Leeds DJ Danny Bond launches rave app which could become 'world's biggest virtual nightclub'

Thousands of DJs have been live-streaming their gigs across social media since the first lockdown in March, but so far have been unable to charge for their services.

During the lockdown, Yorkshire-based DJs Danny Bond, Alex Simmons, Jamie Duggan and Dale Castell played live to the nation on Facebook to raise people’s spirits and to support various charities.

However, with nightclubs unlikely to fully open until next year and mass redundancies and slashed budgets due to the pandemic, many people working in the music industry are suffering severe financial hardship.

Due to the limitations placed on DJs during the pandemic, Leeds-based DJ Danny Bond set about creating an online space for DJs to start working and earning money again.

The DJs will also have the opportunity to work alongside Jamie Duggan, who is responsible for some of the North’s biggest festivals, including 90’s Fest.

Top DJs from across the field of music have already signed up to the site and have started doing sets, which has also allowed more fans to interact with their favourite artists

BBC Radio1 legend Dave Pearce, along with stars of the rave scene Slipmatt, Creamfield and Ibiza regular Rob Tissera have already signed onto the website, as well as the founder of the legendary retro club night, Paul Taylor.

Fans pay a monthly subscription fee to attend as many online gigs as they want, with DJs earning half of all the profits.

Danny Bond, who has played to thousands of his fans during the lockdown, said: “I have worked in the music industry and I saw so many friends and people with lack of support and thought we could create something to help.

"People involved in the club scene have been hit hard and have no sign of an exit| so I needed to find a way to help and the site was born. Now people can have a proper rave-up from their houses whilst helping the nightlife economy.

“The trickiest part was doing it legally but we have worked closely with the PRs who collect royalties on behalf of artists and we operate compliantly under their licenses whilst still in talks with other publishers.

"This will become the world's biggest virtual nightclub. This is to help all DJs big and small with a following from anywhere across the globe.

"We have already had over 13,000 people through our virtual doors with a handful of DJ’s on and are looking to grow that exponentially over the coming months with new additions.

"As a DJ I know that when it’s your full-time job you live for the music, entertaining people… it’s more than just work it’s in your soul, it’s your identity and it defines you.”

Homerave.tv is available now online and in all major app stores, and will soon branch out to include American and European DJs.

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