Southport Weekender festivals have without a doubt been indispensable to the soulful music scene over the past 24 years. With a decision to take the twice yearly event to once a year, as they embark on additional exciting overseas adventures, Southport Weekender’s 2010 festival sold out in just 2 weeks of going on general sale. Last weekend saw the Southport team lay on a World-class line-up to a devoted crowd of 5000+ party goers from all over the globe. DMC hooks up with Sarah Favouritizm, one of the key forces behind this incredible three days of dance and quickly emerging as one of the new breed of female spinners out there…
How are you feeling today Sarah, how much sleep has the last five days seen?
“All I can say is thank god I can type this interview as I have no voice left whatsoever, but let’s have a go a stringing some sentences together. I think I clocked about 9 hrs sleep between Thursday to Monday night and currently feeling completely sick and delirious but reeling off the amazing performances and biggest belly laughs the weekend offered!!!
When does the work for Southport 47 begin?
“No rest for the wicked, there is still a lot of work to do even post SPW 46 for Alex, Dave and team SPW. Planning work starts pretty much straight away, well when Alex gets out of bed. Tickets are available now to those who attended Southport 46, with general tickets going on sale September 1st.”
Southport began back in 1987 with Alex Lowes and Up North Promotions cohort Dave Gardner attracting 500 people to a caravan park in Berwick Upon Tweed. Were there any DJs on the bill then who appeared at the weekend of 46?
“That’ll be out very own Scottish Legend Bob Jefferies! Still rocking! Much credit to all the jocks who have performed at SPW, a lot of the orginal team stayed with us for many many years.”
When did you first come on board and how do you think the weekend has changed since then?
“I was a Southport punter for a few before the guys asked me to join the team, must admit I was stoked when they asked me, but didn’t quite have a clue as to what craziness laid ahead. Let’s just say I now have balls of steel! Been with them now for 7 years and loving every minute of it, give or take the occasional use of swear words of course! As with anything to stay successful, things have to evolve and move with the times and also importantly address what the punters want from the weekender. Southport have probably made more changes in the last 12 months than they ever have. The recession presented us with new hoops to jump through from a business perspective as with many, and as clubland and festival culture continues to evolve we made the decision to make the event yearly and branch out with new exciting ventures overseas too. Also DJ wise we’ve made some changes with how we bill the Dj’s, as you know residents are important, especially when putting on a event of this scale, however we have free’d up some of our would be residency slots to spot gigs. This now allows us to be more creative with the line-ups on offer.”
Who stole the show at 46? A colossal line up, what were the highlights…
“With 4 arenas on the go it’s impossible for me to comment on all performances, everyone I saw was brilliant! But if I have to pick a few its gotta be the girls at the Disco finale – Jocelyn Brown, Martha Wash and Linda Clifford, vocal legends – they were just incredible! Crazy P did a cracking job on Friday night too. DJ’s wise Greg Wilson, John Morales, Ashley Beedle, Grant Nelson, Andy Ward, Spen, Ralf Gum, Kerri Chandler, Joe Claussell, Louie Vega, Ron Carroll, Joey Negro.. Over in the Funkbase, Cash Money and legend David Rodigan smashed it and I had an amazing Saturday arvo with the resless soul crew in the Beat Bar!”
Southport now once a year as offers are duly coming in from around the world, Croatia swings in first with a large event this summer, what can expect from good times vibe in sunshine?
“Oh boy, Croatia has got it coming this August with Suncebeat! 3 days of Southport fun in the sun from 13th -15h with the likes of Dennis Ferrer, Theo Parrish, Ron Trent, Kerri Chandler, Joey Negro, Jazzie B, Phil Asher, Kev Beadle, The Martinez Brotehrs, Mr Fingers and myself spinning plus live artists like Roy Ayers, Jose James and Leroy Hutson. It’s gonna be WILD! Tickets are on sale now.”
What were the big tunes from the weekend…?
“That’s for our punters to decide…”
The chalet parties at Southport are legendary – what’s your favourite chalet story?
“These kids don’t stop! They all pile out of the arenas at approximately 8.30am and chalet shambles begins! People bring their own sound systems, décor that even gives a Habitat store a run for it’s money, and someone even brought their cat along once!. It’s safe to say the madness never ends, we have no day and night or sleep for that matter! It’s great if the weather is good as you can walk around the site and every block has some sort of party going on with 100’s of people dancing out on the grass….Oh news just in!. Unsuspecting punter pulls lovely lady on the Friday night and takes her back to chalet for a bit of how’s yer father, only to discover she came with nuts and not a side salad!”
Who is the live artist that has so far slipped through your grasp that you really want on?
“I think it would have to be Stevie Wonder. I can imagine it now, 5000 + people trying to squeeze into a 2000 capacity arena, they would be climbing the walls to make sure they are in! Doesn’t hurt to dream does it?) We’ve also got Jill Scott and Erykah Badu on our wishlist among many…”
Who were the new kids that shone behind the decks this year?
“As well as popping on loads of big guns and favourites, Southport are consistantly embracing the new breed too. SPW46 saw the likes of Souled, Ladybugz, Sean McCabe, Stretch Taylor, The Revenge, Kyle Hall among others rocking the floors. Phil Asher (a SPW favourite) brought his Restless soul DJj crew and vocalists along for a super Saturday afternoon session and we had some amazing jocks making their SPW debut including the legendary producer John Morales, Ralf Gum and Grant Nelson…Oh yeah and myself and Simon Reid made our Powerhouse debut this time too with a house set on Friday and opening the disco finale on Sunday.”
Who have been the live artists over the years who have brought the house down the most?
“Wow . We’ve had so many wonderful acts grace the stages of the years…Ahem…A Tribe Called Quest, Ananda Project, Angie Stone, Adeva, Alexander O’Neil, Angie Stone, Anglea Johnson, Arnold Jarvis, Ann Nesby, Azymuth, Bah Samba, Barbara Tucker, Ben Westbeech, Beverley Knight, Billie, Byron Stingily, Carleen Anderson, Ce Ce Rogers, Craig David, Crazy P, Christian Prommer’s Drum Lesson, Dajae, Damage, De La Soul, Drizabone, Duanne Harden, Dwele, Eric Roberson, Galliano, Gangstarr, Gloria Scott, Gwen McCrae, Henrik Schwarz, Incognito, India, India Arie, Innercity, James Taylor Quartet, Jay Sean, Jazzmataz featuring Guru, Jasper Street Company, Jazzanova, Jocelyn Brown, Jody Watley, Jose James, Joyce Simms, Judy Cheeks, Julie McKnight, Kathy Brown, Kathy Sledge, Kele Le Roc, Kenny Thomas, Kim English, Lady Alms & Marc De Clive-Lowe, Leroy Burgess, Lemar, Linda Clifford, Loleatta Holloway, Loose Ends, Lynden David Hall, Marc Ronson, Marc Evans & The Muthafunkaz, Mark Morrison, Marlena Shaw, Mica Paris, Michael Watford, Mint Condition, Montell Jordan, Monique Bingham, M-People, Ms Dynamite, Nathan Haynes, Nu Colours, Omar, Peven Everett, Phyllis Hyman, Rashaan Patterson, Reel People, Robert Owens, Ron Carroll, Roy Ayers, Sara Devine, Shaun Benson, Shaun Escoffery, Soul II Soul, Shola Ama, Sounds of Blackness, Sybil, Ten City, The Blackbyrds, The Fatback Band, The Sunburst Band, Terry Callier, Tortured Soul, Ultra Nate, Will Downing and Wookie to name only a few…One hefty one was Sounds Of Blackness with 19 people on stage! Utterly amazing!!!”
What makes the crowd at Southport so different from other weekend posse’s?
“They are just so damn lovely! We can safely boast the friendliest crowd that’s for sure, our SPW family are a loyal bunch and a mixed one at that with an age range of 18-50 coming from all corners of the globe and getting down! It’s just as much about hooking up with your mates you made there last time as seeing the amazing entertainment on offer. But hey we’re no clique, we have new folks signing up every event, but once a Southport Weekender virgin – forever hooked!”
As a DJ, who is your favourite DJ of all time?
“If I was to name one, all the gang would string me up. Ha! I’ve been fortunate enough to be out and about on the scene for many many years now and enjoyed more DJ perfomances than I’ve had cups of tea! I’m not a snob with my musical taste and been lucky enough to have seen most of the greatest DJs from around the world from house to hip hop and beyond. Each individual has brought me much joy and shaped who I am muscially today… No sign of this lady hanging up her disco pumps yet, new talent keeps coming through and I’m hungry to dance to them all!”
The weekender boasts 4 Arena’s of heavyweight, cutting edge and classic soulful music right across the board from House, Jazz, Broken Beats, Drum n Bass, Hip Hop, Deep House, RnB, Soul, Jazz Funk, Rare Groove, Nu Soul and a hefty portion of classics. Which arena always kicks off the most?
“That’s simples, they all kick off! We have such a diverse amount of music on to cater for all our punters tastes, no room takes the lead, they all vary in capacity so there might be 2000 people going nuts to Joey Negro in the Powerhouse whilst at the same time 1300 people bouncing off the walls in the Funkbase to Cash Money and so forth.”
And finally, which Southport DJ always get’s the most wasted?
“Hahahahaha…I think they all have their moments.. I think the wasted award for SPW46 has to go to Rahaan who dropped his trousers mid set at the after party DJ match with Kerri Chandler, Andy Ward, Ralf Gum, Duce Martinez and Sean Mccabe. He then handed a ‘fuck U’ note to the opposing team before passing out backstage to sleep it off whilst the match continued. A super DJ and a massive bundle of fun, Rahaan you’re a legend, we love you! (now I’m gonna get my ass well and truly kicked!) Can I go to bed now please Mum?!!
For more information on Southport Weekenders and Suncebeat festival please visit www.southportweekender.co.uk
