6 days Ago
Clubbers will be treated to a blast from the past as a veteran Bolton DJ revives one of the town's most "Ikon"-ic club nights. Al Shack , 43, has been involved in Bolton's nightlife for over 20 years, and started the night to recreate the feeling of clubbing in the 2000s. He said: "I’ve seen pretty much everything – I’ve seen the good times, and the bad times.
" The fondly-remembered club that acted as the central hub for Bolton clubbers was Ikon and Jaxx on Bridge Street. Ikon was on the top floor and downstairs was Jaxx. Al Shack (Image: Al Shack) Since demolished – the site now lies as a flat, overgrown and derelict patch of brownfield land, undeveloped in the town centre.
However, once it hosted a dance night like "nothing else," Al said. He said: "On Thursday, when I started, there was a new club called Atlantis. "Because it was brand new, they were putting on buses from Bradshawgate up to the club.
"On those nights, Jaxx wouldn’t open and it was really struggling – so a friend said, ‘let’s put a dance night on on a Thursday." The first night was held on the Thursday before Easter and from there it "just went bananas," Al said. Clubbers at Ikon (Image: Al Shack) He said: "When it started it was three for one drinks – that shows you how long ago it was – and for pretty much seven years it was on every Thursday.
"The amount of people who have blamed me over the years for why they didn’t make it into work on Friday!" Thursday nights at the club first started in 2002 and lasted until 2009. Al said: "On a Thursday night there was nowhere else to go – there was nothing else like this night. Ikon (Image: Al Shack) "People were coming from all over the North West and we didn’t have Facebook or social media – it was just spreading by word of mouth.
"I met someone from Wrexham who had just heard about this good night in Bolton. "It was a very, very strange time." The reputation of the night grew so much that even celebrities would come to Bolton just to experience Jaxx.
Al said that in 2008, during the very first Clubland Arena Tour, many of the artists ended up in Bolton the night before the Manchester gig. This included Scooter frontman H. P.
Baxxter – one of Al's "musical idols". (left to right) Al Shack, Scooter frontman H. P.
Baxxter and Alex K (2008) (Image: Al Shack) He said: "That was the reputation it had at the time, it was an absolutely bonkers place. "It's just a shame because Bolton's night life was ridiculous, you could stand on Bradshawgate and just see how many people were out. "Now it's a bloody ghost town.
" Al reminisced about taking a taxi into town at 8pm, and moving through all the pubs before they all closed at 11pm. Kelly Llorenna at Jaxx in 2002 (Image: Al Shack) After that – it was straight to Ikon and Jaxx to dance until 2am. The feeling of those nights is something Al is pleased to be able to bring back to the people who lived it – even though their clubbing days may be behind them.
Al said: "People who now, maybe don’t go out as much as they used to, if I can create the feeling of what it used to be like – that makes me happy. "We’ve got people now bringing their 18-year-old kids with them, ‘come and see how your mum used to do it!’" The Jaxx reunion night in Element 51 (Image: Al Shack) On every Easter Thursday since 2019 he has held a reunion night to relive the glory days of Jaxx. For 2020 and 2021, during lockdown, the night was a livestream since clubs were closed.
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uk Al said: "It’s one of the best nights I’ve ever been involved with, and to be able to recreate that is amazing. "People who were going out there 20 years ago are bumping into each other. "I’ve seen so many faces I haven’t seen in years.
"It’s just something that gives a little bit of excitement to the older crowd who don’t go out as much as they used to." This year Al says will be the most ambitious yet – featuring Clubland stars Flip n' Fill, vocalist Karen Parry and Kenny Hayes from the KB Project. The queue for the Jaxx reunion night in 2019 (Image: Al Shack) READ MORE: Late Houghton Weavers frontman given Freedom of Westhoughton READ MORE: Bromley Cross: The Wyre Levee Stompers perform at The Eagley Jazz Club READ MORE: Farnworth Flatland Recordings looking for new signings Original Bolton DJs Chris Candler, Mark Grundy and – of course, Al Shack – and Crompton's Mule DJs Andy Roocroft and Gaz Perkins will be there to bring the "old school" vibe back to life.
Hosting this year's show will be MC Finchy, Aggz, MC Domino and Blackout Crew star Jordan Cover. The show will be held in Element 51 on Thursday, April 17, 2025..
