Mark Knight has a relationship with his Irish fans like no other. It’s hard to remember a show he has done in recent years here which hasn’t been packed to the rafters accompanied by an electrified atmosphere. This Friday he returns to Dublin for the first time underneath the Residence brand but it seems the same buzz is still evident. The hype has been considerable and it would be a brave man to bet against a full house in The Village by 11.30 on Friday.
It’s no secret we’re big supporters of the Englishman and his incredibly successful Toolroom imprint (the largest independant dance label of its kind). He has spent the last ten years devotedly pioneering his own sound and that has brought with it massive dividends. As the label this year celebrated a decade in existence many of the Toolroom Ten tracks have reminded us of just how high the standard was set over the years. Anthems like Man With The Red Face and Downpipe lend themselves perfectly to the remix table thanks to their unique attributes.
Of late Knight has veered towards a slightly deeper outlook both in terms of his own sound and that of the label. Young guns like Weiss and Bontan are getting massive amounts of support from both Knight and Toolroom itself. There is a distinct move towards a more underground feel to Toolroom, something we most definitely welcome. It will be very interesting to see what blend of house, tech and techno emerges from The Village speakers at 1am on Friday. We’ll most certainly be there, taking it all in!
WWD recommended.