New York House legend Lenny Fontana arrives in the north east of England this Saturday for a proper Geordie knees up.
A familiar name for well over three decades in the dance music scene, Lenny Fontana is up there with some of the great New York DJ’s. Bursting onto the scene in the early 80’s, Fontana went on to DJ at clubs like Studio 54, The Shelter, The Underground, Wildpitch and Ministry of Sound. As a producer Fontana, has scored many hits, standouts include as Powerhouse featuring Duane Harden and ‘What U Need’ on Defected as well as ‘Chocolate Sensation’ in 2000 alongside DJ Shorty. Other releases on labels like Azuli, Eightball, Cutting Records and Strictly Rhythm have all cemented Leonard Fontana as a true house hero.
Alongside his career as an artist, Fontana has also launched a successful podcast series ‘True House Stories’ back in 2020. A simple interview format with Lenny and a guest ‘legend’ has scored massive popularity and to date featured the likes of Carl Cox, DJ Sneak, Little Louie Vega, David Morales, Danny Tenaglia, Marshall Jefferson, Mousse T., Norman Jay, Michael Gray and many more.
This Saturday (June 22nd) Fontana is set to headline a special daytime party in Newcastle venue Frate. Behind the party is Geordie brand Restoration led by veteran DJ Mark Hutchinson. The party celebrates Hutchinson turning 54 and what better way to celebrate than to throw a DJ extravaganza which includes another Newcastle hero and also his big brother Tony Hutchinson, Middlesbrough’s long-standing resident and Radio 1 Essential Mix provider Simon Gibb, Shindig regular Lee Roberts and Wayne C. McDonald who has produced and remixed for the likes of Grammy-nominated Musiq Soulchild, Jessie J, Christina Milian, and Busta Rhymes. For a full lineup of DJ’s on the day see the poster below.
The party kicks off from 2pm till late at Frate which is situated at Highbridge, Newcastle.