Philip Taggart

Describe your style in three words?
Decade of Aggression

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
For sheer timing, going to see Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2003 being probably way too young to be at the gig was incredible. I thought I was gonna get crushed into bits during the QOTSA pit. It was both one of the most thrilling and frightening experiences in my life up until that point. No matter how hard you try or lie to yourself you will never experience music live the same way as you do when you’re a wide-eyed teenager. You can come close, but it will never beat it and nor would I want it too.

If you put on a gig with any three bands in history?
Kendrick Lamar, The Clash and my old band - Colenso Parade.
I mean if you are booking a show you are gonna put your own band on as support. Nobody else would want to see it but hey, I’m booking the show, so on we go.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
There’s an old saying that in regards to punk that ‘New York had the haircuts, London had the trousers and Northern Ireland had the reason.’ You understand that coming from NI because punk rock was such an important musical reference point growing. In most small towns you’d be derided as a 15-year-old running about in full punk garb but in my town, it was pretty well accepted. How the hell were we meant to rebel? Moving to London and getting stuck into Grime in a big way in 2013 was a real switch for me. Getting in early days and doing my best to support a lot of these artists doing their SIY thing has always been a privilege.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Shane MacGowan. I got taken to the hospital for a few days when I was 15 to correct a broken knuckle cause I got real bad-tempered and punched my wardrobe. My mum thought she’d try and scare me straight by buying me the Shane MacGowan autobiography. It went the other way and my teenage brain just got lost in the romanticism of skid row London and Irish Culture smashed together. I’m sure meeting him now would not be the same but even just to spend some time in his company would be a real privilege. I stole a bottle of wine from him at a gig when I was 18 years old so I’m certain he would instantly give me a black eye when he sees me. It would be worth it.

Of all the venues you’ve DJ'd, which is your favourite?
I’ve played some cool festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival, Boardmasters and a load of others over the years and some big tents and they are always so much fun. This year my Slacker night will have a stage at Bestival, so you gotta come say hello if you are down.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
The Lost Brothers. Those cosmic cretins have forged a pathway untrodden. Their music is gilded Michelin star cosmic folk. I’ll always have a space in my brain for a Lost Brothers tune. They have a new record out on January 26th and are going on tour in the UK in Jan/Feb. You won’t see a better folk act in their prime in 2018.

Philip Taggart began his musical career playing the band Colenso Parade. At 16 years old he began to organise gigs in his hometown of Omagh, before becoming involved in community radio. In 2011 he became the Northern Ireland host of BBC Introducing and by 2013 was also appearing on Radio 1. Philip currently hosts the Sunday 10 pm - 1 am slot focussing on new music. He also owns his own record label, Hometown Records, which has released records by artists such as Rat Boy, Touts, Yonaka and Wildes.