Back In The Day Presents Pete & Kelvins Freetown Reunion

The Freetown club in Hanley is without doubt one one of the most important venues in the history of Stoke On Trent dance music story. Originally the venue for Stokes very first acid house night ‘Frenzy’ back in 1988, the Freetown was the hangout for the city’s more musical discerning clientele. 

Kelvin Andrews started his own night at the Freetown, originally on a Thursday night and it was called ‘Blue’. After a few weeks, Kelvin asked Pete to join him and they went on to become somewhat of a formidable double act as Stokes premier house music resident DJs. 

Not long after this, Kelvin eventually secured the Saturday night and Juice! was born. The move from Thursdays to Saturdays really made a big difference and Juice! became the place to be on a Saturday night, particularly amongst the more cultured crowd that felt the rave explosion in Longton wasn’t really their thing. Guest DJs started to join both Kelvin & Pete such as the Hacienda’s Mike Pickering, Dave Seaman after his stint at Shelley’s and Sasha who was well on his way to becoming the clubland idol he became as the 90s progressed. 

The most important thing that many forget in SOT clubland folklore is this Juice! night was the precursor to Golden. It was pretty much Golden in all but name. Same resident DJs, same musical ethos it started with and a loyal dancefloor that appreciated what Kelvin & Pete were doing musically. Eventually Juice! came to the end of the road and both Pete & Kelvin were asked to become the residents at a new night in Newcastle called Golden which was put on by loyal attendees of the Juice! night that felt things had run their course at the Freetown club. 

So many have very fond memories of the Freetown and this night is a celebration of the music played there and more importantly Pete & Kelvin reuniting behind the decks for a special night of quality music and get together of some of the old faces and new who have grown to love the Freetown’s legacy in Stoke on Trent. 

See you on the dancefloor!