunnel.
I myself have recently released my Apocalypse Now EP on TMM Records. It’s a collection I wrote for my shows in the Button Factory. My second release with the Advent’s label Kombination Research has been confirmed for later in the summer.
On the clubbing front The Pavilion in Cork has announced a new Saturday night event, Pana Shuffle. It’s a house and disco affair, spearheaded by a string of local DJs. Saturday 14th is a busy one in Dublin. Hidden Agenda and All City host Sophie and Eclair Fifi at the Button Factory. Archetype present Jonas Kopp in the Twisted Pepper, Moodybeats welcome Mihai Popoviciu to the Turk’s Head and Vision Collector have Jon Hester at Tengu Bar.
Marcel Dettmann returns to Cork on June 20 when he plays the Savoy with Bastardo Electrico. The next night in Dublin Subject has Morgan Geist in the Twisted Pepper and Jerome Hill in The Pint with D:Fuse. In Waterford Re:Publik has organised Mind Against in Crystal Night Club.