Course turning up the volume

JOHN Course lives and breathes music — it’s at the heart of everything he does.

From his DJ sets that get the dance floor pumping through to his own record label and artist booking business, music is at the forefront.

Course is known for playing old school club music that everybody knows and loves, a classic style he’s unleashing at the 2025 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup after party on Wednesday, October 22.

He will headline on the Furphy Lawn, bringing the same energy that has entertained punters at the Spring Racing Carnival, Ministry of Sound, and Reminisce Festival.

The entertainer said there will be plenty of anthems playing across the evening and people can expect to hear a lot of tunes they know and some new stuff along the way.

“I always dip my finger into new music, because I’m a DJ and that’s what we do. We’re always searching for music and trying to find new things,” he said.

“I also know that a lot of people like the old school sound that I’ve always been associated with from the Ministry of Sound albums.

“I don’t really plan it out ahead, I just bring a lot of music and I’m ready to go, but the flavour will be old school house music, a couple of new things that are well-known.”

 

As music becomes more of a priority for large functions across the nation, Course understands the added value and appeal it can bring to events.

“I think a lot of the times when people used to go to a lot of functions, be it the races or even the AFL, the entertainment for the punters afterwards was pretty lacking.

“You can go to a Geelong Cup and hang around and have a drink and chat away and not even care about it, and then you can dance for three hours at the end of the day with a general entry ticket.”

Music has always been a part of Course’s life, with his mother playing music around the house in his early years. Inspiration then struck in the form of 1984 musical drama film Beat Street. It sent the young DJ out to buy his own mixer.

“[I] had no idea what I was doing but just went and bought some equipment and started messing around and that’s where it started and it’s been a lifelong passion really, that I’m lucky enough to also have as a career.”

Course’s career spans decades, making it difficult for him to pick a highlight.

From starting his own record label, Vicious Recordings, through to playing a big white party on New Year’s Eve to around 60,000 people, there has been some big moments in time. But, the smaller ones are often just as memorable.

While COVID put a dampener on all things live music, Course didn’t let it stop him, broadcasting live from his spare bedroom to more than 4,000 people every Saturday night.

 

This went on for around 50 consecutive weeks, connecting with people online and breathing life into people in lockdown.

“Although a weird time, it was actually kind of a cool connection because so many people, still to this day, when I go out and play gigs are like, ‘Oh we used to watch your COVID gig every week’,” he said.

“Families watched it, because you were at home and it was 7 o’clock, it wasn’t super late. Some people watched it and smashed tequilas and partied, but other people just watched it with their family, had a dance in their lounge room.”

The broadcast events played such a big role in people’s Saturday nights that when Course returned to live gigs, people who had met in the online chatrooms were meeting up at his shows for the first time.

When it comes to music — and music that resonates with people — DJs have different styles, with Course riding the line between those who play their own music and the ones working to take people on a journey.

“I always try and introduce new music, but at the same time, I don’t want the whole event to go over someone’s head and I’m not the DJ that stands in the corner looking bored and just plays the tunes that I love,” he said.

“I like to connect with the crowd, and I like to play some tunes that they know and hopefully they trust that I can play some new things that maybe they don’t know but they’re going to dig.

 

“It’s kind of that balance between the two, so hopefully nobody leaves thinking I was too indulgent, but they might leave, hopefully, having a good time and hopefully having heard a few new things as well.”

With years in the industry, Course knows a thing or two about connecting with his audience, with his longevity his secret weapon.

Whether it was on the dance floor in a club or through one of his mixed CDs, Course has been responsible for introducing people to a wide variety of music.

Now, 20 years on from that first introduction, people are hearing the same music from the person who first played it for them.

“Call it a competitive advantage to me — anybody can play any music, it’s about how you put it together and how you authentically connect with it,” he said.

“I think I’ve got that connection from a long history of playing music.”

For your chance to WIN tickets to the Ladbrokes Mounting Yard at the 2025 Geelong Cup and watch John Course live, click here.