DJ raising spirits with kitchen disco

DJ raising spirits with kitchen disco

11 November 2020

IT’S always disco time at the home of Dromara granny Lorraine Smith.

The popular DJ has been entertaining hundreds of people from her kitchen with live sessions since the lockdown in March and the current restrictions.

After more than 40 years of being a DJ, Lorraine often powers up her decks to spin hit after hit to get her fans bopping along as she plays a set on social media.

Lorraine, who now performs alongside daughter Caroline Gibson, is well known for work throughout the district.

Originally from Saul, Lorraine’s first ever disco was in 1979 in Saul Hall at an event to raise money for the local Youth Club.

While many people have mourned last week’s closure announcement of The Coach in Banbridge as a place of their youth where many marriages began, Lorraine became synonymous with Hilltown youth disco over the years.

Lorraine played there every two weeks for the last 26 years, providing the soundtrack to the lives of local young teens at the time.

She also played at Kilcoo Youth Club and has lost count of how many engagements, weddings, open venues, private parties, Strictly Come Dancing, Lip Sync’s over the years. 

“In all of my years as a DJ, 2020 has been a very tough and challenging year for everyone in the music industry because of Covid-19,” Lorraine told the Recorder.

“All of our bookings have been cancelled and it’s been difficult to keep up our contact with our audience so I decided to host my discos live from my kitchen.

“Thankfully with the use of modern technology, myself and my daughter Caroline have been able to provide music to the public via social media on Facebook. 

“We don’t advertise, we like to surprise our followers and hopefully help lift their spirits in this difficult time live from my kitchen.”

Loraine can wrack up to 2,000 viewers to her kitchen disco at any one time, many viewing from throughout the island and beyond.

In recent years, Lorraine and Caroline, who call themselves C&L Disco Roadshow, have been regularly playing at GAA clubs normally for charity fund-raisers and competitions such as Strictly Come Dancing.

The 57 year-old grandmother of three said she keeps herself young and current by playing a full range of music to suit all ages.

She added: “I want to thank everyone for continuing to support our business in these challenging times. I wish everyone the best of health and look forward to providing great music again in the community as soon as we can.”

To view Lorraine’s kitchen disco follow her Facebook on Lorraine Smith C&L Disco Roadshow.