Compo culture

Irish DJs on the rise have another chance to get their name into the big league with the return of the Movida Corona DJ Competition. The event, now in its twelfth year, sees DJs worldwide pit their decks skills against their peers with the heats culminating in Madrid where the chosen few will compete in front of nearly 20,000 clubbers.

The prize includes two sets at Ibiza’s opulant stately house Pacha and a place on the Movida DJ tour, while the runners-up are off to next year’s Miami Winter Conference. The Irish heats kick off in Solas Bar, Wexford Street, Dublin on Friday October 21. Entrants can still apply at hotpress.com/movidacorona.
The Osbourne child you didn’t see scrapping with Ozzy, Kelly and the rest has quietly built up a big name for himself in the harder, techier end of house over the past few years. Louis Osbourne, based between Ireland and Birmingham, continues a long line of excellent tech-house releases. ‘NoHo’, his latest collaboration with one of the genres most respected veterans, Jamie Anderson, is due out on Play It Down Records. The duo will continue to release on Louis’ Mija Records later in the year. Having also started to DJ as a duo, with performances in the Brummies’ hometown, they’re planning to take the show on the road with more dates. See louisosbourne.com.
The latest genre to rock dance music over the last 18 months – electroswing – is welcoming two premier Irish ambassadors to its motherland of France this month. ElectroSwingCabaret, in Lyon on Thursday September 15, sees DJ Kormac, who rocked Glastonbury for the second year earlier in the summer, teamed with up and coming electroswing upstart Ciara Cunnane (pictured here). Ciara has pioneered the genre in Dublin with her Tallulah’s Secret and Le Cirque Electronique events, the latter of which saw scene lynchpin Julian InControl making his Irish DJ debut. For more check bebopswing.com. For Kormac’s latest go to djkormac.com. Ciara’s latest tracks and mixes can be found at soundcloud.com/ciaracunnane.
The North’s most famous clubnight, Lush at Kelly’s, Portrush is feeling generous. Lush mainman Col Hamilton says, ‘This month is payback time. We’ve been in the business 15 years thanks to the continued support of the Lush crowd week on week. We are offering free entry for the month of September as a reward.” More details at kellysportrush.co.uk.
Beating the recession and holding their place on Dublin’s fast changing clubbing scene is Discotekken, celebrating two years in its adopted home at Twisted Pepper’s basement Saturday September 10. Find more info on dublinbusdisco.blogspot.com