Simon Patterson the DJ.... is one of the hottest properties in dance music right now. His creative offerings as a producer have captured audiences, bringing them willing with him along his musical adventure. From techy moods to edgey riffs, spin tingling melodies to driving basslines, Simon’s studio offspring’s of the past 12 months have raised his profile to see him become a much in-demand dj, producer and remixer.
Signed exclusively to the hugely respected Spinnin’ Records, Simon’s music has earned him massive support from industry leaders such as Paul van Dyk, Tiesto, Armin van Burren, Ferry Corsten, Judge Jules and Above & Beyond. With tracks such as F:1 (Nov 2006), Panic Attack / Strip Search (Apr 2007), Bulldozer / We’ll See (Sept 2007), attaining almost cult statues, coupled with widespread acclaim from the dance media.
However, it’s when he’s behind the decks that the sound of Simon comes alive. With a style described as cutting edge, dark, driving, pulsating, Simon’s technical ability is a finely tuned art that fuses trance with elements of techno and electronica. If you’re stood on a dance floor when Patterson’s behind the CDJ’s you know who’s in control, and the only thing you’re likely to do is to dance and dance hard.
Moving from Belfast to London some 10 years ago his career has been punctuated with a wealth of experience in dance music. From working alongside Dave Lambert at top Universal dance label AM:PM, which led to him being approached by head A&R man Nick Halkes to work with him on his new Ministry Of Sound label – Incentive Records, he then went on to being the driving force in the engine rooms of two of the biggest shows on Radio 1, he utilised his finely tuned ear working as the tastemaker behind Seb Fontaine and Judge Jules’ peak-time Saturday nighters.
Labelled by Mixmag in 2004 as ‘One to Watch for the future’, Simon has since drawn on this knowledge, and with an unparallel passion for music, he has now thrust himself firmly at the forefront of the trance elite, and is firmly forging his own career as a prolific artist within his field.
In the past five years Simon has really clocked up the air miles, rocking some of the biggest parties on offer. His highlights are vast, and too lengthy to list, but here are a few. In Rotterdam, crowds of up to 500,000 witnessed the might of Simon Patterson, revellers that flock to the sun drenched dance Mecca that is Ibiza have experience his sound year in, year out, a huge tour of the far-east and an indoor festival in Russia where he gave 20,000 Muscovites a musical masterclass.
Behind the CDJ’s Simon has graced the world stage at many prolific festivals such as Dance Valley, Sunrise, Gatecrasher Summer Sound System, HI-FI, Planet Love, Monday Bar Cruise, Full on Ferry, Mexico Stadium, all the while delivering his sound to new audiences with frequent appearances throughout Asia, Australasia, Europe, North and South America. Whilst his club repertoire stands equally tall ranging from the likes of Godskitchen, Gatecrasher, Turnmills, Slinky, Inside Out and Passion where he has left the foundations of each of these clubs shaken to their very core.
Aside from his solo projects Simon was also one half of the massive Dogzilla with Richard Kayvan, which with just one tune shook up the trance scene in the 00’s. Picked by former world #1 DJ Paul van Dyk as his track of year, ‘Without You’ sent shockwaves throughout clubland finding phenomenal support along the way.
With their genre-defying productions, Dogzilla tracks became part of every top DJ's set list and still remains in doing so, from the early days of their eponymously titled debut, which featured in the cult Brit flick 'The Football Factory', right up to the massive 'Your Eyes’ and ‘Frozen’, Dogzilla’s music achieved an impressive foray on the modern day club scene.
However, 2008 saw Patterson depart from Dogzilla and go at it solo style. Although Dogzilla had been his passion for several years, he felt it was time to branch out and expand his own djing and production work.
Regarded by M8 Magazine as ‘one of the highlights of 2007’, there is no doubt that Simon Patterson has ‘big hitter’ in his blood. With his foot firmly to the pedal as a producer, boasting a diary that reeks of big things, coupled with a desire that is second to none, world…..you better look out!
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In 1994 John made his club debut at a then notorious Acid House venue in North London. A few months later he took up a residency for the infamous Wiltshire rave sound system “Code Red”. This position gave John the opportunity to regularly play to literally thousands of underground followers that would loyally make their way out into the countryside every weekend. His sound was influenced by a mixture of the melodic German music that had put Frankfurt on the map as the capital of trance, and the tougher, more percussive sounds of artists like CJ Bolland.
At the end of 1995 overwhelming pressure from the police led the organizers to move the parties from the fields into the clubs. With this move John started warming up for a host of top international techno names such as Billy Nasty and Dave Angel, to name but a few. He quickly established a name for himself and was subsequently booked to play a number of other high profile club nights, including Universe's legendary Final Frontier where John rocked the decks alongside Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox.
Over the next few years, John found himself starting to regularly frequenting Heathrow and Gatwick, traveling to Slovakia, Denmark, USA, Sweden, France, Ireland and Amsterdam to deliver his now trademark sound. A sound and style that one Swedish journalist summed up as: “…like watching Jeff Mills mixing but using Paul van Dyk’s records!”
John’s debut appearance at The Extreme Club in Bratislava (Slovakia) was simultaneously broadcast on the national radio station Fun FM. Two hours into the set and there were still 1000 people waiting outside on a “one in one out” basis. This night has been a huge turning point for John, as it was the one event that started his obsession with radio.
The next 5 years brought John residencies and guest slots at some of the coolest club nights in the South of England, not to mention his regular trips abroad. In 1999 John teamed up with Bristol's most respected techno DJ, Simmer, to form Shimmy recordings. With highly acclaimed reviews from the national dance press and a huge underground following in the West Country, John began to gain a reputation for his unique writing and production skills which combined euphoric melodies with hard punchy beats.
In 2000 John took up a touring residency for Universe (of Tribal Gathering fame). In one month John played 21 gigs across the country alongside many of the world’s finest DJ’s, including Carl Cox, Timo Maas, Danny Rampling, Danny Howells, Way Out West and John "00" Fleming.
On NYE 2000, John rocked the main stage at Ministry of Sounds’ infamous millennium event at the Dome. His technical wizardry on the decks in front of 26,000 clubbers led Ministry to offer him a residency at their world famous club – Ministry of Sound, London. For two years now, John has rocked the main room at Ministry with his legendary, end of the night sets.
Since 2001, John has also been pushing his distinctive sounds to the masses through his record label – Discover Records – which has seen releases from the likes of The Thrillseekers, Pablo Gargano and Germany’s Kyau vs. Albert, to name but a few. Today, Discover is often credited in the press as a trend setting label that enjoys an almost Cult status. Its strict music policies, instigated by John, firmly oppose “cheesy melodies, predictable clichés and horrendous, meaningless female vocals” that in John’s mind have tarnished so much of the scene today.
In fast forward mode John Askew is conquering dance floors all around the world. John has played at high profile club nights, such as Cream, Plus Soda, Meganite, Slinky, Godskitchen, After Hour Power, and Passion as well as at prestigious festivals, e.g. Homelands (Radio One Stage) and Creamfields. His DJ sets reflect his highly opinionated views on music. His ear for high quality music, without always taking the obvious anthemetic route, and subtle, yet highly emotive melodies, derived from years of song writing in a plethora of rock bands, makes each and every one of John’s sets unique.
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While others are restrained by genre association Will Atkinson runs free, refusing to conform or be pigeon holed.
Is he tech, trance, techno, electronica, progressive, experimental.....?
He is all of them – and so much more.
And it’s this ambidextrous talent that has been the driving force behind Will’s vast appeal and subsequent ever-growing army of passionate fans the world over. The video for his recent single “Pat Butcher” (Beatport number 1 for 3 weeks) generated 1.6 million views in 48 hours – so to say this exciting young uber talent is on fire right now, would be something of an understatement.
Will Atkinson is an entity that congers up futuristic soundscapes for the jilted generation. Responsible for over 100 BBC Radio 1 airplays and 6 Beatport number 1s the kid that began mixing records at the age of 7 has certainly come of age.
It’s no wonder therefore that with this level of hype that the BBC have now asked Will to join their illustrious Radio 1 line up, as one of their new residents presenting a series of monthly shows that kick off in July of this year.
Will’s discography is quite simply a long list of hit records. “Pat Butcher”, “Victims”, “Numb The Pain”, “Subconscious”, “Mesmerize” (ft Rowetta from The Happy Mondays), “The Gamer Changer”, “Fresh Meat”....... all genre defining, chart topping, iconic titles that set the bar uncomfortably high for Will’s peers to try and follow.
Having released on all of the scene’s coolest labels including Subculture, Kearnage, FSOE, Spinnin’, Armada, Perfecto Fluoro and Vandit - the demand for Will’s production skills is truly rampant.
His tour schedule reads like a catalogue of the coolest festivals and clubs in the world with a residency at Cream Ibiza 2016 and regular peak time slots at EDC Vegas, EDC Mexico, Dreamstate all over the US, Beyond Wonderland, Creamfields, Luminosity, BAT Buenos Aires, Subculture Australia, Earthcore, ASOT and many more.
Today Will joins the elite VII collective to launch a brand new record label that promises to push the boundaries of cutting edge electronic insanity. His monthly Mainline Radio show is fast becoming a soundcloud sensation with tens of thousands of loyal listeners tuning in each month to hear what’s hot in Will’s world.....
At long last a new headliner of genuine substance and quality is born.
Friday, March 16, 2018
9:00pm - 2:00am MDTThe Church
About
Gothic church built in 1865 and turned into a nightclub in Denver. A part of the South of Colfax Nightlife District. Must be 18+ with a state issued picture ID for entry on Fridays and Saturdays. 21+ on Sundays.