Final Call for Hard House Academy with Danny Gilligan
Reported by benz
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Submitted 23-02-05 00:59
Success in the hard dance scene as a DJ doesn't come overnight. For some it does seem to come in a relatively short space of time though, and Danny Gilligan would have to be one of them. He first got stuck into the hard dance scene in London in 2000, and by 2003 he had already gained residencies at Twisted and Riot!, two of the capital's most highly acclaimed parties, and 2004 saw him bag another two for the afterparty-to-end-all-afterparties Twist, and a new night called Blast at the newly refurbished Fridge. With 4 residencies and a whole host of other DJing and producing commitments to abide to, Danny has a very busy 2004 indeed!
How did he achieve this impressive level of success? A reputation as a highly versatile DJ who isn't afraid to mix things up proceeds him, and it could be said that this was a key element in him becoming a resident at Riot!. His shared passion for keeping sets eclecticly formulated with Ed Real was no doubt a great help. A typical set at Riot! would see him take in techno, hard house, hard trance, and anything inbetween. The fact that he gained all these residencies without ever sending out a demo also points a finger to his versatility and popularity in London. His success saw him extend outside the national boundaries last year, with gigs worldwide, as well as internationally distributed productions with luminaries such as Phil Reynolds and Alex Calver.
February 26th sees him make his debut in the foyer at Hard House Academy with rising star Steve Maynard. He will join the mightily impressive list of names from the harder end of hard house who have played in this legendary arena, and will be keen to show his worth to an audience who may not have encountered him before. I for one will be rather interested to see what his sets are like nowadays, as it's been a fair while since I last saw him play. I caught up with Danny to find out just what he's been up to since then...
Easy big guy! How the devil are you? What have you been up to recently?
Hi Benz... I am doing really well thanks mate. 2004 was a really busy year for me as I toured Australia, San Francisco, and also played in Ibiza for Heat. This coupled with playing my residencies (4 at the time) meant I played 110 gigs for the year, so there really wasnt a weekend that went past where I didn't play, so very busy times. It's now nearly the end of January and I feel I am well rested for what looks to be another busy year, but am most excited about things that are lined up.
How long have you been mixing for and what did you play when you first got started? Garage I’d warrant 
I have been mixing for about 5 years now. When I first got involved with decks I was buying everything from early hard house to jungle, drum and bass, basically a bit of everything.
Did you find it hard to get gigs at first or was your transition into the world of playing out a relatively easy one?
I have always been a good communicator, and networking your ass off is what it was all about, especially to get noticed. I didnt actually put a demo out until most recently (Twist Resident volume 3) so I guess I have been lucky enough to get people to believe in me just through talking to them and getting their trust. I also have to say I had a wicked group of friends who regularly put my name out there and always supported me at my gigs until I found myself playing out regularly, I thank them for the support to me and in truth their continued support.
For those who don’t already know, what styles do you play? You are well known for getting through quite a lot of genres within a set...
I used to play a big variation of styles which included Hard house, techno, Hi nrg hard trance, but this year in particular I have found myself rounding off a more hard house sound as there is some great mateiral out there at present. I am not a massive fan of hoover tracks but there has been some absolute quality coming from the likes of Superfast Oz, Justin Bourne, James Nardi, Marc Johnson as well as others and someone I have to give a mention too here is Karim. He has been making some dark tunes lately but they all have a dirty funky edge to them too which I love.
The first I remember hearing of you was when you became a Riot! resident. Did that residency mark a turning point in your career?
RIOT! without doubt was one of the best things that ever happened to me, I couldnt believe I got made a resident alongside BK and Ed. For the past three years we had more good times than I care to remember, in particular the birthday b2b's that Ed and I used to do. It has been the perfect stepping stone to now go on and really achieve what I want and that is to be the most successful I can be and make the best tracks I can and improve each time.
Ed Real & Danny
What residencies do you hold at this moment in time? Do you play different styles at different residencies or is it the usual eclectic Gilligan mix?
Twist @ The Fire Club
Blast @ The Fridge (every second Saturday)
Proactive @ Club Supreme (label parties to promote our fave artists and the latest music)
With my harder edged sound coming through it was evident that my sets are going to be too hard for Twisted (a residency I had held for over two years). Twisted is re establishing itself as a trance party so as evolution has it, it is time to move on, but I had some great times again playing for the most wanted team and a big thumbs up to Twisted Mick for having faith in me and putting me in the mix with Twisted... once again some great memories from past parties.
The residency that has grown very close to my heart is Twist... Twist put simply is a proper club, with a proper sound system in a quality enviroement - the event just goes off every Sunday! I was lucky enough to be given a chance to play when it was first converted into what we now know as the Fire Club. After giving me a set (playing after Ian M who is one person I look up to so much) Steve Darragh, Peter Ward and Stevie B all come up to say how much they enjoyed my set and asked if I would like to be a resident, with a big smile on my face and a quick response of YES DEFINATELY! The rest is history. Twist is definately one of the most happening clubs in the country at the moment, it almost feels like my second home im there so much ;o) . At Twist I can play hard driving music whatever the genre as long as it has that energy in the beats I'll be playing it. I often play the last set which is where I play music that gives the crowd evergy. It sometimes has a bit of trance, it sometimes has some anthems but the energy is always there... and thats what I love.
I also hold a residency called Blast which is at The Fridge every second Saturday of the month. It is a sister party to Twist where all the residents play the night event. Depending what time I play, usually before Ian M, then I will take it from where it is up to the filth factor so that when Ian comes on, the scene is perfectly set for him to do what he does best. I don't know any other DJ that can take a room by the balls and litterally shake them like Ian can on a closing set... that's the magic about the Twist/Blast residents, we all have our own sound, we all know each other and that is why the music flows so well from one DJ to the next.
February 26th sees you make an appearance in the filthy foyer at Hard House Academy, in a special back to back soundclash with Steve Maynard. Have you ever DJed with him before? What have you heard about him from others or from your own experience of seeing him play?
I have never DJed with Steve before, in fact I always used to see Steve at Twist and I always knew him as a clubber, I'd often see him stomping the morning away... I was then looking through some flyers and noticed he was booked for Camden New Year's Day. I was interested to see him play so went along and was well impressed, to say the least. I was then given what I think is probably the best hard house demo I have heard, it hasn't left the cd player in my car... we have spoken a few times and get on really well, we have discussed our upcoming set at HHA Live and believe me its gonna be a stomper. We share musical tastes so I know that our set will gel together real well... come along and see for yourself ;o)
Have you played in the foyer before? It’s certainly unlike any other club arenas in the capital...
I haven't played in the foyer before but I have been there and had it right off to the likes of Glazby, Ian M, Karim et al. In my opinion, the foyer creates the more intimate atmosphere and it does go off big time, it has a well banging system in there too so makes for an all enjoyable DJ experience.
What was your most enjoyable visit to Hard House Academy? And when was your first visit? What do you think on your first occasion?
I went to the first one... and I guess that was the most enjoyable. In London we hadn't seen a party that big before, not in hard dance anyway, the biggest it got was SE1 up until that point. What I witnessed that night was pretty amazing stuff. I have never seen so many people in one club before. Brixton Academy also is very well known amongst rock bands doing live gigs etc so the awe of the place was quite amazing, especially hearing your fave music pounding out of each room, so I guess that was my most enjoyable. Since then trial and error have seen it become one of the most anticipated events on the calender. The production that goes into the event now is spot on, the sound system has got better and better each time which is a big factor when your doing big room events - nice work Will et al.
Who were your favourite hard dance producers of 2004 and who are you tipping for the top in 2005?
2004 for me was pretty much all about Alex Calver and Ingo - both these lads are absolutely spot on putting out some great material. BK and Randall tracks are always excellent so there remix of Meltdown was a top track. Justin Bourne, Karim, and Nick Sentience have all been doing great work recently.
My tip for 2005... there are a lot of people in the hat so it's hard to choose one. Peter Ward's productions are getting better and better, they compliment his sound perfectly, so I am looking forward to seeing what he does later in the year.
What’s up with you production wise? You’ve had a handful of highly acclaimed collaborations so far...
I have produced tracks with Ali Wilson, Ingo, Phil Reynolds, Alex Calver, Greg Brookman and Todd Tobias, I have learnt so much working with these talented people. My most successful track up until now was Kill Bill which I did with Ingo, it got played everywhere so was delighted when I see it end up in Andy Farley's record bag and in turn his mix compilation Music for a Harder Generation on Tidy Trax. Currently available is my latest collaboration with Ingo and follow up to Kill Bill... 'Now's the Time' and 'The New World' is a nice techy hard mix we did about 6 months ago. It is out on the Proactive label (www.proactiverecords.co.uk). I am now very involved with the label and work alongside Paul Jack and *TING* in bringing the best new music we can find out there, expect some top notch releases over the coming year.
What’s the most intense, crazy and downright off-the-wall atmosphere you have ever experienced in a club?
Without a doubt it had to be the recent joint party Twist meets Frantic @ The Fire Club. It was straight after Frantic @ Camden on NYD. Everyone that went to that party will know what I mean. We had all been up for some 30+ hours so that could give u an idea but the energy of the music and clubbers was amazing.
You are a regular fixture at some of London’s afterhours clubs. Does it still feel a bit strange playing at 1pm on a Sunday or did you get used to it a long time ago?
With playing for RIOT! each and every month I soon got used to what playing on a Sunday afternoon or evening felt like. I will be honest, Sunday clubbing is great and I love it. If you venture down to Twist you will see that it has an unbeatable vibe which attracts 600 people each and every week which is a great achievement considering it is EVERY week. Well done to Steve, Stef, the DJs, just everybody involved! We all know each other and everyone has a part to play in making it what it is today.
And finally, this is your chance to send out a message to someone in hard dance land. What have you got to say and to whom?
To all my peers who I don't often get to chat to or speak out of clubs... just big respect to each and every person involved in making our scene what it is, long live hard dance ;o)
Hard House Academy LIVE
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On:
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Saturday 26th February 2005
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At:
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Brixton Academy [map]
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From:
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20:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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Limited Early Bird Tickets £13+BF
Saver Tickets £16+BF
Standard Tickets £19+BF
More On the Door
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Website:
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www.franticuk.com
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Ticket Info:
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Ticketweb 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
NeverEnough 07813 684 399 / neverenoughmaria@hotmail.com
Frantic HQ 07949 618 035 / amanda@franticuk.com
ClubTickets 0870 246 1840 / www.clubtickets.co.uk
E-list 079092 809 077 / www.e-listlondon.com
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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After a lengthy 5 months of hibernation, HHA is back to keep you warm for the tail-end of winter! It’s all about the Live PAs, with performances from the big 3 in the main arean – Lab 4, K90, and Nuw Idol – as well as the devastating talents of the Organ Donors in the foyer! A very special appearance from Mr. HHA himself, Steve Hill, will be another main room highlight, as will the on-stage breakdancing and capoeira! A special tiered stage will also be installed for the live acts, so expect the on-stage antics of this HHA to be like never before.
The Foyer plays host to ‘I Love The Hoover!’, with the best of hard-edged DJs such as D.A.V.E. The Drummer, Karim, Justin Bourne, and Ed Real showing why the filthy foyer sessions are so damn good.
The Corridor will once again rock to the sounds of sexy and dirty house music all night long thanks to those funky brothers at 4Clubbers, Thirsty DJs and Groove Factory, and The Balcony Bar sees the country’s leading bouncy hard house promoters, Bring Back The Bounce, take over for some unparalleled madness! A very special mystery guest will be supported by Rachel Auburn, Strange Dave, Kernzey & Klemenza, Red & Blue and others to ensure that we’re all dancing like chickens for the duration!
What else? Well Brixton Academy doesn’t have any sound or light equipment in it…which means that we have to install Funktion One throughout the venue, the massive spiky inflatables in the main room, the immense lighting rig, the projecter screens for live VJing… it’s quite a job and takes 2 days to get it all set up!
HHA is such a world-renowned event that we get clubbers from all corners of the world – including 300 Dutch nutters who come over especially for the event! This event will be filmed for the forthcoming Frantic DVD, to be released this summer, featuring footage of our key events, and interviews with clubbers and DJs. Come and be a part of hard dance history and find out why HHA was voted as The Number 1 Hard Dance Club in the country by the readers of Mixmag.
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