Southport Weekender : LeFtO

The histories of BBE Music and the Southport Weekender have intertwined since day one. The first release on the label, Stop & Listen Volume 1, was compiled by Dr Bob Jones, the venerable UK selector who was for many years an integral part of Southport’s core of resident DJs who helped shape the sound of the Weekender scene.

Over the past ten years, the label has continued to release multi-genre compilations, mixed with some killer artist contributions while still finding time to introduce authoritative new collections such as ‘The Kings Of…’ series, always working with veterans and newcomers of the finest stripe. It’s amongst this musical royalty that the history of the label and the longest running indoor dance and urban music event in the world continue to converge: an incredible number of Southport Weekender guest artists have been showcased on the label, Jill Scott, Roy Ayers, Jazzy Jeff, David Rodigan and Kenny Dope amongst them.

With this in mind, we’re most proud to announce a joint venture, building upon this symbiotic relationship with an anticipated run of joint projects from these two groundbreaking brands: real music for real people from the world’s friendliest party!

First up is LeFtO whom Fact! Magazine described as “your favourite DJ’s favourite DJ”, affiliated with Brownswood Recordings, Blue Note, !K7 Records, and one of the most significant tastemakers Europe has to offer. This bearded early riser is consistently a couple steps ahead of your average early adopter.

He doesn’t wait for the next thing to land on his lap, he actively seeks it out, just take a peek at his playlists on Belgium’s foremost national radio station Studio Brussels which received compliments from Rough Trade Shops, Gilles Peterson and has featured on MTV Hive. However, don’t assume that he’s only working futuristic angles – no sir. Firmly rooted in jazz and hip-hop, he sharpened his digging sensibility working at the now legendary Music Mania record store in hometown Brussels. His passion for jazz resulted in a remix album for Blue Note. LeFtO is forever moving forwards but always got an ear in the past. Famed for his gloriously eclectic DJ sets, he switches effortlessly between hip hop, funk breaks, neck-snapping beats, future bass, south-American influences, along with wild African rhythms. He’s not only a deejay and producer but also curates his own stage at the Dour Festival and his own nights in the Belgian city of Gent. World renowned, LeFtO regularly blesses sound systems from Tokyo to Seoul, Singapore to Manila, Kazakhstan to Germany, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with residencies in Amsterdam and New York.