Homework

The inaugural Dublin Electronic Arts Festival takes place between October 20 and 28 in various venues in and around the capital. A veritable feast of visuals and sound will be hosted in the Guinness Storehouse on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 with stages from D.E.A.F, Frontend Synthetics, Bassbin, Hustle, the Firehouse Skank Sound System and Vibrator in the atrium. Artists appearing include Visitor aka Mark Broom, Mike Paradinas, Decal, Donnacha Dehenney presenting The Crash Ensemble, Rob Rowland, Colophone alongside Tim Redfern aka Pixelcorps, Deliciousnine, Darklight and 5th. The concept is inspired by events like the DEMF in Detroit and Sonar Barcelona and intends to facilitate cross-genre collaborations rather slavsishly sitcking to a ‘dance scene’ agenda. Events will also be staged in the International, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Parnell Mooney, Temple Bar Music Centre, Thomas House and Ri-Ra and the Globe among a host of other locations which will involve over a hundred artists and labels from home and abroad. For a full schedule go to www.deaf2002.com <http://www.deaf2002.com>

David Grubbs of Gastr Del Sol and Archer Prewittjoin of The Sea and Cake join Dubliner Jeff Martin on October 28 in Whelan’s.

Two former members of Watercress debuted their new experimental recordings last week as Drat in the Ruby Sessions. This week, John David Downes (vocals) and keyboard player Simon Carswell perform as Brown who previously reached the semi-finals of the hotpress Band Challenge. Artists appearing in October include Tessa Perry and Rachel Mari Kimber. Like La Rocca, Rachel gained a reputation for gigging around Cardiff and South Wales. She has just completed an EP with a new band produced by Greg Haver (Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, Manic Street Preachers)... Wilt will appear at the Kerrang Camber Sands weekender in October which hosted All Tommorrw’s Parties earlier this year which was curated by Steve Albini and Shellac. It will be the turn of Warp artistes Autechre for ATP 2003.

Finally, Blotooth, Otranome, Polar and Oz played an anniversary gig this week for those lost in the Septmeber 11 atrocities with proceeds going towards Concern’s operations in Afghanistan and the 9/11 victim relief fund. For more info and future activity go to www.gigsmartireland.com.