Yahoo News All-vinyl event comes to Darlington featuring North-East's cutting-edge DJ talents
Some of the North-East's premier DJs will be hitting the decks at the latest all-vinyl set in a Darlington pub next month.
Darlington-based DJ James Watson - aka Mr Watson - is staging his third DL21 show on Friday, July 5, this time in the town's Angels Cut bar on Duke Street.
The evenings are a mirror of his monthly Method Radio show and are designed to give a platform to a selection of North East DJs.
The line-up this time includes Mudfoot Blaps, who has been a face on the scene for more than 30 years.
Mudfoot Blaps has been a face on the North East DJ scene for more than 30 years (Image: MUDFOOT BLAPS)
Mudfoot can be most frequently heard on Method Radio, the North East's only dedicated underground dance and hip-hop station, where he plays everything from house to hip-hop, bleeps to breaks, and dub to disco.
He also co-runs the Sao Paulo-based BR2UK project with activist and rapper Billy Saga and can frequently be found behind the turntables at various venues in and around Berlin.
Mudfoot, from Low Fell, is particularly thrilled to be playing an all-vinyl set in Darlington, as opposed to the more usual digital format.
Mudfoot is excitied to be playing an all-vinyl set in Darlington (Image: MUDFOOT BLAPS)
"I'm quite excited James has asked me to play a vinyl set because we don't get to do that much these days," he said.
"I'm still a very avid purchaser of records - I've got loads of records that haven't been played outside my own studio so I'm really looking forward to it."
Also on the bill is Sista Paula, who has been playing house and disco in and around Newcastle for 20 years.
She is a regular at the Lindisfarne festival and has several gigs in the pipeline. She has warmed up for The SugarHill Gang, KKlass and others and is looking forward to bringing her upbeat style of Afro-tinged disco and house to Darlington.
Sista Paula earned her name after dressing as a nun on the Altar stage at the Lindisfarne festival (Image: SISTA PAULA)
Her DJ journey started when she decided to buy her own decks because she enjoyed dance music and going to clubs in Newcastle.
Within a year she became a DJ. Sister to actress Jill Halfpenny, Paula was a teacher for 25 years, before leaving two months ago.
"I left teaching just before the Easter holidays," she said. "I want to make it as a DJ full time and I've been really busy for the last two months."
She said disco is her biggest passion, adding: "I was born in the 70s and I love disco music - my sets always have a disco flavour and I especially love big, strong female vocals."
Two Darlington-based DJs will also be performing.
Mike Stead runs and is the owner of the award-winning Phase One DJ store based in Darlington. He is also one of the founders of The WorkHOUSE Sessions podcast that has more than 100 episodes and can be found on Soundcloud.
Mike Stead, who owns Phase One in Darlington (Image: MR WATSON)
He said: "I feel DL21 are really trying to open the musical landscape in Darington and offer more choice of styles and sounds.
"I cannot wait to get on the decks and play my mix of old favorites and new sounds as well."
Mr Watson said: "Basically if you cut Mike in half you will find the words DJ written through the middle of him."
Darlington-based Nick Newcombe, part of Svaha Records, is heavily involved with the very successful Stone Valley and Kubix Festivals. He is also playing at the Dub Shack at Lindisfarne in August.
Nick Newcombe has been impressed by the local music scene since moving to Darlington eight years ago (Image: MR WATSON)
He said: "I'm looking forward to bringing my 90s house music influences to the night. Darlington has so much to offer, and I'm pleased that I was asked to be a part of giving back to the town.
"Music plays a big role culturally, and can bring people together, which is such a good thing in these times."
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Mr Watson said: "I like a lot of different styles and genres of music, so to give the platform for amazing North East DJ’s to play their selections is a real buzz.
"Following the previous events, I do know that the people of Darlington like to dance, and this is the perfect evening for them to do so."
DL21 is at Angels Cut, Duke Street, Darlington, on Saturday, July 5 from 7pm to 11.30pm, £5 entry.
Some of the region's premier DJs will be performing at the DL21 event in Darlington (Image: MR WATSON)
