I've been a huge fan of our next Guest Artist for well over 30 years.
He's definitely been one hell of an influencer in the business.
It's an absolute delight to announce our edition #2
So without further ado, let me give you all an insight into the man they call
'DJ GRIPPER'
With a love of both traditional and electronic music across an eclectic range of styles and tempos, from retro to contemporary, Gripper’s sets can be a melting pot of genres that work to bring together a fusion of musical flavours.
Wether it’s from Jazz to Deep House, from Funk to World Electronica or from Proto-Dicso to Dub, Gripper digs deep into his 40+ years of collecting to bring together the very best in new music, crossing musical boundaries and innovating to keep the dance floor, radio listener and lounge bar alike educated and entertained.
Graham Newby, AKA DJ Gripper began vinyl collecting during the punk and new wave boom of the mid-late 70’s, at a time when disco and funk played as much a part of his musical attention, leading to a wide ranging collection from the very start.
Influenced by the soul scene in his native north west of England, Gripper took onboard huge influences from his early forays into club culture and import record stores from 1982 onwards during extensive trips to London and Manchester where the dance music scene was fresh and pushing boundaries that were to lay the foundation for his first DJing exploits.
1985 saw the journey begin with Gripper picking up 2 old belt drive turntables and making mixtapes for friends before being invited to play records a couple of years later by local innovator Said-man Li at his Invasion Dance Department underground student club parties in his hometown of Barrow-in-Furness.
The pair created a burgeoning alternative music scene that led to gigs at many of the north’s infamous and iconic venues and events throughout the late 80s and early 90’s.
The following 5 years were to prove seminal with Gripper establishing his nights as legendary events regularly making top 10 listings in national magazines such as Mixmag, Black Echoes, DJ Mag.
Gripper guested at many groundbreaking clubs around the UK as a result, and began producing music in 1991 and has released music on labels such as Grand Central Records, Dancefloor, OffWorld Sounds, Om Records, Upskirt Records Ibiza, Fat City Recordings, Triple J, Lockdown and more. Recent remixes include projects for cult US label, Bottom Line and Afro House and Soulful House remixes for US singer Ania Garvey
His releases have been supported and played by such luminaries as Louie Vega, Kenny Dope Gonzalez, Tony Humphries, Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry DJ Camacho, and Larent Garnier.
Gripper’s remixes have included the likes of Usher, Mobb Deep, Little Egypt, Shaun Ryder, AIM, Gard Du Nord, Jon Kennedy, Victor Simonelli and Niko. A personal milestone was reached when he produced a track for the iconic KRS One on the 2017 released ‘King Of The Oldschool’ album. Other recent productions with Redvenom, Craig G and Donald D from Ice-T’s Rhyme Syndicate show Gripper’s long standing association with real hip hop and it’s culture
Clubs
The Gas Club, Happiness Stans, Locked and Loaded, Gardening Club, 93 Feet East, Fabric, KoKo, Shepherds Bush Empire, Breakneck, INTER face (pirate radio), Supercute (London)
Precinct 13, Sankeys Soap, Manchester Airport, Bolton Town Hall, Friends & Family, Roadhouse, The Ritz, Deaf Institute (Manchester)
Cafe Mambo, Kanya, Savanah, Es Paradis, Cafe Paradis, various Upskirt Records parties, Molokon (Ibiza)
Tantra, various WMC parties (Miami), Zeytuna Beach parties, Radio El Gouna (Egypt) Ministry Of Sound VIP Chateau party (Bordeaux)
Fantazia, The Eclipse (Covenrty) - Quadeant Park (Liverpool) and many many more
Some other artists Gripper has performed alongside over the years include Paul Okenfold, Carl Cox, Pete Tong, Sasha, Grooverider, Shades Of Rhythm, Moby, Alex Patterson, Roni Size, AIM, Souls Of Mischief, Rae & Christian, Judge Jules, Slipmatt, John Kelly, The Furious Five, Mikey DON. A Guy Called Gerald, DJ Face, Naughty By Nature, Dave Haslam, Roots Manuva, Craig Charles. Don Letts, DJ Dribbler, Winston Hazel, Victor Simonelli, Opolopo, A Certain Ratio, Gez Varley, Natasha Kitty Katt and many more.
Gripper has appeared on cult UK clubbing program BPM and worked with Sir Paul Mc Cartney providing studio footage and credit music for his BBC documentary on his Liverpool Institute Of Performing Arts project.
In 2011 Gripper and partner Rob Dunphy set up Sonic Zoo Radio, broadcasting a multitude of locally sourced shows over the internet. Gripper’s regular ZOO-OLOGY show has been an outlet for his love of eclectic new music ever since, and has built up a loyal following across the globe.
Since November 2015, Gripper has been playing monthly at Amsterdam’s Kashmir Lounge, indulging himself and audience in his favoured 6-7 hour sets. Recent trips have seen Gripper standing in for DJ Dribbler on his highly regarded Red Light Radio shows from the city.
Gripper currently runs Barrow Underground Music Society, a private members club which has been attracting a wide range of live music and alternative DJs to this unique venue. The club and its model has been recognised as a real alternative to the way venues have been operating, having been started the week of David Mancuso’s death and as a continuation of that Loft rent party legacy. Small, totally independent of funding, handbuilt from nothing and with a party-in-your-living room vibe, it acts as a kickback against the mainstream and associated pseudo-culture and as a return to Gripper’s first roots of anti establishment DIY punk ethos.
