If you’ve let your hair down in a Harrogate nightclub over the past 25 years, chances are you’ve danced to music played by Trevor “DJ Trev” Broadbank.
He’s spun tunes at them all — from dance nights at Jimmy’s, Bar Med and Carringtons to rock and metal nights at Cardinal Sins and the Viper Rooms.
But despite lockdown forcing him to down his DJ tools, he’s been busier than ever after partner Hannah gave birth to twins Louie and Laya 17 weeks ago. He said having more time at home has been a “silver lining” for not being able to DJ.
He said:
“My career might be over but I’m getting to spend 24 hours a day with Hannah and my kids, and that’s amazing.”
Whilst mums are legally entitled to 39 weeks paid maternity leave, dads are entitled to just two, which the DJ said has been a wake-up call.
“It’s underlined how poor the paternity system is for dads and for parents of twins. It would have been awful if I had to go out to work. In the scope of having a baby, two weeks feels like six seconds. That’s brought a lot of unfairness home to me.”
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Like nearly all nocturnal workers, DJ Trev has had to take a financial hit and has even sold some of his old records online.
He said:
“I’ve battened down the hatches, stripped down my expenses, sold things I might not need again. I just need to get through this.”
But he said he’s focusing on the positives, and is looking forward to the buzz of being able to play music to crowds again.
“I miss listening to music as much as I used to because that’s not the sound of twins screaming!
“I also miss being out and watching people dancing. You play a tune you want to stick on and it really works, you’d be mental not to miss that.”
Nightclubs and bars in Harrogate have come and gone and DJ Trev expects the town’s night scene to bounce back from covid, and he thinks there will be a big party when it does happen.
“I’m curious to see what the parties will be like after this – it could be pandemonium!”
Do you have a lockdown story to tell? Get in touch at [email protected] as we’d love to hear from you.
