A WARRINGTON DJ will have one of his busiest weekends behind the decks when Victoria Park in Latchford is transformed into a festival site.

James Glover will be playing music on the main stage at Neighbourhood Weekender in between all the bands and artists on Saturday and Sunday.

The former St Gregory’s Catholic High School student will also be hosting an after party at Hideout in Sankey Street until 1am on Saturday.

James has had the opportunity to be involved with the massive music celebration as he has known Jack Dowling, one of the main organisers, for around eight years.

He said: “I even got to introduce Courteeners on stage in 2018 so if I can carry on that sort of thing this year and also bring the party to Hideout it’ll be really good.

“I was scared to death when I introduced them.

“It took me hours to build up to it but it was great.

“I told everyone to put their hands up in the air and there was a photographer on a cherry picker behind the stage who took a picture of everybody.”

There were 25,000 revellers each day at the festival last year.

James, a regular DJ at Creamfields and V Festival, added: “I was there before the gates opened when there was no-one there and then I just saw the gradual build up of people.

“Before Courteeners and Noel Gallagher came on last year it was just heaving. You couldn’t see anything but people.

“Obviously no-one was there to see me but it was a great experience keeping everyone entertained. It was brilliant.

“I was backstage with Courteeners for a while too and their frontman Liam Fray was dancing about in this white boiler suit. I had the chance to chat to him with a couple of mates.

Warrington Guardian:

“At the end of night I also got to see Noel Gallagher play Don’t Look Back In Anger from the side of the stage. You could see everyone’s phones lit up as it was dark by then.”

James reckons Neighbourhood Weekender is helping to put Warrington on the music map and finally out of Manchester and Liverpool’s shadow.

The 34-year-old said: “I think it’s amazing for Warrington. I’ve always been a big supporter of trying to get things going in the town.

“I think there are a lot of people that are very switched on in terms of music in Warrington and want a good and safe night out without having to go out of the area.

“Now with Neighbourhood Weekender it’s the other way around – we’re getting Manchester music fans coming to us.”

Meanwhile it will be James’s 10th year playing at Creamfields in Daresbury in August.

He added: “It’s great that there’s room for both festivals on our doorstep.

“Creamfields is all about dance and electronic music and Neighbourhood is mostly guitar-based artists.

“They aim at different markets with Creamfields being a predominantly younger person’s festival and Neighbourhood being more family orientated but they are both really good at what they do.”

James has also teamed up with Neighbourhood’s Jack Dowling to curate a line-up of DJs for the festival’s ‘Corner Shop’.

He said: “Basically we’ve got Warrington DJs that I’ve worked with over the years doing Northern Soul, disco, house and R&B.

“It only holds 100 people but adds a bit more diversity to the festival.”

On Saturday, James’s day will not end until 1am when he brings his Neighbourhood after party to a close at Hideout in Sankey Street.

Entry is free with a special guest DJ that is yet to be revealed.

James added: “It’s going to be an indie disco inside and we’ll also have some music outside on the terrace.

“I’m hoping that everyone will keep the party going with us.”