Staff WriterThe month of Christmas is here, and a month that always comes with a immense selection of electronic music shows around Dublin. The likes of St. Stephen’s Day and New Year’s Eve are renowned for hosting what are usually some of the biggest shows of the year in every club around the capital. While they are as big as always this year, the better shows are not limited to those two days in December.
We’ve picked our top 25 gigs around Dublin to help you wrap up 2017 in style.
25. John Talabot – All Night Long at District 8
Saturday 9th December / Hidden Agenda
Kicking things off we have John Talabot at District 8.
Having released on labels such as Young Turks and Permanant Vacation regularly, as well as remixing
tracks by everyone from The xx to Bicep, John Talabot’s unparalleled style of DJing and producing
has gained him a spot amongst the best in the world.
For fans of: Mano Le Tough, Dixon, Jamie xx
24. Paranoid London at Pygmalion
Saturday 9th December / Support: Colin Perkins
The very mysterious Paranoid London are returning to Dublin. Their no-promo, no digital, no CD, vinyl
only approach has left people wondering about the trio since they started the project in 2007. Expect
raw, machine driven house music for this one.
For fans of: Daniel Avery, Octave One, Spencer Parker
23. Domenico Crisci at Hangar
Friday 29th December / Support: NKTRNL, Jish / Techno & Cans
Another Irish debut courtesy of Techno & Cans, Domenico Crisci brings his ruthless style of techno to Hangar’s warehouse. This isn’t for the faint-hearted.
For fans of: AnD, I Hate Models, Perc
22. Marcel Dettmann- All Night Long at District 8
Friday 8th December / Subject
Widely associated with iconic trademarks including Berlin, Berghain and Hard Wax, Marcel Dettmann stays true to his roots by consistently innovating his interpretation of electronic music, integrating art with the scene.
For fans of: Ben Klock, Answer Code Request, DVS1
21. Boo Williams at Wigwam
Saturday 16th December / Discotekken_UFO Club
UFO Club make their debut in the basement of Wigwam alongside Discotekken with Boo Williams,
a second generation house producer from Chicago who followed the footsteps of Chicago greats like
Larry Heard, Marshall Jefferson and Lil Louis, gaining himself a legendary status is house music.
For fans of: Larry Levan, Todd Terry, Marshall Jefferson
20. Paul Woolford + Enzo Siragusa at Powerscourt
Support: Will Kinsella, Colin Perkins, Aaron Nolan, Quinton Campbell, Sexshop & Angelo Currao
Sunday 31st December / PYG_RBMA
Pygmalion team up with Red Bull Music Academy for a huge New Years Eve party this year with the one and only
Paul Woolford. He’ll be joined by Fuse London’s Enzo Siragusa who returns to Pygmalion after a headline show
there at the end of last year.
For fans of: KiNK, Special Request, Bicep
19. Earl Jeffers at Wigwam
Friday 8th December / Shed Sessions
Cardiff’s Chesus AKA Earl Jeffers has gained support down through the years from the likes of Kerri
Chandler, Todd Terry, Skream and Mosca.
For fans of: Todd Terry, Kerri Chandler, Jeremy Underground
18. Clouds at Hangar
Support: Jake Nolan B2B Sam Greenwood, Karl Guest
Friday 22nd December / Techno & Cans
Glaswegian duo Clouds could be described as one of the duos that have shaped Techno & Cans. Expect
industrial techno with a breakbeat element.
For fans of: Perc, Ansome, Truss
17. Optimo at Wigwam
Saturday 9th December / Bodytonic
Optimo is DJ duo Twitch and Jonnie Wilkes, whose legendary Optimo night in Glasgow (and around the
world) mixes up techno, electro, rock and other assorted records out of leftfield.
For fans of: Andrew Weatherhall, Ben UFO, Jackmaster
16. Terrance Parker at Hangar
Support: Merachka
Saturday 2nd December / Four Four Magazine_Inibhir
Detroit’s Terrence Parker (known to many as “TP”) has become legendary for his quite uncommon yet
skilful turntablism style of playing House Music. Not only is Terrence playing, but Merachka will be in
Dublin a providing vocal and DJ support on the night too.
For fans of: Carl Craig, Jimpster, Claude Young
15. Regis at Index
Support: Cailín, Aeron, Sean Markey
Sunday 31st December / Subject_Research
The other half of British Murder Boys, Regis dominated the Index stage on the Sunday of Life Festival this year.
Expect old school, fast-paced techno.
For fans of: Surgeon, Planetary Assault Systems, Jeff Mills
14. Young Marco – All Night Long at Wigwam
Friday 29th December / UFO Club _Bodytonic
There was a time when Marco Sterk a.k.a. Young Marco’s talents as a DJ and producer were among
Amsterdam’s best-kept secrets. His passion for working a dancefloor with “strange music”
and “unclassics” is renowned, and it’s this that makes his sets so special.
For fans of: Jamie xx, Tom Trago, Midland
13. Ben Klock at District 8
Support: Mode_1, Cailín
Wednesday 27th December / Subject
A man that doesn’t need much of an introduction, Berghain regular Ben Klock has sold out show after show in Dublin as well as being one of the highlights of Life Festival last year.
For fans of: Nina Kraviz, Marcel Dettmann, Planetary Assault System
12. DJ Deece – 6-Hour at District 8
Sunday 31st December
DJ Deece returns to District 8 for his second headline slot in the venue. The Newbridge native has had a massive 2017 including his debut Boiler Room set at AVA in Belfast as well as closing out the ‘Rave in the Woods’ stage at Electric Picnic. Deece plays an extended 6 hour set for this one, and you could pretty much expect to hear anything.
For fans of: Mall Grab, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Todd Terje
11. Anetha at Index
Support:Nathan Jones, Aeron
Saturday 9th December / Research
Following one of the stand-out performances at this year’s Life Festival, Anetha is a prominent figure
in the Paris underground scene and her debut headline clubshow is definitely one to get excited about.
For fans of: Perc, Luke Slater, Regis
10. Altern-8 at Hangar
Support: Pierce Rooney, Boco Flynn
Friday 1st December / Techno & Cans
It would be a sin not to have this in the top 10. Rave legend Mark Archer AKA Altern 8 has risen to the top ranks of electronic music in Dublin once again. Huge hits such as ‘E-Vapor-8’ and ‘Frequency’ defined Altern 8 in the early 90’s gaining the original duo a legendary status during the golden era of rave.
For fans of: The Prodigy, Two Bad Mice, Luke Vibert
9. Brame & Hamo and Boots & Kats at The Grand Social
Tuesday 26th December / Hidden Agenda_Bedlam
Two of the biggest house duos to come out of Ireland play under the one roof following individual sell-out shows in District 8.
For fans of: Denis Sulta, Bicep, Mall Grab
8. Or:la at Pygmalion
Support: Colin Perkins B2B Jack Thompson
Fresh off her massive debut Boiler Room at AVA Festival in Belfast, as well as a stand-out performance at Metropolis Festival in the RDS, Derry native Or:la is signed to Scuba’s HotFlush Recordings and has been a resident Manchester’s Warehouse Project for the last two years.
For fans of: Scuba, Locked Groove, Pangaea
7. Ben UFO + Wino Wagon at Tengu
Saturday 2nd December / Pear
As one of the co-founders of Hessle Audio, Ben UFO has been responsible for some of the most
varied and ground breaking releases of the last decade. Expect sounds both old and new, across
the worlds of house and garage, dubstep and grime, and further into the past.
For fans of: Joy Orbison, Floating Points, Andrew Weatherhall
6. Greg Wilson at Pygmalion
Saturday 16th December / Support: Kelly-Anne Byrne, Ciara Brady
Greg Wilson has been DJing since the mid-seventies and is one of the pioneers of the UK’s electro scene.
He returns to Dublin exactly a year after previously playing in the basement of Wigwam. He’s joined
by Today FMs Kelly Anne Byrne, as well as Ciara Brady who have both had a huge 2017.
For fans of: Dimitri From Paris, Danny Krivit, DJ Harvey
5. Sunil Sharpe – 6 Hour Set at District 8
Saturday 23rd December / Subject
A homegrown favourite kicks off our top 5. The biggest techno DJ ever to come out of Ireland, and arguably the best in the world at what he does, Sunil Sharpe is one of the few DJs left who still plays vinyl only. Experience six hours of a masterclass in DJing.
For fans of: DJ Rush, Ben Sims, Jeff Mills
4. Paul Johnson at Pygmalion
Wednesday 27th December
We at Four Four love an Irish debut, and this really is a massive one. Known for his huge 1999 hit song ‘Get Get Down’, Chicago house legend Paul Johnson in the intimate Pygmalion is set to be one of the shows of the year.
For fans of: Lil Louis, Omar-S, Joey Negro
3. Lumen at Hangar w/ D. Carbone + Myler
Support: DSNT DJs
Friday 15th December / Techno & Cans_DSNT
Deservingly at number 3 due to the sheer effort that DSNT put into their shows, along with Techno & Cans.
A relationship which has blossomed in 2017 is that of Techno & Cans and Belfast’s DSNT. The collectives
have collaborated in both Belfast and Berlin in the last six months, but now the hard-hitting DSNT are finally coming to Dublin for a night that promises to be completely off the chain.
For fans of: AnD, DJ Rush, Dax J
2. Surgeon + New Jackson at Wigwam
Tuesday 26th December / Subject
One half of British Murder Boys Surgeon makes his return to Dublin for the first time in over a year. He last played alongside Lady Starlight in District 8 last year.
For fans of: Regis, Jeff Mills, Paula Temple
1. Krystal Klear’s 30th Birthday at District 8
Support: Jackmaster, Skream
This had to be number 1. It’s a stupidly big lineup.
Home-grown here Krystal Klear is set to celebrate his 30th birthday in style as he headlines District 8
for what is potentially his biggest Irish clubshow to date. Joining him on the night are his two of his
friends who just so happen to be handy at DJing themselves, Jackmaster and Skream.
For fans of: Denis Sulta, Mall Grab, Jasper James
Feature image: Steff Wylde