I've lived in Birmingham for about five years now and have been visiting the gay scene, socially in the gay village on Hurst Street for about four of those years now. I totally love it and it has often brightened up summer and winter nights alike.

I have met many of my best friends on such nights and well recommend it if you're out and proud, or your straight and bored with the usual offerings around Broad Street.

I don't need to worry about good company anymore so the key to a really good night out for me is definitely the music.

The lovely Miss Miles

Miss Miles

When it comes to playing wicked music and talking about good nights out in and around Birmingham's gay village then there is only one person to go see; that's the very lovely and successful local DJ, Miss Miles.

Miss Miles DJs in many of the clubs in the village in fact it would be easier and take a lot less time to mention where he doesn't play in the village.

I meet him in Birmingham's bar Arca in the Arcadian, near the gay quarter. He is sat with friend and fellow DJ/local promoter Aaron. As I walk over to the usual spot at the bar he greets me with "Get there!" the very gay for "Hello" in certain circles on the gay scene.

Miles Richard Pearsoll (yes, he is a guy!) is 23. An outsider, like the best of us in Brum, he comes from Shrewsbury and has been DJing since he was 13 (believe me when he is on the wheels of steel you can tell he has been churning it out for a long time!).

Madonna Mad

We get straight into it and I ask him about his influences, his favourite tunes and how he first got started mixing tunes. He is quick to tell me that he couldn't pick a favourite tune as there are so many but he tells me he is Madonna mad and has a vast collection of her CDs and records. He has been listening to her for as long as he can remember and regularly used to mix up her records on the two regular record players and no mixer he used to use when he first started to DJ.

Miss Miles on the decks

His rise on the scene as a DJ came from working in bars and networking after hours. He said: "Anyone in their right minds would love to DJ, there is no nine to five, you get to sleep in, no getting on buses on a Monday morning with everyone and their grandmothers with miserable faces. I just thought this is not for me, sweetheart."

I prefer pop

He then told me he had been clubbing on the scene for about six years and we discussed how it had changed a lot since then. He said: "People change and tastes do too. I really used to like the earlier years when the music on the scene was pop, gay isn't gay anymore in terms of music, Madonna and Britney is what I would like to listen to more when I'm out and about in Birmingham. I play funky because that's what most gay people in Birmingham want to listen too. I prefer pop though."

Miss Miles and pal

I then asked him what he really thought of Birmingham as a city and where the people in general accepting of his gay lifestyle, he said: "I've found Birmingham to be very accepting of the gay community and it can be very different in Shrewsbury most of the gay people I knew there visited Birmingham at the weekend, so they could also enjoy the freedom that you get in this neck of the woods. Shrewsbury stifled my personality and to top it all off sweetheart Birmingham has fabulous shops. What more could a boy ask for?"

Funky house and speed garage sweetheart?

Our pints were nearly empty by this time and one of his friends signalled for him to make a move so to finish off with I asked the fabulous Miss Miles to outline a few good places to go out; for all the strangers to the gay scene in Birmingham. He said: " I'd recommend to people to come and check out the scene on Sunday nights starting with Arca bar in the Arcadian playing chunky and funky house. Then either DV8 for the gay music in the front room or onto The Village for more helpings funky house and a little speed garage, sweetheart."

With that the delightful Miss Miles finished his drink and was whisked away by one of his many friends on the scene which leaves me to tell you myself that Miss Miles will be appearing all over the Birmingham Gay Pride festivities. He will be playing for Angels on the main stage but will also be playing for Arca bar, The Village and Kudos on various days over the Pride weekend so if you want to check him out look for the name, believe me he is fabulous darlings!

All pictures courtesy of Katie Wooldridge