Reach Up!

Reach Up – a new free entry night @ the Gramaphone the last Friday of every month. Run by DJ Andy Smith (ex Portishead DJ), famed for his eclectic mix CD’s, and various guests DJ’s its a chance for them to go back to those old 12″ singles that gave them the taste to be a DJ in the first place. This will be original discotheque club music with a lot of passion - Reach Up!

The music policy will be original disco & boogie from the mid 70’s to the mid 80’s incorporating early Hip Hop when it was all about rapping over a disco beat and all about having a party. Taking these elements and splicing them in with new brand disco re-edits of classic 70’s & 80’s club sounds makes the ideal feel good old school dance night out.

Hosted by - ANDY SMITH. (Ex Portishead tour DJ, Document Mix CD series/ Dynamo Productions/Colourful radio)

Andy Smith started his musical career as a major influence for ‘Bristol Sound’ pioneers Portishead, sourcing samples for their first 2 albums and touring with them. After this he released his own mix CD the Document for FFRR/ London Records (selling over 100,000 copies) which led to Documents 2,3 (Illicit & Sanctuary) and The Trojan Document (Sanctuary). Andy has also had success as a recording artist himself with his own release on Freestyle records (’Sounds Start Rockin’) and as one half of Dynamo Productions with Scott Hendy (Boca 45).

Guests on rotation - Dave Ball (Soft Cell/The Grid)

Dave Ball, one half of 80s cult group - Soft Cell and 90s chart toppers - The Grid has been kept busy releasing an album to critical acclaim last year and performing at Glastonbury, Glade and Brighton Festival as well as at the Scala in London’s Kings Cross with support from Phil Hartnoll of Orbital and Alex Paterson of The Orb.

Nick Halkes (Incentive records)

Nick Halkes was involved in the setting up several major dance music labels - Namely, XL, Positiva and currently runs Incentive Records - Incentive Records is an independent dance based company with records, publishing and producer management interests. Launched in 1999 with investment from Ministry of Sound.

Smoove (Smoove & Turrell)

Smoove’s music career has gone from strength to strength releasing various singles and 2 albums in the last few years (Wack and Jalapeno Records) as well as being featured on many compilation albums and been busy remixing for many high profile artists.

Keith Lawrence (Colourful radio)

Keith’s DJ career has seen him play at Jay-Z’s after party, Musiq soulchild, Average white band or Joe Budden concerts as well as supplying riddims for Black Twang and Rodney-P. Keith has also worked with a diverse array of artists like Maxi Jazz (Faithless), veteran reggae singer the late Jnr Delgado, Jerry Dammers (The Specials) Keith Leblanc (Drummer of Sugarhill gang).

Paul Morrissey (Bozack),

In 2002 Paul & Dynamo Productions moved into a year long residency in room 3 at Fabric. At the beginning of 2003 Paul & Andy took over a new monthly residency at Steve Lawler’s “Harlem Nights” in London’s west end club The END. Currently Paul hosts a weekly Rhythm & Soul Soulful House night now in its fifth year at Mbargo Bristol.

Gordan Mac (Colourful radio)
Gordon Mac (Known as the Godfather of dance music) carved out his career as the first person to start a pirate radio station that became legalised in the UK and renowned for creating the Kiss FM brand. He now hosts a weekly radio show on Choice Fm he draws in huge crowds at venues across the UK as a guest DJ.