Loud&Unfiltered

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh sits down with Johnno Burgess, co-founder of Bugged Out and one of the most influential tastemakers in British club culture. From producing the legendary Jockey Slut fanzine in early-90s Manchester to launching Bugged Out at Sankeys, booking Daft Punk unmasked, supporting The Chemical Brothers from their earliest DJ sets, and building one of the most enduring club and festival brands in the world — this is electronic music history told by someone who was there.

Johnno shares unheard stories from the golden era of clubbing: Daft Punk DJing for expenses, Thomas Bangalter playing live before global fame, hearing Roger Sanchez’s Another Chance for the first time in the booth, and how Bugged Out became a gathering point for techno heads, students, LGBTQ+ ravers and future industry leaders alike.

The conversation traces Bugged Out’s evolution from underground Manchester nights to Liverpool superclubs, Fabric residencies, electroclash moments, and the rebirth of the Bugged Out Weekender, now celebrating over 30 years as a cultural institution. Along the way, Johnno reflects on community, musical cycles, the power of instinct over hype, and why underground culture continues to matter more than ever.

Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/

Key Moments:
0:00 – Iconic DJ Booth Memories & Roger Sanchez’s “Another Chance”
0:33 – Origins: Johnno Burgess, Jockey Slut, and the Manchester Scene
04:36 – How “Jockey Slut” Shaped Club Culture
07:00 – Daft Punk’s First Interviews, Early Connections, and Club Evolution
10:08 – Fanzines, Magazines, and Launching Bugged Out
13:58 – Growing a Dance Community and Sound Evolution (Techno, House)
18:03 – Liverpool: Moving to larger venues, booking legendary DJs like Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim, and achieving mainstream recognition.
24:14 – Electroclash, New Sounds, and Shaping Music Trends
27:28 – Bugged Out at Fabric and London’s Club Scene
30:36 – Launching the Weekender: Festival Culture & New Generations
38:54 – Adaptation and Longevity: The Secret to 30 Years of Bugged Out
41:44 – Legendary Moments: Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter, and Clubland Stories
44:34 – Influence and Inspiration: Bugged Out’s Place in UK Club History
45:44 – The Future of Bugged Out: Weekender 2026 & New Horizons
47:13 – Print, Publishing, and Preserving Club Memories
49:44 – Legacy Reflections and Continuing the Journey

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, we sit down with Quentin Chambers, one of the UK’s original acid house promoters and a central figure behind some of the most legendary illegal raves of the late 80s and early 90s. From warehouse parties and motorway shutdowns to evading police surveillance, fake decoy convoys and 25,000-strong outdoor raves, Quentin shares the unfiltered truth about how the UK rave scene was really built.

The conversation traces the rise of Energy, the infamous M25 raves, moral panic headlines, arrests, police infiltration and how early acid house events broke down barriers of class, race and culture. Quentin also reflects on why those moments can never be recreated, how underground culture continues to evolve, and what today’s promoters can still learn from the chaos and creativity of that era.

Beyond raves, the episode explores Quentin’s later work as a DJ, producer, music tech pioneer and his role in early digital radio, online music platforms and the relaunch of OpenLab, founded by the late Robert Miles.

Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/

 

Key Moments:
0:00 – Introduction & Podcast Overview
01:05 – Guest Introduction: Quentin Chambers, UK’s OG Rave Promoter
02:19 – Early Musical Influences and Discovery of Electro
03:28 – The Birth of Acid House & London’s Club Culture Shift
06:24 – The Acid House Explosion: Community and Social Barriers Broken
10:11 – From Dancefloor to Event Promoter
12:40 – Organising Massive Raves: Logistics, Sound, and Police Evasion
19:22 – Ticketing, Promotion, and Party Operations
22:12 – Police, Law Evasion Tactics, and Decoy Trucks
28:22 – Health, Safety, and Law: Production and Party Experiences
29:09 – Media Sensation, Public Perception & Moral Panic
35:04 – Legalisation of Raves and Venue Evolution
44:39 – DJ, Producer, Groove Tech & The Dawn of Online Radio
49:46 – Open Lab and Honouring Robert Miles’ Legacy
00:53:34 – Expanding Open Lab: Future Plans & Growth
54:36 – Quickfire Q&A: Influential Clubs, Records, DJs
58:07 – Closing Thoughts & Final Reflections

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Josh sits down with Johnno Burgess, co-founder of Bugged Out and one of the most influential tastemakers in British club culture. From producing the legendary Jockey Slut fanzine in early-90s Manchester to launching Bugged Out at Sankeys, booking Daft Punk unmasked, supporting The Chemical Brothers from their earliest DJ sets, and building one of the most enduring club and festival brands in the world — this is electronic music history told by someone who was there.

Johnno shares unheard stories from the golden era of clubbing: Daft Punk DJing for expenses, Thomas Bangalter playing live before global fame, hearing Roger Sanchez’s Another Chance for the first time in the booth, and how Bugged Out became a gathering point for techno heads, students, LGBTQ+ ravers and future industry leaders alike.

The conversation traces Bugged Out’s evolution from underground Manchester nights to Liverpool superclubs, Fabric residencies, electroclash moments, and the rebirth of the Bugged Out Weekender, now celebrating over 30 years as a cultural institution. Along the way, Johnno reflects on community, musical cycles, the power of instinct over hype, and why underground culture continues to matter more than ever.

Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/

Key Moments:
0:00 – Iconic DJ Booth Memories & Roger Sanchez’s “Another Chance”
0:33 – Origins: Johnno Burgess, Jockey Slut, and the Manchester Scene
04:36 – How “Jockey Slut” Shaped Club Culture
07:00 – Daft Punk’s First Interviews, Early Connections, and Club Evolution
10:08 – Fanzines, Magazines, and Launching Bugged Out
13:58 – Growing a Dance Community and Sound Evolution (Techno, House)
18:03 – Liverpool: Moving to larger venues, booking legendary DJs like Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim, and achieving mainstream recognition.
24:14 – Electroclash, New Sounds, and Shaping Music Trends
27:28 – Bugged Out at Fabric and London’s Club Scene
30:36 – Launching the Weekender: Festival Culture & New Generations
38:54 – Adaptation and Longevity: The Secret to 30 Years of Bugged Out
41:44 – Legendary Moments: Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter, and Clubland Stories
44:34 – Influence and Inspiration: Bugged Out’s Place in UK Club History
45:44 – The Future of Bugged Out: Weekender 2026 & New Horizons
47:13 – Print, Publishing, and Preserving Club Memories
49:44 – Legacy Reflections and Continuing the Journey

2025 was a turning point for dance music. So what happens next?

In this special Loud & Unfiltered round-table episode, Alex, Josh and Grego sit down to unpack the biggest moments from last year - and make their bold predictions for dance music, club culture and festivals in 2026.

From the resurgence of clubs post-COVID, to the explosion of UK garage and tech house in the US, to the rise of harder and faster sounds via TikTok culture, the conversation cuts through hype and looks at what’s actually shaping the scene. Drawing on their experience as bookers, promoters and industry insiders, the trio debate fees, lineups, market saturation, underground culture, Ibiza rumours, festival economics and where audiences are really heading next.

They dive into why clubs are finally coming back, why boutique festivals are thriving, what the absence of Glastonbury means for the wider festival market, and how new global destinations like Brazil, Albania, Saudi Arabia and Eastern Europe are redefining party culture. There’s also plenty of classic Loud & Unfiltered storytelling — from Glastonbury madness and Ibiza celebrity encounters, to illegal raves, DIY culture and the moments that remind everyone why this scene exists in the first place.

Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/

Key Moments:

0:00 – Introduction & Recap of 2025

05:13 – Dance Music Trends and Artist Highlights for 2026

10:34 – Event Booking, Diversity, and Festival Lineup Trends

14:28 – Impact of Glastonbury’s Absence in 2026

20:19 – Party Destinations and Global Scene Predictions

29:24 – Personal Festival Anecdotes & Standout Moments

47:41 – Ibiza 2026: Club Rumors, Amnesia’s 50th Anniversary, and Scene Evolution

0:55:28 – DJ/Artist Predictions for 2026 and Upcoming World Cup Podcast Plans

In this episode of Loud & Unfiltered, Inside the Industry, we sit down with Jodie Layton, Talent Booker at The Night League, the powerhouse organisation behind Hï Ibiza, Ushuaïa, UNVRS, and some of the most influential venues and residencies in global nightlife.

Jodie’s journey is a proper industry story. From flyering at Turnmills, learning the ropes at Ministry of Sound, building pop-up venues like Brixton Beach, booking at Pacha Ibiza, and now playing a central role in programming Ibiza’s most dominant clubbing brands - she’s lived every layer of the business.

This conversation goes deep into how modern booking really works: juggling multiple venues without cannibalising lineups, managing artist value across territories, maintaining creative integrity at scale, and why Ibiza is one of the hardest places in the world to book successfully. Jodie also opens up about working within an all-female booking team, the mental and physical toll of seven-night-a-week seasons, and how nightlife culture is changing with younger, healthier audiences.

Subscribe to Loud&Unfiltered for more unfiltered conversations with music industry leaders, innovators, and cultural entrepreneurs and connect with us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jukeboxpr/

Key Moments:

0:00 – Introduction and Meeting Music Industry Heroes

0:32 – Meet Jodie Layton of The Night League

01:06 – Night League’s Clubs Win Top 100 Club Awards: A Historic Achievement

01:44 – Building an All-Female Booking Team at The Night League

02:19 – Ministry of Sound: The “University” of the Music Industry

04:36 – Transition from Fine Art to Music: Jodie’s Early Career and Promotions

06:03 – Brixton Beach and Entrepreneurial Ventures in London

07:53 – Moving to Ibiza and Joining The Night League

09:19 – Comparing Booking at Ministry, Pacha, and The Night League

10:11 – Female Empowerment in Festival and Club Bookings

11:21 – Venue Booking Dynamics and Glastonbury Festival Experiences

13:18 – The Challenge of Planning Lineups and Season Openings

15:01 – Pursuing a Career in Dance Music: University to Professional Journey

16:32 – The Power of Live Events: Early Influences and Memorable Nights

18:56 – Coping with Intense Schedules: Working Nights in Ibiza

20:02 – Influential People and Mentors Shaping a Music Industry Career

21:55 – The Most Challenging Aspects of Being a Club Booker

23:19 – How Living in Ibiza Shaped Personal and Professional Growth

25:00 – Understanding Regional Differences in Artist Value

27:31 – What Would You Change in the Club Industry?

28:34 – Staying Motivated: The Buzz of Teamwork and Great Music

29:56 – Meeting Music Legends: Starstruck Moments and Making VIPs Comfortable

31:48 – Advice for Aspiring Music Industry Professionals

33:54 – Nightlife Generational Differences and Future Challenges

35:56 – Day Raves vs Night Clubs: Changing Club Event Trends

37:34 – Work-Life Balance for Long-Term Music Industry Success

39:17 – Looking Ahead: The Launch of Universe and Upcoming Projects