Global DJ Sam Hall, AKA Goldierocks, has spent the last two decades on dancefloors all over the world and, on Saturday August 3, she is returning to the Blickling Estate where she’ll supercharge the Classic Ibiza vibe and get the Norfolk audience partying as the sun sets.
As Sam explains, she founded Goldierocks almost 20 years ago, when she was 19.
'I was at art school in London, rampaging round the city causing mischief, having spent my gap year as an intern for John Peel on BBC Radio 1 and working for various record labels. I started a showcase club night putting on upcoming bands - we gave Bloc Party, The Killers and The Noisettes some of their first shows - but I couldn’t afford a DJ, so, I gave it a go!”
Sam soon gained notoriety for her theatrical, energised DJ appearances, with Time Out London saying her live shows had 'more personality than a Big Brother house.'
A decade or so later, while working for Virgin at the Monaco Grand Prix, she met the Urban Soul Orchestra (USO).
'We just got on like a house on fire. Much fun and many global adventures later, Stephen Hussey [conductor of USO] asked if I would be up for Djing at Revival Productions' new Classic Ibiza events, there was absolutely no hesitation!'
In 2016, Sam helped to launch the first ever Classic Ibiza event at Blickling and has remained the headline DJ ever since, performing to more than 90,000 people over the course of the summer.
With private clients such as Madonna, David Beckham, Richard Branson and the Prince and Princess of Wales, what brings her back to the Classic Ibiza tour?
'I love doing it,' she says. 'As a DJ it’s an incredible thing to be part of. Surrounded by that incredible wall of sound - live instruments and charismatic musicians all vibing together- it’s just so much fun! I love the music and getting to perform to such vast, energetic and engaged crowds with an immense light show and pyrotechnics. It makes me feel alive.'
Sam is full of energy, so it’s unsurprising that she only missed the last two shows of the Classic Ibiza 2023 tour to have a baby:.
'Our little Rex. He’s truly the light of my life. I toured with Classic Ibiza up until 32 weeks pregnant and my last DJ set was at 34 weeks. I was very rotund...the definition of a human disco ball! But I had an incredible, supportive team around me, including one on one medical supervision. Rex loves music, so I think he’ll be right at home on tour. But he’ll probably be tucked up in bed with his Dad by show time.'
Did Sam have any hesitation about returning to the tour as a mum? “No, I didn’t because it’s such a safe, happy place and ultimately, DJing is such a key part of who I am. It brings me such joy and I’m so grateful I get to do this for a living. The rhythm of my life has been tied to festival season, working outside in the summer and hibernating a little during the colder months. You work so hard to get to this point, [it's been] years of slog and sacrifice and I want Rex to see his mummy being bold, brave and shining bright, so he gets to know all parts of me and hopefully finds that inspiring.'
Sam spent the Friday before Mother’s Day DJing at Selfridges as part of their International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day celebrations. And there is huge female energy to the Classic Ibiza show.
'It’s part of why I love it so much,' she says. 'The music industry can be a bit of a boy’s club - and you learn to hold your own. But we’ve got a wealth of incredible female talent; over 20 female musicians, the brilliant organisers in Lisa and Katharine, and our stage manager Sophie. It’s fantastic!'
Visit classicibiza.co.uk for tickets and more information.