Stone Christmas lights switch-on looking for acts

Stoke of Genius:

Local bands and performers have the opportunity to perform at Stone's Christmas lights switch-on on Thursday 14 November.

Organisers Stone Town Council are on the lookout for local musicians who want to perform at the festive event which will also feature a funfair in the town centre.

Last year's acts included Phoenix, Stone singer-songwriter Ben Owen, the Stone Combined Schools Choir and Beggaz Belief.

Any charities and businesses that would like to get involved are encouraged to get in touch.

To get involved contact Claire Shaw at the town council on 01785 619 740 or email claire.shaw@stonetowncouncil.org.uk.

Pop-rockers Franz Ferdinand to tour fourth album

Franz Ferdinand - Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action

Welsh rockers Franz Ferdinand will be touring the UK with nine dates in March 2014.

Following the release of fourth album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, the four-piece will be hitting the road to visit cities including Birmingham, London and Glasgow.

The album has been generally well-received and achieved an impressive sixth position on the UK album chart.

See the list of UK tour dates here:

Mar 14 – Roundhouse, London
Mar 17 – Brighton Dome, Brighton
Mar 18 – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol
Mar 19 – Southampton Guildhall, Southampton
Mar 21 – O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham
Mar 22 – Manchester Academy, Manchester
Mar 25 – Barrowland, Glasgow
Mar 26 – O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds
Mat 27 – O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle

Tickets go on sale on Friday (Sep 13) at 9am and can be bought from See Tickets.

Disclosure announce 2014 tour dates

Disclosure - Settle

Electronic-pop duo Disclosure have announced three UK dates for March 2014.

The chart-toppers will perform at three highly-regarded venues in Edinburgh, Manchester and London.

Four top 20 singles, including 'White Noise' and 'You and Me', and debut number one album Settle has seen brothers, Guy and Howard Lawrence, rise to fame this summer.

The group will be hoping to be nominated on Wednesday (Sep 11) for this year's Mercury Music Prize 2013.

Mar 5 – Corn Exchange Edinburgh, Edinburgh
Mar 6 – O2 Apollo, Manchester
Mar 8 – Alexandra Palace, London

Tickets go on sale on Thursday (Sep 12) at 9am and can be bought from See Tickets.

Junction 16 festival delights thousands in Crewe

Stoke of Genius:

The Junction 16 festival at Crewe's Betley Court Farm saw an array of musical talent across a fun-packed weekend (Aug 9-11).

The legendary Status Quo began the three-day festival on Friday, while Signal Radio celebrated 30 years with a day of pop music on Saturday, with Happy Mondays closing the weekend on Sunday.

Popular Saturday acts included rapper Professor Green, boy band Blue, XFactor's Union J and chart-topping headliners Lawson.

Fan-favourites Union J – still awaiting their debut release in October – received the stand-out reception from a crowd dominated with signs and screams for the highly-anticipated boy group.

The weekend brought local people of all ages together for a range of music from across the ages.

Celebrating its 40^th year, the Douglas Macmillan Hospice was the benefitting charity for the weekend.

The charity's Head of Fundraising, Liz Clarke, said: “We would like to thank all of our supporters who have purchased tickets for the Junction 16 concerts from all of our shops across North Staffordshire.

“The response has been overwhelming, and clearly the Junction 16 concerts will be days that everyone attending will never forget.”

The money raised from the donation will help the Hospice to continue to care for local people of North Staffordshire facing life limiting illnesses.

Other acts on the bill included Mungo Jerry and Peter Hook and the Light supporting on Friday and Sunday respectively.

John Newman, Lucy Spraggan, Amelia Lily, The Loveable Rogues, Charlie Brown, Nina Nesbitt and Stoke-on-Trent's Ollie Marland were amongst the upcoming stars on the Saturday.

Photography courtesy of Jovi Mullen

Sugarmill wins NME Best Small Midlands Venue third-time running

Stoke of Genius:

Stoke-on-Trent's Sugarmill is celebrating the accolade of becoming NME's Best Small Venue in the Midlands for the third time in a row.

The famous Hanley venue is also in the running to win the national title for the first time.

Unlike the two previous years, the 2013 award will be decided by a public vote rather than a panel of judges.

Promoter Danni Brownsill, 26, said: "We are always overwhelmed by the support we get from our gig-goers and how they always take time to vote for us, it means an awful lot. 

"We’d love to win the national title. We at The Sugarmill work hard to keep Stoke on the musical map. Without our loyal supporters and the people who attend our shows, we can’t function. 

"We are coming up for our 20th anniversary and we simply would not be here without them."

The past year has seen the talents of Kate Nash, The Pigeon Detectives, Funeral For a Friend and Latitude Festival headliner Foals grace the stage.

The nightclub has previously featured world-famous acts such as Muse, Coldplay and Kasabian.

"Prestigious bands, up and coming bands and local bands love playing here, not only for our rich and varied show history, but because of our great audience," added Danni.

"Our venue belongs to the people of Stoke, and I hope for them we can win this national title and show the nation that Stoke has a great music scene."

The winning national venue will host a special winners show, featuring a yet to be announced main stage festival headliner on June 24.

Vote for The Sugarmill to win NME's national award. The winner will be announced on June 4.

First Battle of the Bands competition proves a success

Stoke of Genius:

More than 100 music lovers packed into the K2 Club at Keele University Student’s Union on Saturday (May 11) for the first ever Battle of the Bands competition.

Derby band Take Her To Athena won studio recording time at Crank Recording Studios based in Stoke.

The event saw audience members able to vote for the winning band by an X-Factor style text vote.

The Battle of the Bands competition was the first event to be organised by Nevermore Events, founded by Newcastle-under-Lyme couple Tony and Stephanie Talbot, and run with their son, Joe.

Stephanie said: “We’re all absolutely delighted with how the competition went and the high standard of all the bands who took part – I can honestly say no one who came along on Saturday night would have gone home disappointed.

“I would also like to say a big thank you to those who came on behalf of the Alice Charity, as their support has meant the competition has raised more than £50 which will help go towards helping families all over the area.”

Second place went to Naked Sunday, a Stafford based rock trio, who opened the show spectacularly.

Other bands who took part in the competition include Stoke punk rock band Easy Target, Staffordshire metalcore band As Empires Burn, Scar the Crow from Penkridge and Stoke rock band Suburban Radio.

Nevermore Events will host their next music event – Teenage Kicks – which is aimed at teenagers aged 13-17 – at the Kings Hall on July 12.

The DJ club night will take place from 7-11pm and will include a specialist light show and a live text feed for gig-goers which will run on a big screen during the night.

For tickets and more information go to Nevermore Events.

Stoke of Genius to host night of live music

Stoke of Genius:

Stoke of Genius has announced the arrival of its first night of live local music.

The new home of music in Stoke-on-Trent will host the event at the BAD EDIT Venue in Burslem next Friday (May 10).

It will feature the likes of headliners the Sherry Counsellors and support acts Jesse's Divide, Daniel John Marsden and Helena Raby.

BAD EDIT Creative Director Michael Holdcroft said: "Stoke of Genius have such a great knowledge and relationship with the music scene in and around Stoke-on-Trent, it only made sense for them to put on a night of their own.

"We are happy that they will make the BAD EDIT venue their own and look forward to seeing their genius shine.

"This one is going to be a cracker."

The rising Burslem venue opened last August and has since worked with a wide range of musicians from the local area and around the country.

Guitarist Matt Lewis of the Sherry Counsellors said: "It's been a few months since we've played locally and this is at a new venue so it will be nice doing another local gig and seeing some local faces down there.

"I'd probably class what we do as indie/rock but we do try and make every song a little bit different."

Doors open for the 18+ event at 8pm and the venue will remain open until 1.30am.

Advance tickets are £4 and are available from Stoke of Genius founder, Maanik Chadda, on 07765635065, by email at info@stokeofgenius.co.uk or via Facebook or Twitter for discount deals on tickets.

Matt also spoke of the local music scene in Stoke-on-Trent.

"There are some good bands out there. I would say the better stuff is probably more underground."

Watch below to see Stoke of Genius in Hanley City Centre, asking:What are you listening to Stoke?

Assistance from Noel Philips on camera.

Organiser: Festival will bring 'Buzz' to Burslem

Stoke of Genius:

By Nsofwa Kangwa

The Burslem Festival will bring a buzz to the area over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Organisers are hoping that a blend of art, music, food and crafts will draw in the crowds.

“Times have been hard for Burslem,” organiser Michael Stanier explained.

“We just want the festival to bring a fresh buzz to the town.

“The Port vale celebration is also another reason for locals to celebrate the achievement of the mother town.”

The festival will take place on The Swan Square on Saturday May 4, where visitors will be able to experience food and crafts markets produced by the Burslem School of Arts.

On Sunday and Monday (May 5 and 6), performers will include singer The Rebellion, The Get Alongs and British guitarist Simon Townshend.

To find out more information on the Burslem Festival visit the Facebook event page here.

New Battle of the Bands event comes to Staffordshire

Take Her To Athena

Stoke of Genius:

By Mark McGowan

A new Battle of the Bands event is coming to Staffordshire.

The competition will take place on May 11 at the K2 Club at Keele University’s Students’ Union.

Starting at 7pm and going on until 2am, the event will see a range of local bands take to the stage to compete for the top prize of studio recording time.

The contest is being organised by Nevermore Events, a live music events company which has been founded by Newcastle-under-Lyme couple Tony and Stephanie Talbot.

“This is the first of many events we will be putting on, as the idea behind it all is to make live music more accessible,” Stephanie explained.

“We want to bring it to different venues throughout the city at an affordable price and raise funds for the Alice Charity.”

Bands taking part include:

• Easy Target
• As Empires Burn
• Naked Sunday
• Take Her To Athena
• Scare The Crow
• Suburban Radio

Tickets to the event are £6 and are on sale from 01782 734241 or by visiting Nevermore.ticketsource.co.uk.

Stoke-on-Trent stores to celebrate Record Store Day

Stoke of Genius:

By Maanik Chadda, Video: Sam Hill + Noel Philips

Hundreds of music fans will flock to Music Mania and other stores in Stoke-on-Trent for Record Store Day tomorrow (April 20).

The international event, originated in USA, has been running since 2007 and was created to encourage music lovers to shop at their local record store.

Music Mania will be the hub of the action at Hanley’s Piccadilly Arcade; with fans coming to the store to get their hands on new vinyl’s and CDs from well-known artists such as David Bowie and Pulp.

Music Mania manager Ian Gadsby said: "It really highlights to people that record stores still exist, a lot of people thought there weren’t any left in the country."

The shop will host local acts including Alfa 9, Vellocet, Aaron Mobberley, Giro Junkie and Camp Stag.

Ian added: "It's great fun for existing customers and new ones; they can get their hands on limited edition vinyl’s and we just try to have fun."

Indie act Camp Stag are releasing a limited run of 50 copies of EP When The Lights Come Down, available as a CD in a handmade sleeve along with a spray painted lightbulb.

Guitarist Dan Nixon of Camp Stag said: "Any excuse to get out and play is great, but something like RSD is really awesome to be apart of.

"I worked at Music Mania for a while so I have very close ties to the place. We all love the place and independent record stores in general, so RSD is a big deal for us."

In association with Rubber Soul Records, The Old Brown Jug in Newcastle-under-Lyme will be hosting an all-day event of music featuring local artists such as Nicola Jayne Chirnside and Clair Brennan and Manchester folk band Naymedici.

Robert Barrs of Rubber Soul Records said: "We will be having about six traders at our gig at the Jug which will have people performing until 1am.

"People should be queuing from early and we will have free things to give out so we're really looking forward to it."

Jack White, ambassador for Record Store Day 2013, is giving US residents the chance to record their own vinyl record at Nashville's Third Man Records.

Global Groove Records in Hanley will be open especially for tomorrow from 10am-4pm.

Music Mania and Rubber Soul Records will be open from 8am with acts performing from 12pm.

Watch below to see Stoke of Genius visit Music Mania:

Fozzy to co-headline The Underground

Stoke of Genius:

Chris Jericho spoke to Stoke of Genius ahead of his band's appearance at The Underground in Hanley today (April 18).

The WWE wrestler is the frontman of American band Fozzy, who are currently on a joint-headline tour with Drowning Pool.

The bands headline 12 UK dates before three further performances in France, Germany and Austria, all featuring support from Welsh rockers Revoker.

Fozzy is made up of lead vocalist Chris Jericho, Rich Ward and Billy Grey on guitar, Paul Di Leo on bass and drummer Frank Fontsere.

Listen to the interview with the international superstar here:

The songs featured in the interview are 'Dark Passenger' and 'Sin and Bones'.

You can buy tickets from Music Mania in Hanley.

Drowning Pool return to headline Hanley's Underground

Stoke of Genius: 

American rock group Drowning Pool come to The Underground this Thursday (April 18) for a much-anticipated return.

The four-piece return to the UK after five years following the release of their fifth album, Resilience, released on Tuesday (April 9).

They will be supported by wrestler Chris Jericho's Fozzy and, also, Revoker.

The band headline 12 UK dates before three further performances in France, Germany and Austria.

Drowning Pool is made up of frontman Jason Moreno, CJ Pierce on guitar, Stevie Benton on bass and drummer Mike Luce, with everyone contributing to the vocals.

Listen to the interview with guitarist CJ Pierce:

We also caught up with lead singer Jason Moreno:

The songs featured are 'One Finger And A Fist' and 'Die For Nothing' from new album Resilience.

You can buy tickets from Music Mania in Hanley.

Sugarmill aim to be NME's Best Small Venue

Stoke of Genius:

NME are looking to crown the Best Small Venue in Britain and Stoke-on-Trent's The Sugarmill is in the running.

In association with JD Roots, NME opened voting for the third annual competition on April 2.

Following The Sugarmill's two consecutive triumphs for the Best Small Venue in the Midlands, the Hanley nightclub is looking to improve on the accolade and pick up the national title.

Sugarmill promoter Danni Brownsill said: “We won all the heats that were voted for (last year), so that meant the world to us to know that people supported us so much.

“Our customers are amazingly dedicated and are as passionate about The Sugarmill as their local venue as we are.

“We aren't some faceless corporation, we are a small independent business, and we treat out customers like family, and they respond to that."

As well as having hosted upcoming Latitude headliners Foals and UK chart toppers The View in November, this spring will see the likes of Kate Nash, The Pigeon Detectives and Dog Is Dead perform at the prestigious venue.

The Sugarmill must win the regional title again to be apart of the 2013 national shortlist.

“We are what we are and do what we do because of them as much as we work hard, we are nothing without them," added Danni.

“I think we're incredibly lucky to have such a passionate music scene in Stoke, especially as we are a small city. The fact that bands with a big profile want to come and play here is a testament to our great crowd."

The Stoke music scene has seen a great rise with the likes of local talents such as All The Young, Camp Stag and Six Towns.

“I personally believe that it is the smaller venues which are the heart and soul of the UK live music scene.

“Every band has to cut their teeth on this circuit, every city has a venue like this, where people see their first shows, where people who share a passion for music get together and enjoy it collectively.”

Tunbridge Wells Forum in Kent won the accolade last year and Glasgow's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut took the 2011 title.

Fans can vote for any performance space or gig room with a capacity of 500 and under.

To vote for your favourite venue visit the NME website. The overall winner will be announced in June.

Top Stoke acts compete for festival spot

Stoke of Genius:

The Stoke-on-Trent heat for Blissfields Festival 2013 comes to The Sugarmill today (April 5).

Five local acts will aim to impress the judges for a place at the third annual UK finals on May 6 at Surya in London.

Delamere, Faux Feet, Psyence, The Ruby Dukes and Troops of Mafeking will compete to perform on the Thursday night of the festival.

Delamere guitarist Ash Egerton, 27, said: "We are very much looking forward to it, it will be great to play alongside some of the best bands in stoke.

"It's tough to describe our style of music. We really struggle to give it a style, it's somewhere in the alternative indie category. 

"Our influences are Local Natives, Radiohead, Foals, The Temper Trap and Everything Everything."

Acts wanting to participate entered themselves into the competition and were then chosen by the organisers.

Since its formation in 2001, Blissfields has featured current Glastonbury headliners Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Super Furry Animals and will this year host Mystery Jets and Bastille.

Twenty-four-year old Samuel Woolley of Troops of Mafeking said: "We always look forward to a Sugarmill gig and there are some great bands on too!

"Our music is always a tricky one to describe. Firstly, we're pretty loud. But I guess we're just a mixture of alternative-rock, indie, heavy stuff, punk, quiet, loud and the odd hip-hop beat thrown in. 

"We like people to make their own minds up about us."

The Judges on the night will be Alex Thomson of Blissfields, Steve Dale of Music Mania, Rob Adcock of BBC Introducing from Stoke and Dave Knapper of The Sentinel.

The musicians spoke of their chances of reaching the final.

"I would say our chances are around the 20% mark! We are up against a really good group of bands," added Ash.

Lead vocalist and guitarist Samuel said: "With these sort of competitions it could be anyone, there are so many different factors. Plus we're up against some good bands, the pressure is on!

"We'll just go out there and do what we do and see what happens."

Delamere released their debut singles 'Heart' and 'Vampire' earlier this year.

Troops have recently recorded their EP at the UTC Studio and new single 'Chugg Norris' will be available for free download tomorrow.

Blissfields Festival takes place at Vicarage Farm in Winchester on July 5-7.

The Stoke Heat is at The Sugarmill tonight from 7.30pm. It is a 14+ event and tickets are £5 on the door.