Ar Ais Arís is back again – but now at a new venue

Ar Ais Arís (AAA) has spent 18 months in Áras na nGael, growing itself into Galway’s buzziest night for local electronic music. Last year saw seven gigs – including collaborations with festivals Ar Imeall and Going Coastal – a fundraiser in support of Medical Aid for Palestine and even the release of a line of AAA scarves.

With their usual home currently closed for renovations, the night is doubling its capacity for a special bill at the Commercial Boat Club in Woodquay. The venue holds roughly 350 people, and it was last used around five years ago by former underground club night Session 1 Sounds.

The gig takes place this Saturday and features London-born trance, footwork and funk artist Breaka, as well as AAA regular DJ Egg and Jonezy, who together with his dad constructed the RiseUp Soundsystem that has been a feature of the night since its earliest iterations. Hannah Hession and Rob Flynn co-organise the project alongside Alannah O’Connor and Robin Clancy.

“What we talk about a lot as a group is trying to make the venue fit what it is that we’re trying to do with the gig itself,” Rob says of the new space.

“So, with the Áras, you can do quite intimate, smaller gigs. We probably know 50% of the people that go to it. With the Boat Club, it’s not gonna be that – we need to broaden our reach a little bit. We’ve had international acts before, but I think we needed to have one for this gig just to be able to draw a bigger crowd and try to fill the space.”

“I don’t know are there any venues in Galway right now that has the capacity that the Boat Club does really,” Hannay suggests.

“Especially that don’t have their own branding on them already. So, for us to just be able to go to a blank hall, and have tons of room and this big opportunity, I think it’s going to bring something new to the table for everybody.”

Pictured: Breaka...opening new era for Ar Ais Arís at the Commercial Boat Club.