In the early hours of 13 July 2019, DJ A.L.F. (aka A.L.F., aka First Grandson, aka Alfonse Nguyen), Sydney’s no. 1 Jungle Don tragically and unexpectedly passed away while DJing, something he loved passionately.
A mainstay of the Sydney Drum & Bass scene for more than 20 years, A.L.F. began his journey as a raver and teenage DJ, learning how to control dancefloor lights at under-18 RnB gigs in the early 90s, until getting a start in DJing at under-18 parties.
He honed his musical reputation by hooking up with the likes of Ozi Batla in the early 90’s at the Cricketers Arms in Surry Hills and the duo boldy cross-pollinated hip hop and drum & bass (unique for those times), becoming a formidable DJ / MC combo on the drum & bass and jungle scene. In the latter part of the 90’s, Alf and Ozi were rolling with a new upcoming label and stable of artists, Elefant Traks. Ozi Batla asked A.L.F. to hone and express his melodic scratch skills in his rock/politico hip hop group Trace Element with Dale (Bassist for Herd), Kasim & Ozi, then onto Explanetary with Urthboy, and the duo who became Hermitude (Luke Dubs and El Gusto).
But his main passion was always with the rave, jungle and drum & bass, debuting with the Joined at the Bass crew in the late 90’s, playing his lounge and up-tempo jungle drum & bass, as well as his hip hop and downtempo style. A.L.F. went on to partner with Lucian & Ed Gee and the 4th & West crew to start a new weekly drum & bass night – Sonic Fiction @Frontier nightclub in Kings Cross in 2000 – as well as playing for Basscode and all across Sydney in the early noughties, at gigs of all styles.
In 2002, Airbourne was born from an idea for Sunday Sessions of the mellower kind to counter the hard tech styles dominating the scene at the time. Airbourne grew and evolved into a monthly drum & bass night Momentum and became synonymous with special long weekend events, Old Skool Jungle and Rollers Ball NYE parties.
A founding member of Airbourne, A.L.F’s ethos of diversity in music saw him create a community, always including all crews old and new to play at his own nights. He was never exclusive. He played everywhere and for anyone willing to have a go to help the Sydney drum & bass scene thrive.
Never one to be bound by a genre, his love for music reached far beyond drum & bass and jungle. His taste was diverse and included RnB, funk, soul, occasional 40th birthday parties and all forms of electronica.
A.L.F. always talked about music in tempos and not genres and he got to share his appreciation of new music and talent by showcasing unsigned Australian producers on his weekly radio show Rollers Music on 2SER, which spanned over a decade.
His prime-time sensibilities meant his musical vibes were always on and never off. When you went to hear A.L.F. on the dancefloor, you knew what you were getting: a wickedly good time and memories to cherish.
With an enormous smile, a friendly and open demeanour and a roaring laugh that lit up a room, he inspired and encouraged many now successful artists and Dj’s. A.L.F. had an electrifying energy that permeated his musical selection and pure Dj skills. He never failed the crowd.
A.L.F. has left an indelible mark on the Sydney scene and this is felt profoundly by those whose lives he has touched. He is deeply missed by us all, though his spirit lives strong in our hearts.
In loving memory, his crew Airbourne Sonic Fiction and his closest musical friends spanning more than 20 years on the scene will come together for a massive tribute event to celebrate his life and vibez, to honour the legacy he has left behind for us to continuously aspire to, and inspires us to keep enriching the Sydney musical landscape.
All proceeds from the event will go toward supporting his wife, his young son and family left behind as they rebuild their lives going forward without him.
Sydney’s finest selectors will unite to pay tribute in celebration of Alf’s life. They will share their personal vibez of Alf in their own way, through their own style with the sounds of memories, good times, love and loss for a beloved friend, mentor, son, brother, nephew, cousin, father, husband and legend, cherished and known simply as Alf.
Life & Vibez – Sounds in Memory of A.L.F.
Saturday 22 February 2020
Kings Cross Hotel
244-248 William St, Potts Point
2pm – 3am
2 Rooms / 33 Dj’s / 13 hrs music / Food by Foreign Dub
DJ’s:
CHRIS MUNKY / SPIKEY TEE / FOREIGN DUB / RITUAL / MUNK / LUCIAN / ED GEE / VICE VERSA / GUY / MURDA 1 / CHRIS WHITE / FIRE/ SEMPER FI / GARAGE PRESSURE / FABZ / RELOAD / SLICE / PATTO / DAVE EDWARDS / BENNY HINN / JAY WHITE / JNR SAEZ / CAPRO / VICTIM / SARRIS / SAKURA / THIERRY D / DAUNTLESS / DETOUR / ALICE D / MECHWARRIOR / SELTAY / THE OBVIOUS / AH9
MC’s: OZI BATLA / D-TECH / SPEX / RO
Tickets $27
On sale @ www.absfpresents.bigcartel.com
Limited sales on the door
A special limited run Airbourne Sonic Fiction T-shirt is also available for pre-order by February 7th in both Mens & Womens in the ABSF big cartel shop.
DRUM & BASS /// JUNGLE /// HIP HOP /// RAVE /// HOUSE /// DUB /// BEATZ /// GARAGE
