Erol Alkan to make special return to Derry this weekend

Erol Alkan returns to Derry for the first time in over 10 years for a special Celtronic party at Sandinos this Friday, May 19th. 

Erol Alkan is an artist who needs no introduction. His creative life as a DJ, producer, label owner, radio host and collaborator has spanned decades.

His exhaustive history reads almost like mythology; the shy boy who snuck out of his bedroom window to play indie records to ruthlessly unforgiving crowds, and ended up transforming the London club scene, bridging disparate scenes with experimentation and abandon.

Three decades into his life as a DJ, and connection is more important to Alkan than ever before. The past few years have seen Alkan focus on 'To The Rhythm', a series of dates across Europe and North America, each of which create the ideal environment to explore the far-reaches of his record collection as well as controlling the lighting from the DJ booth as he soundtracks the room.

Each facet of Alkan's taste and history is accounted for, spanning acid-drenched rave, frenetic house and the spirit of alternative pop and guitar music, as imaginatively curated on his much-loved 'Bugged In' mixes.

Alkan's work as a producer and remixer has allowed his music to echo around clubs even when he himself is away from the road.

He has produced albums for Late Of The Pier, Mystery Jets, Ride and Duran Duran while his hugely imaginative 'reworks' of artists such as Hot Chip, Metronomy, Tame Impala and Justice have become classics of their genre.

Phantasy, the label he founded in 2007, stands as a forward-thinking beacon, representing the values of his legendary club Trash and is home for artists including Daniel Avery, Red Axes,Terr, Gabe Gurnsey and Alkan himself.

Given his lifelong endeavour to channel music and creativity from past and present eras, it's little surprise that Alkan has also enjoyed a fruitful and ongoing spell as a radio DJ.

Having broadcast on BBC 6Music for over a decade, including the longest-standing stint hosting their ‘6Mix’ residency, he is now one of the residents at London’s boundary-pushing NTS Radio, programming shows that connect the vitality of his current club sets with a vast record collection spanning decades.

As the sands of alternative and electronic music culture shift faster than ever, Alkan remains one of the most influential and enduring artists in whatever world he chooses to occupy.

Never mind cliches, Erol Alkan is an even rarer sort; an artist who needs no introduction, yet with so much more to share.

Advance tickets are on sale now at bit.ly/3KHPZny. Support on Friday night comes from Dollface.