Saturday 7th March was the last time I DJ’d to a live audience. That’s almost six months ago! So, with four DJ gigs over the past two weekends, you can imagine how excited I was to be back in front of an actual real live audience.
On Saturday 22nd August I caught the train to the North East to play at Outdoor Summer Sessions at Hardwick Hall in Sedgefield where I was DJing alongside Norman Jay and Heather Small, who performed live with her band. 800 people split into 100 groups of eight helped make this a great event that was Covid secure. The organisation was superb and, despite the slightly damp weather and noise restrictions, the atmosphere was amazing.
This Is Graeme Park: Outdoor Summer Sessions @ Hardwick Hall Sedgefield 22AUG 2020
The following weekend was a Bank Holiday weekend and I had three very different gigs to look forward to. On Saturday 29th August I DJ’d for Decks at Steelyard Kelham in Sheffield. This outdoor space consists of shipping containers over two levels that have been converted into bars, restaurants and shops. Despite it being slightly damp, this was another great evening in a superb setting with a wonderful vibe and atmosphere from a very excitable bunch of people who stayed in their pre-booked groups and danced at their tables.
This Is Graeme Park: Decks @ Steelyard Kelham Sheffield 29AUG 2020
Sunday 30th August saw me heading up the M6 to Havana in Carlisle for an indoor event that worked really well. Although the venue had less people than normal, everyone who came along helped make this a great night.
This Is Graeme Park: Havana Carlisle 30AUG 2020
My final date of the Bank Holiday weekend was on Monday 31st August for Crafty Vintage at Hoghton Tower near Preston. The sun was shining for this outdoor event with an enthusiastic audience who were spread out across the vast lawn in front of the stage in their various groups on deckchairs . A truly wonderful end to a great Bank Holiday weekend of great music, wonderful vibes and socially distanced dancing.
This Is Graeme Park: Crafty Vintage @ Hoghton Tower Preston 31AUG 2020
If you’re a Mixcloud Select subscriber you can listen to my DJ sets from all of these gigs using the players and links above for a small monthly subscription that means that the artists, performers, producers and creators of the music featured all get paid royalties.
What struck me about all of the above events was that with careful planning and consultation, the live events and night time industry can operate safely and securely. The people who came to these gigs followed all of the guidance and advice that was in place and everything went smoothly. Each event had less people than normal, which clearly isn’t sustainable in the long term, but at least it’s a start and the enthusiasm from everyone who attended was joy to behold after so many months away from live performance. Unfortunately the UK government continues to refuse to engage in meaningful conversation with my industry regarding the way forward which is frustrating as millions of people who rely on the night time economy or live events for their income continue to struggle while those in other sectors get valuable financial support.
That’s why I’m supporting Forgotten Ltd, Excluded UK, the Night Time Industry Association, the Featured Artists Coalition and other groups who are campaigning for urgent government support. You can help by signing and sharing the Coronavirus Support Package for Directors of small Limited Co's. Petition which needs less than 4,000 signatures before it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/310515
To this end I’ve had discussions with my MP as well as members of the Shadow Cabinet including the Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green and Shadow Culture Secretary Tracy Brabin. There is broad support from the opposition as well as a large cross party Parliamentary group that continue to ask questions of the government. If, like me, you are in a position where you have had little or no income and don’t qualify for any financial support then please get involved and make your voice heard by sharing the above petition and websites as well as contacting your own MP.
Finally, if you’d like to come and see me DJ live in a club in the coming weeks and months, with September gigs in Stoke and Manchester already confirmed, then please visit my Gig Guide which also has details of next Easter’s FAC51 The Haçienda club night at Tobacco Dock in London where I’ll be DJing alongside Mike Pickering, Jon Da Silva, Masters At Work, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Juan Atkins, DJ Paulette and more special guests to ba announced soon.
Look out for an announcement soon regarding my next United We Stream GM appearance too. In the meantime, stay safe, stay strong and I hope to see you all online or preferably on a dancefloor soon.