DJ legends come together in bucketlist gig for ill Liverpool actor Jake Abraham

Big name DJs from the funk, soul and dance scene are coming together to put on a bucket list gig in the city for Liverpool actor Jake Abraham.

Jake, who’s probably best known for his role in Guy Ritchie’s film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, revealed in July that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The 56-year-old actor shared his diagnosis to help warn people not to dismiss symptoms after admitting he tried to ‘push through’ feeling ill while he was performing in a play.

By the time it was identified by a test at the Royal, his prostate cancer had spread to his spine, hips and bladder. Jake has since been having care at Marie Curie hospice in Woolton.

Jake Abraham — John Kelly and Norman Jay

Now to support him and his family, and the Prostate Cancer research charity, DJ friends including Liverpool dance music legend John Kelly and funk and soul master Craig Charles will be heading up a big fundraising night at Ten Streets Social this weekend.

Babaloo has been organised by John who’ll be doing a set alongside Craig and DJ Norman Jay MBE, playing together for the first time in the city, plus Roy the Roach and Liverpool’s own Benny Mussa.

All the DJs are giving their time for free to try and help Jake fulfil some of his dreams while he’s hopefully still well enough to travel.

John explains: “When I knew how ill Jake was, I asked if he was prepared to go public with it to warn other people about not putting off getting checked. Once he did, and he talked about what had happened to him and the importance of getting tested, it meant I could go ahead and put a gig on for him.

“He’s always wanted to do a Mediterranean cruise, go to Rome and see the Pope, so I thought we could do a bucket list fundraising event.

“Craig is a really good friend of Jake’s, they’ve worked together all their lives from when Jake started out doing a Saturday morning kids TV show, but he’s a very busy man so to get him on a Saturday was fantastic.

“Once we had Craig then I got in touch with another good friend of his, and mine, Norman Jay, he’s the king of funk and soul in London and we were absolutely delighted when he said we were on.”

John contacted Ten Streets Social who were happy to give up their back room arena for the event and sort out security for the night.

He says it’s going to be a very special event in a great venue for two fantastic causes, Jake and the cancer charity.

“We’ve all come together for Jake but that’s what we do, it reflects the personality of this city. When one of us is struggling the rest gather round to help, we’re good at looking after our own.”