We caught up with Fergie before his Essential Mix at Godskitchen and chatted about the club, busy weekends, and sneaking booze in to Dubai.

You live close and play for Godskitchen regularly, this is almost a hometown gig for you. Are you looking forward to tonight?
I play in Birmingham a lot, especially Code, I play here more than I play anywhere else in Birmingham. I'm really looking forward to it because I know a lot of the crowd here. There are lots of familiar faces out there tonight so I can't wait to get behind the decks.

What are the crowd like here?
They're a bit of a mad lot here. They're really up for the stuff I play and they do like to make lots of noise. That's always the case though when you're playing Birmingham or the north. The more up north you go the madder the crowds are.

Code is barely a year old but it has such a good reputation. What is it about this place that people like so much?
Code has such a good atmosphere. I've been playing for Godskitchen in Birmingham for a few years now and you notice what a strong bunch of regulars they have, people who come to the club every week without fail. But it also has plenty of travellers who always add to a night's atmosphere. There are people here tonight who have come from Aberdeen, Newcastle and London. That says a lot about the club.

This is a bit of a big weekend for you isn't it. You've got the Essential Mix tonight, then something big happening tomorrow afternoon.
Yeah, I'm covering for Judge Jules tomorrow so I'm going to have to keep my old head straight tonight. It's my first time standing in for him so I don't want to mess it up.

Should Jules be worrying that his show might be under threat?
I think that if Jules tunes in tomorrow he'll just sit back and have a good laugh. I don't think he should be too worried. I'm just gonna give it a good go, I've never done anything like it before so I'm a bit nervous. We'll just have to see what happens.

Have you been practicing your radio voice at home, talking into a hairbrush?
Yeah. No, not really, honest I haven't.

Have you got any Jules style catch phrases lined up?
I haven't. I think Jules has them all.

So what else have you got lined up for the weekend?
Straight after this gig I've got to go to Bristol, then I'm heading home because I've got an early start in the morning, I've got to fly to Scotland. Last weekend and this have been my maddest since I got back from Ibiza. Last Thursday I was at Cardiff, then had to get back to London for Radio 1 on Friday. I had to get to Kent, then head back to London to do the Gallery. On Saturday I did Passion at Coalville, then on to Trade and eventually home. This weekend it's Birmingham,Bristol, Scotland then Dubai.

You're playing Dubai? You must be nervous.
I'm really really nervous about going because of the current situation. I heard some story on the news about some fighter plane flying alongside some Go Airlines flight, so I'm a bit scared. I don't like flying at the best of times.

Do you know if they clubbers in Dubai like your sound?
They will do. I've heard mixed reports. I've spoke to Robbie Nelson and he told me that you can't get alcohol there so I think I'm going to have to bring a few of my own in.

Godskitchen Essential Mix Picture Gallery with Fergie