Ibiza next...

Heading off to the 'White Isle' in a couple days time for what will probably be my only appearance in Ibiza this summer. I haven't played the main room in Pacha in some years and am eagerly anticipating my return, especially as I will be playing alongside one of my all time favourite deejays and indeed long time personal friend, the legendary Frankie Knuckles...

Although the UK weather hasn't been much kop of late, with the possible exception of Wakestock over in Abersoch, west Wales recently (where it was absolutely freezing), I've somehow managed to maintain my unique record for attracting the the sunshine wherever I've played this summer. The Garden Festival over in Zadar in on the Adriatic coast of Croatia was no exception and a complete revelation. Oh what a couple of glorious days I had there. The weather was fabulous, a scorching 31 degrees and the crowd were briliant.

Saw many faces from home out here I didn't expect to see in this most idyllic of settings and all were lapping up the wonderfully chilled atmosphere which pervaded the whole site all weekend. Had an absolute blinder of a time playing the closing set of the festival on the Sunday night. But my personal highlight of the weekend though was the following Monday night where I unexpectedly deejaying onboard one of the many boat parties that took place over the weekend. The crowd on my boat were were bang up for a party and were absolutely 'roaring' by the time we finally docked some four hours after we set sail. I think I'm fast becoming accustomed to playing on the water once again as this was my second enjoyable deejaying experience on a boat in the last month.

Motown madness...

It goes without saying that this night would be a highlight of the year for me - and indeed it was! I was completely in my element, rinsing choon after choon to an enthusiastic 'museum type' crowd who were wildly dancing their socks off to classic after classic on the neatly trimmed lawns of the quadrangle inside the V&A. You couldn't make it up.

Great gigs are (fortunately) flowing thick and fast for me at the moment. Just got back from a corking old skool soul and funk night in Malmo, Sweden over the weekend. a fantasic Saturday night. For me a real throw back to the halcyon days of London's much lauded rare groove and acid jazz scenes. With well over a thousand people packed inside the purpose built venue, it really was a musical night to savour.

Nokia Skate party...

over on the South Bank last Sunday afternoon was also a gig to remember. I sooo looked forward to this one. Once again all my great roller skating memories came flooding back as I rinsed skate classic after skate classic in the London sunshine. After I'd finished my set, I couldn't resist the urge to put on some skates and get on there! There I was, happily rolling round the rink like a shakey old pro being doubly careful not to fall flat on my a*** (and thankfully I didn't). It was only the second time in over twenty five years since I'd got back on wheels and according to a few close friends who bore witness to it, I'd lost none of my 'skills' hehe. Wicked day!

Motown at V&A tonight...

Been looking forward to this one for weeks. As part of the exhibition "The story of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson collection" showcasing the glamourous collection of outfits as worn by the group during their 1960's and 70's heyday, the V&A have also invited me to spin a selection of my personal Motown memories from the same era. I will be playing in the John Madejski Garden. The session is scheduled to start around 8pm through til approx 9.45pm Tickets to this VIP area are £8 (including drinks reception).

It goes with without saying that I will be spinning loads of Motown anthems including my fave Supremes tracks. I hope to able to rinse well known, and some not so well known motor city favourites. So come on down and enjoy the whole Motown experience. For early arrival's, the V&A will also be hosting a special screening of the film documentary Standing In The Shadows of Motown which starts at 5.45pm and will set you back about 4 quid to see. Can't wait!

When that's all done, I will heading off south of the river down to Plan B in Brixton to continue the feelgood factor for a surefire night of Good Times. Catch you down there.

Good Times: London!

That's the provisional working title of my forthcoming new compilation for Azuli records to be released on the 4th August which has been just promoed to the press this week. Although the promo CD did contain one or two different tracks to those listed below, the finished album WILL feature 24 tracks across two cds from artists as varied as 90's hip hop favourite Chubb Rock to the great Ella Fitzgerald - all inna Good Times stylee too!

We haven't yet finalised the actual running order at the time of writing but below are a selction of tracks we hope to include in the final CD release (which will be the only available format.) Here they are in no particular order but some titles MAY be subject to last minute change or omission...

Jet Tricks - Free

Bobby D'Ambrosia - Girl U Need A Change Of Mind

Ella Fitzgerald - Get Ready

Origin Unknown - Valley Of The Shadows

SL2 - On A Ragga Tip

Richie Spice - Youth Dem Cold

Dennis Brown - Some Like It Hot

Chubb Rock - Organiser

High Inergy - Lovin' Fever

Lisa Shaw - All Night High

Ray Charles - Wichita Lineman

Eamon - Love Them O's

Lou Rawls - The Politician

Steve Parks - Moving In The Right Direction

Whispers - Mother For My Children

Vivian Jones - Keep On Going

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Sankofa

Robert Parker - Let's Go Baby (Where The Action Is)

Ullanda McCollough - Bad Company

Gloria Jones - Windstorm

Chaka Khan - Love Has Fallen On Me

Dramatics - Get It

Breakthrough feat: Bembe Segue - Green Like The Sun

Brainstorm - We're On Our Way Home

You're comments and ting are always more than welcome on the apropriate diggers thread...

Low profile...

Hi everyone! Hope you're all good. I've just come on line here for the first time in ages and realised that it's been well over a month since I last updated this page (tut tut slapped wrists) hehe. Truth is I've been deliberately keeping quite a low profile on the music front in recent weeks which has enabled me to enjoy other 'lifestyle pursuits' for a while.

I have been a peripheral face on the UK classic mini and scooter (Cooper S, Van, Lambretta and Vespa) scenes for many years now and have been enjoying myself at those type of shows around the country in recent weeks in addition to still playing out around the country.

Recent standout gigs have included the fantastic Embarc boat party down the river Thames last bank holiday Sunday. Now THAT was a party and a half! It was all the more special as I hadn't been aboard or played on a Thames riverboat since the tragic sinking of the 'Marchioness' riverboat nearly two decades ago.

I simply couldn't bring myself to play on the Thames since that fateful night back in August 1989 as I personally knew some of the people who tragically lost their lives in that awful tragedy. Still the fantastic crowd aboard the (two) boats gave me a welcome I shall never forget. They even cheered me off the gang plank when we finally docked back at Tower pier.

The original boat had to be decommissioned at the very last minute because of recent fire damage and as the gig had completely sold out (550 punters) - the promoters had to hastily organize two smaller replacement boats at the last minute to accommodate everyone. And it was this fantastic crowd who collectively helped me to confront and thankfully overcome my demons with regards to sailing along the River Thames once again. And for that I thank you!

Another gig worthy of mention was at the International Students Centre in London's Great Portland Street where I played dejay support to UK street soul legend Omar - who completlely smashed it (as usual) - and consistantly good live uk soul group Reel People - who also gave a polished performance showcasing tracks from their current album. It felt good to be back in da smoke as I hadn't played out in my home city for a while.

In the pipeline...

meanwhile here are a few things to look out for in the coming months.. Expect an all NEW Good Times compilation album (not GT8) to be released on Azuli Records sometime in August... You will also be pleased to know that preparations for this year's Notting Hill Carnival are well under way... A new Good Times logo and branding should hit the streets before the end of summer and a Shake & Fingerpop fancy dress charity fund raiser is to take place at the Westbury in Kilburn in early September...

That's all for now....