The Shine Of Our Lives

“In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen years” is the sound of Belfast’s Shine hi-jacking Andy Warhol to celebrate their 15th birthday this weekend. Now officially Ireland’s longest running clubnight, Shine, run by veteran DJ and promoter Alan Simms in the Queens University Bar, have a monster line-up this Saturday October 30 featuring DJ sets from Vitalic, Josh Wink, Aeroplane and Berlin’s Berghain resident Steffi. The bill also includes Shine’s most recognisable long-time guest, local hero Phil Kieran plus up-and-coming Belfast techno duo Psycatron (see further down). For more details look up shine.net.

Another veteran operation, Cork’s FishGoDeep, celebrated a first in Irish dance history this month, courtesy of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Their 2005 mainstream chart hit ‘The Cure And The Cause’ with singer Tracey K, was given a complete orchestral overhaul behind Tracey’s vocals as part of RTÉ’s Big Music Week and was broadcast live on 2FM and PulseFM. The duo – Shane Johnson and Greg Dowling – are back in business in Cork city too, with a new monthly night. Go Deep is on this Saturday October 30, for more details see fishgodeep.com.
As mentioned above, Psycatron have joined the Shine birthday bill, and have some celebrating of their own to do as their connections with original Detroit techno deepen. Following a series of releases on Carl Craig’s seminal Planet E label, now the lads have motor city legend Blake Baxter as a guest vocalist on their upcoming single ‘She Is Music’. Find out more at myspace.com/psycatron.
Given Ireland’s love for trance and its rep for quality productions worldwide, it’s no surprise to find a mix compilation just out that features an all star line-up of Irish trance wizards. Respected Brighton label Discover Records have released ‘Global Trance Ireland’, featuring all Irish artists, including production heavyweights like John Gibbons, Neal Scarborough and the man of the moment John O’Callaghan. The compilation is mixed by rising star Gary Maguire and you can get hold of it at recoverworld.com.
Also taking note of Irish producers – in an electro vein – are the Belgians who have just teamed up with Irish producers PandaMic to set up a Belgian-Irish label, Rawk Records, who are at soundcloud.com/rawk-records.
If you saw Fergie in Tripod earlier in the month and noticed two guys following his every move with cameras, it was Mixmag, who were photographing the Fermanagh hard-dance superstar for an upcoming covershot, making him the first Irish DJ and producer to grace the cover of the magazine in its 19 year history. Fergie’s currently making waves with his upcoming eight track continuous mix EP Dynamite and Lazerbeams.
Martin McCann is usually to be found controlling the dancefloor from behind the decks, but Process Recordings and Corrugated Tunnel have coaxed the veteran Dublin singer/songwriter/DJ and mate of Morrissey into the studio to guest star on ‘Threadbare’, a haunting slow tempo electro track on Corrugated Tunnel’s new album Minor Obsessions. Martin took time out from his current band, The Elevens, to record the track which has already been earmarked as a highlight of the album. For more, check processrecordings.com.