James Priestley

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James Smith wil be playing on Saturday at The Stockade

 Secretsundaze is the brainchild of residents and promoters Giles Smith and James Priestley. Starting life in the summer of 2002 it took a healthy dose of inspiartion from outdoor parties in Ibiza where the pair had been going for many years. In a very short space of time it became the talk of the town amongst the media and clued up party people alike. Taking daytime partying to a new level with its uncomprimising music policy, use of quirky, original venues often with outdoor areas. Time Out stated that “secretsundaze has changed the face of daytime clubbing”. Musically the party has always focussed on underground House and Techno in it’s various guises. The duo were amongst the first in the UK to book the likes of Steve Bug, Luciano and Ricardo Villalobos, (2 of whom personally requested to play at secretsundaze). However despite attracting such big hitters they have also introduced many lesser known artists to the UK, with a tradition of breaking new artists, often being two steps ahead with bookings bringing over the likes of Guido Schneider, Cassy, Matthias Tanzmann, Mike Shannon, Rhadoo and Dorian Paic, for their debut UK sets. Names which have now become regulars on the UK scene.

Secretsundaze have hosted some of the most colourful parties that London has witnessed in the last decade. With their fun-loving hedonistic crowds and their attention to detail on the event production side, the parties now have the reputation as being the place that Europe’s finest underground DJs want to play in London. Over the years the likes of Carl Craig, Ame, Tobi Neumann, Losoul, Jay Haze, Trevor Jackson, Ralph Lawson and Dan Ghenacia have all graced the decks at secretsundaze.

Not only have the duo’s parties become one of the most successful London nights, they’ve also played as major role in TDK Cross Central Festival, Lovebox, Wildchild and 2006’s Best New Festival Bloom, consistently programming and hosting packed arenas at them all. They’ve also made a big impact in Europe with highly memorable daytime / outdoor parties in Ibiza (Blue Marlin, Gala Night (the old Zoo) at Sonar (Parc Del Forum, Shoko, Xiringuito Escriba) and Snowbombing (Mayhrofen, Austria). Most recently and in conjunction with the launch of their new label secretsundaze music   they have released “secretsundaze Volume 1” mixed by both residents Giles Smith and James Priestley. With a tour to promote this, they have guested at some of Europe’s top clubs. Highlights include Panorama Bar in Berlin, Robert Johnson and Monza in Frankfurt, Magazzini Generali in Milan, City Hall in Barcelona, 11 in Amsterdam, Tribal Sessions in Manchester, Back To Basics and Assylum in Leeds, Stompaphunk in Brighton. 

2008 looks set to be an equally exciting year with “secretsundaze Volume 2” being mixed and compiled by Tobi Neumann coming out early May co-inciding with the opening of their summer season and later in the summer “secretsundaze Volume 3” a double CD mixed by Giles and James will be released.