Clubbing memories

I attended approximately 10 of these events over the years and later on the events at Southport.

These weekenders really were something special in the old days, we would arrive at Prestatyn station just as the ”Soul train” was pulling in from London bringing the clubbing massive to a small North Wales coastal town. We danced for hours to Froggy's immense sound system, listening to a mix of Soul/hip hop and early house tracks. This is where some of the legendary DJ’s of the 70’s and 80’s came to take us on a journey through some of the classics from yesteryear and some of the most upfront music of the time. Chris Hill and Robbie Vincent were always amazing and “Froggy's” Sunday afternoon finale was an unbelievable mixture of soul, funk, hip hop and house. A typical set would be Mantronix “Bassline”, Joyce Simms “all & all”, Chaka Khan’ “aint nobody” McFadden & Whitehead “aint no stopping us now”, Donald Byrd “Dominoes” , The Equals “Funky like a train”, Stetsasonic “Talkin’ all that jazz” and finishing with Maze “Joy & Pain”. Later on when “acid house” made an appearance, the weekender opened an acid house room where some absolutely amazing music was played. The national press got hold of the fact that an event was taking place and reporters from “The Sun” descended on Prestatyn, trying to glean information from the punters as to what it was all about, thankfully all the punters wanted to keep their music away from the prying eyes of “The Scum” and so they ran an article that was a complete farce ( what’s new? ). Big tunes of the time that stick in my mind are "Lola - Wax The Van" "Willie Colon - Set Fire To Me" "Womack & Womack - Life Is Just A Ballgame"

Unfortunately in the 90’s, the events moved on briefly to Pwllhelli and then finished, however up north an event that had started out at a country manor was getting big ideas about bringing the music to the masses and the Southport event were born.

Obituary March 28 2008- The man that inspired me to mix. I feel honoured to have met him in person, your memory lives on Mr Howlett.

In 1978 the disc jockey DJ Froggy, who has died of a brain haemorrhage aged 58, installed his sound system at one of Britain's first soul "all-dayers", the National Soul Festival in Purley. A year later he was a DJ at the first Caister soul weekender in Great Yarmouth, alongside a group of DJs - including Robbie Vincent, Chris Hill, Greg Edwards and Jeff Young - which comprised the Soul Mafia. Froggy's innovative use of mixing decks and tape recorders, alongside his self-built sound system and the mixing consoles he designed himself, transformed the British club scene, acting as a catalyst, and a blueprint, for late 1980s rave culture. Froggy's style and theatricality heralded that explosion. In the early 1980s, prior to electro and hip-hop, he was the country's pre-eminent technical DJ.

In 1979 Froggy had visited Billboard magazine's New York disco convention, and there he picked up the theory behind New York's DJs' mixing techniques. He studied the practice at Studio 54 and Paradise Garage, watching DJ Larry Levan synchronising the rhythm of two records, cross-fading to play sections of their sounds simultaneously, while overlaying effects from a third turntable. Levan was presenting familiar music in a unique manner with pauses in the soundtrack introduced, often sparingly, and always at the DJ's instigation.

Back in Britain, Froggy modified his sound system, and mastered cross-fading. Within months the Soul Mafia, using that system, were playing to more than 15,000 people at Knebworth. His creation was still prospering as a hired-out concern in the mid-1980s rare-groove scene, and in the early rave movement.

In the 1980s Froggy developed his relationship with Radio 1, editing tracks for segments in Peter Powell's show. Later came record company work where Froggy provided extended disco mixes and shortened radio edits of tracks.

Born Steven Howlett, he was a Londoner from the East End, the son of Jean and Kenneth Howlett. His father was a mechanical engineer at Plessey's. His mother died when he was seven. Educated at Dane secondary school in Ilford, Essex, he was fascinated by sound equipment - and by the radiogram his father brought home from work.

Apprenticed as an engineer at 15, he took his City and Guilds qualification, and chaired the apprentice association. As such, and using a sound system he had built, he put on his own shows. Then in 1971 came a DJ residency at the Bird's Nest, in Romford, Essex. It was then that DJ Froggy was born.

Spotted by pop act manager George Brown in 1972, he found himself providing DJ accompaniment for bands, later to include such names as the Sweet, T. Rex and Slade, usually at large gig venues like Scunthorpe Baths. Encountering the DJ Emperor Rosko, who had become famous via 1960s pirate radio, Froggy was stunned by the quality of the American's sound system. So Froggy upgraded his own, and went in search of Yorkshire-based Mat Mathias, who had designed the Rosko mixing console. Later Froggy and Mathias co-designed their own consoles.

In 1974 the then Radio 1 disc jockey Dave Lee Travis suggested a collaboration. From 1974 to 1978 their act, which Travis describes as verging on cabaret, toured throughout Britain. When Froggy quit, it was to focus on soul, disco and jazz-funk. He accepted many club dates in the south of England and began a weekly residency at the Royalty, in Southgate, north London, from late 1978. Then came Purley and the National Soul Festival.

Froggy lived in the Ilford area for most of his life. Married three times, he is survived by two daughters and a son.

· DJ Froggy (Steven Howlett), club DJ, born November 8 1949; died March 28 2008

Well after the long journey to Southport ( Not ) We arrived to the usual car searches and security checks and then it was off to the “luxurious accommodation” to unload our best pants and shirts. As soon as we could, we would set off to see what the weekend had in store for us. Once in the

Events arena at approx 2pm, we would generally start off with a couple of cans of “Coors Gold” at 50p a can and then onto one of the dancefloors in the Soul room. I can still feel that warm buzz from the first time we entered the room to hear those amazing sound systems. There is something very exciting about afternoon sessions, almost like a holiday feeling.

Over the years I witnessed many unique sets from a wide variety of DJ’s. I saw Todd Terry play an early evening set in which every record he played was one of his own productions ! However my best memories are of seeing “Masters At Work” playing a 4 hour set with their full 4 deck set up. They used many copies of the same record, dub mixes, accapellas and instrumentals, creating the music “live” as they went along.

My other great memory is being in the jazz room for the Saturday afternoon sessions with “ Snowboy” at the controls. All the “Jazzheads” from London were there, these guys have to be the most amazing dancers I have seen. Each one taking their turn on the checkered dancefloor to go through their moves, each guy with such an amazing natural talent.

Other Dj’s I saw there were “Oakenfold”, Greame Park, Bob Jones, Daniel Davoli, CJ Mackintosh, Gilles Peterson, Colin Curtis, Richard Searling and many more. The events are still going strong and hopefully I will be back there soon.

Cant remember a lot about this place except that it was a purpose built, huge club. Got to see Satoshie Tomeii up close playing a blindin' set in the back room upstairs. In the main room it was "Prog" heaven with John Digweed.

So many years there and too many memories to list, where do i begin? .......

The best techno club ever? Well quite possibly. Consistently good for many years with all the big names appearing there regularly, I was lucky enough to see Carl Cox, Billy Nasty, Josh Wink, Andy Weatherall, Dave Clark and many others there over the years and all played unadulterated hard looped techno grooves all night long. The club has moved around venues, but always put on a good night and always have very friendly crowds turning up. Fave memories are........Andy Weatherall playing in total darkness while the smoke machine filled the room until the lights started again and put the club into a total fog of coloured lights ( you had to be there! ) Also josh Wink teasing the crowd for about 10 minutes playing the same build up to "Higher state of consciousness" over and over again to the point of ridiculousness until he finally played the big break to a sea of hands in the air, a definite one off experience.

This was a night held @ "Maximus" club in central London which I came across by accident, arriving in London at approx midnight we headed down the stairs in to the mayhem. Tough club tunes and an amazing sound system that was actually lifting the room tiles up with the bass !!!! This was approx 1993 just before the "superclub" phenomenon and when clubbing was still considered "underground" when you had to search about for somewhere playing harder tunes.

A hidden gem this one. A friend living near Tunbridge Wells introduced me to this place in about 1995. I attended only a couple of events but what a place. Right in the middle of nowhere and some of the country’s top DJ’s booked to play, this place really rocked. “Digweed” and Sasha were regulars on the decks, I think you get the picture.

I have some great memories of Paris from 1997 & 1998. Checking out some of the bars in the Bastille area playing a mixture of downbeat hip hop & jazz, which is where I got the original idea for the Café Style CD’s. I also had a wild night at the “REX” club, I don’t know who the DJ was that night but he impressed me very much with the varied and daring style he played. At about 3am he mixed out of a deep funk workout into KLF’s ambient mix of “Last Train To Trancentral” which had always been a favourite of mine. To hear the sound of sheep bleating over a violin crescendo and an express train trundling by on a huge sound system was awesome. Since my visits to Paris, St Germain released the awesome “Tourist” LP which took me right back to the sounds I remember from the seedy bars. I hope to visit again soon.

It’s difficult to write something unique about the “White Island” as it seems that every man and his cat has been there, seen it, done it. But for those who have been and are looking for something a little different then the island still has some amazing places hidden away. My first memory from there was back in 1991 when I went on a package tour and stayed in Playa D’en Bossa. I was determined to get the Café Del Mar after all I had heard about it and so on an organised pub crawl around the West End, I sneaked off from the crowd to seek out my paradise. I eventually found it at about midnight, it was quiet and the sound of dub reggae was floating in the breeze. A couple of guys were playing backgammon at one of the tables and so I sat and drank in the atmosphere. I felt a feeling of being at home which is how I feel every time I visit there. Over the next couple of years, Ibiza fell out of favour with the masses with people saying that Ibiza had burnt itself out, how wrong could they be?

Over the next few years, I sampled some of the clubs such as “Manumission” at the then named “KU” club and Es paradise etc. Last year I got my first taste of “Pacha” on the opening night of Pete Tongs “Pure Pacha”, we arrived at the club at approx 2am to find a packed dancefloor moving to the funky tech house sounds of Sarah Maine. At 3am on the main dancefloor, the “god like” Pete Tong took his place behind the decks to a huge welcome and continued to thrill us with some amazing tunes until 5.30am. He was replaced by Carl Cox, again received by a huge cheer. At 7.30am we decide to get a taxi back to the apartments, for a bit of kip and then straight back to Coastline for lunchtime drinks.

My love of lounge culture is the main reason for visiting the island these days. I still visit Café Del Mar to hear Valentin play to the sunsets and a few years ago I visited “Bambuddha Grove” for the first time, if you can make the effort to visit then book a table in the pagoda restaurant and taste some of the finest Thai cuisine on the planet along with awesome service. Thanks to Jon Moon for making us feel very welcome.

Other places that you should visit are “Kumharas” and “Sa Trinxa”, I will let you find your own way. Coastline Café is where you could find me in the daytime supping on a cold “San Miguel” with my feet in the plunge pool, excellent music to be had all afternoon and evening in the company of like minded people.

Bambuddha Grove again provided fine cuisine for all and the best atmosphere. "Pacha" was very disappointing this year, the music just wasn't happening at all, nothing uplifting to make us dance and so at 5.30am we were out of there.

Also music seems to be back at all venues again, Kumharas and Bambuddha are back to normal............

2006 should be a good year for the island with many of the big clubs well established and a few new ones looking forward to only their second year there. “ Meganite” did big things last year with “Piccotto” and “Liebing” bringing a fresh tech sound. “Underground” also put on some good free nights too. I will be there from July 1st to 15th and will be on a mission to discover all those places that I have been meaning to go to over the last few years. I will be seeking out “ Atlantis” and making a trip to “Aguas Blancas”. I also intend to spend a good few afternoons at “Sa Trincha” again, this is a hugely inspirational place for me.

Well I made it to both "Aguas Blancas" and "Atlantis" and neither failed to disapoint, I have put some pics on the site to prove!

Also got to play a 3 hour set at "Coastline Cafe" which has to be the highlight of the DJ career so far, again pics are on the site.

Awesome year so far with 2 gigs, firstly at "The Orange Corner" for a 6 hour marathon, 2-8pm non stop !! Also played at the opening night of "Bay Bar" after their refurb and the place is looking awesome. I have another gig booked for September 26th at "The Orange Corner" so pop in to say hi if your on the island.

What can I say ! Played the legendary " Cafe Del Mar" twice, a dream come true and hopefully back for more in 09. Also played some lovely sunsets at "Sun Sea Bar" and more at "The Orange Corner". Me and And "James Dub Monkey" had a right old laugh for a week out there.

I got to travel some more round the island and found some more inspiring places such as " Punta Galera" and "Cala Comte" Thanks to a collaboration between the Balearic government and the local fishermen, the Jellyfish problem seems to have been solved and people are back in the sea once more !

I have great memories of the music I heard here. For those that haven’t had the pleasure of the island, Formentera is just a little spec of an island located 20 minutes ferry ride away from Ibiza town. It is a beautiful, rugged place with the most amazing beaches I have ever seen, all of which can only be located by hiring some form of transport from the port. The most important thing about Formentera is that local laws forbid any more building on the island, so what you see now will never change or become too crowded. The beaches take a bit of finding but when you do arrive you will be greeted by golden sands and and the most amazing turquoise coloured sea. All the beach bars play continuous chilled music whilst serving fresh seafood and fruit. Many an afternoon was spent at Blue Bar listening to the most chilled music I have ever heard and seeing “Kaya” selecting the tunes late into the night was another unforgettable experience. I will be back there in 2005!!!!

Just got back (July 2005) unbelievable winds on the island making it a different experience but still as beautiful as ever although the seaweed seems to be taking over.

The birth of the “Café Style” CD’s was in Geneva. We took a cheap Easyjet flight for a long weekend and on a miserable rainy November night we came across a bar called “Magneto”. The DJ was playing everything from Minnie Riperton to Maze and deep house. It inspired me to create eclectic mixes for lounges and the first Café Style CD was born. The mixes are out there in clothes shops, hairdressers, pubs, bars and peoples living rooms and with the feedback received I have been inspired to continue the series with Vol 5 completed recently. With the interest in lounge music growing all the time, I feel that I can continue with this series indefinitely, bringing otherwise unheard music to the ears of many people. If you like the “St Germain Du Pres” series of CD’s then “Café Style” is for you.