Gabe (Joi La Frique) is the co-creator/organiser of Apricot Ballroom, an audiophile party based in Sheffield, UK. He’s an obsessive digger and collector of records and hi-fi kit, and is usually busy digging through dusty shelves, shops, and websites for rare/interesting pieces of both kinds. His record shelves bear the weight of a decade’s worth of this habit, with the majority leaning towards funk and soul, but with a whole heap of styles from all around the world buried in there.

Having been DJing since 2009 he’s been involved with a variety of projects focusing on different styles in that time, but really found his feet in starting Apricot Ballroom with best friend Dave (Nonna Fab) in 2018. The party focuses on displaying obscure and interesting music of all varieties through a beautiful audiophile sound system in a high energy club setting.

The party and its hosts have gone from strength to strength lately, having started and maintained a mix series and record label over the last two years, the monthly parties regularly packing out their chosen home of Bal Fashions in Sheffield, and the DJ duo becoming regular fixtures at some wonderful UK festivals.