- BLKOUT running order announced ahead of tonight’s big Easter clubbing event.
- Interview with and videos of Wretch 32.
- Do we need a new nightclub on the Waterfront? Read Artiste Anon’s comment and take part in our poll.
AFTER months of anticipation, one of the biggest weekends in the Jersey music calendar has arrived.
Up to 2,000 Islanders are expected to get themselves up to Fort Regent for the BLKOUT on Saturday night before hundreds more turn out at the Watersplash to see Jersey Live headliners Rudimental.
Internationally renowned DJ Netsky will headline BLKOUT and will be supported by artistes including The Streets’ frontman Mike Skinner, Miss Dynamite and Wretch 32.
The latter hit number one in 2011 with the track Don’t Go, and more recently entered the charts with the hit 6 Words, which peaked at number eight.
21:00 – 22:30: BLKOUT Residents
22:30 – 23:00: Becky Hill
23:00 – 23:30: Ms Dynamite
23:30 – 00:30: Mike Skinner (DJ Set)
00:30 – 01:00: Wretch 32
01:00 – 02:30: Netsky (DJ Set) w/ Script MC
02:30 – 04:00: Friction
Im up for some energy from the Jersey crowd
In the build-up to his big performance on Saturday, Nightlife caught up with Wretch 32 to talk about BLKOUT, Amaretto and … Mr Blobby.
Describe your style in three words:
Unique and heartfelt.
How do you feel about playing in Jersey?
I’m excited, man. I am up for some energy and sing-alongs with the crowd. There will be a mixture of the old stuff and the new. I’m buzzing to be back.
You’ve played here in the past – what was that like?
Favourite tune? Right now, today it’s Eminem – Lose Yourself.
Worst tune? Anything by Mr Blobby.
Live or recorded? Live.
Dance floor or bar? Dance floor.
Tupac or Biggie? Tupac.
Jersey or Guernsey? Jersey.
I came out here with my band last time. I had never been here before, but you know what I loved? Jersey felt like its own world to us, and we went out and created a bit of stir. It was good, man, really good. It was festival season and the sun was out.
What are you hoping for from the crowd?
It was a good vibe last time. I love it when the crowd are up for a gig – you can really feel it. I am hoping for more of the same.
What’s your pre-performance ritual?
What’s your biggest musical achievement so far?
Still being received well is the main thing. I don’t want to look at the stats and what I or others have sold, as you have records from the likes of Mr Blobby that can come through and get big sales and go to number one. The main thing for me is still being received and recognised for my music.
What was your road into music?
Do you know what, I was a very frustrated kid! I used to get in a lot of fights and trouble when I was a teenager. I wanted an outlet, so I stated writing with my dad, who was a DJ, and I felt like I was not so frustrated any more. I was able to channel my anger. It was great. People connect with your feelings and they need to push themselves onto their chosen path.
Who is the best artiste you have ever worked with?
I have worked with too many. My answer changes every day, but I would probably have to say Ed Sheeran.
Who is your dream artiste to work with?
Kanye West.
Any advice for young artistes who want to make it in the industry?
Give the world the best version of you, because that is what the world needs – we don’t need another Elvis or whoever. With music, the more you put in, the more you get out. Work on your craft and write every day and perform for free. It doesn’t happen overnight.
Saturday 4 April
- Ommaroo Hotel: Motown and 60s-70s Soul fifth Easter anniversary, 7.30 pm to 1 am. Call 07700 356438 for tickets. In aid of Diabetes Jersey
- The Inn: Megan
- Kitty OSheas: The Collective
- Green Rooster: Bad Dog
- Savoy Hotel: The LQ 5 piece Latin-Jazz band
- Soleil: Northern Soul & Motown with DJ Rex
- The Star: Eclipse
- Union Inn: Karaoke
Sunday 5 April
- Merton Hotel: Jersey Big Band, at 11 am
- The Star: Westfest
- Trafalgar Hotel: John & Yoko
Friday 10 April
- The Inn: Matt Holcroft
- Kitty OSheas: Tasha & AJ
- The Star: Western Promise
- Trafalgar Hotel: Brightside
Saturday 11 April
- The Green Rooster:
- The Inn: Megan
- Kitty OSheas: The Reasons
- Soleil: Northern Soul & Motown with DJ Rex
- The Star: Sleepwalker
- Trafalgar Hotel: Kelly McKenzie
- Union Inn: Karaoke
Sunday 12 April
- Kitty OSheas: Kittys open mic
- Merton Hotel: Jersey Big Band, 11 am
- Trafalgar Hotel: Andy and Dave
Top labels rule at Rojo
ROJO will play host to a special gig next month starring the founder of two of London’s hottest record labels.
The St Helier venue will welcome DJ Mark Doyle on Saturday 18 April for the Fierce Angel event.
He will be supported by local acts and his ‘Jersey-based partner in crime’ Paul Shoer, as well as Alan Griffith.
Record label Fierce Angel, which is based in London but has swelled in popularity in recent years and now has residencies in Ibiza, was founded by Doyle in 2006 after he left his first label, Hedi Kandi.
After his departure from Hedi Kandi,
Doyle first set up Tokyo Disco, but a legal dispute with those who were left at Hedi Kandi forced him to close the new label and start afresh.
Doors open at 10 pm until 2 am. Admission is £5 on the door.
Strictly over-18s only.
This week Artiste Anon gets stuck into one of the blots on Jersey’s Waterfront – the former Liquid nightclub.
The venue has laid derelict for nearly five years but Nightlife’s secret columnist has a plan ….
LIQUID… what a waste of space that area is now.
The JEP reported last week that the letting agents, BNP Paribas, were finding it increasingly difficult to shift the now derelict nightspot.
That is probably the understatement of the century, in my opinion. The problem they have is that unlike most places in Jersey, Liquid nightclub was purpose built to be just that – a nightclub.
When Luminar Leisure (Liquid’s parent company) finally realised that Jersey is a hard nut to crack in the clubbing department, instead of making an effort to better themselves, they simply pulled out. And pull out they did, taking everything but the toilet seats with them.
This has made it a nightmare for the agents to now sub-let due to the limited number of businesses that can use a space with very little to no natural light, 17,000 sq ft of space and an extremely high upfront cost of refurbishment.
So what should happen? Naturally you would think I would be in favour of returning Liquid to its former glory, which I am.
But I think that will be an extremely hard task, given the way the States decide who gets handed a club licence in Jersey.
Then we have the little problem of Castle Quay, just a couple of hundred yards away.
But as time ticks away and a prime real estate slot remains vacant, I think the prospect of entertaining another club at the Waterfront is actually looking more and more likely. I think that given the right investment and planning, a new music-focused venue could be just what the doctor ordered.
Allow your imagination to run wild for a second, and see the old Liquid site restored with a more underground feel. Spend high on production, get some lasers, CO2, LED walls, the works. It should be a venue where the DJ is top priority rather than £10 cocktails.
The balcony area could become its own independent bar, helping to feed people into the club from early on.
The site would not only become the best club in Jersey (head and shoulders above our current offering at the Weighbridge), it could potentially lay claim to being one of the best in Britain.
With a clubbing faithful of up to 3,000 punters turning out weekly in St Helier, I personally think the numbers are there, too.
The old saying ‘Build it and they will come’ springs to mind. Now, all we have to do is find someone crazy enough to take it on.
