Belfast-born, now London-based, Hannah is an underground hero, who has set the tone at many of our warehouse parties, was dubbed the Bass Queen and last year, when we brought our Immerse stage concept to All Together Now, she lit the fuse that blew up our second day. This edition of the AVA Mix is a recording of her set from All Together Now 2024. 

When Hannah asked about the recording, we knew we had to put this one out and give you a taste of what’s to come. She takes The Dock – our new stage with RA – for a spin at AVA 2025, in less than eight weeks. We chatted with the Bass Queen herself about AVA, past, present and yet to come.

How do you feel about returning to AVA in Belfast this year?

This 2-hour mix was recorded live last summer from All Together Now 2025 at the AVA’s Immerse stage. It was late sunny afternoon, so started a little chuggy with some house to get people grooving and locked in. I moved through different moods and into higher energies as the set progressed to get the crowd ready to move into the later, nighttime sets.

I am v v excited. It’s my 3rd year playing and I feel the festival just gets better as it grows every year, as have I as an artist. Cannot wait for everyone to hear the 2025 version of me at AVA this year!

What were some of your earliest musical influences — anything that sparked your love for electronic music?

When I was a teenager, I went to lots of different raves from Deadmau5 to Nina Kraviz to Skream to Paranoid London. I did a season in Ibiza in 2013 (aged 19), and after I came home I knew music was going to be my life. I travelled to Berlin around 10 times within the space of a couple of years to find the best clubbing experiences with the best DJs, where the promoters really knew how to curate and the ravers really knew how to dance and get lost, both of these aspects were so vital. Doing this, and the Belfast scene back home at the time, helped me refine what sounds I really loved the most. All thanks to Belfast promoters booking artists that would play sets that help carved the future of my sound, Hessle Audio, Zip, Midland, MCDE, Sunil Sharpe, Boddika, Joy Orbison Steffi & Virgina, Move D, Omar S and honestly way too many to mention, they were all raves pre 2016. 

Tell us a bit about your journey so far — how did you first get into DJing?

I started collecting vinyls and bought turntables when I was 19 I just wanted to be able to mix my favourite sounds together, I’m pretty much self taught with the help of a few friends around me, and if I’m honest I didn’t even really consider DJ’ing in a club and didn’t know any other female DJs personally. I would have a ritual every Friday of a few mates coming to my house and bringing their records, and we would all share and mix each other’s music. One of my friends would bring his CDJs round and I mean the ones where we put actual CDs into them, no USB ports back then. So I had hundreds of CDs and would download all my favourite tunes and mix them on his decks, my music taste and collection grew a lot from there. I had an afterparty at my house in about 2017, and I was mixing my vinyls, and there was a promoter there, he said I was really good and asked did I want a gig, the idea seemed so foreign to me at the time. I hadn’t even used proper USB CDJs before, and I said no initially, it took me days to actually go back and say yes, after some persuasion from friends. I was SO nervous about the idea lol, impostor syndrome, a girl? But just did it and that was that. 

How do you usually prepare for a set — do you plan much or go fully instinctual on the 

I prepare mostly by spending hoursss digging deep for old and new music that I love and can imagine playing in the club or event. I usually try to build a playlist over time. If I know I have a gig or radio show coming up I’ll start slowly curating a playlist a few weeks in advance depending on much time I have (or months depending how excited I am for the gig) ill keep searching and listening for more sounds, energies and various bpm’s that I want to incorporate into the set, I feel doing this over time helps the curation process feel more refined when it comes to the day or 2 before. I’ll spend that day just listening through my existing music library and still looking for more and switching songs in and out and refining my playlist. Recently, I’ve been putting less music on my gig playlists and being more careful with what’s on there and of course knowing I can jump into other playlists if I need to on the night. I never know what order I’ll play anything in, that part is fully instinctual and always will be. I have gone into gigs blind before, but I just prefer to curate a set and get excited about the journey I’m going to take people on, which puts me in a more relaxed mindset going in. 

What’s a track in this mix that holds a special meaning for you, and why? 

Tough! But probably have to go with ‘Samual L Session – City Music (Vinyl Mix)’. This came out as vinyl only in 1999 and was released digitally last year. Was one of the first Samuel tunes I ever heard and his productions have heavily influenced my sound in recent years. 

Which artists (alive or not) would you love to go B2B or collaborate with?

So many lol! The answer to this changes all the time, but right now I’d love to go b2b with CCL. They are such an exciting, unique DJ right now and I would have zero genre restraints on playing with them. And that’s always fun. Going back to my roots though, if I ever had any collaboration with Underground Resistance, which is primarily Detroit techno and house sounds, I think my career would have peaked.

What do you think sets an Irish crowd apart from other dancefloors you’ve played?

The YEOOOs and how warm and welcoming everyone is. There’s a sense that a lot of people on the dancefloor know each other or are friends of friends, seeing the same people regularly at multiple events just builds this sense of connection and safety that not a lot of other dancefloors have. It’s a proper community. 

What advice would you give to emerging DJs looking to find their sound and voice?

Go to the f**king club. Don’t sit at home and just listen to mixes, go out and dance, feel the music and be part of the journey in real life. Travel if you have to. Absorb everything. Feel the community. Go alone sometimes. Go from the start and stay to the end. Get to know what you like. Build on your knowledge and experiences. Network. Be curious. Don’t ever stop digging, researching and listening to music. Let Discogs become your best friend. Stay authentic, never copy, only be inspired. Your voice and creativity will come naturally. It did for me! There’s times I felt lost musically and feel I’d lost my musical identity as a DJ, especially being a multi-genre DJ, can be tough! Just stay authentic to you, no matter what it is.

TRACKLIST

A Triumphant Eighth Edition for AVA London
Celebrating Innovation in Music, Culture & Visual Arts for thousands of attendees across all events

AVA London returned for its eighth year, gathering thousands of leading artists, creators, thought leaders, industry professionals & fans across three dynamic days of conferencing, cutting-edge live music events and global debuts. AVA delivered a hybrid programme of keynotes, industry forums, masterclasses, and raves beyond boundaries.

Quotes from Speakers
“Superserve your superfans” – Tom Schroeder on The Game Changers

“Queer is an orientation and a political practice that extends beyond dancefloors” – I.JORDAN on Re-queering Dancefloors

“Born Slippy is the name of a racing dog from Romford Stadium” —Karl Hyde on 30 years of the timeless Underworld anthem

“Compartmentalisation is Key: the things you can get done while they’re having a nap: it feels like a superpower”— Jayda G on balancing motherhood with music
“I’m trying to hit this perfect arc of being hot and not an idiot anymore” – FKA twigs

“The sharp programming at AVA Conference and the network it naturally attracts is unlike anything else in the UK. I caught up with – and met – brilliant people from every part of my world: artists, senior industry figures across multiple disciplines, creatives, labels, platforms, brands and more. From emerging voices to major players, the mix of speakers and delegates was spot on. The setting across the British Library and The Standard made it easy to have proper conversations. It didn’t feel like work – just excellent conversations, clear perspectives, and the right people.” – Toshiki Ohta, Consultant, Stajio O

Thursday Highlights
Underworld opened AVA with an inspiring keynote reflecting on 30 years of Born Slippy, setting the tone for a weekend of thought-provoking discussions.

FKA twigs joined Resident Advisor for a live Exchange, offering insight into her creative evolution, while Annie Mac and Jayda G explored the intersection of motherhood and artistic identity. Munroe Bergdorf led Re-queering Dancefloors, a powerful conversation on gender, identity, and reclaiming spaces in electronic music.

Jarvis Cocker delivered Biophobia, a lecture on overcoming his fear of nature co-presented with EarthPercent, bringing a unique perspective to the programme.

The Game Changers panel spotlighted industry disruptors, including Zeon Richards, Tom Schroder, Munroe Bergdorf, and Maria May. MUBI’s panel, Music’s Leading Role in Film, featured Raffertie (The Substance), Lucy Bright (Aftersun), and Naqqash Khalid (In Camera), exploring the crucial role of music in storytelling.

Thursday @ Earth Hackney – Erika de Casier, Kojaque & Mechatok delivered intimate, genre-blending live performances – and a global show debut from Mechatok.

Friday Highlights
Emerald hosted a panel on the Future of Music & Clubbing, featuring industry leaders from fabric, FOLD (London), Tresor (Berlin), the London Nightlife Taskforce, and BBC Radio 1, exploring the evolving landscape of nightlife.

Dan Lambert (Kneecap Manager) and Kneecap film director Rich Peppiatt discussed the challenges and triumphs of managing Kneecap, one of today’s most unique and unpredictable musical acts. Meanwhile, horsegiirL sat down with Gay Times for a deep dive into identity, self-expression, and anonymity.

NONOTAK and Yinka Ilori explored pushing the boundaries of visual languages in separate sessions, while cultural leaders from ICA London, Barbican, Serpentine, and House of Dread shared insights on curating contemporary culture. Major League DJz examined Amapiano’s rise to global success through social media, joined by TikTok’s Toyin Mustapha.

Ned Beckett (LittleBig Agency) provided key insights into talent discovery and artist development, and No Tags podcast (Chal Ravens & Tom Lea) recorded a live episode with special guest Paul Woolford. Lorenzo Senni hosted an extended masterclass, The Architecture of Intensity, dissecting his creative process.

Marcel Dettmann sat for an exclusive interview about his new live project, My Own Shadow which had it’s global debut at AVA London alongside Ryoji Ikeda’s immersive live AV show at HERE at Outernet.

Ryoji Ikeda, Marcel Dettmann & EMA took over HERE at Outernet on Friday night with experimental soundscapes, techno and ambient mastery. Alongside the global debut of Dettmann’s ‘My Own Shadow’ Live project.

AVA curated high-energy finale with Origins at The Cause on Saturday with X CLUB, LSDXOXO, Juicy Romance, Body Clinic, Marion Hawkes & Inside Moves closing the weekend with a bang.

AVA BELFAST – UP NEXT
AVA’s flagship event in Belfast is just over two months away – a celebration of music, & audio-visual arts, culture & community in the heart of the city’s docklands. The 11th edition will host over 10,000 guests with more than 70 local and international artists and hundreds of local creatives. Community is at the core of AVA’s values, which is more important today than ever. AVA uses its platform to unite audiences, artists and friends from around the globe.

Taking place 30th – 31st of May 2025 at the Titanic Slipways, AVA Belfast enters a new era of innovation for 2025. Festival tickets available HERE

The AVA Creators Forum returns to London in 2025, continuing its mission to empower the next generation of electronic music makers. In partnership with pointblank Music School, the Forum offers ten emerging musicians and producers a unique opportunity to enhance their craft through an advanced artist development program. The program is designed to nurture creativity and music production, foster professional growth, and build essential industry connections.

Here are our ten talented emerging electronic musicians and producers selected from hundreds of applicants. Each brings their unique sound, vision, and passion to the programme – and we’re excited to support them on the next step of their creative journeys.

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BEKEFI is a Hungarian born electronic music producer and DJ based in London who seamlessly blends old-school influences with modern energy. Her music is an exploration of both nostalgia and innovation, with every track reflecting her deep love for the underground and her unwavering commitment to the craft.

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DR MYSTERY is a Manchester-based producer, DJ, and radio host. In her productions, she navigates the space between dancefloor energy and deep introspection, weaving together intricate percussion, bass, and her ethereal vocals. With releases on labels like 3024, Left, Right & Centre, and INDEX:Records, she continues to push genre boundaries, establishing herself as a serious one-to-watch. Known for high-energy, genre-fluid DJ sets, MYSTERY blends percussive techno, UK bass, dembow, footwork, and jungle while emphasizing narrative and sonic flow. She is also the co-founder of Juke Joint, Manchester’s first footwork event series, which has brought global talent to the city while supporting local artists.

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A Passionate Advocate for Brazil’s Musical Heritage Gerah is a dedicated researcher and curator of Brazil’s rich musical landscape, blending its diverse styles with global rhythms to create a dynamic and eclectic fusion. As a member of Onda Bacana, a UK-based collective of Brazilian DJs, he shares a deep passion for unearthing and showcasing Brazil’s vast musical heritage. His production ethos merges organic percussion with electronic elements, crafting a distinctive sound that honours the country’s lesser-known musical treasures.

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LWS is an Edinburgh based DJ, with releases on esteemed labels such as Call Super and Parris’ ‘can you feel the sun’ imprint, TraTraTrax, and Peder Mannerfelt Produktion. His sound can be described as a unique take on techno, with deep roots in the UK’s rich history of soundsystem culture. LWS’ most recent single ‘Gum Seleks’ was released on the TraTraTrax ‘no pare sigue sigue 3’ compilation in November last year, garnering attention from Mixmag and The Quietus, who both included the track in their ‘Best Electronic Music of 2024’ lists.

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POSER is an innovative electronic music producer originally from Wicklow, Ireland. Now based in London, he is carving his own lane in electronic music through his sample-based productions. Since being selected as a Roundhouse resident artist for 2025, he has been working on his debut mixtape which soundtracks styles that vary from relaxed jazz house to upbeat and more break-focused house and garage designed for clubs. His music has seen support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing & RTE 2FM. ALongside recent support slots for artists such as Oden & Fatzo and O’Flynn, POSER is building his live show that is set to be debuted at Roundhouse ThreeSixty Festival in April.

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REGER is a Belfast-based DJ and producer shaping Northern Ireland’s electronic music scene with a penchant for innovative experimental techno. His Boiler Room DJ debut at AVA Festival and performances alongside Ben UFO, Call Super, and Objekt highlight his rising international profile. A graduate in Music & Sound Design, he fuses hardware and software and is currently developing an EP and live show with his custom Eurorack system.

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Rory Sweeney is hard to define, being one of the key artists in the Irish Underground. His music both dazzles and overwhelms, with glitchy electronics and cinematic balladry. Known also for acclaimed production work for artists such as Sello, Curtisy, Sloucho, Lord Apex, Mavi and Gemma Dunleavy, Rory seamlessly traverses mainstream and experimental sounds.

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East London native Slxm Sol, a producer, DJ, sound engineer and co-founder of Soul Quest Records known for his signature sound of deep, soulful house and jazzy chords. His debut EP, SQR006, garnered widespread attention, featuring on platforms like MixMag, EELF, and Délicieuse Musique. The release was met with high praise from The Club Map, Apparel Music, Juno Download, and DJ Mag, who named him a must-hear emerging artist for 2024.

Slxm Sol brings a fresh and distinctive groove to the global electronic scene that’s not just limited to house music. He’s collaborated with artists like Rudimental, Dream Mclean, and House Gospel Choir, and his skills have earned the trust of brands such as Patagonia, British Airways, and The Bar.

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Stella Z is a London-based artist, producer, and DJ whose music bridges cultural roots with contemporary electronic experimentation. Growing up in a mountainous seaside town in China, she was immersed in Mandarin and Cantonese pop, post-punk, and world music—an eclectic foundation that continues to shape her sound. An emerging voice in underground music, she was named a Mixmag “Artist to Check Out” in November 2024, selected as a Rhythm Section Future Proof mentee in 2023, and is a resident selector at London’s legendary Jumbi bar.

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VERA SACRA is cellist and producer Emily Marks from Sheffield, UK. Creating music that feels as ethereal as it is intimate, she blends cello and synth ambience with whispery vocals inspired by her classical background and introverted tendencies. Intrigued by spirituality, devotion and obsession in a world that frequently feels dark, she writes about the fragility of relationships and searching for a sense of home.

Thinking about how to break into the music industry?

AVA London 2025 offers essential sessions to help emerging artists, managers, promoters, and creatives navigate the industry, land their first opportunities, and build sustainable careers.

Here are some of our favourite sessions to gain insights, connections, and strategies to get started.

Learn how artists and labels expand beyond local scenes to reach global audiences through streaming, PR, touring, and brand partnerships.

Industry professionals from Doors Open share practical advice on landing your first opportunities, networking, and developing key skills to launch your career.

What does a music publisher do, and why is PRS important for electronic music creators? This session covers copyright, royalties, and industry essentials.

Two of the most influential names in dance music share their experiences navigating the industry, balancing creative and personal life, and carving out a lasting career.

In this exclusive keynote, hosted by Séamas O’Reilly, Underworld discuss their evolving creative process and the continued inspiration offered by their seminal anthem, Born Slippy, celebrating 30 years this year.

These are just some of the sessions that will provide valuable insight into finding your home in the creative industries.
To view the whole three day & night programme check out the full schedule here.

If you haven’t already secured your place at AVA London you can see the remaining ticket options here.
Be warned – with one week to go all tickets are moving fast. You risk disappointment by delaying.

See you at AVA London 20–22 March 2025

AVA & Resident Advisor Present: The Dock at AVA Belfast

New for 2025, Resident Advisor will co-curate an all-new stage at AVA Belfast—The Dock.

Paying tribute to Belfast’s iconic Titanic Slipways, where the festival takes place, The Dock is designed as a dockside amphitheatre for dancing. The space will feature layered platforms for dancers, a Funktion-One sound system supplied by Hertz-U Audio and a custom audiovisual rig from Visual Spectrum Studio.

Spanning two days, the lineup includes: 999999999, Job Jobse, Tommy Holohan, Sally C, DJ Fuckoff, Spray Presents Spriitzz Live, Minna No Kimochi, C.FRIM, BASHKKA, Kessler, Cáit, Hannah, Body Clinic, Inside Moves, Optmst, JWY, Matcha, and Sahana. A selection of key sets will be recorded and released as RA Live sessions.

Beyond the music, AVA Belfast 2025 introduces a brand-new arts-focused programme featuring workshops, installations, and guided tours of Belfast, with a full itinerary to be announced in the coming months.

This marks the 11th edition of AVA in Belfast on May 30th & 31st, 2025. Find out more in the event listing, and revisit our feature from last year’s milestone 10th anniversary, featuring interviews with Anz, Flowdan, and more.

Last year we launched a partnership with EarthPercent, the music industry’s climate foundation, co-founded by Brian Eno and industry professionals with an overarching goal of harnessing the power of music in service of the planet.

Over the course of last year we raised £19,252 for the planet with EarthPercent & You. Huge thanks to anyone who purchased a ticket to one of our 2024 events and playing an active role in this.

Our partnership continues in 2025 as we welcome Jarvis Cocker to AVA London in association with EarthPercent to present a special lecture and performance titled: ‘Biophobia’ – along with another year of fundraising for industry action against climate change. For more information on this visit our London page.

A note on where the funds are going, to ensure maximum impact, EarthPercent’s grant-making is informed by their Expert Advisory Panel of leading climate scientists, policymakers and activists, who identify and fund some of the most effective climate solutions around the world, across five action areas: Greening Music, Just Energy Transition, Protecting & Restoring Nature, Legal & Policy Change, and Climate Justice. Some of the incredible organisations they support include Client Earth, Music Declares Emergency and Youth Climate Justice Fund.

For our 11th edition, The AVA welcomes Underworld as festival headliners. The iconic electronic duo is synonymous with UK rave culture and responsible for the timeless anthem ‘Born Slippy’ which celebrates 30 years this summer. After the release of their new album Strawberry Hotel Underworld are primed to ignite Belfast with their legendary live energy and rave roots.

Overmono, the British brothers redefining late-night rave sonics also top the bill. Known for their masterful blend of techno, breakbeats, and enchanting atmospheres, the duo return to Belfast to deliver a huge headline performance. From their early days as solo producers Tessela and Truss to becoming global favourites, their boundary-pushing sounds are perfectly placed on the AVA 2025 lineup.

Ewan McVicar, the Scottish house and techno powerhouse who shot to fame with the chart-smashing ‘Tell Me Something Good’, will bring his infectious energy to light up the AVA 2025 Lineup.

VTSS will make her AVA debut for a pulsating techno masterclass. KI/KI returns to transport the crowd with her seamless fusion of acid, trance, and techno, blending futurism with nostalgia. Global sensation DJ Fuckoff also makes her AVA debut, delivering her signature bass-driven sound.

Italian duo 999999999 will push bpms to the limit with their blend of industrial techno, while Irish tastemaker Tommy Holohan and rising star DART bring bone-rattling beats that showcase Ireland’s thriving rave scene. Sam Alfred also returns with his groovy, euphoric beats after a standout Boiler Room set last year. Berghain regular Bashkka joins with a record box brimming with house and tribal gems, while Spray promises a mind-bending live session presenting his Spriitzz project live, blending wigged-out prog with floor-filling grooves.

We are also very excited to host a unique Irish debut from Tokyo’s Minna-no-kimochi (みんなのきもち), a post-trance collective known for their unforgettable Boiler Room sets.

Belfast, get ready for a weekend of transcendent music, unforgettable moments, and global talent—AVA Festival 2025 is here to redefine the rave experience and the dancefloor. As always, AVA remains dedicated to showcasing talent internationally whilst presenting some of Belfast’s emerging local talent. Stay tuned for more lineup updates.

“AVA 2025 will be a step change for the Festival and AVA. Creativity and community have never been more important. Spaces for people to freely dance, connect and express themselves without judgement are crucial, and we plan to bring the best environment for artists and audiences alike.” Sarah McBriar, Founder & Creative Director of AVA

“This year we are excited to bring iconic duo Underworld to AVA on the 30th Anniversary of Born Slippy and surround them with so much exciting and upcoming talent, featuring 10 artists making their Belfast debuts. Supporting Irish talent has always been a key focus for us, so having artists like Tommy Holohan, Sally C, Spray, EMA, Sloucho, and Kessler involved in the lineup is something we are proud of.” Emmett Costello, AVA Senior Curator

In addition to the music programme, this year’s AVA will bring an arts-focused programme that delivers storytelling, music tours of the city, installations, and workshops at the festival. The details of the arts programme will be shared in the coming months.

Thanks to our partners – Resident Advisor, Heverlee, RedBull, White Claw, Wing-It

Buy Weekend, Group and Hospitality tickets now

Relive the magic of AVA 2024 – our tenth birthday.

Strap in Belfast – This Boxing Night, MCR-T returns to Belfast to transform Banana Block into a full-throttle warehouse wonderland. He’s been blowing up dancefloors all across the globe and now he’s here to switch on The Mill Xmas lights with another fierce, high-energy set fusing house, techno, and bass-heavy beats. This is one show that guarantees pure, unfiltered festive madness.

AVA10 fans will know what we’re talking about, having witnessed his surprise festival-closing set at The Nomadic earlier this year. During this set, he united the crowd in a massive chorus singing, “Hey baby (uh! ah!) I wanna know, will you be my girl?! “ It’s a moment we’ve not stopped thinking about since.

MCR-T shot to viral fame following the release of “My Barn My Rules” alongside Horsegiirl (another AVA10 stand-out set). The track has now amassed well over 25 million streams and cemented once and for all that cowboys & cowgirls never go out of style. No AVA x The Mill collab would be complete without a pair of local legends to top it all off. Sophie, one-half of Social Sounds, and rising star Cian—fresh off his festival debut—will bring top-notch Belfast energy to kickstart this unforgettable night. Believe us when we say; this isn’t their first rodeo.

Will MCR-T trade his cowboy hat for a Santa hat? Saddle up and gallop your way down to Banana Block on Dec 26th to find out.
Tickets start from £13.50 and are onsale from Thursday 7th November at 10 AM

Purchase tickets here

(All tickets include booking fee and a £1 donation to our charity partner Earth Percent)

We’re back at Tate Modern’s The Corner for {PAIRED} V with Barcelona ICONS Bar Brutal, and beloved DJ, producer, record label owner and fellow lover of good times and natural wines, Midland.

We’re returning for another fantastic evening fusing food, music and the finest wines from Catalonia. Track selection comes from the British DJ, producer and label boss Midland, with cuisine and wine courtesy of Bar Brutal, the Barcelona staple, synonymous with organic wine and authentic tapas. Tickets are available here.

If you want to attend the dinner service, purchase tickets from Ticket-tailor here, and read more information on the paired website. Tickets are in limited supply and will sell out very soon!

After dinner, the space turns from the restaurant to the dance floor as Midland takes us through the early morning hours for our afterparty. Please note, that afterparty tickets are available here via RA, and the afterparty starts at 10:30 PM.

We also have a Bar Ticket available, which includes access to pre-party bar service, and a snack menu curated by Bar Brutal.

What a weekend at All Together Now with the debut of IMMERSE. 

Immerse is a 360-stage concept created by AVA. Featuring an immersive visual experience in partnership with Smirnoff – a bespoke visuals show from Visual Spectrum Studio and incredible Funktion-One sound.

This felt like our most realised festival concept yet, it was super rewarding to work on delivering a huge brand partnership, creative campaign and art direction across the AV show during the colossal live event, which after 5 editions has grown to become the Glasto of Ireland – special shout out to The All Together Now team for making the magic happen along with the full AVA team.

Hailed by many as “The Godfather of the Belfast Scene”, Extended Play label-boss Timmy Stewart has curated a celebratory mix which journeys through 10 years of AVA.

“I’ve played every year of AVA to date, and nearly every single stage at the festival, as well as various guest outings across the UK, so to say I’ve had ring side seats across the last decade is prob a bit of an understatement and as a result made creating this mix an enjoyable recap.

Opening with a SDC intro seemed a bit of a no brainer, as he makes his return to the festival this year. It was then important to cover a cross section of international acts that AVA have managed to entice to these shores, alongside Irish mainstays who hold their own. Reflected in the mix by the likes of Daniel Avery, Helena Hauff, Len Faki, Midland and more sitting comfortably alongside Sunil Sharpe, Saoirse, Cromby & Matheson.

Across the 100mins, the mix takes in a lot of shades of electronic music with tracks released decades ago as well as music released less than a month ago. It represents a snapshot of just some of the music you can expect to hear at the festival from artists spanning the globe. Even featuring a collaboration I made with a singer I met through an AVA production programme as well as tracks from some of my favourite panellists, Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Jeff Mills & Larry Heard, who had stories for days.

Finally I had to get some Orbital in there after seeing them perform Chime live in Printworks for AVA, which was a proper goosebump moment for me considering it was one of the first 12”s I bought as an enthusiastic teenager nearly 3 decades ago.”

Happy 10th Birthday AVA! – Timmy Stewart

TRACKLIST

This week’s AVA mix is a very special entry to the series, from a true house music legend. Over the past 40-odd years, Kerri Chandler has undoubtedly helped shape the electronic music landscape. Hailing from East Orange, New Jersey, Chandler was exposed to music at a young age through his father, a well-known DJ. His love of music was encouraged by this early exposure, which prepared him for his future vocation.

Chandler’s career started in the late 1980s, and he soon gained recognition for his distinctive style, which combines house music with jazz, soul, and gospel influences. In 1990, Chandler’s breakthrough track, “SuperLover/Get It Off” signalled the beginning of an incredibly successful DJ and production career.

Chandler is renowned for his energetic DJ sets, which frequently feature live components and his distinctive usage of drum machines. In 1992 he co-founded Madhouse Records along with a Dublin-based music entrepreneur Mel Medalie. This platform played a pivotal role in advancing house music and nurturing new talent in Ireland and all around the world.

This year Kerri Chandler returns to Belfast for the first time in over a decade as part of our 10th birthday celebrations.

What was your approach to this AVA Mix?

Music and styles I love, that’s how I have always approached djing. If I don’t love what I play then I don’t think anyone else would, it has to come from the heart.

It’s been over a decade since you last played in Belfast, how does it feel to be returning this summer for AVA?

Ireland is my second home and family, I can’t wait to return to Belfast it’s been way too long.

What do you think sets the Irish crowd of music fans apart from others around the world?

The excitement and being open to heartfelt music and letting everyone around know that you can express how you feel without a care in the world it’s contagious and nothing but love 

You founded Madhouse Records with a Dubliner in 1992. How did that all come about?

Mel Medalie signed one of my earliest songs my my lover by Dee Dee Brave on to Champion Records and we became very close friends he is a fantastic mentor and I learned a lot from him. I told him I wanted to start a label to have more control over what I wanted to put out. And that’s when we started Madhouse Records.

The label recently ceased operating after 31 years. Looking back, are there any notable Irish or Irish-affiliated tracks that have gone down a storm with Irish crowds over the years?

I have been blessed to have so many wonderful memories of being in Ireland especially at Sir Henry’s I learned so much from lots of my friends in Ireland. I have considered lots of the people I grew up with extended family every time I return, it’s like the family reunion you can’t wait to return home to.

What advice do you have for aspiring DJs who are looking to break into the industry and make a name for themselves?

Find what you’re passionate about and master it, don’t be afraid of what is going to make you and your sound unique. It’s good to have influences but find the things that define you, that thing that completes you. The fun is discovering something new that you didn’t know was possible. Also you have to have to know how to have a laugh and pace yourself.

Which artists alive or dead would you love to collab with?

I love artists that are passionate about what they do, and have their own stories to tell. I look forward to artists that have lived through their craft no matter what.

Is there anything else you’re looking forward to doing on your visit to Belfast?

I always have a walk around the cities I’m in and catching up with old friends.

Will you be sinking a pint of Guinness?

The age old debate gets me in trouble between Guinness vs Murphys, lol I learned not to say, but I can tell you I have been shown how to pour proper pints of everything behind the bar whilst I’m in Ireland. Unforgettable lessons.

Suze Gurusinghe AKA Surusinghe is an experimental producer renowned for her creative, bass-heavy tracks with a percussion influence. The Naarm/Melbournite, currently resides in London – and her unique musical style reflects her wide range of global inspirations.

After realising how little diversity there was in music, she made the decision to provide the representation she wanted to see and reflect Asian influence. Surusinghe hopes to make “fast, high-energy tracks” that resonate with people on the dance floor and establish a connection with the sounds she heard in her childhood home.

Suze made her incredible AVA debut with us at AVA in the Woods as part of All Together Now 2023.

This year she makes her festival debut on Titanic Slipways on Friday 31st May 2024 in a special b2b set with Bitter Babe as part of our 10th birthday celebrations.

What was your approach to this AVA Mix?

To be honest, this mix took me a while to put together! My first attempt was a big, banging “what i thought the Belfast hunnies want to hear” set … but I ended up hating it because I felt like I was trying to hard hahah
My second attempt was a mix inspired by Bicep who put Belfast on the map for me so it was a lot of really big room, euphoric moments but then again.. felt like I was trying too hard.
So I finally just put this mix together without trying to prep and just played songs that came naturally and that felt organic to me. I did it in one take and it came together so much easier.
This is a pretty common occurrence for me. I have all these grand ideas but overthinking does me dirty. It was one of those moments when I realised I just needed to ‘do me’ and it was 20 times easier.

How do you feel about your upcoming debut performance at AVA Festival?

SoooOooOooOoo friggn’ excited! Belfast is one of my favourite cities in the world and AVA is a favourite festival of mine. I came as a punter last year and thought it was such a special place that brought such an amazing crowd. So many incredible artists have made their debut there as well so I really hope I can do the festival justice I should also add I’m extremely excited to get down to Bittles pub for a wee Guinness (or 10 hehe)

What were some of your earliest musical influences?

I grew up listening to a lot of indie rock and goth punk hahaha so nothing we’d see on an AVA line up unfortunately.
But most of my early inspirations in the electronic space were DJs and producers from my home city Naarm (Melbourne). Artists like Andy Garvey, CC Disco, Nite Fleit, Sleep D, Andras and Noise In My Head were all favourites of mine – I’d say my musical style is quite different from them but they were playing the music that soundtracked my early clubbing years and inspired my love for those spaces. I could quite confidently say I wouldn’t be where I was today if it wasn’t for the amazing artists that came out of the Naarm scene at that time.
In terms of artists that influenced my sound – artists such as Objekt, Lurka and Pearson Sound are definitely the first names that come to mind.

After wearing a lot of different hats in this industry, how do you find returning from producer to DJ?

Hmmm I can’t work out if it’s made me more or less cynical haha! It’s definitely helped my understanding on how the scene works and allowed me to be in spaces where I could meet a lot of other artists and learn from them. But to be honest, it’s always been the same driving force for me. I just love sharing music with people. From when I was interning at festivals at 16 to now, it’s always been very evident to me that there isn’t really any other world I could be working in. I’m pretty damn consumed by this beast hah

What advice do you have for aspiring DJs who are looking to break into the industry and make a name for themselves?

Go to the afters hahah, go to club nights. Be a punter and meet people in those spaces. As much as it can be hard work and sometimes very daunting, what I’ve learnt is that like 90% of people who do this for careers are usually just likeminded music nerds and socially awkward people as well. So unless you go out and make connections with other people who care about this, it’ll be super isolating and it’s also how you get booked for shows and put forward for opportunities. Also, run your own parties and play yourself if you’re not getting booked! Just gotta make it happen capp’n

Your set at our stage at All Together Now was one of our highlights of the festival, and the Irish crowd loved it. What was your experience of AVA in the Woods last year, did you enjoy yourself?

I honestly think it was my favourite set of the Summer! There was just something in the air that night. Also being sandwiched between some of my favourite Irish kings/queens to ever do it (Inside Moves + Sally C b2b Spray) meant that it was a guaranteed good night. Also whilst I’m on the topic of Irish royalty, I just wanted to shout out how exceptional the AVA team is. Sarah, Conor, Saoirse, Will, Ciaran, Big Dave, Jayson and their wider team are some of the loveliest festival creators I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and I’m lucky to call them all friends <3 Oh and that Emmett is pretty cute also NGL

Since then you’ve had a Boiler Room debut and on home turf too, what was that like?

Boiler Room was terrifying lol Definitely not a natural experience in any way but very grateful I was allowed to do it! The crowd were sick and was very nice to have my mum and family there but ye… very, very, very, very, scary. If you watch it back you can see my hands shaking like crazy throughout ha

Which artists alive or dead would you love to collab with?

EMA & Sloucho hehe <3

JUST OVER ONE WEEK TO GO

The time has come for us to reveal the hour-by-hour breakdown of AVA 10. Our official set times are here. Over 70 artists, across four stages for two nights in one idyllic dockland setting. 

Cóilí Collins aka Shampain is bringing Irish culture to the world. He boasts an impressive resume as a DJ, label-boss, documentarian and more recently… barber?

His DJing saw him make his long-awaited debut on Boiler Room and is a long-standing resident of Rinse France. He co-founded the G-Town label alongside fellow Galway local Kettama, exporting the unique sounds of the West-coast to the wider electronic scene.

Last year he collaborated with TG4 to head-up an eight-part Irish language documentary series exploring some of the island’s most important sub-cultures including drag, queer punk and hip-hop as well as the work of Give Us The Night.

Shampain makes his AVA debut this year on Titanic Slipways on Friday 31st May 2024 as part of our 10th birthday celebrations.

TRACKLIST

ELLLL – Polarbergs
De Grandi – Bravo Taïg Khris
Lawrence Lee & Mohajer – Incantation
Architectural – Love Drums Massage
Ladrin – Civic in Nature
Atrice – Broke
Rhyw – Wolf Town
Ladrin – I Want To Be A DJ
British Murder Boys – All The Saints Have Been Hung
Surgeon – Box
Patrik Skoog – Big Muff
TSVI – Vitamina H
J Sparrow – Hold & Pull
Surgeon – Rotunda
DJ Something – Your Sovereign Tears
Temuda – Da Papps (Mix 2)
ENNIO – Gurung Panang
Ladrin – Dia De Los Muertos
Small Crab – Snake Bite
De Grandi – I Can Relate
Regal86 – Whistle Cholo
Peder Mannerfelt – Vankelmotor
Hassan Abou Alam – Ma3rafsh
Oyubi – Tony’s Siren
Ladrin – Kyteler
ELLLL – Febreeze (Sunrise Edit)
Róisín Berkeley – The Rock On The Clyde

What was your approach to this AVA Mix?

I recorded this in a house I’m staying at in Naarm while I’m touring in Australia. The set up was kinda tricky as it was a CDJ 850 with a CDJ 900 and some type of Behringer mixer that I’ve never seen before so that leant the style of the mix to be a bit different to what I’d usually play. Nonetheless I’m really happy with it and when it comes to approach I guess I just wanted to play stuff that represents my style that’s going to still make people think and push the boundaries a bit as to what you can and can’t play as an electronic music DJ. 

How are you feeling about your upcoming performance with us at AVA 2024?

I’m really looking forward to it, it’s probably the only festival in Ireland that I haven’t played yet and it’s also been ages since I’ve played in Belfast. I think it’s going to be really fun and I’m also really excited to be playing ahead of Bitter Babe who is a legend! AVA stands out because it’s always kept a healthy measure of cool music, current music and local music so to be somewhere along those lines at home is always a nice feeling. 

How do you think a show in Belfast compares to a show in Galway?

Belfast shows are pretty crazy which I’m sure is a surprise to no one. No offence but nothing compares to Galway shows, mostly at this point because I personally know the majority of the crowd. But in Belfast it really is great because I feel like people really appreciate a good party and the crowd goes very bananas. Funnily enough me and my friends went to Belfast 3 or 4 times when I was 18 for these mental gigs in Mandela Hall. We used to get the train up from Dublin, head out, stay out ALL night and then get the train home at like 6 in the morning or so. I’ve been the other side of the stage in Belfast almost as many times as I’ve played and it’s always been really memorable. 

You’ve recently opened your own barber shop, how did that come about?

I had been living in London for a year and I didn’t really enjoy it too much if I’m quite honest. The opportunity came up while I was home for Boiler Room in October; Evan Fahy and myself hatched a plan and we decided to go for it.`I’m so happy to be home, working with my best friend and working on something long term all while playing these gigs. I’m very lucky. 

Where did the name Shampain come from?

I had a really really stupid alias when I started that actually made it as far as a set on Rinse France back in the day. When stuff started to get a bit serious I had to change it and decided on Shampain since Sham is a word that’s pretty synonymous with Galway slang. I don’t think that’s particularly obvious and people think it’s ‘Champagne’ too when they just hear it out loud which probably seems pretty stupid. I like Shampain I think having a stage name is kinda fun. 

What were some of your earliest musical influences?

Public Enemy, The Prodigy, Thin Lizzy, Massive Attack, Ed Banger, Chemical Brothers, The Go! Team.

What’s your ultimate opening or closing track?

Come see 4 yourself at AVA Festival 2024 😉

If you could work or collaborate with any artist living or dead, who would it be?

There is only one answer and it is Olan Monk. Given that I don’t produce it’d be pretty difficult but I’m working on it so eventually we can make the ultimate Inverin musical masterpiece. 

Anything else you’d like to shout about?

There’s a genocide happening in Palestine and the countries and people who have the power to do something about it refuse to even acknowledge the war crimes, murder and barbarism of the Israeli regime. It’s a disgusting world we live in to be honest that we can sit by every day, go about the comfort of our lives while women, children and babies are bombed, starved and shot at while they try to secure a morsel of flour because they’re starving. You’d think our collective governments on this island would have the cop on given our history to impose sanctions, use our historical perspective as an occupied country to speak up for those who have no voice in the international community, but instead they are more or less idly standing by and not doing anything to challenge those propping up Israel throughout this genocidal campaign. It makes me sick and I really, really hope the situation changes. If anyone reads this, do get out and protest, donate, boycott and have difficult conversations. If the powers that be won’t do anything we as people have to. As usual!

This year AVA continues to build a feeling of unity in its home city, Belfast. 

To celebrate our 10th birthday occasion, AVA is teaming up with Irish-storytelling sensation Seanchoíche, for an evening of ordinary people telling extraordinary stories, centered around the special theme of “Unity”.

Taking place at the birthplace of Titanic, the Pumphouse on Thompson’s dock, an evening of storytelling, laughter and music will be accompanied by complimentary drinks supplied by Titanic Distillers who own a distillery housed in the iconic space.

If you have a story about AVA, about Music, or relating to the theme of ‘Unity’, we would love to hear it. Speakers go free, and can bring a guest. If you know someone who has a story worth sharing please send them our way.Submit your story to us using this linked form.  We’ll be in touch via email with those that are successful in their applications. If you purchase a ticket, and your story is selected, your ticket will be refunded.

The capacity for this event will be extremely limited, there are only 70 tickets in total. You can get them below.

10 Years of AVA X Boiler Room

For a decade now, the high-energy Belfast crowd has served as the backdrop for kickstarting the careers of many iconic artists. Now it’s time for Boiler Room to return to “their favourite place” once again.

We’ve joined forces once again for 10 years of Boiler Room at AVA. Expect some seriously exciting debuts alongside some of the most respected international names in electronic music and the return of some AVA festival favourites, this June.

Please welcome KI/KI, Special Request b2b Anz, DJ Boring b2b salute, Narciss, Nick Leon, Sam Alfred, Juicy Romance, Space Dimension Controller, Aika Mal and Sloucho [Live].

Sloucho is a mythical being. One of the most mercurial new artists coming out of Ireland in recent times, this prolific producer hops between a myriad of musical styles through CloudCore-inspired broken beats, bass-driven percussion and alternative dreamscapes in his productions, which should speak to fans Two Shell and the post-dubstep continuum.

Sloucho’s identity is shrouded in mystery and a tapestry of deep lore, inspired by Irish Folklore & the Neolithic Age – a story which he is deploying in the lead-up to the release of his debut album this May. A strong Irish artistic presence runs through Sloucho’s work with guest features from Irish natives Rory Sweeney, EMBY, Curtisy and more. This week, the hooded figure takes to the AVA Mix Series, to offer you a glimpse of the energy he brought to AVA London last weekend.
2024 is the year of Sloucho.

TRACKLIST
BJF – Dengue
El Gusano – Arrebatao (ft. El Descarao)
Pantera – Socadinha w. Paul Mond, Dave Nunes
DJ Ranking – Ravesito UmU x Kuchi Kuchi
DJ Ranking – Que levante la mano mi gente
El Gusano – Saka La Bolsita
Bing – la9 (edit)
Judge Jude – Diva
Portway – Dropshipping
Fork and Knife – Glib
An Arvin – Paticake
SMIFF – BANG!
Bluetoof – Newt Licker
INVT – IGNITE DEM
Bitter Babe & Nick Leon – Gøce
Tokischa – Toy En Nota (Wost Remix)
An Arvin – Sloppy
DJ Fucci – Parranda
Doctor Jeep – Push The Body
Danny Goliger – Archos Gmini
Galactic Sound Dealer – 2003
MadeInParis, Maureen – Auto (Cardozo Edit)
DJ Fucci – MXN
Siu Mata & Amor Satyr – Nechung
King Doudou – Hellcat
LAZA – Atomica

What was your approach to producing this AVA Mix?
I found an oddly shaped rock while out with my dog Maramu. Fortunately I had just built a new codec analyser in my studio for processing items just like this. Who knew this is what rocks sounded like.

Tell us a bit about Sloucho.
Sloucho is the future and the past.

What were some of your earliest musical influences?
The sounds of trees, the crashing of giant waves and the howling winds.

If you had a studio fire, what’s the one bit of kit you’d rush to save?
My head-torch.

What’s your ultimate opening or closing track?
Sloucho – Mind Traveller

If you could work or collaborate with any artist living or dead, who would it be?
Yamagōchi

You have a new album coming up, what’s the concept behind it?
The dual existence of being a main character and NPC. Both states of existence can be simultaneously true.

What is Cloudcore?
Cloudcore is a webspace music sanctuary, a place to make friends, share music and hang out.

Dylan First • Agent, WME
Charles Green • Booking Agent, Omni-Artists
Anna Meacham • Founder and Director, Huxley
Lewis Wilde • Head of Music, DICE
Peter Beer • Agent, FMLY Agency
Jamie Waldman • Agent, United Talent Agency
Dave Redmond • Partner & Booking Agent, Sweat Lodge Agency
Samuel McGlynn • Booking Agent, von der haardt
Jack Clark • Agent, United Talent Agency
Joel Mills • Director of Music, British Council
Karl Schussig • Director, Flash Festival
Benedetta Venturini • Director, Flash Festival
Éilis Sanfey • Programme Director, Homecoming
Fred Letts • Co-Founder, Waterworks Festival
Florian Czok • Festival Director, Goodlive / Melt Festival
Wiecher Troost • Head of Conference, Amsterdam Dance Event
Brenda Narvaez • ADE Lab Program Curator, Amsterdam Dance Event
Jan Willem van de Ven • Managing Director, Amsterdam Dance Event
Ben Turner • Co-Founder, International Music Summit
Molly King • Head of Development, Other Voices / South Wind Blows
Simon Denby • Co-Founder / Director / Co-Owner Body Movements / Percolate / Waterworks festival
Clayton Wright • Co-Founder and Director, Body Movements Festival / Little Gay Brother / Feel It Events LTD
Alix Herrmann-Auclair • Artistic Director / Programmer, Bordeaux Open Air / TALENT BOUTIQUE SARL / Peacock Society Festival
Cali McKinney • Artist Manager, One House
Richard Seabrooke • Chief Culture Officer, The Tenth Man
Abbie Jessup • Publicist, XL Recordings
Jennifer Metcalf • Labels Coordinator, Warp Records
Casper Mills • 4AD
James O’Donohoe • Music Manager, Heaven-Sent Management
Amy Krawczyk • Project Manager, 4AD
Josh de Silva • Agent, One House
Caroline Trout • Artist Manager, Red Light
Nicolas Bestley • Associate Director of Publicity, Huxley
Emily Hornbuckle • Day to Day Manager, One House
Chanel Kadir • Director / Head of Press, Dawn / Boiler Room
Adam Moujahid • Artist Manager, 285 Group
Sasha Edge • Artist Manager, This Is Music Ltd
James Carr • Artist Manager, This Is Music Ltd
Hugh Mac Donnell • Leading Go To Market, Amondo
Chris Gold • Manager, 285 Group
Emily Connick • Press Coordinator, Huxley
Vidhi Gandhi • Head of A&R
Nik Whybrew • Operations Director, Assembly Festival
Theo Kottis • Head of Music, Poolsuite Music & Events
Marcus O’Sullivan • Co-Founder & Director, Circulate
Ina Singeorzan Culture • Marketing Manager, Red Bull Ireland
Amelia Holder • Artist Manager & TM, This Is Music
Tom Wiltshire • Brand Partnerships, Freelance
Callum Wright • Partnerships & Project Manager, AEI Ventures & The Halley Space
Ranen Ekubia • Co-Founder / Senior Event Producer & Marketing lead, MOTP
Emile Martin • Agent, Omni Artists
Nick Cooke • Head of New Business, Mustard Media
Rupert Plumb • AEI Music / Ventures
Tsvetelina Tomova • Creative Producer, Metallic Inc / Homecoming Festival
Paolo Silvestro • Workspace & Community Manager, The Halley (AEI Group)
Kitty Bartlett • Head of Event Coordination & Senior Booker, Percolate Music
Fabian Huismans • Booking Agent, Temporary Secretary
Remo Bitzi • Founding member, zweikommasieben / The Rest / INTR
Katharina Meissner • Programming, MUTEK
Courtney Bole • Senior Account Manager, Music Festivals and Events The Collab / AEI Music
Shona McCarthy • Chief Executive, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

AVA’s Emerging Talent Programme returns for 2023 offering a creative opportunity for one DJ, Music Producer and Visual Artist in each category.

You could win:
– A DJ slot at AVA 2023
– Your music released via the record label Extended Play
– A creative workshop with visual artist Kev Freeney

For more info on the entry requirements please visit the links below for each relevant category.
– AVA Emerging DJ
– AVA Emerging Producer
– AVA Emerging Visual Artist

Applications will be assessed by a team of industry professionals including Timmy Stewart (The Night Institute + Extended Play), Holly Lester (Duality Trax + Free the Night) and Kwame Daniels (Bounce Culture + Neo Neo), visual artist Kev Freeney as well as senior AVA Staff.

We welcome applicants from across the UK & Ireland, and we particularly encourage applications from minority groups and individuals that are underrepresented throughout the industry.

Applications to the Emerging Talent Programme 2023 are now closed.

Best of luck to all applicants.

So Neil, what was your approach to this AVA Mix?
Given that this is my first ever recorded mix, I just went with my gut and chose songs that I felt worked well dynamically, without sticking to one particular genre. I’m not a big fan of mixes being too predictable, I don’t like knowing by track 3 what’s going to be in store for the full mix. Despite my love of synthesizers, I opted not to just go with big synthy tracks throughout and it ended up being less melodic than I had initially expected. Thankfully, the tracklist ideas came quite easily and hopefully there are a few curveballs that make for a more interesting listen. Of course, once I finished it, I thought of dozens of other tracks that I wished I had stuck in but I guess I’ll just have to do more mixes soon, scratch that itch. I recorded it using the Xone 92 and a few effects, fuelled by tea and easter eggs.

You’ve been a veteran producer for a long time and only started DJing in more recent years. How has your tenure as a producer informed your craft as a DJ?
I am a complete audio nerd at heart and love timbral layering, so that always inevitably creeps into my sets at different points. Being fascinated with music production and how different sounds compliment or enhance each other always excites me, so I’m happiest when combining different sonic elements in order to present tracks in a way that they maybe haven’t been heard before. Producing music also helps tune your year to the ebb and flow of tracks and so, if I’m doing this DJing thing right, that sense of dynamism should hopefully be present in my sets. Like I said, I’d get bored just playing a load of really similar tracks, may as well just stick on “Now That’s What I Call A Westie House Party 2005” and have a sandwich.

You’ve had some big collaborations lately, including Joshua Burnside who loaned his voice for your track Simmer? How did that come about and do you have any other future collaborations in the mix?
Josh was one of those names I had seen pop up loads of times but had never actually heard any of his music. During the pandemic, I was going through a nightmare time with my greedy landlord who sold the house I was living in, or pretended to sell it, so that he could bump up the rent and evict us, to help further line his pockets. Anyway, my head was melted and so on evening walks with my dog, Mylo, I was listening to music to try to escape the stress. The name of Josh’s latest album, Into The Depths of Hell, and the artwork intrigued me and so I stuck it on one night and it blew me away. I then listened to his back catalogue and it was just one incredible track after another. I reached out to him about working together on a track and he was really positive and up for it and so Simmer was born. 

Vocal features will continue to pop up in my work going forward, I used to be a singer-songwriter many moons ago and so enjoy writing songs that aren’t all exclusively instrumental. I’ll be working with the Enola Gay boys again soon, I have a track underway with Manchester band, Maruja, and a couple of years ago I wrote a track that features Dana Masters, that will be released pretty soon. They’re all quite different from each other so I haven’t a clue what people will make of them.

You recently did an event at Ulster Sports Club, giving it the Mount Palomar treatment, flying in Salomé Pressac to dance alongside you. How was it?
It went really well, exceeded my expectations. Salomé and I are working together on a Mount Palomar music video that I am just finishing off, so we had already formed a good working relationship, having shot in both Belfast and New York. I knew she was incredibly talented and assumed that her performance skills would translate well to a live gig setting but I didn’t know what the reaction would be. Thankfully, the night was a real success and the response from the crowd was extremely positive throughout. Despite it being my first home-soil live show, post-pandemic, the night sold out and Salomé’s performance, alongside the lighting installation by Visual Spectrum, made for an event the likes of which Belfast hadn’t seen before, which was really satisfying.

As a producer you utilise a lot of hardware. In an age when you can do so much with just a laptop what does it mean to you to get hands on with the physical machinery? How has it shaped your journey as an artist?
To be honest, people tend to salivate over hardware too much, myself included. It has taken me years to come to the conclusion that it is no better or worse than software and both absolutely have their place. The amount of time I have wasted trying to get old Soviet synths to work is pretty astounding and I am definitely not as hardware-obsessed as I used to be. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the tactile nature of working with hardware and there are some bits of kit that are incredible and just don’t sound like software but you can make awful music with hardware and make incredible music with software and vice versa. I certainly wouldn’t tell young up and coming producers to go out and buy a load of gear when they’re starting out, the most important thing is how the track sounds and if you can make a banger with Ableton and a tin whistle then who’s to judge?

You also work in a screen printing studio, and curated a gallery-type take over of the National to coincide with the release of your album Brace for Impact. How did you get into screen printing?
By pretending I knew what I was doing. I signed up to a 2 day course at Belfast Print Workshop in 2014 and just paid attention and worked hard on my prints. Then once the course was done, I pretended I had studied screenprinting in Spain for a year and applied to become a member. I must have done ok in the class as they believed me and my membership was instated the following week. I now teach there part-time and printmaking has become a big part of my work as Mount Palomar, allowing me to screenprint my own record sleeves, merch etc… I have some other exciting, large-scale multidisciplinary projects in the works, including the biggest project I have ever undertaken, which is due to launch in London next year.

What were some of your earliest musical influences? Any guilty pleasures?
My first musical memory is singing Frankie Goes To Hollywood ‘Relax’ in the school playground at about age 5. Our idiotic lyrical amendment was “Relax, don’t do it, pick your nose and chew it.” We thought we were being young edge-lords but if we knew what the lyrics really meant, maybe we’d have chosen a different song. I still play Relax in my sets from time to time, it is an absolute tune and I can now enjoy the real lyrics for what they are. Hi Berghain.

Aside from that, I was into Michael Jackson, like every kid in the 80s, then discovered Guns N’ Roses aged 9 or 10, via Elvira’s Heavy Metal Heaven and became a wee metal head. I was into the usual; Nirvana, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine etc… Then, at about age 13 I stole my cousin’s The Prodigy “Experience” CD and so began a fascination with bleeps and bloops.

As for guilty pleasures, I am gay, there is no such thing as a guilty pleasure. Celine Dion, Kenny G, Backstreet Boys; nothing is too shit for these ears.

If you could work or collaborate with any artist living or dead, who would it be?
I’d be in a band with Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, John Lennon, Kendrick Lemar, Bjork and Chris Whitley and we’d be called The Guilty Pleasuredome.

Is there anything else coming up you’d like to shout about?
Lots but my hands are getting sore from typing so I’ll just say; come see me play at AVA please, come to my next solo live gig in Ulster Sports Club on July 15th and stop listening to hardstyle.

Tell us your favourite moments from AVAs gone by.
I could easily list at least 30 different moments, every year is a whopper but 2018 was probably my favourite so far. The Red Bull Stage on the slope was heavenly, the sets were so good, the crowd were so sound and I remember having many, many moments of “It doesn’t get any better than this!” that year. Can’t wait for the next one and I feel incredibly fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to take part in the festival over the years. 

TRACKLIST

• Moiré ft Demigosh – Know Me
• Odopt – Chaba Waltz
• Blawan – Fawner
• Pleasure Pool – Night Scars
• Joy Orbison – Fuerza
• Phil Kieran – Polyrhythmic
• Moy – Scattered Disc
• Anunaku – Temples
• Moktar – Silk
• Phil Kieran – Scream (Justin Van Der Volgen Remix)
• Niv Ast & Rina – Staccato Sentimento
• Splash Pattern – Furnace
• Joe Farr – Spectate (Max Cooper Remix)
• Blu Terra – 20,000
• Aloka – XTX3
• Tim Karbon – Boiling Mafé Bowl
• Skee Mask – Reviver
• Ourman – Onward & Downward
• Hassan Abou Alam – Breathe
• Moiré ft Demigosh – Know Me
• Doctor Jeep – Push The Body
• Diggerz – Chat Noir

{PAIRED}- Carousel x AVA – Saturday 29th April
Inspired by the rich and fertile creative terrain where food, music and experience overlap, {PAIRED} is a brand new collaboration with our friends from AVA.

The idea is simple: pair the world’s most exciting chefs with the most respected DJs and musicians and watch as the magic unfolds. Each pairing is a one-off, completely unique to that time and place and the audience who’s there to experience it.

Coming to Charlotte Street on Saturday April 29th, our next event brings together two more inspired Chef x DJ pairings for a simultaneous multi-sensory experience across our two floors.

There’s one 7pm sitting per pairing for just 70 guests at a time, featuring multi-course tasting menus and bespoke soundtracks. At 10pm, 200 more guests will join the party with back-to-back sets from our DJs.

THE LINE UP
Yuji Tani x Elkka
or
Youra Kim x DJ Tennis

Yuji Tani
HOUSE, TOKYO & NYC
Following on from the success of the original HOUSE in Tokyo’s Nishiazabu neighbourhood, Yuji Tani has just opened a sister restaurant in Brooklyn, a labour of love that has been in the works for five years. There Yuji combines classic techniques with the minimalist approach of his home town Kyoto to serve more of the deceptively simple and impossibly beautiful ‘homestyle’ French-Japanese dishes that have made his name as a leading light of the Tokyo New Wave.

Elkka
FEMME CULTURE
Multi-talented London-based artist Elkka is an award-winning DJ, producer and founder of Femme Culture, a record label and collective that champions women in the arts and pushes music that stands for inclusivity amongst all genders, backgrounds and beliefs. Beginning her career as a singer-songwriter Elkka’s genre-spanning music creatively merges house, electronica, percussive beats and soulful vocals and has received critical acclaim and support from the likes of Tom Ravenscroft and Annie Mac.

Youra Kim
PROPAGANDA, COPENHAGEN
“I make authentic Korean food,” says Youra Kim of Copenhagen smash hit, Propaganda. “I’m not really interested in toning down the flavours”. With a killer wine list, infectious house party energy and Youra’s repertoire of “high voltage” Korean crowd pleasers that draw on the flavours of her childhood – think sticky Korean fried chicken and kimchi and pork mandu, swimming in chilli oil – Propaganda has joined the A-list of the city’s must-visit restaurants in no time.

DJ Tennis
LIFE AND DEATH
Manfredi Romano is a former chef turned DJ and producer. Having spent two decades working behind the scenes in music and events, the Italian came to the fore as a DJ in 2010. In the same year, he founded Life and Death records, with a desire to ‘reintroduce psychedelia to the dancefloor’. Performing at seminal venues and festivals across the globe, his dynamic, eclectic sets feature ‘an intoxicating blend of nu-disco, post-punk and UK bass’.

DINNER – 7pm-10pm
£115 pre-paid set menu + after party entry
Book Now
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AFTER PARTY – 10pm – late
£35 ticket fee – Sets from DJ Tennis & Elkka
Buy Tickets

Official Partners:
Square – Sentric Music – Easol – Volta XR
Resident Advisor – AFEM – War Child/The Right To Dance

Adding to an already impressive festival programme, AVA London Conference can announce the full set of talks, panels and workshops planned for London’s leading electronic music & visual arts conference taking place on Friday 24th February at Printworks London. The daytime session invites industry leaders, artists and game-changers to share ideas, exchange knowledge and grow ideas as it unites music’s brightest minds.

Tickets for the conference are available from £15.

The full programme takes place across four key spaces – Press Halls, Control Room, Dark Room and a Drop-In area, each hosting talks, workshops, and interactive sessions that are built around key themes of:
Innovation, Diversity, Sustainability & The Future.

In the main Press Halls area, the Opening Keynote from 11 AM will be a deep dive with Hot Chip band members Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard discussing their almost two decade journey as one of the UK’s most infamous electronic music duos, crossing pop, synth, electronica and more in their non-traditional productions. AVA’s closing keynote is the newly announced ‘Migrant Footprint’ talk, presented by The Right To Dance & War Child feat. multi-disciplinary artist GAIKA, DJ Nooriyah (Middle of Nowhere) and Eastern Margins founder Lumi, who will be discussing their unique personal and collective stories where migration and music have intersected.

The Press Halls also hosts ‘The Game Changers’, a heavyweight panel with 5 key industry professionals who have each played a role in facilitating a significant shift in the way we think about the landscape of electronic music. With Jaguar (BBC Radio 1) Christie Driver-Snell (Senior Editor, Spotify) Hannah Shogbola (Primary Talent, BEMA), Steve Hogan (WME) and David Boyle (Audience Strategies), a group of individuals who have been involved with prompting a shift – whether via artist promotion, festival curation, streaming or growing technologies such as A.I.

Another addition comes from Resident Advisor – with RA Presents – The Art Of Djing with Courtesy. Courtesy aka Najaaraq Vestbirk will host a live version of RA’s The Art Of DJing video feature series – an insight into her process. she will unpack her craft in front of an audience, demonstrating techniques and answering questions, with the RA Films team there to capture the magic as it happens. This will happen right after a live edition of the RA Exchange Live with Tony Andrews, the founder of Funktion-One audio. The brand is recognised as one the most pioneering loudspeaker manufacturer globally – and proudly championed at AVA’s flagship Belfast Festival.

Digging into the world of venue management and hosted by curator & broadcaster Emily Dust, The Venue Perspective – What makes music work? powered by Square, recruits the brains behind Printworks and 40+ other venues Sam Spencer (Broadwick Live), Scottish venue & festival founder Tom Ketley (FLY Events), Megan Scanlan who heads up Square’s venue & business development team and Michael Gwyther – Senior PM for Peppermint Bars & Events to discuss what it takes to make a venue tick, their audiences & artists to thrive in their environment, and the tech behind supporting that.

AFEM will present a panel exploring Neurodiversity In Music, and how leaders can empower neurodiverse colleagues and artists featuring Jeryl Wilton-Kruger (Infectious PR), Hayleigh Beckles (Triple Threat Management), Jen O’ Neill (Hoare Associates), Saytek (Artist), Sarah Hildering (InGrooves), Esther Oram (AIM / Artist Manager). AFEM will also work with charity EarthPercent to co-present a climate-emergency themed talk titled Music For The Planet.

Sentric Music will return to AVA London Conference for 2023 to present: “Sync State of The Nation” Patrick Cloherty, Head of Sync, Europe at Sentric opens up the conversation with supervisors across all key media types, including TV& Streaming, Film, Ads and more to review the current climate within the Sync sector. The talk will deep dive into changes, trends and key opportunities for producers across the landscape. Alongside this AVA collaborator Mark Gordon (Score Draw Music/Output Belfast) will host an important discussion around “Exporting Music” the strategy for reaching new markets, advice shared from speakers across the industry spectrum, including Sophie Jones (BPI Chief Strategy Officer), Richard Zijlma (Ex-GM ADE) and Amy Becker (XL Recordings).

Lady Of The House is a community celebrating, championing and honouring women in Dance Music through a multifunctional platform. “Past, Present and Future” Hosted by Vanessa Maria and introduced by LoTH founder Laila Mckenzie this talk will feature Lynn Cosgrove (ex-Carl Cox manager), AmyElle (Artist) and Maria May (CAA) delving into the past, present and future of diversifying dance music.

All of these are in addition to a heavy programme already announced featuring SHERELLE in conversation with NIKS (founder of Black Artists Database and co-founder of BEMA) Steel City Dance Discs will host a DIY tape-making workshop where attendees can create their own physical artefacts.

And of course, on the day there’ll be a drop-in area running with our partners Square, Easol, Volta XR, War Child / The Right to Dance, Steel City Dance Discs, Sentric Music, Bluman Associates, Immerse hosting a variety of b2b sessions, meetings with cutting edge technology providers across a spectrum of services, from website and ticketing to visual and processing and more.

AVA LONDON CONFERENCE TICKETS FROM £15 kaboodle.co.uk
AVA LONDON CONFERENCE & AVA PRO £40 kaboodle.co.uk

One of the world’s leading global music events, AVA Festival (Audio Visual Arts) has built a reputation for welcoming a diverse array of global acts to its Northern Ireland home, plus providing a platform for local talent north and south of the border.. Building on that ethos, AVA announce the names for their 2023 edition, including Central Cee, Slowthai, Kettama, Overmono, Eliza Rose, Hèctor Oaks, SPFDJ, Job Jobse, KI/KI, Kojaque, Sally C and more. Returning to their iconic Titanic Slipways location across 2nd – 3rd June, AVA looks forward to welcoming the most eclectic range of sounds the festival has seen to date. Tickets for the festival are available from Friday at 10:00AM, with Weekend, Group & Deposit-scheme tickets available starting from £30 – To get exclusive first access to tickets in our presale tomorrow at 10AM signup here.

AVA Belfast’s programme has evolved – staying true to its electronic roots but welcomes a wider array of sounds to reflect the tastes of its attendees. For 2023, Central Cee headlines – the West London rapper who has exploded for his unique take on UK rap / drill, aesthetic and continuously solid output. The first ever UK artist to achieve 1 billion Spotify streams in one year, the first UK rapper to achieve such a feat, Central Cee is one of the most vital artists to break through in recent years – and his performance at AVA will be one of a select few UK & Ireland summer shows. Also joining is esteemed artist Slowthai; whose intellectual, cheeky output influenced by rap, grime, punk, plus unforgettable performances have gained him a reputation as a solid talent. Representing the Irish squad is Soft Boy Records boss and Irish prodigy – Kojaque.

G-Town records boss and party starter Kettama joins the infamous AVA Boiler Room stage for an unmissable performance, plus AVA solid faves Overmono return for a live main stage show consisting of a euphoric blend of rave, trance, and breaks – following a highlight set at the festival in 2022. On top of that, there’s esteemed selectors and producers Job Jobse, KIKI, SPFDJ, I.JORDAN and many more.

An AVA first timer is Eliza Rose, the artist behind the UK “people’s anthem” and Number One record B.O.T.A. Eliza will be joined on the line-up by her production partner  Interplanetary Criminal, bringing good-time vibes, garage and more. Hector Oaks will also make an appearance, the revered party selector and resident at some of the world’s most loved parties Bassiani (Tbilisi), and Herrensauna (Berlin.)  Also on board are rising Berlin trance due DJ Heartstring and plenty more.

As always, there’s a stack of local legends on board to showcase the health of the current Irish movement including Holly Lester, EMBY, Jordan, Carlton Doom and plenty more. Kessler and IAMNOTYOURMATE both also rep for Irish acts, and after their electric performance at AVA’s NYE special, both sets will be hi-energy highlights on the bill.

AVA found its perfect home at the industrialist Titanic Slipways, and the team are excited to head back after a success. There’ll be adaptations – new indoor areas, arts spaces, bars, maximising the space in the heart of Belfast’s shipping area. For visitors, AVA is an opportunity to experience the Belfast craic in a way like no other – with the locals, in an incredible space, with the extended AVA family. Flights arrive into Belfast from most major cities and there’s plenty of hotel options.

AVA has grown into an essential event for culture in Ireland – pioneering the first large-scale multi-stage event to represent a modern Belfast, promoting the growing community in Northern Ireland and beyond. AVA support local artists with a platform along with some of the world’s most celebrated musicians, and also opportunities for work, education and networking. AVA has created an inclusive, vibrant, and celebrated space for talent to be nurtured from their DJ competitions to work programmes. We look forward to another year with AVA at the centre of Ireland’s thriving music movement.

‘At AVA, we are committed to evolving as both a festival and a cultural movement, with a mantra to never stand still. 2023 marks a moment where AVA is evolving as music and cultural tastes change. It moves with the moment whilst staying true to its origins in electronic music. It’s where multiple artforms converge to create memorable moments for music fans and electronic arts enthusiasts. Our commitment to design, festival experience, high production levels and amplifying local talent is as strong as ever, and we can’t wait to bring you our next AVA Belfast edition this June!’ – Sarah McBriar, AVA Festival Director 

Returning to Printworks as part of the venue’s final season, we can reveal plans for the innovative AVA London conference taking place across the daytime of Friday 24th February 2023.

The programme will be led with a selection of talks, workshops, and interactive sessions that are built around four key themes : Innovation, Diversity, Sustainability & The Future. The key conference themes will be broken down into a range of topics and panels within our current electronic music industry, from creativity to diversity, shining a light on working with neurodivergency through to Web3’s role within audio-visual art.

Other participating speakers will include: Jaguar (BBC/BEMA), Heléna Star, (FoundationFM/BEMA), Niks (Black Artist Database/BEMA), Hannah Shogbola (Primary Talent, BEMA), Steve Hogan (WME), Simeon Aldred (Broadwick Live), Lynn Cosgrave (former Acting Management for Carl Cox, John Digweed), Maria May (Head of Electronic at CAA), Laila McKenzie (Lady of the House), Tom Ketley (FLY Events), Tristan Hunt (AFEM) plus many many more.

As always, there will be live interactive sessions, such as hands-on masterclasses, demonstrations and workshops, Australian born label Steel City Dance Discs will host a DIY tape making workshop where attendees can create their own physical artefacts. Overall this will contribute to a carefully curated programme, providing an educational and inspiring experience for conference attendees and delegates. Tickets for the conference are available from just £15 – and can be purchased from Kaboodle here.

Global payments and technology provider Square will join AVA as a new leading partner for 2023. Square makes technology that helps sellers more easily run and grow their businesses with its integrated ecosystem of commerce, staff, customer, and banking solutions. As part of this partnership they will host a special panel talk built around venue and festival operations with industry experts.

A key part of the AVA London agenda is the Keynote interviews, where a selection of carefully curated artists and industry professionals will impart wisdom, insights and their own stories to the audience. For 2023’s edition of AVA London, Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard will step up to discuss their experience as one of the UK’s most infamous crossover electronic acts, fresh off the back of selling out multiple Brixton Academy shows. Hot Chip have been pushing the boundaries of pop, electronica and synthpop since their debut in 1995, and this will be a rare opportunity to hear them discuss their journey.

After launching ‘Beautiful’ last year esteemed DJ and Hooversound label boss Sherelle will sit down in conversation with Niks (founder of Black Artists Database and co-founder of BEMA) to discuss the motivation behind the project. Beautiful is a label/organisation that offers resources (such as classes, workshops) for black and queer artists, inspired by Sherelle’s own experience within the industry and a drive to share her own knowledge.

Technology, music and art have always grown together, whether that’s from music production techniques to pushing the boundaries of live arts, visuals and creativity within the music industry. AVA London has always been inspired by cutting-edge technology, and are pleased to host a talk around this topic. Firstly, ‘How is technology changing the way we create, view and collect art?’ featuring David Rudnick, will discuss topics such as the metaverse, digital art, NFT’s and more. Another panel will explore Neurodiversity In The Music Industry, looking at how leaders can empower neurodiverse colleagues and artists. This session will be led by AFEM, presenting the results of their research with a selection of experts and artists.

Resident Advisor will curate an edition of the RA Exchange Live series with Tony Andrews, the founder of Funkton-One audio and Turbosound. A pioneering force in the professional audio industry since its formation in the early 1970s. Over the years, Andrews’ sound systems have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world. From the very beginning of Glastonbury to Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa tours, Roger Waters’ Berlin Wall Concert and, more recently, at Space Ibiza, Cielo New York, Resistance Ultra Miami / Privilege Ibiza, Berghain, Lost Beach Club, Carl Cox’s Awesome Soundwave at Wembley Arena and, of course, AVA Festival.

AVA London will also have a Drop In Area which will host a range of brands from labels and charities to tech and equipment. Networking activities will increase with space for meetings and industry catch-ups – aimed at generating business and attracting talent. Further information will be released closer to the event.

Built around on four key themes: Innovation, Diversity, Post-Pandemic & The Future – AVA London will provide a space to host important conversations around these topics. As the live industry moves into new spaces in 2023 in both technology and creativity, AVA’s London event will take a look to a bright future with insights and expertise from prominent professionals, experts and artists.

Last remaining tickets for the conference and club are available on the AVA website.

To close out 2022 we’re launching our all-new club series at Banana Block, Belfast – starting with Boxing Day + New Year’s Eve!

Our clubbing concept @ Banana Block is simple:

✚ A ground-stacked central stage.
✚ The crowd surrounding the DJ booth.
✚ Brand new strobe lighting system, augmenting the venue’s distinct warehouse aesthetic.
✚ A four-point surround sound system..
✚ A focus on unique DJ sets and back-to-backs.
✚ Clubbing with community at its core.

Boxing Day comes in the form of three artists with top-tier releases on the Feel My Bicep imprint; Hammer, Cromby & Swoose in a B2B2B bonanza. Support comes from up-and-coming party-starter DJ Time of the Month.

Meanwhile New Year’s Eve sees three hometown heroes return to AVA to bring in 2023 in true Belfast fashion. We’re buzzing to dance right through the holiday season with this excellent selection of local legends.

Tickets available here:
https://avafestivalstg.wpengine.com/tickets/

Belfast-born and London-based, Nikki O’s DJ sets blend genres from breakbeat & ukg, to the bassier side of techno. With sets at clubs and festivals both in the UK and Ireland, including AVA Festival, Wigflex Festival, and Village Underground, she’s played alongside the likes of Kettama, Interplanetary Criminal, D. Tiffany, and more.
She also produced “Dancing for Peace”, an award-winning audio documentary, about the roots of dance music in Belfast – featuring some of the local scene’s most prominent voices.

The audio from this mix is a section taken from a live recording of her party-starting set at AVA In The Woods at All Together Now earlier this year.

You can catch her monthly residency on London station Subtle.

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This mix is a recording of your set at All Together Now 2022. What were your key takeaways from the festival?

It was such a nice festival. My key takeaways were: The venue was beautiful, EMA is an amazing DJ, as are Long Island Sound, and white claw is the ultimate festie drink.

You’re absolutely smashing it on the British airwaves with Radio 1, Subtle and 1020. How does it feel to be tipped as “The

Mad! Biggups Phil Taggart for saying that. I fell into radio almost on a bit of a whim, I was doing my PhD in Microbiology and was looking for a bit of a creative release. I just loved tunes and wanted to talk about them, so I tried out for my student radio station. I had a radio show before I could even DJ, I used to just fade songs in and out in the beginning. It’s been such a blessing and it’s a lot of fun. 

You produced an award winning documentary about the Northern Ireland dance music scene during The Troubles. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

It’s an audio documentary that chats about dance music’s role in bringing communities together in Northern Ireland. It mainly discusses this role during the later stages of the troubles, which has been covered by TV docs & articles before too, but I also wanted to bring it into the context of today to see: did it make a lasting difference? And does it still make a difference? It was scored by the amazing Paddy Carser (PercBoi 3000) which really brings it to life. MistaJam ended up singing it’s praises which was really cool and kinda mad.

You’re currently London based, how does the scene there compare to back home?

I think they are very different. London is just so huge, the choice of venues means you are never short of somewhere to go and it has the benefit of better licensing laws which allow parties to go on to 6am and sometimes even 24h. The abundance of community radio stations is also great too. However I think there’s something very special about Belfast’s scene and that’s all down to the people. Crowds in Belfast are just a level above, everyone’s always up for it. There’s also a benefit to a scene being small as everyone knows each other and it’s generally super friendly. I think if the powers that be truly supported the night time economy, Belfast would thrive & become a nightlife destination. It’s why initiatives like Free The Night are so vital.

Tell us favourite moments from AVA’s gone by.

Ohhh so many to choose from. Hubie Davidson in the Boiler Room in 2016 playing Floorplan – We Magnify His Name is always a stand out memory. Was with all my pals and it was just such a fun feel good moment. From this year just gone, Matheson’s Boiler Room was so good, and Jordan’s set was also a stand out – tunes were class and the sun was just setting over the hills, another proper feel good moment. Getting to play the last 2 years was also super special as it really is Techno Christmas for Belfast.

What were some of your earliest musical influences? Any guilty pleasures?

I wish I was one of those people who said they grew up listening to really cool and obscure records, but in reality my teens were spent listening to clubland CDs mixed with pop-punk (I consider going to Avril Lavigne’s Under My Skin tour a seminal moment in my life – don’t judge). I think I’ve a super varied music taste now, I like and play a fairly wide breadth of genres within the electronic music sphere (which I hope comes across in this mix!). This maybe stems from listening to so many different genres growing up. I also used to play the Tuba and like to joke this is why I’m drawn to such bass-heavy music nowadays lol.

If you could work or collaborate with any artist living or dead, who would it be?

Mary Anne Hobbs – a living legend. Her 6 Music show is amazing, she just seamlessly goes from like Slipknot into techno into some obscure RnB B side, it’s such a trip. Her Radio 1 show was also legendary.

Any pro tips for surviving the incoming dark nights?

I’m probably not a great person to ask as I HATE winter! But taking multivitamins to make sure I get enough vitamin D. I also try to always go outside at lunch time to at least see some sunlight. Aside from that, I wrap up in one of those wearable hoodie blankets and remind myself that Spring will be here soon enough.

Anything else you’d like to shout about?

You can catch me on Subtle Radio every 1st Wednesday of the month, I’m joined by a different guest each month. Also bringing back Suckin’ Diesel, my radio show with Kurty, so watch out for that soon!

This latest AVA Mix comes from R.Kitt in the form of a live recording from our AVA in the Woods stage at All Together Now Festival in July.

Robbie is an energetic DJ, versatile producer and passionate night-life advocate. The Orainn label head is an avid lobbyist for Give Us The Night, campaigning for a better night life in the South of Ireland. The Dublin-native has seen releases on imprints like Night Tide and Dansu Discs.

We’ve had the pleasure of hosting Robbie on the AVA stage on a few occasions over the years. He brought his emotive and punchy energy to our Boiler Room, a stellar set in 2021 and a highly memorable stream for our AVA Online Weekender.

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This mix is a live recording of your set at AVA in the Woods at All Together Now. What were your key takeaways from the festival?
I really enjoyed the buzz with the crowd. Everyone at the gig seemed to be so into it! You can often hear the sound of people chatting but it felt like people weren’t talking too much and just dancing. Got the buzz from the entire weekend that people were there to engage with the music. It was very refreshing.

This year’s whirlwind trip to Belfast for the annual AVA x Boiler Room broadcast was monumental. Watch it all back here.

Jordan Rafferty is a Dublin native and AVA Emerging Producer alumni. We’ve been pleased as punch to see him go from strength to strength since he snatched the crown back in 2018. You may know him as DART (Dublin Area Rapid Trax) a play on the city’s commuter transit system.

In the early days of his Hanger residency he rubbed shoulders with some of Ireland’s most riotous acts, including Kettama, Tommy Holohan and Shampain. Since then he’s seen a string or releases on Shall Not Fade, Hot Flush and even a six track EP on Hammer’s Remmah imprint.

We sat down with the man himself ahead of his return to AVA Belfast, where in just two weeks he’ll step up for another shot at the Boiler Room stage in front of our second to none, Belfast crowd.

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With just five weeks to go until the return of the 2022 edition of AVA Festival, we reveal day splits and tickets for the Friday and Saturday outings at Titanic Slipways, plus an opening event at Banana Block and afterparties across various venues for each night.

Weekend tickets are now approaching final release, and day tickets will be available from 10AM on Thursday. After a sell out festival in 2021, and fresh from another sell out show London’s Printworks, don’t miss the biggest AVA yet this June 3+4th. 

Boiler Room will return to AVA Festival Belfast this June. Kicking off the summer in monumental fashion – the only way a Belfast crowd knows how.

The energy at the Boiler Room stage has been legendary at AVA from the beginning and now going into our 7th year working together, we bring 12 artists to the Nomadic stage – 7 of which are international Boiler Room debuts.

This year the festival will once again take place against the iconic Belfast Docklands backdrop where we first set out, at our new home in Titanic Slipways.

Tier 4 Weekend festival tickets are selling fast, there are a limited remaining before they increase in price. £30 deposit payments will close on Friday, April 8th – don’t sleep on these.

The first contribution of 2022 to the AVA Mix series comes courtesy of Holly Lester. Fresh from her DJ Mag Award nomination for “Underground Hero”, the DJ, label-head and capybara enthusiast provides a warm and wobbly one hour mix of club ready goovers ahead of her AVA Belfast and London shows (tickets available here) – her first ever consisting entirely of vinyl.

It’s been a busy year for Holly, with a triumphant return to gigging as well as a string of powerful releases on her Duality Trax label with more planned this year. Holly is also the co-founder of Free the Night, an advocacy group campaigning for reform to Northern Ireland’s night-time economy, launched in early 2021.

We spoke to her about all this and more.

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Timmy Stewart a.k.a. T-Bone has been referred to as The Godfather of the Belfast Scene… and there might be some truth to that. Timmy has thrown some of the city’s most revered parties alongside our own Jordan Nocturne as one half of The Night Institute, with an emphasis on showcasing the best in the local scene.

He uses his Extended Play and Black Bones labels as a platform to promote some of the most exciting new talent that the island has to offer and is always one to shout his favourite up-and-coming artists, as you’ll see from his chat with us. 

Catch Timmy at AVA Belfast 2022 on Titanic Slipways this June – if his recent Boiler Room (and secret set at our Baltic stage) are anything to go by he isn’t one you want to miss!

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AVA X TITANIC DISTILLERS

Use your spend local prepaid card and get an early bird weekend ticket for AVA Belfast 2022 and a bottle of Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey, saving £10 (RRP £110 for the bundle).

Available for one week only (8—12 November) from Thompson Dock and Pumphouse, Queen’s Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT.

Between 9am & 5pm.

Only Spend Local cards accepted. Proof of ID needed.

A number of items were handed into lost property over the course of the event.

These have been logged and will be available for collection between Monday 27th and Thursday 30th September between 10am to 5pm at the Oh Yeah Music Centre. 

Please email info@avafestival.com to report missing items.

The latest edition of the AVA Mix Series comes via DJ, producer, The Night Institute cohort and all around local legend Jordan McCuaig AKA Jordan Nocturne.

McCuaig is a festival regular who is always quick to showcase the wealth of talent in the local scene through his “From Belfast with Love” VA’s and TNI programming, choosing to opt for residents and locals over big international guests. The next 60 minutes of club inspired energy journeys through pumping percussive rhythms and squelching acid house, ominous trance and feel-good italo to seal the deal.

We caught up with Nocturne about what he’s been upto post-AVA including forthcoming music, getting healthy and newfound parenthood.

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A lot has changed for Jack Hamill aka Space Dimension Controller since he last graced the wheels of steel at (the first ever) AVA Festival, breaking the internet with his unforgettable Boiler Room debut. In the years since, Hamill has been on a journey just as much as we have. After over a decade in the game he’s quit alcohol, launched a new record label; Tiraquon and streamlined his entire production process. 

The fourth edition of the AVA Mix is an hour of out of this world house and techno from the back of the cosmos. It’s a blend of intergalactic bleeps and bloops that contrasts the personalities of Space Dimension Controller and the new-age of Tiraquon.

Ahead of his set at AVA next week, we got together with Hamill for a candid interview about music, process and his current worldview.

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We will verify everyone’s COVID status to gain entry to the festival. Everyone accessing the festival must be able to show proof of one the below. 

EITHER:

Proof of full vaccination, with the second vaccine having been given at least 14 days prior to arriving at AVA Festival. This proof will need to be the original Vaccine card, or a Vaccine Passport, or a Vaccine Certificate. A list of approved vaccines can be found here. 

OR:

If you are not fully vaccinated then you must be able to show proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test result via Email or Text Message. You will need to ensure you’ve taken a Lateral Flow Test within 48 hours of arrival at AVA Festival. If this applies to you, then follow these steps: 

You can find where to get a free lateral flow test kit here.

1. Take your test within 48 hours prior to arrival to AVA Festival, then go here.
2. Follow the steps to register the test result.
3. You will receive a text message and/or email confirming the test result.
4. On entry to the AVA Festival, show your negative test result confirmation text message or email. 
5. Make sure your phone has plenty of charge on arrival to AVA Festival. If you cannot present your COVID status you will not be allowed to enter. Please also allow for an additional 20 minutes to enter the site as check-in will take longer than normal. COVID status checks will take place at the main entrance. 
6. Be mindful of your responsibility to others whilst travelling to and enjoying AVA Festival. We encourage you to take stock of how you feel each morning and test yourself regularly. We have a shared responsibility when it comes to keeping each other as safe as possible.
   

OR:

Proof of natural COVID antibodies, based upon a positive PCR test within 180 days of the festival (including 10 days self-isolation following the result).

IF YOU FEEL UNWELL WHEN AT AVA FESTIVAL:

We have everything in place to take good care of you. Please help us by heading to the medical point located near the main entrance. 

For more information on COVID safety, please head here.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 using an NHS Lateral Flow or PCR test should self-isolate immediately and follow NHS Guidance which you can read here.

If you are told to self isolate by NHS / HSC Test and Trace over the period you were due to attend AVA, you will need to do so immediately and follow NHS Guidance here.

Under both of these circumstances, you will not be able to attend AVA Festival.

However, all is not lost. We simply ask that you do the following;

1. Check your insurance policies. Many home and travel insurance polices provide cover for the eventuality that you can not proceed with planned events due to a medical emergency.

2. Apply to roll your ticket forward. We want to make this stress free and straight forward, but there’s a few things to consider and get in order before you start;

• The person who has tested positive must complete the below form before 09:00 on Saturday 25 September, 2021. Please do not email us – ONLY use the below form otherwise we will not be able to process your request.
• You’ll need your ticket reference number and your individual ticket barcode number.
• The lead booker of your group must have supplied the test and trace data requested by Resident Advisor our ticket agent.
• If you have tested positive, you’ll need to supply evidence of a positive PCR test. You can order a PCR test to take at home as soon as you test positive via the Lateral Flow Test.
• We will ask for both the full email and the text message confirming your PCR result. We will then arrange a Zoom call to allow the results to be authenticated in real time with the NHS in view to evidence the results.
• If you’ve been asked to self isolate then you’ll need to provide a photo of yourself holding your photo ID alongside a screenshot of the isolation.
• If you have been asked to self isolate then we will again need to set up Zoom call to verify. During this call we will need to see yourself, your photo ID and the NHS communication.

Please note that with the above Zoom verification procedure is not exhaustive and there may be other subsequent actions required to verify your COVID status.

Once you’ve submitted the claim form your ticket will be voided, so entry to AVA Festival will no longer be possible. We cannot reverse this process once actioned. Please make sure you have considered the above.

When you’re ready, the form is here.

COVID TRAVEL INFO 

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING TO AVA FROM THE SOUTH OF IRELAND: 

In order to gain access to the festival you will need to ensure you have taken a Lateral Flow Test OR a PCR Test within 48hrs of arrival to AVA. You must be able to show proof of a negative result from an approved testing provider. 

• Book and ensure you use an approved provider for your test from the gov.uk website.
• Ensure the test is taken within 48 hours of arrival to AVA Festival.
• Ensure you have a copy of your result with you. Acceptable proof is showing the result on an email or having a hard copy of the result with you. 

We will also accept proof of double vaccination, provided the vaccine is on the UK GOV list of approved vaccines and the second dose has been provided at least 14 days prior to arrival at AVA Festival. More info here.

An acceptable form of vaccination proof is the EU Digital COVID certificate. It must be shown in English. 

PLEASE NOTE: It can take up to 24hrs for testing providers to send results, so please bear this in mind. There are no testing facilities available on-site. 

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING TO AVA FROM SCOTLAND:

If you live in Scotland, you can obtain your vaccination status here.

If you do not receive your vaccination status in time for AVA please follow the instructions below to register a lateral flow test result.

You can find where to get a free lateral flow test kit here.

1. Take your test within 48 hours prior to arrival to AVA, then go here.
2. Follow the steps to register the test result.
3. You will receive a text message and/or email confirming the test result.
4. On entry to AVA, show your negative test result confirmation text message or email.

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING TO AVA FROM ENGLAND:

You can use the NHS app to gain entry to the festival. Persons travelling to AVA from England must be able to show proof of one of the below. 

EITHER:

Proof of full vaccination, with the second vaccine having been given at least 14 days prior to arriving at AVA. This proof will NEED to be shown on the NHS App and not via any other means.

OR:

Proof of natural immunity following a positive PCR test (providing it has been at least 10 days since your PCR test and up to 180 days after taking the test)

OR:

If you are not fully vaccinated then you must be able to show proof of a negative Lateral Flow Test result on the NHS app. You will need to ensure you’ve taken a Lateral Flow Test within 48 hours prior to arrival to AVA. If this applies to you, then follow these steps: 

• Order your Lateral Flow Test here or collect one from your place of work or local test centre (we recommend ordering these ASAP as there may be a shortage closer to the time!)
• Carry out a Lateral Flow Test within 48 hours prior to arrival to Lost Village
• Submit your result on the NHS app
• Save your COVID Pass to the wallet of your Smart Phone

NOTE: It can take over 2 hours for your test result to show on the NHS app. Please submit your result with plenty of time to spare. 

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING TO AVA FROM WALES:

If you live in Wales, you can obtain your vaccination status here.

If you do not receive your vaccination status in time for AVA, please follow the instructions below to register a lateral flow test result.

You can find where to get a free lateral flow test kit here.

1. Take your test within 48 hours prior to arrival to AVA, then go here.
2. Follow the steps to register the test result.
3. You will receive a text message and/or email confirming the test result.
4. On entry to the AVA, show your negative test result confirmation text message or email.

IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING TO AVA FROM OUTSIDE THE UK: 

In order to gain access to the festival you will need to ensure you have taken a Lateral Flow Test OR a PCR Test within 48hrs of arrival to AVA. You must be able to show proof of a negative result from an approved testing provider. 

• Book and ensure you use an approved provider for your test from the gov.uk website.
• Ensure the test is taken within 48 hours of arrival to AVA Festival.
• Ensure you have a copy of your result with you. Acceptable proof is showing the result on an email or having a hard copy of the result with you. 

We will also accept proof of double vaccination, provided the vaccine is on the UK GOV list of approved vaccines and the second dose has been provided at least 14 days prior to arrival at AVA Festival. More info here.

An acceptable form of vaccination proof is the EU Digital COVID certificate. It must be shown in English. 

PLEASE NOTE: It can take up to 24hrs for testing providers to send results, so please bear this in mind. There are no testing facilities available on-site. 

All over 18’s registered in Northern Ireland, can sign up for a free £100 prepaid card from the Northern Ireland Government, and they can spend this at AVA as part of the ‘NI High Street £100 Voucher Scheme’.

This can be used to spend on food, drinks, and merchandise at AVA. It cannot be spent online, but physically at the festival.

What you need to do;

1. Register to vote in NI with your NI home address before September 12th at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
2. On September 12th apply for the card via the NI Direct website.
3. This should be posted after you register to your home address in NI after 19th September provided you sign up on 12th September – so be ready!

AVA Female Producer Programme

AVA X @ BoilerRoomtv is back!

AVA Merchandise available at our Big Cartel store. All orders come with an AVA 2018 Festival programme, and will be delivered within 14 days from when the order is received.

We’ve received funding from The Arts Council NI’s Small Grant Programme and PRS Foundation’s Open Fund, big thanks to both organisations for their continued support. 

We have been monitoring the situation in Glasgow closely, and we want to ensure AVA Glasgow x Sensu is the best possible party for you! With this in mind, and the restrictions on large scale events, we have made a call to reschedule the date to 10th April 2021.

We have moved the full lineup over to this date. All tickets for this show are valid for the new date, and will be automatically transferred.
Click here to purchase tickets and more info.

If you aren’t able to join us on April 10th, refunds will be available at the point of purchase for the next 14 days. 

This is an unprecedented time for all and we appreciate your support while we continue to work towards seeing you all on the dancefloor again!

In the meantime, stay safe, and big love,

Team AVA & Sensu x

RESIDENT ADVISOR TICKET INFORMATION

Please follow the below instructions using a desktop and not a mobile phone.

To keep your ticket, head to your order in the “My Tickets” section and click “Keep Tickets”. Your ticket will be valid for the new date.

If you would prefer a refund, there will also be a “Refund Tickets” button in your order history. Click this and a refund will be processed back into the bank account used to purchase your tickets. Refunds can take up to 5 working days to land in your account.

If you would prefer to donate your ticket cost, click “Donate to Save Our Scene”. By clicking this you are donating to the promoter and helping keep the scene afloat.

You will have 14 days (from the 25th March 2020) to choose one of these options after which they will no longer be available, so your ticket will remain valid for the new date.

Visit Resident Advisor Support for further information

FESTICKET TICKET INFORMATION

Visit Festicket Support for further information

SKIDDLE TICKET INFORMATION

Visit Skiddle Support for further information

AVA celebrates, develops and amplifies electronic audio visual arts. We work with sound, light and structure to create unforgettable moments and experiences. We design spaces to develop industry and programme artists.

Our studio has worked with leading cultural & academic institutions, as well as commercial brands. These range from Red Bull Music, Soundcloud, Boiler Room, to the MAC, Abbey Road Studios and CSSD, London.

Our work ranges from large scale brand activation, to research, development and educational learning. We are interested in pushing boundaries through innovation. Realising great ideas through well considered partnerships and collaborations. Identifying new talent and giving them the platform to deliver incredible work.

RED BULL

From 2017, AVA has partnered with Red Bull Music to help deliver a number of activations including stage takeovers, conference keynotes, closing parties, and pourage across a number of events. This included a full stage sponsorship and lead conference partner at AVA Festival + Conference across the last three years.

…………….

SoundCloud

For the past two years we have partnered with SoundCloud at AVA London to host their Creators Forum featuring panels, workshops, interviews and artist showcases.

Abbey Road Studios

In 2019, we partnered with Abbey Road Studios across our AVA London Conference to deliver a partnership focusing on showcasing the studios rich history in innovation, as well as their technology incubator – Abbey Road Red.

“AVA London provided the perfect blend of inspiring insight, tech and music. With talks from leading thinkers, tech demo sessions followed by a night of great music – we thoroughly enjoyed sharing our history of innovation with the crowd and showcasing the new music tech on our radar!” – Abbey Road Studios

AVA Mumbai

In 2016, AVA partnered with ‘The Exchange’ to host a 1-day conference and showcase of UK & Indian Electronic Artists, Industry and Media Partners. Over 1,000 attended throughout the 6 sessions conference, and 2-room club show.

Amsterdam Dance Event

Over the last 3 years, AVA has developed a relationship with ADE. In 2016 we partnered with Percolate and showcased at the opening of the Festival, in 2017 AVA hosted a workshop on Creative Collaborations and in 2019, AVA recruited the previous ADE Ex-GM (Richard Zijlma) to join AVA to develop our conference.

For the past three years, Holly Lester has put together a special AVA show in the lead up to the festival. This years special includes exclusive/unreleased tracks and features from Carlton Doom and includes DART, Space Dimension Controller and Jordan plus a guest mix from Marion Hawkes!

We couldn’t let this weekend slip by without a bang!

Join us on Friday + Saturday and tune into our weekend of radio + streams across our Website, Facebook, Youtube and Twitch!

Throughout our streams this weekend we will be raising donations for Aware NI
Mental Health is a crucial issue within NI and across the globe especially at unique times likes these so if you can spare anything to help the work of Aware NI it would be appreciated.
Please Donate here – justgiving.com/campaign/homeandaware

FRIDAY
1400 – 1600 – Holly Lester’s Ode to AVA with Marion Hawkes > Listen Here
1600 – 1700 – Twitch Belfast > Listen Here
1700 – 1800 – Space Dimension Controller > Watch Here
1800 – 1900 – Holly Lester > Watch Here
1900 – 2000 – Timmy Stewart > Watch Here
2000 – 2100 – imnotyourmate > Watch Here

SATURDAY
1300 – 1400 – Phil Kieran > Watch Here
1400 – 1500 – Denis Sulta > Watch Here
1500 – 1600 – Myler > Watch Here
1600 – 1700 – Or:la > Watch Here
1700 – 1800 – Brame + Hamo > Watch Here
1800 – 1900 – Sally C b2b Cromby > Watch Here
1900 – 2000 – Midland > Watch Here
2000 – 2100 – Bicep > Watch Here

RESIDENT ADVISOR TICKET INFORMATION

Please follow the below instructions using a desktop and not a mobile phone.

To keep your ticket, head to your order in the “My Tickets” section and click “Keep Tickets”. Your ticket will be valid for the new date.

If you would prefer a refund, there will also be a “Refund Tickets” button in your order history. Click this and a refund will be processed back into the bank account used to purchase your tickets. Refunds can take up to 5 working days to land in your account.

If you would prefer to donate your ticket cost, click “Donate to Save Our Scene”. By clicking this you are donating to the promoter and helping keep the scene afloat.

You will have 14 days (from the 25th March 2020) to choose one of these options after which they will no longer be available, so your ticket will remain valid for the new date.

Visit Resident Advisor Support for further information

FESTICKET TICKET INFORMATION

Visit Festicket Support for further information

SKIDDLE TICKET INFORMATION

Visit Skiddle Support for further information

Spread across two full days at Printworks London, we returned for our third year in London with our Conference and Club Show. 

On Friday 13th March, our conference featured some of the key artists and industry in electronic music, creating a space to perform and a platform to discuss future projects, their creative process, the current and future landscape + more. We were joined by a variety of keynotes, panels and workshops will be Maribou State, Jayda G, Actress, Ninja Tune, SoundCloud, Abbey Road Studios and many more.

Following Friday’s conference, on Saturday 14th we hosted our Club Show in the Press Halls and the Dark Room, with scene-defining headliners and up-and-coming talent.

This year, we welcomed iconic duo Orbital for their Printworks London debut alongside Joy Orbison, Ross From Friends, Overmono, Peach, Cromby, Sally C, Swoose, Dave McDonogh & Ben Gibson.

Photography by Rob Jones and Gemma Parker.

Special thanks to our sponsors and partners Bulldog Gin, SoundCloud, PRS Foundation, Resident Advisor, Broadwick Live, Ninja Tune, Abbey Road Studios, Mustard Media, PRS For Music and AFEM.

Credit to Rebel Overlay  for the lighting installation in Printworks Control Room.

AVA LONDON 2020 X SOUNDCLOUD

On Friday 13th March, we partnered with SoundCloud to deliver their bespoke Creator Forum and Roundtables at AVA London 2020 Conference at Printworks.

Hosting a range of panels with artists and leading industry members on a range of topics

Photography by Rob Jones

FRIDAY 13 MARCH

AVA London is a two day conference and ticketed club showcase at Printworks, featuring some of the leading thinkers and artists in music and the audio visual arts. On Friday 13th March, the conference will feature some of the key artists and industry in electronic music, creating a space to perform and a platform to discuss future projects, their creative process, the current and future landscape + more. Joining us by day on Friday for a variety of keynotes, panels and workshops will be Orbital, Coldcut, Jayda G, Actress, Daniel Miller, Ninja Tune, Soundcloud, Resident Advisor and many more.

PRESS HALLS

Opening Keynote: 30 Years of Ninja Tune

One of the most notable independent  labels of our time, Ninja Tune celebrates 30 years as a pioneering force in music. With notable signings such as BICEP, Floating Points and Marie Davidson among many others, Ninja Tune join us to discuss the origins of the label, it’s growth in recent years and plans to push forward for the future with founders Coldcut alongside artists Jayda G + Actress

Moderator: Joe Muggs

Panelists: Coldcut [Artist]
Jayda G [Artist]
Actress [Artist]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

The Game Changers

We invite 4 key industry professionals, who throughout their career have played a role in facilitating a significant shift in the way of thinking about the landscape of electronic music, through artist management, bookings, partnerships, festival creation and promotion.

Moderator: Joe Muggs

Panelists: Steve Hogan [WME]
Georgia Tagliett [Sonar/Shesaid.so]
Mark Newton [Broadwick Live]
Oliver Isaacs [ThisIsMusic]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Closing Keynote: Orbital

The iconic duo have crafted a sound that is uniquely theirs throughout a distinguished career, leading the way for a generation of electronic musicians. Always pushing the boundaries of what is possible with live electronic music performance – join us as we sit down with the Hartnoll brothers ahead of their Printworks Debut at AVA London.

Moderator: Seamas O’Reilly
Panelists: Orbital [Artist]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

CONTROL ROOM

Mustard Media Presents
Festivals: The Power Of Brand

This panel will discuss the power of brand in the festival world, what makes people really care, how building brand is stronger than short term marketing, festival brands compared to artist brands, how brand translates internationally.

Moderator: Oli Hackett

Panelists: Sarah Cole [AEI Group / El Dorado]
Richard Zjilma [Co Founder, ADE]
Tom Ketley [FLY]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

RA Exchange Live with Daniel Miller

Since its inception in 1978, Mute Records has grown to become a global affair, with Daniel Miller at the helm of one of the industry’s most respected labels. Born out of Miller’s original solo project “The Normal” – Mute has featured artists such as Depeche Mode & Goldfrapp among others over the years, on an eclectic roster. He joins us at AVA London 2020 for a live Resident Advisor Exchange to discuss his journey with Mute Records, and what might lie ahead.

Moderator: Martha Pazienti Caidan [Resident Advisor]

Panelists: Daniel Miller [Mute Records]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Sentric Electronic Presents: From Production To Prosperity

Sentric Electronic opens the conversation with established writers and their teams on the process of turning creative output into publishing income and the impact royalties have had on their careers. 

Moderator: Mark Lawrence

Panelists: Shadow Child [Artist]
Matt Stuart [Manager – Old New World/ATC]
Patrick Cloherty [Head of UK Sync/Sentric]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

DARK ROOM

AVA x AFEM presents: Tackling The Climate Crisis
As global heating continues unabated, how can our industry help to tackle the climate crisis? We bring together a range of industry experts to discuss how artists, clubs, festivals, and all those involved can play their part in contributing to a more environmentally sustainable future for fans and professionals alike.

Moderator: Tristan Hunt

Panelists: Hadi Ahmadzadeh [Tail & Twist / Eco Disco]
Arron Dowie [Zenobe Energy]
George Sandilands [Creative Production Manager – Eastern Electrics]

PRS For Music – Breaking Into The Industry

What are the different income streams available to dance music creators and how do you get paid? An experienced panel will explore the mechanisms behind recording/publishing deals, DJ/live performances, remix fees, collections societies and more.

Moderator: Ashley Howard

Panelists: Bjorn Sandberg [FUGA]
Sam Lowe [Senior A&R Warner Chapell]
Sophia Kearney [Manager, Weird and Wonderful]

Abbey Road – Mastering and Mixing Masterclass

Led by an Abbey Road engineer, who will reveal the tips, tricks, and secrets to all the different facets of recording and mixing.

with Paul Pritchard and Christian Wright

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Immerse AVA – What Makes an Experience Truly Immersive?

As Technology develops, along with the expectations of the Live Music Sector, Audience and Industry, we ask the question; ‘What makes an experience truly immersive, and how will this evolve in the future?’ We will explore the relationship between audio and visual arts, how this is communicated to the audience – to create an environment where the hearing and vision systems become entirely immersed into a singular live experience. 

The session will investigate the relationship between these elements using engineering, interactivity and spatial design to create art-directed experiences. The session will consist of leading innovators within the Immersive technologies field – representing local and international advancements within the industry across lighting, visual, interactivity, sonic and installation arts.

Moderator: Sarah McBriar [AVA]
Panelists: Dan Tombs [2MS Studio]
Chris Canavan [19Mil]
Bill Brooks [d&b audiotechnik]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

SOUNDCLOUD CREATOR FORUM

BEHIND PRESS HALLS

The Changing Shape of DJ Culture
We invite world-renowned DJs to the table for a fun but informative conversation about their unique approaches to DJing and the changing landscape of technology and DJ culture. We’ll break down the hidden costs of being a DJ, explore what it takes to stand out in a crowded, increasingly democratized space, and discuss whether being a producer and/or label owner is still a prerequisite for a successful DJ career. As we delve into the art of DJing and the impact of technology, we’ll look at new and potentially controversial formats and analyze what DJs are doing to retain an edge in a time of barrier-free entry and online DJ booths.

Moderator: Jack Bridges

Panelists: Cinthie [Artist]
Spencer Parker [Artist]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

The Art of Self Care
How focusing on your mental health can lead to sustainable success. From avoiding temptation, balancing work and personal life, to providing support to someone else who’s in need – this panel of artists and mental health professionals will share tips on how to find sustainable success through wellness. 

Moderator: Hazel Berry

Panelists: Lara Cullen [The People Person]
Denise Sherwood [Music Support Counselor]
Tom Middleton [DJ + Sleep Expert]
Tristan Hunt [AFEM]

—————————————————————————————————————————-

The Breakthrough Artist

Jensen Interceptor, Object Blue, Lobster Theremin founder Asquith and Josh Farmer join us in a discussion about how you can use your authenticity, creativity and unique artistic perspective to stand out in an otherwise crowded music scene. Learn how to engage your audience, build your industry knowledge and ultimately drive your music project forward without having to compromise your artistry. Additionally, you’ll hear from influential media and press as they offer up advice on how to put your best foot forward and make an impact.

Moderator: Martha Pazienti Caidan [Resident Advisor]

Panelists: Jensen Interceptor [Artist]
object blue [Artist]
Asquith [Lobster Theremin]
Josh Farmer [NTS]

AVA+
SoundCloud Music Showcase 

6pm Onwards (AVA+ tickets holders only)

The forum wraps with a DJ showcase, featuring Object Blue, Jensen Interceptor, Lobster Theremin label founder, Asquith, Machine Woman and more special guests to be announced. 

AVA+ Pass – £15 + booking fee – available here

– Access to AVA Conference Evening Networking Drinks + 1 x Complimentary Drink
– Access to Soundcloud Creators Forum Artist Showcase with;
Jensen Interceptor
Object Blue
Machine Woman (LIVE)
Asquith
– 3 months Free Soundcloud Pro Unlimited Subscription

VOLUNTEER

Want to get involved in the AVA team? We need volunteers with a range of different skill sets, from creatives, to build team, to artist liaison + more!
To get involved please apply here – Volunteer Application

AVA London is a two day conference and ticketed club showcase at Printworks, featuring some of the leading thinkers and artists in music and the audio visual arts. On Friday 13th March, the conference will feature some of the key artists and industry in electronic music, creating a space to perform and a platform to discuss future projects, their creative process, the current and future landscape + more. Joining us by day on Friday for a variety of keynotes, panels and workshops will be Orbital, Coldcut, Andrew Weatherall, Ninja Tune, Resident Advisor and many more TBA. On Saturday 14th March, the iconic duo Orbital will join us to headline AVA London for their Printworks London debut, supported by a stacked lineup including Joy Orbison, Ross From Friends, Overmono, Jennifer Cardini, Peach and many more.

CONFERENCE –  FRIDAY
On Friday by day, AVA London will feature some of the leading thinkers, artists and industry in electronic music, creating a space to perform and a platform to discuss future projects, their creative process, the current & future landscape + more. This year, we welcome Orbital, Andrew Weatherall, Ninja Tune, Resident Advisor and many more to Printworks London for a variety of keynotes, panels and workshops.

Conference sign up here.

CLUB – SATURDAY
Iconic duo Orbital will join us to headline AVA London for their Printworks London debut. Joining them is a stacked lineup including Joy Orbison, Ross From Friends, Jennifer Cardini, Peach and many more.

Looking back at an amazing AVA London! Massive thanks to the 5,000 attendee’s, the artists, the speakers, supporting partners and Printworks London for making our AVA Conference & Club Show such a success. See you soon at AVA Festival!

“AVA London provided the perfect blend of  inspiring insight, tech and music. With talks from leading thinkers, tech demo sessions followed by a night of great music – we thoroughly enjoyed sharing our history of innovation with the crowd and showcasing the new music tech on our radar!”
– Abbey Road Studios

Conference
Bicep, Octave One, Amy Lamé, Mr G, Artwork, Saoirse, Mark Knight, Machine Woman, Resident Advisor, Abbey Road Studios,
Believe / Tunecore, Soundcloud, Sentric Electronic, Ninja Tune, Warp Publishing, Brownswood, R&S Records, PRS For Music,
London Modular, Smirnoff Equalising Music, Coda, Inflyte, Musicians Union

Club
Hunee, Job Jobse, Joy Orbison, Mall Grab, Or:la, San Proper, Sassy J, Brame & Hamo, Mount Palomar, R.Kitt, Sally C, Swoose & Cromby

Photography
Jake Davis — hungryvisuals.co.uk
Joseph Okpako

Click here for AVA x Boiler Room 2019 full coverage over the weekend.

AVA Belfast 2020 will host the most exciting talent within electronic music, visual art and film across an opening concert, conference, multi-stage festival, globally watched & recognised broadcast, and Sunday session to round it all off. Join us from Thursday 28th to Sunday 31st May for four special days in Belfast.

Click here to sign up for AVA Belfast 2020 pre-sales.

5 years strong…we are blown away by how incredible this weekend was. Huge shouts to all of the artists, our partners, and the best crowd in the world – going for it the moment they arrived. Such an incredible atmosphere.

Photography Credits: Grant Jones, Marty Logan and Lewis McClay @ Hype Factory

AVA Castle Party is back again this September to close out the summer in style, and this time we are bringing a very special crew of Boiler Room + Twitch Belfast.

As always we are bringing the full AVA production, alongside street food + bespoke chill zone.

Boiler Room Stage – Outside
Brame & Hamo
GiGi FM
Inside Moves
Brién

*Non-Broadcast

Twitch Stage – Basement
Kasper Marott
DART
Twitch DJs
Marion Hawkes
Tommy McCoy

AVA Castle Party tickets available here.

Click here to signup to Boiler Room

Click here to signup to Conference

After our sell-out AVA London show, we are very excited to be making our Scottish debut at Glaswegian clubbing institution Sub Club next month. We’ve curated a special lineup with long time friends Optimo as well as two fast up and comers, IDA + Marion Hawkes.

Expect AVA’s trademark energy to be brought to Subby’s iconic dancefloor, can’t wait for this!

Tickets available now!

FESTIVAL INSTALLATION OPPORTUNITIES

Application Deadline Reminder – Thursday 18 April 2019

We have partnered with Red Bull Music + Heverlee premium Belgian beer to offer two unique installation opportunities at AVA Festival 2019, to live during both days and nights, across Friday 31st May and Saturday 1st June.

Both opportunities have separate applications.

Red Bull Installation Opportunity
> Information
> Application

Heverlee Installation Opportunity
> Information
> Application

We are proud to support MACS Supporting Children & Young People, a charity that tackles youth homelessness in NI by providing housing and all kinds of support to 16-25 yr olds.

To support their End Youth Homelessness Sleep Out, Belfast where we hosted our Boiler Room stage in S13, we are raffling off 2 X Tickets for AVA 2019 + 2 X AVA Tees.

To enter the raffle; donate at http://bit.ly/donate2MACS and add “AVA” to the comments on donation page. Suggested donations £5 but can be whatever you can afford.

Entrants will be drawn at random and notified by 15th November.

Join the event, and participate & help raise money to end youth homelessness!

The October issue of our Rinse FM show “The Power Hour” with guest Sally C is now available online. Listen here below. Keep an eye out for more info on our November issue coming soon!