About

A music lovers’ DJ for lifelong party people.

I’ve been playing records and making mixes for as long as I can remember. House music got me started behind the decks in the 90s, and I’ve since grown into a lover of all good music with an extensive music library. There’s hardly a genre that I don’t play when the moment is right.

My audiences today tend to be club/concert/festival goers who are passionate about music, celebrating big birthdays (40th, 50th, 60th) and wedding anniversaries, or are just looking to have a memorable party, indoors or out, with quality tunes, sound and lighting.

Musical Offerings

What kind of a DJ am I?

I've been DJing for about 30 years with a music collection that spans 8 decades of music. Musically, it's a pretty broad church. Some describe what I do as "open format" DJing - it's multi-genre. It's what most people want to hear when they party - songs that they know and love from across the years of their lives. I can play six hours of any single genre if you like, but I love playing long sets that go broad and deep, and I never get tired of making musical connections with people.

You have great taste in music too, and I want to hear your favourite songs. Every potential commission starts with me listening to the type of songs that you'd like to hear. From your short or long list, I then pack a load of songs around that, which enables me to weave an appealing set. Your event will have different stages, requiring music of different moods and energy levels. I'm the warm-up guy, the headline act, and the after-show party all-in-one. In case you're wondering, I'm happy to use a microphone to make your event's announcements, but otherwise largely let the music do the talking.

Weddings

It's a privilege to play for your special day. You'll have friends and family from three or four generations who'd all like to hear songs they love. It's a long day made up of many key moments. All need the perfect ambience and atmosphere, which are provided by the right music and lighting at the right time. From your arrival from the ceremony to the last dance, I'm here to help make it a day to remember.

Sound & Lighting

Great music deserves great sound and lighting - they're the icing on the cake of great atmosphere. I'll provide a sound system and lighting suitable for your venue and musical selection. Using the latest equipment means we can keep the set-up nice and clean without too much heavy gear to haul around. We're not just talking flashing lights - the lightshows are orchestrated, in sync with the music.

Vinyl Sets

If you'd like something extra special, I can bring the turntables and record boxes. This works well if you're having a 60s or 70s themed party, or particularly want to hear a lot of jazz, funk, soul, mowtown or even some 80s-90s classic house.

Electronic Music

If you're looking for a club-like DJ to play to your audience of house-heads, then I'm here for you, as well as for fans of other dance music genres.

Demo

Feedback

Happy Revellers

James smashed it for my 50th. His set up is very professional and he is super easy to work with. Perpetual Grooves definitely have your party covered.

drawing of dinosaur holding Best DJ Ever placard

Adam B.

Have had so much fun at parties with Perpetual Grooves' tunes and lights over the last few years. So when we decided to throw a NYE bash at ours they had to be there! We had a blast - a great mix of music and fun lights, something for everyone. People didn't leave the dance floor for hours! Setup and take down was a breeze. Will definitely be partying with them again, thanks James ??

Lousie B.

I DJed with James at parties back in the day, but it was when we did a weekend-long wedding that I first realised the breadth, depth and quality of his music collection. I think he must have hit every genre - world music, jazz, soul, blues, rock, funk, house, indie, and more. Every track was amazing and bang on for the various events throughout the two days.

Sam E.

Super amazing tunes and lights to accompany our wonderful shindiggeries, how lucky we were!

Leela O.

What a fantastic DJ you were. We all have different party music, and I think it's fair to say you rose to the challenge of them all! Would have you for every party going forward!

Joanne W.

Perpetual Grooves provided an amazing soundtrack to my wedding party - which kept everybody dancing until we were thrown out!

Julian R.

We've enjoyed so many parties and events where Prerpetual Grooves have done the music, always guaranteed to keep you dancing for hours with mesmerising tunes and lighting. James seems to have a knack of reading the crowd and playing the right track, at the right time! My only problem is I always end up staying longer than intended and I've actually worn out shoes when he is on the decks ?

Sarah P.

Contact me

Musical Biography

A lifetime of music

Find out a bit more about me, my musical tastes and influences in my potted history of some of my defining moments.

Early years

My dad was in a band in the 60s and growing up I discovered music through his record collection - the Stones, the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Clapton, Average White Band... There was also quite a lot of disco played at family parties. I still have all of these old records. Growing up in Birmingham, I started hearing hip-hop and reggae. "Handsworth Revolution" did not pass me by.

Formative period

When I started going to clubs and heard thumping bass on big sound systems, I had a feeling that destiny was calling. In 1995, a house music album was released that included a remix of "Dreams" (by Fleetwood Mac) and I think that sealed my fate. That was the first record that I started mixing on my first set of turntables. So there I was, deep in the house and techno scene with Brit-pop and indie going on all around. Good times.

Coming of age

Moving to Cardiff, there was a lively funk and soul scene and some great record shops, so I collected a lot of old vinyl as well as re-issues. From there, the door opened to blues, jazz and latin, and the record shelves filled some more. This is where I started playing out to wider audiences and cut my teeth reading and working the crowd. So much fun. From house parties to cafes, bars and the occasional club, I played birthdays, fundraiser concerts, small festivals, and weddings.

Here ∓ now

Of course, music went digital and the hardware changed. With improving software too, new ways to mix music opened up. Decades worth of CD's were ripped into the music library and that's being joined by new downloads on a daily basis. The beauty of all of this is that I can play whatever you like, whenever you like, wherever you like. Which is pretty much how it goes down. With lightshows.