PREVIEW: Celtronic 2015
Celtronic is back again for it’s latest instalment of electronic dance later this month, and will draw thousands of music fans to the city.
Now in its fifteenth year, Celtronic is notorious for attracting the biggest names in electronic music playing alongside the best local DJs in venues throughout the city, and is considered to be Ireland’s premier electronic music festival.
Still a nonprofit making festival, the organisers have maintained the same ethos since they founded in 2000, that of keeping ticket prices as low as possible whilst still managing to attract dance’s greatest stars.
Day one, Wednesday 24th, sees a Maeve Records showcase in the form of ‘Mano Le Tough’ and ‘The Drifter’ in the stunning surrounds of the Guildhall.
Mano Le Tough has been considered to be a the next big thing, so much so that Kristian Beyer of Âme stated “thanks to Mano Le Tough, I have no fears for the future of House”.
The Dubliner has become a regular in some of the best clubs in the world. “I guess I try and make music that has an emotional resonance without being overly sentimental or schmalzy. It means a lot to me to try and connect with the listener on a deeper level and add something to their lives that’s more than a hands in the air 5am moment in a club” says Mano.
Also on the bill is The Drifter, aka Mark Flynn, who had a very diverse musical background growing up, from playing in bands to performing in choirs. Now a DJ and singer, The Drifter has played in the biggest clubs throughout Europe and runs the Maeve record alongside Mano Le Tough and Baikal.
Day Two, in yet another one of Derry’s stunning buildings, The Glassworks, sees Resident Advisor’s no.1 live act of 2014, RECONDITE brings his show to the festival.
The German techno producer is known to do major events such as Melt!, Amsterdam Dance Event and Time Warp but enjoys the smaller intimate venues just as much, so he’ll be at home in The Glassworks.
Joining Recondite will be Fort Romeau. The London based producer has a patient approach to his music “I want to allow things to breathe and develop gradually over longer track lengths, rather than cram everything into four or five minutes.”
Day Three sees Celtronic move across the city and set up in the Nerve Centre in the form of Henrik Schwarz and Ripperton. Voted in the top 5 live acts in the world by Resident Advisor, Schwatz is now considered to be one electronic music’s most requested live acts. He likes to maintain a balance between electronic music, classical and jazz, and his highly charged dance sets which have gone down a storm everywhere he plays.
His production c.v is a who’s who of the music industry, with huge household names such as Cold Play and Mary J Bliege calling on his expertise.Ripperton is a House and Techno producer and is considered to be one of Switzerland’s busiest DJ’s since bursting onto the international scene as part of the Border Community label.
Day Four is based out of St. Columbs Hall has an action packed last line-up consisting of Derrick May, Clark, Francesco Tristano, Objekt and The Cyclist.Derrick May, also known as Mayday and Rhythim is Rhythim is credited with developing the futuristic variation on house music which became known as techno. Francesco Tristano meanwhile is fast establishing himself as one of the most original and eclectic musicians of his generation.
He is a classical and experimental pianist as well as a composer, composing both classical and electronic music.As a producer, it’s thought that there are few others making similar music to Objekt. Taking influence from IDM and electro, the Berlin-based tech producer welcomes experimentation “My working style is one of revision after revision” he says.
Five days of a jam packed schedule is what Celtronic is all about and attracting the best DJ’s in dance… this year is no different.
