About DJ Aidan Kavanagh
I got really into music at a young age and I played bass in a series of bands when I was younger (sadly none of them made the big time!). I know it’s an overused term but my musical tastes have always been eclectic as I was lucky enough to be exposed to a range of musical influences when growing up in Dublin. My childhood was sound-tracked by my traditional musician father and the varied vinyl collections of my older brothers who were into bands like Jethro Tull and Kraftwerk.
As a teenager I loved indie bands such as the Smiths and Joy Division but I always had a soft spot for the great artists of the twentieth century such as Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Otis Redding. I became a fan of electronic music in my late teens, but also started exploring genres such as soul, swing and lounge.
Following a brief spell in London (which coincided with the second ‘summer of love’) I returned to Dublin in the early 1990s where I first took to the decks in Club Egg, a cult night I ran with a few others in the infamous Sides nightclub. There I played go-go music as well as soul and latin beats. I then lived in Spain for a few years before moving to Scotland and did a bit of dj and broadcast work in both places.
When I returned to Dublin in 1998 I began a long-term residency in the newly-opened Sugar Club. I really enjoyed my years as Sugar Club resident, the club attracted a great fun crowd every weekend and I have wonderful memories of those nights. During my time there I put together a number of Sugar Club CDs to capture the atmosphere created.
This is a short documentary made by Peter D. Ryan based on my work as club DJ,
Shortly after I started dj-ing at the Sugar Club I played my very first wedding. The couple were both regulars at my Sugar Club nights and wanted a similar sound for their wedding – the night went really well and I enjoyed the experience a lot. Since then I have branched out further into weddings/special events and corporate gigs while continuing to play club-nights and festivals.
I have also been involved in broadcast work (Jazz FM and Power FM) over the years and have acted as a music consultant/supervisor for a number of documentaries, feature films and tv shows including recent Irish movie My Name is Emily.
Weddings/Corporate Events
I have played at over 800 weddings over the last fifteen years or so – among these have been the weddings of various former Sugar Club regulars and their friends and families. I have played at venues all over Ireland and have played at the weddings of quite a few high profile couples including Brian O’Driscoll and Amy Huberman. I specialise in DJ-only weddings and have established a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading DJs in this regard. In addition I have performed at numerous parties, launches and corporate events for companies from Dropbox to KPMG. Over the last few years I have been DJ of choice for RAW and Love/Hate wrap parties.
Festivals
I love playing festivals, I am a regular at the Electric Picnic and over the years I have played on the Body and Soul Stage and the Salty Dog Stage. I have also played at the Body and Soul Festival in Ballinlough Castle on numerous occasions, this year (2015) headlining the Body Holidays area on the Saturday night with the show ‘Kids in America’ (produced in conjunction with d808 Media Production).
Further afield I have played at venues and festivals in Spain, Austria, Hungary and the United States and Scotland. I bring a vast wealth of musical knowledge and experience to every gig but I also bring a genuine love and enthusiasm for what I do – whether it’s a small wedding celebration or a large-scale festival crowd my aim is to ensure that everyone enjoys the party!
