There's a bit of a minimal extravaganza on this weekend in Dublin! Oh yes. Did you know that the word extravaganza comes from the Irish word "geansai" which means "woolly jumper"? Yes, it does. Irish people always get woolly jumpers of their grannies for Christmas and the celebratory wearing of these jumpers or "geansais" in the local pub on St. Stephen's Day became known as an "extravagansai", and thus the English word extravaganza was born.

But this weeks extragansai has nothing to do with woolly jumpers (but may have something to do with nylon anoracks), it has to do with these below gigs instead:

• Minimal Shenanigans Night at Electric City, Thursday 6/4/06
• Troy Pierce [M-nus - Berlin, hang on, isn't he from the states?]
• Donnacha Costello (live) [Minimise - Skerries]
• Giles Armstrong [Electric City - Clondalkin]
• Traffic, Middle Abbey Street, 10 Euro (8 Euro for members), doors at 11pm

Yep, Troy Pierce's first time in Ireland I believe. I saw him at Sonar in 2005 when he played a back to back with Magda and I liked what I heard. Even without Mr. Pierce this would be a deadly gig, Donnacha hasn't played out live in a while, the last time I saw him was at D1 many moons ago. (We miss ya D1!)

And if that wasn't enough minimal shenanigans for ya, Test returns to our screens (woops, I mean clubs) this Friday. They've got themselves a bigger and better venue this time in the form of Radio City which is just across the road from Busaras. Here's this Friday's lineup:

• Test at Radio City, Friday 7/4/06
• Giles Armstrong [Minimal Techno Ninja]
• Eddie Brennan [Giles has been training him in the art of Minimal Techno Ninjitsu]
• Richard Brophy [Testmaster #1]
• Jay Gallkigan [Testmaster #2, of course he's going to give out he isn't number 1]
• Only 5 Euro in before 12, 6 Euro after, bargin-tastic!