‘I’m a pensioner earning thousands of pounds a month DJing — I do it for the buzz’

A 69-year-old music lover ditched his sales job to earn £2,000 a month as DJ playing soul and reggae hits.

Bernie in action as a DJ (Image: BERNIE EDWARDS)

A pensioner from Weston-Super-Mare has spoken about how he turned his passion for music into a job earning him £2,000 a month.

Bernie Edwards, 69, has performed at pubs and clubs all over Bristol playing original vinyl 60s/70s soul, motown and reggae.

He said the music is particularly popular with over-50s as there’s “not a lot going on” for people in that age group in the area.

He told Express.co.uk: “You can’t put a price on how you feel when you’re standing up here and you’ve got the whole room in the palm of your hand.”

Bernie took up DJing about 20 years ago after a friend invited him to DJ at a northern soul night, which he “absolutely loved”.

Bernie has performed at pubs and clubs across Bristol (Image: Getty)

He had worked as a salesman for years but when he turned 50, he decided to give up his job and get behind the decks.

He bought his own equipment and then started DJing at pubs and clubs in his local area, performing under the name Double Barrel, his favourite reggae single.

The music talent recently had to scale back his DJing after a health issue but he was previously doing a gig every Friday and Saturday, with each night paying around £250, or £500 over the course of a weekend.

He said: “I don’t do it for the money. I do it to get the buzz of the crowd. The money is very nice but that’s not the important thing for me, it’s being out there among like minded people, who appreciate the music I’m playing.”