Uncle Dugs Q&A
The ever popular Jungle guru, Uncle Dugs, returns to Nozstock to grace The Cubicles for the fourth time, so we thought it was time for a little chat…
Uncle Dugs is the award winning best Jungle DJ of 2013 who also presents the only legal daytime Oldskool / Jungle radio show in the whole world known as #RCFF (Run Come Follow Friday) on Rinse FM. Expect ‘vibes 4 miles’ from the UK’s newest old skool legend.
If you ran your own festival, who would you pick to headline and why?
Thats a really tough question,,,, errrrrrrrm,,,, I guess if it was only allowed to be one person then I’d have to go with Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and that Tupac hologram (and a Biggie Smalls one as well) or Stevie Wonder or ACDC or an Oasis reunion. Ask me again in 10 minutes and i’ll probably give you another bunch of names lol
What are your 3 most essential items for a festival?
For me personally its my music, my mates and a smile
Do you have any embarrassing festival stories?
Nothing that jumps out although saying that has probably just jinxed me for this years festival season.
What is your best memory from a festival?
Ahhh man there is so many, Last years Hidden Woods set at Boomtown was amazing, playing the Rinse stage for Bestival in 2011 which was my first big festival stage booking, getting everyone to give Noz a massive cheer when we got him out the front of the stage in the Cubicles a couple of years back, to be fair every festival has a golden memory attached to it, something funny / special happens at every single one.
I must admit though one of my favourite non music memories was a couple of years ago when I played at Camp Bestival, me and a couple of friends ended up at the top of Ludworth castle overlooking the whole festival. We werent meant to be up there (cos the roof was literally packed out with fireworks and pyrotechnics for the closing display) but with some very good blagging skills we managed to get to the very top and grab a few selfies.
What was the first festival you went to? Tell us about it.
Its funny because many of the raves we used to go to are the equivalent of the 1 day festivals now, although back then we would never have labelled them festivals they were just normal raves at that time. Parties like Universe / Raindance / World Dance / Perception etc etc the list goes on,, some of the best days of my life (what I can remember anyway).
How did you get into music?
I have loved music from a kid, my Dad was a singer so I was surrounded by it from as far back as I can remember. My older brother Ricky took me to see a few bands as a 15/16 year old then my cousins Jamie and Daniel took me to my first rave when I’d just turned 16 and that was it, I wanted to be a DJ. Now nearly 30 years later I love playing music more than ever.!
What can we expect from your performance / set?
always play with as much energy and passion as I got in me. I like to play fast and for the crowd, especially at festivals. There is always a few curveballs chucked in along the way so even though its mostly Jungle and DnB you never know what might pop up when the time feels right.
Can you sum up your music in 3 words?
Vibes For Miles
Any musical heroes?
I was brought up on some of the real oldskool legends, if I had to pick 3 I’d say John Lennon / Elvis / Freddie Mercury.
Highlight of your career so far?
Probably releasing my autobiography last December (Rave Diaries And Tower Block Tales). I have had some amazing highs from music but to release your life story as a hard back book and to be able to give it to your proud parents and say thank you for everything is way beyond anything I ever dared dream about as a teenager playing records 24/7 in his little tiny bedroom in Dagenham..
