Junior Brown

Blair Junior McFarlane picked up on his father’s bad habits early, fostering an addiction that was both nature and nurtured. The vice: music.Blair’s dad was cool. While other dads of his time were easing into easy listening, Blair’s was dropping 12-inches of the finest in calypso, reggae, disco, soul and funk – all played in a DJ booth in the family basement, no less. Mad house parties thrown by Mr. McFarlane left no small impression on young Blair.Through junior high and high school, Blair regularly hosted dance and hip-hop parties. His passion for music would eventually lead him to Vancouver and the influential sounds of the West Coast. There, at a loft party, he discovered the deep house sound of the legendary DJ Mark Farina. Something clicked, and Blair ended making the move to the Van himself, picking up a residency at a lounge, 604, and a new handle, DJ Junior Brown.Complementing Blair’s ambition was good taste. When he got back to Edmonton, he and partners, Sal Dimaio and Jason Thompson, opened Halo, now regarded as one of the Edmonton’s premier clubs with the city’s longest running house club nights: Saturdays’ For Those Who Know, now in its fifth year with Junior Brown as resident DJ. Halo was different, boasting a minimal aesthetic that lent to making the people and the music the true attraction. Halo also boasts the Mod Club every Friday, Edmonton’s first club night devoted to the sounds of Brit pop, indie rock and soul.The club’s success laid the groundwork for more good ideas.Blair, Sal and Jay eventually opened Red Star, a lounge right beside Halo, which went from being a great place for drinks before Halo to a great destination all on its own, thanks in part to nights like Soul What! Wednesdays’ selection of funk, soul, reggae and dub, also with Blair as resident DJ.As a promoter and DJ, Blair further filled in pieces of house music’s puzzle, spinning alongside notable DJs Mark Farina, Miguel Migs, Dimitri from Paris, DJ Heather, Colette, Diz, Marques Wyatt, JT Donaldson, DJ Dan, Cajmere, Frankie Knuckles and Junior Sanchez, to name but a few.Moving right along, the partners are thinking about opening another new club in the future and Blair is currently in the studio at work on his productions.

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