DiskoPogo Number 1 – The Beginning 17th Jan 2009

January 17^th 2009, an unassuming date, but one that went off big style, down at the Nook in sunny Chorlton village baby. Yes it was the opening DiskoPogo event, a new bi-monthly music event exploding out of south Manchester like a cat coming out of a sack. DiskoPogo kicked off around 1800hrs as the student-body’s teatime lentils were digesting with some retro disco and street soul played by DiskoJim, taking a break from his busy world tour. Manhattan Transfer’s ‘Twilight Zone’, Atmosfear’s ‘Dancing in Outer Space’, and Barrabas’ ‘Woman’ were amongst the tracks setting the early disco-tinged tone.

Next on at 1900hrs sharp was Cord bar and Audioworks very own Big Gav Hayes (aka the Jamaica ginger) clouding up the atmosphere with some uber-blunted reggae and Nigerian disco vibes, with a little bit of Marvin Gaye thrown in for good measure. The place was starting to fill up now, with various people collectively coming in to enjoy the music as background in the upstairs bar, or nice and loud in the basement, where the UV lighting and miniature dinosaurs add to the ambience of the event.

Following on from Gav on the hour of 2000, came an old hand and a flashback to the Hacienda from DiskoMike, of ‘Back to Mikes’ fame. DiskoMike upped the tempo with classic Fac51 memorabilia including the tracks ‘Moving with the shakers’ by the Sunburst Band, ‘Can you dance’ by Kenny Jammin Jason , and Kid Creole and the Coconuts ‘I’m a wonderful thing, baby’. DiskoMike also debuted ‘Sax Party’ from Hacienda legend Graeme Park and Nick Hussey. DiskoMike took DJing to another level as he texted and drank pints whilst simultaneously and nonchalantly mixing up a storm.

Straight outta the blocks at 2100hrs was man-of-the-moment DiskoDaz, taking time out from his 30th birthday celebrations to play some intelligent noise whilst frowning so hard it hurt. The party was getting a little jumping at this time, with plenty of ladies filtering down to the basement fly trap, and the atmosphere upstairs deserving one more notch on the volume. Tracks like Kraftwerk ‘Tour de France’ Sety ‘Mogane’, and Joubert Singers ‘Stand on the Word’ resonated from the bassbins thanks to DiskoDaz’s box.

Subtly taking over the controls at 2200hrs was Audioworks legend DiskoGaz, letting his skilful fingers glide the party further by playing such delights as Lil Wayne ‘A Milli (Flying Lotus Remix), Sterac ‘Rond’, and Martyn ‘All I have is Memories’. DiskoGaz, currently serving a ten-stretch in chokey for aggravated ear-taking luckily managed to sneak out of the slammer to mangle a few more ears. He is a wanted man in ten states in America for his light-fingered audio trickery.

Last but not least at 2300hrs was the shiny-headed ninja DiskoScott, taking time out from cooking a beef brisket and DJing at Buddha Bar (not at the same time) to let the punters at The Nook into his brain for an hour. DiskoScott belted out such tunes as Johnny B ‘Orbital Life’, Julian Jonah ‘Jealousy and Lies’, and The Allgood Funk Alliance’s ‘Plastic People’, whilst looking like he wasn’t ‘bovvered’. (DiskoScott can send anyone his tracklisting by request on an XL spreadsheet.)

For the final half hour, DiskoJim returned to the decks to power the night home by playing some big big tunes to the informed and very lucky crowd. Joy Division ‘Love will tear us Apart’, D*Note ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’, Salt N Pepa ‘Push it’, and Blueboy ‘Remember me’ were the tunes featured in the climax to DiskoPogo Number 1.

A memorable night was had by all guests and the mayhem continues on March 21^st – be there or miss out royally.