Crap jokes aside, Queen’s birthday long weekend means wicked partying. Market’s taking charge and presenting ‘Queen of Clubs’ for the long weekend – four awesome nights starting on Thursday 9^th June and banging on til Sunday 12^th.

Headlining the festivities on Friday is DJ Eric Wikman (aka Deepswing) behind the decks, the producer / DJ behind the house favourite ‘In The Music’. The night also sees the world release of his new song ‘Celebrate’. We were hungry for more info, so caught up with house maestro Eric quickly before he shot off to a gig. Perfect timing then to ask the first time he was inspired by the house music he loves so much.

"It was around 1990–91. [In LA] I would see DJ Disciple, Doc Martin & Masters at Work when they were in their soulful, funky vocal stage of their career. Also, whenever visiting my family in New Jersey, I would tune in to DJ Disciples radio station and tape it. His style and soul was definitely inspirational for me to really start becoming involved."

So what came first: DJing or producing? "I started producing music before I ever DJ’d. I used to have a partner who did all the DJing but I quickly learned that in order to really understand the music and what people expect from you, I had to delve in and start working the turntables." That hands-on approach obviously worked, as ‘In The Music’ shot to number one all over Europe – a stellar effort for oft chart-neglected house tracks. Did he ever predict it would be as successful as it was?

"Honestly, no. I only hoped it would be recognised in some sort of way. ‘In The Music’ was definitely a result of hard work, luck and opportunity meeting all at the same time. I feel honoured to have had the song touch as many people as did in such a positive, club going experience. But I feel that way with all my other productions too."

On the topic of his other productions, he goes on to talk about his new release ‘Celebrations’ – a track featuring the vocal talents of Donna Washington, who you may remember from ‘We’re Going Up’, ‘Take Me To The Disco’ and ‘I’m A Believer!’. "I believe this is a great combination of powerful funky disco filter driven productions with an uplifting, testifying vocal performance from Donna. I think this track could be a huge party song that will incite the listener to celebrate the good times in life."

So what’s in store for Friday? "I’m hoping to inspire the crowd and really make them sweat it out on the dance floor. The feeling is indescribable when I look out at the people really having a great time and throwing their hands in the air from the music, it makes me really happy. I’ve always loved DJing in Melbourne as the people are like hardly any that I’ve met anywhere else in the whole world."

Don’t forget there’s three other outrageous nights on offer at Market this long weekend: Thursday is Fruit Market with DJ James Frasier behind the decks, and shows from Tabitha, Regime, Roxy and the boys at midnight and 1am; Saturday is Queen of Clubs with DJs Queen Martine, Tony Svehla and Carmine S Romano and 3am show by Zowie Knox; and Sunday Market features resident DJs Peter McNamara, Frisky and Nathan Basil.