Unlocked: Graeme Park & Special Guest DJs

Graeme Park: Over 3 decades on the decks, on stage and on the radio.

The story of DJ Graeme Park really mirrors the story of the evolution of dance music and club culture itself. Graeme found himself working in a Nottingham record shop called Selectadisc in the early 1980s, when the very first house records began to filter through from Chicago, Detroit and New York.

When the shop’s owner opened a nightclub, it was only natural he should turn to Graeme to select the discs. Determined to showcase this new style of music, his reputation as a house pioneer soon brought him to the attention of The Haçienda in Manchester, who asked him to cover for Mike Pickering while he went on holiday in 1988. Simply put, there was no-one else in the country who could do the job. The Summer of Love followed and Parky quickly became one of the biggest names on the emerging dance scene. Aside from his nine year residency at The Haç, he was one of the first British DJs to play places like Australia, South America, the USA, Asia and beyond as well as producing and remixing tracks for the dancefloor, including The Brand New Heavies, Inner City, Eric B & Rakim, New Order, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and others.

The Haçienda was a club without a purpose until house music filled its cathedral-sized dimensions. It undeniably defined Graeme as a DJ, but after more than three decades as a Dj that can only be seen as one chapter in an on-going tale: ‘

“Yeah it was a very big chapter,’ says Graeme. ‘I guess the first was when I realised I could DJ and discovered house music from the US. The Haçienda was chapter 2, then chapter 3 was when it re-opened after closing for a couple of months in 1992. Chapter 4 was when it closed not long after I left and I played all around the world. I suppose Chapter 5 was the turn of the century and continuing my journey to where I am right now, with more variety to my gigs and music selection than ever before. Chapter 6 sees my return to live performance, which is what I did before I became a DJ, with the Haçienda Classical show’.

As far as Graeme’s concerned, things are as fab as ever. But where is dance music and club culture headed? Well, who better to ask directions than the man who wrote the disco A-Z? ‘I started doing it purely by accident,’ he details. ‘And then realised I was actually pretty good at it. But I never thought I’d end up doing it for over 30 years. And I see no need to stop either. I still love playing fantastic tunes in a variety of different clubs all over the place and people still want me to do it too.

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.

After two years in Spain and a spell in London playing radio and live events Tony is now back in Blackburn and continues to concentrate on production, charity and DJ work, recently playing along side Graeme Park, Terry Farley, Pete Heller and Jon Dasilva. With more production work, a monthly Soul Soup session and more live events in the pipeline the future looks bright and exciting” (Resident Advisor, 2022) https://ra.co/dj/tonycannon/biography

PLUS NICK ALMOND