The beauty of dance music, more than anything else, is its power to bring us together.
The right mix, dropping at the right moment, can create a real sense of unity on the dancefloor, a moment of abandon where you dance side-by-side as one with people from all walks of life and feel free to express yourself without inhibitions.
Still, it’s surprisingly quite rare to see much about dance fans who live with disabilities – that viral video where Steve Aoki launched a cake into a crowd surfing, wheelchair-bound fan’s face aside.
It’s even rarer to hear about artists with disabilities enjoying life from the other side of the decks – but that’s exactly what 20-year-old DJ Jake Smith is doing.
Jake DJs in the VIP tent at Creamfields. / Image: Jake Smith DJ
Jake pictured partying with friends. / Image: Jake Smith DJ
A DJ for around about six years now, he’s played sets at nightclubs in Ibiza and at the legendary UK dance music festival Creamfields and even had national airplay for his track ‘So Real’ on Radio 1.
“I used to dream about having one of my tracks played on BBC Radio 1,” he told The Manc.
“I listen to Radio 1 every week and it was an honour to have a track broadcast on one of the biggest radio stations in the world.
“I won’t ever forget my first-ever play on Radio 1-the buzz will stay with me for a while haha. This just proves that if you have a disability, you can still achieve anything like anyone else.”
A student of music production at South and West Cheshire College, he doesn’t just mix – but makes his own tunes too.
He also lives with cerebral palsy, a condition that can affect movement and coordination that is caused by a problem with the brain that can develop before, during or soon after birth. Not that he’s letting that stop him from pursuing his dreams.
Jake poses backstage with one of his biggest musical inspirations, techno DJ Patrick Topping. / Image: Jake Smith DJ
Jake tells us he has a team of PA’s and a supportive family who help him with daily tasks, whilst his dad and manager support him with attending gigs and festivals.
Having first fallen in love with dance music after listening to bangers in the car with his dad, he decided to give DJing a try for himself, only to find “a real passion and joy in music.”
Here in Manchester, he’s played some of the city’s coolest music venues – including Yes, Joshua Brooks and Stage & Radio, whilst in his hometown of Cheshire, he’s played the VIP tent at Creamfields, Nu Flava, and supported K Klass at Chester 7’s.
He’s also played nightclubs in Ibiza like Plastik and Ocean Beach, and had a number of his mixes played on Kiss FM radio – having initially won a 30-minute mix competition, he was soon invited back by the station to play again.
Video:Jake Smith DJ
Speaking to The Manc on how he feels when he plays out live, Jake said: “It’s like nothing else.”
“I love performing live to an audience, the feedback you get from people is always amazing.
“To see the energy in the crowd and people dancing and having a great time to my mixes is really uplifting.”
Asked what he thinks of Manchester’s crowds in particular, he added: “The audiences in Manchester always bring so much energy to the gigs. The atmosphere is incredible.”
“Everyone is always up for a good time.”
Inspired by artists like Danny Howard, Hannah Laing, Sorley and Patrick Topping, Jake tells us that he is currently working on some of his own new music which is yet to be released.
Jake poses alongside Manchester production and DJ duo Mark Richards and James Eliot, AKA Solardo. / Image: Jake Smith DJ
Asked what advice he would give to anyone else wanting to get involved in the music industry, he’s full of enthusiasm.
“Go for it! Work hard and if things don’t work out the first time… don’t give up. Most importantly have fun.”
Jake has created a mix for The Manc Audio‘s new weekly Mini Mix Friday series which you can listen to below.
This summer, he plans to head over to Ibiza again and says that Creamfields ‘may also be on the cards’. To keep up with where he will be this season, make sure to check out his social pages – as this is where he’ll announce any upcoming gigs.
Feature image – Jake Smith DJ
Audio
Beloved British boy band Five are BACK in FULL for the first time in 25 years
Danny Jones
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: all five members of the beloved British boy band Five are set to reunite for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Formed way back in 1997 and dominating the charts throughout the period in and around the millennium, the iconic pop group was the UK’s answer to the Backstreet Boys and NSNYC, as well as a much-needed replacement for Take That just after their split.
And they did exactly that for a number of years, with hit tracks like ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Keep On Movin”, ‘Everybody Get Up’, ‘If Ya Gettin’ Down’ and more still firmly stuck in our memories.
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been, we still remember all the words and the dance moves to go along with them – and we’ll be able to prove it when the Five UK reunion tour comes to Manchester.
Although the London-formed group has reformed every now and again in different configurations over the years for special occasions, anniversary events, etc., this is the first time that the original lineup has been together for 25 whole years.
That’s right, Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon will all be reuniting on stage for a limited UK arena tour – because anything less simply wouldn’t be enough to mark this throwback celebration.
More importantly, if you don’t think every single one of these massive rooms is going to sell out in a flash, then you clearly can’t count to five.
As for the Manchester crowd, fans will be welcomed inside the equally legendary AO Arena for the ‘KEEP ON MOVIN’ 2025’ Tour later this year and we can’t wait.
Fellow domestic DJ and producer Naughty Boy will also be joining them as the main support act. We’re rolling back all the memories this autumn.
You can see the rest of the tour dates below, including equally massive shows at The O2 in London, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, a First Direct Arena date in Leeds and more.
We really can't wait to get back on stage together and see you all in person, it's gonna go OFF!! Let's goooooo! International fans, make sure to sign up there so we know where in the world you are too 👀
Scott says: “This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now – 25 years on and we’re so ready for it. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!”
Another fifth of the throwback boy band, Abz, added: “We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!”
General admission for Five’s 2025 UK reunion tour goes live on Friday, 7 March from 10am but die-hards can access the exclusive pre-sale window on Wednesday, 5 March by signing up for the mailing list.
2000s indie rock icons The Enemy continue comeback trail with must-not-miss UK tour
Danny Jones
For fans of old-school indie and noughties contemporary rock, you do not want to miss the one because The Enemy are not just back making music but they’re heading out on a pretty big UK tour and, of course, they’ll be stopping right here in Manchester.
The Enemy first reformed back in 2022 for a limited run of shows, but it turns out the Coventry-formed trio were satisfied with a one-off reunion and a fifth studio album officially being worked on, the fierce Brit rock throwbacks have announced a series of pretty large UK tour dates.
Following on from some hugely successful comeback performances at TRNSMT, Isle Of Wightand a headline slot at Godiva Festival 2023, not to mention the instantly hit ‘Indie Til I Die’ shows last year – including an absolute stormer at Victoria Warehouse – they returning for more.
One of the few bands to make their way back to the live music circuit fully intact, with all three members still performing together, nothing has changed other than a few more grey hairs.
If you weren’t there at the outset, The Enemy’s debut LP We’ll Live And Die In These Towns (2007) was one of the most seminal domestic releases of its time, with songs like ‘You’re Not Alone’ going on to become indie anthems of the era.
To be honest, we’d argue their sophomore outing Music For The People just two years later is the better album, with tracks such as ‘Be Somebody’, ‘Elephant Song’ and ‘No Time for Tears’ still in plenty of our playlists to this day – but, you know, each to their own.
The point is, we’re very glad these lads are back and having played with everyone from Oasis and The Killers to even The Rolling Stones, we’d wager lots of other music lovers are too.
Set to play New Century Hall in Manchester as well as the legendary Leadmill in Sheffield, Beckett Students’ Union in Leeds, Rock City in Nottingham and more, it’s going to be a big tour.
We're absolutely buzzing to be back on tour & in some of our all time favourite venues.
We'll be trying out new material for the first time in years ahead of the new album we're making, we're all really excited to try some new tunes and see what you think whilst we finish it!
Frontman Tom Clarke, who has put out two solo records of his own in past years, said of the announcement: “We’ve been working long days in the studio recording new material, so we’re really excited to get out on the road again.
“The plan is to experiment with some of the new tunes, maybe different ones on different shows to see how the crowds react and which ones connect with fans, and let that guide the track listing on the record which is nearing completion.”
Co-songwriter and bass player, Andy Hopkins, added: talking about the upcoming tour: “My favourite part of being in a band is having those nights with the fans where the atmosphere is electric – I think this tour is going to be really special for the 3 of us.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve been back to some of these cities in a long time, in venues we absolutely love and have been really important to us on the way up – Electric Ballroom was the first venue we ever played in London supporting The Fratellis, I drove us there with all the amps & guitars in my Fiesta!”
The Enemy come to New Century, one of our favourite live music venues in all of Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 1 November.
Pre-sale has already been snapped up in the blink of an eye, which is no surprise whatsoever, but general admission will go live from 10am this Friday, 28 February.
Georgina Pellant -
28th May 2022 
