Bolton: Hip Hop artist sets up record label and is gearing up for launch party

Al English, otherwise known by his stage name Dweller, has been involved in Hip Hop music for 20 years.

When the first lockdown hit, he and his friend Dave Taylor from Brighton took it upon themselves to create an online hub for the live music industry, with the aim of helping promote artists’ work and showcasing their talents when live shows were off the table.

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‘Live from the Groove’ proved a hit, with the pair managing to get big names involved as well as picking up a sponsorship deal with online music streaming giant Mixcloud.

Al, 35, from Astley Bridge, said: “We knew we wanted to do more with it, so we turned it into a record label.

“We’ve had three releases on it so far, including one of my own, and our first EP that’s out in September from Kansul Culture.”

Dweller's first release on the Live from the Groove label - No Sugar

Former teacher and now full-time creative, Al, is a resident DJ at Real Axe in Bromley Cross. He also previously had a show on Bolton FM called ‘The Realness’.

He added: “I’m and artist in my own right and I’m more on the production and creative side of things. I do the mixing and mastering.

“Dave is the details guy, so he focuses on the campaigns and the press releases and things like that. I think we work well together.”

Live from the Groove became a record label in May and is now preparing for a launch party.

Speaking about the releases on the record label, Al said that the lyrics “send a message” and focus on contemporary issues such as the cost-of-living crisis and the war in Ukraine.

The headline act on the evening, Kansul Culture, is a collective who will be performing the full EP that they are soon to release on the label.

Also on the bill is a DJ sets from South Coasts Get It Together DJ's and KISTA.

Visit Live from the Groove's website to find out more.