Hands on the Decks – Eyes on the Future is a hands-on, practical session where participants gain confidence, explore creative technology, and learn the essential skills of DJing and music creation in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Participants walk away with a clear understanding of basic DJing mechanics, a boost in confidence, and a sense of creative achievement. Students will learn about the fundamentals of mixing and track selection through to live performance, all on full size professional equipment.
This workshop will be led by Mike Dixon and Stewart Platt of Northern Pulse CIC.
We asked Stewart to answer some questions about his career:
Something interesting about your career to date:
“A definitive highlight of my career was doing the photography for Sam Fender at his landmark St James’ Park show. Capturing such an iconic moment for North East music right in the heart of Newcastle was an incredible experience that combined my passion for live music, visual media, and community culture on a massive scale.”
Best piece of careers advice you have ever received:
“The best piece of career advice I have received is to stop trying to force a career into a rigid box and instead let diverse passions intersect. Early on, there can be pressure to choose between a creative path and a technical one, but my own experience has proven that some of the most rewarding work happens right where media, community impact, and technical infrastructure meet. Whether I am producing music-focused programming at Amazing Radio, running community workshops and events through Northern Pulse CIC, or studying DevOps and cybersecurity at Gateshead College, keeping an open and multidisciplinary mindset has been invaluable. Embracing that crossover ensures that skills in audio production, digital strategy, and system architecture do not sit in isolation, but instead combine to create a much stronger, more adaptable professional foundation.”
Your pathway into your career:
“I am passionate about music, media, and technology, with over 9 years of experience as a Radio Producer, Social Advocate, and Co-Founder in various initiatives that blend creativity, social impact, and technology. My recent focus is on infrastructure, cybersecurity, and DevOps, where I aim to bring my skills in digital strategy, network security, and software development to drive efficiency and enhance digital ecosystems.
Based in Gateshead, my professional background bridges both the creative industries and technical infrastructure. In media and broadcasting, I have served as a Radio Producer at Amazing Radio since October 2016. My work involves programming and editing shows supporting new and emerging musicians, curating content and publishing engaging media across social platforms to increase audience engagement, and driving the station’s mission to support emerging talent. This includes curating my own specialty shows, such as Off The Record, which presents a track-by-track description of an album directly by the artist.
Additionally, I have operated as co-owner of The Newcastle Gig Guide since September 2014, developing and maintaining a comprehensive live music guide for events in and around Newcastle while managing website content to highlight diverse music events with a user-friendly experience. My commitment to community engagement and social enterprise is anchored by leadership roles in regional initiatives.
In May 2023, I co-founded Northern Pulse CIC as Director, establishing a social enterprise focused on using music to foster diversity, organise events, workshops, and advocacy campaigns promoting equity and social justice across the North East, and collaborating with artists, activists, and community organisations to empower marginalised communities.
Furthermore, I have served as Treasurer for Love Music Hate Racism since January 2023, directing grassroots initiatives that use music to raise awareness and combat racism while managing financial operations to ensure the smooth execution of projects and campaigns.
