Our Story / Mission

Like you, most of us met friends on dance floors. Maybe in chill out rooms? In queues for the bar or taxi. Maybe at some after-party when the Red Stripe cans came out.

Fundamentally, it was through the power of music bringing everyone together.

We happened to be of an age where the late 1980s and 1990s was the time when this occured . Shelley's in Stoke upon Trent. The Palais (Sheffield) - the SubClub (Subculture) and the Arches in Glasgow and Basics in Leeds. And we loved it.

In true cliche style, we bought Technics SL1210s, Vinyl, record carrying boxes and lugged this around to after party's or for some of us: the boot of our cars at Sandbach Services post-Shelley's.

The Hacienda was the pilgrimage across the Pennines.

Some of us, Green & Solid State became household names in Sheffield. Residents at the Palais, the number of 'nights to remember' became all too difficult to count. If you ask Green (he loves to recount the stories) it'd be a New Years Eve warming up for Dave Seaman. And Solid State is still a godfather of Sheffield house music scene and is always keen to support the DJDads.

Disco Bob and Bahra, meanwhile, had celtic connections. The SubClub (Subby) and the Arches became their dance floors. Icons such as Harri & Domenic - nights such as Subculture and Optimo saw Chicago and New Yorks most famous sons (Derrick Carter & Kerri Chandler) shows us how it was done.

Disco Bob & Bahra absorbed everything and became regulars. From Daft Punk in the Arches 1997 to Leftfield in the Barrowlands this dynamic duo of DJs have lost too many brain cells to recount the nights. They're just left with feelings.

Duane, Si H, Ben & Chris M are legends in their own making and have graced numerous nights in their time. Come meet us all on the other blog page.

All of the DJDads have, in someway or another, played; danced upon; been instrumental in the house music scene.

Coincidence or what..!

And what d'ya know... by sheer coincidence we all met when our kids went to school.

At the drop-offs or pick-ups, when you're waiting patiently in the Primary School playground, we all spotted the tell-tale signs of our past. T-shirts with record labels on - that only those who knew; knew.

beanies with 808 state embroidered or emblazened. Back to Basics the Queen logo. FAC51 tattoos. you name it, we spotted it.

And that's how the conversations started.

"Just out of interest, did you go to..?"

"Yeah, I was there in '94."

"So was I!"

"No way...fancy a cuppa back at mine?"

"Amazing. Yes."

opens door

"You've still got your Technics SL1210s."

"Always."

flicks through vinyl collection

"I've got this on..." (geeks out on record label)

And so the Dads became friends. And so the story started.

So why are we doing it..?

In our late 40s and 50s, we care deeply about this power of music. If t wasn't for music and raves and the dance music sub-culutres in all regions, the DJDads wouldn't have the memories; mates; resilience; creativity and deep-rooted understanding of music being good for (a) physical and (b) mental health.

Our kids' well-being depends on music.

Shocking Statistics

Schools are stuggling to keep curricular areas such as music; dance; drama and the arts alive. Some schools have dropped music from their curriculum. There's been a 45% drop in drama teachers in England.

In our home town, if this theme continues there may be only a couple of secondary schools that offer music as GCSE or A Level.

We know the power of technology to help kids these days. We're not knocking it's impact and importance. But relationships are formed and fostered and nurtured in live events. And we need musicians who can wield technology and acoustic instruments to keep events alive.

The Sheffield Music School

And so it is falling to charities to fill the void left by the above. In Sheffield, we're so lucky to have an amazing charity - The Sheffield Music School.

These stalwarts work tirelessly to try and give kids, from all backgrounds, music lessons and mentorship. Often free and they burn the midnight oil weekly to help achieve their mission.

None of the staff are salaried. If they're ill or looking after family - they aren't paid. Let alone affording themselves to go on holiday. They do it because they know how important music is for kids.

So we hooked up with them. And we put on nights - for you to remember - with proceeds from ticket sales go to the charity. All you have to is buy a ticket and turn up and dance. #youknowsit

We take no money as DJs. DJ'ing isn't our main job. It's our passion and we want to give back to the kids of tomorrow.

When you come and have a bounce with the DJDads your ticket will buy the kids an instrument; a lesson; mentorship; holiday clubs. Costs will go to direct to the kids.

What's not to love.

Check out this amazing Charity on socials here:

Insta: @sheffield.music.school

https://www.sheffieldmusicschool.org

See you on the dance floor peeps

DJDads x