Officials at the Boston Gay Rights Fund announced this week what we’ve been on pins and needles to hear about all year long: New England-based DJs Dena and Richie LaDue have once again been tapped to play the BGRF Block Party, this year scheduled for June 13, 2009.

The event is a “Best Bet” for Pride this year. At last year’s event, the jocks played all afternoon to a bulging crowd that seemingly could not get enough of the music or the sun.

THE BOSTON GAY RIGHTS FUND (BGRF) IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT $37,000 WAS AWARDED TO THE GRANT RECIPIENTS OF LAST YEAR’S (2008) STREET DANCE AND BLOCK PARTY.

For the past 3 years BGRF has donated a total of $182,000.
Click here for more information

DJ Dena

DJ Dena, the resident DJ at NV at the Strand in Providence, is much more than your average turntable auteur. In fact, Dena has held the title of Billboard reporter, for industry publication Billboard, for many years. There are only 120 Billboard reporters in the U.S., and DJ Dena is Providence’s first and only.

“Most of the lists are done based on sales, but when it comes to dance music, Billboard relies on information that they get from DJs around the country. So, I guess I’m pretty influential in that area,” says Dena. “It’s kind of a big thing and I’m glad to be a part of it.” Of course, these arbiters of nightlife music aren’t just arbitrarily chosen - they need to be experts in their chosen field. DJ Dena is one of those people. But, even though she’s 18 years into DJing - she’s a social worker by day - she is very modest about her skill. “You know, I don’t even remember how I got into it,” she says. “I was originally a drummer in a band and I guess I was watching a friend spin and just thought it was fascinating. I was really intrigued by trying to match the beats and I guess I just got into it from there.”

Dena has shared the turntable with the likes of Hex Hector, Junior Vasquez, Bad Boy Bill, Keoki, Jonathan Peters, and Skribble. She also produces her own music. With residences at clubs such as The Strand, kamp, Therapy, Pulse, and Rage in Worcester, Mass, this girl is busy, but you’ll find her spinning at the Chandler Street Block Party on Saturday, June 13,2009.

For more information about DJ Dena, connect to www.djdena.com.

DJ Rich LaDue

“Richie” Rich LaDue has been spinning in and around the Boston area for 10 years. Got his start at WZBC doing a late night mix show which led to DJ work in various Boston night clubs. His high energy style has gotten him regular guest work at Pump in Miami and various BBCM (Bad Boys Club Montreal) events in Montreal. He is currently the Sunday resident at RISE Boston as well as a resident at Summer Camp in Provincetown and Cobalt in DC.

Richie’s sets tend to include a little bit of everything. Hard house and tribal, disco house, trance, and lots of vocals.

In his own words: “I find it difficult to stand out from other DJs because I find dance music to be very similar. That is why I like to work really fast, and let the crowd know that by putting songs on top of each other. I think it helps to get the crowd pumped up if they think ‘He is trying to turn me out!’ I want the audience to be turned out, surprised, and shocked. People may like me or dislike my selections but they cannot say I am lazy.”

THE BOSTON GAY RIGHTS FUND (BGRF) IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT $43,500 WAS AWARDED TO THE GRANT RECIPIENTS OF LAST YEAR’S (2007) STREET DANCE AND BLOCK PARTY.

For the past 3 years BGRF has donated a total of $145,000.
Click here for more information

Comments (2) Nov 13 2008