Monster gets bigger - more DJs in the mix
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THE Soundclash DJ showcases were one of the success stories from Monster FM last year – now the concept is back and spreading its wings for the September run.
The DJ showcases that ran every Friday and Saturday night last year have been extended to Friday from 11pm-2am and Saturday night to 10pm-2am on 106.1fm or online.
Ally Ridgers explained how an invitation from Monster FM’s Ginno Conti to do some remixes back in 2011 grew to last year’s showcases.
He said: “Last year Ginno asked if we’d like to get more involved and the showcases got a bigger slot.
“I’d put together a line-up of different genres to create the format of the showcases and it all exploded on Facebook and Twitter and then we got an after-party sorted too.”
It also inspired a regular live streaming slot from Karma Lounge featuring local talent.
Now Ally’s been given a chance to build further on showcasing the talent the North can offer.
For 2013’s Monster FM programming, there's more time and that's inspired a whole new show.
“This time Ginno left me to programme the sessions and work out who is involved,” said Ally.
Ally’s also decided to extend his horizons – and hopefully add more listeners for Monster FM’s offering.
He has invited some of the people he believes are the hottest names now from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh to join the line-up.
And also new for this year’s Monster package is Saturday night show The Underground Music Project, presented by Andy Stone.
The hour-long programme will keep the North updated on everything that’s new on the dance scene plus banter and laughs.
Ally said: “I’ve asked Andy Stone to do the show to add to what we’re offering. People already like the mix of the sessions, but having an hour-long show like this every week will be great.”
Andy, who has a career as both a commercial and underground DJ, said: “Doing a radio show is different from being on the mike – you’re creating an atmosphere, so it’s completely different in a way to being a DJ in a club or venue.
“The radio show is going to showcase all the different genres and the biggest songs of the year – all the ones you would hear playing in the bar.
“And we’ve got some funny stuff as well as loads of exclusives – and interviews.”
But some things stay the same.
Ally’s choices for the sessions once again feature the strongest, most creative talents around the North and Scotland, invited to share their best work with the world for an hour.
Ally also insists the mixes have to be exclusive.
“We’ve got the likes of Count Clockwork – fresh from supporting Avicii and 2 Many DJs – and the awesome Filth DJs and Them & Us, fresh from rocking RockNess.”
From across Scotland, listen out for Krazzy Martin (Snafu, Aberdeen) Beta & Kappa (Sub Club, Glasgow) and Jakk It & Saizme (We Own, Edinburgh).
Ally will also be stepping up. The SoundClash duo – Ally and Kaos Theory (Ryan Maclean), who have recently performed at Rockness and Belladrum – will also be showing what they can do.
They have been holding regular club nights through Karma Lounge in Inverness and their beats have been shared through the ground-breaking online streaming of their gigs.
Ally explained: “After the Monster FM shows were finished, people were calling for it to be a permanent thing.
“I kept being asked if they were returning next year.”
Ally hopes if they get a strong enough response from listeners and dance fans, it might lead to getting a permanent fixture on Moray Firth Radio for a show like The Underground Music Project, focusing on North dance talent.
He and Andy believe there is hunger out there for a new show that features exclusively dance music.
Ally admitted: “My plan is, eventually I’d love to have a dance show on MFR, whether monthly or weekly!”
MONSTER FM LINE UP:
The Underground Music Project show is on Saturdays from 10pm-11pm.
WEEK ONE
Friday:
11pm-12am ALLY RIDGERS (SoundClash)
12-1am FILTH DJS
1-2am THEM & US
Saturday:
11pm-12am ALOTTARHYTM
12-1am AARON RUSSELL (RockNess DJ Comp Winner 2013)
1-2am KRAZZY MARTIN (Snafu, Aberdeen)
WEEK TWO
Friday:
11pm-12am BETA & KAPPA (iAM, Sub Club)
12-1am COUNT CLOCKWORK
1-2am MATT LYON (Ruckus Rave)
Saturday:
11pm-12am MASTERSHAKE
12-1am ANDY STONE
1-2am G-REG (Jungle Nation)
WEEK THREE
Friday:
11pm-12am JAKK IT & SAIZME (We Own)
12-1am ALAN GRANT
1-2am SCOTT LANGLEY (State Of Grace)
Saturday:
11pm-12am MARC MACDONALD
12-1am BOOMSHANK REDEMPTION
1-2am BOUNCE DJs
WEEK 4
Friday:
11pm-12am ALAN MACPHERSON
12-1am POLYMATH
1-2am DESUDO (Gearbox)
Saturday:
11pm-12am STEREO CROOKZ
12-1am KAOS THEORY (SoundClash)
1-2am DIGITIZED DJs
PLUS there will be exclusive mixes from
Count Clockwork, Filth DJs, Beta & Kappa ( i AM, Sub Club), Polymath, Them & Us, Jakk it & Saizme (We Own), Ally Ridgers (SoundClash), Kaos Theory (SoundClash), Krazzy Martin (Snafu), Alan McPherson (Audiolife), Aaron Russell (Rockness DJ comp winner 2013), Alottarhythm, Alan Grant, Marc MacDonald, Matt Lyon, Desudo (Gearbox), Boomshank Redemption, Mastershake, Dropz & Kojak (Digitized), Andy Stone, Scott Langley (S.O.G), Stereo Crookz and Bounce DJs.
