We speak to the main man James Barton
Hi James, nice to speak to you pal.
Shame about Everton in the FA Cup Final last week as a fellow Everton supporter…?
“Yes it was. I was at a wedding in Venice so couldn’t watch it. I didn’t think we’d get anything out of it but me and my mates all had our mobiles on silent keeping tabs on it. 24 seconds though for our goal, brilliant.”
Well, you have produced what I think is the biggest UK club brand ever. An amazing venue in Liverpool that set clubbing alight and now your festivals everywhere – Buenos Aires, Andalucía, Punchestown, Punta del Este, Istanbul, Malta, Mexico City, Moscow, Prague, Lima, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte and Poland – but what most people don’t know is that your first job was selling socks with your dad – do you think grafting like that helped you into the successful business man you are today?
“Absolutely. I am totally not embarrassed about how I started work. I was 14 and it taught me so much selling stuff like tea towels, socks and dishrags on the street. I learnt how hard you have to work with the public to gain their confidence too.”
So Creamfields in Cheshire 2009 – 30,000 people each day – a massive line up – who are you most excited about seeing live on stage?
“Two acts are really excited me this year. Dizzee Rascal because he’s the first R&B act we’ve had on, he’s really hot at the moment and I have a really good feeling about him coming on. Also, really interested to see how Tiesto does on the main stage. We usually have live acts main time on the main stage so this is a first.”
Creamfields, seems to be more of a ‘personal’ type of event than your competitors who sell out to big brand sponsors, your event still feels it is for the clubber…thoughts?
“We feel that’s true. The thing about Cream and Creamfields is that we are aware that, okay, we are in a recession. Clubbers have so many options for festivals anywhere in the world every weekend through the Summer. We know we can’t rest on our laurels. That’s why we do the ‘wishlist’ for example where we ask our people who they want to see at the event. We can’t be complacent. And I have an amazing team around me who know what is going to work.”
Monday 12th September 1988, you launched a club night at the Stated Ballroom in your home city called ‘Daisy’ nicking the name from the Daisy Chain night in London. Liverpool’s first House night. The first people through the door was DJ John Kelly. What were those days like?
“Great for a lot of reasons. It was when as you said House music erupted. It wasn’t about the money back then. We had a new sound on the streets, there was a real innocence about what we were doing – an honesty if you like. We were booking DJs for fifty quid, I was getting up in the middle of the night to stick posters on street lamps and walls. That spirit has led me to where I am today. A very nostalgic part of my life Dan.
Past Creamfields has seen the likes of The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, Paul Van Dyk, Pendulum, Groove Armada, The Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, Faithless, Kasabian and Tiesto. Who has been the best out of this lot?
“Wow. Good question, has to be The Prodigy in 2006.”
So going back to the ‘wishlist’ you do, has there been any really strange requests from your clubbers?
“None. The only strange thing is that recently it’s been DJs that have been requested over the live artists. Also interesting the variance around the country on which DJs people choose.”
Which artist that have you ever had on at Creamfields has requested the biggest rider?
“Hmmm, well Gnarls Barkley asked for 20 pairs of white socks. Bit weird. And Groove Armada asked us to provide them with fridge magnets for their dressing room – even though it didn’t have a fridge.”
You were good friends with Mick Jones from The Clash many moons ago – you promoted their live shows in Liverpool and DJ’d for them. What is your best memory from those days?
“Yes a good friend. He took me back to his flat this one time after a gig in London, we basically just sat on the sofa, got drunk and he told me about all of the amazing live gigs he had done, the Shea Stadium in New York for instance. It got me hooked into the live artist side of promotion I suppose. What was really weird was years later when we lost contact, I bought a flat in London and bumped into a mutual friend of ours, who told me that the place I’d just bought was Mick’s.
Best DJ to ever hit the decks at the legend that is Quadrant Park?
“Sasha – the demand for him was remarkable.”
What is new for Creamfields 2009?
“Well I am excited about the Mixmag Stage – they have an incredible eclectic line up. We have changed some of the stages around, new tents and really freshened it up. It’s all about giving people value for money.”
