Dancing goes on as Wigan DJ hosts online sets

A DJ in Wigan is streaming live sets on Facebook from the club where he plays during the coronavirus lockdown.

Richard Ashcroft said he is used to DJing at the Swinley Club and he is continuing to do so on Facebook Live.

So far, thousands of people have tuned into his soul session sets and given him a positive reaction.

And while they might not have a dance floor on which to make some shapes, some are finding room at home to dance to the music.

Richard, of Dynamite Discos, said: “I’ve been doing Facebook Live on a Sunday.

“I do a soul session at the club and obviously I couldn’t do it with the lockdown but I had so many people wanting to hear the music that we play there.

“So I decided to organise a Facebook live set to keep spirits high and I’m singing and playing records.

“At Dynamite Discos we do mobile discos and weddings and have done for years.”

However, Richard who has been playing the tunes at the club for 12 years, said Facebook have kept kicking him off the live feed during his performances.

The 54-year-old, from Wigan, said: “I’ve done a three-hour set and I must have been kicked off five or six times during it.

“I’m not sure why and I can’t see the problem with what I’m doing, so it’s frustrating.”

But he said the sessions had been going down really well with people.

He said: “I’ve had such a great response and so many messages from people saying what a good job I’ve done and thanking me.

“It’s a heartbreaking time at the moment and I’m doing this to keep people going.

“I just post it on my Facebook page and I must have had about 400 people at one time listening in and the whole thing has attracted thousands of views.

He added: “So I’m just going to keep going and trying to put a smile on people’s faces through music.”

You can tune in on Facebook Live from 4pm this Sunday (May 17) to enjoy Richard’s latest set of soul, Motown and Northern Soul.

For more information visit Dynamite Discos on Facebook.