Jay Balmer

James is an exceptionally well-rounded and reliable open format DJ with over 20 years of experience. His passion for music began at a young age, and he started DJing in 1998, driven by his love for house music and collecting vinyl. Over the years, James has honed his skills, gaining an abundance of experience in reading dancefloors and creating a feel-good atmosphere. One of his greatest abilities is to mix seamlessly across multiple genres of music to suit the crowd, whether it's the latest floor-filling anthems or those forgotten gems that everyone knows the words to. Currently, James holds a Saturday night residency at Lime Tyger in Ormskirk, where he plays uplifting disco and house classics blended with hip-hop and RnB anthems to a packed-out dancefloor every week. He also performs regularly at Revolution Albert Dock for the Saturday afternoon brunches. James loves to keep his Fridays available to play at different venues, whether it's a high-energy club night or a small intimate bar, testing his skills with different crowds. Since joining GigPig in 2023, he has had many repeated bookings at various venues, most notably Manahatta on Deansgate in Manchester, where he plays at least once a month. Throughout his career, James has held many residencies and played guest spots in bars and clubs all over the Northwest. These include venues such as Revolution Liverpool & Blackpool, Society Liverpool, Baa Bar Liverpool, Chaya Liverpool, Modo Liverpool, Reform Liverpool, Picolino’s Bramhall, Manchester, Stockton Heath, Chloe’s St Helens, Imperial St Helens, The Venue St Helens, Sankeys (monthly) Manchester, Club North (monthly) Manchester, and many more. He has also promoted his own successful nights and played for Toolroom at Ministry of Sound in London. James owns his own Pioneer controller and can play multiple genres of music, including house, RnB, chart, and old skool.

Located in the lively area of Deansgate, Manchester, Manahatta is a glamorous New York inspired cocktail bar with an exciting party vibe.