craig shaw - miss cleaver - july 2020

With a career spanning decades, Craig Shaw stands as one of New Zealand’s most enduring and versatile DJs. His journey began in 1989 at just 15 years old, driven by a fascination with sampling and beat-mixing. Self-taught and deeply inspired by the art of turntablism, Craig honed his craft and earned his first residency at Christchurch’s legendary Palladium Nightclub, the epicentre of the local nightlife scene at the time. Over the years, Craig’s musical repertoire has evolved from Hip-Hop, RnB, and Funk to Trance, and now encompasses an eclectic range of house music styles. Known for his ability to read the room, energize the dancefloor, and create unforgettable moments, Craig’s sets have become synonymous with feel-good vibes and timeless memories. Having performed at countless club nights, parties, and festivals, Craig has earned a reputation as a reliable and dynamic presence behind the decks. His impressive resume includes supporting global icons such as Fatboy Slim, Darude, and Krafty Kuts, as well as opening for Synthony and playing at Ministry of Sound events. Craig has also graced the stages of major festivals like Electric Avenue, Rhythm and Alps, The Gathering and Nostalgia. With a huge passion for music and an extensive collection to draw from, Craig brings versatility to every performance. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a massive festival, his sets are all about connecting with the crowd, celebrating the moment, and creating an atmosphere where great music and unforgettable memories come to life.

Some history - 
When Craig stepped into Christchurch’s and ultimately New Zealand’s most opulent Night Club, The Palladium, he held  the residency for the 5 nights of the week. Craig was the resident DJ right on the inception of what was acceptable Hip Hop and Electronic Dance Music and was locally famous for stopping a dance track and dropping NWA’s F the Police as they came in and searched for underage patrons. The night would always end with Public Enemy’s Shut em Down mixed with AC/DC’s Back in Black. (No disrespect to the Police, they do a great job and this was just culture in its rawest form). Once a full time and now a part time promoter, Craig understands the dynamics of the business, selling tickets and creating vibes that make punters want more. Partnering with long time friend PZ and playing under the co-lab of DiRTY CA$H, its not unusual to come across a vintage marathon set of old school vinyl. Synonymous for constantly dropping dirty bass lines, familiar riffs and catchy bootlegs the advanced technology has seen Craig progress into 4 deck mixing, sampling and will still pull out some old school scratching along with on the fly remixing.

craig shaw - miss cleaver - july 2020

DJ Craig Shaw - DiRty Ca$H