Max HeyraudThis week’s Mix of the Week comes from none other than Tommy Holohan, at the Resident Advisor Stage at AVA Festival with his signature brand of rave-drenched techno, flowing effortlessly through swung, locked grooves, sexy rolling rhythms, and anthemic trance weapons.
Tommy Holohan‘s live streams have become the stuff of legend, especially on home turf. From his iconic Higher Vision Festival broadcast to the more recent SILO (The RDS, Dublin) set, his appearances have always carried a sense of anticipation. His return to AVA was no different, highly awaited and, as expected, he delivered. With his now-renowned nonchalant style, no excessive knob-twiddling, just a cool, calm demeanour, Holohan strips it back and lets the music speak loud. His timing and selections are honed to a fine art; a combination that never fails.
The term “hardgroove” may have become a buzzword (even a divisive one), but Dublin’s revival of the sound can be traced back to Hangar, where Tommy reintroduced its rough-edged, funk-laced power to a new generation. While others have since moved on, Tommy has stayed true, rolling straight into that tribal energy with tracks from contemporaries like Hurdslenk, Lars Huismann, and Finn McEntee. It’s visceral, high-octane, and undeniably infectious, the Holohan hallmark.
While often associated with the rolling power of early-2000s techno, Tommy’s sound is also defined by risk-taking and guts. Nearing the end of his AVA homecoming, he weaves in UK flavours, from glossy garage textures to gut-wrenching two-step curveballs, before unleashing gnarly rave roundhouse kicks to close. It’s a timeless yet unmistakably personal approach, one that continues to cement Tommy Holohan as one of techno’s most exciting forces.