Keb Darge

Name?
Keb Darge

Describe your style in three words?
Vintage Underground Dance.

What’s the best all-nighter you were ever a part of?
Wigan Casino has never been matched for atmosphere. So many bloody great tunes played there for the first time too. I exploded in my pants when Ginger Taylor first played 'Keeps On Burning' by Burning Bush.

If you could put on three bands/artists on a lineup?
The Maggots - All their records are full of energy and fun.
The Sirocco Bros - They have their own dark style which blends the best elements of fifties blues with a deep hillbilly/rockabilly feel that I f’kin love.
Charlie Hightone & The Rock-It's - As wild as they come. Great on record, and better on stage. They could get even the dullest of crowds going.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I have been heavily involved in the northern soul, deep funk, rockabilly, and sixties garage scenes. They are all tremendous at turning up otherwise ignored tunes. Some of the clothes are nice too. However, I am not a man that sticks to the rule books of scenes as I find they tend to be too restrictive.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Adam Smith. I’ll bet he never realised the effect his book would have on shaping the modern world. I would enjoy telling him of everything he inspired, and him telling me how we buggered up on certain points. Plus he was Scottish and used to like a drink, so that would be fun.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Madame Jo Jo’s cause it was mine. I had total control every Friday for 18 years, and every Saturday for 10 years. It looked great, sounded great, and was always packed with mainly non-scene people enjoying music that you would normally only hear at the most serious scene events.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Gabe Roth has written, arranged, produced and played on so many great tunes. He was the real driving force behind the Amy Winehouse sound, but due to contractual fiddlings, some other chap gets the glory. He took Daptone Records from a bedroom idea to the bands playing the most iconic venues on the planet. '100 Days, 100 Nights' by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings was one of his best.