Dance music legend Dave Pearce to headline Carlisle gig

Fans of dance and trance anthems will roll back the years when legendary DJ Dave Pearce headlines a music night in Carlisle on Friday.

Almost a decade ago, enthusiasts began staging nostalgic nights which transported clubbers from the late 1990s and early 2000s back to their youth. Regular events at a number of different venues provided popular until Covid applied a temporary break.

“I think we got about 220 people for the first one, about six or seven years ago,” said Jim Doc, of organisers Rude Dog Productions. “We decided to put a couple on a year after that and then it grew from there.”

It was an idea rooted in yesteryear. “That was a big part of my life when I was younger, I really enjoyed it,” recalls Jim. “We used to go all over. We would think nothing of getting on a coach and going to Cream in Liverpool, Sugar Shack in Middlesbrough, or Birmingham for a night out to see a certain DJ.”

But with the staging of more recent nights in Carlisle, the trend has been reversed with dance and trance fans now travelling to the city. “Last time we had people come down from Glasgow, North East,” says Jim. “It’s the same as anything, if people are fanatical about a certain DJ they’ll travel wherever.”

Pearce will take centre stage as Trance Anthems Carlisle returns after a gap of almost three years at The Underground, Lowther Street, on the night of Good Friday, from 10pm until 4am.

“I’m very pleased Dave Pearce is headlining. We’ve had him here before. He’s absolutely phenomenal, he’s professional, his music choice is absolutely brilliant; he plays to the crowd, we’re very pleased and proud to have him,” said Jim, who thanked all previous DJs and clubbers.

And after the pandemic-enforced break, he added: “We’re ready to let off some steam!”

Around a quarter of tickets will be available to buy on the night.