The Blue Note in Galway's Westend is famed for its legendary atmosphere and amazing nights out, and the team is determined to keep that dancefloor alive and keep the party going. They put a call out to some of the best DJ talent that has graced their decks over the years and asked them to pick a song that reminds them of The Blue ??
Read on for all of the DJ picks and the stories behind them....
MacDaragh Stapleton
DJ Zinc – Super Sharp Shooter
There have been many belters in the Blue... Ringing in the new year with Tame Impala, tops off to Faithless, hands in the air to a hot a sweaty Can't do without you... But this involved dancing on the bar, tables and the being pinned in behind the decks as they were pushed towards the wall.
Padraic O'Connor
Channel 83 – Tonight
This is hands down – or should that be hands in the air? – one of the true Blue Note anthems and a big Galway favourite. It’s a really clever edit by the Channel 83 guys Damon Martin and Ben Rymer (Disco Bloodbath, Fat Tuckers, Gucci Soundsystem) where they fuse two versions of the same song. The killer bassline and bells from the original 1980 version of “Tonite“ by Sho-Nuff are blended with the distinctive high pitched vocals and dreamy keys of Fern Kinney’s cover “Tonight” taken from her 1981 album to create 9 minutes of sheer dancefloor singalong bliss. Gets people smiling, dancing and singing along every time! Stone cold killer.
Olive Byrne
Lionel Ritchie – Dancing On The Ceiling
One of the first times I played the Blue I finished at some ungodly hour with this... and I was lifted, turned upside down and danced across the ceiling!
Kelly-Anne Byrne
Sophie Lloyd & Dames Brown – Calling Out
This will always & forever remind me of The Blue Note. I'll never forget the crowd there singing the words back to me and thinking that Keith Disconaut was watching over us all. Whatever it is about that space, something magical happens when you play there... hands down one of my favourite venues to DJ in.
Mia
Leftfield - Afro Left (Melé Edit)
I played this for the Blue Note competition and it went down very well...
Paula Healy
Todd Terje - Inspector Norse
Yes we've heard it a trillion times, but it's usually played at just the right level of pints to get even your most reluctant friend to stop on the way back from the toilet to dance. And then you can't get them to leave the floor. "PLAY TODDD"
Graham Dolan
Kenny Dope - Get On Down
When I think of the Blue I always think of when I first moved to Galway 20 years ago. I remember day pints and chats with my mates and the same pre-mixed mini discs playing over and over in the background. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard this Minnie Riperton loop and Method man sample drift out of the speakers, but every single time I stop for a moment, close my eyes and think “I fucking love this tune”.
Anthony Collins
Late Nite Tuff Guy – Bless The Rains
This tune will forever remind me of the fantastic nights I had when I started off DJing at The Blue Note - a brilliant version of the 80's classic by Late Nite Tough Guy this is surely my very own National Anthem.
Mitch Mac Donald
Jon Cutler Feat. E-Man - It's Yours
Ever since I've been going in to dance in the Blue, I always admired everyone’s sets, listening and learning off the older DJs. This tune rings a bell for me as I had been looking for the name for ages but was never told, and every time I asked I was told to do your homework by one DJ in particular!
Paddy Reid
Chez Damier - I Never Knew Love (Made In Detroit Mix)
Many's a time I've ran in from the smoking area for a dance to this one. Often give it a spin myself in the boozer and it always goes off!
Get Down Edits
The Grid - Crystal Clear (Justin Robertson Mix)
The very first time we played in the Blue Note think was 2010 in the afters of a Disconaut boat party and I played this and the whole place went mad.. even had Keith Disco getting me in headlocks! Martin / GDE
Danny Moodymanc
Hundred Strong ft. Amp Fiddler "Time" Andreas Saag Main Perspective
I will never forget playing this as the last tune on the boat party when I first came over to meet you guys (I think I was actually in tears... in a good way).
Love to all the Blue family and Galway friends
Maxi Browne
Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover
This is my choice of choon because you see it doesn’t matter if it’s P Disco playing it on vinyl or Jimmy Mac playing it on C60 Cassette it’s just sexy as fuck! Jäger, Dance, Shift and repeat
Cian Ó Cíobháin
Throbbing Gristle – Hot On The Heels Of Love
I've been going to the Blue Note since the boozer first opened its doors. I could pick any of the acid jazz tracks from that era from mixtapes compiled by Aran McMahon that used to soundtrack nights drinking in the bar and inspired many of us to start DJing. But I'm going with a real curveball instead. Which is 'Hot On The Heels Of Love' by Throbbing Gristle, a track that was memorably played at an after-hours session one sunny February morning a few years back. The perfect tune for a special moment in time.
Mary Maguire
Gladys Knight – No One Could Love You More
I wanna give a nod to Mullers and Northern Soul Sundays. Probably some of the best nights of my life.
Dunners Ó Súilleabháin
Karizma - Work It Out
Midnight... an hour left (give or take a half an hour) sweat, smiles and Saturday baybay. Big love
Disko Briscoe
Womack & Womack – Teardrops
Mal put this tune into a glass case and then threw a hammer at me to break it out and play it – true story.
Mal Pal Dalachy
Ten City - That's The Way Love Is (Underground Mix)
A song that always stops The Grafters pulling pints and do the hands in the air dance. Usually played at the same time as the Elevenses Jäger break.
You can check the full playlist here on Spotify
