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Goodgreef take on Frantic at NYE-NEC

Reported by e99 / Submitted 21-12-06 21:06

Goodgreef is one of those rare success stories in hard dance. Founded in 2000 by then 18 year old Barry Almond, the brand now co-hosts the main arena at Creamfields, has hosted parties at Amnesia in Ibiza with Cream, and hosts regular gigs in Ireland, Holland, Ibiza and Russia as well as all over the North of England. In terms of hard music, it’s one of the most eclectic nights out there, representing the full spectrum of tough dirty music — as Barry points out. “Goodgreef has always been one of the only club nights in the UK that alternates between various genres of hard dance (hard trance, hard house, hardstyle) and trance and techno.” It’s this broad-minded approach that has seen them work with dance music giants like Cream and Slammin’ Vinyl, who have got them on-board at their NYE-NEC event, co-hosting a 2500 capacity arena with Frantic. and has seen everyone from Lady Dana to Marco Bailey play at their events.



Barry staged his first party in 1999 while he was working as a concession manager at Envy Menswear in Manchester. After the sell-out success of the first party, he stepped in at the deep end and decided to give promoting a full-time effort. It was soon apparent that he would need a full-time team to help him with the brand, and as the Goodgreef name grew and grew, Barry took on more and more staff to help with the myriad of different events the company runs across the UK and throughout the world. In addition to the events, they’ve released 3 very successful compilations and have also set up a Goodgreef record label and merchandising range — clearly more than a one-man business. “My business partner is Ben who does DJ bookings and most event management on the night to maintain things running smoothly. Our other partner Simon runs the accounts. Natalie runs the merchandise and staff at events. Mark is promotions liason. Pete Carvell and Henry Mayor run our Preston promotion, while Tez Walker runs our Tall Trees promotions and Chris Metcalfe aka Kettle is our tour manager.”

The other members of the Goodgreef team — the DJs — have all done amazingly from their involvement with the events too. Eddie Halliwell rose to fame as a resident at the club and Radio1’s Trophy Twins made their name as hosts of the House Party room at Goodgreef’s events, while they were responsible for discovering Dark By Design and giving him a platform to ply his trade on.



That’s not to mention tech-trance star Adam Sheridan (rated by the likes of Pete Tong and Paul van Dyk as one of the hottest new stars in trance over the last few years), the superbly talented hard dance destroyers Shan and Alex Kidd, and of course the rarity that is a female trance DJ in the shape of Tylor Leigh, who has been making waves in the trance scene recently. It’s truly been a hotbed of talent in dance music since it started, and holds massive influence over the harder side of the scene. “They are all unique in talent,” Barry says of his DJs. “And considering each week I get a dozen demos and various e-mails for DJs wanting to play and be part of our agency we feel we have handpicked the finest homegrown talent in the scene.”

2006 has been another great year for the club, and Barry finds it hard to single out any event from the past 12 months as a high point. “Its hard to say but Preston in February was awesome, as was Xtra Hard at Manchester Academy and Big Beef collaboration with Sundissential in Leeds and of course the mighty Paul Van Dyk at Goodgreef Tall Trees in May.” But enough of the past...



As you can probably tell, Goodgreef are a pretty ambitious bunch. Their sights are set on getting bigger and better in 2007, but without losing touch of their core ethos. “Plans are to cut back on our big regular events slightly as less is more. Although plenty of Goodgreef tours around the UK/Ireland and Europe are planned to give people a true taste of the GG experience, hosted by our talented and versatile residents and cutting edge foreign guests in both the tech-trance & hard dance scene.”

There’s talk of them hosting arenas at up to three of the big UK festivals this year alongside their regular gigs in Preston, Tall Trees, Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool and expanding the Balearic empire to include events in Majorca as well as Ibiza. While his activities demonstrate a sense of ambition, Barry feels that he has already fulfilled most of his goals with regards to Goodgreef. “I’m very lucky to have achieved everything I have ever dreamed of, although I wish there was a new superclub in Manchester where I live so we can have regular parties there! (Come back Hacienda lol) and maybe Greef-fields one day ha ha!”

After 6 years of promoting big club events and arenas at festivals, it’s natural that a full-scale festival is at the top of the tree for Barry. There’s the inbetween step of course — the full-on arena shows that the Dutch put on with shocking frequency. But he’s unconvinced as to whether such events would really benefit the scene over in the UK. “Yes because they are exciting events and it brings together lots of like minded clubbers for one special party, but no in that too many big events can ruin the regular dance scene which is so important in maintaining a healthy clubbing scene.”



The one event that comes close to anything that Dutch have to offer is arguably Slammin’ Vinyl’s huge, 11,000-capacity NYE-NEC at the NEC Halls in Birmingham. “I was very surprised but also flattered that such a leader in the underground scene could want our involvement but also value us so much. We have hosted an arena at NEC before for Godskitchen and have hosted arenas for Hardcore promoters Helter Skelter & Vibealite at their events, so maybe they thought we’d fit the bill well. We have a very strong Northern following that would be excited about heading over the M6 for such an amazing event.”

The most exciting prospect for many in their arena will be Dark By Design’s rarely-seen live show — a pounding journey through hard trance, schranz and hardstyle, all backed-up by Gaz West’s huge, fearsome stage presence. “[His live show] has been going great, so good that he has only performed it at Goodgreef 5th Birthday, Dance Valley HQ Stage 15,000 people Slammin NEC last year, Avex’s event at Valfare in Japan and in Australia while on tour for Steve Hill. He will just be doing special live performances around the globe every now and again, rather than him being tagged just a live act. It’s great as all tracks are his own productions/remixes, which will show the clubbers why he was voted best remixer twice in the Hard Dance Awards as well as a sell out Artist album through Tidy and massive releases on Goodgreef Recordings.”

Speaking of Goodgreef Recordings, there’s no concrete plans to follow up the previous three volumes of the acclaimed compilation series yet, but Barry’s not saying that it’s all over. “Not just yet, but never say never. It’s a lot of time and effort for little return and I would rather work hard to make sure we put on good events for our loyal punters, ‘cos that’s what we do best.” And who can argue with that really?

Photos courtesy of Goodgreef. Not to be reproduced without permission.

EventID 2cc853c32a0f8cf2ad63e8e37018506a: No matching event found
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Other Features By e99:
Fergilcious: PunchFunk & Excentrik take over The Key
Baklash take over the IceBox at HeatUK Aftermath '07
Trevor Rockcliffe — Proactive — HeatUK & The Gallery NYE — 'nuff said?
HeatUK Evolution: Natural Selection — a look at dance music’s gone-but-not-forgottens
Tasty’s 5th Birthday and the battle of the brands
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
Comments:

From: mattpickup on 28th Dec 2006 19:08.13
Looks a wicked event good luck with it all catch up ith ya on new years day barry great interview!

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