Dynamic duo, Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson, members of Bicep have become well regarded producers, DJs and music scene regulars over the past number of years. With a strong slew of remixes, original tracks and club appearances, the latest show stopping performance took place at Electric, Galway on Thursday 9 March.
The Belfast-born duo have played a crucial role in this decade’s house music renaissance. McBriar and Ferguson began their career in music by writing their own blog, ‘Feel My Bicep’ in 2008. Their ability to unearth obscure disco gems, electronic oddities and lost club classics attracted 100,000 visitors a month to the blog.
McBriar and Ferguson decided to make a career from DJing three years later in 2011 – after they abandoned successful jobs in advertising and design respectively. In 2012, Bicep created their own record label, and the pair were awarded DJ Magazine’s ‘Best of British Breakthrough DJ’ award the same year. Bicep’s 2015 single ‘Just’ was a smash-hit, becoming unavoidable in nightclubs and party locations like Ibiza. They spearheaded the rise of the annual AVA festival in 2016, which promotes electronic music and digital visual arts, and takes place in Bicep’s stomping ground, Belfast.
Early bird tickets for the gig were released on the UniPhi nights app. They were sold out within days, and Electric were forced to release extra tickets due to the demand exceeding supply. Rory Hamilton (Hammer) and Paul Belton provided support by warming up the crowd for the main act, who took to the stage just after midnight. The Electric gig was intimate, as it allowed McBriar and Ferguson to interact with the crowd and build a rapport. The mix of synth, funk and techno music was just what the sold-out crowd came to see, with the smoke and lights show adding to the experience.
Check out photos from the night on Electric’s Facebook page here.
It was approaching the cut-off time, and in response to the obligatory “One more tune!” chants from the crowd (a common practice at these sorts of events), Bicep obliged with an encore. However, it was cut short by the management of Electric; an unfortunate end to a brilliant set.
Bicep’s set at Electric was the first of five on their tour of the Republic of Ireland. They will visit Dublin, Cork, and Waterford over the next week, followed by a gig in Sligo on Saint Patrick’s Day, before embarking on a tour of the rest of Europe. They will also make an appearance at Coachella Festival in California in April. They are currently working on their debut album, while still maintaining their regular blog posts, and no doubt their loyal fan base will continue to support them along the way.
Follow their journey at: http://www.feelmybicep.com/
Joe McBrien