Underground electronic club night to support tinnitus charity

By day, Kai Barlow (25) is a recruitment consultant in Manchester, but by night he is a keen clubber and event organiser.

Kai is organising a ‘fundrave’ event (fundraising rave) to support the British Tinnitus Association (BTA), a charity close to the hearts of many in the nightclub and music industry.

The event will be a live DJ event featuring several of the famous collectives which are keeping the underground electronic music scene thriving in Manchester, including the Kultura Collective, Mixing Mates, Noire State and the legendary Tom2Trax.

Presented by Locked In, ‘Ear Drops’ will be held on Saturday 23 July 10.00pm – 4.00am at the famous Stage and Radio club, 43 Port Street, Manchester M1 2EQ. All ticket proceeds will go to the BTA and the organisers have arranged a donation page too.

It is estimated that over 299,000 people experience tinnitus in Greater Manchester alone, and 7.1 million people across the UK – around 1 in 8 adults.

Kai said: “Since Covid restrictions have been lifted, people are going to gigs more than ever before. Gig organisers have also stepped it up a notch in terms of speakers and sound, but prolonged exposure to loud noises can really affect your ear and can do permanent damage.”

He explained: “Tinnitus is a condition where individuals can hear sounds in the head and/or ear that are not caused by anything external. It can be a precursor to deafness and can really affect people’s mental health and their career prospects, especially if they work in music production and DJing.”

Kai added: “I know so many people who’ve been affected by tinnitus and it has changed their day-to-day life. Some people have even stopped going to gigs and stopped music production because of the constant ringing they have. Some have even developed chronic insomnia due to the ringing they hear when they go to bed. This is why the BTA is so important, not only in the music industry, but to young people in general. As they are the future listeners, the future music producers. Healthy hearing should be a priority, the same way you keep your eyes and your mouth healthy.”

Tickets for the event, which cost £7, can be bought from http://skiddle.com/e/36130684 or are £9 on the door. Donations can also be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lockedinmcr