Dublin based promotor and marketeer, Martin Thomas has been involved in the Irish Music scene for 14 years and previously worked under the Strictly Fish Productions moniker with Jimmy Costello. Running many varied and influential club nights such as the legendary Strictly Fish, the nations longest running club night - Strictly Handbag [14 years this October 08], Ultra Lounge, The Sunday Matinee and Most Wanted - We have the knack of filling empty spaces around the city and identifying up coming trends. Strictly Fish ran Europe’s largest dance music radio broadcast for 2FM – Eurodance - which had over 30million listeners for 5 years in a row. We were heavily involved in the initiation and running of the Red Bull Music Academy for a number of years up until 2002. Our big beat, gold status, homage to the Late Late show theme, ‘To Whom it Concerns’ can still be heard ending many a disco all over the country. Our follow up single was 'The Sunday Game', another cheeky assault on a national institution.

We were heavily involved in marketing & music programming duties for the Odeon group [Odeon, Dakota, 4 Dame Lane] , Cocoon, The Start and Crescent in Drogheda, the Foundry in Carlow and in 2007, The Bodega Club in Dún Laoghaire. We have recently become involved with The Purty Kitchen group and are helping to re-position it’s late night operations in Monkstown and Temple Bar.

Our quirky promotional material has become collectables at this stage and we still are the only promoters to win an ICAD design award. All our graphic design is handled by the wonderful people at Detail.

Brand consultancy has played a big role over the years and clients have included Xbox 360, Guinness, C & C, Red Bull, Smifnoff, Barry Fitzwilliam Maxium & Richmond Marketing. [More Clients].

In 2004, The Rock + Roll Rescue Squad was born and Rory O’Keeffe [Singer and Journalist] came on board as partner. First off the block was the infamous Humewood House party for the Darkness after their 2004 Oxegen headline show and this led to an exclusive DJ set from Darkness Bassist Frankie Poullian at the Strictly Handbag 11th birthday in October 2005. The Rescue Squad re-positioned Bia Bar in Dublin into a music driven venue later that summer by using the Ultra Lounge brand.

In March 2005 we set up the Rock + Roll Karaoke experience that is Songs of Praise in the Village on Wexford St, Dublin – it recently celebrated its 3rd birthday with a sell out event. The Rescue Squad’s ongoing long-term relationship with Sherland Entertainments saw Strictly Handbag launch in the Left Bank Bar in Sligo in January 2006. In July 2006 we launched Sassy Sue’s GoGo Inevitable in the Sugar Club in Dublin to re-invigorate Friday Nights around town. Its 1st birthday is rapidly approaching. We also had the pleasure of running the Depeche Mode after-show party after their sell out Dublin show.

In October 2007 we designed and launched The Bodega Club in Dun Laoghaire for Jay Bourke and The Thomas Read Group. We also celebrated our 13th Birthday for Strictly Handbag with a headline show by Dexy’s Midnight Runner frontman, Kevin Rowland. To top it off did an 8 Date college Tour for Songs of Praise to launch Guitar Hero III for Xbox 360.

So far in 2008 we launched Ireland's first dedicated weekly disco for kids - The Rattle and Roll Club. Songs of Praise turned 3 and we had a blow out party for Sassy Sue's GoGo Invitable. Ending on a high after two very successful years, we replaced it with the ever effective Strictly Handbag. September sees two major moves for Strictly Handbag - firstly after 12 years in RíRá it's time for a change and SPY is where its new home will be. Recently taken over by Brain Spollen - it's a wonderful house party space, beautifully deconstructed and perfect for us. Secondly Handbag by the Sea is moving to a better venue, The Loft at The Purty from mid September. The Loft also becomes the new home for The Rattle & Roll Club.

Looking ahead the Strictly Handbag 14th Birthday Weekender will take place in 4 venues over the October Bank Holiday weekend. But not before we launch our newest product onto the Saturday night market - Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you The Rock & Roll Circus. More on that later! And if that wasn't enough we are also launching a Wednesday Night version of Songs Of Praise. We'll sleep next year sometime...

The Rock + Roll Rescue Squad can help your business re-position itself in the market with music, marketing and service driven solutions. Whether it be a Bar, a Nightclub, an event, a product launch or an established brand we have extensive experience in helping clients solve core issues with regard to sales, promotion & perception.

If you would like to know how we can help – please contact us on 353 1 440 4289 or via e-mail