So far we’ve only had a few catastrophic disasters in 2018, which is good going when you really look at it. It’s always a smart idea to celebrate the fact that we can still enjoy some fine music and a good sweat on the dance floor, and for that purpose Gash Collective have got us covered.

Two Irish acts breaking onto the scene

Next Saturday, February 10, Gash Collective present a night of bass, techno, garage, and some extra special juicy bits. Representing the underground world of electronic music production are Really Bad Mothers, and JK Rollin.

Hailing from Cork and new to the scene are Really Bad Mothers. These Mamas take a multi-genre approach to their sound, and give special attention to dubstep, techno, low end electronica, and jungle. Fresh vibes from this crew.

Also headlining the night is JK Rollin. JK Rollin, AKA Joni, comes from Bray and has been releasing music as a vocalist since 2012. She has a musical history as a classically trained violinist, and has been building a reputation as a DJ with her mixes on Dublin Digital Radio, coupled with a stand out Body & Soul performance. Accompanying the kicks and low end vibrations from RBM, JK Rollin is bringing footwork, techno and jersey club. Not limited to genre, you can expect something experimental from each of these artists.

You can find this gig in Factory at Electric Garden & Theatre next Saturday, at 11pm. Tickets are just €5, and €8 after.

Gash are challenging the status quo in the music industry

Gash Collective began in 2016 as a group curated by women, with the aim of supporting female identifying, non-binary and LGBTQ+ electronic music producers. In under two years, the group has run several DJing and production workshops in Galway and across the country, which provide an open, interactive environment for women interested in getting involved. These have been directed by some experienced artists on the Irish music scene such as Ellll and Maedbh O’Connor. Gash also have a weekend music slot on the much loved Radió na Life, and have made their mark on Irish festivals such as Electric Picnic and Body & Soul.

Gash are about creating space for women in electronic music, and challenging the boyz club image that has been it’s avatar for many years. There’s plenty of research being done into gender in the music industry and gender representation at music festivals, and I recommend checking out the work being done by one group, female:pressure.

Last year I spent a lot of time with my head in the topic. One thing I looked into was gender at music festivals in Ireland, and the figures illustrated below speak volumes about what we already know – but they give weight to the need for a discussion about the environment of the music industry.

Next Saturday is for music and dance. Disrupting how we view gender in music is an every day effort.