by Tim Anderson

Years on the circuit with Moloko have given this silky queen experience on working the crowd but as a solo performer, Roisin Murphy has sunk her teeth into developing her own club sound, house and beats.

Since the break-up of the mega successful Moloko, which she started in 1994 with ex-partner Mark Brydon, Roisin has been a busy girl. The band had recorded 6 albums together releasing several successful singles such as “The time is now” and “Forever More” and come to the end of their contractual obligations. She then went on to record her debut album “Ruby Blue” which started on setting her apart from Moloko’s distinctive sound. For the recording of her second solo album, Overpowered, Murphy went back to her roots in Englands northern town of Sheffield and last year produced a storming club dance-floor record.

This has complemented her live shows which have always been pretty loved-up affairs anyway. The layered beats of Moloko are still there but there is a heavy house flavour on her latest record, a result of her complete focus in making a record. “I can’t imagine making a record and not being totally consumed by the process, even though that might be nice.” She states.

The Irish born singer was even nominated for an MTV award this year and has been on tour around the world for almost a year, finally coming back to Europe after a break at the end of the festival season. But she hasn’t ruled out a return to Moloko’s smooth sounds sometime in the future as well; her website states, “Murphy has been keen to stress that the group are not necessarily defunct and that she has no interest in “burying” the project”. Great news for all of us then.

But for now she will be storming the stage live at the beginning of November and should heat up the chilly autumn night just perfectly.

Roisin Murphy performs in Madrid on 2 November at La Riviera. Tickets are on sale at www.ticktackticket.com and the FNAC, priced 27 Euros (30 if you want to risk paying on the door). Starts 20:00.

by Helen Macrae 

Bigger and better than ever before, Klubbers Day 2008 returns for the third year running with an impressively eclectic line-up listing more artists than you can shake a stick at. This year the festival will be held on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th March at the Telefonica Madrid Arena, and entry can be yours for a mere 30 Euros (single day pass) or 50 Euros (2 day pass, exclusive spangly wristband included).

The artists providing treats for your ears are as follows:

2 Rare People, 7 Notas 7 Colores, Alexander Kowalski, Alloy Mental Live!, AndresAndreas Live!, Ascii.Disko Live&DJ Set, Autokratz, B-Bass, Beat Sense, Benny Yasoto, Blake Baxter, Coco Cielo, David Tarrida Live!, David Mallada, De La Soul, Digital 21, DJ Hell, DJ Premier, Dosem, Drugwork, Dub Elements, Dusty Kid, D’Wachman, Fabian Roelandt, Gentlemen, J.Leyend, Jackie Misfit, James Ruskin, Javi Bici Junior, Jesus Riano, Johannex, Jorda, Joton, Ken Ishii, Klef, Kruder&Dofmeister, LCD Soundsystem, Lorenzo Bartoletti, Lucca, Luke, Malsum Live!, Marc Marzenit Live!, Marco Faraone, Miguel Mendoza, Miki Craven, Mimanson, Misstress Barbara, Mos Def, Nuria Ghia, Oscar Mulero, Pablo Guadalupe, Ralph Montana, Recyver Dogs Live!, RJ Junior, Ruben Montesco, Scan 7, Sebastian Roya, Serious Beat, Sven Vath, Sweeterbeat, Technasia, The Advent Live!, The Juan Maclean, Tobi Neumann, Vitalic Live!, Yorka.

Tickets can be bought online at www.ontickets.es, or from Ticktackticket outlets such as FNAC, TIPO shops and Carrefour travel agents, as well as various other outlets in Madrid (see www.klubbersday.es/tickets for full details). Telefonica Madrid Arena can be reached by Metro (Line 10 - Lago, or Line 6 - Alto de Extremadura) or by bus (Lines 31, 33, 36, 39 and 65), although parking is available for all you teetotallers at a cost of 5 Euros a day. Doors open at 18:00, proof of identity is required to enter the festival.

For further information check out the website www.klubbersday.es

See you down the front!