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CRAIG CHRISTON INTERVIEW
Hello Craig. How's life in Leeds and tell us about the Lunar Jam parties that you are
throwing?
Being a bit of a Leeds veteran of the bar and club scene I've seen many changes over the last
20 years. The scene is pretty cool at the moment. There is loads going on, mostly
predominantly house based club nights although all genres of music are catered for within the
city.
Lunar Jam was borne on the back of our boredom with most of the venues playing similar
music so we decided to play the music that we were into to a small intimate crowd of friends.
Personally, my music taste has changed and matured over the last 20 years. I now prefer to
play music (old and new) in a more eclectic style. My partner in crime behind the Lunar Jam
parties is Andrew Whittaker, another fellow collector and DJ who runs the label 20:20 Vision,
which is more house based. He has done a subsidiary label called Redux which is a more
experimental and edit-led label. We got our heads together and decided to put on an event that
catered for the more discerning music lover. Rather than do the event in a club we decided to
use our local drinking hole (The Adelphi, Leeds). The Adelphi is a long standing traditional
Yorkshire pub and the upstairs is an intimate homely space that fits in perfectly with the vibe
we are creating. It is like listening to your soundtrack in your own home with your friends. The
Lunar Jam is a free event on a word of mouth and invite only basis so we have a family feeling
amongst our crowd. The night is going from strength to strength since starting back in
September 2007. Word has gone around the disco/Balearic fraternity and luckily now we have
some of our friends from within the scene playing for free just so they can play the music they
want to play but cannot play anywhere else. Our policy is to play whatever music we choose so
long as it rocks! Because our party is once a month it gives us something to look forward to
and our confirmed guest DJ's for 2008 are namely; Moonboots, Balearic Mike, Soft Rocks,
Phorski, Phil Mison, Timm Sure & Ampo, Danny Webb, Neil [name]/El Diablo's Social Club,
Cosmic Truth (London), and Red Rack'em. Check out http://www.myspace.com/lunarjam for
more information, mixes and our upcoming events. We also have a facebook group at
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25828557384.
What's your involvement with Weirdo Police that had the first single on Redux?
I am one third of the Weirdo Police - my other two allies are Matthew Playford and Tom Gray,
who are both music artists in their own right. Matthew is currently working on various house
projects with different producers under his own name. Tom runs his own studio and is also
producing other artists and musicians. Our work ethos comes together quite well when we are
working in the studio. I have the DJ experience/knowledge from my addiction to collecting
music over the years; Matthew is the keyboard wizzard and programmer; Tom is the
programmer/producer.
After smashing 12" releases by Greg Wilson, Weirdo Police, Casinoboy and 40 Thieves, do
you know what else we can look forward to from Redux?
I have been informed by Andrew Whittaker from Redux that these are the next offerings from
the label:
REDUX006
Fernando Pulichino - Kick In The Eye
Argentine multi instrumentalist has done a great cover version of the Bauhaus classic. Not an
edit, a full cover version with Fernando playing bass, guitar and singing and programming the
beats. Three mixes, vocal, instrumental and more trippy synth dub. Already played on Bill
Brewster's radio show.
REDUX007
Pete Herbert
1/2 of Reverso 68 and Frontera and Balearic timelord comes correct with a wicked three track
ep of heavy electronic disco delights. Look out for a possible album from Pete on Redux down
the line.
Also forthcoming ep's from past artists Casinoboy (Toby Tobias), Greg Wilson and Weirdo
Police!
Have you released any other music?
We have currently just signed a track "When A Friend Returns" to Lo Recordings for their new
follow up CD "Milky Disco Volume 2". Our other release "Ghost Boat" will be coming out on
Steve Kotey's Bear Entertainment label in the very near future.
What/who is inspiring you at the moment?
Various artists inspire me on a daily basis. I love the music coming out of Norway, Germany
and Italy right now and even right here in the UK. My friends who have the same obsession for
collecting music as myself inspire me also. Everyday I discover inspiring music, whether it be
via the internet, trawling second hand record shops and flea markets.
Do you have any musical heroes?
Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder, Tony Carrasco, Gaz Nevada, Serge Gainsbourg, Manuel
Göttsching, Began Cekic & Fred Zarr, Holger Czukay - the list goes on!
What's your current top 5 tunes?
Dogs of War - Less Stress
The Dub Delay Band - Evolute
Vastkustska Ryggdunkarsallskapet No2 - Don't Dub Around Here No More
Discossession - Mahmoods Moon
Commodity Place - No Ordinary Day
If you could travel back in time, what would you dig to do?
My sensible response is I would probably learn more about the making and programming of
music. I am learning these skills slowly but surely at present and would probably like to work
within music on a daily basis. My more hedonistic persona would be more inclined to go back
to the days of the disco scene errupting at the infamous Studio 54 showing Grace Jones and
Andy Warhol how to really party! Also I quite like the idea of experimenting with acid on the
dancefloor of the Cosmic Cub with Daniele Baldelli on the decks.
What are you looking forward to?
Purchasing a new Moog in the next couple of weeks for the studio. More DJ work and new
forthcoming productions and a nice, long hot summer in England!
Booking info for Craig:
www. movingmusicmanagement. com
phone: 0044 7887863231
