Liverpool DJ Jonathan Beech, known as Beechy, says this summer has been his busiest in about 13 years of DJing. He described it as a whirlwind of amazing things that have happened to him, enjoying getting stuck in with projects and being part of the Liverpool community with cool events around town.
From Indie Roots to DJing
Beechy's first ever gig was Halloween 2013 at a basement student party at the University of Central Lancashire, where he went to university. He was coming into it with a whole knowledge of indie music, with his favourite band still being Bloc Party and loving LCD Soundsystem. He got a residency at The Warehouse, Preston’s equivalent of The Krazy House, and after university started doing agency work, playing bars and restaurants for about nine years.
He was inspired to get into DJing rather than form a rock band because he found himself at a lot of parties around university and had a vast knowledge of music from his childhood. A couple of years into his DJing, he started really leaning into the disco and housey stuff, a through line to his dad and uncle who used to DJ at social clubs around St Helens. They know everything about Tamla Motown and rare groove, and his dad used to drive him to school listening to the Motown chartbusters.
Pinch-Me Moments and Ibiza Win
Beechy says the Don't F**k with Disco street party a few weeks ago in the Baltic was a pinch-me moment, being recognised by a brand that is growing and going places. Playing that massive sound system on a gorgeous day was very special.
He also won a competition to play at Cafe Mambo in Ibiza this summer. He doesn't really like entering DJ competitions, but the previous year Liverpool DJ collective Everybody Dance had entered the same competition to play a set at Ibiza’s 528. He posted the mix and everyone in Liverpool’s music community came together, reposting, sharing and liking. He won, which was incredible. People were texting him on the day asking if he was nervous, but he was relishing how incredible an opportunity it was and wanted to enjoy it while it lasted.
Residency at Simone's and Future Gigs
Beechy is a resident at Simone's cocktail bar in Liverpool, a 90-capacity venue that is very shoulder to shoulder on a Friday and Saturday night. He has played there maybe 15 times now and every single one is magic, intimate, playing vinyl on a rotary mixer.
His DJ dream includes playing Glastonbury, Pikes in Ibiza, and Glitterbox, hoping to use his hobby as a means to see the big wide world. He has big gigs coming up, playing alongside one of his favourite DJs of all time Dimitri From Paris at Paradisco next week, then playing for Paraiso Disco in London at Night Tales. He can't wait for that one.
Emergency Floor Filler
As an 'in case of emergency break glass' floor filler track, Beechy says you simply cannot fail with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. That whole album is full of commercial classics like Disco Inferno, You Should Be Dancing and Night Fever, and throwing on a bit of Bee Gees is always going to get people moving.
Beechy plays Paradisco at Wav on October 17 and Paraiso at Night Tales on October 24. He can be followed on Instagram @beechydj.
