Burnbank DJ to play at EH1 Festival.

Aug 13 2009 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

BURNBANK DJ Steven Brown is set for the big time – after winning a national competition to open a festival for some of the world’s top dance music heroes.

Last month the Advertiser reported that the 27-year-old had beaten stiff regional competition to reach the final to find the newest talent for the EH1 Festival in Edinburgh.

And on Sunday, former Hamilton Grammar pupil Steven, known as DJ Broony, beat five other hopefuls in the grand final held at Starka Bar, Motherwell.

He will now play the exclusive opening slot at the festival – held at Ingliston Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, on Saturday, August 15 – alongside the likes of Carl Cox, Roger Sanchez and Orbital.

The competition aimed to find the best unknown DJ in the country and was run by the Advertiser’s publishers, Scottish and Universal Newspapers, in conjunction with dance company Colours.

Sales consultant Steven said: “It obviously went well but there was a lot of competition from the outset.

“The guys I was up against were all very good, and weren’t just there to make up the numbers.

“I was on stage first and I felt that I played well enough and was in with a shout.

“But you never know until you see the other five guys.

“It worked out well for me because being on first meant there wasn’t as much pressure. I didn’t know what the others were like.”

Steven, who works as a mobile DJ at weekends, will be opening the event’s main stage with a 1pm to 3pm set, before playing a second set onboard a bus laid on by the festival’s sponsors, clothing firm Gio-Goi.

However, he has had to cram as much preparation in as possible before he flies out to Ibiza for a week’s holiday before the gig.

“I don’t have a lot of time to prepare my set, so I’m trying to get as much practice in as I can before I fly out, and a lot when I get back.

“The holiday isn’t really the best timing, to be honest, but it is great to have the opportunity to play in a festival like this.

“I’ve been to Ibiza a few times, and I really like it. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll be playing there myself.

“People dream of things like this and playing alongside the world’s greatest DJs, and that is exactly what the EH1 Festival is for me, playing with these guys and mingling with them.

“To actually win the competition is a buzz in itself, but to go and play at a huge dance festival is very surreal.”

l For more information on Steven’s gigs or events, contact djbroony@hotmail.co.uk.

l For info on the EH1 Festival, visit www.eh1musicfestival.com