From the producers of Hairspray, Midnight Tango and West Side Story and comes a hilarious feel-good musical featuring Elvis Presley’s greatest hits and starring the award winning and platinum album selling singer Mica Paris. The high-octane cast also includes: Shaun Williamson (Eastenders, Extras), Ben Lewis (Love Never Dies Australia) and Sian Reeves (Emmerdale, Cutting It).
In a small town in 1950s America, a guitar-playing, hip-swivelling stranger rides his motorbike into town. Is he The Devil in Disguise or a Hound Dog in his Blue Suede Shoes? The townsfolk are about to be All Shook Up and could be headed for Heartbreak Hotel, but for Natalie, the love-struck, tomboy mechanic, it really is Now or Never.
Packed with 25 of the best loved songs by The King himself, Love Me Tender, by the writer of the award-wining West End and Broadway smash hit Memphis, is a funny and moving tale of hope, second chances and the healing qualities of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Prepare to have your soul torn apart (and protect other delicate areas of your anatomy) – punk like they don’t make it any more – Denim & Leather
Raw, uncluttered and pure, the rage against the machinery of banality blasts out of this hardcore punk four piece from – as far as can be made out – the Manchester area. Little is known of Denim & Leather and they boast little social media presence, seemingly shunning the dribbling tittle tattle of their contemporaries. For this reviewer, this is a refreshing, but mildly annoying take. Refreshing, because their sublime and hypnotic performance, seen in the bedraggled boudoir that is the The Old Pint Pot ripped apart the room, and shat rock from a great height on those few who bundled into its tatty confines.
Raw genius like this cannot be paraded around social media like a whore on a cheap date of course, and should remain mysterious, liberated from the vacuous lickspittle that being ‘Liked’ entails. But also annoying in that, apart from a well-deserved sweaty embrace and a few words to yours truly, information on their activities is scarce to say the least. A mumbled few words regarding the next appearance appears to suggest that they may be found lurking in the gloriously decrepit Star & Garter supporting other purveyors of pain and purity. Go see them. They will piss acid into your brain until it boils and for dessert will headbutt you in the balls and tear your soul apart. Prepare for violence, prepare for anything – and prepare to be blown away.
Bring Out Your Dead is the latest EP from We Were Lawless, a four-piece rock band from Todmorden who play, in their words, ‘Gutter Blues’. Recorded in their home town this April, these four tracks are the first to feature lead guitarist Sébastien Jean Degorce since he joined singer/guitarist Steve Cullen, bassist Jon Betz, and drummer Dave Foulger at the end of last year.
The first track Darkness opens with a Clash-like dub bass line that’s swiftly joined by a raw punky two-chord riff that underpins the track. Cullen’s gruff vocals are undoubtedly a key feature of the band and that’s made obvious when his unholy mixture of Tom Waits’ gravel-throated rasp and Mark Lanegan’s deep croon looms large on the track. Degorce’s spidery and melodic guitar-work on this track and throughout the EP also calls to mind that of a long-time Waits collaborator, Marc Ribot. A dark tale of the effects of poverty, second track Austerity starts with a twanging indie rock riff not unlike the Arctic Monkeys, albeit heavily sedated. The chorus talks of Austerity, portrayed here as a Grim Reaper style character, visiting upon her unfortunate victims. Unfortunately, what seems like an over-reliance on Cullen’s voice to carry the songs means that the band’s music can sometimes seem a bit anaemic, whereas a bigger and beefier sound would seem to work better with the growling vocals. That bigger sound is present in the third track Hard Reign which kicks in with Josh Homme-like guitar, the crunchy distorted riff propelled along by rumbling bass and drums to a satisfying, shouty chorus. It’s got live favourite written all over it. The last track, Bag Of Chains is a marked departure from the band’s usual sound. The tribal drums and ominous bassline are reminiscent of Joy Division or early Therapy? Steve Cullen’s voice is given plenty of space here and he takes full advantage, from the almost whispered verse in which he talks of having ‘no salvation’ and being ‘riddled in sin’ to the ghostly howl of the chorus. The guitar here remains an eerie presence in the background, all wailing feedback and screaming single notes.
Overall, this EP is a good introduction to a band who have already garnered a great reputation as a live act. You can find this out for yourself at The Blind Pig in Sowerby Bridge on Friday 5th June, and at Jump WMC in Barnsley on Sunday 28th June. These dates and more can be found on the band’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lawlessbanned
Death to the Strange are a staunchly independent band hailing from Salford and Manchester. Their reputation for intelligent songcraft and raucous live performances are making them a firm favourite with music lovers across the board.
The band’s distinctive style spans genres to create an instantly memorable brand of alternative tunes. Fronted by two songwriters, Death to the Strange’s distinct and complementary voices engage social and philosophical issues over sounds ranging from indie to psychedelia to skiffle.
Death to the Strange have a growing list of high profile supports including Babyshambles, Gomez, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, James Walsh of Starsailor and Mark Morriss of the Bluetones, in addtion to an increasing roster of festival appearances at home and abroad, including Kendal Calling and Le Blues autour du Zinc.
Their successful debut single Sign On was accompained by a music video directed by Emmerdale’s Jason Merrells and featuring actors Sammy Winward and Dominic Brunt. Sold-out headline events in Manchester announced the release of the Sign On EP and single.
The gig will be followed by an aftershow party from 11pm – 3am featuring MC Tunes, Vince Vega, Butty & Recca.
All this for just £6 advance. Tickets: Ritz Website
Please note that age limit for the gig is ages 14+ (with under 16s to be accompanied by an adult). The aftershow party is only open to those aged 18+.
The twice Grammy nominated James Hunter is man who time and time again delivers a classic, yet perpetually modern brand of rhythm and blues. Hunter’s career has captivated listeners across generations and earned him two Billboard Blues #1’s, tours with Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Etta James, and Willie Nelson, performances on Leno, Letterman, and Conan, and critical raves everywhere from the NY Times to USA Today.
18th July at 1pm: Walk
WALK is the sequencer blues project of Rik Warren and David Schlechtriemenmay, they may be new on the scene but have already garnered formidable praise from audiences and critics across the UK. The duo have a formidable CV between them: Warren being a founder member of Ernie’s Rhythm Section, Noon and The Halelujah Whip, while Schlechtriemen drums with Driver Drive Faster, The Miserable Rich, Honeyfeet and his own project The Pickpocket Network.
18th July at 7.30pm: Cadillac Kings
The Cadillac Kings are firm favourites on both the blues & the retro scenes, featuring some of the UK’s top blues and roots musicians. Inspired by the sounds and styles of the ‘40s & ‘50s with a distinctly modern take lyric-wise, this is a band with a reputation for wowing their audiences, from intimate clubs to major festivals, from theatres to dance-halls, the length & breadth of the UK & Europe, from the Canaries to Spitzbergen in the arctic circle!
Tickets can be purchased for the whole weekend or for each individual gig: http://botw.ticketline.co.uk
Discounted tickets are available
Venue:
Band on the Wall
25 Swan Street
Manchester M4 5JZ
The Wildhearts are to tour in September, playing the classic P.H.U.Q. album in its entirety.
Support will be from the recently reformed Baby Chaos, and Ginger’s side-project Hey!Hello!
Scruff of the Neck have teamed up with some of Manchester’s best Rock bands to create what promises to be one of the best nights out in August,
Lineup
GORILLA RIOT
“Rock and Roll; no holds barred bluesy, grimy, beer drinking music.” https://www.facebook.com/GorillaRiot Twitter: @GorillaRiotRock
FEDERAL CHARM
“Paving a new path in rock, blues and soul. NME and Classic Rock darlings are making a big impact” http://www.facebook.com/federalcharm
Twitter: @federalcharm
MERCURY FIELD
“Proper rock ‘N’ roll band with fast paced, heart racing 60’s guitar riffs and adrenaline fueled vocals.” https://www.facebook.com/MercuryField?fref=ts
Twitter: @MercuryField
The sky was tipping it down when we turned up to Day One of Puzzfest. There’s only so long a body can bear to stand around in the cold with rain seeping through the canopy, but it was one of those afternoons you were glad you’d ventured out. Pity they didn’t do vegetarian burgers (the meat ones smelt so good) but apart from that, we can’t fault the welcoming atmosphere The Puzzle Hall Inn created in its courtyard. And it’s all for free (apart from the beer) so what’s not to like at this fab little festival!
And it really wasn’t their fault about the weather – the first weekend in May has a duty to be sunny. It says it in statute somewhere. Honest.
The Puzzle Hall’s Beautitudes Acoustic stage may be a very large shed with the front taken off, but it’s finished with doll’s house precision that is intrinsically pleasing.
The Fabulous Duffy Gibbons
When you’re billed as The Fabulous Duffy Gibbons it’s quite a lot to live up to – but this guitar-playing duo were providing great entertainment to an enthusiastic but soggy audience, huddled around the outdoor bar. With lyrics like ‘It’s a long hard road we ride’ and ‘how many more times to ride the carousel?’ the songs provide a mix of stirring, foot stomping stuff and a wistfulness reminiscent of Country music. There’s more than a strong hint of Gypsy blues in this music, and it’s no coincidence that John Duffy also has his own Duffys Gypsy Band.
These guys have the rapport of musicians who are truly comfortable and happy to be performing together. There’s an easy banter between them and the audience, and they joke about having played on this spot at Puzzle Inn Hall ‘since it was an f***ng car park’.
John Duffy and Jon Gibbons have played together for 22 years and met while living in Bradford ‘at a garden party’ (which Jon cheerfully admits isn’t exactly rock ‘n roll). Jon G was making an album at the time and invited John D to do some of the music. As part of the band EgoMania they played across Yorkshire for many years, but more recently moved 300 miles apart and only get to play together on special occasions. ‘But we love coming back to Yorkshire,’ Jon says. ‘You get the best audiences around here.’
And the audience at PuzzFest was certainly pleased to see them. For a cold afternoon it was uplifting, exhilarating and downright enjoyable.
Read about Egomania in Bradford’s Noise of the Valleys: Volume 2: A History of Bradford Rock and Pop 1988 -1998 Paperback – 19 Nov 2013 by Gary Cavanagh and Matt Webster
It’s a Long Hard Road We Ride is taken from the 1994 Album, Paris or New Orleans, by Egomania, which both Duffy and Gibbons were both part of.
Paul Straws
Next on in the rain was Paul Straws – who was replacing The Treated. Paul’s website describes him as ‘a multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter from Liverpool. He plays Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele, and Piano, though not at the same time..’. but on this day he only had a guitar on stage with him – and some pretty sophisticated material for creating FX.
Paul took the time to explain to his audience that he created his sound by recording his voice and playing ‘in real time, and then playing this back … adding extra layers with my voice and harmonies, so the song builds’.
This female reviewer was rather charmed by Mr Straws’ clarity of voice, his thoughtful lyrics (‘She says I don’t think I matter… I say I can’t go to sleep without you in the room’) and his baby-faced, ruffle-haired good looks – but my male companion wasn’t quite so impressed. He found the whole performance little more than a clever technical exercise, and Paul’s use of ‘looping’ certainly left some unresolved questions about how you define ‘live music’.
The last band we caught before the cold drove us home was Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies. And very glad we were too that we stayed for them, because it was their refrain ‘There’s a river, there’s a river..’ (from the song of the same name) which earwormed us both on the return journey.
Harry of Harry Bird and the Rubber Wellies
We fell in love with Harry’s infectious grin when we first spotted him carrying a piece of equipment in his mouth (because his arms were full) and stopped him for a photo and a quick chat. Harry’s sunny disposition transferred seamlessly to the stage and together with band member Christopher Capewell, they created a good old-fashioned bit of ‘Summer of Love’ feel in the Spring greyness of Sowerby Bridge. Describing themselves as a ‘travelling folk band’ these guys (who have a base in Sheffield) sing about grubs emerging into butterflies, being evicted from your squat and a lot of ‘love, love love’, with an open-hearted honesty and joy that was truly infectious. You could almost say they were giving it real welly (but we aren’t that trite).
Christopher Capewell
The guys play a plethora of instrument: Harry wields a much-loved guitar pasted with CND stickers, a gazoo and mouth organ, and Christopher proves himself versatile on violin, and a natty little mini-keyboard thing that he blows into with a pipe.
The people behind us were sneering about the band’s similarity to ‘Blues and Bob Dylan’ but the rest of the audience seemed happy enough to be carried along on this catchy, life-affirming stream of late 60s/early 70s pyschedelia meets blues and folk combination.
