IN front of a packed audience including actor Hugo Speer and a whooping gaggle of old friends from their hometown, two former Harrogate lads made a great impression under the spotlights of the big stage at The Academy in Leeds last week.
Supporting 1990s legends The Charlatans, The Ruling Class held the attention of the big audience with ease, young lead singer Jon Sutcliffe and rhythm guitarist Andrew Needle both looking as cool as veterans.
Their sparkling, fluid indie rock may smack strongly of early Stone Roses but any accusations of nostalgia are negated by the plethora of strong tunes and great playing, especially by wild drummer Alfie Tammaro.
If only The Ruling Class could add a touch more originality to their sound and Jon, himself, gain a little more confidence in his own semi-messianic stage persona and the faith which leading indie label Fierce Panda has shown in them looks certain to be repaid.
For more info, visit www.myspace.com/therulingclassuk
THERE was a real buzz about The Birdman Rallies’ gig at Milans Coffee House in Harrogate on Friday, partly because of what was a stunning performance and partly because of the crowd.
While Danny Webster’s incredibly clever and frothy pop-rock band bent the indie formula in ground-breaking directions with the best musicianship I’ve seen from a local outfit since I started doing Gig Scene a full 15 years ago (wasn’t that the 19th century?), the gathered throng for once reacted like you’d think Harrogate crowds would react when confonted with semi-greatness.
Added to the fact that in attendance were the people behind the current conversion of next door’s Native State into a proper live music venue called Rehab (there’s talk of Noah & The Whale, members of the Kaisers - these are serious people), and it suddenly being out at a gig in Harrogate felt like being at a good gig in Leeds.
Big things may be starting to happen. . .
BEING into punk rock and independent isn’t always easy in Harrogate.
Though the town has a surprisingly vibrant punk scene - and I don’t mean a bunch of old blokes who think there’s still anarchy in the UK - there always seems to be some hassle.
The latest involves next Thursday’s Rock ‘n Bowl; a mega seven-band punk gig which was supposed to take place at UK Superbowl on Tower Street.
One of the organisers has emailed Gig Scene to say that they’ve had to move th show to The Little Wonder on Ripon Road after they were told they didn’t have the correct licence and might end up in court - or worse (jailhouse rock?) - if the gig went ahead.
At least the event is still taking place, though without the actual bowling element and it’s a real bargainat only £2 to get in.
PS There is also a Rock n bowl FREE after-show party at CJ's Retro bar on Commercial Street from 11pm-late.
The bands playing are: The Plight, The Computers, Valhalla Pacifists, The Diehards, The Grebs, You Rat B****** and Old Youth.
RIPON promoters DMB continue their impressive quest to bring quality live music to the city with a return engagment by Swedish songstress Josefina Sanner on Saturday, November 8 at Ripon Rugby Club.
Tickets from www.dmblivemusic.co.uk or tel 01765 609764.
More next week.
HARROGATE’S long-running and highly popular rock/punk/metal night Bottom of the Bottle returns to The Viper Rooms this Sunday, October 26.
With five live bands and DJ Trev manning the decks for the Rock Club afterwards, this Pre-Hallowe’en Hellfest should be up the high standard Trev has set in recent years.
Headliners Home Brew will be joined by Money Shot, Waking Theo, El Che and The Deadline Hopefuls from 8pm til late.
Entry costs £3 before 11pm, £4 after.
GREAT Seventies rock with a slight prof rock tinge is on the cards when a three-band bill arrives at Harrogate’s Royal Hall this weekend.
Playing tonight, Friday, October 24 will be Martin Turner’s mighty Wishbone Ash who were as big in the US as the UK, Dutch legends Focus who enjoyed a string of hits over here in the 1970s, and cult band The Groundhogs with Tony ‘TS’ McPhee.
For tickets contact the HIC box office on 0845 130 8840.
Incidentally, despite being awash in gold leaf and turn of the 19th century splendour, the Royal Hall is rapidly becoming a temple for classic rock.
Playing there on Friday, November 7 will be Led Zeppelin tribute act, Letz Zep whose fans include Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and Jonathan Ross.
IT’S bit of a musical coup for No 19 Bar & Grill on Parliament Street (ex-Yates’s) who have secured a gig by Kinch, a young indie-pop band who this week reached Number 10 on the UK Indie Single Chart with their debut single Old Fashioned Love/ Everybody's Talking About It.
The bar’s mission to be a high quality venue also sees The Nick Rivers Band playing tonight, Friday and more live music next week.
MILANS is holding a big Halloween night fancy dress party on Friday, October 31 courtesy of promoters Pumpleton Sonic Landscaping with seven live acts, poetry and DJs.
If you buy a ticket quickly (before October 24) you get a £1.50 discount, after that they cost £5 each (with a complementary glass of mulled wine.
The proceeds are going Oxjam.
A MAJOR charity gig for young local bands is to take place at The Old Swan Hotel next month.
Called Breaking Acts 08, more than 100 tickets have already been sold for the show on November 22 which features five of the best young bands from around Yorkshire.
Tickets costing £7 are on sale from G23 in Harrogate.
Doors open at 6.45pm and the show runs to 11pm.
www.myspace.com/breakingacts08
DON’T forget, tomorrow is your last chance to catch the fantastict Pop Art/Urban Art exhibition at 108 West End Avenue in Harrogate with painting, prints and sculpture by the likes of Peter Blake , Jamie Reid, Charles Lutz and Pete Docherty.
To visit, call 01423 819108 or email icons@108fineart.com
HAVING moving into live rock music recently, Katana (on that Union Street ginnel in Harrogate) is about to be home to a club dance night.
The restaurant’s upstairs room (where the sound is reportedly very good) will host Stardust Mindscape on Saturday, November 1.
A mix of House, Drum n Bass and Liquid Funk, there’s a feast of DJs from Harrogate and much further afield til the wee small hours, including the likes of Loz, Dissident, Kristo, Tall Yoda and Beks.
Providing live drums will be Harrogate’s Matty J.
Entry costs £3 before 11pm, and 4pm after.
IF you like a bit of goth, a bit of horror and a lot of Toyah Wilcox, Harrogate International Centre is the place to be tomorrow, Saturday, October 25.
Eighties star Toyah stars as the Devil Queen in Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock. Expect songs form the likes of AC/DC, Joan Jett, Guns n Roses, Meat Loaf, Queen and more to pop up in this theatrical extravaganza. Tickets from HIC box office on 0845 130 8840.
FOR those who doubt that Harrogate can ever create a decent platform for the district’s huge amount of young, musical talent (outside the areas of classical and jazz, obviously), you should have been at the launch of BASH studios at Harlow Moor Road recently.
Owner Laurie Hopkins was positive enough addressing the crowd of youngsters, musos, education officials and business folk in the impressive music complex across near Harrogate Spa Water but, boy oh boy, you should have heard one of his main backers.
If you could bottle the enthusiasm and determination of Andrew Bishop, CEO of Carlsbro, and sell it nationwide, it wouldn’t just be Harrogate’s musicians who would be better off..
CONGRATULATIONS to the Blues Bar which is about to celebrate an amazing milestone with a 'greatest hits' CD and a series of birthday gigs.
The award-winning music bar on Montpellier Parade has been in business for 21 years now and has been Harrogate's only seven-days-a-week live music venue for much of that time.
The celebrations will culminate at the end of November with an appearance by, perhaps, the favourite musical son of the Blues Bar regulars - singer-sngwriter Jason Feddy.
In the meantime, proceeds of the three CD 'Blues Bar' compilation will be donated to the Montpellier Parade bar's neighbouring Oxfam shop.
The launch of the CD later this month will mark the start of the region's Oxjam campaign, a series of charity events which will culminate in a month-long music festival in March.
For more information visit www.bluesbar.co.uk or www.oxfam.co.uk
Live gigs at the Blues Bar this week include - Tues: The Tom Weldon. Wed, Oct 23: Three Men & A Blonde. Thurs: The Dan Burnett Band. Fri, Oct 24: Sly Fox. Sun lunch: The Maximum Danger Project and Ragz. Mon: Jam night hosted by Pete Oliver. Tues, Oct 28: Los. Wed: Keith James sings Nick Drake. Thurs: The Revolutionaires.
IF you feel like catching folk legends Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick at the Frazer Theatre in Knaresborough NEXT year (March 20, in fact), you’d better be quick.
Word is from promoters Kula Productions that tickets are going fast, nearly as fast as the forthcoming Eliza Carthy show on Wednesday, October 29 which is already sold out.
Tickets for the Carthy and Swarbrick show will be on sale at next week’s Eliza Carthy show.
Supported by Rooster Brewery, Kula have also just announced that Deborah Bonham, sister of the late Led Zepplin drummer John Bonham, is to play Frazer Theatre next year, too.
Please note, tickets usually go on sale at Rummages and Blind Jacks in Knaresborough a month before each gig.
More info from www.kula-productions.com
SUCCESSFUL local music promoters RipleyBlues forthcoming shows include - Nov 9: The Counterfeit Stones (sold out). Nov 29: The Ian Parker Band. Dec 20: Nine Below Zero.
Visit www.ripleyblues.com
Tickets by post: send a cheque payable to Ripley Blues and s.a.e. to Andy Herrington, 1 Foundry Gardens, Knaresborough HG5 8BB.
Alternatively book online at www.ripleyblues.com
THE Worlds End in Knaresborough has live music from The Travis Reilly Band this Friday, October 24.
RIPON’S famous One Eyed Rat pub has started having live acoustic music on a Sunday afternoon to accompany those real ales.
This Sunday the highly talented Ashley Reaks play live from 4-6pm.
THE Alexandra in Harrogate has live music this Thursday from Britpop tribute band True Brit.
Next Thursday, October 30, popular covers band Dr Thirsty make a rare local appearance.
MODERN rock covers band Speedsta bring songs by the likes of Foo Fighters and QOTSA to the Sun Inn at Norwood this Saturday, October 25 from 9pm as part of new landlords Neal and Fiona’s efforts to make this Nidderdale pub a place of live music again.
More info at www.thesun-inn.co.uk
ROCK, pop and soul covers band Three Men & A Blonde (60s-present day) bring songs by the likes of The Beatles, The Pretenders, Tina Turner and more to The Black Bull in Ripon this Saturday, October 25.
Starts 9.15pm, free entry.
THE Paul Fedorenko Band make a return visit to The Malt Shovel in Boroughbridge this Friday, October 24 with more Hendrix-influenced blues and rock
FOUR-piece classic rock band Flood Damage play the Suburban bar in Baildon this Friday, October 24 from 9pm. Featured will be the music of The Who, Bad Company, Free, Stones, Golden Earring and much more.
More info from www.flooddamagelive.co.uk
BEDALE-based indie rock band The Conspirators have secured support slots with two top bands of the Britpop era.
The local five-piece will be playing dates with 90s hit groups Ocean Colour Scene and Dodgy.
Genevieve Parker, songwriter/guitarist John Gillies and co also completed their debut album recently.
More info from www.myspace.com/theconspiratorsuk
1960s cover kings The Diamonds are playing at The Manhattan Club in Harrogate on New Year’s Eve. Tickets costing 10 in advance are available from the club or by phoning 01937 586330.
Fancy dress is being positively encouraged.
LOCAL CD REVIEW
Education: Turbines (single)
The tell-tale sign of a really good song (and songwriter) is what’s left when you strip away most of the instrumental backing.
On Turbines it’s just lead singer Christopher Taylor and an acoustic guitar - oh and a typically catchy little ditty about hypocritical NIMBYs blocking wind farms.
Being far from one-dimensional, Taylor’s cutting lyrics reveal the opponents of progress not to be born and bred rural folk but outsiders who’ve bought property.
It’s another fantastic, midget gem from the acerbic North Yorkshire-based poppy-punky outfit Education.
The lyrics are simply too good for me to waste more space, so here’s part of the song to savour with a glass of wine, very dry, naturally.
“You said the turbines were fine, until you sat down to dine - and you heard them whine.”
For more info visit www.myspace.com/educati0n
Education support Miles Hunt at The Old Courthouse, Thirsk on December 12.
You can also hear them in session on BBC Radio York’s Raw Talent Show on December 4.
FIBBERS in York has a rival thanks for its former owner Tim Hornsby who has opened a new version of his famous Leeds venue The Duchess of York.
This time it’s situated in York, just along from Fibbers in fact.
Among those playing The Duchess are – Tuesday, October 21: Noah & The Whale. Wednesday, October 22: Frank Turner & Chris T-T. Sat, Oct 25: The Datsuns. Tues, Oct 28: Jackie-O Mother******. Fri, Oct 31: The Lurkers plus Vice Squad.
As for the location, it’s very, very near to Fibbers.
For tickets, tel 08700 600 100 or visit www.theduchessyork.co.uk
THE Eggcorns, that great young Black Keys-influenced bluesy-rock outfit who played Charm’s Christmas Party at Monteys in Harrogate last year, have sort of evolved into a new outfit called Idle Maestro.
You can hear one of their new tracks at www.myspace.com/idlemaestro
A NEW Harrogate record label has just released its debut album.
Healing Work is a collection of blues and soul from yesteryear by seasoned local singer Chris Smith of King Ivory Band fame.
Released on Real Emotion Records, this rootsy album features a host of experienced players from the local scene.
Appearing are stalwart guitar sideman Johnny Hardcastle and horns man Harvey Ellison while drumming duties are shared between Chris Duesbury and Dave Armstrong.
Real Emotion Records is an offshoot of True North Studios in Knaresborough, the rehearsal rooms and recording studio which has gone from strength to strength since is opened earlier in the year.
The album will be available online shortly or you can order it by post by telephoning 07916347864.
PATSY Matheson has just released her first solo album called A Little Piece of England following the break-up of popular acoustic supergroup Waking the Witch.
More info from www.patsymatheson.co.uk
ONE of Harrogate’s finest singer-songwriters has completed his third album.
Karl Culley, famed for rapid finger-picking and spellbinding live performances, is hoping to have his new album released officially in the not too distant future.
Culley, who has played live sessions on BBC Radio York, had songs aired on C4's Comedy Lab, and appeared at Beverley and Filey Folk Festivals, has released two albums previously, Demons and I Appear.
More info from www.karlculley.co.uk
YOU might remember a young, powerful rock band called Trigger, who made a bg impression in Harrogate earlier in the decade in the days when the Little Wonder pub on Ripon Road held battles of the bands contests?
Well, not quite as young but possibly even more talented, guitarist/singer/songwriter Graham Parry says the band have been rehearsing together again in preparation for their first live gig in nearly four years.
The date for their ‘comeback’ show has now been announced. It’s Saturday, December 20 at Harrogate Football Club’s ground on Wetherby News (we’re assuming it’s the clubhouse, not the pitch).
Keep up to date with Parry and the boys’ various musical activities at www.webjam/graham_parry
MAJOR Harrogate audio visual installation firm FTAV is organising a big rock show for Christmas.
The first Harrogate Music Mafia Christmas Party will be held on Saturday, December 27 at the Crown Hotel with a full line-up of local bands for a fiver (not forgetting a free curry/chilli!)
Among the acts so far are rock band Knievel, local blues legend Paul Middleton, singer Dan Burnett, the Lucy Mizen Band and more.
The sponsors for the concert are FTAV, Rock Steady Music shop, BASH and Valley House Studios.
IT seems the unfancied Crabtrees pub in Harrogate is definitely making a real effort to turn into a proper ‘rock bar’.
Landlord Dave Townsend is starting to organise bands and rock nights such as Full Metal Racket.
THERE’S another one of those popular Big Band Dance Nights at Harrogate’s Sun Pavilion with Echo Four Two coming up on Tuesday, October 21.
The Harrogate-based outfit play a wide range of swing classics: Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and more.
Tickets £7 from 01423 569817.
AFTER the recent sellout success of their show at the Manhattan Club in Harrogate, local 60s covers kings The Diamonds are making a return engagement. Fans can party into 2009 in fine style when the band play on New Year’s Eve. Tickets costing 10 in advance are available from the club or by phoning 01937 586330.
Fancy dress is being positively encouraged.
FORMER The La’s and Cast star John Power enjoyed his Ripon Show earlier in the year for promoters DMB so much that’s he agreed to come back to the city for a return appearance on Saturday, December 20.
Tickets cost £13 in advance from 01765 609764 or visit www.dmblivemusic.co.uk
MILES Hunt, famed for hits with The Wonder Stuff, is to play a return engagement for North Yorkshire promoters In The Dock.
Two years ago, Hunt and fiddler Erica Nockalls went down a storm in the grand but intimate surroundings of The Old Courthouse in Thirsk.
Now they’re back, as part of a national tour, on Friday, December 12 - and the good news for promoters, if not fans, is it has sold out immediately.
The duo will be performing acoustic versions of old and new Wonder Stuff songs, as well as some of Hunt’s solo material.
Support comes from excellent and literate Morrissey-esque band Education who are also doing a live session on The BBC Radio York Raw Talent Show on December 4.
More info: www.areyoueducated.com/inthedock
