Video
Jon DaSilva
2026

In this episode of Manchester Scene Stories, I sit down with legendary DJ Jon Dasilva for a wide-ranging conversation about the music, clubs and cultural shifts that shaped his journey — from being blown away by David Bowie as a kid, to becoming one of the defining DJs of the Haçienda era.

Jon talks about the records and artists that opened his ears in the 1970s, from Bowie, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop through to post-punk, dub, James Brown, Kraftwerk and the wider world of Black American music. He reflects on how those influences gradually fed into the leftfield, experimental sound that later made him stand out behind the decks.

We also get into the arrival of acid house and the speed at which everything changed. Jon shares his memories of those first records, the early energy of the scene, and the way the atmosphere inside clubs shifted almost overnight. He explains why acid house felt so powerful when it landed, and why its more experimental edge is often forgotten.

A big part of this conversation focuses on Hot at the Haçienda — one of the club’s most important nights. Jon describes how he approached DJing there, how he built atmosphere, and why he liked to tease the crowd before dropping the kick drum. He talks about long mixing, layering records, using sound effects and creating tension in a way that helped make him such an influential DJ.

There are also brilliant stories here about Eastern Bloc, Spin Inn, early Manchester club culture, ecstasy’s arrival in the city, the changing crowds at the Haçienda, and the crossover between house, techno, hip hop, funk and dub. Jon also reflects on Detroit, Derrick May, remixing, international DJing, Glasgow club culture, and the challenge of reading different crowds around the world.

What comes through most in this interview is Jon’s deep musical knowledge and the way he connects everything — Bowie, punk, post-punk, dub, house, techno and the dancefloor. This isn’t just a conversation about one club or one era. It’s about how a lifetime of listening led to one of the most distinctive DJ voices to come out of Manchester.

If you enjoy stories about The Haçienda, Manchester nightlife, acid house, post-punk, club culture and the people who helped shape it, this one is for you.