True House Stories® Youtube & Spotify Video Podcast
TRUE HOUSE STORIES W/ RICHARD EARNSHAW
Alex Lowes interviewed by Lenny Fontana for True House Stories® # 042
Part 1
One of the most sought out promoters in soul and dance music steps into the hot seat. Alex Lowes who used to be in his former life a crisis events planner for the council in the town he lived found soul music as his savior.
Coming from the Northern Soul Scene and a huge supporter of The Wiggan and Blackpool Events found playing music as a DJ his saving grace. He talks about how he created Southport Weekender back in 1987 and decades later how it all is still going. Listen to what it takes to be a successful promoter in today’s music industry.
Part 2
Alex Lowes shares with us back in the old days how he would travel to the USA to search for the top A list talent and offer to them to the original Southport Weekenders. He also touches on his new venture coming up called Beautiful People and his successful Suncebeat parties in Croatia and all the fun times they had at those events. Alex is hopeful that things will start to turn on again in the near future, post covid.
He also reminisced about the Manor Borne days and how all the great lineups he had on those Sunday parties. We wish him the best in his next ventures.
Alex Lowes YouTube Video Part 1
Alex Lowes YouTube Video Part 2
Biography Alex Lowes
Alex Lowes is the Founder of Southport Weekender, a global music event which began in 1987 in Berwick upon Tweed, followed by Blackpool then Morecambe before finding its’ long-running home at Pontins in Southport. The annual eventually became bi-annual and was undoubtedly the most recognised of its’ kind, maintaining a strong fanbase by embracing new talent and genres but always staying true to its’ soul-based roots.
A music lover first and foremost – prior to giving life to Southport Festival, Lowes was a regular DJ and has been a Soul Music fanatic since the late ’70s, buying his first Blues and Soul magazine in 1971 at the age of just 14. Lowes gradually broadened his horizons by visiting different parties and hearing new dance music. Later, Lowes began DJing and promoting his own events and in doing so, brought together a loyal following of Soul Music fans. A few years and several gigs later, Lowes led us to the Festival we know today.
Southport has seen some of the most prominent stars ever, from the worlds of Soul, House, Rare Groove, R&B, Jazz, NU-Soul – both live on stage and DJ’ing for a crowd which is known for being friendly, purist in taste and open minded.
Amongst the artists who have graced the stage and decks at Southport, are many genre pioneers; Residents include Gilles Peterson, Ronnie Herel, Dave Lee, Kerri Chandler, Tony Humphries, Trevor Nelson, MAW, Terry Hunter, the late Paul Trouble Anderson and Phil Asher – alongside a series of impressive live acts. The event attracts a loyal and global audience, many citing the festival as their favourite party, attending consistently since the very beginning.
Lowes’ other brainchild is Suncebeat – the Croatian, carnivalesque sister-party and longest running annual dance festival at The Garden, Tisno. The beautiful event celebrated ten years in 2019 and continues to grow in popularity with each incarnation. In 2017, Alex launched the London-based Southport Festival day event which continues today as a sell-out, annual party and in 2021, the infamous Southport Weekender will re-launch in Bognor after a 6-year break.