With a young population and a buzzing student community, dance music has always had a strong presence in the city, but the last ten years have seen a number of dynamic young promoters establish themselves and their club nights as some of the biggest hitters in the European club scene. From local talent to big name international spinners, all bases and genres are covered in the various basements, bars and rooftops that play host to the scene on a weekly basis.
Where to go for House Music in Dublin
Leading the charge for the last 6 years is a collective known as Bodytonic – a group of DJs, VJs and all round dance music aficionados who have seen their enterprise grow from a Friday night house music club in a small, sweaty basement on South William Street to a bona fide company with an ever growing body of full time staff. They now run five club nights across two venues, host international parties in some of Europe’s top clubs and are in the process of organizing a three day festival in the stunning seaside village of Petrcane, Croatia for this coming August.
They can be found doing what they do best in The Bernard Shaw in Portobello, where the music policy is predominantly house oriented and the atmosphere a little more relaxed and pub-like, and also in the newly renovated Twisted Pepper on Abbey Street. This is where anything goes music wise and all tastes are catered for – from techno to drum’n bass, electro to (less frequently) hip hop and even the occasional rock band.
Techno and Electro Nights in Dublin
If you have the time to dig a little deeper you may well come across some of the newer parties being run from basements, rooftops and other random spaces around the city. They may take a bit more time to sniff out, but keep an eye out for the free music and entertainment magazines you’ll find in cafes and shops around town for details of these nights. Good sources for listings are Connected Magazine and In Dublin, both distributed citywide.
Current venues playing host to the smaller, but equally energetic local promoters are The Cavern on Store Street, Wax on South William Street, The Underground in Kennedy’s on Westland Row, 4 Dame Lane and the Andrew’s Lane Theatre. Keep an eye out for the names Hospital, Acii Disco, Citadel Sessions, Jackit, Automated Music and The Weird Scientist as promoters who have put on some stomping parties in recent times. These nights tend to cater for the tougher end of the spectrum music wise, but fans of house or minimal need not despair, they do occasionally take things down a notch! Best to check what’s happening before rocking up to these venues, as parties are not always run on a weekly basis and some are moved from place to place before they find a permanent home.
Finally, for more of the best in local and international talent, fans head up to Harcourt Street to the Pod, a disused train station that has long been a mainstay of the Dublin clubbing scene. The venue underwent a multi million euro facelift a couple of years ago and now offers clubbers a more relaxed bar and outdoor patio area as well as a kicking club room that boasts one of the best sound systems in the city.
Dress Code in Dublin Clubs
By and large the dudes on the door are sensible enough to realize that smart shoes do not make for an enjoyable dancing experience, so trainers are deemed acceptable wherever the bass is heavy. As for the rest of the outfit, pretty much anything goes. Within reason!
When it comes to the price of a pint, most locals will advise visitors to enjoy a drink at home before heading out, thereby saving serious amounts of cash. With prices ranging from €5 to €6.50 in some clubs for cider and beer, and up to €8 for a short and a mixer, it’s enough to turn a tourist teetotal!
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