artists

• Where: Argonaughty boat
• When: Saturday 03.07. at 19:00-23:00
• Where: Tiki Bar and Beach Terrace
• When: Monday 12.07. at 21:00-00:00

“I’m just doing my thing,” says Dave Jarvis, with characteristic modesty. You might not have heard of Dave Jarvis, possibly because you haven’t been paying attention, possibly because you’re not au fait with the inner workings of London’s feisty club scene or possibly because Dave has, thus far, been happy to stay in the background. Well know him you should. He is, if you will, the Zelig of the English club circuit. Look at any photograph in the past 20 years and chances are, just off to the side, will be Jarvis, cheekily grinning at the photographer. Soul boy? Check. Acid house? Yep. Promoter? Done that. Record store owner? Okay. DJ? Of course. A jack of all trades and master of a few, then. So let’s go back… right back. Dave Jarvis, like just about every other DJ of a certain age, is a product of the suburban soul scene. He first started DJing in Kingston for the Boilerhouse crew back in the mid-80s. By ’88 acid house had arrived from Chicago, ecstasy and Balearica from Alfredo at Amnesia, and, as Dave tells it, “all hell let loose”. Gigs ensued all around the M25 beltway, from Queens to Phil Perry’s legendary Sunday session Full Circle, and thence inwards to the city and the Wag and Raw at the YMCA. Itchy fingers, restless soul, who knows? “Guesting is great,” says Dave, “but there’s nothing more satisfying than starting a night and watching it grow and thrive.” Indeed, Dave started his own parties, firstly Shine, Pussy Galore (with cohort Paolo) and, more recently Native Soul with Problem Kid Mark Wilkinson. In 1992, Dave started a monthly party, Crème, in Kingston that is not only still going today, but is thriving, a proper little knees up: a basement, a red light, and a head full of soul. He also found time to run Kingston’s Banquet Records, a key focal point for the suburban house scene. In 1999, Jarvis, along with long-time associate Terry Farley (of Junior Boys Own infamy), Stuart Patterson, Leo Elstob and Bill Brewster, started Faith, a series of parties that move around London and the south-east. Thus far, they have also released three compilations (Dave mixed one) and their parties now sell out well in advance. Faith was recently described them as “the best underground party in London”. They ain’t lyin’. He is also no stranger the Ways of the AKAI, having worked in the studio with various producers, including acid jazz legend Chris Bangs. Their Original Soulboy LP was recently completed, including contributions from 80s soulster Tashan and ex-Style Councillor Mick Talbot. A (slight) sidestep from his usual groovy style, Jarvis describes it as “chillout listening”. As an offshoot from his studio activities, he’s helmed two labels, the tongue-in-cheek Dadhouse (the name might be a joke, but the tunes aren’t) and the subterranean Moton Inc (with X-Press 2’s Diesel). An avid collector of “anything with a groove, anything with the right feel to it”, Dave plays everything, from straight up jackin’ house right through to boogie, funk, disco, soul, broken beat, northern soul and jazz (he’s never happier than when he’s mixing things up). His record collection – huge, fantastic – matches a fellow of such passion and dedication. Back room or front room, late or early, hither or thither, Dave’s your man.

Visit the artist’s webpage for more info