Limerick Post caught up with Dan and Niki of the Macronite collective to hear about their plans for 2012 and beyond.
Sitting in a cosy pub in the afternoon listening to DJs/Promoters Dan and Niki talking excitedly about the music, DJs and guests on the horizon for Macronite, it is easy to get energised by that drive and enthusiasm and you soon realise that dance music culture in Limerick is in safe hands with much to look forward to in 2012. Only last February, Macronite launched with a party in Dolans to kickstart a collective of DJs and promoters from Vivamusic/Micronite, Fried, Dubblebass and Filthy Dubstep Bastards.
The idea was simple, take the sharpest DJs and producers in the city add a few international guests and put them together on one night, once a month on three stages with big Funktion One soundsystems and keep the door prices recession-friendly. Dan says, “basically Macronite formed one year ago and since then we’ve strived as hard as possible to bring the best cutting edge electronica and up and coming local acts as possible.”
One of the best things Macronite have going for them is the many genres and shades of electronic music that you hear. Niki explains, “people might come to Macronite looking for some techno and also find some really great dubstep. It is really right there in front of them on a really good soundsystem.” Dan adds, “I wouldn’t be into any genres specifically, when you hear a good piece of music, its a good piece of music and that is what people go on now.”
The editor of DJ Magazine, Ben Murphy, agrees with the Macronite philosophy. His recent review of the Limerick collective described Macronite as “another fine exemplar of Ireland’s burgeoning dance music culture, uniting the best underground styles in a way that reflects the status quo of cutting-edge electronics and seems genuinely refreshing.”
Macronite label
But more than just a monthly blowout, Macronite is also a co-op for DJs to share their mixes and production and now there are plans to establish Macronite as a record label. Dan says, “This year will be spent building and researching music for the new Macronite music label. It will work off local productions and remixes from our headline acts we’ve booked throughout the year and will go live in very early 2013. We would like to be releasing music that isn’t just something that is currently in style, when I buy a record I want it to be a record that will still sound good in ten years time. We want to release music that really grabs our attention.”
Dubstep/Indie & Electronica
This Thursday the promoters are running the first DIE club night of 2012. DIE is ‘Dubstep/Indie & Electronica’ running on one Thursday a month. Dan explains, “There has been a great reaction to it and its cheap at only a fiver. It gives local DJs a chance to play, we have Flip-It TV running the backroom DJing with some live bands to make sure we are covering all the bases”. DIE is a monthly clubnite happening randomly based around when students are in the city and don’t have exams. Keep an eye on Macronite’s Facebook pages and Dolan’s website for details.
This Thursday’s DIE features their Dj Competition Final between Ricard P, Declan Magoo and Jay Skelly. The winner becomes the new DIE resident for 2012. On The Terrace Adam Bently plays and The Hip Neck Blues collective play live with music from the Flip-It TV crew.
Also The Bavarian Babes will be there on the night to handing out free pints of Bavaria beer while looking for Ireland’s next Bavaria F1 model. The winner of the national babe search will be named the Irish Bavaria City Racing Babe for 2012, receive a modelling contract with Andrea Roche’s agency and a years supply of Bavaria Beer.
Scientific Wax Showcase
This Saturday January 28, Macronite features a Scientific Wax Showcase Feat Equinox and B-Key. Currently releasing tracks on his Scientific Wax label, Equinox (AKA Marlon Sterling) has been busting out the breakbeats in East London since the age of 15. His influences are as diverse as Nightmares on Wax to Carl Craig to Donald Byrd and he has used them to showcase the full 360 degrees of music in drum ‘n’ bass. Scientific Wax aims to deliver quality music from across that spectrum. In Equinox’s own words, “we just want to deliver good music that needs to be heard by others”. Today the Scientific Wax label, fronted by Equinox releases cuts from Dub-One, Nebula, B-Key, Reactiv, and Equinox himself.
Also joining the Macronite residents will be Djamel(Heavy Reel), co-founder of Heavy Reel records, one of Ireland’s freshest Techno imprints and Steve Austin (Swink/Deepvein Audio) a man who is possibly “Ireland’s best kept house music secret”, Steve has releases on Swink Music and Limerick quality house imprint, Deep Vein Audio.
The Hive Mind
The collective have just finished a new mix called The Hive Mind. It mixes the sounds the crew feel are going to be big or define 2012 and will be rocking the club in its second year. It is on the Macronite soundcloud site with lots of new tracks to check out. Next month will be Macronite’s first birthday and it will be celebrated in some style with Oscar Mullero on the decks on Saturday February 18. “I think this is going to be a big one” adds Nikki.
During the hours leading up to a Macronite event you can check out a streaming mix on the Macronite Facebook pages. Dan explains, “The idea is that from 6pm to 9pm, people are getting ready to go out , and people are watching DJs who will be playing again that night”. The club has been busier since they began streaming the pre-show and clubbers regularly interact and comment on the Facebook page.
Bump
For the last two years Dan and the crew have run the Bump Muzik Festival in Clonlara on the outskirts of the city. The next Bump Muzik Festival will again be held near Limerick in late July. “I’m just checking out a new venue next week and we have put in a few offers for artists for the festival.” Describing the previous two festivals as a “learning curve”, Dan is “really happy” with the response to it even though economically it wasn’t the greatest success. A new venue, a promise to not have all the headline DJs playing at the same time and bar facilities run by the promoters are just some of the innovations we can expect from Bump 2012.
DIE Dubstep/Indie & Electronica’ happens this Thursday January 26. Macronite with Equinox guesting happens this Saturday January 28. Check out the pre-show on Facebook from 6pm on Saturday and hear the new Macronite mix on www.musiclimerick.com.
