Blueprint Interview

Before the club was Blueprint it had a few other names (ie Skyy Club). Tell us a bit about those days...

"The club was changed to The Skyy Club at the time of the 'Acid house' revolution and for a period of seven years was at the hub of a burgeoning scene in Nottingham. Nottingham's infamous DiY sound system started there on a Tuesday night, Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers) played his first UK gig at the venue around 1993 and Asian Dub Foundation also played there long before they were famous."


"Prior to this the club could have been referred to as a gentleman's club with late night drinking and gambling so I've been told! It's amazing how many people have a story to tell about the venue. I've managed to trace the licensee from the 60's and had some great chats with him."

Who have you had in the club over the last three years?

"Loads! My personal favourites are from the Deep House scene. Murray Richardson (20/20 Vision) and Stuart Patterson (Soulsonic) are always quality and they're my mates!! Laurence and Andy (Inland Knights) have played at some of the most enjoyable nights, packed to the rafters and wicked tunes.

"Percussion was a fantastic night with a great vibe and much lamented by lots of members since there flit to the 'bright lights'. Pure Filth and Kombination Funk have had a list of artists the length of Alfreton Road and always cutting edge.

"In fact both nights have dj's calling them to play!!! Billy Nasty, Andy Smith (Portishead) played for us on a Sunday night at a wicked session and vowed never to play at another venue in Nottingham again (We assume his agent changed his mind there!) Daddy G (Massive Attack), Femi Fem (Young Disciples), Ralph Lawson (20/20 Vision). After three years it may be easier to say who's not played, truly the list is endless.

What inspired you to get involved in the Nottingham clubbing scene?

"I was a promoter and DJ in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Big up my crew 'Funky Mutha' where my two partners now find themselves in San Francisco (a house husband/ writer) and Mombassa (a nightclub owner). Who do you think fared better?"

"I had always planned to buy a club, when I graduated (in Dentistry) however that plan for Edinburgh was scuppered when I was placed in Stoke-on Trent for my first training position. I used to go back once a month to DJ and oversee the empire in Edinburgh!"

"Then as time moved on and the crew all moved on. I moved to Nottingham in 1998. I used to see a delightful Mexican girl who studied in Nottingham, I loved the city and I got work as a dentist in Clifton. I spent a fair bit of time in The Bomb. One afternoon in 2000 I spotted an advert for a 'club for sale'. We started our ongoing refurb in the summer of 2001 (Respect to Tearay and most of the builders) And opened fully in November 2001. The rest as they say is now history."

How would you describe your promoters and the relationships between each other and the club?

"We all love our music with a passion. The synergy we now have is what's driving the club forward at a difficult time in club-land. It's like a family really in that when it's working well it's great and when it's not it's not."

"However for me for example as the owner it's great to see the development of a night like Kombination Funk which started as a Thursday night in 2002 and now is one of the biggest DnB nights in Nottingham. It shows if we all work together what can be achieved."

How would you describe the Blueprint atmosphere and average punter?

"Electric. As people have to make an effort to get to BluePrint there are no half measures. When it kicks off it takes you back to the energy of the Warehouse scene. BluePrint doesn't really have an average punter per se. I remember when '69' magazine did a feature on the club in Oct/Nov 2002 and said it was probably the most eclectic crowd they had seen on a dance floor. I guess I could say we attract music lovers of all ages who ain't into same old clubbin' city centre sameness!!

And does the atmosphere vary depending on the night?

"We have our regulars who are their rain or shine, but as a music led venue it does depend to an extent on the type of music on the night. What I have noticed and enjoyed is the cross-pollination stimulated by the promoter's meetings and as different groups have met and got on now appear at each others nights. There have been occasions when it's been like a who's who of Nottingham club-land....Underground of course!!

What have been the highlights of the last three years at Blueprint?

"New years eve 2001/2002. What a party and Respect (Massive) to Tony Global and Goodfella for pulling it all together: Cloakroom, Security and Tunes!!!! Inland Knights June 2002 when the club literally rocked from 2200 till close with the best set I had heard in a long time. Percussion at it's peak (though not as high as it could have gone) Spring 2004. 'Everything' October 2001 with The Rebel Crew live from USA what a great show. Pure Filth and Kombination Funk are consistently superb at what they do. There are too many more to mention.

If you could get anyone in for a set who would it be?

"As a musician, Roy Ayres at his peak, as DJ's 'Masters at Work'. As a vocalist-Shane MacGowan of The Pogues."

What do you think to the Nottingham Clubbing scene in general?

"Hot and cold. I'm particularly enjoying my liquid DnB at the moment and Killer Jim's 'Out to Lunch' at Dogma on the second Sunday of the month is superb."

Are you looking for more promoters or artists?

"We are always looking to showcase new talent."

What do you see coming up in the future for Blueprint?

"Air conditioning... Hurrah! More growth as discerning people realise the City Centre is a washout. More great nights, happy people and more networking. I love that."

Anything else you want to say?

"The strength of BluePrint is in it's promoters, members and staff who all love their music and work hard more often than not above and beyond the call of duty. They've all made the club what it is today. Respect."

Blueprint on LeftLion:
Kombination Funk Interview
Psycle Photos
Pure Filth Photos

Blueprint's Birthday Weekend:
Kombination Funk
Demo
The Birthday Finale`