Portrush Hour

Long-serving resident DJ at Portrush club Lush!, Col Hamilton is being tipped by many in the industry to have one of the first big crossover hits of the new year on his hands. ‘On A Good Thing’ is an uplifting, funky slice of house that has already had heavy rotation on BBC Radio 1 courtesy of Pete Tong, who named it as one of his biggest tunes of last summer. A handful of key DJs such as Judge Jules, Erick Morillo, Steve Lawler, Seb Fontaine and Phil Futureshock have also been championing the record for months, and it has now been signed to Manifesto who will release it in the spring under the C-Sixty Four moniker. The track samples The Commodores’ ’70s hit ‘Flying High’ and is a fine slice of disco-house that has just been given a storming remix by Full Intention. The track was created by Hamilton and Belfast production ace Aaron McClelland … Incidentally, McClelland’s ‘Good Grief’ single – released under the guise of Yer Man – has been named as one of the top 20 biggest selling releases on Nukleuz last year. The fifth biggest selling release was Hardbeat EP 23, which starred Wexford DJ Chaw’s ‘Wanna Live Til I Die’ …
Congratulations to Emma Fisher (19) from Kilkenny, who recently won Bacardi Rum’s annual online music mixing competition, Bacardi DJ 3.0, with her euphoric house track ‘Dreamzcumtru’. Competition entrants had to compose their own tracks for free using an online music mixer. Despite harbouring a passion for dance music since an early age, Emma is completely new to DJing and has never actually mixed on turntables. She discovered the Bacardi DJ website and decided to enter the competition on impulse after creating her own unique track. Emma was more surprised than anyone at her success. She told hotpress: “I really can’t believe I’ve won; it’s an amazing feeling and I can’t wipe the smile off my face. I’ve always loved dance music and started out making tapes for my friends but this was my first try at mixing.” Emma’s prize was a day in the studio of leading UK DJ Nicky Holloway, and Denon CD decks and a CD mixer …
Belgian dance empire Mostiko Records has just launched its free online promo service for DJs at www.mostiko.be/mp3downloads, with 192kps transfers – good enough for burning onto CD – of all their upcoming Europe-wide releases. These include D-Me’s rather scary trance-pop cover version of the White Stripes’ song, entitled ‘Oh O O O Oh Ooh (Seven Nation Army)’, and already a top 10 hit in Belgium … Which reminds us, Internet record and mp3 stores currently having January sales include www.eukrecords.com, www.beatport.com, www.nukleuz.com and three leading Irish sites, www.bigbrotherrecords.com, www.onetrackrecords.com and www.abbeydiscs.com …
An adventurous new Monday night clubbing option kicked off this week in Dublin. Downtime is aimed at those in the industry who have not had a chance to party over the weekend, and the total hedonists who just don’t know when to stop. John Mahon, Tayor and Jon Averill from the Bodytonic stable will be supplying the house, disco and electro funk, and you can grab a drink until 3.30am. The venue is Sin on Sycamore Street, and doors open at 7pm. Admission is free …
The line-up for January at Redbox in Dublin includes Fergie – who before Christmas bravely admitted to having had a major alcohol problem for years that he has thankfully now overcome – on January 14th, and Anne Savage on January 21st… French icon and occasional DJ at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy mansion parties, Dimitri from Paris will perform at the first Basics party of the year at the Savoy Theatre in Cork on January 28th. He also plays Redbox in Dublin a night earlier. Tickets for both shows are on sale now …
Electronic music’s hottest act Mylo, who is busy promoting the single release of the title track from his acclaimed 2004 album Destroy Rock ‘n’ Roll, returns to Ireland on January 21st to play Resistance 16 at Ten in Waterford. Support DJs include Johnny Moy … Kiko, whose impressive 2004 CV included releases on Tiga’s Turbo label, Laser Gun, GoodLife and his own Ozone and Hot Banana imprints, makes his Irish debut at Electric City on January 20th. Admission is just E10… BBC1FM drum ‘n’ bass don Bailey returns to Dublin club Bassbin on January 29th … THE BEAT GOES ON!