THE COMMUNITY Skratch Games 2009 takes place in Galway from April 8 to 12, bringing together DJs from all around Ireland and Europe for a free festival of turntable manipulation.
Community Skratch is a non-profit group of DJs and producers dedicated to promoting the arts of hip hop and DJ culture through workshops/seminars, concerts and music releases.
The Community Skratch Games will feature two full days of live music and performances, a freestyle Skratch battle, workshops, and the launch of two Skratch music albums.
It kicks off on Wednesday April 8 at 8pm in Ard Bia Nimmo’s, Spanish Arch, with Rotations - A History of Sampling Through Turntables, a seminar by John Lillis.
John Lillis will look at how sampling has restructured ideas on music production, engagement, and enjoyment. The talk will be followed by ‘Content Of Tables’, composed by Lillis and performed on four turntables by DJs Deviant, Jimmy Penguin, Tweek, and Mikey Fingers. Vince Mack Mahon will also launch his debut album on the night.
On Thursday 9 and Friday 10 from 11am to 5pm, Deviant, Jimmy Penguin, and guests will give workshops in The Gaf Youth Café. The workshop is open to those aged between 12 and 18. It will give participants a grasp of the basics of DJing as well as providing those at a more advanced level with the skills they need to progress further.
Ireland’s finest turntable manipulators will descend on the Bierhaus, Henry Street, on Saturday April 11, from 3pm, for an open freestyle battle and DJ sets from TuKi, Vince Mack Mahon, GeM, Itchi, Koncept, Djackulate, Gondek, Mr L, Frantik, and more. From 8pm Jeremy Murphy and Stroller will be spinning the decks.
The festival closes on Sunday 12 at 7pm, in the Bierhaus, with live sets from European DJs. Headlining are Grandeurs of Delusion (DJs Maroon and Manipulate ), who will debut tracks from their new EP Night Of The Flavigator. Support is from DJ Clockwork, Fidel Cutstro, Disscuss, Lone Wolf, and Oslo Flow (DJs Blam and Plato ).
All events are free but donations will be accepted. CDs, records, and assorted merchandise will be available over the weekend. For more information go to www.myspace.com/communityskratchgames