IndependenTs Day at the Fringe

It was a hot night at Kings Arms on stage and off at IndependenTs Day; the "What's The Alternative?..." acoustic special for Greater Manchester Fringe, ending with a grand finale of everyone singing Sympathy For The Devil in a completely unrehearsed and spontaneous closing shot.

The Speed Of Sound opened proceedings with an acoustic drum-less set

Love,
The Wargame,
Seen It All Before,
Day In Day Out
and
returned three hours later for the finale.

Troy Fridge played his first Manchester gig for 25 years and delighted with his beautifully quirky Diana's Kiss about building a time machine to visit Diana Rigg in 1966 and Wishing Boy... a song so memorable that it reminded Jason Edge he'd seen Troy at The Witchwood in 1989

and a rare treat as Rob Coleman was coaxed out of his reclusive-ness to play 
Luke Gallagher performed songs from his forthcoming EP as well as starting his set with the highly appropriate choice of Heatwave followed by Richie Syrett's remarkable blend of Anglicania 

 

Una Baines and her current band Poppycock gave a completely eclectic set ranging from flute driven incense powered floating gossamer lightness to jungle rhythm fuzz drenched menace.

 

Jason Edge of The Electric Stars did a solo set (partly accompanied by Louise Turner on backing vocals) giving an airing to new songs from the as yet unreleased second album as well as stripped away versions of Stoned Again and Isolation from the first.

Turner performed her own set with just piano accompaniment including new songs from her imminent debut album before the grand finale closed the night. Spectacular. A whole festival packed into one evening. And certainly in the words of The Electric Stars it was Beautiful Music For Beautiful People.

 
If you missed the acoustic special the electric Triple Bill is 25th July also at the Kings Arms.

Electric Easter

Easter Saturday sees the next 'What's The Alternative?...' as The Electric Stars visit, and play their first gig of the year, they will be unleashing a selection of new songs for their second album so this is an exclusive, a chance to hear them first.

and, if you want to hear a preview there's a radio interview and session here

Live with Bone Box and a borrowed drummer

it was a Fab gig with Bone Box on Saturday, as their frontman Jay Taylor said "we had a blast". Great sound from KingsArms again and MASSIVE Thanks to Jonathan French of The Electric Stars for sitting in on drums for us while we're looking for a new drummer. He did a superb job.

Set List:

The Wargame
Uhrwerk
Checkered Land
Sit by The River
Girl On The Roof
Love
Maid Of The Grey
Day In Day Out
There's No One There

Bone Box did a terrific set, a seven piece band with brass too, ace to see them in such an intimate setting - big thanks to them and to everyone that was there; we're back in three weeks with The Electric stars as our next guest. Catch us if you can