DJ Dave Haslam headlines club's charity gig

DJ Dave Haslam is preparing to play a charity gig in Stoke-on-Trent.

He has previously played with acts including the Stone Roses and New Order, and is also credited as being an inspiration to the likes of the Chemical Brothers.

Haslam was resident DJ at The Hacienda and The Boardwalk in Manchester for years, and also appeared frequently at Golden in Hanley.

"It's big tunes, brilliant memories, and it's a charity night as well, of course. We're fundraising for a breast cancer charity called Fighting To Be Heard," he said of the gig at Jollees.

He said Stoke-on-Trent was renowned for its nightlife in the 80s and 90s and that people had to go to nightclubs to hear the DJs of the era.

"It was the only place you could hear the tunes, and they were fantastic tunes. It was the first era of house music and techno, and it was a beautiful sense of community."

'Spirit of the era'

Haslam said he tended to draw audiences of all ages.

He said the older crowd enjoyed the nostalgia, while the younger members of the audience tended to enjoy the "very organic, very authentic" feel of an era where music was not as heavily marketed.

The charity was co-founded by one of Haslam's friends, Kate Rackham, who died at the age of 46.

The charity helps people to cope with incurable secondary breast cancer.

He had done a number of charity events while she was alive, he said, and her husband is from Stoke-on-Trent.

"For me, it was in the spirit of the era to do something for charity like this, in memory of Kate and to raise money for the good work the charity continues to do."

The Classic Memories night takes place at Jollees on Saturday.