Beats + Pieces: Enigma superclub closes

Phil Kieran has remixed ‘Murderous’ by the hugely influential Nitzer Ebb. The single is out this fortnight on Novamute Records… Irish ex-pat Jay Pidgeon’s collaboration with Project Mayhem ‘Ground Zero’ is released next month on Mayhem Records. The track has already been included on Lisa Lashes’ Extreme Euphoria compilation… LMC vs U2’s ‘Take Me To The Clouds Above’ – which marries the lyrics from Whitney Houston’s ‘How Will I Know’ with the music from U2’s ‘With Or Without You’, is being tipped for the top of the pop charts, having dominated clubland for months. The track started life as a summer bootleg in Ibiza, but was re-recorded after U2 gave their blessing for it to be officially released. What with their new album not being ready and everything… Detroit legend DJ Bone releases an EP on Irish techno label D1 Recordings in March. Expect a flurry of D1 singles this Spring…
Despite the fact that one of its key members Ed Real has left the fold, the Nukleuz Records team was this week celebrating the news that it was the UK’s biggest selling dance label for the third year running in 2003, based on official industry sales figures. Since 2001, Nukleuz has sold more 12inch vinyl in the UK than any other label, and incredibly it shifted the same units last year – 300,000 – as it did in 2002, although admittedly this was down on the one million units sold in 2001 when Mauro Picotto’s former stamp BXR was part of its stable. Next month Nukleuz releases Hardbeat EP 23, which includes Chaw’s ‘Wanna Live Til I Die’, a collaboration between aspiring Wexford DJ Paddy Chaw and yours truly. The track’s title refrain samples Sex Pistol Sid Vicious, who died 25 years ago this month. A new book, incidentally, claims quite convincingly that Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen were both murdered by a New York heroin dealer…
Carrickmacross club Enigma is reported to have closed its doors for good, after a rollercoaster year which included a massive police raid while almost 4,000 clubbers were at its Coloursfest event. The last party at the venue, on New Year’s Eve, was coincidentally the last ever 2FM Sessions Tour broadcast, but many of those in attendance believed Enigma would be reopening later this month. The club’s website is still online, but the message board has been shut down and there are no new parties advertised. And the man whose job it was to maintain the venue’s three websites last week sent out an email saying he was now unemployed. The owners of Enigma have as yet made no comment on the closure…
Limerick hotspot Trinity Rooms has announced an action packed programme for the next couple of weeks. Tomorrow (Jan 30) it’s the Trinity Rooms End of Winter Party, with the Irish hip-hop legend that is DJ Mek on the hallowed turntables, and his former Scary Eire bandmate RiRa providing the freestyle raps. In the second room, Mr Ray will be going salsa crazy with a Latin mash-up. Just confirmed for February 27 is the Limerick debut of MTV r’n’b supremo Trevor Nelson, while other upcoming acts include Messiah J & The Expert on February 26, and Mark Rae & Veba on March 4. The club was recently commended in court for being “well run”…
2FM’s Mister Spring plays Hillstreet in Mohill in Leitrim this Saturday (31), the same night 2FM DJs Frank Jez and Holly play The Greyhound Bar in Tralee… North Kerry DJs Fizzy and Excel return to The Gables in Athea, County Limerick on February 7. They are also running a Lisa Pin-Up party at After Dark in Listowel on February 27… Berlin’s Andre Galuzzi plays Metropolitan in Dublin tonight (29)… Fellow DJs host a Valentine’s Night party at The Bridge House in Enfield. Billy Nasty plays Lamberts in Camolin, County Wexford on the same night… Julian Liberator plays Club FX in Cork on February 13…
Godskitchen returns to the Point in Dublin on March 13, with Lisa Lashes headlining. Lashes has just signed to the management team that looks after Coldplay, Fatboy Slim and Paul Oakenfold. There’s more hard dance at GK from the Tidy Boys duo, while trance DJs Mike PUSH, Tall Paul and Judge Jules are also appearing. It’s an over 18s event that runs from 6pm to 1am, and tickets are on sale now from usual outlets… THE BEAT GOES ON!