The world is falling apart, but still the clubs are awash with fancy dress and theme nights. Drinks are cheaper than ever, and are often served in everything from fancy ice-buckets to toilet potties (Party Monster every second Friday at Ri Ra are guilty of this). There has never been a better time to get the glitter on and lose the plot.

One such night in Dublin, which feels like a cross between Empire of the Sun and a Kajagoogoo video, is WAR at SPY on South William Street. I popped my head in one Friday recently to observe the "indie rave kids", many of whom sported tribal stripes across their faces and Don Johnson jackets. Great craic was had by all, and it’s certainly one venue that will have queues round the block once the students are back.

The clubbing elders should take a leaf out of WAR’S book and let their hair down… which is where the Spiegeltent comes in. Spiegeltent is always a tempting destination for the retired raver and the new young pups in town alike. As the beating epicentre of the Dublin Fringe Festival, the temporary venue has some interesting shows lined up, with my favourite electronic experimentalists Synth Eastwood performing on September 10.

Meanwhile, Marq Walsh — aka Questionmarq — has just released new remixes for Italian deep house label Gotto Keep Faith, while September will see him put out a mix of Alankara’s 'Sacred Soul'. It’s a deep house number with sassy vocals all the way. Another remix on Gotto Keep Faith Records — this time of Duoswing’s Metrotendencies — will also include a DJ Romain remix.

The Dublin Electronic Music Festival (DEAF) runs from October 22-31. Modeselektor and Octave One are among the artists confirmed to date.
DEAF will also be releasing a CD of new Irish electronica, to be distributed at the launch in September. Submissions are called for from established names and relative unknowns in any style or genre of electronic music. Check out www.deafireland.com for more details.

Prior to the festival, there is a DEAF FUNDRAISER being held in Meeting House Square on August 21. Spilly Walker and Boxcutter (pictured) provide the tunes.
If you’re having a slump on a Tuesday evening, then at 6.30pm trance star Sander Van Doorn’s highly acclaimed Identity radio show hits the RTE Pulse airwaves. Identity has developed a huge following around the world since it started in 2006.

Hoping to get away for a quick summer break? Then I’d recommend a night at Water Gate, Berlin on the 19th August where Monika Kruse of Terminal M records and Dirt Crew (Dirt Crew Recordings) are on the bill. And guess what? It stays open till sunrise. They serve tea too if you ask nicely, even at 4am.

Electric Picnic’s line-up is getting better and better as the weeks progress, with Boy 8-Bit now on the bill. He follows his ‘The Suspense is Killing Me’ release on Diplo’s Mad Decent imprint with his four-tracker monster Baltic Pine EP on This Is Music Records.
The title track features an elastic bass-with-a-punch and an intriguing melody filled with accordion, piano and brass. 

Boy 8-Bit, AKA Dave Morris, exploded on to the scene in 2005 with his first EP on Touche’s Bodyclap imprint. He has since released on Drop the Lime’s Trouble and Bass imprint, Diplo’s Mad Decent, and has remixed artists including Arthur Baker and Dave Clarke, Chromeo, Midfield General,Lethal Bizzle, Mika, Hybrid and The Black Ghosts.
Also due at the Picnic is the Aether Collective, assembled by Switzerland’s DJ /producer Luciano. We can't wait!