Whistling in the wind

To celebrate the launch of their awesome single ‘Hell’s Bells’ on London’s Gung Ho! Records in April, Dublin duo Arveene and Misk are doing a quick tour of Ireland’s premier clubs showcasing new material and remixing other people’s tracks live.

You can catch them in action at The Trinity Rooms, Limerick (March 11); The Pavillion, Cork (12); GPO, Galway (13); and The Button Factory, Dublin (14).
Their single also includes a track called ‘Blow Your Whistle’, which was co-produced by fellow Dubliner Det Boi.
Already on sale is Arveene and Misk’s remix of ‘Love Thy Self’ by Midfield General on Skint, while their banging remix for Mr Ozio’s ‘Erruer Jean’ is available on March 16 on Ed Banger as a vinyl and digital single.
Northern Irish duo Psycatron, aka Paul Hamill and Phil Johnston, have been making music since 2002, and have released tunes on stamps such as Maelstrom, Alternative Route, Shine Recordings, and Sander Kleinberg’s Little Mountain.
They had set up their own label Psycatron Records in 2007 and are now back after a brief production hiatus with a full arsenal of battle weapons ready for a relentless 2009 assault on clubland.
The new material showcases a tougher techno-orientated sound and follows their recent outing on Henry Von and Fergie’s new label Rekluse. Psycatron remixes have since been lined up for Luke Dzierzek’s Fling Recordings, Mark O’Sullivan’s DK7 and Process.
However, the biggest feather in their bow is without question becoming the first Irish act to sign to the legendary Carl Craig’s Planet E Records.
Their ‘Deeper Shades Of Black’ track was picked up by the Detroit DJ via Myspace and featured extensively in his sets on a recent tour of Australia. Planet E will release it in late 2009.
Dublin trance DJ Paul Webster has been booked for the Homecoming Festival, which takes place at Irvine Beach in Ayrshire in Scotland on Bank Holiday, Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May 2009. Also appearing among the nine arenas are The Enemy, Armin van Buuren and Bob Sinclar.
Webster, incidentally, has just remixed Signum’s seminal ‘First Strike’ and Fred Baker’s anthemic ‘Explosion’.
The aforementioned Fergie returns to Dublin’s Tripod after a four-year hiatus on April 3, and he’ll be promoting the party with a one-hour mix and interview in RTÉ Pulse’s The Phonic Express on March 26.
Award-winning Donegal duo Timmy & Timmy mark their recent double victory at the Irish Dance Music Awards 2009 with the launch of their monthly club Flat in Voodoo, Letterkenny on February 27.
It’s a massive celebration of north-west talent which sees the Full Tilt label founders joined by fellow IDMA winner Reuben Keeney, IDMA nominee Jason Young along with up and coming pair John Rainey and Conor Rainey.
Incidentally, sixteen-year-old Reuben Keeney is not the only homegrown producer that young who’s making waves internationally. Des Mallon from Cork has had five tracks signed up in the past 12 months.
The Leesider produces under the alias Pulstate and has been making tunes since he was aged eleven.
Recently signed to UK label Infrasonic Recordings, Mallon’s releases so far have been Pulstate ‘s singles ‘Fuel The Passion’ and ‘Lost Forever’ (both on Infraprogressive), the Pulstate remix of Andy Tau’s ‘The Path’ (on Infrasonic), and Ehren Stowers’ ‘Both Worlds’ (on Perceptive Recordings) and a remix of Six Senses’ ‘Cosmic Belt’.
Midlands producer Johnny Pluse – who has done a cheeky bootleg of Sound Crowd’s ‘Ringsend’ – is set to release his Pronofunk EP next month on his own Bulabeats imprint. It will be available on vinyl and download.
St Patrick’s Day marks the release of the album 15 from Nice and Nasty Records. The compilation marks 15 years of Desy Balmer’s esteemed stamp and features tracks by Terrence Dixon, Mark O’Sullivan, Derek Carr, Chymera, Itokim and The Parallel and remixes from Matthew Bushwacka, Octogen, Dagham & Remlab and Aruba.
Hailing from the Netherlands, Q-dance is famed for taking the extreme sounds of hardstyle around the globe with its The Sound Of Q-dance tour.
The first Irish date is at St George’s Market, Belfast on Easter Monday, April 13. Hardstyle masters Showtek, Donkeyrollers (live), Zany, Headhunterz, B-Front, Jowan and MC DV8 take to the stage for what promises to be the noisiest night of the year.
Recently announced gigs worth noting in your diary include the return of Orbital’s Phil Hartnoll to Dublin on March 28, followed by Scottish star Calvin Harris on May 8 and German electro rocker Boyz Noise on May 31. All three play The Academy… THE BEAT GOES ON!