Since the doors closed for a final time at clubbing institution 'Feel' three years ago, Preston, now a city, has not had a great deal to shout about on a dance music tip. All of a sudden this appears to be changing
Clubbing stalwarts Goodgreef have relocated to the city, quality nights have sprung up in the form of Disco Slut, The Warehouse Sessions, For No Reason, Trauma, and Kabooki and a seemingly endless stream of DJ and production talent is crawling from out of the cities depths as it begins to shake off its 'De'Preston tag.

At the forefront of this dancefloor revolution are The Gash DJ's: Pete Carvell and Jim Damentalist We braved the darkness and ventured 'oop north' to catch up with the partners in dancefloor destruction
b>Tell us a bit about yourselves and your history in the city of Preston?
Pete: I first moved up north from the Midlands as a student in 2001 and soon started promoting events and Djing. Back then 'Feel' was in its prime and it wasn't long before my love of house music had me hooked. In more recent times I have been responsible for bringing Goodgreef to the city, establishing Preston's venue 'Ignition' and launching two parties that my heart is devoted to Disco Slut and Gash.
Jim: It all begun for me at a night called Cheeky Monkeys about 12 years ago. Since then I've been responsible for starting and playing at 'Green', one of Preston's longest running parties, before handing that night over in order to take up a residency at 'Feel' in 1999 and playing there until it closed its doors for a final time in 2005. Then I met this young upstart (Pete).

How would you describe the music that you play?
Pete: We're both very much of a 'love music, fuck genres' attitude. I don't think I could pigeon hole our 'style' even if held at gunpoint and asked to do so. Influences from indie, house, techno, and electro all feature heavily.

What have been your most memorable DJ sets to date?
Pete: This would be a toss up between playing in the Coco Loco room at Privilege in Ibiza or in front of 2000 people pogoing around and singing along to Tommie Sunshines & Radioslaves mix of the Raconteurs 'Steady As She Goes' last summer at the Wickerman Festival in Scotland.
Jim: There have been so many amazing memories for me from the last decade that they all seem to melt into one big happy messy blur, one night that really sticks out in my mind is playing to 4000 up for it clubbers at Creams 10th Birthday celebration. The the most emotional has to be the very last set in the now legendary amphitheatre (I cried like a big baby).

Disco Slut's digital label is to be launched this year tell us more?
Pete: I had been considering launching my own label for a while. I have a ravenous appetite for discovering new music and since the digital revolution began the days of fighting over limited test pressings in record shops have been left behind. It has become so important to me to search elsewhere for dancefloor gems in order to set a room alight with a unique sound. I've found myself stumbling over no end of unsigned talent on the various internet blogs and myspace pages and feel it is about time some of these tracks are unleashed on the market and heard by all. I am lucky enough to have a pool of talented producers in my circle of friends and as such each release will be backed up by a strong and versatile collection of remixes from both recognised and unestablished musicians.

Jim, you were quite involved in the legendary Shaboom Recordings in the late 90's and have had notable success as a producer in the past?
Jim: Being involved with Shaboom gave me many great experiences. As well as my own material I worked on remixes for the likes of Watkins, DJ Sneak, and Blakkat. Playing internationally for the label in both Miami and New York (at the legendary Twilo) was also something I had previously only dreamed of.

What does the future hold?
Pete: Since stepping down as Goodgreef's Preston promoter to concentrate fully on my own ventures I'm very keen to push things forward as a DJ, build on what we've already achieved with Disco Slut and Gash and of course have a few damn good parties along the way.
We have also got remixes in the pipeline for a variety of bands including the likes of Neat People and Manchester fast rising favourites, Armrug.
Jim: Its nice to be feeling the buzz of Djing every week to a variety of crowds once again and we've got plenty lined up over the coming months. That coupled with plenty of good parties will keep me smiling!

Gash DJ's Top 7 'Ones to watch'

1) Bigger Than Jesus (www.myspace.com/biggerthanjesusmusic)
2) Charlie Fanclub (www.myspace.com/akadigitalblonde)3) The Bloody Beetroots (www.myspace.com/thebloodybeetroots)
4) Automatic Panic (www.myspace.com/automaticpanic)
5) Midnite Radio (www.myspace.com/thatboybondy)6) Tom Deluxx (www.myspace.com/tdlxx)
7) The Toxic Avenger (www.myspace.com/toxavanger)

Disco Slut Digital launches next month and you can catch the Gash DJs at the Wickerman Festival in Scotland as well as in Europe and up and down the UK this summer. Check out their myspace pages for other dates across the UK and Europe.

www.myspace.com/jimdamentalistantihero
www.myspace.com/thepetecarvell