hi-life entertainment
7 monk bridge grove
meanwood
leeds
west yorkshire
LS64HP

from the Beatles

to Massive Attack

Nina Simone

to Talking Heads

BB King

to Trouble Funk

If you like good music you will dig our act!

Going to Cuba on honeymoon?

or the Carribean?

We can theme your night to incorporate the flavour of your destination.

We believe that great music makes for a great occasion, whether you are young or not so young.

If you agree get on the good foot and make a booking enquiry.

DJs - a selection of some of our top DJ talent available to book via Hi-Life Entertainment Leeds

All our DJs are experienced at playing in club, bar and event situations, such as weddings, corporate events and private birthday parties.

Listed below are some of our top DJs, read their profiles to find out more about them. Some have also provided mixes for you to download. We have a large number of other specialist DJs in addition to this we can call on if required.

You may wish to select a particular DJ or let us recommend one depending on your music selection.

Small events, where budget is important can be undertaken by a single DJ with PA support from ourselves. Prices including PA hire from £249.00 for a 4 hour event.

Larger events, such as weddings, club nights, corporate events can be priced as per the requirements of the night from £300 upwards, depending on choice of DJ, venue size, etc. If the music you want is good we will try to work to your budget for DJ's & PA.

I will be happy to discuss DJ requirements by telephone or in person at the pre event consultation. This is the time to decide exactly what you want - it is too late on the night! Better to plan ahead so we can get it right.

Now browse the dj roster! - all the best, Mark Hepworth, Soul Alley Records

DJ ZIGGY

dj / producer

DJ Ziggy spins Funk, Soul, Disco, Hip Hop, Indie/Rock, Deep & Funky House, R&B and Street Soul.

Influenced by the original breaks from early Jazz, Funk and Reggae playing straight up sets or many styles across the board. Frequently travelling across the UK from his base in Leeds, Ziggy is a well-known DJ in many clubs with his talents taking him to New York several times supporting many big names.

This mass cross-section of styles that Ziggy covers has enabled him to play with some greatly respected names such as David Holmes, Roots Manuva, DJ Format, DJ Food, Blackalicious, Kid Koala, Unkle, The Scratch Perverts, 4 Hero, Courtney Pine & DJ Pogo, Fatboy Slim and even Kylie Minogue. These are only a small example of the artists he's appeared with throughout his career. Ziggy has also had the chance to work with some of his old-time musical influences when he supported The Sugarhill Gang and Melle Mell.

His more current musical influences include Jazzanova, Madlib, J-Dilla, Sa-Ra, Danger Mouse, N*E*R*D, Bugz In The Attic, Amp Fiddler, Mark Ronson, Mr. Scruff, Osunlade, King Britt, Nicola Conte, The Five Corners Quintet.

Allthough Ziggy has worked with many illustrious names (including scratching on Kylie Minogue's Fever tour 2002), he has played many private parties and weddings for Hi-Life over the past 18 months, always bringing the house down, whether playing a popular music set or something more eclectic. Ziggy is also an excellent indie / rock DJ.

...more mixes from DJ Ziggy coming soon

DARREN BAXTER

hi-life

Darren plays accross the board from classic soul & funk to indie, electro & house

Darren has been one of the main DJs at Hi-Life for the past couple of years now. He has masses of experience doing parties & weddings, as well as bar/club situations.

He can turn his hand to many styles & uses the latest technology in Serato to give full hands on mixing.

Whether he's playing a straight up party set, or something more eclectic he can move seemlessly between styles. Even adding some scratching if needed (he started out as a funk/hip hop DJ over on the east coast.)

His personal tastes stretch from his original love of funk & soul to indie & classic house.

We do a residency in South Yorkshire together on a Friday night, playing retro bar grooves from the 60's to the 80's. Darren is always a popular DJ, with many repeat bookings from clients.

DJ JIM BLUEFOOT

bluefoot project / madman promotions

DJ Jim plays across the board quality party music from Funk, Indie Rock, Motown, Hip Hop, Disco, Electro, Salsa, Reggae, Drum n Bass, Rock and Party Classics

Anyone who has visited any of the cooler bars in Leeds over the past few years (Norman, Milo, North Bar, Oporto, Townhouse) will probably be a fan already.

Having spent 13 years as a professional club and bar DJ, Jim has built up the skills and techniques to mix up one of the broadest collections of quality music you may ever hear.

Anyone casting their minds back to the halcyon days of Leeds clubbing of the mid 90's can't forget Its Obvious or Cushion - nights Jim was involved with.

Although not the average cheesy mobile DJ he is always willing to discuss your needs and any tunes you especially want to hear (or don’t want to hear!)

Jim prides himself on smooth professionalism whether you want to cut up rugs or chill with a groovy vibe...

Jim has provided some snippets of mixes he has done. To download right click the links below & select "save target as" option.

DAN MOORE

superconductor

Dan mixes all forms of quality electronic music and classic music from all decades

Dan Moore as a resident and promotor of Leeds club night Superconductor has played with some of the great names in electronic music. DJs like Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Francois K, Andrew Weatherall & Laurent Garnier are just a few of the names Dan has worked with over recent years. Anyone who has been to any of the historic nights Superconductor promoted will have witnessed Dan's extraodinary talent first hand.

Playing a party Dan is an expansive DJ, not limited soley to electronic music. Expect to hear him blend an explosive James Brown track, old skool hip hop or even the Pixies and the Clash into an eclectic mix.

Dan is now based in Edinburgh, expanding Hi-life's presence to north of the border. He is however prepared to travel south for the right party!

Dan Moore playing at Superconductor.

ALEX BOWEN

superconductor / soul alley

Alex mixes underground disco, fusion & jazz funk

Having worked with me as a partner in Soul Alley records, Alex is probably more well known for his residency at the well respected techno night Superconductor in Leeds. Luminaries such as Laurent Garnier, Carl Craig, Andrew Weatherall and Jeff Mills to name a few have graced this night, as well as crowds far exceding the 500 mark. As well as catering for the harder edged sounds that Superconductor encompasses, Alex also plays more eclectic styles in the back room as well as having a wealth of experience DJing at various bars in Leeds and the surrounding area.

Disco and its original ethos has always been a major influence on his musical tastes but rest assured you won't hear hear any Abba or Village People here. What you will hear is anything from the widely known sounds of Chic & Loletta Holloway to the more underground sounds coming from the USA in the early to mid 70's. Record labels such as Philadelphia International & Salsoul to producers/djs like Larry Levan and Patrick Adams, who whilst may not be household names to many, the tracks they are responsible for certainly are.

Never one to stick to a particular sound however, Alex takes things a stage further, mixing it up with latin beats, house grooves, dancefloor jazz/funk, bumpin' soul and maybe the odd 80's classic or indie tune thrown in for good measure. Modern day artists such as Masters at Work, Jazzanova and Kenny Dixon Jr also provide more contemporary leanings to his Dj sets.

Alex is an excellent choice of DJ for those who want the real soul of Disco from the classic period of the 70's to the quality underground of the present day.

To download a mix Alex has done for Hi-Life right click the link below & select "save target as" option.

BEN JACOBS

DJBJ

Ben plays electro, rave & accross the board styles

This is one of our younger DJ's who is cerainly not lacking any ability or experience! From Club Events to Classy Weddings and Radio Work, Ben has built up the skills and techniques to mix up some of the funkiest sets of quality music you may ever hear.

DJBJ is by no means your average cheesy mobile DJ and always gives a performance to be remembered. He is an ideal choice for 18th / 21st birthday events, being able to combine playing the latest sounds with some dancefloor classics.

Ben prides himself on smooth mixing and complete professionalism whether you want to rave to electro or enjoy a wedding with style...

CHICO MALO

the cooker / rootdown / casa latina / yardbird suite / backlash

Chico spins jazz, funk, salsa, & beats

In addition to promoting and DJing at the top jazz venues in Leeds, Chico has also played at the Jazz Cafe (London), the Jazz Rooms (Brighton), Rhythm Rooms (Sheffield), Jelly Jazz (Plymouth), La Belle Angele (Edinburgh) and many more.

Leeds' musical landscape would not be the same without this man and it is a great honour for myself to have him working with us on the Hi-life team.

Chico has an extensive knowledge of all styles of Latin music, both contemporary and classic and has brought many of the greats to Leeds in his capacity as a promoter.

He is also an avid Blue Note and Prestige jazz collector - basically what he doesn't know about jazz isn't worth knowing! despite many years top level DJing (his hair is a little greyer than in the picture!) he has lost non of his enthusiasm for music and the art of dance floor shaking.

BARRY SMYTH

new bohemia / chickenshack

Barry DJs funk, rock & beats

Barry Smyth, Belfast born and bred but has been sunning himself in Leeds for the past four years. Barry has been a DJ for the past ten years and specialises in hip hop, funk, soul, jazz, nu jazz and all dem broken beats.

A member of the team that brought Belfast the pioneering Beat Suite clubnight Barry has been good enough to furnish Leeds with no less than two club type hootenannies. These being New Bohemia at the Faversham and Chickenshack at Milo.

Through his career as a DJ Barry has played with acts such as Jazzanova, Jeru the Damaja, Poets Of Rhythm, David Holmes, Andy Votel , Izzi Dunn, Mr.Scruff, and many more in this vein.

Barry has extensive experience DJing in both club and bar environments and has the reputation as a superb party DJ. He is a what can only be described in one word....A DUDE.

DJ-STRATA-H (MARK HEPWORTH)

soul alley records / hi-life entertainment / backlash

Mark plays across the board quality party music from indie, rock, reggae & soul to urban & beats

As founder of Hi-Life I am the only one with the privilege of writing my own revue.

As a DJ my experience, whilst extensive is far smaller than those mentioned above, having mainly played bar , back room club slots & loads of weddings, corporate gigs & private parties over the past couple of years in my current capacity. I am looking at promoting a Hi-Life club night near the University campus in Leeds in the coming term - watch the press for details!

I have run and co-owned 2 record shops - most recently being Soul Alley in the grand arcade in Leeds, selling to DJs, collectors and enthusiasts of all types of quality music past and present. In this capacity I have got to know the majority of the specialist DJs in the region and feel that I am ideally suited to run this type of company, giving you the customer what you want (provided that you want good music!)

My wide knowledge of music means that I can work well as support to any of the specialist DJs on the roster - allowing us to incorporate any other styles you may require into your night. Or as headline I can also cover a wide variety of styles if necessary from Indie to Northern Soul, Swing music to R&B etc..

The pre event consultation will be done by myself to determine what you want and discuss the profile of your guests and the venue details. If you want/need a specialist DJ I will deal with contracts on your behalf and liase with the DJ to ensure that your requested music is played.

There is a mix opposite of Northern Soul, Motown & Mod tracks. To download right click the link & select "save target as" option.