Vital Stats

Those who missed the star act at May’s Life Festival will get another chance to see him in action at the upcoming Mansion Festival. Vitalic is headlining the final installment in festival season 2011, at Fairways Hotel October 29 and 30. He will be joined by Dubfire, the DJ half of legendary house duo Deep Dish.

Among the many Irish acts playing, Belfast’s Psycatron have particular reason to celebrate.
“We’ve had Digweed remix our current single on Hot Flush’,” says the band’s Paul Hamill, “and we’re playing the I Love Techno and Amsterdam Dance events in the coming months.” The icing on the cake is their securing of a Dave Clarke remix for their upcoming collaboration with Detroit Grand Pubahs, ‘NvrSayNvr’. “It’s his first remix in six years,” enthuses Paul. More info on the band at psycatron.com.
The ever-industrious Lorcan Mak is back from the summer break with his Taking Back Thursdays club. The night rocked the Kitchen throughout the earlier part of the year. Now Lorcan promises: “Take Back Thursdays will be better than ever. It’s got a new home in Industry and we’ll be concentrating on Ireland’s finest DJs and producers.” To date these have included Arveene and promising newcomers Two Charming Men. For more details see takebackthursdays.com.
British icon Top Cat has written the definitive guide to rapping and toasting, How To MC. Long respected in the reggae and jungle fields, his 1993 hit ‘Respect The Style’ was sampled for Double 99’s speed garage classic ‘RIP Groove’. Now the man himself is bringing his knowledge to Twisted Pepper on Thursday November 10 with an exclusive seminar and workshop, followed by a live show the following night.
Accompanying him are long-time fans, The Dirty Dubsters, who’ll be providing the all important beats. The Dubsters’ Obese says, “We’re very happy to have Top Cat over to Ireland. He’s been a legendary MC for over 20 years now and someone we really respect. We’re also recording a new track with him and we will be performing it on the night in the Twisted Pepper. We’re all very excited here at Irish Moss Records.” Find out more at dirtydubsters.com.
Good and bad news for clubbing in Belfast. Firstly, the much-loved Ecker is calling it quits on its fourth birthday, October 7.
“After four years of parties we’ve decided to call it a day with Ecker,” explains promoter Gary. “We hope we gave everyone some good/blurry times and made their ears excited. We’ll be joined on the night by the local DJs we’ve had play with us over the years.” Meanwhile, another Belfast clubnight, Twitch, soliders on celebrating its fifth year in the business the following night at Queens Students’ Union Bar. For more details, contact [email protected].
With all the recent focus in Dublin being on the newer sounds of dubstep, space disco and nu-tech house, the previous soundtrack to dancefloor destruction, electro, has been neglected. Until now that is! ATAK unites some of the promoters and DJs behind the original midweek hard electrohouse scene in the city in Twisted Pepper each Monday. For more info, check facebook.com/atakdublin