Star date: 23rd February 2014

HASLAM AND CO BEAT THE SALFORD FRACKERS

Hundreds of people, old and young, flocked to a layby on the A57 today for Gig At The Rig in support of the Barton Moss Community Protection Camp. With classic sounds by DJ Dave Haslam and co, and Camp resident singer Darren Nesbit, the site, which has been a fracking battleground over the last few months, took on a fun family vibe. And not a policeman in view.

Full details here…

Grannies danced with ravers, kids danced with protectors, and toddlers waved their arms in the air on the backs of their mums and dads, as classic Hacienda house wafted out of a rickety DJ booth hastily erected in the layby at the bottom of Barton Moss Road on the A57.

Meanwhile passing motorists beeped their horns in support as girls danced on the grass verges and `Enviro Ellie' stood on the kerb urging them to agree to `No Fracking'.

The hundreds of people dancing and smiling was in surreal contrast to the previous week's events which had seen the area almost turned into a war zone as Greater Manchester Police pushed and shoved protectors down Barton Moss Road to hurry iGas lorries up Barton Moss Road to deliver supplies to the coal bed methane and shale gas exploratory drilling site.

When the lorries are about anyone standing still on the footpath is guilty of `obstruction' or `aggravated trespass' – but today the police kept away and it was anti-fracking party time with former Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam and friends mixing the beats, which ranged from Voodoo Ray, to Good Life and Joy Division's Salford classic Love Will Tear Us Apart.

"The positivity here is amazing" Haslam told the crowd "If we can make it happen in a layby we can make it happen anywhere."

Also enjoying the day were the Salford Music Festival's Ed Blaney and Grayso…

"I'm here for a number of reasons" said Ed "First is the police violence thing, they're paid to do a job, not to push people around. I've seen all the stuff on the net and it's got out of hand. I'm also here for the environment issues. I'm an avid bird watcher and this isn't good for that. In fact, no-one in Salford will benefit, just like Media City, and it's Peel again, taking over.

"It's good to see a load of people here today, Dave Haslam and people from Salford all getting involved and showing solidarity" he added "I'm not political but I suppose I am. I'm from Salford and we say it how it is…"

The day began with Barton Moss Camp resident singer Darren Nesbit singing Bob Marley's One Love. It was very apt…