Subculture

News and more news.  
Use the messageboard (link below) to tell us your news/your gigs...

----------------------------------------------------------
LATEST NEWS:

News coming out of our ears this week - so thanks to all of you for the supply (you know who you are).   Keep the bits coming

Some Gigs WE Like The Look Of...            

• 12th December: S.O.S. (Sounds of Stafford) - Stafford's new Winter Music Festival - @ Legends Bar, Staffordshire University. Eight bands including The Lines, New Education, Silent Riot!, Everything On Red
• Saturday 19th December at White Star, Stoke: We Like Danger Records night, with lots of lo-fi other-wordly stuff. Magic
• 19th Dec: Sworn to Oath at The Sugarmill, Hanley.  Welcome back you bad boys...
• Saturday 19th December: local boys The E-Go’s at the Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton. (Welcome home lads....!)
• Wed Dec 23rd at Full Moon, Newcastle - Xmas Special with The Jalapenos... the perfect party band. Two quid on the door, with bar till 2am.
• January 8th: Wrongpop vs Noisestar Extravaganza at Fat Cats, Hanley (see www.myspace.com/wrongpoppresent)

---

It's a ska ska Xmas

TNS Records wrote to us to remind that there ARE alternative Xmas pressies out there. The not-for-profit punk and ska label (based in Manchester) have a new release - out on Sunday 6th December - a 10 track, three-way split EP with three ska-core bands from the North West.  
Local interest comes from the fact that Sense of Urgency from Stoke are one of the outfits.
Now.. where's my Xmas wish-list?

Jamit Anti-Racism party

Lots of fresh new local faces will be taking the opportunity to showcase their musical ability (alongside national Radio DJs and Top Ten artists) on 19th December at the end of year Jamit party at the Touch Club in Hanley.
Hip-hop and rapping will be the main flavour of the night, but indie-rock bands will be in the mix too.
It's time to mix with the stars too.  Among acts booked are Mistajam from BBC 1 Extra, Gracious K (performing 'Migraine Skank'), Lil Nasty and Griminal.

And, as it is the season of awards, best-of-the-year stuff, the Unity staffers have joined in by putting together their contribution.   Among all the frivolities and acts appearing will be the 2009 Awards in: Band of The Year; MC of The Year; DJ of The Year. 

Who's up for an award...?  Here be the list of finalists...
MCs:   Harri Gee, Dizzy Dee, Niko, Vitz, Immortal, Bobby J, D Con, NV    
DJs:  DJ Feisty, Live O, DJ Magnum, DJ Mitch Green, DJ M Dot
Bands:  The Liaisons, Jo EE T, Butterfly Hazard, The Fortunas 

For more, go to  http://www.unitystoke.co.uk. 
The night's proceeds will go to Unity's 'favourite' charities - Love Music Hate Racism and The Donna Louise Trust.

New babes on the block

Alex Canner's baby - the Wired Night in Burton - has been born/launched with a bang, we are glad to report, and Alex (of The High Life Scenery - now RIP) promises unsigned showcases every two weeks in the capital of East Staffordshire, aka Marmite City.
He says: "The premise is easy to grasp - there's so much fantastic undiscovered local talent round here.  It wasn't intentional, I was busy whoring my own band at the time, but it all kind of fell into my lap".
See www.myspace.com/wiredmidlands

Talking of babes, the SubCulture god that is Matt Lee has had another sprog. Welcome to Aden.
PS - Matt's tip to new fathers... "JD can get the dada a good night's sleep (when it's his turn of course)..."

Music music everywhere

Yet MORE venues supporting local music ... now it's the turn of the new music-pub The Winking Frog (used to be The Bandstand) in Hanley.
Even though it's only recently opened, it has a battle of the bands running already featuring geezers like Laid to Ruin, Fake Heroes and What Would the Captain Do in the running.  Check it out on MySpace

Chrissie pressies

Yes, what better for the grandma in your life than a new release from a local band? 
Tequila Lips told us all about the preparations for their new CD on the show - but what's for sure is that the single, Crystal Ball is out on Nov 21st, with the digital release (including iTunes) on the 23rd.  Granny would love it.
She might even like I.C.O.N's debut album, New Born Lie.  Or, being as it's full-blooded heavy-metal, maybe not....

Play by numbers

Thanks to Stafford's Ford Squad who told us this tid-bit about Inertia, one of the bands they promote:-

"... with 4th member Dan Price (piano, guitar, harmonica, vocals, moral) currently working abroad, Inertia have adapted by carrying on and emailing Dan the songs for him to play along with at his own leisure - in the hope that he may one day return."  
That's band-loyalty for you!

Moon Rising

Best news of the week is that Matt (who runs the Oxford Arms gigs) is behind the re-opening of The Full Moon, in Newcastle, as a proper music pub again.  Friday 30th October was OPENING NIGHT with indie and rock music until 2am (£2 entry).
Keep up with what's going on by seeking out the Facebook group “We’re Bringing Back the Full Moon”.  (PS Does no one use myspace anymore?  ...bring on Soundcloud!)

Sign up! Join in!

Jane at the Blythe Inn at Kingstone (tiny place near Uttoxeter, but music-committed) is thinking of of a Battle of The Bands.  If you fancy it, have a look at www.theblytheinn.org.uk

Also, Alex from 'O'Ceallacain Promotions' is promoting local bands, and booking at The Victoria Hotel in Stoke (for the 'Tuesday Night Overdose'). Throw him a track or two - www.myspace.com/oceallacainpromotions
Also in Stoke town, 'The Famous Lion' are looking for bands- email famous@ygpc.co.uk if you are interested.
Good time to be in a band!

Anything else you can tell us?

Dave's a hero

Dave Hamer - Mauskramp meister - persuaded the Sugarmill to give Burton-based ‘Another Rhythm Jesus’ a slot ... and Charlotte from the 'Stoke Sounds' site swooned over them. She said in her review: "Melding jazz rhythms with an edge of (somewhat tongue in cheek) Sonic Youth, they presented a timeless set of music."  We think that means she approved of Dave's choice.

Fluff Fest 2009

Emma Cole sent us a mini-review and a load of photos from the Fluff Fest in Burslem, which celebrated the life of super Punk, Neal 'Fluff' Evans. Check it out here:-

• Next