Still here. No idea where we’re going, mind…

Dance floor pic

With the country about to enter national lockdown #2, we thought it time to put digital pen to paper…

Things are proper fuk’d. No question. We’re lucky that our loved ones are healthy and we’re (still) working. But we know that’s not the same for many other folks.

Notts tahn nightlife that we’re just loved being part of is in a real bad place. Those independent spaces that we adore like Broadway, JamCafe and Malt Cross are doing their best to react to a situation that’s changing day by day. But it’s a never ending struggle for them and so many others.

If you take one thing from this, please dig deep (if you can) and spend some cash in our peerless indie bars, restaurants and shops.

Try make it a thing to help keep these essential places and spaces alive. We’ve gotta hold onto what makes Notts tahn so damn precious and other cities always green-eyed (hello, Lesta…).

Here’s one on our doorsteps, too. Grace Before Jones at our own Nottingham Contemporary. Really worth popping’ out for. Drills into her many incarnations with a big nod to the disco queen era. We loved it and it’s in Notts tahn. Don’t sleep on it.

Oh, yeah, We’re still spinning lots at DDS HQ. Plenty of juicy DDS Mixcloud action happening these days. Dip into our pick ‘n mix list below.

Or jump to the full bag of flavas at mixcloud.com/dirtydiscosoundsystem.

Please look after all your loved ones and stay safe.

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“Gonna get high ’til the day I die…”

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Denise Johnson 1963- 2020

This poxy year just gets better. So sad to hear of Denise Johnson’s untimely passing.

Heard the news a few days back and thought it was wind up like when the news of Andrew Weatherall’s death hit. It wasn’t.

Just 56, (like The Guvnor) when she died, Denise was the voice of Screamadelica. No question.

She owned those songs on that long player and made the Scream soar – yes, really. It was Denise and Andrew Weatherall who took that band out of the indie ghetto.

Not forgetting how she brought shining soul to A Certain Ratio, whom she collaborated with for nearly three decades. Denise played a critical part in reinstating ACR’s long overdue position as post-punk pioneers.

So another one gone way too soon.

Rest in power, Denise.

We were so looking forward to Notts Pride ’20…

Notts Pride

Would’ve been our 5th year spinnin’ Notts Pride wax at Broadway Cinema, JamCafe and other fab Notts tahn places.

Getting cancelled was such a big blow but we’re all got bigger things to worry about.

Doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate safely by getting stuck in at home and other choice gaffs. Physically distanced, of course…

If ya need some juicy Notts Pride tunes to get the party going, blag some of our special Notts Pride mixtapes over at mixcloud.com/dirtydiscosoundsystem. Few different flavas to choose from – or just nab ’em all.

Whatever ya doing to celebrate Notts Pride, have a damn filthy, fun time. Keep yaselves safe too.

See ya at Notts Pride ’21…

A very emotional goodbye…

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Now that got very emotional but we kinda expected that…

It was beautiful to see many folks at our Goodbye To The Guvnor, Andrew Weatherall celebration at JamCafe, Notts on Saturday 7th March.

Big DDS nods to everyone who boozed, bopped ‘n bunged cash in the pots for Notts Samaritans. Nice to see some bods reppin’ Sherwood too.

Extra special hugs to Bradley Jam ‘n his lovely crew for letting us have their sweet space ‘n keeping The Guvnor juice flowing all night.

And some of The Guvnor’s tunes we dropped (but not all) for those nice peeps who asked and didn’t know. Bless:

  • Ghosts Again Andrew Weatherall
  • Dark Heart (Sabres mix) Bomb The Bass
  • Open Up (AW mix) Leftfield
  • Trainspotting Primal Scream
  • A Huge Pulsating Brain… (AW mix) The Orb
  • Flotation (AW mix) The Grid
  • Out The Window (AW mix) Confidence Man
  • In The Heat Of The Moment (AW mix) Noel Gallagher
  • Separate From The Arc (AW mix) Solar Bears
  • Wilmot (Red) Sabres Of Paradise
  • Only Love Can Break Your Heart (AW Mix) St Etienne
  • Hallujah (AW mix) Happy Mondays
  • Raise… Bocca Juniors
  • Come Home (AW mix) James
  • Soon (AW mix) My Bloody Valentine
  • Weekender (AW mix) Flowered Up
  • The World According… (AW mix) Sly And Lovechild
  • Come Together Primal Scream
  • Loaded (Dub) Primal Scream.

Since then, life’s taken a right ‘ol diversion. Not gonna ramble on about (enough noise out there…) but maybe – just maybe – The Guvnor knew. Thinking “Fuck this, I’m off to that ALFOS party in the sky’. Who knows?

We’re lined up to spin at Malt Cross on Saturday 21st March, Disco ‘n edits sesh. Still on as we write this. Checking in with our friends there regularly to get a line.

Obviously, bigger things are getting kiboshed all over. Makes sense as this situation gets more serious.

We’ve put our disco ball back in the box for a few months. Far more important stuff at play now. The party can happen another time…

‘Til then please stay healthy ‘n safe, people. Look out for each other too.

And if ya need tunes to keep goin’, jump in below. Working for us. Some of the time…

Goodbye To The Guvnor…

Andrew Weatherall

Andrew Weatherall 1963 – 2020

We just couldn’t believe fathom it when we saw the tweet late afternoon on Monday 17th February. Thought it was a wind up. Not the best one either.

We dug in then it hit as the tweets piled in from all over. Not a wind up, Andrew Weatherall had died in the early hours. He was 56 years old. No age.

So much intense love and emotion has been shared throughout this week. Overwhelming. It was beautiful to see so many memories and tales being offered up by so many.

We’ve got our own vivid memories of The Guvnor and his musical legacy. Yep, “Loaded” was the first drop we noticed. When his My Bloody Valentine rework landed then we got hooked.

Followed him hard since then. Backed off around time of Two Lone Swordsmen (too abrasive even for us…) then headed back in early 00s. In the last ten years or so, he was on a massive ride going to all sorts of destinations artistically, musically and thematically. Maybe he knew.

The dubs, remixes and sessions just kept coming. A Love From Outer Space became his church alongside ALFOS partner, Sean Johnston.

Now he’s left us way too soon. No one got near him. No one will ever get near him.

Nearly a week on, we’re still struggling. Had to do something. So we’re collab’g with our big mates at Jam Cafe’ to celebrate his peerless legacy on Saturday 7th March.

Dropping a messy cocktail of his sublime remixes, solo tunes ‘n key connections from 9 ’til late.

Join us as we say goodbye to The Guvnor by raising several glasses and having a dance floor chug or two. Taster of what to expect (or not…) is here.

And one of our favourite Weatherall mixes is just below. Rockabilly vibes drop. Via The Guvnor.

One we did ourselves. For The Guvnor.

Outta the gate for ’20…

Turntable

So it’s finally landed, new decade! Hope you’re holding up...

Been a while so a cheeky hello and nudge towards to a few sessions we’re dropping.

Back at Malt Cross on Saturday 15th February. Big dub, reggae ‘n ska vibes that one.

Our big mates at Jam Cafe has got us doing another noisy Post Punk Disco session on Saturday 29th February. Usual filthy yet sublime mix of Alt Disco, New Wave ‘n Post Punk. Dancing’ time, people. Proper.

Hoping ’20’s gonna be good one. Few nice things stacking up Nick Cave in Brum; SquarePusher coming to Notts; and DDS fam heading off to We Out Here festie.

We’re still bunging out mixtapes now ‘n then. New one’s below. Electronica trip for head ‘n feet. Play loud…

Post-Xmas Post Punk Disco: one more time…

Post Xmas Post Punk Disco

Yep, new decade’s landing very soon. Damn, those years went quick. Too quick, maybe...

We’re still spinnin’ and we’ll be havin’ one last DirtyDiscoSoundsystem takeover bash at Jam Cafe, Notts on Friday 27th December ’19.

Calling it our Post-Xmas Post Punk Disco. Did same in ’18 ‘n it was a massive blast. Expect Leftfield Disco, New Wave and Post Punk stompers. Get y’all outta of that Chrimbo lull. Get a proper taste below.

Not forgetting: big ups if you bopped or tapped your boots to our tunes in 2019. Much obliged.

Don’t forget our new-ish resi at Malt Cross too. Back there on Saturday 18th January and 3rd Saturday every month throughout ’20.

Hopefully see y’all again very soon. Enjoy that future seasonal downtime…

Jam Cafe’ Takeover sesh impending…

Dex image

Not long ’til our Jam Cafe Takeover sesh on Friday 22nd November! Wee bit excited…

Crackin’ place to spin. Decent beer ‘n nice vibes. With plenty dancing. Facebook blurb here.

Been frisky with mixtapes too. Like buses, init. Here’s one we did for our Malt Cross resi instalment on Saturday 16th November. Like it lots, goes wide too. Enjoy.

DirtyDiscoSoundsystem X UCU Nottingham College Social Shout Out…

Dex at Rough Trade

Big DDS X UCU Notts College social on Monday 14th October! Thanks to everyone who got stuck in. Nice one. Thanks to the performers ‘n speakers too.

Hugs to Kyle ‘n RTN crew for letting us use their ace upstairs space. And a very special thanks to Sam (Mrs DDS!) for all her hard graft to help set up this special night. Couldn’t have done it with her.

Other stuff stacking up, Our new-ish resi at Malt Cross, Notts – 3rd Saturday every month. Next one’s on 16th November. Come, why doncha.

Time for another DDS X Jam Cafe Takeover sesh too on Friday 22nd November. Jam’s always a sweet place to play. Great vibes ‘n proper dancing. 9 ’til very late, folks. See ya there.

Oh, yeah, have this mixtape too. All-wax disco 45s drop. Bit of snap, crackle ‘n pop on em. Lovely.

DirtyDiscoSoundsystem post incomin’…

DirtyDiscoSoundsystem X The Malt Cross session

Shocking, init! We’ve finally updated this wee website. Awful form but we’re back. Kinda.

Big year. All sorts going on. Four Tet at Ally Pally, Nick Cave in Notts, Pride ’19 and more. Plenty DDS DJ gigs too.

Got us a new monthly residency at The Malt Cross. Proper excited. Always wanted to spin here so big hugs to Luke G and TMC crew. Next sesh is Saturday 21st September, 7 ’til late.

Few other things happening too. Special Dub ‘n Reggae sash at Broadway Cinema on Friday 13th September to accompany their screening of Inna De Yard that night. Tunes get going 7-ish. Teaser mixtape below, too.

Time for another DDS X Jam Cafe Takeover on Friday 27th September. Jam’s always a sweet place to play. Great vibes ‘n proper dancing, 9 ’til very late.

One more: our resi at The Angel Microbrewery’s now come to an end. Big nod to Ben R for having us these last few years. Good times, indeed. We may be back…

That’s it. See y’all next year. Just kidding’…