"You get one life so live it"
James Sharples ‘AKA’ kid afro has always had a love for music and the music culture. From the age of eleven up until he could get away with blaggin his way into clubs, chilling at home on Friday evenings listening to the essential selection & mix tapes was his thing. Whilst the other kids his age were out causing mayhem in the local area James stayed in soaking up the anthems and was getting a ‘real education‘ from teachers money cant buy. Being brought up musically in the eighties/nineties he’s been fortunate to share the journey with some truly great DJ’s & influential groups. An with the surge forward of acid house, rave reaching its peak and trance/techno being the fruit of the underground this really opened the doors for many DJ’s to express themselves and push the boundaries making a solid foundation for a student of music to build upon. As time passed by and music evolved James was drawn to the Djing side of the industry and realised this was something he wished to pursue as a career.
After going to college studying Graphic Design & backpacking Europe James felt it was now time to take his love for djing futher. So he moved to Manchester in 2003 to enrol at SSR (School of Sound Recording) under the Technics DJ Academy, a well respected college that is world renowned for producing excellent DJ’s/Promoters, Producers & bands. Tutored & used by respected artists in the industry this propelled James’s skills dramatically. Enabling James to have advanced mixing & scratching techniques, experience in events/promotion, music production and have invaluable knowledge of the industry.
In his early days under the DJ name of Frodafunk James worked several bars & clubs including the Bar café, font, Denvers, Scu bar, Pheonix & Kro bar in Manchester’s city centre spinning funky, deep & progressive house. The club scene up north is bursting with rising DJ's that set high standards so this really pushed James to his limits. Then as he played out more & time passed by the more he became addicted to the buzz and progressed from house to trance/techno. This was when he teamed up with DJ’s Woody & Wreckless two friends from Technics who ran the infamous Venomous (Hard trance and techno event) at the Music Box and secured a residency. Joining Venomous took James to another level, now playing trance and techno he truly felt he could express himself through his music and empathize with the clubbers. It also gave him the opportunity to play along side Jon Doe, JK Walker, Top groove & Uberdruct. All being pioneers in their genre this gave him insight into the professional side of Djing and drive to progress futher.
From Manchester to Australia, Afro had the opportunity to travel and DJ Australia in 2006 and experience the international side of Djing also putting his knowledge of event management & promotion to the test. With the UK club scene world renowned for being top shelf plus with his background he took full advantage scoring gigs all up the party coast of Australia. Seeing him Djing in Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Byron Bay, Sydney & Brisbane. He also played out on new years day headlining along side chart topping DJ & Producer Darren Glenn one half of Smash ’n’ Grab being the paramount to his International stature in the Aus. But now back at home in the UK living in the midlands with his feet firmly on the ground & since seeing him spinning at Intervene, Invasion, Funking go’nuts & having his radio debut on confrontation radio. Afro turns his efforts to the studio remixing tunes and with projects for future production for 2008. The midlands ’n’ deep south will be seeing allot more of our Kid Afro.
Bobby S on Kid Afro
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I have been DJing for just under four years with three of those glorious years spent DJing in night clubs plus Promoting events all up and down the UK & Australia. I am also avaliable for DJ sets covering a wide genre of club music & event/promotion managment, bookings (month in advance minimum) see contacts below. Plus a new event is being put togeather and is coming soon to Bristol "Chi wow wow" watch this space for new developments.
Contact:
[email protected]
www.myspace.com/dj_kidafro
www.dontstayin.com/members/kidafro
Here's a quick rundown on some of the venues & events I have DJ'd including events that I have promoted or co-promoted in the past four years to date.
International clubs
Birdy numb numbs (Australia 2006), Budda (Australia 2006), Arts factory (Australia 2006), Family(Australia 2006), Brisbane underground (Australia 2006/07), Down under bar (Australia 2006), Pheonix (Australia 2006).
UK clubs
Music box (Manchester 05), The Bar Cafe (Manchester 03), Phoenix (Manchester 04), Font bar (Manchester 03), Central (Manchester 03), Garlands (Liverpool 03), Interaction (Gloucestershire 07), The Well (Cheltenham 05/06), Blush (Cheltenham 05), Bohemia (Cheltenham 07) Tramps (Worcester 07), Subtone (Cheltenham 07)
Events
Digital Sheep (Manchester 04) own event
Funk (Manchester 04)
Venomous (Manchester 004/05) Co-promoted
Invasion (Cheltenham 05) Funking Go'nuts (Gloucester 07)
Intervene (Cheltenham 05)
Breakout (Cheltenham 07)
Confrontational Radio (Cheltenham 05)
True blue (Brisbane 06)
Airtight Festival (Cheltenham 07)
New years day headlining with Darren Glenn @ Brisbane Underground