Skinnfella

It all started back in 1994 when Jay (Skinnfella) was bought his first set of decks (a FAL wooden cased twin record deck player) for Christmas. He was managing a small second-hand record shop at the time called Hits, Misses & Vintage Records, in Coventry. Here is where he got first dibs on the vinyl that came through the door and boy did he bag some bangers! Some of which are still in his vinyl collection today.

Skinnfella started playing at a pub called the Hope & Anchor on a Thursday night and at the Plough on London road, Coventry alongside two well-known DJs of the time, Alan Bayliss & Will Richardson.

Between 1996-1999 Jay played a fair few slots in and around Birmingham including The Dome II (named after the large metal round lighting rig around the dance floor), Pulse (now Zanzibar), Wobble, and Miss Moneypenny’s at Bonds. Now regularly in Coventry, with a fortnightly residency at Bar Coast, Dogma and a weekly slot Suzi Q’s, he was able to work alongside long-term DJ friends, Huggy and Chelston, under the name; “The Soul Food Brothers” playing several warm-up sets for God’s Kitchen, at the Planet nightclub and former home of the iconic Eclipse – a venue of massive influence for music & the rave scene back in its day. 

In November 2016 Skinnfella came out of retirement after a back injury and kicked off playing at the legendary Ministry of Sound, London, alongside his good friend Kuska playing for FunkDelux.

Since his return he has had sets with Crazy Daisy’s, Gatecrashers Ruins Afterparty, and Big Bamboo as well as throwing himself back into Amnesia House with Nev & Bam. Whilst in Ibiza he played at Mambo, Float your boat Party, Jet Apartments & Es Paradis and on his return to the UK, Ministry of Sound Summer Festivals. With a monthly club classics night at The Pippin in Coventry in place, along with being asked to perform at a charity event for old school. Legend, Rob May, R.I.P. which was an honour, 2018 was a huge year.

Jump to 2023 which started with a bang, securing his own Bi-weekly show on Fantasy FM along with a couple of guest slots on Danny Lines Hall Of Fame Show for Centreforce Radio and also playing at Danny’s 50th Birthday party B2B with Ellis Dee & Mad P on the Mic and then more recently playing for Ellis Dee’s 60th Suprise birthday party.

Skinnfella has been building an Event hire company over the last few years and has invested in a CDJ 2000 Platinum set up, CDJ 300 set up XDJ-ZX, along with a massive 22k Logic Ethos sound system, stage rigging, lights and lasers, inflatable Stage.

He now co-owns 4 events – Raveistory, Smile with Jay G Grainger formally Cream Ibiza, All Things House and of course Amnesia House est1989 alongside good friends and founders – all still going strong with plans to expand in the future.

2024 is looking busy, busy, busy!