Famed Armagh club to feature in new dance scene documentary

by
Micheal McKenna
July 9, 2015

The Arena night club in Armagh is to feature as part of a major documentary about the 90s dance scene explosion.

A Hollywood production company is behind the project – which has been given the working title ‘Dance, Peace and Harmony’ – and it will be produced by acclaimed director Chris Atkins.

Atkins has been behind a number of the UK’s most innovative and acclaimed films of recent times, including ‘Sixteen Years of Alcohol’ and ‘Taking Liberties’, where he teamed up with Kurt Engfehr, co-producer and editor on ‘Bowling for Columbine’ and ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’.

Now he is turning his attentions to our local music culture and specifically the dance scene of 20-plus years ago!

And those behind the project want your help…

The Arena – later to become The Met – was the nightclub attached to the former Drumsill Hotel.

Long closed and long missed by many, the club regularly drew thousands from across Armagh and far, far beyond.

It was one of a number of top-rated clubs of the time which are being targeted as part of this new documentary production.

It will also feature Harmony at Kelly’s in Portrush, Circus Circus in Banbridge and The Mirage in Enniskillen.

The team are exploring the culture of the day and how the explosion of dance music was a uniting force to divided communities – much in the way that punk in the 70s and rhythm and blues in the mid-60s also brought people together.

The production company want any old video footage, photographs, memories and other associated paraphernalia.

If you think you have anything and would like to offer it for use, contact kellysharmony@gmail.com, or phone 075 2665 3518. You can also tweet @MovieHarmony

Eagle-eyed eye Sean after living it up with some hotel fornication!

Armagh’s Aidan returns from USA as Fire Service bags 20 medals

Sisters were left lying in road as hit and run driver fled scene

Budget ‘anti-family, anti-student and anti-public sector worker’