DJ Broony gets chance to play alongside heroes

Jul 9 2009 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

AN ambitious Burnbank DJ will have the opportunity to play with his dance heroes as he gets set for the grand final of the EH1 Festival in Edinburgh.

Steven Brown (27) will play the final in the capital on July 20 after seeing off tough competition in the Lanarkshire regional final late last month.

Former Hamilton Grammar pupil Steven, known as DJ Broony, was one of only six DJs chosen to play for a panel at Starka Bar, Motherwell.

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

Steven, who works as a sales consultant, said: “Currently I work weekends as a mobile DJ, doing private functions.

“However, I have been DJing in my bedroom with turntables and decks for about seven years.

“I’ve always enjoyed it but this is the first time I went ahead and sent in a CD for consideration.

“Before, I had never let anyone hear any of my stuff, apart from my friends.

“When I saw the Colours competition in the Advertiser, I thought it has been long enough and I might as well go for it.

“I sent away my disc and didn’t expect to hear anything back as I knew there would be quite a bit of interest in it.

“When I heard I would be in the regional final at Starka Bar, it was a bit of a shock, as there were only six people in the final.

“And then to win that and reach the grand final was even more of a shock.”

If Steven triumphs later this month, he will have the chance to play alongside dance legends Carl Cox, Roger Sanchez and Orbital at the EH1 Festival in August.

He added: “When I started off listening to dance music, I was at high school. One of my friends had a set of decks and we used to go to his house at lunchtime and he would let me have a shot of them.

“For me to have the chance to be on the same bill as Carl Cox and the like is just amazing.

“I’m looking forward to the experience. It will be totally different. I usually play to a crowd of 100 to 150 people but this will be bigger.”

Steven is optimistic about having a future in DJing and would like to go further with his hobby.

He said: “There are DJs out there who are paid thousands per hour and they are doing something they love doing.

“I would love to think I could get there but it is going to take a lot of hard work to win the final of EH1.”

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