THURSDAYS WITH DR SID’S HONEY COOLER

“There are two kinds of music, good music and the other kind… I play the good stuff”

We catch up with Dr Sid who takes over our Public Bar every Thursday for our after work social, The Honey Cooler.

Hi Dr Sid, introduce yourself
Hi, I’m Dr Sid. Mancunian. Sartorialist. Raconteur. I’ve been DJing my whole adult life.

Tell us about Honey Cooler
Honey Cooler is 30s slang for a kiss, and is also the name of my after work session at The Refuge every Thursday – starting at 5pm and taking you on a musical journey from the 1920s to the 50s. I play blues, swing, big band, jump jive, jump blues, original R&B, mambo, calypso and various oddities that are impossible to categorise.

What are your influences?
My Dad was born in 1921… His teenage rebellion music was swing and jazz – I was brought up on it.

How do you continue to replenish your record collection? Any crate digging tips?
I have been collecting vinyl (as well as forays into CD, mp3, shellac and tape) since 1976… and I have barely scratched the surface. I used to go to the States every year to get things that you couldnt’ buy here, but now there is discogs…

What track always gets the party started during a set at The Refuge?
Totally depends on the crowd, but a favourite is Louis Jordan’s Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens

What do you love most about playing here?
It’s a beautiful venue full of eclectic and interesting people. The music I play has a historic resonance with the surroundings… The beer is good too!

Join us at The Refuge every Thursday evening as Dr Sid brings us sounds from the last 100 years. Hear Big Band, Boogie Woogie, Jump Blues, original R&B, Jukebox Mambo and more – all stone cold killers, dillers and thrillers. Drinks, chatter, toe tapping and maybe some dancing?