Play that funky music (From Daily Echo)

Play that funky music

11:22am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

What can we expect?

“We’ll take the roof off! I’m really looking forward to the Soul Cellar date because there’s lots of friends down there. I bought a house in Old Bursledon five or six years ago – near the Elephant Boatyard. We were on a boat and just found this beautiful house. It’s an area we love, but we haven’t got to spend enough time down there. It will be a mixture of funk and soul.”

You’ve played some incredible live sets and festivals. What has been the most memorable?

“I’ve just played Glastonbury and that was incredible with about 7,000 people crammed into a tent dancing frantically! I think people like it because I play something different and not just dance or house or techno. But the strangest place of all was on Coronation Street when my two lives collided! That was a couple of weeks ago when I did something for Adidas. It was just a big party with some bands and stuff. Badly Drawn Boy played and a funk band and there were fireworks over the Street as I played!”

How do you manage to fit in both your Djing and acting?

“Somehow! I used to like to do a lot of festivals in Europe, but at the moment I work in Manchester Monday to Friday and then do my radio show on Saturdays so I have to fit the live experience in where I can.”

Which track really raises the roof so to speak?

“Little Richard and Get Down With It. I often save that for the last track and you get loads of audience participation with that one. It really gets everyone going.”

When did you first discover funk and soul music?

“When I was about 13 or 14, I got really into bands like Led Zepellin and Thin Lizzy but my Dad used to play me all sorts of stuff like Ray Charles and Nat King Cole. I started realising how much people like BB King had influences all types of music. I just loved it.”

What new music are you enjoying at the moment?

“Most of the stuff I play is new stuff, with a few classics mixed in. There’s bands like Baby Charles from Brighton and The New Mastersounds from Leeds.”

Who has been your best guest on the radio show?

“I interviewed James Brown just a couple of months before he died. How many hits has he had?! Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag was basically the first funk record of all time. The length of his career was just immense! That was one of the biggest days of my life, it was when he played in Hyde Park supporting the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’ve been so lucky though I’ve had everyone on – Dionne Warwick, Roy Ayers. Stevie Wonder couldn’t make it, so maybe one day. This sounds terrible, but every year we’re losing amazing performers from the past so I try to get them on before it’s too late.”

What was the last record you bought?

“I bought The Temptations greatest hits on vinyl from this second-hand record shop in Manchester. I buy records all the time. I like vinyl but I’m not a stickler for it. A lot of DJs won’t work with anything but vinyl, but I find that very limiting. Some of my favourites just aren’t available or they’re too pricey. Frank Wilson’s Do I Love You sold for £28,000 as there’s only two in existence. I play that one on CD.”

Is music your first love (over acting)?

“Isn’t music everyone’s first love?”

Are you working on any other projects?

“I love my acting as well and there are plans in place for a new Red Dwarf. Corrie’s going really well and I’ve got a good storyline at the moment.”

Craig DJs at The Soul Cellar following his funk and soul show on BBC Radio on Saturday, September 11.soulcellar.com