1.Barry your known as the one of the head honchos of the mighty Goodgreef brand, which from my own experience from running Storm can be extremely stressful, So what is it that makes you tick outside of dance music, how do you relax?

I don’t really get time to relax some would say I have ants in my pants hence why I never globe-trott with all my djs just stick to the Ibiza type short haul missions!

I have to sadly admit being a Manchester based & northern lad the trio of soaps on a Monday Hollyoaks, Emmerdale & Corrie is frequently watched as a way of me ‘switching off’ as well as going to watch the champions that are ‘Man Utd at O.T’! I like a good gangster or comedy film too as ways to relax.

2.Goodgreef is a brand known for supporting some of the best talent Hard Dance & Trance has to offer, in conjunction with Promoter Friendly Agency (PFA), but what is it you look for in a DJ when booking them for your events, and then eventually signing them to your agency, and who will you be supporting in the future?

The main factors are being versatile with music, technically skilled rather than just being able to beat match and play gig tracks, having your own style or sound, and having good interaction with the crowd and also giving something back by putting effort in helping support the gigs they play at! Believe me even the likes of Mr Halliwell & co all round up their mates to come watch them play at GG in the early stages, in fact the Wigan massive that he brought was quite an infamous ante rage of clubbers in the early stages of GG!

3.People keep saying Hard Dance is dead… blah, blah, blah, but what is your message to these people and from your own experiences and how do you see Hard Dance evolving in 5 years time?

HH is evolving, new people coming through and its gone back to being more underground! It shall always change like all scenes/genres do and hopefully shall continue to grow and change for the better! Hardstyle is becoming a new and big hard sound within hard dance!

4.Being the promoter of such a successful brand have you found it easier to get laid, and do you ever abuse your position in the name of lust, or have you tried but been sadly disappointed? Haha

I have a long term girlfriend so no comment on this matter ha!

5.What for you has been your highlight of what has been a very successful 7 years at the helm of Goodgreef, and what direction will you be trying to steer the brand in, in the future?

Lots to mention but highlights having the likes of Tiesto & PVD @GG, Co-hosted nights at Amnesia Ibiza & Creamfields Main Arena with the mighty Cream! The good old days of Philips Park Hall, our 1st ever Radio 1 Essential Mix, Album releases/tours, arenas at lots of festivals, the last Ever GG @Tall Trees & our 7th Birthday event at Warehouse Project!
The future of GG is maintaining us a step ahead of the rest with cutting edge guests in the hard dance/hardstyle & tech trance scene at the North’s finest venues, + more exciting events like our Warehouse Parties in May.

6.Your teaming up with my brand, Storm, we had a great event together last year, but what is it about Storm that made you want to work with us in the first place?

Storm are Midland’s best hard dance night & after winning Best Club at H.D.A twice on a row shows what a leading institute they are in our scene Emporium is a great venue and it’s a pleasure to work with them & the geezer that is Garbo!

7.Our sources at Storm are lead to believe that your ‘real job’ title is chief tea boy in the Goodgreef office; can you share with the general public your secret to making a great brew?

Well being the original GG-Tips monkey I make the best brew around, although I leave most of the tea-making to our tour manager Beorn! (if I didn’t third degree burns would have claimed Barry long ago..Beorn)

8.What would be your top 3 tips to any budding promoter out there who is either in the early stages of starting a night or looking to try and launch there own night?

Be passionate about the music & scene, support the local djs in your area, don’t expect to make money initially, and always keep your ear to the ground regarding other events that might be on near you so you don’t clash!

9. Both Goodgreef and Storm are considered by many to be proberly the two most forward thinking brands in the Hard Dance scene currently, in your view what makes us stand out from the rest?

The fact we are leaders in our own way, Storm with the filth aspect and GG with the European sounds and the fact we put on the largest events around with the biggest line-ups! As well as both promoters being clubbers ourselves and always willing to listen to our regulars!

10. Which character most resembles you from planet of the apes, and why?

Probably all of them being the cheeky monkey I am known to be!!

Interview by Garbo.