On Friday April 23rd, BBC Radio 1 celebrates the 500th DJ, Artist or Group to feature on the Essential Mix, with a special extended live broadcast between 1am-5am (on the morning of Saturday 24th) from Circus in Liverpool.
The four hour show will also include sets from Richie Hawtin, Sasha and Pete Tong.
The identity of the landmark 500th mix, voted for by an expert panel of dance music figures will be unveiled earlier on in the night at 9pm on Pete Tong’s show, the host of the Essential Mix since its conception and also its first performer.
On reaching this monumental 500th mix Pete Tong said: “Bringing the Essential Mix to the nation on Radio 1 has always and continues to excite me.
"It’s always been a platform to showcase the best DJ talent and new music from around the world, whether it be legends of dance music or future stars.
"The thing that excites me most is introducing new genres and breaking artists to a wider audience. There have been 500 fantastic essential mixes here's to another 500!”
First broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on 10th October 1993, the Essential Mix has continuously offered a platform for the ever changing British dance music scene to flourish. The show’s massive success and originality has stemmed from its open-door music policy, inviting the world best DJ’s, artists and producers across various styles to play two-hour mix on radio uninterrupted. This has led to the show regularly being touted as a ‘two hour musical journey’ widely recognised and respected in the dance music community for breaking ‘under the radar’ artists alongside the more established.
Ben Cooper, Deputy Controller, BBC Radio 1, says: “The list of contributors to the Essential Mix reads like a who’s who of dance music and underlines the programme’s significant part in popularising the genre.
"The list also highlights the show’s unique ability to inform listeners every week of dance music’s many musical shifts and trends from 1993 to the present day.”
Over the years mixes have included: Danny Rampling; Laurent Garnier; Xpress 2; Paul Oakenfold; Sasha, Lisa Lashes; Hot Chip; Portishead; Norman Jay; John Digweed; Goldie; Armand Van Helden; Norman Cook; Daft Punk; Frankie Knuckles; David Morales; Basement Jaxx; Groove Armada; Death In Vegas; Erol Alkan; Soulwax; The Stanton Warriors; Shy FX; Pendulum; Lottie; DJ Hell; Flying Lotus; Diplo; BT; and Switch.
Broadcast details:
Friday 23rd April
9pm-11pm – Pete Tong show from BBC Radio Merseyside
Saturday 24th April
Essential Mix live from Circus nightclub in Liverpool
1am – 2am - Pete Introduces the 500th DJ to feature on the Essential Mix
2am - 3am Pete Tong
3am – 4am Sasha
4am - 5am Richie Hawtin
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