G Bar // 'Its All About The Music'

Welcome G-Bar // 'Its All About The Music' - // After Hours Clubbing // DJ Biographys

Please select the DJ's name below to view their Biog.

John Cotton

After getting his first break behind a set of decks in 1972 at “The 008” Club in Spellow Lane, Believe it or not our lord of the dance JC progressed onto having his very own Mobile Disco, “The Musical Box Mobile Disco” and he worked all the usual bookings of weddings, engagements which is a strange thought to fathom am sure you will agree.

John then got his first real break by becoming resident at “Quinn’s” which was in St John Precinct, Liverpool city centre and he assures us this really was THE place to be seen in the 80s! moving on from there JC then worked for a short period of time in Hong Kong before deciding it was not for his cultural tastes, a brief spell living in the south of France ensued before returning to the UK for the next chapter, and upon return he began work for the Fallows family.

It was at this period the legend of JC really began to grow. John held a residency at “Fallows” in Aintree, and after that became resident at famous and legendary Liverpool nightclub 'The Buzz', a disagreement with the management put an end to that success story as John left the club never to return. After a short period out the game JC was then asked to play in Holland at “The Shiva” in Utrecht, and as a result of this was asked back on several occasions, he also went onto play in Utrechts “Jaarbeurs” club with DJ Jean & Jurgen!

The next step was to become involved with the excellent “House Of Bounce” organisation and JC transpired to play for them regularly in Amsterdam and Zaandam, it was through this organisation that he had some of his biggest career bookings including several “Queensday” festivals and biggest of all Holland’s clubbing festivals - The Love Parade “FFWD”, this involved 40 trucks touring the streets of Holland and Europe’s 100 top DJs representing various organisations on board every float, each with a 10,000 watt sound system, the convoy travelled around Rotterdam all day and played to an estimated crowd of 350,000 people! The big man also played what he described as his dream booking at “The Escape” in Amsterdam! As his career went on John also had a residency in Denmark, and had the honour of playing twice in Jerusalem and once in Haifa. More recently he played in Club Paradiso, Novi Sad in Serbia.

Now at the noble age of 53 years young JC continues to enjoy and thrive in his G Bar residency, where he is the longest serving resident DJ! John has been a mainstay at the club for the best part of a decade and is some what of a local celebrity for his past and continued efforts to rock Liverpool's most unique clubbing shell 'the church room' to its very core each and every Saturday Night / Sunday Morning. In the last year he has played alongside some of the europes top DJs including Jo Mills, Tim Sheridan, D Ramirez, Ben Macklin. Sandy Rivera, Smokin’ Jo. Kate Lawler & Mastiksoul! He loves music, he loves what he does, and as long as people continue to Love the legend of JC, he has no plans to hang up the famous headphones just yet..

Neil James

Neil’s DJ career has now spanned across sixteen years and he is somewhat a veteran at an early age. During this time he has played in many countries, Dubai and Australia being his favourites, where he spent three weeks playing for the Decadence brand in both Sydney & Perth.

Having started as a bar DJ as most do, he soon developed a taste for Deep house and played for the very successful House UK. He worked at Liverpool’s infamous Groover Records and this will no doubt be where he got his eclectic musical tastes .Throughout the years he has continually evolved his music, going through many genres including House, Deep house, Latin & Soulful grooves, Hard house, Trance, and most recently his love for all things underground, namely Minimal, Tech & Techno.

As well as being a Gbar resident Neil has been a revelation on the Manchester circuit too. Residencies at the world renowned super club Sankeys for Disco Electronica, Area51 (bi-monthly) and also playing at The Warehouse Project with Erick Morillo last year have increased his popularity under his alter ego banner, The Evil Amigos. Last year (2008) was a big year which also seen performances alongside some of the world’s finest such as Format B, Paul Woolford, Mark Knight, Andy Chatterley and Mastiksoul to name a few. His love for music comes across in his sets with different musical styles to suit each venue’s ethos; however one thing is for sure, there is always an underlying groove to his sets. As well as running underground nights outside of Gbar , Neil also produces music for and jointly owns Carpe Diem Musica , a fresh underground record label with his long time friends and Gbar resident Wayne Cuddy and Davy kidd.

As the clubs promotions director for the past seven years Neil has been responsible for many great things at the club… He was the man behind those ludicrously busy Fridays which started at the club seven years ago, and which are still going strong today. He was also the man behind the Gbar boat parties, Bank holiday Sundays and was the brainchild of bringing in world class international DJs to the club. These have included big hitters and have included world famous producers of the following ilk… Mastiksoul , D Ramirez, Funkagenda, , Tim Sheridan, Trophy Twins, Kate Lawler & Jo Mills to name but a few.

As well as all that he has also manages to run the entertainment and pr for the show bar side of the club and has recently tied down a deal which will see gay super club Federation continue its residency at the Gbar.

During his stewardship the club has been voted in the top 5 afterhours clubs in the UK by Mixmag (2007) and more recently picking up the Club of the Year award 2008 from the Liverpool Echo.

Neil’s unwavering work ethic, dedication, desire and influence are as infectious as his personality and he will hopefully continue to be a driving force behind the club for years to come.

Carlton Hudson

Beginning his DJ career in 1999 working the bar scene in Liverpool and forging a reputation as one of Liverpool clubland's most promising prospects due to his credible and charismatic approach to entertaining, Carlton rose to widespread prominence upon entering and winning a national DJ competition and being crowned the 'Bacardi Latin Vibe DJ of the year 2003'. After beating off competition from the most talented DJ’s from in and around the North West he eventually reached the grand final held @ Bar Salsa, London. Carlton was faced with five fellow regional final winners and battled it out to be crowned the Latin Vibe King. Carlton was ultimately crowned the winner and things really began to kick on from there, gaining recognition in local and national press and winning a guest spot playing alongside Superstar DJ John Cutler @ Cabaret Voltaire in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Fresh from his new found success Carlton decided to create his own Club brand alongside DJ friend and now fellow G-Bar resident Dave Bennett with the aim to offer the Liverpool club scene something a little bit different on a Friday night with the night held monthly the last week of the month. The event launched in July 2004 with a pilot episode before its official launch in October 2004. Reputation became a cult success story and went on a roller coaster 4 year journey that saw the brand grow and become on of the city's most recognised and celebrated clubbing institutions.

Of the back of the Reputation heroics Carlton and his partner in crime where inundated with offers and played many high profile bookings most notably taking over one floor of Garlands new years eve celebrations
05/06 and being handed a 2 year monthly residency for the infamous Twisted Elegance @ Ampersand, Deans gate, Manchester.

After being a long time fan and clubber at G-Bar, Carlton was asked to become a permanent resident @ the club in 2006 and has never looked back since, he is a valuable member of the after hours team and more than holds his own playing alongside the legendary John Cotton in the church room each and every Saturday night / Sunday morning after-hours, whilst also maintaining his partnership with Dave Bennett who he plays alongside in the Bass-ment Thursday After hours.

Wayne Cuddy

An aspiring talent on the Liverpool Scene Wayne Cuddy's not only known for his impeccable musical talent but his down to earth nature and general "one of the lads" mentality.

Still at a tender age, Wayne has done good and achieved a lot so far, having residencies in some of the Liverpool’s & Manchester’s more affluent & respectable venues as well as adding London’s Ministry of Sound to the CV.

Fancy catching Wayne play? If you’re a true clubber and want to hear what Wayne’s best known for head over to Mixmag's top rated Afterhours Venue... GBar every Friday between the hours of 1am - 5am, with groovy minimal / tech and uplifting underground vibes, where Wayne tears the roof off with fellow partner's in grime Neil James & John Cotton...

Now well into producing, under the name “The Evil Amigos” alongside producing partners Davy Kidd & Neil James, as well as having their own record label “Carpe Diem Musica” Wayne’s future is looking very promising indeed...

Dave Bennett

Dave started out as a DJ at in its day ground breaking venue Mood Indigo (Mathew st, Liverpool City Centre) and it was there that he crossed paths for the 1st time with G-Bar legends Neil James and John Cotton who where resident DJs at the venue, Mood Indigo became a Liverpool institution in the 90s and was the first Bar - Club venue of its kind in the city which is now awash with venues of a similar ethos.

In the summer of 2003 Dave was given the honour of playing at the infamous G-Bar breakfast bar for the 1st time and 6 years on he still hold a residency at the mighty G as well as now being the assistant Promoter of the venue, acting as right hand man to Promotions director Neil James and being a large driving force in the direction and running of the club. Notable notch's on his CV include promoting massive events such as the critically acclaimed venture of Liverpools 1st after-after hours daytime party: Which was held at the G-Bar the day after boxing day (2006) in which they managed to defy logic and critics in keeping the venue open and full to capacity until 1pm in the afternoon!. As a team Neil and Dave have provided G-Bar with a long list of events and big hitters from the international DJ circuit such as D.Ramirez, Tim Sheridan, Jo Mills, Mastiksoul, Funkagenda, DJ Gee and Kate Lawler to name but a few on a regular basis.

Alongside his work for G-Bar Dave has progressed around the north west and national DJ circuits building an impressive and respected name for himself, securing many high profile bookings including a 2 year residency at famous Manchester Club Night Twisted Elegance @ Ampersand, the Gatecrasher UK tour, Area51 plus several bookings at Nation (Cream) amongst others whilst working alongside many more famous names such as Martijn Ten Velden, Sonny Wharton, Jason Bye, Tom Neville & Format B as his success story has continued.

Another notable era of Dave's Career saw him launch his own club brand REPUTATION which ran as a monthly Friday Night event for 4 years between 2004 and 2008. Reputation embarked on a roller coaster journey that saw Dave and Carlton build the brand from scratch and transform it from an event held in humble surroundings hosting party's for their friends in small capacity venues into one of the city's most recognisable and celebrated club events. Highlights for Reputation included commandeering one floor of Liverpool super club Garlands for new years eve 05/06 and booking worldwide talent talent such as Laidback Luke, Rebeka Brown, Patrick Grau & Alex Cartana whilst showcasing all the major regional players of the north west in its years of operation, with the brand ending on a high with a lock out 4th birthday event.

Over half a decade since his G-Bar debut Dave remains part of the furniture behind the famous G-Bar decks and is resident of the Bassment room for Thursday and Saturday Afterhours!

www.myspace.com/djdavebennett

John Hooper

John has been at G-Bar from virtually the very beginning and is often an unsung hero of the venue, having been resident on every night of operation at some time or another the last decade proving his undoubted ability and versatility - at one time he used to play a house set for upstairs followed by a trance set downstairs! before the latter music policy was removed from the club following a shake up in 2005.

His style is straight forward up front funky house whilst he is famous for dropping a well timed spine tingling hair raising classics as his sets continue to set G-Bar alight all these years on. Whilst being a notorious party animal and all round nice guy on the Liverpool scene John has been a journeyman across the board of regional Clubbing quarters enjoying notable gigs for the likes of Society, Federation and Fragile.

G-Bar and John has been like somewhat of a marriage as time has gone on and its hard to imagine one without the other, he has seen faces come and faces go as the club has evolved over the years but its a measure of the guy that the one permanent fixture through it all has been him!

Catch John every Saturday night - Bassment Room

Andy Matthews

Andy began DJ’ing approximately 5 years ago and learned his trade at the North’s Biggest Student night – Medication held at Nation (home of the world famous CREAM) in Liverpool city centre. Playing week in week out to large capacity crowds Andy has learned very quickly how to whip a crowd up into a roaring frenzy with an ecliptic mix of upfront Funky / Electro stormers & timeless classics. Since then he has been a prominent figure on the north west DJ circuit playing alongside many big name DJs in the process.

His work has been championed on local radio stations, and he has now progressed into producing his own remixes which are getting recognised for remixing classic tracks for a more modern dance floor, which create a distinctive uplifting atmosphere in all of his DJ sets.

Having always attended Gbar as a clubber, Andy had the pleasure of joining Gbar in Summer 2007, playing alongside long standing friend John Hooper in the Saturday after hours. Off the back of his G-Bar residency Andy has played alongside many big UK club brands such as ‘Federation’ and ‘Funky Dory’ and is a very proud member of the Gbar team plus he can still be found reaching for the lasers on the dance floor when not actually creating the buzz behind the decks himself!. Catch Andy playing every Saturday night alongside Dave Bennett and John Hooper in the Bass-ment!