We recently caught up with one of the co-founders of the now defunct Newcastle super club The Lofts’ Marty Smith who has a new event on the horizon.
The North East has a vibrant music scene, both past, present and future.The Newcastle Coastal areas of North Tyneside, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, and North Shields are leading the way with both amazing venues and parties to boot. Venues such as Barca, Laurels, Rhumba, Salt Market Social, and even local Social Clubs have provided a backdrop for an array of both local and further afield talent. Names like Molls Mayhem, MeMeMe / Man Power, Snow Moon, Butter Party and others have all contributed as of late and the future looks bright for the north east music scene.
This New Year’s Day at Tynemouth hotspot Barca, House music will reign supreme. Nestled on Front Street, the venue is a tale of two cities with ‘Barca Art Bar’ and ‘El Globo’ events space. With its quirky interiors and drink selection the bar is home to both locals and tourists whilst the upstairs space ‘El Globo’ is of similar vein as far as eclectic interiors go. In this space we find promoter Marty Smith heading the event.
Fresh from his former position as director of the late Newcastle super-club The Lofts, Marty brings a wealth of knowledge to the table both musically and event running. Prior to The Lofts, Marty was heading the Barca space and was regularly bringing a plethora of talent to the region. The likes of Bobby & Steve, Graeme Park, CJ Mackintosh, Mousse T, Terry Farley, Marshall Jefferson, Spen &Karizma and Barbara Tucker all graced the venue within the period of 2017-2020.
This new event ‘Expo24’ see’s House legend Allister Whitehead join local selectors Andrew Baxter, Tony Hutchinson, Holly Hutchinson and Kyle Jackson for a proper New Year’s Day house-party. We caught up with Marty for a quick chat recently, here’s what went down…
KOTT: Marty, thanks for taking time out to speak to us. 2023, been a
whirlwind of a year for you. In three words how would you summarise the last 12 months?Marty: Off the scale.
KOTT: I guess we must go back before we go forward, what got you into the dance music scene originally and what are your earliest memories of clubbing?
Marty:House music was my rite of passage.At the same time as I was turning 18 house music was exploding in the UK.I’ve got many great memories of places like Walkers and Rockshots.I was also lucky enough to be a student in Liverpool and frequented Quadrant Park many times and also went over to Manchester to the Hacienda.
I also had the incredible fortune of going to Ibiza in ’88 and ’89.
KOTT: Newcastle, the North East, that’s you playground it’s fair to say. What parties have you been involved with around the area and what parties do you wish you were involved in as a promoter?
Marty: I had peripheral involvement as a driver on the Southport Weekender. I’ve known Alex Lowes for well over 30 years and I’ve also known his partner in To the Manor Born -John Adamson for a long, long time.They were always fantastic parties and continue to be to this day.
KOTT: The Lofts… are you able to speak about the events around the club yet?
Marty:I’d like to – but I couldn’t possibly comment. I will reveal all when I can.
KOTT: You’ve spent a lot of time recently in Ibiza, what made you or what took you over to the island after the fallout from the Lofts?
Marty:I needed to take some time out to work out what my next move might be.I’ve got some fantastic friends and contacts out there and an amazing summer there.
KOTT: What did you get up to whilst over there?
Marty : It certainly wasn’t 7 days a week partying! But I did go to Hi, Pacha, Pikes and Defected at Eden regularly.
KOTT: Revisiting Barca for your first post-Lofts party, did it take the pressure off returning to an old stomping ground and what made you pick the venue again?
Marty:Believe it or not I live literally next door and Dave – who runs Barca – is one of my best mates.He asked me to programme some events going into 2024.
KOTT: Allister Whitehead, a decent name for any event still. What made the Nottingham-based veteran the headliner for your New Year’s Day event?
Marty:He’s a class bloke and a class DJ.Always plays to the crowd in front of him and funnily enough he played the last New Year’s party I did in 2020 and it just seemed to make sense to invite him back again.
KOTT: The support is strong too, Newcastle legend Tony Hutchinson, Ibiza upstart Holly Hutchinson and a new name for us in Andrew Baxter on too! Who are you looking froward to hearing spin?
Marty:Andrew Baxter is an original Geordie, legend ass a DJ who had residencies at the likes of the Arena, Havana and he was a resident in Barca in 2018 & 2019.I’m looking forward to hearing everyone spin because I know what they all bring to the decks, and they’re all a bit different in their own way,.
KOTT: Well hopefully we will be in attendance on NYD, so get the drink tokens ready and we’ll see you all soon!
Marty: It’ll be great to see you there mate.It’ll be a great knees up and what better way to start the New Year!!
Get your tickets for Expo24 at El Globo Barca Art Bar Tynemouth on New Year’s Day here.
