Mark Alsop has been a strong and sustained force in Australia’s dance party culture since 1984.  From underground warehouse parties and nightclubs to interstate and International events, he has helped shape Australia’s dance party culture, and remains in the forefront of this dynamic environment.  From its humble beginnings to the richness of today's party and clubbing culture, his style and adaptability have enabled him to continue to impress diverse crowds over the past 27 years.

The MA 15+ website lists many of Mark’s milestones and awards reflecting his decades in the industry. His Early achievements include Best DJ awards from The Sydney Star Observer (1989 and 1990) and CAPS Best DJ Award (1990).  More recently, he has been recognised at “The 80’s are Back” exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum, is listed as a “pioneering DJ” on the RAT parties entry on Wikipedia, and is named as “one of the world’s best remixers and deejays” on the German website hotdiscomix.com. 
Mark is very proud to have been nominated for a 2010 Honour Award under the category of Media/Arts/Entertainment.  I am even more excited that I have now gone on to be re-nominated the following year and have been chosen as the winner of the 2011 Honour Award. This award acknowledges outstanding service to or achievement within NSW’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community.

Mark’s expertise has often been used by ARIA to help compile the Official Australian Club Chart, and he continues to be a judge in the well known ARIA awards, which recognize outstanding achievement within the Australian recording industry.  His journey started with a grade of "Distinction" at the completion of an Audio Engineering course at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. It has helped pave the way to his numerous Vinyl and CD releases initially released in Australia and the United States, and subsequently distributed globally. 

To further spread the message of music, 2007 saw the introduction of BEAT FM, a GLBT themed radio station nestled within the heart of Leichhardt. Marks new forte for this year was that of a Sunday afternoon radio show presenter of his own show, simply entitled MA15+ . His style was casual, laid-back and distinctly groovy, just perfect for those Sunday afternoon cocktails and recoveries!

Whilst born into a world filled with the strains of Commercial Vocal and Retro, he is also expert in many other styles including Uplifting Vocal House with sexy, scintillating synths, addictive, slightly sinister bass-lines; with mean, sometimes bitchin' vocals, to dark and dirty Electro! He embraces a wide variety of music, and loves his massively energetic Progressive House sets as much as his regular laid back groovy Cocktail sessions!
Behind the scenes, Mark ensures set continuity by reworking, restructuring and re-editing much of this music in the studio, making his sound quite original, stimulating and particularly inspirational!


Mark Currently resides at, The Colombian Hotel, The Bank Hotel, The Civic Hotel and Club Exile.  There are also guest appearances at many other clubs around Australia and beyond. His current party residencies are Toybox, Indulgence, Inquisition, and Chunky.

Given his longevity and versatility in the industry, Mark’s resume is quite extensive. For further details, interviews, CD samples or bookings, please direct all inquiries to:   dj@markalsop.com

....... On a personal note


 I started DJ'ing way back in 1984 due to a passion to spread a more universal kind of music to the people of Sydney.
At this very same time came the news of the newly diagnosed AIDS epidemic in America and the first whispers that it was now appearing in Sydney.
Fear quickly ravished our community and oh so many people from within our community were told to enjoy life now, as they would not be around to enjoy anything after the next two years.

My reaction was immediate and very clear-cut :-  I could use my music as a weapon against the spreading despair, and to help breathe some optimism where it seemed there was none.
I developed a deep passion to make sure the word spread loud and clear that no person deserved such a death-sentence (as it was as that time), as I began to unite people on the dance-floor to spread the message of hope and unity.

I was there at the very beginning fronting rallies, attending funerals, marching at candlelight and became quite the activist by immersing myself in work for ACT-UP. I feel like a grandfather at this stage of my life having witnessed the birth of ACON, PRIDE and BGF.

Over these last 27 years, I have been unyielding in my belief that a positive attitude is the core thing that can bring us through such adversity. I still continue to front the many benefit parties and events that include The Luncheon Club, ACON, PRIDE, 2010 and many others. I’ve also been known to rattle the BGF collection tin across the city and suburbs.

I sincerely hope that within my ¼ of a century (and beyond)  involvement with the Gay & Lesbian community that I have had a positive role in helping to pick it up from the depths of despair and helped it to sail through the shroud of death into a positive, vibrant, blossoming community that now have a bright vision of the future.
I personally see music as a universal language that levels the playing field for everyone. I enjoy what I do and consider it an honour to use my gift in life to benefit our society that I am so very very proud to be a part of.

xxx

Mark