Some nights are just nights out. Others feel like something is actually happening.
The upcoming KLAT Magazine and 166 Events DJ takeover sits firmly in the second category. It’s not just about who’s on the decks or where it’s happening, it’s more about the energy and intention behind it.
At the center of it all is Sammy McClure, a DJ whose journey into music feels as organic as the sets he now delivers. Long before the clubs, the bookings, and the growing recognition, there were house parties, carefully curated, high-energy, and already hinting at something bigger. “I’ve always loved music from all genres,” he says. “From a young age I would throw house parties whenever my parents were away… they were probably a league above the average house party at 15 or 16 years old, with a full speaker system, strobe lights, etc.” It’s easy to imagine those early nights: crowded rooms, loud music, and a young DJ unknowingly laying the foundation for what was to come.
It wasn’t until the stillness of the COVID-19 lockdown, though, that things really began to take shape. While the world paused and dance floors emptied, a different kind of movement started at home. “I first started playing around on decks during the lockdown,” You couldn’t go out and all the clubs were shut… but everyone still wanted to party.” That instinct to create moments even when the world felt restricted pushed him from experimenting into performing. As restrictions lifted, so did his reach, moving from house parties to clubs across Cardiff and Bristol, and eventually into cities like London and Amsterdam.
But what makes Sammy’s approach stand out isn’t just where he’s played, it’s how he thinks about music. He’s as much a student of the scene as he is a contributor to it. “I think it’s just as important to attend events as a punter as it is to play them,” he says, noting that understanding a crowd starts with being part of one. That perspective feeds directly into the way he builds his sets,
“It’s massively important to create a journey when playing a set, It gives you the opportunity to build the energy track by track, rather than starting with high energy tracks straight away and then struggling to maintain that.” For this takeover, that philosophy will be front and center. The set will move through moods and moments, combining lighter, warm-up sounds with heavier, peak-time energy, while weaving in both familiar tracks and unexpected selections. It’s less about playing what people already know and more about introducing them to something new, something they didn’t realize they needed.
And yet, even with all the planning and structure, there’s one thing that can’t be predicted—the moment when everything clicks. “There’s always that moment when a crowd fully locks in, I think any DJ would agree it is hard to top that feeling in any other scenario.” It’s that shared connection, that unspoken understanding between DJ and audience, that turns a good night into something unforgettable.
That same sense of connection is what drives the collaboration behind the event. For 166 Events, working with KLAT Magazine again felt like a natural next step. “Following the success of last year’s collaboration with KLAT on a live DJ set recording, we felt it was important to build on that momentum,” they explain. What they’re building isn’t just a series of events, it’s a culture. “166 is centred around creating a distinct, people-focused energy that prioritises community, It’s about connection, encouraging creativity, and contributing to a stronger, more unified Welsh scene.”
KLAT’s role in that vision adds another layer entirely. As a platform rooted in creativity, storytelling, and culture, their involvement brings depth. Together, the partnership blends music with fashion, art, and a broader sense of expression, creating something that feels immersive rather than one-dimensional.
For KLAT, the takeover is as much about community as it is about music. It’s about creating moments where people can come together, have fun, and feel part of something bigger. Bringing this DJ takeover to their platform is, in their words, “a good way for people to have fun and enjoy,” but beyond that, it reflects a deeper vision, building community through music and live experiences.
What’s also becoming clear is the wider impact of collaborations like this. By working together, KLAT and 166 are reaching new audiences, introducing different communities to each other, and slowly reshaping what the Welsh creative scene can look like. People who may have never attended a 166 event before are now becoming regulars. New faces are becoming familiar ones. And with each event, that sense of community grows stronger.
At its core, this DJ takeover isn’t just about one night or one set. It’s about momentum. As Sammy puts it, he wants people to leave having discovered something new, something unexpected, and with one clear thought in mind: that it was “sick.” And if everything comes together the way it’s meant to, it won’t just feel like another event—it’ll feel like the kind of moment that stays with you, long after the music stops.
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Written by Angel Joanne Okonkwo
