As another festive season rolls around, and people dust off their decorations, excitement mounts for two very different groups of people. While children everywhere refine and redraft their letters to Santa, Dublin’s revellers and clubbers are licking their lips at the prospect of 10 days stuffed to bursting with the best club nights and gigs of the year. While the gigs listed below are some of the biggest and best on offer, they are but a segment of the delights in store from the good people at District 8, the Button Factory, Pygmalion, Hangar, and many more. Tis the season to be jolly indeed for Dublin’s nightlife.
Patrick Topping. 21st/22nd December, District 8
Newcastle’s Patrick Topping holds the distinction of being the most in-demand performer of District 8’s prestigious holiday line-up, with not one but two gigs selling out in very short order. The 27-year-old is one of the most sought after names in house music today, and is a constant fixture at the biggest festivals around the world, including Creamfields, Stereosonic and Ireland’s very own, Life festival. Toping’s infectious tech-house style has earned him critical acclaim, and those lucky enough to have secured tickets will be in for a bouncy evening.
Jeff Mills. 23rd December, District 8
One of the most legendary names in the history of dance music, Jeff Mills returns to Ireland for his inaugural District 8 appearance. Mills was last heard on these shores performing with the RTE Concert orchestra in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on the 30th of October, as part of his ‘Light from the Outside World’ project. He also treated attendees at last year’s Metropolis Festival to an insane 3-hour set, almost tearing the roof off the RDS. A true pioneer of the Detroit techno scene, Mills has been producing and performing his brand of stripped back, industrial techno at the very highest level since the mid-80s, and is a must see for any techno aficionado.
Sugarhill Gang. 23rd December, Button Factory
The first hip-hop act to have a single in the Billboard Top 100 with Rapper’s Delight, the Sugarhill Gang are bona-fide musical royalty. The group, who have been active since 1979, are coming to the Button Factory fresh off an incredibly well received set at this year’s Metropolis festival. These elder statesmen brought a sense of energy and fun that would put many of their younger counterparts to shame and will provide a welcome alternative to those seeking a change from the techno and house that dominates this festive season.
Matador. 26th December, District 8
The biggest name in Irish techno by some distance, Matador is fresh off his set at the excellent Winter Party in the 3Arena this Halloween, where he stole the show with his expansive, groovy sound. A three-time member of Resident Advisor’s Top 20 live acts of the year list, it’s clear that the Dundalk native is one of the must see acts this Christmas. His most recent District 8 set was a techno lover’s dream, with the intensity of his performance complemented brilliantly by the lighting and surroundings. If you haven’t seen him yet, you are missing out.
Ben Klock. 27th December, District 8
Described as the ‘Berlin demigod’ on the Facebook page for this gig, Ben Klock’s stature in the world of dance music is beyond reproach. One of the most in-demand DJs and producers of recent years, and a resident of Berlin’s infamous Berghain since 2004, Klock’s live shows are always met with fervent anticipation. He has been a constant fixture in RA’s top 10 DJs list for the best part of the last decade, with a penchant for 10-hour marathon sets and an evocative sound that seems to have an almost hypnotic effect upon his audiences. Ben Klock is a true master of his craft, a statement supported by the speed with which tickets are selling out for his D8 gig.
Kormac. 31st December, Button Factory
One of the most innovative and unique artists in Ireland today, Kormac is a truly must see performer. His music is a vibrant, soulful mix of hip-hop instrumentals, and electronically tinged jazz, which combine to form an irresistibly funky blend, that has wowed crowds at live shows across Ireland and abroad. His New Year’s Eve gig will be a performance of his AV show, which consists of Kormac DJing, accompanied with a live drummer and his own custom visual effects, displayed on a giant LED screen behind the stage. Take the chance this NYE to see an Irish artist who is not only at the peak of his powers, but is also a musician and performer like no other.
Josh Cogley
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