For those of you unfamiliar with Mike-E-Bloc, he’s one of the top DJ’s in Manchester and the North, one half of UFG Records and the UFG sound system and one of the most pleasant people in the house music scene.

Mike’s background reveals that he was in fact born in Islington, London, before moving up to Manchester as a child. He’s been DJing for 5 years and recalls how it all started....

"I got some money from somewhere - and bought some decks - 3 weeks later I got a job in a club, ‘Conspiracy’, in Manchester".

Being in the right place at the right time resulted in Mike playing with the likes of Jam MC’s and Justin Robertson, as well as many of the Manchester favourites.

"Unfortunately the club fucked up after a while because of the usual gangster problem in Manchester - but that’s the nature of clubs".

Nevertheless, it was enough to get Mike on the map and launched his career as a DJ.  Along with his right hand man Danny DiBrid, Mike was able to get involved with the recording side of the scene and after several years of graft was able to launch UFG Records.

"We set up UFG two years ago as our own label and chose all the tracks which appear on it. So far, it’s been all our own material with the exception of the Brother Luv Dubs track, which we ended up remixing".

Going under the names of E-Lustrous, Direct and Rolling Gear, their discography include, 'Two Fatt Guitars', 'Dance No More', and 'In Your Dance'. Though to date they have 18 remixes and 11 original productions under their belts.

The conversation wandered on to the UK house scene in general - The topic of the North v South music scene differences spurred Mike...

"To me there’s a distinct difference - there’s a few clubs in London that are firing the same way as Northern clubs - but in the North there are more clubs with higher energy levels for the people to get off on".

"In London there seems to be more clubs playing obscure, mellow or weird vibe music - where as in the North everything is governed by the dance floor groove then the floor will clear and give up on it".

This consensus in Mikes view, has been this way since early Northern Soul, Mike tends to work in the North and Midlands, though frequent trips around the World including the States and Canada has brought him international acclaim.

At this point Mike jumps in with one of his infamous true club recollections....

"I remember trying to get a gig in London! I finally got one at the Brain Club. I was so disappointed when I got there, it was like being in someone’s front room. It wasn’t a club! . A Club’s got to be 700 people plus - this was 200 people on two floors - and not my idea of a Club.......

Like his music Mike prefers his clubs to be full on. The UFG sound system, which comprises of Mike and Danny on 3 decks with samplers is a show piece indeed, though in this country too many promoters prefer to stick to the status quo of basic DJing. Like many of todays DJ artists, Mike sees clubland as his work place and tends to stay away unless he’s playing himself. So what does Mike prefer to do in his spare time?

"I prefer to go out for a meal with friends - so you can converse and then I feel I’ve got something out of the night. In Clubs I see the same pages for 2-3 years and never get past a 'alright' or 'hiya'.. monosyllable call and answer it’s sad really".

This led to me asking whether clubs in his opinion were anti-social....

"Clubs should allow a space where it’s quiet and people can actually talk - like at home in Manchester".

Mike has established himself in the house scene- And certainly hasn’t let it go to his head. His ambitions include further world travel and to continue to make music he likes.