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Digga Please? Nice Up!
Nice Up! and Digga Please? share more than punctuation-clad names. The same moustachioed musical mastermind is behind both events. We find out more about this party loving, soup-strainer sporting DJ and promoter...Who are ya?
Shepdog aka Jon Sheppard aka Grandmaster Tash.
What's your night called?
NICE UP! Oh, and I do another night called Digga Please?
What have you been up to, before this?
Plenty! Been running NICE UP! for 4 years, running the Freestyle record label, growing a moustache - the usual.
What's the music policy for Nice Up!?
Our motto from day one has been "A night of righteous party vibes" which can mean anything from soul, funk, hip hop, reggae to house, disco and drum and bass. Anything to bring a smile to your face and a wiggle to your arse.
Who has played, or is going to play?
We've had quite a few through our doors over the years - Quantic, Askills, Fort Knox Five, Kraak & Smaak, Boca 45, Flevans, Jstar, Red Astaire, Dr Rubberfunk, Lost Idol and a host of others. We've got a few suprises up our sleeve for the future, with our good buddies the Steady Diggin Workshop lined up for the next one.
If money was no object, and you could book any line-up of DJs and bands living or dead, who would play?
Hip Hop room:
MF Doom
The entire Native Tongues family
Funkmaster Flex
Tim Westwood (just for a laugh)
Funk Room:
James Brown with Osaka Monaurail
Blowfly
Sharon Jones and the Dapkings
Shadow and Cut Chemist
Basement:
King Tubby
Super Furry Animals
Beta Band
Troublefunk
Out the back (with the sun shining):
Fila Brazillia
Brian Eno
Yellowman
Bill Hicks compering
What are your current top 5 tunes?
It's Alright Now - DJ Graham B (Freestyle)
God Put A Smile - Mark Ronson (White)
Mista President - Soul Jazz Orchestra (Do Right)
Roderigo - Lack Of Afro (Freestyle)
Sunshine - Beatvandals vs ASkills (Bombstrikes)
What three things would your ideal bar have to have?
Rum, Coke, Limes.
I'm just on my way to the bar - what I get you?
See above! Tequilla chaser if I'm feeling plucky.
Ideal evening chilling at home?
Good friends, food, music and booze. Or if I'm on my own, trying to get my head around making music or watching a good film.
Ideal evening chilling out?
No doubt starting in Camden's Music and Video exchange, then to Wagamamas for some Yaki Udon, then onto the Jazz Cafe.
Favourite places?
London has got it's good and bad points but I generally like living here. Hull will always have a special place in my heart, as will New York, but most of all...probably bed.
What are you reading these days?
Just starting The God Delusion by Richard Hawkins...heavy!!
What are you working on at present?
Doing another cheeky 7" release on my own label, albums from Marva Whitney, The Basement Boys and Speedometer for Freestyle and some other bits I can't say too much about at the moment!
What would most like to achieve over the next five years?
Fame, fortune, true love and owning a dog. The last one would do if the others don't work out.
Highlight of your life?
Wow - I don't know. Meeting Darth Vader when I was 8 was pretty special, but not sure if it's the pinnacle. Maybe it is...
At a festival - tent, B&B, or hotel for you, and why?
Gotta be tent - there's nothing quite like that feeling that you've just slept rough for a night.
What was your Top Big Chill moment?
Probably last year. I turned up to the Fat Tuesdays tent to DJ, not having a clue who was playing before me and it turned out to be Seasick Steve - if you haven't seen him, make sure you do soon - the man is a legend. The sound guys then had to change the stage around which meant I started DJing to a mainly empty field, which by the end of my set was packed and having it. Loved it!
Describe the essence of The Big Chill in a few words...
It's just ace. You get the feeling there's a lot of time and effort put into every little aspect of it. There's a unique vibe to everything - from the bar to the house to the festival - it's all from the heart and doesn't pander to the latest bullshit musical or fashion trends. I've never ever had a bad night at any of the events so they must be doing something right!
Written: 14th Feb, 07
Read: 2586 times
