Craig Connelly

Craig Connelly is a Manchester-based DJ and producer working in trance, progressive trance, progressive house and vocal trance. He builds his reputation through Manchester’s club scene and appears as both a producer and remixer, as well as an A&R figure.

Production and chart success

Connelly’s early breakthrough comes in late 2010, when he wins Super8 & Tab’s Empire remix competition. His rework attracts attention from a range of trance DJs and helps establish him in the scene. His first original track, Absolute Electric, follows in 2011 and gains early support from Armin van Buuren, Dash Berlin, John O’Callaghan, Lange and Gareth Emery. A Tritonal remix accompanies its release, and the track reaches number 2 on Beatport.

His 2012 release Robot Wars becomes a major sales success. It is featured as a “Tried & Tested” track on Judge Jules’ BBC Radio 1 show, includes a remix from Andrew Rayel, enters Beatport’s top 5 on its first day and later reaches number 1 on the chart. Connelly also records a number of Beatport top 10 trance productions, including two number 1s, Black Hole and Robot Wars.

In 2013, his vocal collaboration with Christina Novelli, Black Hole, reaches number 1 on Beatport within two days. It is voted the fourth biggest track of the year by listeners of Armin van Buuren’s ASOT radio show, and its official video passes half a million views on YouTube. Another single, Decibels, reaches number 3 and receives support from Gareth Emery, Armin van Buuren and Markus Schulz. He also records remixes for John O’Callaghan and Aly & Fila.

DJ work and touring

As a DJ, Connelly develops through club dates in Manchester and presents tightly mixed sets aimed at the room he is playing to. He makes his debut at the Miami Winter Music Conference in 2012, performing at Space, and returns in 2013 for another Space appearance, including a closing set for Gareth Emery and a Garuda label party at Arcadia.

His touring also includes shows in Amsterdam for the FSOE v Subculture festival, a six-date UK tour, and performances in Argentina, Ibiza and Kenya. He also has plans for a United States tour and repeat appearances at UK superclubs including Gods Kitchen.