TALKING TO JUDGE JULES – SANDOWN PARK NIGHTS
Sandown Park Nights welcomes legendary DJ JUDGE JULES who will join Ministry of Sound Classical as their special guest on Friday, 24th July, at Sandown Park Racecourse. We caught up with the man himself to talk music and horses.
YOU COME TO ESHER’S SANDOWN PARK THIS SUMMER AS MINISTRY OF SOUND CLASSICAL’S GUEST… YOU’VE PLAYED WITH THE MINISTRY OF SOUND CLASSICAL BEFORE, FROM THE SOLITUDE OF THE DJ BOOTH TO MIXING WITH 30 MUSICIANS – CAN THE EXPERIENCES COMPARE?
So obviously I’m not on there at the same time as the musicians, although I’ve done some other live-type shows where I have. I’m warming the crowd up to the best of my ability.
I’ve done lots of classical shows all over the world. While I’m kind of doing my normal stuff, albeit with this huge mass of equipment set up behind me, I think it’s the look of wonderment on the musicians’ faces that is the most remarkable thing.
For me it’s another gig with a slight tangent, but for them it’s a complete tangent from what they normally do and you can just tell how much they’re loving the experience. Most of them are conservatoire-trained musicians who have spent their lives performing opera or doing jobs working on film soundtracks. But this is a proper rave vibe but with an orchestra. It’s just incredible to look at their faces – they’re so into it and it’s a total revolution for them.
MINISTRY OF SOUND ARE FAMED FOR THEIR CLUB CULTURE AND SHOWCASING THE BEST DANCE MUSIC TO LISTENERS IN THE UK AND BEYOND – IF THERE COULD BE ONE STANDOUT ANTHEM THAT YOU COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
That’s such a difficult question. I’m not necessarily talking about what an orchestra could play, but I think Josh Wink’s ‘Higher State of Consciousness’ would certainly be up there. It’s getting on for about 30 years old but still sounds very up-to-date even in 2026. It’s just got this punkness and rawness about it. Some of the best dance music is about simplicity. One of the things I wish I had been taught when I was much younger is that art is more about what you leave out than what you put in. Sometimes some of the very best records are the simplest ones, just with a magic factor about them.
SINCE HITTING THE ONES AND TWOS BACK IN ’87, YOU’VE BEEN A REGULAR NAME ON THE HIT LISTS FOR THE BEST DJs AND ARE RENOWNED FOR YOUR CHOICE SELECTIONS – HOW HAVE TIMES ON THE DANCE FLOOR CHANGED SINCE IT ALL STARTED FOR YOU?
Well, I think my market now is over 35s, whereas my market when I was younger was more 18–25. But the very notion that there would be a market for over-35s and over-40s was utterly inconceivable when I was younger.
Certainly in my parents’ generation, once they had kids and once they settled down, they would never have gone out that 35–60 year olds do now. It’s a really well-developed market. For so many reasons it’s very buoyant.
YOU’VE PLAYED SETS IN CLUBS ALL OVER THE WORLD. IS THERE ONE PLACE LEFT THAT YOU HAVEN’T PLAYED THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO?
Well, I’ve never been to Hawaii and I’ve never Dj’d in Rio, so I suppose they would be the two. Last year I did 110 gigs and probably 30 were abroad. The ratio is less than what it was 20 years ago, but that’s quite deliberate. I’ve got a music law practice which focuses on dance music predominantly.
AS FESTIVAL SEASON APPROACHES, ARE THERE ANY TRACKS OUT THERE THAT YOU’RE TIPPING AS FUTURE BANGERS?
It’s by Zero and Klubbheads and it’s called Big Mad Banger. I think the name says it all really.
MUCH LIKE DJs, HORSES ARE FAMED FOR THEIR THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERED NAMES. WHAT WOULD YOU NAME A RACEHORSE IF YOU HAD ONE?
Legal Challenge.
