So... last night we headed to Barnsley for a Ground Level event. It was in the Urban Tent at BomFest, a small festival of around 1000 people in a forest on the outskirts of Barnsley. We arrived at 8ish and the setting was beautiful, a converted scout campsite with 3 small arenas and a main stage. The music on offer was varied and was being used as a way to promote local music talent (BOM stands from barnsley originla music) and to promote the anti BNP message (as Barnsley is somewhat of a BNP strong hold).
Andy and JP where playing as DJ and MC duo which I think worked well. JP looked nervous as the guys on before them where playing DnB and there MC was very good. Andy also seemed concerned about the come down in pace from DnB to breaks and electro. They started bang on 10.00, the crowd where unreceptive at first but once Andys redit of Jack Beats - Get Down dropped in, the crowd where going crazy. The set then continued in this wonky bass heavy sound and they lapped it up. The crowd grew from around 75 when they started to around 120-130, with the tent being relatively full. All in all a good gig.
Heres 2 videos I uploaded on YouTube, the first time I have ever personally done so!
Only a music tip for you readers I have two different ends of the music spectrum:
First of is a warm up Nu Disco track that will be getting play at the up and coming Telepathe gig at The Royal for sure. The original from Shit Robot, a indie electro type band my girlfriend put me onto when we first started going out, is a deep trippy affair. The remix is a plodding track that has some intresting peaks and troughs and is ideal for just warming up the crowd early doors...Todd Terje on remix duties.
Next up a track which has been reworked by a pair of prodcuers from London, I am hearing really good things from, Joe and Will Ask. This remix of a track by Milke (who offer simple indie electro pop), is the best track Ive heard this week. It stands between electro and techno perfectly with its low slung beats and repetitive sounds, yet the phat electro basslines that build through out make this a dance floor bomb for sure!
Joe and Will Ask have been rocking parties in and around the UK, most recently playing at Kool Kids Klub. This guys have serious skills in the studio and on the turntables! Check them out in the future at:
Here is the blog from Ground Level which is the Derby label which hosts the night I play at in Derby, Filthy Boots. Andy McAllister is the head honcho there and is always looking for new producers and talent. Releasing mainly electro and breaks the label is going from stregth to strength and has sereval releases in the coming 3 months! Check out the blog which has been created this week for the latest release schedule and hot of the press reedits and bootlegs.
Established in 2007, we hit the ground running, launching as a vinyl and digital label, seeing it fit to support vinyl as well as allowing digital DJs to get a piece of the action. Our first release Serious Wobble by Stylus Rex was praised by all the dance music press, helped by a killer remix from the French wonderkid that is Maelstrom, who’s remix was number two in trackitdown.net’s charts for over 4 weeks!
2008 started for us with Cops on Coke by Stylus Rex being released in Feburary, with a remix from Welsh wonderboy Strider, gaining top reviews again from DJ Mag (5/5), IDJ (4/5) and Mixmag (4/5).
Ground Level hold residences in Derby @ Filthy Boots at The Royal, which has seen the likes of Jack Beats, Andy George (Radio1), Drumattic Twins and Foamo grace the decks in recent months. As well as a night that runs bi-monthly in Camden Town, London @ Bar Vinyl, which showcases all the acts on the label on rotation.
This week sees the end of my Graphic Illustration Course, which Ive been doing at the Quad in Derby (as seen in previous posts). I have finished my final piece in a mammoth 3 hr Illustrator session which I took inspiration from the artist seen above om (Lucy Mclaughlan @ Beat 13) . I am well chuffed with the out come and the hint to stick to a grey pallet has given it a dark moody look! Some people on the course said it was like a self portrait, but who knows?!
Also news for regulars, upon listening to Andy George & Jaymo filling in for Kissy Sell Out this week I heard them drop the incredible SonicC - Sticky which you can see 3 posts below. This is without a doubt a peak time explosion, that they said,'had worked on countless occasions at many different nights'. Dont say I didnt warn you.
I also have news of a first production effort with Andy Mcallister and we decided to remix a track of the Friendly Fires album, which is being remixed by the likes of Areoplane, Evil Nine and soon to be playing Filthy Boots, Grum.
This week within Derby sees Dave James and his Freq! night hit the Royal on Saturday. This night delivers to those into more techy and minimal sounds and always attracts an educated and sexy crowd. This month sees Freq! play host to Matt Cooper of MixMag and Dirty Disco, Leeds fame. Go on Dave, hes had some storming guest DJs down, offering a good night for all in The Royal!
For those who like it a bit more techy and deeper than the electro/breaks I often upload listen to this, which will most definetely be being spun at the next Filthy Boots in warm up slot!
On a more electro tip, conifrmed for a future Filthy Boots is Last Japan, who has been tearing up the airwaves which his glitchy prodcutions and remixes. With a soon to be released remix of latest track Oi! to drop from no less than Diplo & Laidback Luke, expect big things!!!
What a night that was had by the 300 + revellers at this weekends Filthy Boots, Jack Beats absolutely stole the show and had every wonking out the heaviest remixes and edits around. Jetting off to play the 'graveyard shift' at Fabric meant I didnt had much time to speak to Beni G from the 'Beats but he seemed sound enough! Its a hard life isnt it, most DJs would give there hind legs to get that gig and 2 gigs in one night, but he seemed almost like it was chore. The joys of professional DJing, Im guessing!
I played the first set of the night which went OK, was a little tired from the Calvin Harris gig the night before and the mixing wasnt as tight as it could of been. I played a deep house set to get things going. Its hard playing first as theres very few good slow electro club tracks that come along. One of the best tracks I played of night was the track below, Catz n Dogz, have in my opinion a very naff name but there chunky almost tech sounds get under my skin.
On a heavier note I played as warm up for and after Calvin Harris on Thursday to a packed Royal (450ish). Was a great night a resounding success with everyone enjoying his slightly heavier synth laden set. Afterward I played with Andy McAllister in the Red Room to around 80 revellers, who stayed on (on a school night) to party to the electro/breaks we where playing. They loved it tough and I dropped this beast of a remix by Shadow Dancer...
This is a looping growling techy monster, with the huge breakdown dropping into the phattest rolling bass youve heard all year. Already had 3 gurning appreciations from this track and request of what it is and only played it out once!
A final word just to say thanks to all the Bad Habits Crew, Jarryd and Chris for playing the pre bar and all the folk that came down to make the night a success.
I have just got home from being refused entry into my place of work, a refusal based on the fact that someone within my workplaces, wife, having swine flu. Therfore we might all have been infected with it according to the Health & Safety blokes. Bollocks, I say. But on the plus side I sit at home and get to shelter out of the relentless rain that has followed the schorching hot spell of the past 3 weeks. On the negative I could be Oinking by Sunday if there guess comes true!!
I have got a track for you that is special, its from DJ Zinc, who started life as a speed garage DJ, then recently became a groundbreaker in DnB and now has doned a DC cap and neon T shirt and is making some of the sickest bassliney fidget sounds around. Taking alot of influences from dubstep for the break on this La Roux remix sees a track crafted that will be the peak of any night out!
Following on from that on a different tip is the sound of AutoKratz and there new Always More EP with remixes from the likes of Goshi Goshi, Yuksek and Shadow Dancer. These heavy weights put the indie dance original and shake it up some! Below is Shadow Dancer's take, which is the best in my opinion and will be getting a play at the Calvin Harris afterparty next week for sure! AutoKratz - Always More (Shadow Dancer Remix)
As always hope you enjoy! Maybe see you for Jack Beats at Filthy Boots,The Royal, Derby next week where Ill be playing the opening hour 10.30-11-30.
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