Max Heyraud2024 has been a transformative year for Irish dance music, with major cultural shifts in how Irish artists are perceived both globally and locally. The way Irish crowds engage with club culture is evolving, as are listening habits and what crowds generally want. Clubs, promoters, and artists are all adapting to these changes, navigating the shifting dynamics of the scene.
Here are the key takeaways from a year in Irish club culture and dance music.
Large-scale Events are Performing Better Than Ever
There’s been a clear shift in how crowds engage with club culture, with large-scale events now dominating the scene. From big club nights to arena showcases and festivals, these events are thriving. Dublin’s Index, a newer club with a capacity of around 1,000, reflects this trend, alongside larger venues like SILO (5,000 capacity) and Belfast’s Telegraph Building, which consistently sells out near its 2,000 capacity. Even the 3Arena is hosting club-style events, signalling a transformation in how people consume dance music.
While some worry about the commercialisation of club culture at this scale, the surging interest offers an opportunity to channel this growth positively. The launch of DISTRICT X in 2024—a groundbreaking one-day, 20,000-capacity event and successor to Life Festival—marks a pivotal moment, surpassing its predecessor in scale and significance.
Irish DJs are Headlining Shows More Than Ever
The rise of Irish DJs has been a defining trend, gaining momentum since the days of Hangar. Once seen primarily as warm-up or resident acts, Irish artists are now taking centre stage. KETTAMA and Tommy Holohan led the charge as breakout stars of this generation, with a new wave following close behind—Öbskur, BLK., Black Traffic, Shampain, Yasmin Gardezi and IMNOTYOURMATE among them. Emerging names like Dylan Fogarty, Shee, EMA, DART, MELTX, and Prozak are also carving out spaces as headline acts, even if sometimes in smaller venues. This marks a cultural shift in how fans perceive Irish talent.
Homegrown acts’ status in their own backyard is now undeniable: Öbskur sold out the 5,000-capacity SILO for New Year’s Eve, while Shee headlined Index on the same night, with KETTAMA set to headline SILO next year. The 2023 Boiler Room at SILO showcased this momentum, featuring a predominantly Irish lineup alongside LSDXOXO, and BLK.’s recent performance at the 3Arena underlines the growing demand for homegrown stars.
Small Clubs Are Struggling
The shift toward larger-scale venues has put significant pressure on small to mid-sized clubs, signalling a potential cultural transition within the Irish club scene. A balance is yet to be struck between large-capacity events and smaller, more intimate spaces. Many factors contribute to the struggles of small venues, including the cost-of-living crisis, changing social habits, and the growing preference for infrequent, high-cost outings over regular, smaller shows—a departure from the traditional clubbing culture.
Additionally, younger audiences are increasingly health-conscious, and the impact of social media cannot be overlooked. Dimly lit basement clubs are less “Instagram-friendly,” which might lead people to favour bigger, more visually appealing venues as occasional treats. This shift mirrors the festivalization of club culture, influencing how audiences engage with these spaces. In rural areas, where clubbing communities are smaller, these trends have an even more damaging effect, threatening the survival of local scenes.
Local Promoters Are Ditching International Acts and Charging Less for Tickets
There’s a growing sense of urgency in running local parties, particularly in smaller venues, with promoters seemingly fighting to get numbers in the door in a way they didn’t before COVID. Even in 2024, the effects of the pandemic are still reverberating through the scene. Offering party-style events has become more appealing than relying on the unsustainable cycle of rotating international acts that Ireland has leaned on in recent years. This trend of booking local lineups with affordable tickets is positively impacting how crowds engage with dance music, helping foster a sense of community and encouraging the growth of future talent.
Local and accessible parties create an environment that nurtures the scene’s longevity, providing opportunities for homegrown acts and cultivating a deeper connection with club culture. While venues with internal headliners are not inherently bad, they shouldn’t be the only model for engagement. It’s healthier for crowds to support local events and, as they grow, eventually spend more on international acts. This shift could help reinforce the true ethos and values of club culture. Shout out to nights like Slither, Enigma, Honeypot, Club Economy, and many more pushing this vision forward.
People Are Opting for One-Day Festivals Instead of Camping Festivals
Festivals are dying off at a rapid rate, with over 50 festivals in the UK alone being cancelled, and the issue is not limited to Britain. In Ireland, festivals like Life Festival, Body & Soul, and Wild Roots in Sligo were cancelled, leaving a significant gap in the camping festival market. However, newer festivals like Emerge and DISTRICT X, both relatively fresh names in the scene, succeeded beyond expectations. This signals a shift in how young people are engaging with festivals. Many are now opting for one-day events, which are cheaper, more Instagrammable, and require less of a commitment.
It’s still unclear whether this change in festival consumption is ultimately good or bad for the music scene, but the loss of long-standing Irish camping festivals is certainly something to mourn. While one-day festivals are in no way a new concept, they often leave less space for local DJs, who tend to be overshadowed by big international acts. However, Irish artists are increasingly taking on headline roles, which is a positive development. This shift in the festival landscape isn’t necessarily good or bad—it’s simply a change in how people are consuming music.
We’re in a Golden Era of Irish Dance Music Producers
2024 will go down in history as the most successful year for Irish dance music producers, with unprecedented achievements across the scene. Belters Only, featuring Jazzy, made history with their track “Make Me Feel Good” receiving Diamond certification, making them the first Irish dance music act to ever achieve this. Jazzy also surpassed Sinéad O’Connor and Enya to become the most popular Irish female artist on Spotify. Camrin Watsin’s “Kisses” hit the Top 5 on the Irish Official Charts, while Belters Only continued their success with “Aw Stop Bro,” amassing over a quarter of a million streams. Jazzy’s track “Zero’s” featuring Headie One is now nearing 11 million streams.
Beyond chart success, KETTAMA has dominated 2024, with “Pretty Green Eyes [Sunset Ibiza Mix]” surpassing 7 million streams on SoundCloud and Spotify. His latest release, “Yosemite” with Interplanetary Criminal, reached over 850,000 streams within a week. DART’s “Emergency” has exceeded 250,000 streams on SoundCloud and over 160,000 on Spotify. Meanwhile, Tommy Holohan’s collaboration “Show Me The Sky” with Megra has accumulated over half a million streams on Spotify and 348,000 on SoundCloud. This is just the beginning, and it seems Irish dance music is set to continue flourishing in 2025.
Photo Credits: Niall Boyle
