Chris Hammond is now Blackpool based after leaving his home town of Todmorden at 17 to build his career as a dance DJ.

That was eight years ago and since he last spoke to the Todmorden News and Hebden Bridge Times Chris, better known on the dance scene as DJ Cush, has seen his career mushroom, playing dates all over the country.

Cush grew up in Longfield Rise, Todmorden, and began to develop his sound in the garage after getting his first decks at 15, working towards his mix of minimal and techno beats. He got his big break when he was selected from 15,000 people to appear at in the world's biggest clubbing and dance music magazine Mixmag two years ago after winning its "Bedroom Heroes" competition.

In the last 12 months his career has taken Cush all over the country playing some of the top dance nights and in the summer found him DJing on the island of Ibiza - clubbers' heaven.

There hasn't been much opportunity to return to his home turf in recent years but he is very much looking forward to coming home for a date at one of Hebden Bridge Trades Club's DJ nights on November 28.

The date is in the middle of a busy spell for Cush, who is already pencilling some prestigious dates in his diary for 2009, as he explained.

"I've got a new thing going with the Season Festival in Oxford which has a date each season and mixes bands, DJs and circus skills like stiltwalkers - there are beats and firebreathing! It's based around the back of a public house where there is room to pitch a marquee in a field. It's gone well and the next date is pencilled in for April," he said.

"I still have my residencies at Come Up in Birmingham and from January I also have a new residency starting up - Cactus at Magnet in Liverpool, once a month throughout 2009 with consistent massive names headlining all Cactus events."

Cush warms up for a busy season with a local gig for him at Underbar in Blackpool, then it's to two huge dates immediately before the Trades Club gig.

On November 21 he plays alongside two of the world's biggest techno DJs, Speedy J and Ben Sims, at Closer, based at London's famous Hidden club. Cush says it is one of the most reputable clubs in the UK.

The next day, November 22, he is preparing for what he calls "the highlight of my career so far". It is an Excentric and Ultra + date at the Rainbow Warehouse in Birmingham.

"Excentric and Ultra are two of the leading brands in the UK. They are combining to put on their biggest event ever and I will be playing in the main room, the Warehouse, in a line-up that includes Fergie, Paulo Mojo, Deepgroove and Tim Sheridan," he said.

After that, for a brief while at least, it's home and the Trades Club date. "I am very much looking forward to it, a chance to see everyone. It's a perfect chance for my friends here to see what I do. I'm hoping we get a packed house," he said.

And there is also next summer in Ibiza to look forward to.