Shampain’s ‘Get Ready’ Playlist

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Cóilín Ó Coileáin but I’m sure maybe more people know me as Shampain. I’m from Conemara in Galway, which is an Irish speaking area in the West of Ireland.

What do you do?

I’m a DJ (to begin with), but I’ve also hosted a TV show on our Irish language National broadcaster TG4 entitled ‘Éire Eile’. I also run FREAK Magazine, I cut hair and have also re-soundtracked some silent movies via DJ sets!

Describe your style in 3 words?

Celtic, cool and probably very erratic.

What was the first record you played on repeat?

I would like to say something by The Prodigy, but I actually used to listen to Public Enemy’s Best Of everyday before school; specifically, ‘Don’t Believe The Hype’ before I’d leave the house.

What is your ‘get ready’ ritual?

I dunno if I’d have a ‘ritual’ per se, I wish I did like the footballers that put their left boot on first and their right shin guard second. The ultimate get ready ritual before a gig is to have a cup of tea and hopefully a good chat with whoever’s there rather than anything too superstitious or rigorous.

You have the aux in a cab, what do you play?

I dunno if I can just answer one track. It depends on the taxi settings ya know. If we’re about to head to the club then I’ve gotta play some Regal86, but maybe you’d end up breaking the speed limit.

If it’s just me and the driver during the day I’m gonna play some Lankum. I feel like it would be extremely unsettling but could start a good convo too. And if I’m with friends my fave track right now is Isabella Lovestory ‘Kitten Heel’, that’s my final answer. 

What's a night out in Galway look like, from start to finish? What do you love and what would you change?

Nights out in Galway have changed a lot even since I first started heading out, which wasn’t THAT long ago. Nowadays, it’s a bit of a chiller vibe since there aren’t any nightclubs left anymore. There used to be quite a few when I was 17/18. I think too though, I’m just on a more chill vibe as a person so that might have something to do with it….

If it’s a really big night though, I’m definitely going to be dropping into Evan Fahy for a haircut, that’s defo where things kick off. Following on from that, probably to Freeney’s pub which is easily my fave place in Galway. There’s a fire in there most nights and also a variety of sport on TV…. Following on from that, the spot is more than likely Áras Na nGael which 9 times out of 10 has something really raw, DIY and probably sounding like something you haven’t heard before going on. If it’s really popping off then, usually down to the Róisín Dubh, Bierhaus or The Blue Note and then eventually towards Shantalla for an afters into the early hours. Late venues in Galway shut at 2am, so a night out start to finish is pretty stunted by international standards! I just love Galway so much and anything positive that happens there, despite all the shortcomings and setbacks, really makes me proud of our city.
If I were to change ONE thing it’d be that the place really BADLY needs a late-night dance-specific venue. Live music has thrived in Galway amongst younger people since COVID and the emphasis on dance music was just wiped out when all the clubs closed. That’s not to say at all that people still haven’t made the most of it, but it would definitely make things a lot fresher, more enjoyable and more varied if we had a legitimate space to dance in late into the night.

What is your favourite independent venue in Galway, and why?

I would probably have to say Áras Na nGael. It’s a 1/200 cap venue that’s fully like someone’s house in both look and atmosphere. It’s very Irish speaking orientated and has really become a hub for my friends and people of similar ages/interests. It has hosted some of the best DIY nights in the country and definitely has shaped my taste in music but also opened my mind to lots of different cultures and ways of thinking too.
At the same time, I can’t leave out the Róisín Dubh; for my own gigs that has become a spiritual home and has housed some of the best nights in my entire career of DJing and putting on parties. Really, really special stuff each time we open up the doors on that ballroom looking floor.

Best song to end an all-nighter?

I’ve recently found this great Sean-Nós and Traditional Irish instrumental album that was composed in part by Seán Ó Riada, which features songs sung by Darach Ó Cathán who’s native to near where I grew up. But yeah, probably this instrumental ‘Port An Deoraí’ by Ceoltóirí Chualann, it’s actually such a banger. Good celtic ending to a night.