Artist: Pook

For more information - Contact Archangel^'s Andie Tel: 07864 078446 Email: andie@archangeluk.co.uk Web: www.myspace.com/musicpook

Pook remembers his first go on a set of decks - " The first time I had a go at mixing? Ah I remember it well! It was November 1991. A friend of mine had been approached by the landlord of his local (the Captains Table, Southsea) asking if he knew anyone who could play some records for a student night he wanted to start on a Monday night. My mate knew that, despite not having ever DJ'd, I had about 20 or so dance tunes and would probably be up for the gig" Monday nights at the Captains Table were about to change dramatically. "I don't think the landlord ever found out that I'd never done it before, nor was he really prepared for the upfront hardcore I was knackering his speakers with!" Pook managed to hang on to that gig for three months "I learnt to mix and got paid, brilliant. How I kept the landlord convinced for three months I don't know..." The seed had been planted. Pook went on to DJ at various different nights in Portsmouth and surrounding areas playing along side such talent as Sister Bliss, Junior Vasquez and Nigel Benn to name drop a few. In 1996 Pook packed his bags and headed for the bright lights of London. During the next four years Pook discovered the illegal party scene in London. "I hooked up with a crew called Section 47, they were the North London Techno Connection, throwing down monthly parties in various locations ranging from The Trueman Brewery in Brick Lane to Hackney Heath to Jamies Bar in Holbern. Anywhere would do really, mental parties" In 1999 Pook found his sound. "Prog house was getting dull, trance was doing nothing for me and then I stumbled across Vinyl Addiction in Camden, the guy behind the counter was urging me to listen to his label - Fingerlickin - I was hooked!" Pooks find was to serve him well. "I loved these beats I'd discovered, then on a whim I fucked off to spain for a year" On his return, Pook soon slipped back into the party scene, playing at Turnmills, The Gardenin Club, Orbital bar and various other bars and clubs across London. In 2003 Funked Off at the Black Bull was born. Pook was a promoter! Friday nights in Fulham saw such talent as Steelzawheelz, Disposeable Breaks and Dirty Habit throwing it down with Pook on a weekly basis. At the same time, Pook was busy making a name for himself in the Bristol free party scene, going back to his old skool roots and playing marathon 4hr '92 hardcore sets. "I loved my bank holiday weekends! Three day parties in the beautiful Welsh countryside and dirty raves in warehouses in Bristol! Spankin" It was soon to pass that two great minds would collide! Ooh! "I met Dave "Dirty Habit" Breakfish when I was promoting the Black Bull, I couldn't jump on the Breakfish bus quick enough!" Spoofers was the first venue that Pook played for Breakfish, then on to Sahara Nights, Play Bar and finally Clockwork. During this time, Pook was part of the promotional team that brought you Sunday Sessions which launched with Dirty Habit, Rysty, Pook and Terry Hooligan, not to mention the West boys, Danny Sanders and Breakbeat Ant making it very funky downstairs. The next chapter - Pook is now hosting The BeatRouteSessions on S.O.U.L. 99.5FM every Monday night 6-8pm show casing new and unsigned talent from across the globe and guest mixes from the likes of General Midi, Chris Carter and Dirty Habit. Pook can regularly be found playing a funk/soul/hip- hop/ska/breaks extravaganza in his position as resident at Jrink in Frith St Soho and playing clubs and Festivals all over the UK.