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

[dangerousdave]

any decent sized pub can be a venue, and it doesn't even need a stage. if you look to castle under lyme you'll find a pub called the old brown jug which is just a pub with a late license that holds different events as it had the demand for it, so they've hosted nights as diverse as thrash metal, gigs with nationally recognised indie bands (detroit social club played there recently i believe), dance nights (as our very own danny mekanik), comedy nights, northern soul nights, etc etc. the only thing that the jug has which many others don't is that they're not a chain pub, and the pub took the wise decision to invest in it's own PA (which can be put away above the pub when not in use) which is just enough. The Bird would be (and was) perfect for this. upstairs at the pie and ale house would be even better, and the infrastructure is there already. that is about it in the town centre though

 

[Wormella]

The Old Brown Jug - an awesome venue (and I believe .44Pistol are playing there in March if you need an excuse to check it out) is under threat from a noise abatement order form the newly built Travel Lodge, and is in danger of losing it's Ents License.

It's also nice to see a nod to the Hare and Hounds in King's Heath, Brum, one of my fave venues of all time - Just the right size - I'm no fan of stadium sized gigs at all. There's certainly an appetite for live music in Stafford, and a diverse range of things too.

I agree to Bird Made a great venue for Live Music, the Ford Squad proved this, and it would be great to have it turned into a more dedicated music venue - but it ins't independent - and until it is, I doubt that will happen. In fact the Shrew wasn't too bad - even if they kept to Kareoke going too at the same times. It's a shame The Island is in such a bad state, or the Waggon and Horses is so 'far out' of town and surrounded by some much housing - either of them could work with some work and good promotion.

 

[Kingy]

It's also nice to see a nod to the Hare and Hounds in King's Heath, Brum, one of my fave venues of all time - Just the right size - I'm no fan of stadium sized gigs at all. There's certainly an appetite for live music in Stafford, and a diverse range of things too..

The last gig I saw there was The Temper Trap. The atmosphere was electric. Good beer as well.

It's a shame The Island is in such a bad state, or the Waggon and Horses is so 'far out' of town and surrounded by some much housing - either of them could work with some work and good promotion.

The Waggon and Horses has the elements of a good live venue. It reminds me of the Hare and Hounds in a way but I suspect the neighbouring houses are too close unless it is soundproofed like The Rainbow in Birmingham.

 

[Jenksie]

any decent sized pub can be a venue, and it doesn't even need a stage. if you look to castle under lyme you'll find a pub called the old brown jug which is just a pub with a late license that holds different events as it had the demand for it, so they've hosted nights as diverse as thrash metal, gigs with nationally recognised indie bands (detroit social club played there recently i believe), dance nights (as our very own danny mekanik), comedy nights, northern soul nights, etc etc. the only thing that the jug has which many others don't is that they're not a chain pub, and the pub took the wise decision to invest in it's own PA (which can be put away above the pub when not in use) which is just enough. The Bird would be (and was) perfect for this. upstairs at the pie and ale house would be even better, and the infrastructure is there already. that is about it in the town centre though

Exactly what I posted previously - It's not the lack of venue that is a problem it's the will to make it work, the talent to fill it and the audience to attend.

 

[Goldilox]

any decent sized pub can be a venue, and it doesn't even need a stage. if you look to castle under lyme you'll find a pub called the old brown jug which is just a pub with a late license that holds different events as it had the demand for it, so they've hosted nights as diverse as thrash metal, gigs with nationally recognised indie bands (detroit social club played there recently i believe), dance nights (as our very own danny mekanik), comedy nights, northern soul nights, etc etc. the only thing that the jug has which many others don't is that they're not a chain pub, and the pub took the wise decision to invest in it's own PA (which can be put away above the pub when not in use) which is just enough. The Bird would be (and was) perfect for this. upstairs at the pie and ale house would be even better, and the infrastructure is there already. that is about it in the town centre though

The Grapes has the PA and a stage in place...

 

[dangerousdave]

i don't actually like the grapes as a venue, the stage isn't really big enough for a full band, so taht then cuts into the dance floor, which wouldn't be a problem but for the place being so small. Having people who can sit essentially side of stage is also a little weird. Having said that I've seen many of the drum clinics that guitar and son put on there and I can fully reccomend them

and whilst it would be nice to just use local talent to fill a venue, and it could feasabily happen with the frankly ridiculous amount of bands that are spawned from stafford given it's size, any promoter who's half decent should be able to bring a touring headline act, use local supports, and then get enough press and coverage to make it work. It's an absoloute ballache, I know this from helping get press for my own band, but if you're the right mix of likeable and clever it is possible

 

[Jenksie]

The Grapes fulfills most criteria - I can't accept the stage is 'small' mind - Bands like the Blockheads, Madness and UB40 have all started out in venues like this.

One issue is that the Bar is right in front of the stage so no separate area to drink or talk if one is not interested in clocking the band. Unlike the Bird (no stage or PA or Lights) the P&A (obviously not going down the entertainmant route these days) or even the Albion (separate Bar).

Waggon has a good long room and would be ideal - on the North edge but get-at-able for most. Even the Westway has had bands but it still comes down to the will of a promoter.

Get a few ex-Names in. Get the best local bands - not any old drivel - get the best new stuff.

Best way to attract a good Rock Indie crowd is get a good juke box in. It sounds obvious but people will stay in a pub playing Cream, Hendrix, Beatles and Stones with a bit of vintage Rock n Roll and Ska but I wouldn't stand for 5 mins in a pub with some thudding 9 minute track of ambient trance and jungle grooves. Or some euro nogger at full volume or Eastenders.

I can hardly stand being in HMV for the same reason - crap music pumped over a crap tannoy.

 

[shoes]

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.

I'm a long time fan of the rainbow pub too! And the warehouse for that matter.

 

[Wormella]

I have it, the perfect place - the old library (I'm guessing) next to the cinema....

 

[70-plus]

I have it, the perfect place - the old library (I'm guessing) next to the cinema....

It must be up for sale...want to buy it?

 

[nhtpromo]

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.

Beautiful!
Let me know and I'll be there!

 

[Withnail]

We're currently looking at a few potential venues in the town to launch the live music element of our company.
We want to know what type of music you want to hear. What events would you want to go to. And where!?

Let us know and we'll see what can be arranged.

How goes it nhtpromo?

Is there anything in the offing now that Spring attempts to spring one on us?

As a final request, it has been too long a time since the Trent Vale Poet has graced us with his presence - any chance of rectifying that?

 

[70-plus]

Stafford Music Festival running from 7 - 21 May. Saw the website posted under the "Music" section. There is a section on Music in Pubs as well as jazz, folk, classical, etc. Website is www.staffordmusicfestival.org

 

[wayneholt]

loftgroover, slipmatt

i'd love to see girl talk, yoda, 2 many djs, et al, but i doubt there's any chance of them coming to the ford lol.. any decent mash-up DJs that play everything from country to dubstep would be mint, though!

I agree, I DJ in the dubstep scene myself but get very annoyed with the scene that follows it, I play in Stafford occasionaly, but the stigma that comes with it is not very appealing. Hit me up if you ever need a DJ

 

[wayneholt]

I would like to play abit more in Stafford, but I think it is mainly an Indie/Rock town (nothing wrong with that, I love it), just wish there was aplace where I could drop DNB and Dubstep in where no rudeboys or idiots would show up!!

 

[nhtpromo]

Wayne, we're hosting an event at the Staff SU on 11th April.
We've got a few DNB DJs playing, along with some indie/rock bands, and we're looking at rolling out a similar event in the town.

Just looking at suitable venues - we're looking at introducing an audio'visual event.
Possibly at the MET, just waiting to here back from them to arrange a meet.

We'll keep you posted.

 

[nhtpromo]

We're currently looking at a few potential venues in the town to launch the live music element of our company.
We want to know what type of music you want to hear. What events would you want to go to. And where!?

Let us know and we'll see what can be arranged.

How goes it nhtpromo?

Is there anything in the offing now that Spring attempts to spring one on us?

As a final request, it has been too long a time since the Trent Vale Poet has graced us with his presence - any chance of rectifying that?

We've just prepared a provisional live event model that we're wanting to roll out over the spring/summer.
As stated in above post, just inthe process of sourcing appropriate venue.

As for the Trent Vale Poet, I've never seen him before.
Quite a talent, it would appear!

 

[wayneholt]

Wayne, we're hosting an event at the Staff SU on 11th April.
We've got a few DNB DJs playing, along with some indie/rock bands, and we're looking at rolling out a similar event in the town.

Just looking at suitable venues - we're looking at introducing an audio'visual event.
Possibly at the MET, just waiting to here back from them to arrange a meet.

We'll keep you posted.

That would be great, keep me posted. I play in Birmingham at the moment, would be nice drop in to Stafford, can bring a few bodies with me!

 

[nhtpromo]

No problem.
PM me with your details ande we'll see what we can sort.
We've also got Mr Tilley waiting in the midsts so would be good to see something go live.

 

[Neon Jay]

Ah yes, get in touch with me about that sometime Joe, we're well on with label shenanningans etc so the ability to promote locally and actually give something back would be most excellent.

Is there anything happening with the old Allied Carpets place (Love 2 Love etc) now that's gone? That'd be pretty decent for music of all kinds!