Unlocked: 808 State & special guest DJs

808 STATE

Mancunian electronic pioneers 808 State, known best for genre defining records including: Ninety, Gorgeous, ex:el and Don Solaris, are inspired equally by the haunting of their home city’s industrial past (and, for that matter, the influence of classic Detroit techno) but still remain true to their career-long focus on what’s to come next…

“We’re trying to make a future for other people to immerse themselves in,” says Graham Massey. “That’s always been a big part of 808 State: these kind of landscapes of futurism.” Originally formed by Massey, Martin Price and Gerald Simpson in 1988, the group's early work was a prominent influence on the UK's burgeoning acid house scene. 808 State’s first album – Newbuild - is now regarded as a milestone in UK electronica.

Quadrastate followed this and included Pacific State which became an end-of-night anthem at the Haçienda. The track broke out of the dance underground when it was picked up by daytime BBC Radio 1. The band pushed against dance-celebrity culture with intentionally minimalist record sleeves and a reluctance to self-promote. In 1989 Paul Morley signed the band to the ZTT label, and the first fruit of this partnership, the album Ninety, was awarded 10 out of 10 by the NME. The Guardian declared that with this record, “808 State mapped out the future of club music, utilising techno, ambient and rock...”

Now in 2024, the band continue to perform across the world, led by original founding member Graham Massey, with their music continuing to inspire and influence crowds wherever they go.

TONY CANNON: FROM 1988 TO THE PRESENT DAY - KEEPING IT LIVE AND AUTHENTIC.

Tony Cannon is a British DJ, recording artist and label boss residing at SoulDeep Inc. Records (UK), DJ International Records (Chicago), Open House Recording's (Chicago), Kingdom Digital Recordings (Chicago), Edit Records (UK) and Electric Sheep Recordings (UK).

Tony has worked along side the likes of Harry Dennis, ESP, Stering Void and more recently Merwyn Virgo Four. The list goes on! Not forgetting 'Two 4House' & 'Lost Planet' Productions with Dave Taylor (SoulDeep Inc). Tony's first “run in” with house music and DJing appointment was at Blackburn's iconic Cest la Vie night club working with Blackburn DJ and promoter Ronnie Brown. Soon after Tony started a partnership again with long time friend Dave Taylor and in 1989 they warmed the the crowd up with there tantalizing style of acid house, hip house & U.S garage for the likes of A Guy Called Gerald, 808 State The Inspiral Carpets, The New Fast Automatic Daffodils and Love Decade.

They also appeared on Steve Barker’s Radio Lancashire show On The Wire with 808 State. After playing some of the first now world famous Blackburn warehouse parties Tony became resident DJ at Blackburn's equally iconic Minstrels Wine Bar treating the crowd to a fine helping of house music every Saturday night. In 1990 Tony again teamed up with Dave to play along side Marshall Jefferson and Alan Russell for a one off night of house music in Blackburn. After many guest spots around the north of England Tony was given the opportunity to work in Spain at a time locals where; crying out for house music.

Plus DJ Nick Almond