I took over a city launderette for the first in my series of secret Sunderland gigs

It’s a place where many people wash their smalls, but for one night only a city launderette was spinning tracks instead.

Cresswell Launderette is somewhat of an institution in Ashbrooke where it’s been washing and drying people’s laundry for decades.

Sunderland DJ Ben Deacon at his Bill Banks launch gig | Sunderland Echo

placeholder image — Sunderland DJ Ben Deacon at his Bill Banks launch gig | Sunderland Echo

Mackem punk rockers, The Toy Dolls, even penned their 1987 track The Ashbrooke Launderette about the business in Cresswell Terrace.

Now, it’s hosted its first gig.

Once the dryers had stopped spinning for the day, it hosted the launch gig for Mackem DJ and producer Bill Banks.

The stage name of Sunderland creative Ben Deacon, 34, he’s on a mission to bring his music to more people through a series of secret, pop up gigs in locations across the city that you wouldn’t expect.

Ben is already known on the local music circuit for being one half of club night, Burning Down the House, named after the Talking Heads hit and reflecting its lean towards ‘80s music.

The launderette was turned into a venue for one night only | Sunderland Echo

But with his new venture, Bill Banks, he’s mixing his own music.

“I really wanted to separate my own music from the DJing I do,” said Ben. “I’ve been writing loads over the last year and I decided it was time to share it with people.

“I’ve been in bands over the years and I do my nights with Kris (fellow Burning Down the House), but Bill Banks is all about my electronic indie dance music.”

The night featured custom beers from Vaux | Sunderland Echo

Speaking about the secret gigs, he said: “I wanted to think outside the box. A lot of DJs and musicians play the obvious venues on the circuit, not that that’s a bad thing at all, I just wanted to do something more unusual.

“It’s also a bit more difficult to get support for electronic music, so I decided to do it myself.

“I grew up in Ashbrooke, so know Cresswell Launderette well and just thought it would be so cool to do something there. I contacted the owner and he was great - he said 100% he wanted to help local people do cool stuff.”

With Ben being a common DJ name, Ben named his act, Bill Banks, after favourite actor Bill Murray and a friend’s surname.

The night also featured beers from Vaux with limited edition Bill Banks cans.

“I loved every minute of the gig. 60/70% of the tracks were my own and it was great to finally get my own stuff out there.”

Ben is now in talks for the second Bill Banks gig at an unusual venue. People who sign up on the website will be texted the location closer to the time.

You can follow Ben’s website for updates: https://www.billbanks.co.uk/ and listen to tracks on his SoundCloud here.