Groove Is In The Heart

The newest vocal talent on the Irish dance music scene is celebrating on the double this month. Dubliner Antoinette Dunleavy has been gracing tracks with her Roisin Murphy-meets-Motown soulful vocals throughout the last year and now two of them, ‘Ain’t Gonna Stop’ and ‘Can’t Get Enough’ with Grooveboy, have both been snapped up by U.S. labels Open Bar Music NYC and Ospina Digital respectively.

“I’ve been collaborating with Karl and Tony of Grooveboy for three months now,” she tells Hot Press. “I really liked what they were doing, and it’s great to see that the work we put in, and it was a lot of work in a short time, being rewarded with such a quick uptake of our first two tracks together.”
For more info check facebook.com/antoinettedunleavy
Praise for Irish producer Detboi’s second album Curse Of The Voodoo Drums Pt2 has come straight from the top. Switch – the maverick brain behind the sound eventually known as UK bass – has given the album’s lead single ‘Sanctuary Of Love’ the thumbs up, as has his Major Lazer partner-in-crime Diplo, who has included it on a mix for his Triple J radio show.
“I was chuffed that both him and Switch were into it,” Detboi enthuses. “Having the track exposed to a Diplo fanbase takes it to another level”. For more info and a link to the Diplo mix, check facebook.com/desdetboi.
Martin’s Myth promotions are back with another of their much loved Wicklow Wanders on Sunday October 30, which has a Halloween fancy dress theme this time around. The Cujo Family Halloween Hoedown will be the third of their secret parties in the Wicklow area this year and as before you bring your own booze. Find out more at facebook.com/cujofamilyhalloweenhoedown.
While in Dublin, The Vaults will be hosting a two-day Asylum weekender, the first of its kind in the capital, bringing oldskool legends Hardfloor, Oliver Lieb and Shades Of Rhythm to the IFSC venue on October 29 and 30 under the revamped Asylum club name, along with the best collection of Irish DJ heavyweights you’re likely to see on one bill, including Mark Kavanagh, Liam Dollard, Ed Case, Pressure, Pat Hyland, Caspar and loads more. For more details visit facebook.com/asylumdublin1.
Another Dublin clubbing institution making a comeback on October 28 is The Tivoli, which will play host to Rebelrave, the new night from the Crosstown Rebels label, which features a DJ set from the label boss himself, Damien Lazarus. The men behind the show are new club promoters on the block Abstract, AKA John D’Arcy and Ryan Barrett.
“We’re delighted to bring Rebelrave to Dublin,” John enthuses, “and we want to freshen up the scene by offering something genuinely different.” Check abstract.ie for more details.
Cork’s techno and house scene is continuing to thrive, with Monotonik at the Liquid Lounge celebrating their second birthday last week, and Click gearing up to celebrate their first. The city has a new addition to the landscape with Deja Vu, a monthly live electronic night at The Midnight Courtyard. Starting last week with Cork’s finest bootleg and edit-meisters Generic People, it promises to showcase the best local and national talent. For more details check facebook.com/dejavucork
Bodytonics’ annual Beatyard weekender, based mainly in their Bernard Shaw pub in Portobello, Dublin, has many treats in store over its October 27 to 30 run, which can be found at bodytonicmusic.com. Highlights include a rare visit from a legend of British club culture, reggae and dancehall DJ Sir David Rodigan who plays at Twisted Pepper on October 29 backed by space disco supremo Todd Terje in the basement. Sir Dave, despite being a white man in his 60s, is considered royalty by the UK Jamaican reggae community and has soundclashed with the likes of Jah Shaka. See why at rodigan.com