DECEMBER Report 04

I was due to be writing this month’s report after having played in Edinburgh
at the massive Highland Gathering event on New Year’s Eve, however it was
unfortunately cancelled on December 17th, but more about that later.

I feel I must start this month’s offering by explaning my decision to leave
my main London residency, the Thirsty DJs. I’d been a resident for just over
a year, had some great gigs, having played with promotions such as Frantic
and Heat, at such London nighteries as the Ministry of Sound, Egg, The
Brixton Academy plus loads others. I feel to push myself further and achieve
the goals I want to achieve I need to be going in my own direction. I’d like
the thank head honcho Chewy for giving me my opportunity, cheers.

Anyway, onwards and upwards as they say! The weekend of the 17th/18th
December I was due to be playing in London, having two gigs across both
Friday and Saturday. I’d been looking forward to it for ages, however came
down with a heavy cold the day before being due to travel. Nothing was going
to stop me playing, so I dosed myself up as much as I could with Vitamin C,
Iber Profin (spelling?!), Paracetemol, flu tablets, the lot. It seemed to
work, and felt much better as I headed to the Cook/Club U4ria for the Thank
Funk It’s Fryday event with my friend Coops. The owner/promoter Gary is a
good mate, and plied myself and Coops with loads of alcohol to get us in the
party spirit. I had some mates from London in the club aswell, so it was
good to play to familiar faces. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again,
The Cook crowd is an awesome one to play for. To say they are voicerous
would be an understatement. I played the closing 1-3am set, the club
absolutely packed till the end, people dancing in every concievable position
– on the speakers, on the bar, on tables, everywhere. The DJ box was so
rammed at one point I couldn’t find the decks!!

After a few hours sleep, I was playing an early set at Kurruption in Earl’s
Court. I played 8.30-9.30pm as the crowd was building, but unfortunately had
to leave before it got really rocking later on in the night. Tommy Four
Seven text me the next day to say it was an awesome party… great to see
Zoelee continuing to put on a great night. I met a friend in Farringdon for
a couple of pints before heading to Serious @ The Cross for their Xmas
party, before finally retiring to bed for the 2nd night in a row at 9am.

As discussed earlier, I was due to be playing at the Highland Gathering NYE
event, but unfortunately the event was cancelled just 2 weeks before the
event. I’ll still be heading up to Edinburgh to enjoy the celebrations!!

2004 was a great year, here’s hoping 2005 will eclipse the latter. With
monthly residencies at Thank Funk It’s Fryday @ U4ria and Eclectic Session @
Richmond, both in London for starters, I’m extremely optimistic! Have a
great Xmas and New Year…

Darz

OCTOBER Report 04

Saturday October 9th provided me with two gigs in the capital. Knowing that
I had to be at Turnmills for 2pm in the afternoon, and what with not being
able to trust the Virgin trains from Liverpool on a weekend, my mate Pez and
I decided it best to travel down on the Friday evening, which gave ample
opportunity for clubbing. As we were staying above the Cook club in West
London, we partied downstairs at the Thank Funk It’s Fryday night, of which
I’m a bi-monthly resident. Whilst having a drink in the bar, I bumped into 2
Phunked Up, who I’ve played with during a Thirsty DJ gig, they had just
played their set. Despite the club closing at 3am, this would have been a
sensible time to retire in preperation for Saturday’s shenanigans, but
instead ended up Djing until 8am in promoter Gary’s flat, drinking whiskey
in copious amounts. Pez woke me up at 12pm, heading to Turnmills for my
opening set at Becomeone. Becomeone has a music policy like no other, which
is to be applauded. Progressing from funky house – progressive – trance –
hard house means they can attract a crowd from a wider spectrum. After
playing my set, myself, Pez and Grice, with whom was also down for the
weekend from Liverpool caught the 2nd half of the England – Wales game,
before returning to B1 where the crowd were going nuts.

After having a meal in China town, we then left for the Coronet in Elephant
and Castle, to play Chemistry’s 2nd birthday. I played after Franky, my set
seeing to go down well, before Filthy Rich took over, after handing me his
new track. Check out my interview on this site with the Mixmag Future Hero!!
Sunday was spent drinking with mates around Muswell Hill, North London,
before heading to my brothers on Monday to see the newly born addition to
the family, my neice Mina.

October 29/30 I had another two gigs in London, the first of which at Thank
Funk It’s Fryday at the Cook, in Acton. I travelled to London on my own,
trying to sleep off the affects of a week spent in Prague heavy drinking
with mates Pez and Coops. Without doubt, the crowd at the Cook make it one
of the best atmosphere’s I have played at. With the mixture of people being
Auzzies, Kiwis and South Africans they know how to generate noise, and that
is exactly what they did. The Cook offers that main room feel to it - DJing
on a stage, whereas most of the clubs in which funky house DJs play are back
rooms with the DJ ‘box’ being more like a table. Playing after me was one
half of 2 Phunked Up, who said to me that during my set it was the best
atmospheres he has ever seen generated by a DJ in a club, which obviously
pleased me. I hung around the DJ box for the following two sets gyrating the
crowd in typical fashion. I had a good chat with Gary, for whom I’ll be
playing on New Year’s Eve at the massive Highland Gathering event in
Edinburgh alongside Eric Morillo, Armand Van Helden, Supergrass and Sister
Bliss amongst many others, before heading back up to Liverpool at 7am having
minimal sleep. After watching Everton draw with Aston Villa at Goodison
Park, the plan was to head back down to the capital to play at Clodagh's (of
Joy of Decks fame) birthday party at her Spiritualised night at the Rhythm
Factory. However, due to our train being cancelled, it meant there was no
way I could of made it in time for my set, so reluctantly had to cancel a
gig for the first time, to which I was pretty gutted about as I’d been
looking forward to it for ages.

More next month on the massive 25,000 capacity New Year’s Eve gig I’ll be
playing in Edinburgh (check the website www.highland-gathering.com), I’m
sure you’ll be hearing loads more about it in the dance music press in the
coming weeks…

AUGUST Report 04

August’s busy month of gigs kicked off with a trip to London to play at
Heaven, a venue I’d previously played earlier on in the year. On that
occasion, the event was Fusion boasting four rooms of trance, hard house and
funky house, meaning that the funky room was pushed into the un-atmospheric
VIP lounge, which didn’t suit my uplifting party style at all. This time was
to be different, playing in the Dokota Bar of the Bigger Better Louder
night, run in collaboration by the promoters of Frantic and Wildchild. I
travelled to London via train on Friday 6th in preperation for what I
thought was a midnight set for an hour. With three hours between Liverpool
and London, and travelling on my own, I had only Gazza’s autobiography for
company. Arriving in Camden, I then headed to Heaven, in the capital’s
Charing Cross. Here I met up with fellow Thirsty DJs Chewy and Rob
Alexander. The opening of the funky room had been held back by an hour and a
half meaning that I was to be playing b2b with Chewy. We played to a packed
floor, and although personally not a massive fan of b2b sets, the crowd
seemed to really enjoy it. Also on the bill were Filthy Rich and PK, I’m
glad to be a part of a such a fresh new funky house scene.

On the Saturday, I returned to Liverpool, before catching a shower and
heading out with my mates for my gig at the massive Passion night in
Coalville. Accompanied by my driver Pez and mates Coops and Olley we went
for a drink in one of Liverpool’s Albert Dock bars before the journey to
Coalville, which is near Leicester in the Midlands. Usually, when travelling
in Pez’s disco mobile, the tunes are cranked so high that there is little
conversation to be had. Again this was the case on Saturday, but whilst
usually we listen to mix cds ranging from local djs to the world’s finest,
this occasion Radio 1’s coverage of Ibiza gave us our aural pleasure for the
journey there and back with Jules’ and Fergie’s show and also the Essential
Mix from Amnesia. Arriving at Passion, I was expecting to be playing in the
Red Room, however was playing in one of the bars instead. When I took to the
decks at 12.30am for my hour set the room was pretty empty, however by the
end had filled up, so I was happy to have got the room rocking for the next
djs. We headed back to Liverpool and to our favourite late night café,
ordering pizza at 4am!

With a weekend not djing, myself and Pez checked out a new night fairly
close to our homes, at the Liquid Lounge in Winsford on the Friday 13th.
Jules was headlining, and the night went well apart from somebody spilling a
drink all over Jules' cds. We spend the next 20 minutes cleaning his cds,
they needed to be cleaned straight away or they would have been unplayable.
Friday 20th I headed down to London with mate Pez to play Thank Funk It’s
Fryday at the Cook in Acton. After ditching our stuff at Kurruption promoter
Zoelee’s house in West Ealing, not far from the venue, and having a quick
beer, we made our way to the Cook to play the last set of the night, 1-3am.
To say the atmosphere was incredible is an understatement. Chants of “1
more” at the end proved how good a night it was, so here’s hoping I’ll be
invited back to play shortly. On the Saturday Pez and I met my brother with
some friends. My brother, Pez and I are all season ticket holders at
Everton, and generally my brother and I make about half the away games per
season, the majority of which being in London, near to where my brother John
lives. It had been nearly two years since we had seen an Everton win away
from home, so as we beat Crystal Palace 3-1, it was celebration time.
Saturday night, after meeting Tommy Four Seven and his mate Liam, along with
Pez, we all went to Serious’ Bday @ The Cross, in London’s Kings Cross. This
is one of the best nights I’ve ever been, the atmosphere and crowd are
second to none. Djing was Eddie Halliwell, who is the best DJ I’ve ever
seen, the excellent Judge Jules and Simon Patterson. I finally stumbled into
bed at 9.30am a very happy, yet drunk man…

The Bank Holiday weekend of August 28th-30th is one of the busiest of the
year, this year being no different. This had been planned for the whole
summer, with loads of events packed into this hectic weekend. After watching
Everton beat West Brom 2-1 at Goodison Park myself and Pez headed to
Creamfields at the Old Airfield in Speke, Liverpool. After checking out
Jules’ Radio 1 show and a quick mooch around some of the other tents, we
left for destination London, after picking up Coops, to play Hard House
Academy. Being sold out for months, Hard House Academy was Frantic’s 7th
Birthday party, held at the massive Brixton Academy venue. Encorporating
four rooms, 3 of which being hard house, the one I was due to play in – the
corridor being the only hard house alternative – my usual uplifting funky
style. Arriving in Brixton at 1.30am in preperation for my main time 2-4am
set, I took over the decks from Rob Tissera, who went straight from the
funky room to play the 3,500 capacity main room. I was sandwiched between
two of the worlds most known DJs in Rob Tissera and Phil Reynolds. The set
rocked, the crowd going mad to every tune, dancing in every imaginable
place, including the speakers!! On Sunday we checked out the Notting Hill
Carnival, the Good Times stage where Norman Jay, one of the founders of the
festival was playing. The atmosphere rocked. Unfortunately we had to leave
early, as I was djing at the Southside Bar in Central London for Funky
Foreplay. I’ve played the Southside Bar on a few occasions for Thirsty DJs
in the more atmospheric lower room. On this occasion Hard House was the
music of choice in that room, and I was playing in the more laid back room
on top, so I played a less driving set, keeping it funky. After leaving
here, we checked out Wildchild at Heaven for an hour before booming back to
Liverpool in Pez’s Disco Car. Monday we went to the Matthew Street Festival
in Liverpool, a festival held every year where the Beatles were made famous.
After all that, I need a sleep…

Cheers,
Darz

JULY Report 04

After returning from Ibiza after playing at Judgement Sunday and with the
Thirsty DJs, July 10th provided the opportunity to rock with one of London's
best parties with which I'm a regluar player - Frantic. Frantic Vs
Polysexual (the Midlands hard dance masters) presents Lisa Time was the
event, the venue being Elephant and Castle's excellent The Coronet.

Headlined by Eddie Halliwell and Lisa Lashes, I was to be playing in the
balcony playing funky house, which is often the case with hard dance events
around the UK. Having travelled to London with my mate Kev, I played back to
back with Thirsty DJs head honcho DJ Chewy at the reletively early time of
12-1am. Arriving at 11.45, the pure volume of clubbers had meant that Will,
Frantic's promoter opened the funky room early meaning that when I arrived
Chewy was playing to a packed dancefloor going crazy to every movement
behind the decks. The gig rocked, as have nearly every Frantic event I have
played. It was good to catch up with PK, resident of Peach, who played a
wicked set.

With no gigs until the end of the month, it gave ample opportunity to go
clubbing with my friends. On the 24th July we checked out Liverpool's
Garlands night with Judge Jules providing the soundtrack. July 30th Erik
Morillo was in Liverpool to play at Yousef's Circus night, another top night
was had.

Saturday 31st July I made my debut at 2Kinky @ The View in Frodsham,
Cheshire. It was nice to play a venue close to my home near Liverpool, as so
many of my gigs involve travelling more than 3 hours, so accompanied by my
driver Pez and two mates we headed to the excellent View nightclub in
preperation for my 10-12 set. Arriving at the early time of 9pm, and I was
due on first set, we had a drink in the adjacent hotel, then was shown
around the club by promoter Gary before getting onto the decks. The View
lies at the top of a massive hill in Frodham, overlooking the whole of
Cheshire, and with 3 rooms also offers an outdoor garden type area where
clubbers can chill enjoying the awesome views, hence the name The View.
Having played previously at the View in the Porn Lounge for a mates night,
on this occasion I was playing the main room, which held around 1,000
people. I was told that despite playing the opening set of 10-12 it would
feel nothing like a warm up set as the club would be packed by 10.30. Packed
it was. Absolutely rammed to be honest. It is nights like this which gives a
big 2 fingers to the journalists who continue to prenounce that clubland is
dead. It is, infact, alive n kicking!! With Northern clubs, the trend seems
to be that most places shut around 3 or 4am, the case being 3am with 2Kinky,
on the contrary to clubs in the capital where 6am seems the norm for booting
out time. One of the plus points of an earlier closing time is the kind of
'ave it' mentality right from the off.. so come 10.30 the club was rocking,
I was playing to a packed floor. The theme for the night was Bo Selecta,
with loads of clubbers and dancers donned in the Avid Merrion's created
attire. 2Kinky does not receive much national exposure to some Northern
clubs like Garlands or Goodgreef, but my friends and I all agreed that this
was one special night that was as good, if not better than the two clubs
just mentioned. Clubbers from all around the country were in attendance,
check it out!! With the promoter and owners impressed with my set, here's
hoping I'll be invited back soon!! I've always said that atmosphere is the
key to a good night, and with that in abundance, 2Kinky is easily one of the
best nights I have played. Paul Taylor, of Retro fame followed me on the
decks to a hands in the air style crowd reaction.

More next month with gigs at BBL, Passion, Thank Funk It's Fryday, Frantic's
7th Bday and loads more!

Thanks for reading

JUNE Report 04

June kicked off with a Progression Records Boat Party on the Thames in
London. Living near Liverpool, and frequently djing in London means that the
most suitable form of transport is Virgin trains, which usually is a direct
journey to London Euston, taking around two and a half hours. However, with
Euston closed for a week (over the school half term - always one of the
busiest travel weeks of the year, God only knows who makes these
decisions!!) it meant that I had to travel via initially 3 trains to reach
destination London. Setting sail at 5pm I left Liverpool at 10am, which
would get me in London for 2pm, with plenty of time for a 5pm start. Or so I
thought!! After delays here there and everywhere, and 3 trains turning into
5 trains and a bus I made it just in time to meet my friends before
boarding. The party itself sailed all around the Thames bringing in such
landmarks as the houses of Parliament, the London Eye, the Dome plus many
others, I played the funky deck alongside fellow Thirsty DJ, Richard Chew,
with Progression residents thrown in (not the Thames!) for good measure!!
Although there was problems early set with the lack of monitor speaker
(integral to a good dj set), the decks jumping etc, I enjoyed the gig with a
wicked crowd, as we played the upper funky deck as downstairs hosted the
trance/hard house room. I left my first boat party with a big smile on my
face (hugely thanks to the bottle of vodka we sneaked onboard), as I left to
go clubbing with some friends at the Fridge in Brixton.

On the 19th - 26th I was in Ibiza, so this is a kind of weekly report
incorporating all the shenanigans on the white isle!! After travelling down
to London with my mates Pez, Coops, Grimshaw, Olley and Kev to catch a
flight from Luton we arrived in Ibiza early Sunday morning. As I was due to
be playing Judge Jules' night Judgement Sunday @ Eden later in the evening,
I played a set at the Pre Party at the beautiful Kanya venue, one of San
Antonio's excellent row of Sunset bars. With a great view, I played a 90
minute set, which was a great warm up for the set later in the night.

When describing this next gig it is impossible to wipe the smile off my face
as quite simply put, it was the best gig of my life!!!! It was nearly three
years ago on my first trip to Ibiza that I found a sound called funky house,
in the back room of Judgement Sunday, and imparticular sets from Jules and
DJ Gee which made me fall in love with the music that I play. I returned
home to England and the rest as they say, is history. To have the
opportunity to play at what I believe to be the best night in Ibiza was
unbelievable, and I was determined to rock it. Some of my friends were
asking me if I was nervous, especially as I was to be playing 5-7am, after
Jules, someone who I have looked up to for many years, but there was no
nerves, I just wanted to get on the decks and the rock the socks off the
place. I generally don’t get nervous before any gigs, I just want to get on
the decks and show what I can do. I watched Jules' set with the accompanying
Roque on his saxophone, the crowd loving it. I took to the decks, with Jules
and Eddie Halliwell (who had just come to the funky room after his main room
set) rocking in the DJ box with me, gyrating the crowd, which was
overwhelmingly surreal seeing my two favourite DJs enjoying it as much as I
was! Eddie even gave away all my cds to the crowd, and was up on the decks
dancing!! It was simply the best night of my life, with all my mates saying
it was the best night of theirs, the crowd were amazing, the ovation at the
end of the night should have been to them, not me, as they were awesome. A
night never ever to be forgotten.

I was also in Ibiza to be playing some gigs for my residency with Thirsty
DJs and Heat UK. On Tuesday, after attending the excellent Garlands party at
Kanya, and Jules' wife Amanda's birthday drinks n nibbles at the adjacent
Kasbah, I played in the funky room at Savannah, which was an excellent gig.
There were loads of people I knew there, which made it even better, and
after I played two 30 minute sets, I headed with friends to Garlands at
Eden. Wednesday was spent drinking in Base bar in Ibiza Town before heading
to Subliminal at Pacha. I dj’d back to back with mates Pez and Grimshaw at
Kanya on Friday, and also again on Saturday at Itica, which ended an
excellent week in the White Isle!!

With gigs coming up at Lisa Time in London, 2Kinky in Cheshire, Wildchild in
London, Passion in Coalville and Frantic's 7th Birthday at the massive
Brixton Academy venue to name but a few, the rest of the summer looks
exciting so hopefully see many of you at one of the nights!!

Muchos gratias,
Darz

MAY Report 04

Firstly, maybe I should change this monthly offering to a weekly column as
I'm desperately trying to think what where and when happened during each
month.. it is becoming more difficult, obviously the Stella is starting to
have an effect!!!

I was out for around 11 nights on the row socialising, celebrating my mate,
and driver Pez's 21st Bday throughout May. We drove down to London on
Thursday 20th May in preperation to play at one of the gigs I really look
forward to playing each time I'm booked... Kurruption, on the Friday. On the
Thursday I played at Ufunkia, a mate's (Mike Devine) night in Acton. I
played back to back with Pez, before the following evening's shenanigans. On
Friday, we headed to Oxted, Surrey to see my brother and sister in law,
although the 11 nights out were taking its toll and I just wanted to be in
bed!! We then arrived at Kurruption, as I played after the excellent Lizzie
Curious to the usual crowd of mad up for it West London party people known
as the Kurruption Shatpanks! Kurruption is staged in the VIP room of the
awesome Hammersmith Palias venue. In the main room was the hugely popular
RnB, which as my mates pointed out to me had a complete lack of atmosphere,
just girls standing around, with the lads eyeing which girl to chat up next.
Pleeeeease! Back to the funky room! The atmosphere rocked during my set, and
was a pleasure to play for promoter Zoelee, a real good friend.

The following week had promised a busy djing itinery in practice, however
was cut somewhat in half with the postponement of a couple of events I was
due to be playing. The Turnmills boat party on the Thames in London in which
the Thirsty DJs were due to be playing was cancelled. On Friday 28th I
played at the Southside Bar in London, for the monthly installment of my
residency. It was great to see familiar faces, such as Tommy Four Seven, and
also good to meet Anil Chawla, who I dj'd after. I was due to be playing in
Southampton on the same night for Out of Order, that night will now take
place on the 19th June, which unfortunately means I cannot play as I fly out
on that date to Ibiza to play at Judgement Sunday/Thirsty in Ibiza. On the
Saturday 29th a friend and I checked out Hard House Academy at the massive
Brixton Academy venue in South London. Having played in the funky room in
February, it was good to be back there.. the set of the night being Andy
Whitby's main room peak timer. On the Bank Holiday Sunday, I played
alongside my fellow Thirsty DJs at Heat Legends @ Clapham Grand. The venue
is an old theatre, a smaller version of the Brixton Academy, and we were
playing in the funky room at the very top of the venue... having to walk at
least 100 steps to get there!! However, this didn't deter the loyal funky
crowd, with the room packed full of gorgeous people. I played the 2-3 slot,
ending on what will undoubtably be one of Ibiza's tunes of the summer, Brad
Carter's 'Morning Always Comes Too Soon' to an excellent crowd reaction!!!
Whilst djing the wicked view of London was witnessed through the many
windows.. and whilst Adam May played the last set, the sun beaming through
made it feel like a true Ibizan moment, in London!!!!

Speaking of Ibiza, I'll be there this month.. if you are going to be there
please do come and see me in the funky room at Judgement Sunday on June
20th, whilst I'll be playing around the Island's bars with the Thirsty DJs!!
Bring on the summer!!! Vodka and cranberry all round...

For a recent 70 minute online streamed mix from myself check out
www.trancestore.co.uk then click on DJ Sets, then Scroll down to house and
find my name! Any feedback greatly appreciated!

Cya next month!

APRIL Report 04

The first weekend in April saw me playing two gigs which I'd really been
looking forward to for ages. Usually when djing in London I travel via
Virgin trains, but on this occasion a group of mates fancied the clubbing
weekend, so Pez, who drives me to most of my non London gigs drove me, with
mates Matty, Adam and Coops coming along for good measure!

We headed down to London on the Friday afternoon, as I was to be playing the
Fusion event at Heaven later on. Fusion was a massive event, this being only
the 2nd party, as the opening event had occured a month earlier. With four
rooms bragging some of the best djs in hard house, trance and funky house,
the club was around half full. I was playing in the funky room alongside the
Ignition Crew amongst others. The room itself didn't have a clubby feel to
it, more a laid back atmosphere, certainly one which doesn't suit my musical
style. Despite that, a top night was had, and it was great to meet Joy of
Decks' runner up Clodagh, as she had come to check out my set, so it was
cool to spend the evening clubbing alongside her, and chatting to her.

The following day me and my mates stayed around Camden, my base for all
London gigs for the past twelve months or so. It was the day of the Grand
National, and like millions across the country, three of us placed bets! We
watched it in the Oxford Arms pub in Camden! I had a couple of bets, and
didn't have a clue what my jockey looked like, nor his colours, unlike my
mate Pez, who was seen screaming at the tv, "what are you doing you donkey,
it's gone the wrong fuckin way!" It was only at the end that I realised I'd
won £100, to which I was obviously delighted!

After this, we headed up to the Midlands, as I was to be playing the
excellent Alska night in Leicester on the Saturday night. As my mate Matty
is at Warwick University, and living in Coventry, we stopped off en route to
Leicester for us all to freshen up ahead of the gig at Alska. The gig at
Alska rocked. It is one of the best nights I've ever played, and within 10
minutes of me opening the room, the dance floor was packed going crazy to
each and every tune. It is always a pleasure to play there, and I hope to be
back soon!!

As I had no gigs the following weekend, and with it being a Bank Holiday, I
attened Garlands on the Saturday to see my mates Jules and Simon Patterson
(Dogzilla) play, both of which rocked it! The following night, myself and
Pez travelled to Sheffield to our first time at Gatecrasher. It was Crasher
Vs Judgement Sunday party. I'll be playing at the massive Judgement Sunday
night at Eden in Ibiza in June, to which I'm absolutely extatic. It was
there three years ago that I discovered funky house, and I simply cannot
wait to play.

The last weekend in April/first weekend in May brought the 2nd bank holiday
weekend of the month and I travelled to London to play two gigs for my
residency with the capitals best house crew, Thirsty DJs. With my mate
Coops, I met a Greek mate and fellow DJ, Ted, before heading to the
SouthSide Bar in Central London for the monthly residency. I played 9-10,
and this party was awesome, people dancing everywhere to my set, on the
chairs, on the tables, it was crazy, and the atmosphere was simply
unbeatable. This is a must for any funky house fan in the capital, and
what's more, it's free entry!

After that, we headed to the Gallery's 9th Bday at one of my favourite
clubs, Turnmills. Jules played a wicked set, the lineup being huge, and
joining him on the bill in the main room was AvB, Tall Paul, and the guy
behind 2003's biggest dance record Satisfaction, Italy's Benny Benassi. I
returned home at 6.30, Jules giving us a lift en route to his North London
home.

The following night I played in King's Cross at Scala for the first time, in
association with Frantic/XStatic and of course Thirsty DJs. The room was a
wicked atmosphere, the party rocked, and was good to meet loads of
Harderfaster's ... Webbo, Lucy Fur, Hard House Lady plus loads of other
mates too!

More next month!

MARCH Report 04

March provided a busy month of gigs for me, starting with Thursday 11th with
a set at Ufunkia @ The Cook in Acton. Ufunkia is a new night promoted by one
of my good friends Mike Devine. I was to be travelling to Hamburg in Germany
on the Friday morning with meeting my brother and mates over there, so
travelled to London on the Thursday night. I met my friend Coops before
heading to Acton, where I'd played previously in September at Affinity. As
we had to be up at around 8am to catch our flight, we had decided not to
have a large one so to speak - ie no drinking, no after partys! I played the
last set - 10.30-12 but with the offer of free vodka, sambuka and tequila,
staying sober was never going to be an option!! I ended up playing a 3 hour
set at the after party in the manager's flat above the venue to a gang of up
for it clubbers as it snowed outside. A top weekend followed in Hamburg
before it was back to the UK for more gigs.

The following Friday I was scheduled to play at Kurruption @ The Hammersmith
Palais in London. After making my debut in February, I had been made a
rotation DJ at the night, meaning that I will play every two months. I
frequently use Liverpool-Euston train service, and vice versa to connect
between my London gigs, and to take boredom away from the 3 hour journey I
tend to read one magazine per journey. My love for the dance music scene as
a whole means that I read anything and everything to do with it, so each
month I purchase all the dance music press including Mixmag, M8, DJ, IDJ
amongst others. On this occasion I had no material to read, so purchased a
pair of headphones and listened to Pete Tong's special Virgin show, which is
new to Virgin's Pendalino fleet of trains. I arrived in London to play
Kurruption, which is held in the VIP room of the massive Hammersmith Palais
venue. There was around 100 clubbers going crazy to each and every tune in
the small, intimate room, providing a great atmosphere. When I last played
in February the club looked like a building construction site, but having
been refurbished now looked splendid. As I arrived, Tommy Four Seven, an up
and coming breaks/house dj was rocking the place, in preperation for my back
to back with Mike Devine. Our set went well, despite at one point Mike
spinning the record he had just took off the decks on his finger, and then
dropping it making the place go silent!! I don't think Mike will ever live
that one down!! As soon as my set ended at 2, I headed with my mate to the
Gallery @ Turnmills to check out Judge Jules' set. Jules rocked the place as
always, and was very kind in giving my mate and I a lift back to Coops' flat
in Camden, en route to his Highgate home.

Friday 26th March saw me heading to London for two gigs. As my mate had
finished university for good earlier that day, we celebrated in an Indian
restaurant before heading out to the gigs, the first gig of which was at my
residency Thirsty DJs new monthly night at the Southside Bar near the BT
Tower. I played back to back with the head of Thirsty DJs, DJ Chewy. The
crowd were gathering and by the middle-end of the set the small bar was
heaving with clubbers. Richard Launch followed us, playing both the last set
of the night and his last set as Thirsty DJ. Two new Thirsty DJ residents
will be named in April. I resisted the temptation of free drink as I had a 3
hour gig later on in the night at Peach.

I headed to Vauxhall to play make my debut at Peach @ Studio 33. Peach, for
9 years had held a residency at the Camden Palace in North London. It was
interesting to see how the regulars would react to a move South of the
river. I arrived at the club around 12.30, an hour before my set, just as
Graham Gold - Mr Peach was arriving! I was to be playing in the party room,
after PK, an excellent DJ who impressed me with his cutting of tracks, and
his exceptionally quick ability to mix. Peach is one of Britain's Premier
League nights, and Above and Beyond were headlining. They were playing in
the other room to which I was, at the same time, so it was a challenge for
me to keep the crowd in my room. I played 1.30-4, loving every minute. I
have never had so many people shake my hand in one night!! Tommy Four Seven,
who I'd met a week earlier at Kurruption came along to offer support and
look out for this guy, he is going to be rocking some clubs in the coming
year!!

After my set, PK took over for an hour or so as I went to check out Graham
Gold's set. Hopefully I'll be back at Peach soon as Graham liked my set!!

My radio show "Funk It Up" started on March 16th for four weeks, of which I
have presented two shows so far. The response has been amazing, with great
feedback! The two guest mixes, provided by Tom Allen and Clodagh from Joy of
Decks have been excellent! Check out the final two shows on
www.haltonfm.com!!

Thanks for reading, more next month!

cheers,
Darz

FEBRUARY Report 04

February saw two dates in which I was looking forward to playing as soon as
I found out I was to be playing them!

Saturday 7th saw me travelling to Leicester to play my bi-monthly residency
at Alska at the Original Four in the city centre. So after watching an
unbelievable football match at Goodison Park in the afternoon, where
Manchester United had taken a 3 nil lead against Everton, then Everton
crawled it back to 3-3, then a final minute goal saw United win it!! Anyway,
that's going slighty off subject! But when I'd finally gathered back my
breath, my driver Pez picked me up along with mate Olley as we headed for
the two and a half hour trip to Leicester. I was made bi-monthly resident
after my debut at Alska in December. The night has rocked, and I had to get
back there ASAP. The club is one of the finest I've seen in this country. It
has three floors of house music, the one of which I'd be playing being the
main dancefloor on 3rd floor. The final floor is VIP playing hip hop. The
promoter, James had wanted me to play the week before, as dance magazine M8
were doing a two page review on the club (check out April issue), but
unfortunately I was in London playing for my residency with Thirsty DJs.

I was to be playing 11.30-2, the room I was playing to be opening at 11.30
only. As I got to the club, there was a massive queue outside, and it was
just as packed inside. The moment I put on my first track there was around
50 people in the room, and around fifteen minutes later the room was packed
to its 400 capacity. The night was awesome, and I can't wait to get back
there in April!! We was asked to go back to an afterparty... but the trip
back to Liverpool seemed a long one, so we had our own little afterparty at
Pez's, as he treated us to a 2 hour trance set, finally getting to sleep
around 8am.

On the 21st Feb, I was in London watching Everton, so I decided to go along
to Serious at the Cross, in Kings Cross. I have said many a time that this
night is the best night in the UK, that I have been to. The atmosphere is
simply unbeatable. I met Simon Patterson (Dogzilla) at his flat in North
London before heading to the club with him and his Fiance, and also his mate
Adam, another trance producer. Surfice to say, Simon absoultely rocked the
Cross to its foundations yet again, it is no wonder to see why the Serious
crowds rate their resident so much. Jules played the 4-6 closing slot, and
as he played the Gladiator tune, I reminded him of Tony Hibbert, Everton's
right back, who had emailed him requesting that Jules send the Everton team
a copy to play before the matches in the dressing room to create some
atmosphere! Let's hope they start playing it as soon as possible!!!!!

A week later, on the 28th I was in London to be playing the 5,000+ capacity
Carling Brixton Acadmey for Frantic's Hard House Academy. Playing in venues
like this is the stuff of dreams, and I was very excited as I headed to
London by car with my brother, John. We picked up my mate Coops enroute to
Brixton, in Camden, North London. After being dropped off outside the venue,
we headed into the massive venue that is the Brixton Academy. Despite
directions it took us nearly 30 minites to find the room I was to be playing
in, as part of my residency with Thirsty DJs. This explained why there was
reletively few people in the room whilst Richard Launch and Adam May, who
were DJing before me, were playing. There was four rooms, with the main
auditorium holding around 3-4,000 people. Guffy was rocking the crowd with
tunes like Paul Van Dyk's 'Angel' and Ferry Corsten's 'Rock Your Body Rock'
as I headed upstairs to play my set, 11.30-1.

I asked the sound engeneer to make a simple change on the mixer, which
resulted in him completely deadening the monitor speaker, and making the two
channels come out of the speakers despite the volume being silent on one of
them. For more than thirty minutes he attempted to fix the situation leaving
me there twiddling my thumbs. Needless to say, I wasn't happy, but after he
fixed it the crowds came as I played the remaining 45 minutes testing out
some new material I'd bought that week. The room only completely filled
around 3am as Steve Hill, who had just played a hard house set in the main
room, ended with a funky set. We left around 5am, getting a taxi back to
Camden from a Liverpool fan of all people, who said that Brixton was the
best place in the world, claiming you can get 'weed, booze and food' 24-7!!
Never heard of anywhere like that before then!!!

My radio show "Funk It Up" is back on March 16th - Tuesday's 9-11PM on
www.haltonfm.com or if local (Liverpool) you can check it out on 97.6FM.
There will be four shows, with the usual mixes from myself, blast from the
past classic tune, vital vinyl tune of the week, guest dj mixes, and loads
of cd giveaways so make sure you tune in!!!!

Also check out the interview with Thirsty DJs supremo Richard Chew, one of
my residencies on www.4clubbers.net, and I'll be back next month with
reports on all my March gigs, of which I'm really looking forward to!

Cya then,
Darz

JANUARY Report 04

I have just returned to Liverpool from yet another wicked weekend of gigs in
the capital!! More on that later on...

If you take playing at the Ministry of Sound on New Years' Day into account,
I played in total 5 gigs in London throughout January, all of which were
special in their own way. I have spoken about the Ministry gig in the
December report, as it was included in a busy Christmas and New Year double
wammy.

I returned to London to play Timeless @ Turnmills on January 10. I actually
travelled on the Thursday to chill at my brothers' in Oxted, Surrey, before
going to the Fulham - Everton game on the Saturday afternoon. I am an
Everton season ticket holder, and travel to around half the away games per
season, with the majority of London away games attended with my brother. We
have yet to win in the capital this season, and with only Chelsea left to
play, the odds are not looking good!! After the game, I met up with Coops,
as we headed to Turnmills to play Timeless. Timeless is a Frantic event,
which asked each DJ to play their biggest tracks of the last 3/4 years. I
was to be playing early in the funky house room, just before the Trophy
Twins. The Trophy Twins are Mixmag Future Hero's, playing all around the
country, and it was an awesome experience to play before them. I had played
Turnmills three times previously in the space of just 6 months, this time
was the 3rd different room I had played in, it being T2. I've stated before
just how good a club Turnmills is to play, and on this occasion it was no
different, with my big tunes being Deepswing's In The Music, Tracey in My
Room and Guitarra G, as I left the room packed as the Trophy Twins took
over. I checked out the other rooms which were hard house and trance, with
sets from Harderfaster Up and Coming DJ of the year Tin Tin, and the
excellent Shan impressing me. It was good to see Chewy and Kitty, and also
Kurruption promoter Zoelee at Turnmills, which brings me onto my next gig.

The following Friday 16th I played Kurruption at the Hammersmith Palais in
West London. The venue looked impressive, yet as big as it was, the whole
club looked like a building site, as there were ladders etc everywhere, with
just two rooms, each holding around 250, open. I was to be playing in one of
them, and played peak time, after Danni, an up and coming dj who I'm sure
you'll be hearing alot more of. Usually Kurruption is a hard house event,
but Zoe, the promoter decided on promoting a funky night, which proved
extremely popular, and now expect a monthly offering. I am one of the
residents on rotation, so look forward to playing the event every two
months! Get me back there ASAP as the atmosphere rocked!! The following day
I travelled back to Liverpool to the Everton game with my bro, before back
down to London on the Saturday night, accompanied by Warb, as we were
checking out what I feel is the best night in the UK - Serious at the Cross.
Resident Simon Patterson absolutely rocked it as usual, and even if I hadn't
had any sleep since the Friday morning, it was a night to be remembered!!

On Thursday 29th Jan, I headed to London to play two gigs for my residency
with Thirsty DJs, the first of which being on the Thursday at Thirsty DJs
residency monthly at the Retox Bar in Covent Garden. It's a small intimate
bar with a packed crowd, and was good to road test a few tunes before the
main gig at Egg, Kings Cross on the Saturday. At Retox, I played 11.30-1,
then went back to back with the promoter/dj Chewy from 2-3, before being
literally dragged off the decks around 3am. During my set I played a tune by
Swing System, which I have been playing for the past year or so. The DJ
before me, Rob Alexander came racing over to me asking where I got it, as it
was he who produced it!! It was nice to put a name to the face of a tune
that I love so much! Incidently, the tune is called 'Now I Know'. My mate
Coops, who accompanied me to the gig, and with whom I stay during my
frequent London visits lives in Camden, so I explored Camden market on the
Friday afternoon, as he was in uni. My brother once said to me that he loves
the edge that Camden has to it, and I couldn't agree with him more.

On Saturday 31st, after watching the 170th Merseyside derby in a Camden pub
with friends (although they were Liverpool fans!!) and meeting Warb and his
mate Adam, we headed to Egg to play in the funky champaigne bar at Frantic's
Convergence night. Egg is easily one of the nicest venues in the capital,
although it is almost unrecognisable driving past it, you would never know
it was a club inside. When I last played Egg in October, it was my best gig
yet, so it had a lot to live up to, which of course it did!! It was
amazing!!! I played the peak time 1.30 slot, and as the dj box is moderately
high, I could see the crowd going wild as far as the eye could see! Check
out photos on my website of the night, coming soon! After playing my set, I
came out of the DJ box to a mass of hands wanting to shake my hand, and an
awesome ovation! Cheers guys!!!

January is usually considered as a slow month with low numbers in
clubland... well somebody clearly forgot to tell the number of clubbers I
witnessed at my January gigs!!!

Thanks for reading, and more next month detailling my February gigs!

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