New World Music dance night in Amsterdam!

The stylish Tropentheater venue in Amsterdam has a new dance night! “Dansen in Marmer” will be an opportunity to dance to many different musical styles from all over the world blended together in dynamic DJ sets by some of the best world music DJ’s around in the Netherlands.
Socrates will make his contribution on the 13th of November with an exciting trip which will include Nu Cumbia, Electro Swing, Bhangra, Global Reggae, Afro Beat & Folktronica.
It will be a stylish event, with cocktails & good food in a marble hall. But don’t be fooled by the fancy stuff, the irresistable grooves will tear down all boundaries and the night will head for cheerful mayhem! Join the party!

Brawny Brew

Just uploaded a new DJ set. Specially blended to further enhance the joyful experience of drinking coffee! So pour yourself a cup, sit back relax and let the music take you away! Brawny Brew by djsocrates

Official Socrates website online!

www.djsocrates.com is almost finished. It's already online under construction. It will be simple but tasty..

I will regularly update the website with fresh DJ sets. I will tell you about concerts & festivals that I look forward to and new releases of spicy music that excite me! It will also be the best place to check for an up to date agenda of my gigs. Have a look and feel free to comment. Cheers!

Freedom 5

Freedom 5

mixed a short but explosive set @ Liberation Day, including El Che, Caravan Palace & Martyn Bennett

K met Peren Festival mix

Botergeile Nacht  by  djsocrates

This is a mix recorded around 4 'o clock at night during the K met Peren Festival in Studio K in Amsterdam, celebrating the horny aspects of Valentines day. The set starts off with some Balkan dub, gradually the groove becomes more up tempo, finally ending up in some spicy Electro Swing. Enjoy!

Favourite album of the moment: Electro Swing 2

The first Electro Swing album was a great compilation which introduced me to a fusion I had not heard before. Old school swing with a subtle shot of electronic music. I was especially taken by the french band Caravan Palace. Not just samples from old records with beats, but an actual swing band, with a DJ adding a tasty electro edge. A perfectly balanced mix of old and new...
There are some cheesy tracks or less subtle ones on the compilation too, but most tracks I find fresh and exciting.

The same goes for "Electro Swing 2." More of the same in a good way, which means more new innovative sounds and sophisticated dance grooves. Highlights include a remix of Ella Fitzgeralds "Air Mail Special," the hiphop style "Et De Clarinette" by Palov & Miskhin and Parov Stellars "Catgroove" which is as powerful as a solid house track, but with so much more depth and detail then the bulk of boring stuff that gets made for the dancefloor today.
That's exactly whats so appealing about Electro Swing. It has the kick ass beats of modern dance music. But instead of the fast food emptiness that characterises a lot of this music, the space is filled up with the cheerful energy and intelligent melodies of classic swing.

What a treat, after Balkan Beats this could well be the next big thing!

On a jazz dance quest!

Hey just started this blog,

I'm searching for good danceable jazz at the moment for a celebration of the 70th birthday of the ledgendary label Blue Note Records, which will take place in Dizzy Jazz Cafe in Rotterdam on the 19th of December.

So far I've selected some funky psychedelic jazz by artists like Gary Burton and Volker Kriegel..

I'm also in to the upcoming Electro Swing from artist such as the french Caravan Palace and the earthy afro latin jazz dance grooves of Gerardo Frisina..

Wonder what treasures await me down the road!

Socrates