This month we gave away two guestlist passes to the sell-out Fusion presents Norman Jay night at Bar Mango, along with a free bar tab. The winners Malgorzata Brzezicka and friend are set for a night to remember.

For those that aren’t familiar Norman Jay is stuff of legend, his last set at Big Chill made the festival for many and throughout his career he has amassed a huge following.

The early days

A self confessed ‘Beatle baby’ born in Notting Hill, London of West Indian parents, the young Jay had unwittingly displayed latent deejaying talents even from the tender age of eight. By then, encouraged by his music loving parents, he had bought his first record and played at his first gig – a 10th birthday party for one his female cousins – displaying for the first time, a precocious talent that was later to become the stuff of deejaying legend.

As young as he was, Norman eventually became hooked on all aspects of black music, becoming increasingly influenced by his father’s huge collection of original 60′s Jazz, blu beat, ska and rock steady reggae from Jamaica.

By the late 70′s he had become an avid follower of contemporary Afro-American music styles including soul, funk and jazz fusion – enthusiastically collecting classic urban record labels like MOTOWN, ATLANTIC and STAX.

New York, 1979

Whilst on a first time visit to relatives in BROOKLYN, New York around the same time – he was invited to play at his very first bona fide ‘block party’ alongside his uncle who – as it turned out, was also an accomplished deejay and sound system owner/operator of repute himself. Jay decided there and then to take his deejaying career more seriously.

Good Times Sound System

Upon his return to the uk – he teamed up with his brother JOEY and built the now legendary GOOD TIMES SOUND SYSTEM – where he embarked upon a mission to fulfill a long held childhood ambition to play at the infamous NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL – where he played FUNK, SOUL and DISCO (something completey unheard of in those days). This he did in the face of fierce opposition and considerable hostility to his initial efforts. His dogged determination to succeed saw him eventually triumph – ultimately winning him critical acclaim from his peers and fans in the process.

Arguably Reading’s freshest and most talked about club night

Fusion are proud to announce the launch of their new Club night at the award winning Bar Mango. The opening night is Friday 14th August with the legend that is Norman Jay MBE arguably one of the finest and most respected deejays in the world today. FUSION’s new regular monthly Reading night at Bar Mango, Reading will bring together a blend of two or more styles of FUNKY, DEEP, DIRTY ELECTRO & DIRTY BIG BEATS HOUSE MUSIC.

Stay Connected

To make sure you get the most out of your Reading social life, why not sign-up to the drinksin community? Regsitrations FREE, takes 2 minutes and will make planning your social life simple. drinksin learns what you like and suggests bars, events and offers based on your interest via your own diary myDrinksin. It’s like having your very own personal assistant dedcated to fun

When you register you also get included on any inside scoop and members only pub, bar and club deals for Reading. Come in an join us!

Popularity: 5% [?]

        

Last week drinksin got vocal and joined Phil Kennedy over at the BBC Berkshire studio’s in Caversham to talk pubs on Phil’s weekday slot, you can watch the interview here: Jaime talks pubs on BBC Berkshire

The drive to Caversham was the ride from hell, 1st radio interview nerves were rife but despite that sickening feeling, the questions went well and not too many erms and aaarghs in sight, well apart from the do you know the pub by the bridge question.

On the way to BBC Berkshire

For anyone that knows me, directions send me into a vegetative state of shock. The ‘yes’ to Phil’s question of ‘do you know the pub that’s down there, to the left, by the bridge’ was actually ‘Noooooooooh I haven’t a clue but I’m on the radio and I’m an idiot, can’t believe this is happening, i’m sure I know it but I can’t think straight, just say yes anyway, they’ll never know’. ‘YES’

For those, who like me freeze when directions are used the pub in question was The Rising Sun’

As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one week, we’ve also been featured in last weeks Reading Chronicle.

A big thanks to BBC Berkshire letting me join them for the excitement in the studio, and Reading Chronicle for featuring an excellent write-up on drinksinreading.com.

drinksin hit the headlines

Popularity: 7% [?]