Curtis Allen

Hey everyone!

I’m excited to share my experience of DJing my first-ever weekend night at the Actress & Bishop after over a year of playing on Thursday nights. This was a big step for me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better evening!

Starting at just after 10 p.m., following the live duo whose name I didn’t catch, unfortunately, I knew we were in for a fun ride when Imelda May’s “Johnny Got A Boom Boom” set the upbeat tone, followed by Band Of Skulls, The Killers, and Arctic Monkeys keeping the dance floor grooving and energized. The vibe was electric, with Fall Out Boy’s “Uma Thurman” bringing out all the nostalgia, while a very welcome request for “Beating Heart Baby” by Head Automatica got everyone pumped up.

I decided to throw in a little bit of everything that night, from the soulful Smokey Robinson & The Miracles to the dynamic Måneskin, reading the crowd to work out when best to switch it up. The iconic “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio got people singing along, while Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” had everyone dancing. A little later on, I thought I’d try my luck with Blink 182‘s “I Miss You”, and the dancefloor were all singing away to it. Jamiroquai’s “Cosmic Girl” made its way into the mix, too.

The playlist, which included a cheeky throwback to Britney Spears‘ “Toxic” and the timeless ABBA hit “Voulez-Vous”, ensured no one could resist the groove. Seeing everyone’s positive reactions to tracks like “Return Of The Mack” by Mark Morrison and “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader was a heartwarming reminder of why I love DJing.

The feedback from the crowd was fantastic. People came up to me at the end of the night to compliment the mix and share their joy. I tried to play a wide range to keep everyone happy, and I’m so grateful for the warm reception from the Actress & Bishop’s staff and customers.

If you’re browsing my blog to get a sense of the kind of music I play, my aim is always to create a unique musical journey that balances classics with fresh, upbeat tracks. I love bringing together different genres to keep the energy high and everyone on their feet. The Actress & Bishop isn’t a metal bar, so the tunes in there aren’t on the heavier side of my repertoire (my sets at Subside bar are more for that!), but it’s a lot of fun to DJ at!

I’ve included the whole playlist for the night below.

What do you think of this playlist? Any tracks you love or suggestions for next time? Drop a comment below or reach out directly —I’d love to hear from you!

Until then, keep dancing and grooving.

Cheers,

Curt.

• 22:01 – “Johnny Got A Boom Boom” – Imelda May
• 22:04 – “Raise Hell” – DOROTHY
• 22:07 – “I Know What I Am” – Band Of Skulls
• 22:10 – “Echoes (Misfits TV Theme)” – The Rapture
• 22:13 – “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House” – LCD Soundsystem
• 22:18 – “Walk Idiot Walk” – The Hives
• 22:22 – “Kick” – Adam & The Ants
• 22:23 – “The Rodge” – The Vandals
• 22:27 – “Train In Vain” – The Clash
• 22:30 – “Scared Of Fear” – Pearl Jam
• 22:34 – “Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine” – The Killers
• 22:38 – “Tongue Tied” – Grouplove
• 22:41 – “Fluorescent Adolescent” – Arctic Monkeys
• 22:44 – “Naïve” – The Kooks
• 22:47 – “Take Her Back” – The Pigeon Detectives
• 22:50 – “Men’s Needs” – The Cribs
• 22:54 – “Not Nineteen Forever” – The Courteeners
• 22:57 – “High Life” – Bloc Party
• 23:00 – “Hard Times” – Paramore
• 23:03 – “Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off” – Panic! At The Disco
• 23:06 – “Uma Thurman” – Fall Out Boy
• 23:09 – “LosT” – Bring Me The Horizon
• 23:13 – “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” – My Chemical Romance
• 23:16 – “Beating Heart Baby” – Head Automatica
• 23:19 – “Just A Day” – Feeder
• 23:23 – “Boys in the Better Land” – Fontaines D.C.
• 23:27 – “Munich” – Editors
• 23:31 – “Club Foot” – Kasabian
• 23:33 – “Everybody [Explicit]” – Don Broco
• 23:37 – “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” – Jet
• 23:40 – “Help!” – The Beatles
• 23:42 – “Jailhouse Rock” – Elvis Presley
• 23:45 – “Tutti Frutti” – Little Richard
• 23:47 – “Do You Love Me” – The Contours
• 23:49 – “Love Tattoo” – Imelda May
• 23:52 – “Beggin'” – Måneskin
• 23:56 – “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” – Michael Jackson
• 00:01 – “Never Too Much” – Luther Vandross
• 00:05 – “I Second That Emotion” – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
• 00:08 – “Return Of The Mack” – Mark Morrison
• 00:11 – “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Coolio feat. L.V.
• 00:15 – “Toxic” – Britney Spears
• 00:18 – “Get Lucky” – Daft Punk
• 00:24 – “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” – The Supremes
• 00:26 – “Voulez-Vous” – ABBA
• 00:31 – “Stomp!” – The Brothers Johnson
• 00:35 – “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life” – Indeep
• 00:39 – “Cosmic Girl” – Jamiroquai
• 00:43 – “Dancing in the Moonlight” – Toploader
• 00:46 – “I Miss You” – Blink 182
• 00:50 – “Just a Girl” – No Doubt
• 00:53 – “Makedamnsure” – Taking Back Sunday
• 00:56 – “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” – Arctic Monkeys
• 00:59 – “She’s Electric” – Oasis
• 01:03 – “How Soon Is Now?” – The Smiths