Hard House History

Andy Farley returns to the Hard House History Podcast for a catch-up with Paul Glazby, covering marathon DJ sets, rediscovered records, and why the best nights still build around the music. From Ibiza adventures to the thinking behind Pure Andy Farley, this episode explores what keeps him excited about getting behind the decks.
Andy reflects on a year of festivals, Frantic parties and five gigs during his Ibiza trip, including experiencing Amnesia and watching Fergie play vinyl. He also looks ahead to his planned back-to-back with Eddie Halliwell, and why unexpected partnerships offer creative possibilities.
At the heart of the conversation is Pure Andy Farley. What began as a six-hour set in 2010 developed into a ten-hour journey, giving Andy room to build a night, introduce unfamiliar records and reconnect dancers with forgotten favourites. He explains why shorter sets leave less room for experimentation, and why a great groove can be as powerful as a massive breakdown.
The pair also discuss Andy's label, his desire to bring more funk and variety back into hard house, and the younger artists discovering sounds that helped shape the scene. Along the way, they revisit his first release, Concentrate, the inspiration behind Beef Jerky, and the pleasures and occasional disappointments of buying vinyl through Discogs.
Listener questions bring out stories about Andy's Brisbane birthplace, pre-set nerves, studio collaborations and the realities of DJ technology. Andy and Paul share views on social media followings, learning to mix and why reading the crowd remains essential, whatever equipment you use.
There is plenty of laughter, a London Hard House Reunion shout-out and a reminder of what clubbing means to both of them: freedom, acceptance and people coming together through music. It is a conversation about experience, curiosity and keeping the dance floor connected, whether you are playing for one hour or ten.
What is the one track you would want to hear in a ten-hour Andy Farley set? 
Listen now, share your pick and send this episode to the mate who would stay until the final record. 
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Hard House History celebrates one year since its rebrand with a return guest who helped shape Paul Glazby's career. Insomniacz promoter Tom Muir joins Paul for an honest, hilarious conversation about the scene's resurgence, the realities of running events and why their story is still being written.
Tom helped establish Paul as a hard house DJ back in 2000. Now, decades later, they're watching familiar faces return to the dance floor alongside a younger generation discovering the music for themselves. From growing friendship groups to the appeal of daytime parties, Tom explains why today's atmosphere feels special, and why he believes Insomniacz is bigger now than it was in its early years.
One of the episode's standout stories is Lost in the Woods, an event that sold out without announcing a single DJ. Tom shares why he backed the experience over the headline names, before opening up about booking fees, rising expectations and the financial risks promoters carry behind the scenes.
They laugh as they revisit This Is Hard House, Lisa and Fergie's face-to-face set, and the afterparty that got Paul onto the dance floor. Then comes the story of Fergie rejecting Paul's headphones, a reminder that even veteran DJs aren't safe from a little humiliation.
The conversation also explores Leonie's progress, the importance of learning to beatmatch by ear, and Paul's frustration with poorly positioned monitors. Looking ahead, Tom discusses taking Halloween into castle courtyards, the return of Glazby Time, New Year's Day with Bryan Kearney and plans to bring Insomniacz back to Magna with Paul van Dyk.
Underneath the banter is a shared appreciation for the people keeping this music alive, including Vicky, the returning ravers and the next generation stepping into the scene.
Got an Insomniacz memory you'll never forget? 
Tell us your favourite night, venue, or Glazby moment in the comments, and share this episode with the mate you were there with. 
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One Sunday morning, one DJ booth and one encounter with Tony De Vit changed everything. In this episode of Hard House History, Paul Glazby sits down with Matt Smallwood to trace a life in dance music, from teenage obsession and London club nights to producing hard house and helping shape releases for global artists.
Matt takes us back to Sunnyside Up, where a sixteen-year-old newcomer found himself beside Tony De Vit, watching records being selected and learning how a master controlled the energy of a dancefloor. His account of Tony's mixing technique captures the excitement of discovering something that would become much more than a weekend interest.
Then come the belt-drive decks, handwritten demo tapes and nervous first opportunities. Matt recalls landing an unexpected set at Trinity at the Chunnel Club when Tony Price was delayed, turning a last-minute favour into a regular opportunity. Along the way, Steve Thomas, Trade, and London's underground scene helped him understand what makes a set connect.
The conversation moves into his creative partnership with Ali Wilson, making music in the Blue Room Studio and releasing tracks including Let the Games Begin, Just Listen, Devastation and Give Me All You Got. Paul and Matt revisit their shared Vicious Circle connections, friendships that have lasted decades, and the possibility of returning to the studio.
Beyond the booth, Matt explains how Trackitdown opened the door to a different side of the industry. He spent 13 years at Toolroom, moving from licensing and compilations to leading A&R and label management. He also reflects on signing Feel My Need and the difficult decision to leave a team that felt like family.
Now working at Club Class, Matt shares the realities of managing labels, developing The Cross and overseeing music releases connected to James Hype and Meduza.
It's a conversation about opportunity, relationships and keeping that original musical spark alive.
Listen now, then tell us which DJ, track or club night first got you hooked. 
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General Bounce joins Paul Glazby on the Hard House History Podcast for a candid, funny and opinionated conversation about 25 years behind the decks. From his first club gigs in August 2001 to running Cheeky Tracks and finding an audience through video, this episode explores a career built on energy, individuality and a genuine love of dance music.
Before the clubs came the influences: Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, A-ha and a school trip to Germany that introduced him to clubbing at just 15. Jimmy Somerville also comes up, whose moves might help explain General Bounce's unmistakable dancing.
The conversation moves into Cheeky Tracks, the label he took ownership of in 2015. With the catalogue approaching 800 releases, he explains why musical variety matters, how he has maintained a weekly release schedule, and what streaming has changed for artists and labels.
His LDC Radio show provides another window into life behind the music, from juggling mixing and microphone duties to discovering unexpected swearing in tracks. Paul contributes a pirate radio story that proves checking the broadcast is actually working can be rather important.
Then comes the debate: are modern hard house tracks too short, or do longer records need to earn their running time? Paul and General Bounce discuss mixing, dancefloor journeys, and why cramming more tracks into a set doesn't automatically make it better.
General Bounce also champions the younger producers rediscovering the genre's roots, including Kyle Starkey, and questions the criticism they receive from established fans. Alongside reflections on BK and Tony De Vit's influence, it becomes a conversation about giving hard house room to evolve.
There is plenty of personality too, as he explains recording sets around caring for his mum, turning footage into reels, and poking fun at promotional trends through his Content Cringe videos. He also discusses returning to production with Pump Fiction on a remix of The Shrink's Wicked.
Listen now, then tell us: do you prefer long blends or shorter tracks? 
Share your favourite General Bounce moment, send this episode to your clubbing crew, and follow Hard House History.
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This week on Hard House History, Paul Glazby sits down with producer, DJ and underground dance music chameleon Jon Doe for a journey through one of the most fascinating careers to emerge from the UK's hard dance scene.
Jon's story does not follow a conventional path. From discovering energetic electronic music through artists including KLF, to buying records with money earned washing dishes as a teenager, DJing school discos and eventually sending out his first demo tapes, his obsession with music quickly became something much bigger.
The conversation takes us deep into the world of Alpha Magic, where Jon produced records at an extraordinary rate during one of the most exciting periods in hard house. He recalls working alongside names including Chris C, Billy Bunter and Madame Zu, the rise of the Mohawk releases, the beginnings of Honeypot and the sheer volume of music coming out of the studio.
Jon also explains how leaving Alpha Magic opened another chapter. Working through Infectious Distribution, producing the Chunk and Toast releases and creating faster, rave-influenced hard house for Billy Bunter eventually helped lead to D Records.
But this episode is about much more than individual releases.
Jon and Paul revisit a completely different era of dance music, when independent record shops were meeting places for DJs, producers, and promoters; demos could genuinely find their way from the counter to a record label; and scenes were built through physical records and personal connections. Jon even recalls a young Craig David visiting Movement Records before his breakthrough.
The story eventually moves into Jon's return to hardcore through CLSM, his attempts to push harder underground music into the mainstream and a career that has repeatedly crossed the boundaries between hardcore, hard house, breaks and beyond.
There are stories, tangents, forgotten records, industry madness and enough unfinished business that Paul is already talking about a Part Two.
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Hit play and join Paul Glazby and Jon Doe for a proper trip through the record shops, studios, labels and characters that helped shape UK hard dance. 
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