Ronnie Herel is the ambassador to the East of the UK's urban sounds and has touched down in Taiwan on several occasions stretching back to 1998 when he came over and played at dance music impresario Turtle's bar, the former Opium Den.
This time he's going to be busy playing a few club gigs, notably at Turtle's current club Room 18, as well as the big bash this weekend at Green Bay, the Full Moon Beach Party.
"Yeah, he's a really good friend of mine since we brought him over for a gig at the former OD. When I later had the bar Milk we brought Ronnie over again, with some MCs. But they lost their records in transit in Amsterdam. They were so fucking sorry they didn't have any records. It was like, DJs without records! How sad is that?" Turtle said late Wednesday afternoon, before setting off to the airport to pick up Herel.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HEINEKIN
"It was kind of our fault really though coz we put them in economy and that sort of thing happens, right? So, that's why I promised him next time he came over we would fly him business class. So we did. Now, we're going to the airport in a big limousine to pick him up. He's coming in style this time."
Herel has been collecting records since he was 14 and started DJing at winebars and small clubs before founding the music store Uptown Records in Soho, London. His first record Quartz -- It's Too Late made the UK top-10 in 1991 and he's hit a new level with his radio show Uptown Anthems on BBC 1Xtra (www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/index.shtml?logo), becoming the voice of soul and rhythm 'n' blues.
He's smooth, down-to-earth and easy to get along with, according to Turtle, and he will be hard to beat at Green Bay this weekend. He's supported by an all-star cast, including hit-maker Fatman Scoop from the US, Hype Asia with a blend of East and West Coast, and "pump-it-up" Darren Pearce from Britain. Joining the international DJs will be local favorites, Marcus Maurice, Shuzo and Dusk, Michealphonic, K Fancy, Edmund, SL and Victor. The strong lineup will be boosted by spicy bikini girls, fire spinners, barbecues, fireworks and more. The fun starts tomorrow at 3pm and goes on until dawn the next day. Green Bay is nestled between Yehliu and Wanli in Taipei County, about an hour's drive from Taipei (台北縣萬里鄉太平洋翡翠灣). Tickets are NT$800 in advance or on the door before 10pm (including two Heinekins and barbecue food) and NT$1,000 thereafter. Contact Kate for tickets on (0925) 099 079; or go through Era ticket at www.ticket.com.tw. Transportation and venue information at: www.howard-hotels.com.tw/hotel_ft/ft.asp?hotelno=hw02.
The open-air rival to the Full Moon Beach Party on Saturday is the Masago Music Massive at a northern Tainan beach. The musical highlights will be provided by house DJ Donald Glaude and the progressive trance DJ/producer Andy Moor. There will be various stages with the full spectrum of dance music, plus barbecue, blow-up boxing ring, bungee trampolines and wet bikini competitions. It starts at 4pm and is scheduled to end at 7am. There is a free bus service from Tainan train station to the venue; also a round-trip bus for NT$600 from Taipei. Contact Jeff on 0926 398 805 or visit www.spunite.com/masago for further details. Tickets from NT$600 to NT$1,000.
MoS' full moon party tomorrow has G-Club returning to the fray; with Cash Money putting down the latest in hip-hop grit tonight. Coffey's birthday bash is at Luxy on Saturday and hot LA producer Nikola Bayala has been invited for the occasion. Finally, tomorrow is also a new beginning for drum 'n' bass 'n' breaks, with fortnightly Selective Sessions at new bar KuTa on 29, Anhe Road, Taipei (
P!tt and Kaoru.
The Vinyl Word? Fullmoonparty.
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