Max HeyraudIn a city where a night out can bleed your wallet dry, Slither’s €1 Parties brought the fire back. Raw, rowdy, built on trust, chaos, and the thrill of not knowing what comes next.
Slither’s €1 Parties arrived at a time when Dublin’s dance music scene desperately needed a shake-up, and that’s exactly what they did. Born out of the city’s underground rave culture, Slither made its mark across warehouses and scattered vacant buildings around the city centre, always doing things on their own terms and never afraid to stir the pot.
From launching CJ Bolland into an after-hours party in a Dublin industrial estate to more recent nights hosting contemporary legends like Skin On Skin and Tommy Holohan for just €1, Slither has consistently pushed the boundaries. At the heart of it all is Marc, the mastermind behind the chaos and a firm believer in parties for the people. Never defined by genre or trend, Slither has always been, and continues to be, a party first and foremost.
Few other events have built a community as committed and engulfed as Slither’s. There’s a deep trust that whatever they throw at the crowd, it’ll be worth showing up for, and to be fair, it usually is. There’s a shock factor to these parties. They’re not always built with profit in mind, and that’s part of what makes them feel so real. Marc seems to thrive on doing the unthinkable, and even as one of Ireland’s most established promoters, he still carries that underdog spirit.
In a time when everything feels expensive, not just going out, but even stepping out the door, he’s made the parties everyone wants to go to affordable. It’s been nothing short of revolutionary for Dublin’s post-COVID club scene. Long live Slither, and long may the €1 Parties thrive.
What originally inspired you to start the €1 Party series? Was it always meant to be a long-term project, or did it grow into something bigger over time?
The idea was to show that you could still have a great night out without spending loads of money. We didn’t usually announce the lineup, so people had to trust the brand. The main goal was to keep things affordable so no one felt left out of something that means a lot to us.
The parties have been going for a while now and have built a massive reputation. You’ve even had some well-known artists like Tommy Holohan and Clouds play unannounced. How do those collaborations come about? Do the artists buy into the concept easily?
Tommy was the first international act we had play, and he did an all-night set. That really set the vibe for what the parties could be. After that, we had him back to do a back-to-back with Skin On Skin at another €1 Party, and then acts like Clouds followed. Honestly, without Tommy, the €1 Parties probably wouldn’t have happened the way they did.
With such a stripped-back, no-frills approach to promotion and lineups, do you think it’s changed how your crowd interacts with club culture in general?
I can’t speak for everyone who comes, but I do think some people’s perspective has shifted. They’ve realised you don’t need to chase big names to have a proper night out.
On a broader note, do you feel like going out is becoming too expensive for most people?
Yeah, for sure. Everything’s getting more expensive, and a big part of that is due to late-night licensing laws and high insurance costs for venues. It’s not easy.
Have you noticed that the crowd at these parties is being exposed to a wider range of styles than they might usually hear on a typical club night they’d buy tickets for?
Definitely. We never reveal what genre will be played. Slither was never about just one style. It’s covered everything from deep house back in 2013 to DJ SS and loads in between.
Beyond the international guests, the €1 Parties have also given a platform to a lot of local talent, often in prime slots or with longer sets. How important is that part of the project for you?
It’s amazing to see a local act go from warming up for international artists to being able to confidently close a room. That’s the kind of growth we’re all about. More closing sets for the people who are the backbone of the culture, week in, week out!
Looking ahead, what’s next for the €1 Party series? And what kind of impact do you hope it continues to have on the local scene?
We want to give more opportunities to the next wave of Irish talent while keeping clubbing accessible for everyone.
