Clubbers: Steam Dreams celebrates second birthday at Dali

A month after helping launch Jet Li’s Surrounded by Sea EP, which was a great night by all accounts, drum ‘n’ bass nights Steam Dreams celebrate their second birthday at Dali on Friday in the presence of DJ Hybrid. The alias of Coventry’s Alan Ford, DJ Hybrid first emerged in 2010 with releases on his Audio Addict Records label before releasing Mixed Origins, a debut album that highlighted the breadth of his jungle and drum ‘n’ bass influences and helped earn him Best Breakthrough Producer and Best Breakthrough DJ at the 2015 We Love Jungle Awards. He has gone on to release on 36 Hertz, Deep In The Jungle and Jungle Cakes.

On support is Cork-based Soy Lovro, fresh from his appearance at D’n’B United, the largest gathering of drum and bass enthusiasts in Croatia, followed by Jungle Cakes’ DJ Kivi and a back-to-back set between DJ/producer Knomrac and Steam Dreams founder Dan-Jo Curly Relihan aka Steamlite.

There should be tickets available on the door for €12.

Interestingly, Steamlite and Lovro will be appearing at the General Levy headlining Jungle Cakes Inner City Festival in Brixton on the British Bank Holiday weekend on Sunday, May 24, along with Hybrid and Kivi.

Also this Friday night at the Liquid Lounge rooftop Skybar on Marlboro Street, veteran DJ Marq Walsh will be reprising his Remembering Sir Henry’s Room 4, an event he has been running since December 2024. Marq was a resident at the legendary venue, so expect a night full of classic house and techno from back in the day. Runs from 11pm-2:30am. Tickets €10.

Meanwhile, over at the Pavilion, Limerick-based house and techno party organisers Equinox Collective present DJ Collie. The alias of Colm McKenna, Collie has built a reputation as one of the country’s most consistent and dedicated selectors. With a deep-rooted musical background and years spent building an extensive vinyl collection, his sets move fluidly through house, techno and beyond. Collie has graced the decks of every major venue and festival both at home and abroad, sharing lineups with heavyweights such as Sven Väth, DJ Seinfeld and Kerri Chandler. As a producer, Collie continues to push forward with a string of standout releases on respected imprints such as Out Straight Records and Traxx Underground.

Support comes from Cork-born Equinox mainstays Triad, with the RiseUp Soundsystem providing the sonic heft. Tickets €15.

On Saturday, May 2, Dali hosts the latest instalment of the Jon Barry/Swny head-to-head. The duo represent different generations of the Cork DJing firmament, but the fact they have become a regular fixture over the past nine months or so shows they have the right blend. They’ll be moving through house, techno and electro that is built for the dance floor all night long. And I know – and it is right – that club nights in Dali in particular decry sexism, homophobia and racism, but I smiled deeply when I saw the injunction accompanying the publicity for this event to keep the dance floor for dancing, not talking. Preach! The event runs from 9pm-1am. Tickets €10.

Sunday Times relocate to the Savoy this Sunday (natch) with Berlin-based Sinéad in the main room, and Ar Ais Arís are back again in the lounge. A resident of New York’s public records, Sinéad Jonaidi is a San Francisco native of Irish/Iranian heritage. She brings selections of 2000s tech and deep house with a rich knowledge and collection of 90s UK rhythms. Repping Ar Ais Aris are Rob Rua, Hannah Hession and Cormac Geragthy.