The weekend is all but complete, so I wanted to take a quick second to bring a little update your way. On Friday evening, I had the opportunity to sit down with America's No. 1 DJ, Christopher Lawrence. We spoke about everything from his recent award, what DJs really think about those rankings and the general state of dance music in the U.S. I had spent a good part of Friday afternoon reading past interviews Lawrence had done over the course of the year, and I have to tell you...our interview is completely unique.

Christopher Lawrence was one of the most down-to-earth celebrities I have ever met in my life and the conversation just rolled. He was more than willing to take time from his crazy schedule to chat and hangout with us prior to his set. His press agent, Wendy Weisburg, was one of the most enjoyable to work with and was more than willing to do all the work to ensure we got this interview. While some DJs are making news for ending sets early or blowing off local writers, Lawrence is taking dance music and the scene in the right direction. The interview is in audio format for now, but we'll transcribe it in the next day or two so you can view the text version as well. Enjoy!

The Amphitheater in Ybor has done it again. A few months back, they brought you the No. 1 DJ in the world in Tiesto. This Friday night, April 8, the Amp will welcome to the stage Christopher Lawrence, the newly crowned No. 1 DJ in the U.S. And if that's not enough to make you shout, the Amp is doing it all for free. No kids, this is not a misprint. For as long as I've been writing this nifty little column, the Amphitheater has made my job easy in bringing in top DJs week after week. And each night, sellout after sellout, it's obvious which club consistently throws the best parties in town. So now the Amp is sending a little thank you out to all the faithful who make the Ybor mega club a staple in their weekly rotation. It's a simple offering of free cover all night to marinade in the sounds from America's top DJ.

Oh, and here's a little secret for the electronic dance music fans of Tampa Bay. I've secured an exclusive interview with Christopher Lawrence the night of the show. I'll dig into the mind of a mix master and find out what makes this guy tick. And I'll bring you the digs on how CL is feeling about his recent accolades in the electronic music world and we'll find out what's next for this LA superstar.

So let's get you up to speed on this week's show. Lawrence is usually described as the king of trance in the U.S., comparable to the success and respect of his European counterparts Tiesto, Paul van Dyk and Armin van Buuren. After reaching No. 7 on the DJ Mag Top 100 list, it seemed CL's success was on top of the world. That is, until the 2005 WMC in Miami where he was named the "Best American DJ" at the International Dance Music Awards. Considered the premier awards show for the dance music industry, the IDMAs pay tribute to those who achieved exceptional acclaim throughout the course of the previous year. Christopher was presented his award by R&B superstar Macy Gray in front of an audience of thousands of dance music delegates, proving his success was still on the rise.

Inducted into Cream's "Superstar DJ" hall of fame, Christopher's production skills, coupled with his ability to take international dance floors by storm with his tough progressive and sleek techno trance sets, place him in high demand worldwide. A headliner at the world's biggest clubs and events, Christopher was the only U.S. DJ invited to headline all three of the inaugural Ministry Of Sound, Cream and Gatecrasher tours of America. No stranger to the press, Christopher has graced the covers of countless magazines around the globe, including the US's "Remix", "Mixer", "Jive" and "XLR8R" and Britain's "Wax". Now you have the opportunity to see this legend in the making live and free of charge. But don't waste your time in getting there late and wrong. We know it's always nice to make an entrance. But with this lineup and no cover, the only thing graceful about coming late will be your posture as you stand in line.

On Sunday, April 10, On The Rocks will host a free concert and live recording featuring Shane Meade & The Sound. Kicking off at 2 p.m., not only will this concert tap the souls of music lovers around our city, but will give some exposure to one of our true gems in Shane Meade. The cool element of this party is that Shane is simply looking to bring a positive musical vibe to all walks of life. His style carries elements of Folk, Rock, Pop, R&B and a little soulful flavor for your listening pleasure. His original material will literally take you on a ride through many different musical genres. It's a journey that has built Shane a local following and a demand for more appearances in our local clubs. After performing at On The Rocks a few months back, it was a no-brainer for the staff to ensure his return. Don't miss this very unique chance to be apart of a live recording while enjoying local talent at a great new venue. You can learn more about Shane at Shanemeade.com or you can check out his musical skills at Yeoman's Road Pub on Davis Island, Thursdays and Fridays from 6:00 - 10:00 or at Latitudes Cafe in Ybor on Sundays from 4:00 - 8:00.

Every Thursday evening at Bahasa Lounge, the local scene is boiling with beautiful people and fantastic music. Latin World Ladies Night, presented by Latin Pop Promo is setting a new standard as the best Latin night in the Bay area. Blending the diverse sounds of Latin pop, rock, tropical, house, tribal, as well as salsa and meringue, it's obvious why this party bumps. In the main room, Pedro M kicks out world beats unlike any you've heard. In the blue room, Chino & Tony mix it up with smooth and sexy tribal and Latin house. On the patio, guests enjoy the visuals of VJ JC.

If music isn't enough to grab ya, ladies receive free entrance and free drinks until 1 a.m. And for those looking for other qualities of a hot party, high-end fashion is always on tap. Dolce, Armani, Ecko, and many other famous labels will be noticed walking through the door, so don't go light on style. For more info on this party, reservations, VIP tables or the guest list, contact Pedro at 813-839-4430 or Chino at 727-459-8445.