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No matter where in the world you find yourself today, you will not be far from a club that has in some way been touched by the Andy Carroll effect. DJ, Promoter, Roadie, A&R and general pioneer of House music, this man has done it all.
Andy first appeared as a DJ on the alternative dance scene, starting out at post-punk venue Brady’s (formerly Eric’s) warming up for bands including The Slits, Swell Maps, and Gang of Four. In 1982 Andy became the resident at Sandbaggers in Southport where he became known for playing an eclectic mix of contemporary styles. It was at a live gig by Theatre of Hate that Andy first met another local DJ, Mike Knowler. The pair had much in common and in particular that they had both been on life-changing trips to America where they discovered Acid House music. Andy invited Mike to become co-resident DJ at a Southport club called ‘Sandbaggers'. Soon after, they both became residents at Liverpool’s most prestigious venue, The State Ballroom and the two formed a partnership that went on to become the stuff of Liverpool legend.
Andy and Mike attracted a band of followers at The State. Amongst Andy’s admirers was a young local lad called James Barton, an aspiring promoter and all-round music entrepreneur. On 12 September 1988, James Barton launched a new club at The State called Daisy (i). It was the first time in Liverpool that an outside promoter took over a night from the club owner; it was also Liverpool’s first House night and Andy graced the decks with bagfuls of brand new music which he had brought over from his recent trip to the US.
The new House music policy at Daisy was so successful that The State copied it every night of the week. It soon became clear that the positive messages in Acid House lyrics were having a unifying effect amongst young people and the negative behaviour associated with tribes of young people transformed as they became part of a group it was now cool to belong to.
Sadly, external pressures forced The State to close its doors in November 1989. However, this paved the way for Andy to join James Barton and John Kelly at their new venture, The Underground. The venue was run down and had its problems but it was a safe environment for Andy and James to test new ideas and experiment with different genres. One idea was to introduce keyboard acts and they booked artists including Guru Josh and Mr Monday. This proved so successful that The Underground soon filtered into Liverpool’s mainstream music scene and everyone was keen to be seen there, from ravers to rock stars.
Eventually Andy and James made the progression to larger venues in Liverpool, including the Royal Court Theatre. There, Andy made use of the impressive list of contacts he built during his years working as a roadie for bands including the Dead Kennedys. The duo put on bands including Big Audio Dynamite and Adamski. And of course, in-between the bands were DJ sets from Andy Carroll and Mike Knowler.
By now, Mike Knowler had secured a residency at new club outside town called Quadrant Park, and he invited Andy join him there on Saturdays. There was a new wave sweeping across Liverpool and Quadrant Park was at the crest of it. There was now a much greater sense of community, everyone was a member a member of the club and they all shared a common purpose: hedonism.
Andy Carroll added something extra to the Quadrant Park formula. He used his skill as a promoter to bring in new DJs as guests. Suddenly, Laurent Garnier, Frankie Bones and K-Klass were on the line-up. The word spread around the UK and soon, ravers from all over the country arrived at Quadrant Park in coachloads.
Andy Carroll has always had a keen eye for an opportunity and after a highly successful spell at Quadrant Park, he and James Barton accepted an invitation from the club owner to open a new night at Liverpool club, 051.
At the same Andy and James were busy with their other ventures, managing artists including K-Klass through Hax Promotions and running their record label, Olympic Recordings. Ever vigilant, they went clubbing in Manchester to spot new talent and fresh ideas. What they found at venues including The Hacienda and Most Excellent was soon put in to practice in their next venture, a new night at another local venue, the Merseyside Academy. Today the venue is better known as the Annexe at Nation. The night was named Cream and Andy and James were the resident DJs.
Cream’s name was apt as it took its influences from the best of Manchester scene and Quadrant Park. The phenomenal rise and history of Cream is well documented (i). However, in the early years Andy, James and the third partner, Darren Hughes did not make a lot of money so in 1993 Andy decided to take his record box and passport and moved on to pursue his DJ career elsewhere.
Andy left the Cream management team but continued to DJ for them, both in Liverpool and on overseas tours. His international profile includes gigs at some of the best clubs in every corner of the world. He has toured throughout Australia and has DJ’d as the support act to Jamiroquai in the UK and Japan.
During the summer, Andy plays in Ibiza for Cream, We Love Sundays at Space, and at the biggest club in the world, Manumission. He recently became resident DJ for Ibiza Rocks, playing alongside Zane Lowe and Eddie Temple Morris, and has opened up for bands including the Kaiser Chiefs and Maximo Park. Andy Carroll is a crucial figure in the Liverpool House music story and after two decades he shows no signs of slowing down.
(i) Cream 10 years by Ben Turner
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