Dublin's Top 10 Club Nights

This article by me appeared in the Sunday Tribune this weekend. Any more to add? Disagree with some of the choices? Just comment below.

It's been a rough ride for dance clubs since we partied like it was 1999, but some of the best ones have survived the millennium cull.Una Mullally lists the top club nights doing the rounds in Dublin

SINCE The Kitchen closed its doors, there aren't many clubs people in Dublin call home. And since dance music splintered into smaller venues and genres, we're left with club nights, as opposed to clubs themselves.

At the start of this century, club nights would come and go with a lifespan of weeks, but some of the best have survived that period and other newer ones seem to have gained a loyal crowd because of the organisers concentration on a specific genre or vibe. The closure of certain venues - Metropolitian, Ice Bar - and the demise of Wax has been offset by the opening of others - Rogue, Crawdaddy and The Hub.

Dance is by no means dead. If anything, allegiance to the genre is growing stronger and, simultaneously, the rebirth of the rock club and the reinvention of danceable guitar music has marked the most successful era of indie discos.

There is, of course, a lot more needed to make Dublin a highstandard clubbing capital, namely more venues and longer opening hours.

But with one of the highest rates of visiting international DJs and bands, and clubbers who are relatively openminded and would think nothing of going to a jungle night on Friday and a punk band on Saturday - as long as the vibe is right - Dublin definitely stands relatively tall on the international stage.

Here, we tie down the 10 best club nights in the capital, from rock-and-roll to drum-and-bass.

PHANTASM @ WHELAN'S, THURSDAY
Now that Phantom FM is back on air, they've resurrected their unbelievably popular indie rock club night. Upon the station's return, the club took up residence in Radio City but now Phantasm is back in its spiritual home of Whelan's on Wexford Street. A mixture of Phantom DJs playing rock and indie populate the stage, along with next-big-thing bands.
What to wear: band t-shirt
What to drink: pints of Stella, shots of Jaeger
Who goes there: Phantom DJs, local band members
Admission: Euro5
If you like this try: Radiator @ The Hub

REMEDY @ VARIOUS VENUES, VARIOUS DATES
Probably the largest independent promoter around when it comes to clubbing, Remedy's philosophy is simple: forget about genres and just give the people what they want. And their taste is impeccable - The Roots, Jamie Lidell, Matthew Herbert, Amp Fiddler, 4Hero, The Charlatans and Michael Mayer, Miss Kittin & The Hacker and many more have all chosen to perform at Remedy. Just three years old, Remedy nights (notably their new year's eve bashes) are essential. (More at www. remedyireland. com)
What to wear: whatever Urban Outfitters have on the racks
What to drink: vodka and Redbull
Who goes there: Models, girls and boys about town, and whatever cool bands are playing in the capital that night
Admission: on average Euro20
If you like this try: Bodytonic @ the Bernard Shaw

ANTICS @ CRAWDADDY, WEDNESDAY
Antics is the king of indie clubs and houses by far the most fashionable crowd at any club night in Dublin, in the very pleasant surroundings of Crawdaddy in the Pod complex on Harcourt Street. More left of field than most indie nights, you'll be guaranteed a few never-heardbefore-tracks. The club has been jammed since it opened in November 2005 and definitely has that high-energy vibe that so many venues lack these days. If you want to hear the DJs warm up, head to the Bernard Shaw beforehand where they iron out their sets.
(More at myspace. com/antics_ crawdaddy)
What to wear: skinny jeans for the boys, Topshop for the girls
What to drink: everything; the drinks are cut-price
Who goes there: Fashion-conscious students, hot young photographers and stylists, and the Antics entourage that includes Ham Sandwich, The Mighty Stef and Mainline
Admission: Euro3
If you like this try: Death Via Satellite @ Eamonn Dorans

BINGO @ THE GEORGE, SUNDAY
If you're wondering why Sunday nights are so quiet in the capital, it's because everyone is in The George. One part drag show, one part bingo, one part booze-up and one part manic disco, this formula has stood the test of time - this is one of the longest-running club nights in Dublin. Although The George looks a bit grotty after all these years, the Shirley Temple Bar-led crowd still comes.
What to wear: Something loud and proud
What to drink: Whatever, or pop down the road for a Long Island ice tea in Dragon, the best in the city.
Who goes there: Quentin Fottrell, Anne Doyle, Aoibhinn Ní Shuilleabhán and Graham Cruz have all been spotted trying to get a full house.
Cost: free before 10pm, Euro8 after
If you like this try: Karaoke Tuesdays @ The Front Lounge

!KABOOGIE @ KENNEDY'S UNDERGROUND, ALTERNATE FRIDAYS
Even on the grimmest winter night, !Kaboogie draws a massive crowd of clubbers intent on partying as hard as they can for a few hours with "bass that will make your granny cry." In its second year, the club, dedicated to a quality mash-up of dubstep, reggae, hip-hop, jungle, breakcore and grime have managed to woo several international acts to the basement of Kennedy's, but it's the hearts of drum-and-bass-with-adifference fans they've really won.
The !Kaboogie collective plan to launch a record label this year, as well as encourage "the further bringing together of like-minded people." (More at myspace. com/ kaboogiemusic)
What to wear: Anything oversize, and danceable trainers.
What to drink: Guinness followed by healthy amounts of water
Who goes there: DJs and producers, and dreadlocked party boys and girls
Admission: on average Euro10
If you like this try: Reach @ Traffic

BACKLASH @ ROGUE, THURSDAYS
Jon Averill, Steve Reynolds, Romo, Philth and Chewy had their work cut out when they left Wax on South William Street for a relatively underdeveloped venue, but Backlash's loyal following has stuck with them and the crowd grows in the basement of Rogue on Dame Street every week. Artists like Shit Robot, MSTRKRFT and Mylo have all played and on a resident night you can expect to hear tracks from Vitalic, The Knife, Chicks On Speed and Michael Mayer. (More on bodytonicmusic. com)
What to wear: niche-label jeans and limited edition t-shirts
What to drink: bottles of Tiger beer
Who goes there: The Rapture are known to pop in when they're in town
Admission: Euro5

MAXIMUM JOY @ KENNEDY'S UNDERGROUND, ALTERNATE FRIDAYS
One of Dublin's best-kept secrets is Maximum Joy at very much the venue of the moment - Kennedy's Underground. You're just as likely to hear twisted rock as electro - basically, Maximum Joy have thrown the rulebook out the window. Some great recent guests include Oppenheimer, Fujiya and Miyagi, Dancepig and upcoming nights feature Jessie Evans and Si Schroeder. (More on myspace. com/maximumjoyclub)
Who goes there: Warlords of Pez, electro-indie heads
What to wear: indie meets clubber clobber
What to drink: bottles of Corona
Admission: Euro8 If you like this try: SpaceCamp @ Rogue

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS @ BLEU NOTE
With live music every night, everything from funk to jazz to blues to more avant garde instrumentalism gets a turn. On Friday and Saturday the jazz basement is opened up to expand the club. There really is nowhere else like this in town, given that it's the only dedicated jazz venue around. Notably, this Capel Street club has a fantastic selection of international beers you won't find anywhere else in the city. (More on bleunoteclub. com)
What to wear: trilby and blazer
What to drink: the weirdest bottled beer you see in the bar fridge
Who goes there: jazz fans and club and bar owners
Admission: varies from free to Euro5
If you like this try: The Sugar Club

POGO @ THE POD, SATURDAY
The something-for-everyone night at one of Dublin's most enduring clubs. The Bodytonic crew put on a helluva party across three rooms. Residents include Barry Redsetta, who shares the venue with various international guests. Other resident promoters take up the Pogo Live room; indie-punks Psychotic Reaction bring people like The Things into the mix, whereas the Scribble crew concentrate on hip-hop and breaks. Also in-house are the Backlash posse. (More on pod. ie)
What to wear: casual clubber - smart hoodie and cool trainers
What to drink: Jaegerbombs
Who goes there: DJs and their friends and plenty of up-for-it students
Admission: Euro15 (Euro12 with membership)
If you like this try: Big Dish Co @ Kennedy's (monthly)

BALLROOM OF ROMANCE @ LOWER DECK, MONTHLY
Run by Dublin band the Holy Ghost Fathers, the monthly leftfield alternative live-music club has been running for three years now, showcasing bands like The Chalets, Delorentos, Duke Special, Medea. Everything from stoner rock to pop, to men with acoustic guitars makes the cut, so if you're looking for the next big thing, or just something a little weird, then this is the club to check out. (More on ballroomofromance. com)
What to wear: quirky and rocky
What to drink: red wine
Who goes there: Musos - everyone from indie DJs to music journalists to band members.
Admission: Euro8
If you like this try: Radiator @ The Hub

ONES TO WATCH
Rhapsody @ The Isaac Butt
South William Bar
SpaceCamp @ Rogue
Boom Boom Room
Dig @ The Pod