Dave is a 'lifelong Soul music enthusiast and committed vinyl hoarder, a collector turned accidental DJ who’s somehow blagged his way onto some of the best lineups at some of the best parties across the UK and Europe over the last 25 years.'
His obsession with Soul began in the mid-70s when older mates introduced him to Northern Soul, and he never really recovered. Fast forward to the 90s, and you’d find him nervously cueing up obscure crossover tunes in smoky Manchester basement clubs, playing to politely confused middle-aged blokes waiting for someone to stick “Do I Love You” on. But he was hooked, and before long he was playing venues across the Midlands and Northwest, flying the flag for the lesser-known and overlooked.
Things stepped up when he landed a regular two-hour slot in the legendary ‘House of Soul’ at the Prestatyn Weekenders in the mid-2000s. That gave him the freedom to dig deep, playing rare 70s cuts, funky crossover, 80s modern groovers, the occasional 60s classic, and the odd disco nugget when no one was looking. That broad blend still drives his sets today: high-energy, feel-good, across-the-board Soul music aimed squarely at the dancefloor. No chin-stroking. No “watching the DJ” nonsense. Just sweat, smiles, and a few sore knees.
Since then, he's had the ridiculous pleasure of sharing his records across Europe, from Hip City Berlin, to Movin’ On Barcelona, Soul Shakers Bamberg, to Soul Club Toulouse, and all points in between. He's also held down residencies at the stunning Runaway Love Weekender in Asturias and the one-of-a-kind Deep Cliffs Weekender in Albufeira and currently, at the incredible Tour de Force weekender in Valencia
Back in Manchester, He's co-promoted nights like Inner Circle Soul Club and Ultimate Choice, always with the same aim: to create the kind of night he'd want to dance at. No pretence, no politics, just great records, played loud, to good people.
Dave is all about dancefloor energy, always has been. His sets are designed to lift the mood, work the legs, and trigger the occasional “what the hell is this?!” moment. He’ll happily drop a known classic next to a criminally obscure rarity with the aim of keeping the dancefloor bubbling and vibe sky high.
Here’s a small peek into the current Ripolles playbox:
