The 39th Southport Weekender 2006
Written Martin J & Photos by Patrick Trollope

IT’S more than music; it is at the soul of the music scene, it is “one of the most important festivals in the World.” With four rooms of fantastic music, it was hard to hard to pick which was the best. In addition to the four main rooms there was a VIP room for the back stage staff, media and VIP’s.

The first room I will report on is the Powerhouse, otherwise known as the “House Arena”, which is sited around the largest indoor dance floor in the UK, and was specially decorated for the event. With millions of pounds worth of lighting and sound equipment, it was as visually amazing as the sounds that blasted out of the massive sound system which filled the room with powerful base beats. The Powerhouse music was a stunning blend of Funk, R&B, Soul, Hip Hop, Club Classics, Electric, Jazz, Drum N Base and Broken Beats. This was also the stage, which witnessed not one, but five top live acts over the three days and 18 top quality DJs.

First live act up on the main stage, sorry The Powerhouse, was Tracy K (Fish Go Deep) who gave a solo performance that set the atmosphere for the weekend. You can hear an interview with her on our radio site. Next up on the Friday night, at the early time of 3.20am (ok, Saturday morning) was SU SU Bobien. She came all the way from the USA to perform here at the Weekender. Her vocal talent, which has made her a prominent new voice in Gospel House, helped her to make a unbelievably good performance of her soon to be released debuted album and single called “Set Free” (UK release 2007). Sadly for Friday in the Powerhouse, that was it for Live PAs, but the DJs kept up the fun. Two of these really stood out, according to the dancers in the massive room. The two DJs were DJ Norman Jay and the soulful sounds of Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson. Interesting on Friday night, resident Southport Weekender Norman Jay, who has the same taste of music and is closest rival to Paul, was hidden in the Connoisseurs’ Corner. He also went down like a storm, as well. Well it was a soul weekend! On Friday in the Funkbase, was AMP Fiddler, who stole most of the limelight with a sensational funky Jazz mix. His band went on early, at 11pm, but was then talk of the event for most of the weekend onwards. This performance was also broadcast on BBC 1Xtra. Friday’s line-up was completed, on the live act side, by Choklate, whose powerful voice whipped up a frenzy. Again you can hear an interview with her on Liverpool Reporter.

On Saturday afternoon, sadly our editor and photographer could not make it, but what a show! The Funkbase had Anthony Dave and Omar in concert. Early Sunday, in the Funkbase, 1Xtra was live on air from 12.00 Midnight, with Ronnie Herel and a live performance by The Pharcyde. It did not finish here as three-piece girl group Trinity Stone took the floor. They are not only sexy in their looks, but also possess great vocal talent. The legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ, Trevor Nelson completed the complement. This just a sample of what was on offer! It was a fantastic line up in that room, that night with so many hot mixes of musical magic. Not to be outdone, the other rooms also gave a fantastic line up with the Powerhouse putting on Joi Cardwell. In the B-Live arena (The Bacardi Bar) were the UK’s premier underground dance production, Bugz in the Attic. Amazingly we managed to get away from this outstanding act, but it was hard to do, as they were just so entertaining. Sunday was no letdown after such an eclectic mix of talent in all the rooms. It was hard to see just how it could be topped, but again Alex and Dave pulled yet another rabbit out of the hat and brought us Mobo Award Winners, NU Life and US artists, Livin Out Loud. In the Powerhouse, bringing to an end the live acts, were not one but two acts, Michael Watford and then the legendary Reel People whose act will go down in Southport Weekender history as one of the best finishing acts in its history. That brings us to the point that it is the 40th Weekender next year, in May and that will be a must see event. After this stunning event, it will be hard to top, but in true Weekender form we know that Alex and Dave will.

I would like to say thanks to the Weekender team for letting us come and also thanks to all the acts that helped us. But the team that always gets overlooked are the security staff, whose efforts not only kept the event free from incident, but also helped keep the atmosphere buzzing.

This is the best music show in the UK of this type but don’t just take our word for it, hear some few of the many interviews TV personality Jonathan Thompson and our editor Patrick Trollope did with some of the live acts and punters, on our radio website, Liverpool Reporter.   Sorry but we have yet more photos to come next week.  We just ran out of time this week editing them.  but we do have over 200 shots for your to look at.  Also you can ring up and order prints and help us to keep this site running.   01704 513 569

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