When Tidy’s Christmas Party plans were forced into a change, Cally Gage and The Tidy DJ’s were placed together at the last minute to play back to back. They all stepped up to the plate and delivered what is widely recognised to be one of the sets of the night. Now they’re back, and this time it’s planned!
Set to play an exclusive 2 hour set at the forthcoming Contagious Bouncing Ball event on Friday 6th June at Club Ice in Westbury, we ask them a few questions before Cally and the Tidy DJ’s sit down and size each other up before their North v South Civil War Headline Set....

Your all back playing for the second time playing at Contagious, are you looking forward to it, what have you been up to since the last time we saw you?

TIDY DJS: Yes, Contagious looks set to be a right laugh. We always have a good night down there. We have both been really busy since last time you saw us. As well as spreading the Tidy DJ love all over the UK and beyond week in and week out, we have been venturing into the studio quite a bit so expect a flurry of Tidy DJ productions to be released over the coming months!

CALLY: Of course I’m looking forward to it – especially after last time, it was wicked.
Things have been nice and busy since the Tidy Xmas Party, so that’s all good. The year started with me being signed to the massive ‘Strike’ agency, alongside other DJ’s such as Lisa Lashes, BK and Anne Savage – so I feel I’m in pretty good company there!! I’ve also played some massive gigs already this year and managed to achieve one of my goals – to headline a Frantic event! I headlined the main room at Hard House Heaven last weekend and thought it was incredible, I had an amazing time.
I’ve also dipped my toe into the world of production, at last! I went in with the hugely talented legend that is BK and came up with a nice chunky little number called ‘Get With This’. Fingers crossed it will be getting a release later in the year, so make sure to keep your ears peeled for that!
I have also been doing a little bit of interviewing at a few recent events, which I’m loving by the way. It all started with me interviewing my good friend Nathalie at a recent Frantic H.D.S. event, after a few vodkas admittedly!! The interview went down so well, that Will Paterson (owner of all things Frantic) asked me to interview a load of DJ’s at his recent Timeless event, along with Frisky. This was used on a promotional video which proved to be quite popular, so I may be doing this at quite a few events in the future – so if you see me wandering about with a camera crew, make sure to come over and have a chat.

You have played back to back before, how did you find it? Are you looking forward to this one?

TIDY DJS: We played back to back at the Tidy xmas party 2007 and as the old Northern proverb goes, “It Went Reet Off”. ! Our styles compliment each other very well, and we all get on as mates so that definitely helps!

CALLY: Well it all happened really last minute to be honest, I think I knew that it was happening on the actual day!!! I’ve seen Sam & Deano play loads of times before, so I knew that our styles would work really well together and it did – I thought it was fab!
Because of how well the set went last time, I am so looking forward to our set at Contagious – so you best not miss it, lol!

So lads, since we saw you last you have had a go at putting on your own event, how did that go?

TIDY DJS:Yes we have started to dabble in the promotion side of things, we held a boat party in our home town of Leeds called ‘Rave On The River’ and it went off big time! It was only a small intimate party but the boat was rocking (literally) from start to finish. Every one was dressed as pirates and it was good to see people making an effort and having so much fun! We are now looking to take the ‘Rave On’ brand to other unique venues around the country, all will be reviled soon!

Both Tidy and Frantic are busy pushing a week worth of parties in Ibiza this summer, how are the plans going and which parties are you most looking forward to playing?

TIDY DJS: Ibiza is looking set to be massive! It’s good to see Hard House getting a presence on the Island again! All the parties have been confirmed and we have some very special events over the week, check out tidy.com for all the details!

CALLY: I haven’t really been involved with the planning of the parties in Ibiza for Frantic, but I hear on the grapevine that things are going really well and it’s going to be an absolutely mental week. Unfortunately though, due to other commitments, I won’t actually be there for the week in June with Frantic – rubbish I know, but I will be out there for 3 other dates in July, August and September, so that kind of makes up for it.

Do you think Promoters are starting to pay attention to the needs of the Clubber more? Events and musically? Do you think the extra effort Contagious puts into their events makes a difference?

TIDY DJS: Yes, you can certainly see promotions starting to put more effort into the way they host events, and its starting to pay off with an influx of younger people into the scene. Contagious go that extra mile and you get Kieron in a Kilt, which in all honesty is bad for the scene as it scares people away! Keep your trousers on K.

CALLY: Definitely, you can tell just from the varied DJ’s that are on each line up and all the new talent that is coming through. I think that hard house has definitely turned a corner this year and is getting bigger and bigger with every event that is put on.
Speaking on behalf of Frantic, I know that Will always listens to the views and opinions of clubbers, then uses this to make the next parties even better. He is always in and out of different clubs each weekend and taking notice of what is said on the message boards each week. I feel that this really makes him stand out as a promoter and is the reason Frantic is still so huge today – they’re celebrating their 11th birthday in August!

Contagious have always put on amazing parties and definatley listen to what the clubbers want. Claire and Gordon always seem to put that little bit of extra effort into each event and it really pays off, I’ve played for them a few times now and am chuffed to bits for the support they have given me.

And the main thing is that they absolutely love it all and you can definitely tell, it shows at every party that Contagious do.

A little birdy has told me that you are both working on some productions. Is there any truth? Is there likely to be any Cally Gage and Tidy DJ collaborations?

TIDY DJS: Yes, we have a studio date booked in, it’s taken a while to sort out as we are both so busy, but there will defo be some collaboration tracks coming out soon!

As a nipper I remember shaking my bits to a hard house track called ‘Sexy South and Naughty North’ which definitely described the difference in the Hard House sound between London and the North. Do you think the same statement can be applied today?

TIDY DJS: I maybe being biased here but I definitely think that the Northern clubs have the edge at the moment. A few years ago it was all about clubbing in the capital, us Northerners used to travel down there regularly as the events where rammed, and the line ups were better, but nowadays the North has raised the bar and the evens are busier with better music, happy days! Music wise the south is all about the Hard Trance vibes, Head North and its good old fashioned bangin’ ard House!!!

CALLY: Wow, I need to hear that track please!
Well I’m from the South and definitely feel sexy and my other half is from the North and he is definitely naughty – so does that answer the question?!!
No, be serious now! To be honest, I don’t really see that much of a divide anymore at all, as more and more clubbers are travelling all over the country to go out to different nights – this is partly due to promotions putting on bigger and better parties. Every clubber from every part of the country parties just as much as the other and I love playing to all of them!

Is the Northern Bounce better than the Southern Hard, are birds actually fitter in the South, Grim Up North, or Southern Shandy Drinking Poofs? We locked Cally and The Tidy DJ’s in a cupboard to let them fight it out before their Showcase set on June 6th....

ROUND 1: CALLY ON THE TIDY DJS

Sam you used to run the techno influenced label ‘Shroom Recordings’ and Deano I remember going clubbing with you back in the day and you used to play the much filthier side of hard house. What made you both change your styles so much to what you are playing today?

We both used to play different styles when we got bored with the traditional Hard House sound, the music was pretty rubbish back then so we both looked elsewhere for musical inspiration. Nowadays the fun has come back into the music so im back on bored with it, producers seem to have some direction again. We both still like Techno and NRG respectively, but at the moment its all about pushing the fun vibes and the party!

As a duo, I know you have been getting into the studio quite a bit recently – what exciting tunes can we look out for in the near future then?

We have our remix of the new Kym Ayres track ‘Take It Easy’ due for imminent release on Tidy, we are both really pleased how this track has come out and it’s been getting massive reaction when we play it!
We also have our mix ‘Strings For Yasmin’ appearing on a massive Tidy album project called ‘Inspirations For A Harder Generation’ later in the year so make sure you look out for more info on that.

I heard that your ‘Party on a Boat’ was a massive success, so are there any plans to put anymore parties on at all?

‘Rave On the River’ was a great success, so we have a couple more ‘Rave On’ parties lined up before the year end, check out tidydjs.com for more details!! The idea behind ‘Rave On’ is to throw parties in places away from your typical night club, so some interesting projects lined up with all that!

If money was no object and you could go anywhere in the world, where would you hold an event and who would you have playing on the night?

Tough one, we would both probably look to do something on the beaches of Rio, Brazil. Line up wise we would just get all our mates out there, so don’t worry Cally, you would be playing!

Who is the tidiest DJ?
Paul Maddox, his house is very, very, very clean. I think he may have a cleaning disorder, he’s always talking about bleach and polish, pretty weird.

ROUND 2: TIDY DJS FIGHT BACK

So Cally, we hear you have popped your studio cherry recently with none other than BK. How did this come about and how did it go?

I know, how exciting and I did it with no other than the man himself, Mr BK!! The reason behind it all is that he is currently working on an album which is going to be made up of collaborations between him and other DJ’s in the scene. So basically, he called me and asked if I wanted to go in the studio with him – obviously I jumped at the chance straight away, as I knew it would definatley be a fantastic opportunity for me.

We were in the studio for 2 days and came up with a really great track called ‘Get With This’, well I think it is anyway! It just needs a few little tweaks and I think it will finally be ready for the masses, hehe! I’m really pleased with it and learned so much from him, so fingers crossed I’ll get the chance to do it again sometime soon.

Have you any other studio dates coming up?
I have been speaking to a few producers recently about going in the studio, as I know I really need to get my arse into gear where production is concerned. Fingers crossed a few dates will be put in the diary over the next couple of months and you’ll all get to listen to a Cally Gage track, yay!

You’re a very popular DJ in London so obviously spend a lot of time down there. Can you provide us any insight into why there are so many “Dixie Chicken” take away shops in London, yet there seems to be none anywhere else in the entire world?

Dixie Chicken take away shops, I’m confused!
There are quite a few people living in London, so maybe they need that many as they all like Dixie Chicken food instead of KFC – although I’d choose KFC every time! Next time I’m in London, I’ll try and pop into one for you and ask why there are so many?!!

You live with your other half Andy Whitby, if you had to have another 2 DJ housemates, who would they be and why?

WOW! That’s a hard one as there would be quite a few – they’ll obviously have to like dogs as well though, because I have a cute little puppy called Henry!
I’ve got an idea though, why don’t you 2 come and live with us – see how the southerners live and all that, it’s a bit warmer down here as well I think!

Finally the most important question of all, who do you find most attractive, Me or Deano?

You can’t possibly ask me a question like that, I wouldn’t want you two to fall out over who I would choose. I’m going to sit on the fence with this one though I’m afraid and say that you’re both attractive – although I did like Deano a tiny bit more when he had his mullet!

ROUND 3....
I’m afraid you’re going to have to see it for yourselves, so get yourself down to Club Ice, Westbury on Friday 6th June to check out this one off 2 hour North v South Battle Royal.
Keep it fun, Keep it Contagious....

YOUR MISSION: CONTAGIOUS: THE BOUNCING BALL
MISSION DATE: 2200HRS- 0500HRS 06-06-08
RENDEZVOUS POINT: CLUB ICE, WESTBURY, LATITUDE: 52° 40' 60 N, LONGITUDE: 2° 57' 0 W.
(26a QUARTERMASTER ROAD, WEST WILTS TRADING ESTATE, WESTBURY, BA13 4JT)
HOW MUCH: £12 + BF, MOTD

YOUR COMRADES:
ROOM 1 : THE BATTLE OF BOUNCE
ANDY WHITBY (The General)
CALLY GAGE v TIDY DJS (South v North 2hr Civil War)
JP & JUKESY (Barmy Army Bounce Set)
CAZ WOOD v KLUBFILLER (Contagious v AWsum Dogfight)
MATT LEE (aka GAMMER, The Bouncing Bomb)
SAM HUDSON & NICK ‘BONGO’ FISHER (Contagious Special Forces)
WAIN JOHNSTONE (Bounce Master Sergeant)

ROOM 2 : BASS COMMAND
RODI STYLE (Explosive Tidy Classics Set)
DIGITAL KID (Resistance Leader)
SCOTT FO-SHAW (Storm Trooper)
MIKE AVERY (Wing Commander)
NATHALIE (Private on Parade)
KYLIE KING (Private on Parade)

ROOM 3: FUNKEDUP BUNKER
5 Years of Dirty Beats in 5 Hours featuring;
FUNKEDUPDJS, NICK FISHER, KELEVRA, THE DIRTY COWBOYS and a set of Bongo’s!!!

TICKETS:

Contagious Clubwear - Contagious Ticket Hotline: 0800 019 55 23
DontStayIn - dontstayin.com
Ticket Web - ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100 (24 Hours).

Tickets are also available from selected outlets including Bassline Records in Weston-Super-Mare, Frolic in Bournemouth and Standout in Salisbury.

EVENT PAGES:
Dontstayin: Contagious Presents.....The Bouncing Ball
Myspace: myspace.com
Bebo: bebo.com
Facebook: facebook.com

MORE INFORMATION
Travel: DETAILS ON DONTSTAYIN.COM
Hotel: travelodge.co.uk