Beats + Pieces: Fight for the right to party

As this column was being filed, Gardaí were objecting to the opening hours of a number of Dublin city centre nightclubs at the annual license renewal hearings, and almost 20,000 clubbers had signed an online petition protesting against earlier nightclub opening times.

The matter is dealt with fully elsewhere in this issue, but BEATS & PIECES felt it should highlight the plight of popular Dublin promoter, Creation, which is pleading for financial help after Gardaí recently handed it down an E1,100 fine and confiscated all of its equipment and records. Creation has been running peaceful and popular outdoor techno beach parties for several years, often in north Dublin, and some of the recent events attracted 1,500 people. Creation’s website had displayed heartening pictures of weary clubbers cleaning up after themselves at 7am. However, at the most recent event, Gardaí had been tipped of about the location and turned up as the sound system was being set up, and confiscated it and boxes of one of the promoters’ records. On top of the fine, Creation had to shell out for the PA and other running costs – such as wages that had been agreed to be paid – so the whole affair ended up breaking the bank of a bunch of nice, dance-loving people who have brought a lot of underground pleasure to Irish clubbing over the years. So if any of the 20,000 people who supported millionaire John Reynolds’ ‘save clubbing’ campaign last month would like to help, they can make a credit card donation for these considerably less wealthy techno DJs online at www.dubcreation.cjb.net. Meanwhile, the good folks at Bodytonic have set up a concerned clubbers website at www.giveusthenight.com and will be running an ongoing campaign online. Respect …
A record three Irish DJs have been selected to appear at this year’s Red Bull Music Academy, the first stage of which is running in Rome this fortnight Over 2,000 DJ and musicians from a total of 70 nations submitted demo tapes for consideration by Academy judges – but only 60 will be taking part. The three lucky Irish DJs, who won all-expenses trips to Italy where they will be coached by leading music industry experts, are Tu-ki – who represented Ireland at this month’s World DJ Championships – and Rizm, both from Dublin, and Colm Kenefick, from Cork. Scratch-masters Tu-ki (christened Aidan Taggart) and Rizm (Loughlin Sweeney) are renowned on Dublin’s hip-hop circuit, while Stevie G’s protégé Kenefick, also on the hip-hop tip, has been the most exciting Leeside newcomer in recent years. Supporters and those who wish they could have made it can monitor the daily workshop sessions and nightly parties online at www.redbullmusicacademy.com …
To celebrate the release of the new album Release Through Velocity on NYC electro label Satamile, Decal – aka Alan O’Boyle – plays his first and probably only live electro set in Dublin this year at The Shelter on October 15. Support comes from Metroneem, whose awesome debut EP, ‘Skip Code’, is out now on Satamile … Albums out this fortnight which have been transferred to the BEATS & PIECES iPod include Maroons’ Ambush (choice hip-hop on Quannum Projects), Roni Size’s Return To V (soulful d’n’b on V Recordings), Red Tape from Brooks (sexed-up industrial house on Soundalike), Etienne de Crecy’s Super Discount 2 (proof that French music can still excite, on Pias) and Boca 45’s stunning Pitch Sounds (classic cut ‘n’ paste block rockin’ hip-hop on Grand Central) … Compilations that caught our eye include Phil Asher’s Soul In The House on Kickin’ and Xpress 2’s aptly-titled A Collection Of Classics on Azuli …
Hotly-tipped eight-piece Afrodizz specialise in the Afrobeat sound pioneered by the great Fela Kuti, and have attracted accolades from the likes of Gilles Peterson and Snowboy. They play Spiegeltent in Dublin on October 8th … The Kitchen Reunion takes place this fortnight (9th) at Tribecca Bar, Earl Of Kildare Hotel. All proceeds from the fundraiser go to Crumlin Children’s Hospital … Lisa Lashes and Agnelli & Nelson will play The Imperial Hotel, Dundalk, County Louth on October 27th … Judge Jules and Eddie Halliwell will launch Slinky’s new album in Ireland at Frankies in Raphoe, County Donegal on October 15th. The Slinky tour continues at Revolution at The Beacon in Courtown, County Wexford on October 24th, with Marco V and Paul Glazby among the many DJs … And finally, congrats to top promoter Bodytonic, which recently celebrated a year of great Friday nights at Dublin club Wax … THE BEAT GOES ON!