THE HISTORY OF THE BBQ

Back in somewhere in the early noughties, while doing the Friends & Family parties, I had fucked up light bulb moment! I decided I would do an outdoor version of the party. That idea may not sound ground breaking to most people, but to attempt an outdoor club night in the wettest city of the wettest country in Europe was pretty fukin radical Gee! 

Times were grim and we hadn’t had a summer for 4 years for fucks sake! I found a nice outdoor space at the back of a bar called Kro and booked a bunch of local vinyl collectors and record shop workers to DJ. As the day of the event got nearer it rained every day until the night before, then, miraculously, it was dry and warm for the party and then the following day it pissed it down. I had been blessed. (The Gods love a trier eh!) 

Over the next ten years I would do umpteen more BBQ parties eventually morphing it into the Red Laser BBQ as the record label started and to reflect my changing musical tastes. The change obviously wasn’t for some old schoolers who had indulged in Funk, Jazz and Hip Hop in its Friends and Family form but for others the exciting sounds of Italo, Boogie and generally good types of house music made the event fresh and new.

Then, early this year, I tried to book my usual Kro Bar and got the knock back from the venue. WHAAATTT!!!! The venue owners blamed it on problems with noise complaints from the Church next door (We always had to turn the music down for Sunday mass from 5pm – 6pm and pay the Vicar in liquor the piss head) and the crowd not drinking enough booze from the bar so the venue could make up their promo costs. The venue’s promo costs you say??!! Yes a venue that paid a promoter to put the event on not the other way round. Could you believe my luck?. I had been on a top screw for 8 years as the venue paid for the sound and the promotion to the tune of a grand. When finally another set of promoters asked to do a BBQ (Taxin my fukin idea AND venue) my financial screw became untangled as the new crew let the cat outa the bag the turds! You can imagine them askin the owner how much did HE want for the hire of the venue and then the owner scratchin his head like “What? You pay me? But I’ve been payin Woody for 8 fukin years!!” 

But everything happens for a reason eh!! Just as I was deciding to knock it on the head I was chattin to Randy Marsh of Wet Play and he had an idea for something similar with local boogie crew and music lovers The Social Service. The Social crew had been the offered an amazing new venue in a brewery on the outskirts of Manchester city centre in Salford (Even better it’s in the land of my birth) called The First Chop Brewing Arm. Not only that I knew the owner Rick as a Fat City Records regular from back in the day and he’s a fukin dude. Because it was Rick I knew this gaff was gonna be dope without even lookin but when I finally did see it I couldn’t believe how amazing it was.  After some toing and froing and much love from all three parties the Wet Laser BBQ is born. 

So now all that’s left is to give you the run-down of amazing selectors booked for the event and keep our fingers crossed for the weather.

James Holroyd (Back To Basics / Begin)

Jim or Boggy as he is known to friends is somewhat of a legend and inspiration to many DJ and producer worth his/her salt in Manchester and mucho further afield. Not only is he a great DJ (Defo one of Manchester’s finest), he has impeccable taste in music. The best club journeys are created when selector knowledge and DJ skills collide and Jim has an abundance of both. He has been producing music for years and his latest Begin project has created a string of instant Balearic classic records. Check em out here (Click)

Mikey Donn (Band On The Wall / Krispy)

Again another legend. Mikey is more well known as one third of UK Hip Hop pioneers the Krispy 3 and as a regular spinner on the Reggae and Bashment circuit but not many people realise how good Mikey is spinning Boogie, Disco, Acid House and everything in-between. Anybody who attended the Red Laser BBQ a few years back will remember how he obliterated the gaff!!! This guy is a sick DJ. Check him out here (CLICK)

Randy Marsh (Full Beam / Wet Play)

Full Beam and Wet Play man Marsh jams the boogie like it was his last day on earth. When he aint working on bonkers creations (Red Laser Desk brighteners, Marital Aids, Il Bosco Kemp Folds etc) he’s spinnin boogie down the gravy pit and various underground nights around Manchester. All you style biters bring your note pads and pens as you are sure to hear a whole heap of jams you can rob and claim as your own (Turds). Check his mixes here (CLICK)

DJ sonofapizzaman (Full Beam)

He’s Randy’s DJ partner at Full Beam and an avid collector of boogie and Italo vinyl’s that you aint heard before. Don’t ask him where he got his DJ name from. The clue is in the title you muppet. Top head. Top spinner. Check his mixes here (CLICK)

The Disco Mums (Red Laser)

The toppest bunch of DJ girls in the UK and residents of Red Laser Disco. I aint heard any girl DJ’s that play better choons than these and all vinyl too. Just avoid em when its rag week. They been DJin  together solid for 3 years now so they all come on at the same time. FIYAH!!! Check their mixtapes here (CLICK)

Il Bosco (Red Laser Records / Fat City)

That’s me!

Check me out init – (CLICK)

Metrodome (Red Laser Records / Wet Play)

This cat has so much showbiz talent he shits sequins. Nobody gets lost in the enjoyment of Djin more than Metrodome. Not only that his fukin selections are the bomb. Its always a real treat watchin this guy do his thang. I cant decide if he’s better at DJin or producing. Get the idea here how good this guy is here (CLICK)

Kickin’ Pigeon (Wet Play)

Pidge brings deep house and quality techno knowledge as his specialities but don’t pigeon hole this G. As one of the Wet Play crew he brings amazing eclecticism and is knowledgeable in all genres. As you guessed he’s a brillo DJ (As if we gonna put on anyone shite!!!) and always brings class and surprises to his DJ sets - (CLICK)

The Social Service

The crew that bring Manchester one of the best underground nights in years. They don’t even need to do their thing in the city centre. In fact it’s that good they don’t even do it in a trendy suburb!!! The Social Service jam their shit in Stretford. These guys have a combined record collection of super gems. They DJ with passion and skill and never fail to rock the fukin joint. Check there vibe here (CLICK)

At the time of writing there may be a couple of super special guests in the pipeline. We just finalizing the late night after party sitch so watch the event page for any updates (Event page click here)

Traditionally the BBQ sells out. Admittedly the tickets usually sell out a few days before so no rush (Just don’t forget)

Tickets available here from skiddle (CLICK TO BUY TICKETS)

And from Piccadilly records in Manchester - (CLICK)

So here we have the all new improved BBQ the Wet Laser BBQ happnin in a venue that will blow peoples melons apart. We don’t get paid to do it here! All the love is pumped into makin this an experience for all that attend. And as for Kro Bar, so what I lost my cash cow. Those times were mutually beneficial and really should be the blueprint for all promoters as it’s always less risk for a venue. The BBQ’s at Kro helped me raise the money to start Red Laser Records and paid for a load of expensive B0 posters too. Anyone want any let me know got 10 from each event takin up space in mi garage send a message to redlaserrecords@gmail.com

I got no beef with Kro and the owner Mark I gotta heap of respect for as a straight talkin entrepreneur with his feet on the ground. Anyway for those who missed out on last month’s free promoters spread sheet giveaway click here to download and spread the link to friends who may need assistance in managing their costs (CLICK)

Il Bosco