You can definitely say that, as jobs go, Danny Howard’s is a pretty good one.
Since winning BBC Radio One’s Superstar DJ competition in 2011, he’s DJ’d all over the world and entertained huge crowds.
As well as that, he has the task of getting the nation geared up for a Saturday night with his weekly Radio One Dance Anthems show.
This Saturday, however, will be a little bit different.
After entertaining the masses on the airwaves, he’ll be hot-footing it to Manchester to host his brand new club night ‘Nothing Else Matters’.
After a successful launch last month, Howard will be bringing some of the UK’s finest dance music talent with him to the city’s Gorilla nightclub.
MM caught up with Danny to ask him, among other things, how he came up with the idea.
“I guess it came from the amount of music I now receive through doing the radio show every week. So many young producers from up and down the country send me music and so much of it is absolutely brilliant!” he said.
“It would be impossible to play it all on the radio but it made me think that there needs to be something in place for these guys to show off their music, and that’s how I came up with this concept.”
The new all-British club night was launched at London’s legendary Ministry of Sound night club, but north-west native Howard says the decision to stage the second night in Manchester was an easy one.
“Originally, Manchester was my first choice but because of dates working etc… we launched in London,” he said.
“This brand is all about showcasing home-grown talent and representing the amazing DJ/Production talent that we have here in the UK so being from the North-West, it seemed only right and natural that Manchester is the place we should start.”
Coming from nearby Blackpool, it seems Manchester holds a special place in Danny’s thoughts in terms of his favourite places to DJ.
He said: “Manchester is definitely up there, to have such a vibrant city so close to my home-town of Blackpool is great for me and the crowds are always up for it and musically educated.”
Tickets for Saturday’s event are going fast and are expected to sell out, but what exactly will the Gorilla crowd be treated to in this celebration of British dance music?
“It’s typically British with the line- up consisting of just UK Talent so joining me on the night will be Leeds based producer Josh Butler who’s had releases out on Chase & Status’ MTA record label,” he said.
“He’s also the man behind one of the biggest house tunes in Ibiza this summer ‘Got A Feeling’ which hit number 1 on Beatport with a remix from Bontan, who will also be playing on the night.”
Saturday night’s special guest will be Toolroom Records boss Mark Knight, and Howard is looking forward to welcoming a man who, in his opinion, is a world-leader in his field.
He said: “I’ve got to know Mark very well over the last couple of years so it’s going to be a bit of a party when he comes up to Manchester, it also helps that he’s one of the biggest DJs in the world in his scene.”
The launch of his own club night is the latest step in Howard’s whirlwind career to date.
After winning Radio One’s Superstar DJ competition in 2011, he was thrust straight in at the deep end; the opening slot at the Radio One Ibiza weekend at the legendary Ushuaia, an experience he describes as ‘one of the best in his life’.
“It wasn’t actually that daunting, I think it’s better to say I was bursting with excitement more than anything else. DJing is what I do so when you get to play such an iconic venue, you have to try and enjoy it,” he said.
“It was a moment I will never forget!”
Fast forward two years and Howard is now the standard bearer for British dance music, taking previously unknown talent and displaying it to the masses.
“We’re aware of all these huge DJs coming from Holland, Sweden and America but where is the UK presence?? It’s not as if we don’t have the talent because we really do!” he said.
“With that in mind, it’s a great feeling to be able to put on an event like this with such a beneficial concept to UK Dance Music.”
“I really hope that we can make this into something huge!”
Tickets for Saturday night’s extravaganza are still available but are selling fast.
Earlybird tickets are sold out but advance tickets can still be bought from here:
http://www.skiddle.com/e/11979062/
For more Danny Howard:
http://www.nothingelsematters.co.uk/
http://www.djdannyhoward.com/
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