Music in Stafford - What do you want?...

Jheych

Wasps - feel my wrath!
Blimey that seemed to wake people up! lol

yep agree .. MSK are very good act seen them many a time

The MET revamp? - didnt know about that , will have to check it aaat

Think there is a plan for someone to try and organise something ( original poster) so lobbed in some ideas to help them .

P&A - again been many times , but tis after all a pub , a good one but still a pub

what the town needs is not a pub or bar , but somewhere abit larger to organse proper gigs in . If other places like wolves can do it then why the hell not here ?

or is it something to do with the council /noise issue?

just thoughts anyway ..
 

Admin

You there; behave!
Staff member
Jheych said:
The MET revamp? - didnt know about that , will have to check it aaat
See the nice, colourful banner which has been at the top of the Useful Links section for the last few weeks. :)
 

Jheych

Wasps - feel my wrath!
Lol..oh aye admin ..there it is look ..

Dunno about location there must be some building around the right size?
Whats happening to the old council buildings?
Or the old leisure centre ?
I have no clue to be honest but something on the scale of the little civic would be ideal I reckon

or

um I dunno ..

theory being "if you build it they will come" I suppose
things are possible with the right ideas, and of course the right amount of cash I reckon
So I'm all for it , if anyone does it of course
 

70-plus

Well-Known Forumite
There was an attempt about 2007 by the County Council to create an "Arts Space" using Tipping Street site, or other sites. It was pursued by the Music Department and Maureen Compton, the then Councillor for Culture. There was opposition to this both from people in Stafford and some councillors who didn't want it to go to Stafford. However, it was still being pursued up until 2009 but elections meant it was stopped. I think cost is the problem. The Music Department now have the old Trinity Church near the Police Station where there is a room (the old church) but it is not very big.
There is still, I believe, a Music Festival in Stafford but there are always problems with venues so I am told. I saw in the newspaper that Eric of Guitar & Son was organising some gigs in pubs.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
You could listen to Jake and Eric on http://www.super-radio.co.uk/ between six and eight on a Tuesday evening to hear what's going on on the local scene.
 

johnny come lately

Well-Known Forumite
The MET club looks like a good little venue. I think it is being used primarily as a comedy club but noticed a couple of gigs - if you call Manchester Camarata a 'gig' - and Cartoon Kings are also advertised. Maybe there is room to expand the musical offering.
 

Jenksie

Well-Known Forumite
Withnail said:
Jenksie said:
push local talent - if there is any.

I'm afraid I aint seen much of that.
^ Mauskramp are the mutts nuts - go see for yourself.
Mutts Nutts! Are you sure?

Far be it for me to belittle anyone who is having a go - all credit to them for getting out there but I've just checked out the MySpace page (and that of 'the Main stem') and you would surely agree they are ploughing a pretty narrow furrow? Loops, Ambient grooves?
Afraid I wouldn't pay £10 to watch - maybe the price of a pint. would Students? Anyone over 30?

Where are the Groups?, songwriters? Musicians? Red Hot Percussionists, Drummers. Keyboards and Bassists?
No reason why Stafford has to have brill talent any more than Lincoln or York does - we are not like Manchester, Liverpool or London. There is no real heritage.
 

Jenksie

Well-Known Forumite
Wormella said:
Where would you put it, your mythical music venue?
It's only mythical until somebody says it's real.

If I was a Promoter I'd look at a town centre pub. I've seen good bands at Rangers, GEC club down Riverway even the old Riverside centre and the County Showground (Led Zep - played there I think) but they are too far out for a Friday gig these days. Got to be a walk or bus/cycle ride away.

The Bird - The Prince of Wales - Shrewsbury Arms - Albion (bit on the edge but quite a scene a few years back) - Pie&Ale (great size upstairs when it was the Surgery but too much Rock covers) - Grapes - they've all had bands - it's pushing it and creating the vibe. Finding an audience. Permanent PA and Lights to help bands.
Small stage maybe.
Self contained bar would be ideal.

Fantastic disco of classy cross genre music not mash up bollocks. I remember standing in the Robin last year and before the band came on the DJ played Shot by Both Sides, Uptown Top Ranking, Spanish Stroll, Rockaway Beach, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, Don't fear the Reaper, Gangsters, Denis denis* - sounded stunning hearing that stuff live through a massive PA - really puts one in the mood for proper music.

*Ask your grandad.....
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
Jenksie said:
Mutts Nutts! Are you sure?

Far be it for me to belittle anyone who is having a go - all credit to them for getting out there but I've just checked out the MySpace page ...
I've only heard them play live - and they are a jolly good live act.
 

benny upsetter

i am not emotional
Jenksie said:
Withnail said:
Jenksie said:
push local talent - if there is any.

I'm afraid I aint seen much of that.
^ Mauskramp are the mutts nuts - go see for yourself.
Mutts Nutts! Are you sure?

Far be it for me to belittle anyone who is having a go - all credit to them for getting out there but I've just checked out the MySpace page (and that of 'the Main stem') and you would surely agree they are ploughing a pretty narrow furrow? Loops, Ambient grooves?
Afraid I wouldn't pay £10 to watch - maybe the price of a pint. would Students? Anyone over 30?

Where are the Groups?, songwriters? Musicians? Red Hot Percussionists, Drummers. Keyboards and Bassists?
No reason why Stafford has to have brill talent any more than Lincoln or York does - we are not like Manchester, Liverpool or London. There is no real heritage.
hi Jenksie, unfortunately the Main Stem Myspace is probably not a fair representation of what you will get fromus on the night. The forthcoming album is a vocal based affair which by the few select people who have heard it has been compared to inxs, early floyd, talking heads to name but a few. i think it has fleetwood mac in there too. i agree that the 10 minute long country cosmothon that you hear on myspace probably isn't that accessible but i assure you the norwegians love it. that track however was cut 3 years ago, unfortunately we don't have permission yet off the record label to upload songs (as to eliminate stuff getting out on to blogs etc too early). i'm working on it today though ;)
 

benny upsetter

i am not emotional
benny upsetter said:
Jenksie said:
Withnail said:
^ Mauskramp are the mutts nuts - go see for yourself.
Mutts Nutts! Are you sure?

Far be it for me to belittle anyone who is having a go - all credit to them for getting out there but I've just checked out the MySpace page (and that of 'the Main stem') and you would surely agree they are ploughing a pretty narrow furrow? Loops, Ambient grooves?
Afraid I wouldn't pay £10 to watch - maybe the price of a pint. would Students? Anyone over 30?

Where are the Groups?, songwriters? Musicians? Red Hot Percussionists, Drummers. Keyboards and Bassists?
No reason why Stafford has to have brill talent any more than Lincoln or York does - we are not like Manchester, Liverpool or London. There is no real heritage.
hi Jenksie, unfortunately the Main Stem Myspace is probably not a fair representation of what you will get fromus on the night. The forthcoming album is a vocal based affair which by the few select people who have heard it has been compared to inxs, early floyd, talking heads to name but a few. i think it has fleetwood mac in there too. i agree that the 10 minute long country cosmothon that you hear on myspace probably isn't that accessible but i assure you the norwegians love it. that track however was cut 3 years ago, unfortunately we don't have permission yet off the record label to upload songs (as to eliminate stuff getting out on to blogs etc too early). i'm working on it today though ;)
no heritage? crikey that's a statement and a half!!!!!!
 

nhtpromo

Well-Known Forumite
Wow, this is turning into a really interesting discussion.
There's so much input and opinion - it's great to see people talking about live music and what it is that they want to see/hear.

There are certainly a lot of 'venues' that cater for the students and general 18 - 30s crowds in town, primarily because they're generally the ones that are generating the demand.


We've heard a lot of people talking about the new MET studio. We're off to have a look in the next few days - we'd love to establish a monthly event down there if the environment is right - something that caters for both live performance along with a visual element.

Keep discussing - Your ideas and input are excellent!
 

db

#chaplife
i was just saying to andreas t'other day, as much stick as we have given couture for their terrible website/email address/mailshots/etc, you certainly can't fault them for giving the kids what they want..

they have had some pretty big names there already, and the latest email from them says that on 25th september they've got sub focus, emalkay, modestep, etc. - all on the one night!

back when we used to go to "the bag" (as it was affectionately known back then), it was the same old shit night after night.. i honestly can't ever remember there being a big name there during the time our generation frequented it..

so yeah, hats off to couture for bringing some proper, credible dubstep/drum & bass people to the town.. just a shame i'm too over the hill now to actually go
qrkury




edit: oh, and the reason this post is in this thread and not one of the couture ones is that it was the OP's question that got me thinking about what music i would like to see/hear in stafford, and i realised it was already here, just in a venue that i wouldn't dare set foot in because i'm a miserable old bastard :emo:
 

Andreas Rex

Banned for smiling
db said:
back when we used to go to "the bag" (as it was affectionately known back then), it was the same old shit night after night.. i honestly can't ever remember there being a big name there during the time our generation frequented it..
The only thing I can think of is my sister and BBC's sister going to see PJ & Duncan, if that even counts...
 

dangerousdave

Well-Known Forumite
fair play to the owners of couture, they have a proven business model from owning WS1 in walsall and they know what works at the moment. whenever i come back i usuallly end up in there and it's not actually that bad, even though i'm not a chav i can actually put up with it

with regards to live music, there are two main problems. 1) there is not a decent live music venue in the centre of town (granted the MET is not bad, but at a capacity of less than 250 it will be difficult to get anything in and make a profit), and b) both wolverhampton and stoke are less than a half hour drive and both are established on the touring roster. IF there was the potential for a decent venue I'd throw my support behind it fully, but I can't see it happening. The only way it could would be for someone to buy and renovate a venue (the old chicago rock building?), and then put a lot of money into it. If they were to do that they'd have to take a similar business model to the academies or somewhere like wolves civic and book absoloutely everything (including pop) as there is not the market in stafford to sustain an 'alternative' venue.
 

nhtpromo

Well-Known Forumite
I agree.

As it stands, the main problem is lack of suitable venues.
Although, it is a bit of a catch 22 - there's no scope for investment in no venues because there's no real music scene BUT htere's only no real music scene due to the lack of appropriate venues.

Possibly if a venue that already exists in Stafford is taken and really made to be an example and generates a substantial following, it could start attracting external investment into the town's potential venue locations.

Being from Leicester originally, I'd love to see a return of ska.
Ska's still quite big in Leicester and is soon for another revival. Definitely potential for something like that round Stafford I reckon.
 

Kingy

Well-Known Forumite
I would love to see a decent music venue in Stafford. Something along the lines of the Hare and Hounds in Birmingham or The Cluny in Newcastle. I remember going to see Hips Like Cinderella at The Chill Bar (now Ashiana) and thinking that would have made a great venue.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Kingy said:
I would love to see a decent music venue in Stafford. Something along the lines of the Hare and Hounds in Birmingham or The Cluny in Newcastle. I remember going to see Hips Like Cinderella at The Chill Bar (now Ashiana) and thinking that would have made a great venue.
Reynolds Attic bar had a few good things in the 90s, I recall..

Chris Farlowe
The Animals - well, two of them
Counterfeit Stones
Dexi's Midnight Runners

There were more..
 

Andreas Rex

Banned for smiling
nhtpromo said:
I'd love to see a return of ska
This is only a slight quench of your thirst for Ska, but there's a Raggae/Ska night on at The Railway sometime soon. I'll get the details and post them on here.

I realise this doesn't benefit the original post, but it's a start! Opening a club as a result of a proven night elsewhere is a good way of convincing Mr Bank Manager to give you the money to open somewhere yourself, should you want to.
 
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