"I've played at every Big Chill - there's been six. I guess that makes me a resident" reckons Mr Scruff. Having just played to a rammed tent and raptious applause: that makes you more like a hero.
Having worked his way up from three residencies a week, this short Mancunian has paid his dues. From DJing in Internet cafe's in the home of Oasis, Beckham and baggy, Mr Scruff, first name Andy, deserves the hero's reception afforded him. Not least 'cos he's about to play a blinder.
Saturday night in the Dance tent and as the strains of German high tech beatsters Jazzanova fade into the insults hurled by Massive Attack's Daddy G from the dancefloor ["Play some records ya ponce, hur hur etc..."] Scruff takes to the decks. "I usually play for much longer" he later explains "so I had to take some musical shortcuts." That might explain his mixing from Frankie Knuckles into Ian Dury then.
Regardless, the crowd loves it. Deep-fried disco melts into broken beats and beyond. Even the odd Scruff production appears: hearing the tent hooting along to 'Fish' is just too wonderful. As his set build to a close, he has the crowd in the palm of his hand. Dropping Madness sends them up the walls.
"You gotta play things people know," he adds. Looks like everyone knows Mr Scruff too now.
