Thursday 1 February

Electric Presents BICEP and Hammer w/Paul Belton

Electric Garden & Theatre, 10pm

This Thursday Electric presents two acts, both from Northern Ireland, who specialise in both the chill side and outwardly up there and feelin’ it side of disco, house and techno. Bicep are a duo called Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson, who have been gigging together for almost ten years. In 2017, they signed on to the London based record label Ninja Tune after several number one hits and international recognition from music journalists for their 2017 debut album Bicep. Also headlining the night is Hammer, AKA Rory Hamilton. This disco and house producer is signed to the record label Feel My Bicep, and his latest releases have been flying out to the shelves of music lovers. His upcoming EP C-Space has been getting a fair bit of hype – due for release March 3. Advance tickets for this one are sold out, so get there early if you want in on this.

Friday 2 February

Hotbox promotions presents MC Xander

The Loft, 10pm

Local underground promoter Hotbox is bringing UK artist MC Xander to the West this Friday. MC Xander made his mark as a beatbox artiste and hip-hop lyric crafter with his debut album Eyeopeness. It’s socially conscious music, with a solid musical technique and a voice that has brought Xander recognition from the likes of BBC Radio 6 and XFm. Right now MC Xander is working on his second album, Hymns, to be released in April. Not content to wait until April, this event should be enough to satisfy your beatbox cravings. Check out his music on Youtube and get a taste of his style. This gig has a limited supply of final phase tickets left to buy online – grab yours for €16.

Saturday 3 February

Super Extra Bonus Party

Róisín Dubh, 9pm

Playing this Saturday at our old favourite is indie-hip-hop-electronic group Super Extra Bonus Party. Having been on hiatus since 2010, the Kildare band have come back with new music and a thirst for performance. The band formed in 2005 and over the course of those five years they released two studio albums, the first of which won them the Choice Music Prize in 2008. SEBP have collaborated with various artists on their albums; R.S.A.G, Fight Like Apes, and White Noise to name a few. They’re experimental and combine live instrumentation with electronic media. Their new song ‘Switzerland’ came out late last year, and this year the band are making a full fledged return to the Irish music scene. This event is absolutely free.

Puzzle – A Night of Liquorice Allsorts

The Cellar Bar, 10pm

This Saturday, local D’n’B music collective Puzzle brings you the otherworldly sounds of half time, glitch and all the tekno beats you can shake a stick at*. Having been on the Galway scene since 2014, the Puzzle crew have been bringing us artists from Ireland and abroad, and have made a space for a different kind of club night. It’s always a cosy one underground at the Cellar, and it’s well suited to the high energy tunes that tend to occupy this space. The four pieces of the Puzzle crew performing on the night are Scimmia, Crux, Wendy, and Burden, and they’re also on the bill for this year’s Balter Festival in the UK. This Friday night will cost you €5 before 11pm.

*No sticks allowed.

Photo credit: DJ Unwind.