Friday 24 August 2012

In the Leeds Warehouse Quadrant for a Northern Uproar



Hey Folks.........

Been very busy lately with music projects and a house move but I was offered an opportunity that was just too good to miss, A real Blast from the Past a few weeks back, I was invited to Liverpool to meet a few of the DJ's that will be gracing the Warehouse Decks in Leeds on the 8th September for the Shine Indie Rave.

Lets see, hmmmm Quadrant Park, I was a very young lad then indeed and rumour had it that you had to wear a tie to get in and there was a strict door policy, only went twice I think, but the Quad was a fantastic atmosphere and laid the very foundation of what was to come later in terms of super clubbing for Liverpool which was Cream, had many a night in there too met up with loads of folks from the old quad days.

But this was special a Warehouse on Derby road near Bootle, would see thousands spill down there to party every weekend, I was very privileged to have visited in my clubbing career, one occasion was to experience the main man Sasha at one of the first ever UK all-nighters, Sasha was the man... :-)

The sheer volume of people proved that this was without doubt a very special venue and project a musical journey that would echo through the years and still bring a smile to the faces of people that had the pleasure of being part of it up & down the country, The quad was no secret either Hitman & Her used to broadcast from there too in the early days, as was the Hacienda & Ritzys in Leeds.

And the memories of meeting up at the Services on the way back to Leeds was always a feature and I still often think that these service station meetups were the first after parties for me, I used to gravitate to a vehicle which was playing some beats I liked, people dancing in the services was always apparent, used to stay for ages.

So back to the day in question, I am in Leeds early Saturday and I Pick Micky up, Leeds United are playing at home so there is traffic and supporters everywhere, we set off for the M62 down toward Liverpool, chatted on the way about the old days and of the fantastic nights of old, having been to the Quad a few times myself back in the day it was nice to converse about those good old warehouse days of glory, convoy of cars going down to the Quad, Blackburn & the Hacienda etc, also talking about the indie bands around at the time, and discussing the DJ Prowess of Stu Allan as we both agreed that he played all over the place in Leeds back in the day.



So we eventually get to liverpool and not getting lost at all lol we head for the car Park which just so happened to be called? QPARK, as we entered the carkpark I could not help but wonder if both Mike Knowler & John Kelly would know how this carpark got its name, maybe the Owner used to go to the Quad too years ago.....lol





So we made it and grab a beer a piece and catch up with Mike & John for a chinwag & rare & random interview session for the up & coming Shine gig at the Warehouse in Leeds on the 8th September, two Legends of House in the UK, and such lovely people, with a passion for what they do best, unfortunately the Quadrant Park boys are a trio and we were missing Andy Carroll who was playing over in IBIZA @Space, I was informed later that he would be flying back to do the gig on the 8th, so all was cool with that :-)



So the interview was very random on our part, but the passion for the Quad that both Mike and John had was still very strong and you could tell just by talking to them that they had and still are enjoying every moment of it,



they went on to explain about how Quadrant Park got together and how it all started back in the day, who the original DJ's were how the club worked and how the Allnigher came about and where people came from all over the UK.



and also how the Quad Park reunions are going as they have done a few over the years in places such as Wigan & Blackburn to name a few,



And soon to be Leeds Warehouse, to Quote John Kelly, "If you really want to get a taste of what the Quadrant Park is all about, Come down to the Warehouse in Leeds on the 8th September"



Just to give you a sense of what Quadrant Park Used to be like back in the day here is a snippet of some footage I found, which indeed truly captures the Spirit of the club and experience that is Quadrant Park....



Okay at this point I will sign off here as I have more work to do....I will be back soon to update this as I have been privy to more interviews for artist on this one next stop will be Stockport for Northern Uproar.... Keep Checking back for updates soon.... Peace.xx










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