Southport Weekender: An insider’s perspective

Southport Weekender: An insider’s perspective

9 November, 2007 | 1.30PM

• Written by: jasonhayer
• Filed under: Music News: southport weekender

We sent our deep house man Jason Hayer to a weekend of house music madness in Southport in the north of England for the Southport Weekender.

Here’s his review of the event plus some cool videos and photos. Plus check out the chart - all the tracks were heard during the weekend and all killed it.

Southport Weekender: A review

Located on the western Northern England coast, Southport is a holiday resort town that dates back to the late 1700s. 

It was originally at that time, designed to cater to the new trend of sea bathing, while Napoleon himself once called it home as well. 

These days it normally attracts families looking for enjoyment on its vast boardwalk amusement parks in the summertime, but this past weekend held a completely different story - house music.

Held bi-yearly, the Southport Weekender at the indoor amusement park Pontins, has been going since 1987 and attracts crowds in attendance of well over 5000. 

Normally known for showcasing deep house DJs and live acts, the event also focuses on northern soul, hip hop, funk, and R&B. 

I spent much of the three day event backstage enjoying the VIP area whilst schmoozing with house music’s most prolific artists and abusing the free alcohol privileges. 

Funnily enough, the manager at the hotel I was staying at used to live in New York back in the late 1990s and DJed for parties at the same places I did.

So we bonded immediately over conversations of lost nights at Twilo and Centro-Fly and those memorable afternoons at Body & Soul. 

I gave him my extra pass, and we dove head first into the festivities.

All the rooms had their own sponsor and theme and the place was so packed you could hardly move.

But it was perfect as we found time to reminisce on good times past at previous Weekenders and the musical history of the legendary neighboring city, Manchester. 

We planned on going record shopping the next morning in Manc (as the locals call it), as I was interested in checking out the remains of where The Hacienda once stood, but unfortunately I lost him around 6am after he stumbled off for a smoke. 

I fear a pack of wild women clubbed, drugged and dragged him off to sinfully have their ways with him. If so, good one on ya mate. 

The sets themselves were incredible and with a Funktion One handling the soundsystem duties, no room lacked quality, chest pounding reverberation. 

This year’s roster included live performances from Soul ll Soul, Ananda Project, and Sounds Of Blackness, while headlining DJs like Todd Terry, Jamie Lewis, and Norman Jay completely brought the roof down. 

The highlight had to be Kerri Chandler, who played a complete set only using three, old-school reel-to-reel tape decks with special edits he did on classic disco and current house hits. 

Kerri Chandler and his three reel-to-reels

From a DJs point of view, it was simply amazing. 

“You have to make it interesting,” Kerri told me after his set.

“The crowd is there to see a performance. 

“That’s why I’m constantly always inventing new ways to play music, like with lasers, remote control laptops, and these reel-to-reels. 

“It really makes a difference and gives the fans something memorable to go home with.”

Another stand out DJ set was from Karizma, who showed how to play house hip hop style, by simply working it on the faders. 

Tony Humphries did a special set to celebrate his 50th birthday (check out the cake!), whilst Dennis Ferrer killed it with his techno vs. soul peak hour set. 

Dennis Ferrer bangs it out @ Southport Weekender

I also ran into Chi-town legends Glenn Underground & Boo Williams who told me that they’re setting up a new label together. 

They were showcasing some of their new tracks, so I asked what they thought about the response at the event.

“Southport’s crazy, man,” said Boo.

“They always know how to throw down here. 

“Those people out there were just feelin’ it.”

Glenn agreed, “Man, we just played the other room and people were just loosing it. 

“It’s great to see everyone into some good music.”

Then I spotted five house music heroes hanging about backstage - Dennis Ferrer, Kerri Chandler, Glenn Underground, Karizma and David Harness - so I got them all together for this photo.

As for the crowd themselves, the true house head was in full form this weekend as people from all over the world poured into the complex and buckled themselves into the madness. 

“I didn’t end up leaving the parties until 8am each morning, but the crowds still kept going by throwing afterparties in the rented weekend apartments, which surrounded Pontins main centre. 

As haggard as they all looked in those early mornings, everyone made it back the next night again, and yet again for another round of quality showcased music.

No doubt there’s a few blisters. 

But after twenty years of going strong, the aching feet post Southport Weekender won’t stop.

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