Here comes the Judge

Formula One fever is revving up and to kick-start the off-track-action award-winning British DJ, Judge Jules, will perform at the Mercure Grand Hotel in Seef tomorrow.

The bespectacled house and trance DJ from North London said: "The show in Bahrain will be craziness front, back, side and middle. I'm really excited to be coming.

"I came out here last year, played at a club and had a great time. It was a great atmosphere. There were lots of people from Saudi Arabia and a good mix of indigenous people and expats."

The father-of-two has been DJing for more than 20 years and has played in scores of countries and hundreds of venues, and has stacked up a small fortune in album sales.

Emerging from London's pirate radio scene in the late 80s, Judge Jules swiftly became one of dance music's most booked artists and a global star, voted Best International DJ by Dancestar.

The DJ's Ibiza club night, Judgement Sundays, has reached mythic status and in Europe he consistently plays to sell-out crowds.

Over the past decade he has played at numerous venues throughout the Middle East. He said: "My first trip to the Gulf was 10 years ago and I played in Dubai. Since then I've played all over the region in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Lebanon and Egypt."

He is not surprised by the region's appetite for his music. "I have a syndicated radio station that plays in Middle Eastern countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Dubai, so people know me," he explained.

"People love dance music here. Lots of people are well travelled and have experienced club culture around the world and they tend to bring what they find home."

The DJ also slammed the way the region is portrayed in some of the West's media. He said: "I think we hear so many negative things about this part of the world but it's harmonious and a lot of fun and at contrast with the negative image that is projected."

The jet-setting DJ will only be in town for one night: his Bahrain show is sandwiched between performances in Dubai and London and so he will miss out on the F1 races. But Judge Jules said he is rooting for Lewis Hamilton.

"I became a lot more interested in the Formula One when Lewis Hamilton started doing well," he said. "We don't win a lot of things in England, so we get a sniff of victory and tend to brush up the sport!"

He also revealed that he has a new mix album coming out in the first week of June and a yet-to-be-named artists' album. "It's a good album and I'm sure people will like it," he said.

Organisers of the event said Judge Jules' performance is likely to be a sell-out success. "We will transform the underground parking lot into a modern trendy club filled with lasers, strobe lights, disco balls, and the most talented dancers to cope with the event's magnitude," a spokesman said.

The capacity is limited to 800 and requests for tickets have been coming from all around the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Tickets are priced at BD20 and are on sale at Euphoria in Seef Mall.

For more information call 36373803.