All vinyl classic 90's set recorded live at Brit's 'That 90's Black Light Rave' party 2025. Such an amazing night at Diffusion! All DJs playing all 90s vinyl. Loved everyones 90s raver garb and Alice in Wonderland outfits!

Live at That 90's Black Light Rave III - 3.01.2025

Ben Annand set off Camp DayFunk 2025 with a heady, deep, and impeccably crafted dance floor-first set that captured the tone for the entire weekend. From the first beat, he pulled the crowd into a sound that felt both grounded and expansive, layering warm, textured elements with basslines that built steadily without ever rushing the moment. There was a patience to his flow, a quiet confidence that allowed dancers to lose themselves in the space between the kick and the melody. Equal parts meditative and body-moving, Ben’s set honored the spirit of the forest and the promise of the dance floor, weaving a sonic tapestry that felt ancient and new at once. It was the perfect invocation, a chapter that reminded everyone why we gather together in the first place.


Ben Annand : Camp DayFunk 2025 - Friday Night

I sure hope you enjoy my second set from Camp Dayfunk 2025 as much as I enjoyed playing it!   If you do, please give it a like and consider re-posting it on Soundcloud - it just takes a second and is the most helpful way to share cool music to new people!

Camp Dayfunk is a Minneapolis-based campout in just its second year, taking place 2 hours East in the Wisconsin Woods - and I enjoyed its quality, intimacy, and cute little camp touches immensely.  Both this event and this set are very special to me <3

Before anything, let's talk about the Mix Cover.  I got great pictures from my first set and none from this 2nd, and it's fine.  Because I got something better than a picture - I got a Danceflooor Badge!  

It was one of the greatest honors of my DJ career to earn one of only 8 Dance Floor badges given out at this event  - not for my 4 hours of playing music where I dance some but maintain focus on the mixing - but for my many more hours of representation on the dancefloor as a dancer, which is where this all started for me... and honestly has stayed.  

I fricken love dancing and absolutely think it makes me a better DJ to study and appreciate music from both sides of the decks. I don't dance to everything and also want to give props where props are due - the music at this event was rock solid, and receiving the dance badge has as much to do with the quality of the other DJs playing as it does my dance stamina.  Fun fact, the most I ever danced was at @mingameslaby in Japan in 2007 ;)

Okay, about the music and vision for this set!  My first set at the event, the night before, was previously posted to the event's Soundcloud (@user-467880110) and I had a full dancefloor and lots of energy coming back at me - a Dj's dream.

This, my second set, Saturday 4-6pm, was a bit different.  It's daytime, there's a beach, and @djdanmusic, @Dj-Mes, and Mazi aka @audiosoulproject are playing B2B2B on that stage.  Right at the same time as my set at the Pavilion stage!  First thing that comes to my mind after I realize they are simultaneous - wtf am I going to do?

Contrast is the answer.  If people want it funky, they're gonna want to be down at the other stage.  I mean I wanted to be there too lol.  And who the heck wants the 2 stages to sound the same anyway, that's silly.  So I leaned into this contrast theme for my set.  Someone told me that I may have confused people a little lol.  I said 'good!'  

I'm really glad I had the opportunity to play the night before, because that was my more funky set - though my interpretation is a bit different from most.  I also won some hearts there, which created more interest than there would have been I think.

So anyway, this set was a challenge - a friendly challenge to myself to play a 2 hour set that was a bit out of the box without losing people, that would serve as a worthy contrast to that devastating funk of Dan, Mes and Mazi.  
 
I would guess overall people there probably liked my first set a tad more - but for me this one was hands-down the winner.  Partly because it was a full 2 hours of new music. Partly because my cup was already full since  I had nailed my set the night before and even got extended an extra hour -  the best hour.  And partly because I had experienced some challenge locking the XDJ the night before, but was effortlessly near flawless on Saturday. I felt zero pressure to do anything but be myself, and play what I felt at that time <3

In general, I favor very full tracks that envelope you with sound.  Besides contrast, the theme for this set is laid back and expansive.  There's funkiness, sure, there are some peaks and valleys energetically, but not at all like the night set.  Overall, it's a smooth ride through deep house with some vocals, minimal house and even a touch of techno, all  around 124bpm. 

Thanks for reading to the end!  I Hope you enjoy the music, and perhaps this background too!


Contrast - Ben Annand Live July 19, 2025 at Camp Dayfunk in the Wisconsin Woods

A re-created recording from the Living Room stage Thursday 12:30-2:30am at Shambhala 2025.

I can't put the full tracklisting here because Soundcloud might pull the mix down.  They have done so in the past. Ask in the comments and I'll respond.

Featuring many classic and new tracks that spin thru genres like a washing machine on heavy load. 

The Hardkiss Music releases including:

God Within - Raincry
Gavin Hardkiss & Bisi - Sawa Sawa Hey
Gavin Hardkiss - Afro Tamba Tamba
Hawke - Sunshine People
Hawke & God Within - Acid Funk (Rabbit In The Moon Remix)
Petoken - Lightbeam

Grab them at www.hardkiss.org

Hardkiss Vault: https://www.hardkiss.org/liner-notes
Gavin Hardkiss Archive: https://www.hardkiss.org/collection

+++

Gavin Hardkiss

Gavin Hardkiss DJ Set | Shambhala '25 Living Room Stage

#41 - ( in Tamil) - All Vinyl mix - recorded on Pioneer XDJ-Z

நாற்பது ஒன்று

In The Basement 063 is a late-night end of summer drift through shadowy electronics, dreamlike spoken word, and sun-bleached grooves. This week’s episode has new music from Cerulean Soundsystem, Ravage Sentimental, Franz Scala, Brian Jackson & Masters At Work alongside an absolute Balearic pumper courtesy of DJ Pippi & Willie Graff.


In The Basement 063: with Paul Inflyte

Good vibes to guide you through the fading days of summer.  

Rhino Soulsystem - Beast Mode (Mixtape)

Truss [Minimal Groove Concept]

Eris [Minimal Groove Concept]

Clove [Minimal Groove Concept]

Gloria Justen on LIVE VIOLIN, with Redstickman DJing Organic House.

LIVE + UNREHEARSED.

(photo courtesy of jacqueline)

Gloria Justen with Redstickman - LIVE

redstickman

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