A statement was posted on music platform Certified Jackin’s Facebook announcing the news. They called the DJ  “one of the pioneers who helped shape UK Jackin’, House & Bass”. The statement read “Nick didn’t just make tracks – he made memories. His music soundtracked countless nights out, countless moments, and left a mark on a whole generation of ravers. From Leeds to the world, Nick Hannam’s legacy will live on in every speaker, every dancefloor and every heart he touched through his music. Rest easy Nick. You’ll never be forgotten.”

No age or cause of death was given.

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Amongst the many other tributes given to the DJ and Producer, fellow DJ and rapper Tom Zanetti called Hannam a “beautiful soul” who “always knew the answers”. He wrote: “I’m heartbroken to announce the man who helped me build the song ‘You Want Me’ brick by brick in a little bedroom studio in Leeds, a song you all know and love which is randomly going super viral at the moment – Nick Hannam has passed away.”

Back in 2016, the pair collaborated to co-produce ‘You Want Me’, a song which went platinum in the UK and made its way into the UK Top 40. The song also charted in countries such as Belgium.

Nick began producing music in the early 2010s and quickly made a name for himself in the house-focused sounds that combined groove, funk and jackin’ house. Responsible for other underground hits such as ‘Serious’, ‘Love You Girl’ and ‘I Like To F*ck. ‘You Want Me’ peaked at Number 22 in the UK Top 40 and Number 7 on the dance charts.

“Nick didn’t just make tracks – he made memories. His music soundtracked countless nights out, countless moments, and left a mark on a whole generation of ravers.”

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  Kicking off at 11am tomorrow, 9 April, and running all the way through to 3pm on 13 April, the marathon effort will involve over 50 DJs, including some huge names from the UK and beyond. The event will be streamed live from Mile End, East London, and will be available via the AllSorts DJ Marathon website, which will also allow viewers to donate to the GoFundMe page.  

For every big name DJ, or mind-blowing set, there is a serious cause underpinning it all: social mobility. All charitable proceeds will be donated to the Zero Gravity Fund, the UK’s largest scholarship initiative, focussing on high-potential students from low-opportunity areas, and helping them to achieve their aspirations. Since launching in 2020, the fund has raised over £1.8 million, directly funded more than 560 students, and assisted thousands more. Zero Gravity doesn’t stop there, assisting students moving into life-changing careers too.  

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“We believe that every young person, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to succeed,” says Nick Byrne, co-founder at AllSorts of Tunes. “The AllSorts World Record DJ Marathon is our way of contributing to a more equitable future, where education empowers all.”  

Zero Gravity identifies the top 15% of talented young people from the bottom 40% of socially disadvantaged areas, and provides them with mentoring, masterclasses, careers support, and potential employer connections. This approach ensures that these students have all the help they need, rather than just offering financial aid. According to their website, Zero Gravity has supported a quarter of all current Oxbridge students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The latest report from the Social Mobility Index showed a slip in students from disadvantaged backgrounds progressing to university, despite schemes such as the Zero Gravity Fund, the Stormzy Scholarship, and the John Lennon Memorial Scholarship, making this event all the more important.  

The current world record for longest marathon DJ live stream is held by Mark Ursa, who set the record in Brazil while locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic, June 2020. That record stands at 51 hours, and AllSorts’ attempt will take it to another level. Not just doubling the current record, the attempt will feature a stellar lineup, captured by four different cameras. A 4K camera will capture the front view, a deck-mounted fish eye lens will take viewers close to the action, a birds eye camera will capture the scene from above, and there will be a side-view camera too.  

“We’re so excited to partner with AllSorts of Tunes on their World Record DJ Marathon to raise funds for Zero Gravity Scholarships,” says Shiv Patel, Head of Scholarships at Zero Gravity. “Music has always brought people together and driven change—and this collaboration is no different.”  

 

 

 

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Among the confirmed acts are Prospa, Tommy Villiers, Michelle Manetti, Kyah Fyah, Scruz, XDBR, Jive Talk, Dutty Moonshine, Cable!, Kenny Blacksmith, and many more. Just this morning, as the timer ticked down to less than 24 hours, another act was confirmed, with edbl now joining the star-studded lineup.

The event has four main sponsors, all of which have presumably supported the event in four key areas. N-EKTA is supplying alcohol-free drinks to keep the DJs going, while RJCC Events, an event production company, has helped with the lighting, visuals, and sound for the mini-festival. They are also sponsored by 5 Minutes to Delhi, a ready-meal company, and ISHO Creative, who specialise in digital marketing.

The AllSorts DJ Marathon is set to be a one-of-a-kind event, all in the name of pushing back against social inequality. With a stacked lineup, the event is akin to a festival, all accessible from the comfort of your own home. The event will be able to streamed here. The link to donate to the GoFundMe page can be found here.

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The announcement comes after nearly a year of musical silence from Harris, following his last album ‘96 Months‘ (2024) and a collaboration with Ellie Goulding on the track ‘Free‘. The forthcoming single is expected to blend electronic elements with country motifs, reflecting a growing trend among DJs like Avicii and Diplo, who have explored similar fusions.

Calvin Harris has been a dominant force in the music industry since his debut album ‘I Created Disco‘ (2007). He holds the record for the most top ten hits from a single studio album, with nine tracks from his 2012 album ‘18 Months‘ reaching the UK top ten, including ‘We Found Love‘ in collaboration with Rihanna, ‘Feel So Close‘, and ‘I Need Your Love‘ featuring Ellie Goulding. His most recent chart-topping single ‘Miracle’, another collaboration with Ellie Goulding, reached number one in April 2023.As the DJ embarks on this new musical journey, fans are eager to see how he will blend his electronic roots with country influences. While ‘Smoke the Pain Away’ is set for release next week, there has been no official confirmation regarding a full country-inspired album. This single may signify a broader exploration of genre fusion, but details about subsequent projects remain unknown. Fans are encouraged to keep an eye on Harris’s official social media accounts for any hints about what’s next.

“With a heavy heart we need to inform you that yesterday, the 15.07.2024, our beloved father and husband has passed away.

We will forever carry you in our hearts and love you until we’re reunited again. Sincerely, your family.” The cause of his death has not been given.

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The Munich-born DJ and Producer posted on his Instagram just 3 days ago recapping the set he played at Steinbruch Open Air festival. Many of Bruckner’s friends and fellow DJs have paid tribute to the German including DJ Sash who said “I just can not believe it. He seemed to be so healthy. We shared so many stages together the last couple of months. RIP Thoma s Tomcraft.”

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Tomcraft, who’s real name was Thomas Bruckner, was a German DJ and Producer from Munich who specialised in progressive house and progressive trance music. He began working as a DJ in Munich in 1994 at the age of 19, playing techno and progressive trance music. He played his first major gigs at the technoparade, Union Move, in Munich in 1995. Later that year he released his first track, ‘This Is No House’.

In 1996 he met German producer Eniac who would go on to be his long-time collaborator. The two started making music together straight away, co-producing ‘Viva’, the first of many track the pair would produce together. That same year the two came out with the track ‘Prosac’ which would go on to be a hit when it was re-released in 2001. The two worked together as a studio team for the next decade, releasing many tracks on Kosmo Records among others.

In 2002, Tomcraft released the hit ‘Loneliness’, which was co-produced by Eniac, and ‘Loneliness’ reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. The success of this track massively boosted Tomcraft’s career. He then went on to release four albums across the next four years as well as regularly releasing singles including ‘Prozac’ and ‘Overdose’, which became big club tracks.

In 2005 Bruckner launched Craft music, a new outlet for all of his productions. All the other releases on the label were given a remix by Tomcraft himself. The label underwent a massive relaunch in 2010 to bring it back to the forefront of house and techno music. The label released music from artists which included Spektre and Jimmy Pop.

Over the years Tomcraft had many musical highlights when it came to playing live including playing to 1.3 million people at Berlin’s Love Parade in 2003 as well as playing at Japan’s Fuji Rock festival and festivals in Brazil.

Both on the Glastonbury Festival website and the @glastofest Instagram representatives have stated that ‘Annie Nightingale loved Glastonbury Festival. Her BBC Radio 1 show was broadcast from the Festival on Thursday nights through the 2000s from Silver Hayes and The Glade.’ the post goes onto say that Annie’s last set at the infamous event took place on the The Glade Main Stage and therefore her commemoration will kick off in that very place on the second day of the festival, Thursday the 27th of June. The celebration will then continue on the BBC Introducing Stage for what the festival are describing as ‘the after-dark part two’.

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The Nextmen Ft Kiko Bun and Fish56Octagon will launch the Daytime event showcasing some of Annie’s most beloved dance beats. Attendees will then hear from the likes of Krafty Kuts plus members of the Freestylers. The set will close with a feature from The Orb, who Annie both loved and who she, as the festival noted, ‘championed in the early ’90s, bringing their music to the world’.

As nightfall approaches, the event will be moved to the BBC Introducing Stage where ‘DJs will be covering the music Annie brought to the world from the ‘90s through to the present day through her show’. Fans will have a chance to hear Jon Carter play sounds ‘that kicked off some of the UK’s biggest dance acts’ careers’ as well as a second feature from Krafty Kuts and Plump DJs. To end the night DJ, Martha, will be playing some of the hottest and trendiest tracks. Martha was mentored by Annie and will carry on her ‘legacy discovering new music and giving artists a window to the world’. Glastonbury are working in collaboration with the BBC to mark the presenter’s life.

This year’s festival boasts an array of dazzling acts including Dua Lipa who has recently released her new album ‘Radical Optimism’ as well as Coldplaywho just played the Radio 1 Big weekend and of course SZA who will all headline the Pyramid Stage. Shania Twain will take on the Legend’s Slot on Sunday and we will see acts like LCD Soundsystem, Burna Boy, PJ Harvey, and more on the main stage. You can check out the full line up below.

Unfortunately, tickets for this years Glastonbury are sold out and if you’re thinking about getting your hand on resale tickets, the festival are urging fans to be cautious to avoid scams and reminding those who are looking for tickets that only those from ‘SEE TICKETS’ will allow access into the festival. You can take a look at all the information regarding tickets on the Glastonbury website by following the link here.

The ceremony, which took place yesterday evening February 4th at the Crypto.com arena in Los Angeles, California, saw the trio fight off competition from Aphex Twin’s ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21F’, James Blake’s ‘Loading‘, Disclosure’s ‘Higher Than Ever Before‘, and Romy, with Fred Again… even competing against himself for their single ‘Strong‘. Cementing his first ever Grammy wins, it was a huge moment for the London-based fusionist, who was also nominated on the night for Best New Artist as a solo producer. Fellow UK musician Flowdan also joined in on the celebration, with it marking not only his first Grammy, but making musical history as the first ever UK MC to win one.

For Best Dance/Electronic Music Album, ‘Actual Life 3‘ was selected amongst a highly talented pool of nominees, including James Blake’s ‘Playing Robots Into Space’, The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Beautiful Feeing‘, Skrillex’s ‘Quest for Fire‘ and ‘Kx5′ by Kaskade and deadmau5 producing under their collaborative project Kx5. Fred Again… was not in attendance to accept either of the awards, but Skrillex and the ceremony’s host Justin Tranter accepted on his behalf.

In Skrillex’s acceptance speech, he said: “The first thing I want to say to anybody young out there who wants to make music or be an artist, the best advice I ever got was ‘success is something that you attract, not something that you try to chase or catch’. The other thing I want to say is for all the young people and everyone out here I know the world is crazy right now, I really hope that we can actually start listening to each other and that everyone on the other side of the aisle or everyone on a different perspective we realize that they’re not enemies and I really hope we can start listening to each other and having conversations.”

“The last thing I want to say is of course big love to Fred again, love to Flowdan. Flowdan’s one of the biggest inspirations in underground music in my life…and to have a Grammy with those guys, my best friends, making music that we just love, not trying to make a hit, not trying to do anything but push culture forward. This is for those guys. Thank you everybody and congratulations to everyone being here.” he added.

Since the news about his wins broke overseas, Fred has posted a simple behind-the-scenes reel on Instagram of himself and Flowdan jamming to a stripped back piano version of ‘Rumble‘. The clip shows the duo smiling and enjoying the collaborative process as the song begins to take shape:

Following a whirlwind 2023 packed with touring and sold-out shows around the globe, Fred Again… is currently set for another exciting, landmark year ahead, including his headline spot at Bonnaroo 2024 in Manchester, Tennessee this June. Tickets to the festival are available for purchase here. His latest hotly-anticipated single ‘leavemealone’ featuring rapper and producer Baby Keem is out now.

The raucous weekend first came about in 2007 after a group of students decided they wanted to put together their own rave, aptly named the Mad Ferret Festival. The event kicked itself into gear in Platt Fields Park, Rusholme, but by the early 2010s it had relocated to Heaton Park and christened as Parklife. Since then, the event has witnessed a huge surge in popularity and has been crowned the UK’s largest metropolitan music festival, growing from a one-day event in a field to over 160,000 ticketholders rushing to north Manchester every year.

After today’s announcement, superstar rapper Doja Cat has no doubt cemented herself as the queen of the 2024 festival season, boasting headline slots across the globe for Coachella, Rock in Rio and Open’er Festival. The polarising singer and internet personality is most certainly set to bring the heat ahead of her European leg of The Scarlet Tour.

Festival-goers can also expect performances from powerhouse vocalist Becky Hill, DJ and singer Peggy Gou and Canadian producer Kaytranada, as well as unmissable sets from Anne-Marie, Nia Archives, Fourtet, Barry Can’t Swim, ANOTR, Camelphat, Rudim3ntal, Digga D and Sugababes.

Welcoming a multitude of different genres, the festival has since steered away from indie bands headlining in recent years, predominantly featuring dance, electronic and hip-hop acts to cater to its everchanging audience. This year is predicted to mark a new era for the festival, showcasing a brand new stage, jaw-dropping production, state-of-the-art tech and fewer line-up clashes.

Early Bird tickets sold out rapidly in December 2023, but an exclusive 2024 presale will be open from 10am on Thursday 25th January to anyone who has registered. Registration closes the night before at 6pm on Wednesday 24th January. Three Mobile customers will be able to purchase Saturday and Sunday tickets or full weekend tickets 24 hours before other customers on Wednesday here. Tickets including VIP access and coach travel are also available.

All remaining tickets will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 26th January which you can purchase from Ticketmaster. Both day and weekend tickets will be available either to pay in full or by deposit and signing up to a payment plan.

For those not wanting the party to end, Parklife’s official afterparties, ‘Afterlife’ have been unveiled, including an after-hours set from Kaytranada. You can grab tickets here.

The family added, “Never underestimate the role model she became. Breaking down doors by refusing to bow down to sexual prejudice and male fear gave encouragement to generations of young women who, like Annie, only wanted to tell you about an amazing tune they had just heard. The family also said, “Watching Annie do this on television in the 1970s, most famously as a presenter on the BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test, or hearing her play the latest breakbeat techno on Radio 1 is testimony to someone who never stopped believing in the magic of rock’n’roll.”

Nightingale became a member of Radio 1 in 1970 and remained dedicated to the station throughout her entire career. She holds the remarkable distinction of having the lengthiest tenure as a female radio presenter, a world record in itself. Her renowned show, Annie Nightingale Presents, showcased her passion for dance music, featuring the most impactful bass-driven tracks. In her latest broadcast on 9 January, she delighted listeners with songs from Deadmau5, as well as captivating remixes of tracks by AJ Tracey, Jorja Smith, and the talented US rapper Ice Spice.

Listen here to Annie Nightingales’ last Radio broadcast 19/12/23

BBC director general Tim Davie expressed his admiration for Nightingale’s exceptional talent and dedication. He said, “a uniquely gifted broadcaster who blessed us with her love of music and passion for journalism, for over 50 years. As well as being a trailblazer for new music, she was a champion for female broadcasters, supporting and encouraging other women to enter the industry.”

Aled Haydn Jones, the head of BBC Radio 1, expressed deep sorrow over the departure of Nightingale, Aled said, “Annie was a world class DJ, broadcaster and journalist, and throughout her entire career was a champion of new music and new artists. He added, “She was the first female DJ on Radio 1 and over her 50 years on the station was a pioneer for women in the industry and in dance music. We have lost a broadcasting legend and, thanks to Annie, things will never be the same.”

Greg James, the presenter of the breakfast show, expressed his admiration on X.

Annie Nightingale’s life and achievements were so extraordinary you couldn’t possibly sum them up on here. This interview is well worth your time. It was such a treat if you happened to be in the building at the same time as her. She was always so interested in what everyone else… pic.twitter.com/hvhM6DUnGA — Greg James (@gregjames) January 12, 2024

Nightingale was born in Middlesex on April 1, 1940. Initially, she worked in television and newspapers before becoming the host of the popular 1960s TV show That’s for Me. Alongside her television career, she also managed a chain of fashion shops and pursued modeling. In the late 1960s, she was inspired by the rise of pop pirate radio and actively campaigned for a position at the BBC’s newly established Radio 1, which, at the time, did not allow female presenters.

She became the only female DJ at the station for 12 years until Janice Long joined in 1982. During this time, Nightingale moved to an evening time slot, giving her more freedom in selecting the music she played. She hosted various music and discussion shows on the station and became a co-host on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978 after Bob Harris left. Notably, she led an episode of the show that aired after the tragic murder of John Lennon.  

Save the Prince Albert music venue in Brighton… @musicvenuetrust https://t.co/xzrXp9hpG8

— Fatboy Slim (@FatboySlim) October 27, 2023

Over 1200 people have already voiced their displeasure and opposition to a planning application for a commercial building to go up next door to the pub, while 14,000 have signed their names to a petition to the block the proposal. Grassroots venue locations have been a constant headline within the UK music scene of late, with many locations facing complete closure or the threat of shutdown in favour of commercial projects.

Getting his start in the Brighton club scene, Fatboy Slim played a secret show at the Prince Albert on 30 October and told the crowd, “It’s a long slow death over three or four years if the neighbours complain. In Brighton, we preserve our Grade II and Grade I listed buildings, we preserve Regency architecture because it’s part of what Brighton is. We should preserve music venues in the same way because they’re a more recent part of Brighton culture but a huge amount nonetheless.”

Grassroots music venues have been the subject of a growing political debate with many UK artists weighing in, claiming that small, often underground locations are where they have got their starts and without them, the industry would face an uncertain future. Ed Sheeran, Bring Me The Horizon and Arctic Monkeys are only a few such artists that have expressed their concern over the growing threat of a commercial takeover of these venues.

A recent report by the MVT urged urgent government action to save grassroots venues with the consequence of choking off the stream of emerging talent if action is not taken. Mark Davyd, the CEO of MVT said recently at a panel about the future of grassroots music at Beyond The Music conference this month that “127 music venues of the grassroots type have stopped programming live music or closed down entirely.”

Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook is best known for his DJ work, producing hit singles “Praise You,” “Right Here, Right Now” and “Weapon Of Choice.” His singles have often been accompanied by highly artistic, often surreal music videos directed by the likes of Spike Jones and starring prominent actors such as Christopher Walken.

The DJ has recently announced an eight-date UK tour for the summer of 2024.

Coming off an extremely busy festival season, DJing at some of the largest festivals in the UK and finishing a stint in Ibiza, this rising superstar has 2024 in his sights. Performing his signature mix of house, trance and rave music, Ben Hemsley is sure to excite.

He took to instagram to share his excitement, “Liverpool, I’m coming back for the biggest headline show I’ve ever done… 12,000 of you at the legendary Waterfront with me. You can’t beat this man. I feel so honoured to be a part of this ridiculous event. Without a doubt one of the best shows in the U.K. and we are gunna make it so special for yas.”

For Hemsley, the quick rise to stardom came after his legendary 2021 Creamfields set where he only performed due to another artist backing out because of COVID-19 restrictions. Since this set, he has often lauded Creamfields as the reason for his successes.

“Last year [Creamfields 2022] I ended up crying because of the love,” he stated on social media, “In 2021 my dream became reality and I went from playing shows in front of less than 100 people, once a month to selling out the biggest venues and doing shows around the world and then 2022 took it to another level.”

Ben Hemsley’s conquering of the rave circuit has continued in 2023 after a myriad of career defining moments. Hemsley’s first Ibiza residency saw the Geordie artist gain the opportunity to support monumental names in the electronic music arena: Eric Prydz at Hï Ibiza, and Calvin Harris at world famous Ushuaïa.

Ben has seen similar success and adoration. Manchester’s premiere club, and possibly one of the UK’s biggest raves, Warehouse Project, invited Ben Hemsley to headline their venue with his Connection tour. This show was the first to be announced for The Warehouse Project’s new season which sold-out.

Ben stated, “There’s a video of me in 2017, steaming after a night at Warehouse Project with my mates telling them I’d deadline it in 5 years… It might have taken 6 but on Friday I eventually did it and sold it out… Can’t thank you enough. A night I’ll remember forever.”

Tickets for The Waterfront festival can be found here.

His connection tour is ongoing and you can find the dates here:

27/10/2023 – Royal Highland Centre – Edinburgh
28/10 – The Telegraph Building – Belfast
11/11 – The Telegraph Building – Belfast
22/06/2024 – Liverpool Pier Head – Liverpool