Wes Baggaley Mix
Joining us for Tapes #131 is self-confessed vinyl addict and Wigan’s finest, Wes Baggaley. For decades, he’s been familiar to promoters, record store staff and clubbers in Manchester and London, but in recent years he has become a familiar face to a much wider audience.
From 2016 to 2024 he played some of the best regarded underground parties across Europe including the legendary Panorama Bar, Frankfurt’s esteemed Robert Johnson, Munich’s Blitz and Rotte Sonne, NYC Downlow, Horse Meat Disco, Chapter 10, Adonis and many more. Written features across several leading dance music titles have appeared and Wes has done live streamed sets for Mixmag's The Lab and an extremely well received one for Boiler Room. When the Covid 19 pandemic struck Wes did a number of live streams including one for Jerome Hill’s brilliant Don’t label and one for Krake festival, both streamed live from Fold, London. He has also appeared on Berlin’s now legendary Hör and currently holds a long running residency at Bottom Heavy with Dan Beaumont at Dalston Superstore.
TRACKLIST
Dj Polo - Bloodsport [Livity Sound]
Al Wooton - Xana [Trule]
Answer Code Request & Amotik - Hazardous [Delsin]
Mike Parker - Heat Inducer [Kynant Records]
Sandwell District/Function - Ember (New Mix) [Point of Departure]
Fadi Mohem - Process [Fadi Mohem]
Skee Mask - the Bills - [Ilian Tape]
Wax - 90009B [Wax]
Schuro & Vil - Rumble The Funk (Blasha & Allatt Remix) [Paraiso]
Phara - Flux [Phaaar]
DJ Bone - We Control the Beat [Subject Detroit]
Maoh - The Escape [Maoh]
A Sagittariun - The Head Test [Kneaded Pains]
Border One - The Astral Plane [Token]
DJ Agitated - DNTSTP [Candy Mountain]
Unknown - Swing Sessions A3 [Neighbourhood]
Regis - Gymnastics 69 (Substance Mix) [Downwards]
Lenson - Warehouse Memories [Clone]
Earwax - Always Start Never Stop [Candy Mountain]
Rene Wise - Escaping Siro [Moving Pressure]
Yant - Broken Strings [Neighbourhood]
Rivet - Tilt to Turn 3 (CTRLS Remix) [Midnight Shift]
Peder Mannerfelt - Done Talking [Leyla Records]
Norbak - Sopro [Token]
Peter Van Hoesen - Trim The Facts [Center 91]
Silent Servant - Discipline (OD Edit) [Point of Departure]
Kerrie - Technopoly Dream [Tresor]
DJ Plant Texture - Mechanical Bongos [Ilian Tape]
DJ Savage - Long Time [Savage]
H&M - Real Life [Axis]
Kenji Hina - Laced Up [Emerald]
DJ Plant Texrture - Dubbish [Ilian Tape]
Dave Clarke - Gonk [Bush]
Parano - Disco Ultimo [Emerald]
Steffi - Volley 5 [Blue Hour]
Rosati - Bloody Cash [Candy Mountain]
Surgeon - Hope Not Hate [Tresor]
Blue Hour - Emergence [Blue Hour]
Funk D’Void - Diabla (Samuel L Sessions Remix) - Soma
Thanks for getting involved in our Tapes Series! It's a pleasure to have you on. Why don't you start by introducing yourself?
Hiya! thanks for having me! I’m Wes Baggaley. I’ve been playing other people’s music in nightclubs etc. for coming up to 30 years which makes me feel very old. Some people would say ‘he’s just a knobhead from Wigan’ and I’d tend to agree.
Tell us about this mix - where was it recorded and favourite track inside?
It was recorded in my friend’s place because I’ve just moved and sadly don’t have room to set my decks up at the moment. It’s mostly techno and mostly new or unreleased music with the odd older thing or classic thrown in. It’s nearly 2 hours long because I got carried away. It was done on the fly with no plan in one take and there’s a mistake at the end that I couldn’t be arsed editing out. It’s hard to pick a favourite track but I really like the Earwax one on there on Steffi’s Dolly TS label. There’s also the Substance remix of Regis which I like a lot and a Peder Mannerfelt one I recently got that I’ve been playing a lot.
What is the ideal setting to listen to it?
In the gym, on the train or whilst flicking your bean and brushing your hair.
You’re known for playing an eclectic range of styles from house & techno to soul & disco; yet your sets are always primed for the dance-floor and delivered with a distinct energy. How would you describe your sound?
Energetic! That’s a pretty good way of describing them. Sometimes I like to go a bit deep but I try to keep it interesting and danceable unless I’m booked for an early slot or back room. I think warming up a room has mostly become a lost art. Everybody just wants to play the bangers.
As a key figure in London’s queer music community, talk to us about current projects you’re involved in? Is there anything you would like to see more of within the queer clubbing scene?
Well I’m still resident at Bottom Heavy with Dan Beaumont. We’ve been doing that for a good while now. On a personal level I’d like to see better music across the board and better sound systems. On a community level I’d like to see more spaces. More POC bookings. More trans bookings, more openness and kindness and less in fighting. More female identifying spaces and a return of the gay men’s fetish clubs please. I want it all. With regards to the music stuff I don’t want to be boxed in to only playing queer events either. It’s 2024. I think everything should be a lot more open. I want it all and I want it NOW! Hahaha
Your social media presence has become known for its hilarious hot takes and bold opinions. What motivates you to share your unfiltered thoughts online?
To be honest it’s just boredom and attention seeking I guess. It’s not that deep.
Lastly, anything exciting in the pipeline to shout about?
Well I’m playing the Genosys stage at Glastonbury this year which I’m excited about because I’ve not been for 5 years. I’m also playing at Houghton Festival again which is always fun. I’ve been in the studio quite a lot with my mate Margo Broom making tunes only using hardware under our alias Wayward Subs so hopefully some of them will see the light of day at some point