Limerick - An Underground Haven For Techno Hungry Punters

Photo: Simon AK

With an obvious rise in underground and electronic music in Limerick, it seemed only fair to address the large scale of nights being promoted in the city at present, In a small time-frame, we have seen huge international and national names play in local venues such as Dolan's, Pharmacia, and more including the likes of DSNT, DVS1, Benjamin Damage, Head Front Panel, and Tommy Holohan to name just a minor few. We are also seeing a massive amount of local talent being pushed in the city on the regular.

D.I.E, Touch of Techno, Subtech, and Room Two, are only a handful of promoters responsible for the events and we are spoiled for choice when it comes to planning a night out with quality techno.

To find out a little bit more on what Limerick has to offer, we spoke with Charlie Moloney, Dan Sykes, Senan Moore and Jake Nolan.

Touch of Techno

If you don't know Touch of Techno, where have you been? Their gigs pop up on the regular, always selling out. The collective is ran by 3 college students, Charlie, Dave, and Shane and has grown from strength to strength in the last 2 years - their gigs being unmissable. Their most recent gig with Benjamin Damage was nothing short of impressive. Benjamin played a blinder to a sold out Dolans Warehouse, on a desk full of different hardware machines, and demolished the place with gob smacking live set. Bleeps and booms echoed throughout the warehouse and the ‘no phones on the dance-floor’ rule made the atmosphere extremely intimate - no one was afraid to loose themselves in the music!

Charlie Moloney - Touch of Techno

You started Touch of Techno when you were in first year in College. Tell us a little bit about why you wanted to start promoting gigs?

Funnily enough we started promoting gigs by accident so to say and didn't realise that we were promoters until we were into our third (official) gig. When we were in First year of college we started throwing raves and after hour parties for our friends, they became popular enough and the crowds started getting big at them.

It was towards the end of the college year and while we were on break for the summer Myself, Shane & Dave were like we need to do something big when we come back so we rented a house off one of our friends for one of the first nights of college back after summer. We blacked out the windows with bin bags and gutted the downstairs floor of the house & set up lights sound system etc in the sitting room and bedroom across the hallway. We hired security for the door and got a load of local DJ's that we knew were well able to bang it out to play on the night. We printed business cards out and sold these as tickets. I think we sold like 150 tickets but there were so much more people in the house. That ended up getting shut down by the guards, but after that night we had some money from ticket sales that allowed us to look to bring our parties into a more genuine & legal environment.

A new space had opened in town, Social & Co. and Darragh Flynn asked us if we wanted to do our show here. He brought us in to look at the space and Sunil Sharpe was playing on the night, rocking a Funktion 1 rig and I was just like hell yeah let’s do it here. From then on it kind of just snowballed to where we are today, Maedbh O’Connor played our opening party then we brought Frank B, Confute and some others down, all of these shows were selling out.

At this stage we figured out that we were now promoters not just a few young lads throwing ‘scauldy raves’. It was such an enjoyable experience though and it really lit a fire in myself and the lads to keep driving on and make our next party better than the last.

Photo: Touch of Techno

Did you ever imagine your events could grow this big this quickly? Is there any gig that stands out for you as being ‘the one’ that really put TOT on the map?

Not at all! It’s crazy thinking about it. Every time we have a big show me and the lads are on stage and just kind of look at each other as if to say what the F. is going on. We've come a long way from sticking bin bags up on windows in College Court.

In terms of putting TOT on the map, I think our first large international booking FJAAK was a huge step for us. I think it started to get really big when we started doing big shows with 3 rooms in Habitat.

The first show in Habitat was when we had EJECA back in 2017, EJECA was great but people really went for it in the other two rooms. We had a great band called The Socialites play outside and Drum & Bass from Bad Man Deego in Social & Co. This is when we really started to diversify our line-ups and our night really found itself. People really enjoyed being able to walk around the club and get a complete different experience in each room of the venue and this is what we try to achieve with all our parties now so that you don't have to be mad into techno and dance music to come and enjoy yourself, you will find a vibe within the club that’s for you. This is something I find very important, making clubbing/raving whatever you want to call it, accessible to everyone because everyone needs an escape from reality from time to time.

In more recent times I think our bookings this year have gained us some respect within the "scene" so to say. The likes of Cleric, FJAAK, Special Request, DVS1, Benjamin Damage live etc. have shown people that we are here to bring good quality acts to limerick.

Photo: Touch of Techno

What is next for TOT?

It's hard to tell where this is going to go. At the moment it’s a struggle because Shane and I are in our final year of college so it’s hard to invest as much time into the whole project as we'd like to but come May, we will be able to focus 100% on this.

We are of course constantly looking to do bigger and better parties and we have some stuff in the pipeline for next year that I can't really speak about until its 100% confirmed. I've just locked in some acts for September and October that I am very excited about. We're constantly trying to grab fresh bookings that people wouldn't expect to play in Limerick.

I think the collectives in Limerick at the moment are doing such a good job in creating a healthy scene and there’s good rapport between all the promoters here, we all get on so well with each other and we all go to and play at each others gigs etc. There’s a really close knit community here so it's somewhere I'm happy to stick around and work with people to create something really special for people.

Photo: Touch of Techno

D.I.E

D.I.E has been heavily planted into the Limerick underground scene since 2011 and was the first electronic student night of its kind to happen in the city.

D.I.E books big names such as Manni Dee, Head Front Panel, Jerome Hill, and Neil Landstrumm while also firmly focusing on showcasing homegrown talent, keeping their line-ups interesting and fresh.

D.I.E’s Halloween special a couple of months back was totally nuts. DSNT, a Belfast-based collective who focus on hard sounds and intense visuals and lasers made their Limerick debut. The atmosphere was electric, it felt like someone had grabbed you and literally dropped you in to a club in Amsterdam or Berlin. It felt out of the ordinary, feeling like you were immersed in something so crazy that was held in Limerick.

Dan Sykes - D.I.E

Tell us a little bit about where the name D.I.E came from, and what was the main aim for D.I.E from the beginning?

We set up D.I.E in 2011. The night was connected with LSAD (Limerick School of Art & Design) and the name stands for Dub Indie and Electronic. The idea behind the night was to have a cross genre night that would satisfy the underground music appreciating students of Limerick city. There wasn’t much choice for students in Limerick at that time, and it seemed right to implement something.

We run 3 rooms at D.I.E (so this is what the triangle represents) It was Luke Kitt and the LSAD SU that year who really developed the idea. We still keep close ties with LSAD and organise their rag week for them every year working closely with their SU on the bookings and programming of the rooms for their own rag week.

Photo: Allie Glynn

The D.I.E collective have brought various international, and national acts to Limerick to over the last 8 years. What night, or DJ set stands out most for you, and why?

Probably from a vibe and hype point of view then I’d have to say when we managed to book DJ EZ. It wasn't very long after his infamous boiler room that Caimin Walsh (LSAD SU president of the time) got in touch with us and was like "Any chance we could get this guy?" Anyway, long story short we managed to book him and the night was super nuts.

In terms of techno DJs and sets, it's hard to pick just one. The one that really stood out for me personally was when we had DJ Rum play in the warehouse, who delivered a full-on techno Armageddon! The guy is such a good DJ. He is honestly like a machine!

What I really love though, is when rooms go off to local and Irish acts, which we have been concentrating on hugely the last while, and have seen a lot in the last few years. The level of Irish and Limerick talent is unbelievable!

Photo: Allie Glynn

Where do you see D.I.E going from here? There is plans to launch a D.I.E label later this year, can you tell me a little bit about that?

We plan to keep a good party going! We’re entering year 8 now so a lot of the veterans are older, so we like to give younger collectives/DJs/Mc’s/Bands etc a platform to showcase at D.I.E. It can serve as a great platform in this respect and we're fully committed to helping Limerick push forwards in terms of quality underground left-field music.

Yes, we have a label in a making with some very big releases ready to go. It’s going to be happening quite soon so keep your ears open!

Photo: D.I.E Crew

Subtech

Subtech is known for its massive bookings, and sells out almost as soon as tickets go on sale. The gigs are always on point with great production and a very professional approach.

One of the many Subtech gigs that really shook Limerick, was one of their more recent gigs in Pharmacia. ’Subtech presents Tommy Holohan’ with Techno and Cans residents Sam Greenwood and Jake Nolan on supports for the techno heavyweight, it was a guaranteed to be massive, and the place was literally dripping in sweat.

Jake Nolan - Subtech

Subtech has brought big line-ups to Limerick, tell us a bit about who you have booked throughout the years, and what was your favourite gig/set to date?

When I decided to start Subtech I took into consideration that I never really wanted to be limited booking acts of a certain style/genre and explored avenues in which I could just keep it as a bit of an open book from the get-go. I think you also must take into consideration that with a midweek night, it's kind of one constant experiment as you're catering for a very young crowd whose taste can change within the space of a couple of weeks.

The beginning really was just a water-testing with some more accessible techno acts, which I think opened the doorway for a lot of people who hadn't really experienced nights like it before.

Gradually I was able to introduce some acts that I really wanted to book like Dax J, Sunil Sharpe, Clouds, Keith Carnal, and Randomer to name a few. A lot of those shows pretty much fell on my lap with my residency with Techno & Cans.

Eventually moving to a bigger venue I started to delve into a few house shows to mix things up a bit, with the first big house line-up consisting of Denis Sulta, Mall Grab and Brame & Hamo, all acts just on the brink of their careers exploding. I think that line-up really put Subtech on the map for people outside of Limerick. I think I'll have to say that was my favourite considering the amount of grey hair I have after it. It was worth it though.

Photo: Allie Glynn

Subtech has had a few homes throughout its life span, although venues change, the City it resides in stays the same, what makes Limerick so special for you?

Venues change unfortunately, but Limerick has grown and grown on me since starting Subtech. I grew up only 15 minutes from Limerick in Shannon, so I was always pretty familiar with the city.

I think organising events of such a big scale you begin to learn things that not a lot of people are familiar with. It's your responsibility as a promoter to know what people want.

Since the closure of Habitat I've found myself in a bit of a limbo when it comes to finding a new home. With no decent alternative that can match the scale of Habitat's capacity leaving it hard to book big international acts, I decided recently to do some smaller events, taking advantage of the talent that Ireland has to offer, and going back to how it was earlier on in Subtech's lifespan, I guess.

The first gig I did was in Pharmacia's upstairs room with Tommy Holohan and I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable gig I've ran in years. Limerick has always just been loose, kind of reminds me of Belfast sometimes. It's mental like.

Photo: Allie Glynn

What is next for Subtech?

For now my main focus is to keep the brand alive with the more intimate shows. I'm looking at bigger spaces and keeping my options opened but I'm happy to push the abundance of Irish DJs in smaller venues until something that I know will work pops up.

The nice thing about running midweek shows is they're seasonal, with things winding down for the summer. Venues will always come and go, but I think Limerick is in need of another big capacity club to cater for the people who genuinely want to go to these bigger events. We'll just have to wait and see...

Photo: Allie Glynn

RoomTwo

RoomTwo is one of the more recent techno nights to hit Limerick City. It has no fixed venue, but instead uses intimate spaces across the city to host their nights, with every night showcasing exceptional talent.

In a short time, founders Senan, and Michael have brought some top class techno acts to the city. Their first show with Laynee selling out. A full room with a really nice vibe. Their show with Mode_1 was no different with hard-hitting quality tunes all night.

Photo: RoomTwo

Senan Moore - RoomTwo

RoomTwo is one of the more recent nights being ran in the city. Tell us a little bit about Room Two, where did the name come from, and what made did you decide to start running the night?

Starting the night is something myself and Michael decided we’d do back in October. We knew each other through playing at house parties out in Castletroy and we had similar ideas for a new night in Limerick, so we decided to team up and start RoomTwo.

We wanted to keep it simple. One room, one headliner and one support act. That way, everyone in the room was there for that one show, and everyone is on the same buzz. So far, it’s really worked for us in creating an atmosphere.

The name was one of the last things to come to us. We were only a couple of weeks out from our first show before we came up with RoomTwo. The name comes from the idea that our night wasn’t going to be the ‘main-floor’, it was going to be more local, a bit more underground.

Photo: RoomTwo

In a short space of time, the techno gigs you have put on in the city have gained massive attention. Tell us a little bit about the techno acts you have booked, why you chose those acts, and how the events have gone?

So far on the techno front, we’ve booked Dublin’s Laynee and Mode_1. We brought down Laynee for our first show back in January. We booked her because we were lucky enough to catch her set at MASS last year, and the energy she had generated during that set was mad! I knew straight away her style would suit the energy of the crowds in Limerick. Her set for us in the Kasbah Social Club was even better than what we had seen in Clonmel. Her selection was top notch. We sold out the show too which was crazy! Everyone came and gave it socks – the energy was next level.

We brought Mode_1 to Limerick for our RAG week show in Pharmacia. We booked him because, for the week that was in it, we knew we wanted a techno heavy hitter. Michael had seen Mode_1 supporting Ben Klock in District 8 and he knew he was the man for the job. His performance on the night really was top class. His demonstrated his experience as he kept the crowd on the dance floor, playing some absolute gems. Everyone was raving on, it was a proper buzz.

We booked both acts for the same reason. We’d witnessed them at full tilt, first hand and we wanted more people to see them play.

Photo: RoomTwo

As it is early days for Room Two, what is next for you? Do you hope to see Room Two grow, or would you prefer to keep the events more intimate, and different to existing events?

We’re working on the ‘Bedroom Mix Series’ on YouTube, so we’ve a couple of things to focus on in the coming months. Our mix series at present is aimed at promoting Limerick-based DJ’s and showcasing their mixes in a format that’s easily accessible to everyone. We definitely feel that there’s a platform for Limerick to show off what we have to offer. Luca Mengranelli, the man who is also responsible for all of our artwork, has been a huge help with this project.

Of course, we’re hoping the night to grows and we can reach more people but the fact that we move from venue to venue gives us the freedom take it as it comes. We’ll continue as we are - doing our best to bring quality shows to the city and sure, we’ll see what happens.

Photo: Simon AK

So, there you have it, Limerick has undoubtedly proved itself as being a home for a serious range of some of the best electronic music nights Ireland has seen to date, and there is no stopping the promoters in the city, who all have big and bold plans for the coming student year, without saying too much, the gigs that are in the pipeline, are definitely something to get very, very excited about.

#Limerick #Techno #Ireland #DIE #TouchofTechno #Subtech #RoomTwo