Northern Gathering Reunion!! Pack1!!! Martin Space & James Woollen!!

Oh My Daysssssssssss!!!
Yes thats right!! from out of nowere we have organised the OG MOFOs back for one last HOOO RAHHH!!
Who remembers the legendary NOTHERN GATHERING RADIO SHOWS?
No You dont? 
Sit nicely kids..... Its time for a history lesson.... Mid 2004 and Internet radio shows become a viable option now that people can listen in 128KPS quality and people can also broadcast from their bedrooms using Winamp and a plug in!! 
Hardcore United is the brainchild of a young lad called Luke FIrth (No not the Fat pie Firth!! Thats DAVID Firth!)  You see Luke isnt old enough to actually goto raves so he launches an internet radio station instead. He also drafts in well known Local Dj Martin Space and his co conspirator Andy Mollins AKA DJam. These 3 stooges also come up with a plan to have all day raves at various locations around Yorkshire and getting loads of Djs to play there!! Also with the wonders of ADSL broadband you can tune in & get involved listening, chatting away in the chatroom and requesting records etc!!  The idea is a huge success with many listeners tuning in and creating a crazy vibe!! Loads of local djs also hear about this and want to be involved!  NORTHERN GATHERING is born!! Northern Gathering goes from strength to strength! Rave promoters also hear about this &Northern Gathering starts to host second rooms across the north of England. Playing to packed out sweat boxes at events like Uprising, HardDrive and many more!!
But with so much fun happening, the unthinkable happens when popular Dj & Mc NG resident Lyde Fox AKA Dj Bombjack sadly passes away.  Naturally it knocks the whole of the NG team for six and his close friend Sam Foster.  In honour of Lyde, an event is organised with Mega Promoter Uprising and the event Bombkacks big bash is put on with a sell out at the legendary Adelphi venue in Sheffield. One of Bombjacks mixes is played out to an emotional and thankful crowd.

Lyde if you are up there reading this we all still think about you all the time!! You will never be forgtten mate!   And for this reason we will include one of Bombjacks mixes in the packs!!
Also over the last few years we have also sadly lost other NG regulars, Tommi T & Lang-E

So.... What now? what happened to Northern Gathering? What about the Djs and Mcs? 
I have tracked down the majority of them from EVENT 1. I am trying to recreate the same line up as is possible! I have also done some short interview questions! Were I couldnt track down a DJ. I will try & include a set of theirs if possible!!

Friendships that last to this day & were built off the back of these internet events.
To celebrate these iconic shows (and the websites that spawned from) Hardcoreunited.co.uk being one.
So to celebrate this I have got most of the gang back who played at event 1.
This was the flyer for event 1:-
  

 

The download & Stream links are further down! Whilst your streaming or downloading why not read the interviews?!

 

We will be releasing 2 mixes every 2 days running upto Xmas!

 

Thanks to everyone that has helped with the Geecast relaunch this year to to all our listeners!

Stay safe & have a great Christmas with your familys!

 

Thanks to everyone who has contributed (often at short notice!) mixes or help to make this project a reality!!

 

Interview 1!! MARTIN SPACE!!

Hello!!
Can you introduce youself to us and tell us a little about yourself?! ASL, Straight, BI, Upf or experimentation etc?!
I'm Martin Space
I'm a raver and a bedroom DJ.
Even now, at a ripe age of 42. I'm an 'happy go lucky' guy and I do love to 'Dance like no one is watching' at any event. No matter the genre of rave music.

So can you talk us through how you became involved with Northern Gathering?
Me and Andy (DJam) have been jamming on the decks for 2 years and converting Andy from Speed Garage to UK Hardcore/Freeform. Taking him out & about and showing him the UK rave scene. Mainly, around Yorkshire & Humber.
Andy and his new found obcession, he was scouring the internet and forums. Came across a very young Luke Firth from Barnsley, doing internet radio shows. Andy was intrigued 'what better way to showcase your skills, play the best records at that time and having a blast whilst doing it. Andy contacted Firthy on MSN Messenger (can you remember that?) and said we need to meet up and have a collab and create our own internet radio show. With Firthy's know how, Andy's drive and me, an up & coming and establised DJ in the local scene...it was a partnership, which was going to rock the world wide web.
The rest was history and Hardcore United was created. Then, we all come together, with a monthly, 12 hours online marathon radio event called 'Northern Gathering'.

 

What can you remember about your first set? Tunes played? other djs there? Were was it held?
My first solo DJ set was at Bedlam on Saturday 9th June 2001. It was at The Mulbery Tavern, Sheffield.
I was asked to play a 'Hard House set' (even though I was an UK Hardcore/Freeform bedroom DJ at the time) and I can remember three distinctive records I played:
O.D 404 - 9 Bar on Kaktai Records.
Vinylgroover & Redhead - Move Your Body on Nukleuz Records.
Charlotte Birch - Gladiator on Bulletproof Records.

Can you tell us about any funny stories from Northern Gathering?
It was all about fun and they were loads of giggles along the way. One sticks out and it will always be remembered. There is a song/record in this story and triggers the memories from the night (its not one you are going to think of, still today!)
Northern Gathering radio event on tour, Summer 2006. It was when we all went and played at Looney Tunez, Chapel St Leonards Nr Skegness. Middle of nowhere and very remote. This place was rocking...indoor and outdoor. The club had low roofs, sweat and condensation dripping of the ceiling, the sound system was banging! Smiles all round. Varied music genre was played all night, from DnB, Techno, Hardcore, Trance, Hardstyle, Makina and much more.
But, what stood out was the outdoors. Please picture this...a 40ft lorry trailer (curtain sider), with the sound system filling the trailer. The DJ/Producers set up was on the ground and at the end of the trailer. A full live PA set up, plus turntables & mixer. The music played outdoors, was very experimental and random. But, it was LOUD!!
Now, this event had 'camping facilites' but decided to place the site, in front of this lorry trailer. So, when we all decided to chill in the tents for a bit (approx. 3am because I had a drive back to Rotherham). The guys who are still playing on this outdoor PA system, decided to play 'Groove Is The Heart by Deee-Lite 'REMIX' at about 250bpm!!! Speedcore...boom! Okay, we are not sleeping haha!
There is more stories from the same night but I'd be talking all day and night.

What do you think of that era of Rave compared to nowadays?
Wow, I really can't comment fully? I'm always going to be biased and say the 90's/00's was the best times. They were because we was there, we witnessed it every weekend. Meeting new friends from all across the UK. Travelling to and from London, Manchester, Nottingham, Skegness and Scarborough. Even, several festivals in Holland.

What have you been doing since Northern Gathering finished? Do you still play out etc?
We (me and Linzi - my little raving dude) still goto raves/events but only on a few occasions. We experimented with different music events ie Gatescrasher, Passion, Hellfire and even went to the Decibal Festival nr Eindhoven, Netherlands in August 2018. We still love going to our favourite event, the mighty Uprising in Sheffield (when there isn't a pandemic causing rife).
I play out for mates only now-a-days. I've played at Chris Murrey (Pursuit) event in Hull with Dave Hunt (Devastate), a few times. I do an annual birthday party for Chris MacFarlane (Macca), a mate we've known for years, locally in Rotherham. Macca is a Speed Garage DJ and books other Speed Garage DJ's for his yearly, birthday party. Then, I come along, for the last set, play either German hard trance set or Hardstyle. They love it!!

What lessons have you learned about the rave scene in general since the mid 00tees?
Take no nonsense of the 'top jocks & artists' and make your own journey. Make your own ideas come to reality, if you would like to make good music. So what, it will no be on the top 10 of Beatport or played by the big names in the scene. Just have fun and make the music you would love to hear, on the dancefloor. Trust me, I've experience it. Its an amazing feeling. 
One memory comes to mind. I played at Hardr:ve @ Baths Hall, Scunthorpe. I was playing after Brisk and before Scorpio. This was the opportunity I could play a new studio recording. Listening to it on a live system. It was written by me, Andy DJam and Dave Devastate, engineered by Dave. It was called 'Numb' (Linkin Park remix) and all I can say is 'WOW!!!' Sounded crisp and the  dancefloor was packed. When the main break come in and the vocals started "I'm tired of being what you want me to be. Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface" My whole body was covered in goose-bumps, seeing everyone on the dancefloor 'singing there heads off'. I had to appreciate the ravers by taking my headphones off and going to the front of the stage , high five'in everyone, going along the front stage. 
You can't get any better feeling. When you and your mates, getting together in the studio, throw a load of ideas about and coming up a banger...for that amazing memory. Plus a great bonus, Jay (Fastraxx) signed the track and pressed onto vinyl.
Devastate Vs DJam & Martin Space - Numb on Distinctive Vinyl (DV002).

If you could ask Doctor Gee one question what would it be?
Can you come and upgrade my fibre broadband at mates rates....FOC haha!

Can you talk us through the mix? Why you chose these tracks?
The intro is a special which I created back in 2006, when we sadly lost our good mate and Northering Gathering Resident, Lyde Fox aka DJ/MC Bombjack. Listen to it carefully, there is a clip of Bomby saying 'Martin Space' when we did a set together, at Rush Hour @ The Venue, Long Eaton. nr Nottingham. Also, a small slip of a good friend, Kurt (Mc Shame/Seamus) who performed with me @ the same event, with Bomby.
I decided to do a late 90's/early 00's Hardcore/Freeform mix for the Northern Gathering Reunion Geecast.
Every single records, takes me back to the year of 2000, where we went raving (as ravers), very single weekend. So many brilliant memories! 
This mix is about what we use to do and the journey we use to take, every weekend. I worked and stayed in Oxford through the week. I then drove back to Sheffield on a Friday afternoon, get ready, watched Human Traffic and travelled to London. Goto Future Dance at Castle Studios, that same night. Meet amazing people and new friends, enjoy the night away and then travel back to Sheffield, the next Saturday morning. Get home, have a few hours sleep, shower and then get ready to go to go Dizstruxshon @ Baths Hall, Scunthorpe or Elation in Manchester. Pretty dam bonkers!! 
But, we had the time of our lifes and every single record on this mix, represents us at that time. Love and respect to the party people (Linzi & Lee UHF) who took this journey. This was the beginning of me, being me...Martin Space the DJ/artist.

DId you mix them on vinyl or Digital or CD?
Mixed on CD's, from ripped vinyl to mp3 (you'll hear a few crackles).
What do you think is the key difference from the rave scene of 15 years ago to now?
Vinyl and fewer or any high street record shops left. Nothing better, getting paid (with your minimum wage) and wax the lot, on new releases. Every weekend!
Internet and mobile phones have killed the optimism of a good rave/event/festival. Lets take it back and get the communication through the word of mouth/flyers/radio. I know it will not happen...

Thank you for the mix!!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity and giving me a reason to turn on the decks, press record and just having a blast! Reminise the good times.

Any shouts?!!
To all and everyone who I have met over the years and become good friends, through raving & the music.
Just want to pass on a tribute to Bombjack, Lang-E and Tommi T, may you rave in peace, up and above. We will meet you again. Shai Mc 3-Style quote "RIP...VIP".