Are you in a band ?

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.
 
Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

   

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.

Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

 
Yes my band have the same problem. Even though were splitting up in about 2 months i'd like to help stop bbands playing to 4 drunks in a pub.

The best music video you will EVER see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRyaq_rJtJ8

Awesome thread. Carrie who I met at American Head Charge Nottingham and Nip Animal who roadied for them at Wolves the night before. Go Head Charge go!!!
 
I agree with you. Perhaps music people should get together on a county basis at first. There are a lot of independent promoters trying very hard at the moment because music is a VERY hard sell. Treading on each others toes makes no sense whatsoever.
 
I would suggest everyone read a blog posted by Kevin Dean of Brand New Sin on his Myspace page. It really opens your eyes to just how hard it is to make it today in the music business. It made me realise that as a fan of LIVE music that perhaps we fans should do more. Everyone thinks bands make money but the reality is that for most its a lifestyle choice rather than  a money making exercise. I think fans have to accept that if they want their favourite bands to play for them they have to be prepared to do more. Whether that be buying the guys a pint, a sandwich, helping with the load in at a venue without expecting a free ticket for doing so etc. As the Tesco jingle goes 'every little helps'. 
 
At the end of the day with most bands struggling to sell product live music is where its at and if you want it you have to be prepared to pay a little more for it in terms of money, effort or both.

Great Post Jezebel, and as a Band Manager, Promoter and PR guy across diffrent Genres of music, it would be great to meet up as i could agree more with what your saying.

PM me if you want to talk further

Best Wishes

Mark
MARK 3 Music

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

JonnysusXcore.myspace <3

Im in a band and we would like to help out anything like this!
If we play a gig or if we help out organise stuff for it! We work hard for ourselves and even other engineers have told us they cant believe how self sificiant we are....i wish i could spell.

Anyway, yeah we'd help out if its playing or helping.

www.myspace.com/vocis

www.myspace.com/vocis check it.

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

 
Fair play but what level of band are you talking about here? 

I'm in. Been thinking about this for a while. I was thinking that what Damnation are doing with their Believe.... tour is a great place to start.

But anyway yeah, we're in.
 
www.enteramenti.com
www.myspace.com/amentiuk

 
 
EDIT: As are our agency.
 
www.hagpmusic.com
www.myspace.com/hagpmusic  
 
 

CHANGE PLACES!

 
GENERATION 10: The first time you see this, add this text to your sig on any forum and add 1 to the Generation. It's an experiment.

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

 
yeah but for the 300 in one venue is there another venue on the same night with less than 20 as people had to choose which to go to.

ORIGINAL: King of the Celts

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

Fair play but what level of band are you talking about here? 

 
unsigned!

JonnysusXcore.myspace <3

ORIGINAL: AnnaannA

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

yeah but for the 300 in one venue is there another venue on the same night with less than 20 as people had to choose which to go to.

 
none of the metal nights clash with each other

JonnysusXcore.myspace <3

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.

Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

 
hey there lonnng time no speak!!
if theres metal involved count us in!!

http://WWW.INSANITYPROJECT.NET
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/INSANITYPROJECT

NEW ALBUM OUT NOW!!

We are looking to keep this local for now and see what we see... Have talked with mates on the London scene and we are all in agreement its time this genre stood up and got noticed - but to do this effectively we have to cross network and pool on each other. I am interested to see what others are doing in areas and finding pockets of fans in different areas - interesting about Preston. Something is obviously working there - what clubs are you playing and what is the deal with the door etc.. are you self promoting or is a promoter working actively in that area ?

   

I think a good idea would be to set up a totally new forum for it. One with different regions in, give it a name to do with the fact that metal needs to be noticed, and hopefully we can get some kind of cult thing going that could actually make a difference. I'm going to see a Metallica / Megadeath tribute band tonight, and I'm pretty sure there'll be a maximum of 30 people there.

www.myspace.com/puregoremageddon

side step for a minute (talking anout locality - and i know this seems off topic);

edinburgh is fucking INFURIATING for metal atm - the venue closed down. But there is undertones of it shining through, as it's a uni town plenty of places to play. With the right drive and motivation and if it's showcased properlly we could get a nice following going up here. Just needs promotion, and also not when other things are going on. Theres the edinburgh rock riot here: http://www.edinburghrockriot.com/ at the moment, a certain Jack Glass got racous applause when they showcased themselves a few months back (and its 5 minutes away from me ) theres also a place in the cowgate called subway - severed played with his band there a few weeks back i beleive (best pm him though)

It can be done, just need to also need to be careful - alot of the younger bands here havent found 'their sound' which is a shame. Alot of them sound like trivium rip off's...

It's also somewhat depressing because we have had in the past slayer playing the playhouse - and certain small tattooed wee westie's [8D] will assure you that THEY had to do the travelling to gigs in the good old days [8D]

If you are interested in setting anything up - let the scottish boardies know! if its in glasgow perhaps we could get something going with the damnation crowd?

ORIGINAL: NIP_Animal

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.

Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

Yes my band have the same problem. Even though were splitting up in about 2 months i'd like to help stop bbands playing to 4 drunks in a pub.

 
Thats a bit harsh dude!!
 
Sometimes Ive gone to a gig where I've loved the band, and sometimes only 3 other people have shown.. yes this band may have travelled to do this gig, but I paid for my ticket, im a fan, and I believe they should the play the same for me as they would have done for a crowd of a thousand people!
 
Admitely some bands are just w*nkers and when they see hardly anyones there they jus play crap to get it out the way.. but others still do the set they would have done if the place was rammed!!!!!!
 
Just remeber those '4 drunks' came to watch YOU play....

Thank yew WebWitch for the most awesome sig!!

*LaYnEs <3 McTrAcToR*

as much as you hate the Towers Of London, i heard themm before the Bravo "Rockumentary" and the Big Brother Fiasco due to them touring non-stop for 3 years prior to the album being released (which is a ****ing underated album, give it a try before you write then off) so yesh small, promising bands are always out there to support. Also I lost my point a while ago so I apologise people

The Fermanagh music scene is absolutely cracking, due to the fact that years and years ago some very clever folks sat down and formed a collective, the spirit of which lives on. It's a small county, so maybe networking's easier for us, but the collective will put you in touch with other musicians when your band needs something new (ie bassist, drummer etc), give you a place to practise and record demos and provide you with equipment and a wee sound man for your gigs if needed. All for a price granted, but you can't beat the community feel to it. Everyone knows each other and rather than it being all about the pub, gigs are organised wherever they can be played (sometimes half way up a mountain in the summertime), and posters/word of mouth secures the crowd. Seriously, I'm over in Canterbury at uni now and I can't believe how little interaction there seems to be between folks - it's like noone knows each other nor wants to. Not what I'm used to at all. For such a small place Fermanagh really could teach Canterbury a thing or two! The bands don't hold much hope of ever really getting out of Northern Ireland, but that's just the way these things go. Links have recently been made to Dublin, Derry and Belfast so a few bands are travelling well at the minute, but for the most part they're happy playing to the small Enniskillen crowds because we give them plenty of support

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

interesting about Preston. Something is obviously working there - what clubs are you playing and what is the deal with the door etc.. are you self promoting or is a promoter working actively in that area ?

 
we have The Venue putting on regular (weekly on Fridays) nights, and 53degrees (at the university) putting on bigger nights once a month.
 
Everyone in the "metal community" knows everybody else, and all the "major" bands are fairly tightly nit together
 
everyone self promotes, and there's a few promoters. most use a forum not unlike this one - which plays a BIG part in every aspect of the local scene.
 
Steve Lamaq and radio1 have started paying attention to here too (but not the metal unfortunately), mostly due to a band called Star27

JonnysusXcore.myspace <3

ORIGINAL: suzi13

The Fermanagh music scene is absolutely cracking, due to the fact that years and years ago some very clever folks sat down and formed a collective, the spirit of which lives on. It's a small county, so maybe networking's easier for us, but the collective will put you in touch with other musicians when your band needs something new (ie bassist, drummer etc), give you a place to practise and record demos and provide you with equipment and a wee sound man for your gigs if needed. All for a price granted, but you can't beat the community feel to it. Everyone knows each other and rather than it being all about the pub, gigs are organised wherever they can be played (sometimes half way up a mountain in the summertime), and posters/word of mouth secures the crowd. Seriously, I'm over in Canterbury at uni now and I can't believe how little interaction there seems to be between folks - it's like noone knows each other nor wants to. Not what I'm used to at all. For such a small place Fermanagh really could teach Canterbury a thing or two! The bands don't hold much hope of ever really getting out of Northern Ireland, but that's just the way these things go. Links have recently been made to Dublin, Derry and Belfast so a few bands are travelling well at the minute, but for the most part they're happy playing to the small Enniskillen crowds because we give them plenty of support

This is superb.. Do you have a website for the collective ? Would be interesting to see what they do and learn maybe from this.

   

ORIGINAL: LaynesBaby198555

ORIGINAL: NIP_Animal

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

Hi there.
We had a convo the other night in some random pub in Yorkshire about the state of British Metal and what we can do to help it. We are noticing more and more promoters out there with the same intent on getting metal heard but no one is working or networking with each other - no one is thinking ohhh there is another Metal pub gig on the same night we want to do ours.. no one is thinking hmmm ok lets do a different night - they are just going ahead with the gig and spliting the crowd instead of working together for the same result. We are arranging a big meet in our area of promoters - journos - bands - labels - Fans - media etc and have us all talk about how we can get Metal more prolific in our area and how we can all pool our resources - contacts and leads to put on metal shows that will attract the fans.

Are there any bands on these message boards that are experiencing the trudge of travelling 4 hours to play to a few ppl and wondering what the hell has gone wrong and want to do something about this?

Yes my band have the same problem. Even though were splitting up in about 2 months i'd like to help stop bbands playing to 4 drunks in a pub.

Thats a bit harsh dude!!

Sometimes Ive gone to a gig where I've loved the band, and sometimes only 3 other people have shown.. yes this band may have travelled to do this gig, but I paid for my ticket, im a fan, and I believe they should the play the same for me as they would have done for a crowd of a thousand people!

Admitely some bands are just w*nkers and when they see hardly anyones there they jus play crap to get it out the way.. but others still do the set they would have done if the place was rammed!!!!!!

Just remeber those '4 drunks' came to watch YOU play....

 
I see what your saying. ANd I know that my band play the same weather no-ones there or not, we don't care how many is  there in a sense,  we just enjoy playing.
 
The 4 drunks remark, was litterally what we've had in the past, not so much now locally but, those 4 drunks i speak of are probabbly regulars to the pub in a lot of cases, and are their every friday night regardless of whos playing. If ya get me?
 
It is harder for a band to get up and play infront of less people and put their all into than it is to get up infront of more people.
 
-----------
 
On a side note, in my area we have a site called, www.telfordrocks.co.uk
 
This has helped start to create a small scene in our town, by putting on gigs in a local theatre (holds about 600 + , i think)...and aswell as doing battle of the bands compettitions. ANd various other bits liek getting bands such as OPM into Teflord, to help drag a crowd  back  to support the music scene.

The best music video you will EVER see!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRyaq_rJtJ8

Maybe the members of bands on here could arrange gig swaps?
 
My lot are well up for doing some
 
www.myspace.com/manishatank

JonnysusXcore.myspace <3

Ohh good topic, Im in a thrast metal band from Belfast, Personally the music scene in Northern Ireland/Ireland is pretty damn good, i mean the amount of bands goin these days is great, ok ther mayb not gettin the pulicity that some of them deserve, but it doesnt seem to bother them lol, personally im in it for the giggin and the pleasure of playin, so asfar as gigs go i hav the time of my life playin to 30 people or to 100 odd people (havnt played any huge gigs lol) im just happy to be playin lol
 
anyone interested in finding out more bout the Irish Scene check out..
 
www.metalireland.com
 
or to check out my band vist
 
www.myspace.com/xerometal

Kóri Oakensword


Hurry to meet death before your place is taken!

We might look at doing something on the boards for bands etc.. all in the early stages. But KEEP  the ideas coming and we will see what we can work out.

   

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

We might look at doing something on the boards for bands etc.. all in the early stages. But KEEP  the ideas coming and we will see what we can work out.

 
Oh sounds interesting...shall hav a ponder!

Kóri Oakensword


Hurry to meet death before your place is taken!

ORIGINAL: Jezebel

We are looking to keep this local for now and see what we see... Have talked with mates on the London scene and we are all in agreement its time this genre stood up and got noticed - but to do this effectively we have to cross network and pool on each other. I am interested to see what others are doing in areas and finding pockets of fans in different areas - interesting about Preston. Something is obviously working there - what clubs are you playing and what is the deal with the door etc.. are you self promoting or is a promoter working actively in that area ?

 
Cool we play all over the country but i suppose our hometown is tamworth & there is a pretty good scene there.
 
the main venues are
 
The Palace: Large custom built live music venue, features original signed acts, tributes as well as local bands www.thepalacevenue.co.uk for more info.

The Assembly Rooms: Live band night, cover bands and local acts

Bonds Bar: regular Live band nights every Tuesday

The Colin Grazier Bar, 'The Other Place': regular band nights

Bullitt: Fracture, Tamworth No.1 Indie night featuring the UK's best up and coming bands and music. Every Thursday Club Fracture

O'Keefs: Featuring Spitfire Tamworth best Live Rock/Indie/Alternative night. Every last Friday of the month Spitfire Live

The Sir Robert Peel Open Mic every Tuesday from 8pm, Live bands Thursdays and Sundays.

The Sandyback On Overwoods road, Wilnecote. Phone(01827) 285071 for details. Band nights held on a regular basis.
 
there is a website aimed at getting all these places to collaborate with each other (i'll admit it's not always easy) as well as giving the bands and fans a place to disscus the local goings on etc!
http://tambands.tattystudios.co.uk
 
there is also the occasional face to face meeting (usually organised by chris lynch from the palace i belive)

http://WWW.INSANITYPROJECT.NET
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/INSANITYPROJECT

NEW ALBUM OUT NOW!!

http://www.myspace.com/blackreverencemusic
 
yeah thought so.
 

There's a pub near me that has metal/punk bands playing on Fridays and Saturdays. It's well attended but the trouble is if you're over 18 you'll look out of place. I went once and realised that I used to go to school with half the kids' dads! Pity as it's our only local live music venue. Here's their website -
 
http://www.theatticlive.com/index.htm

Im in a metal band and our last two gigs had 300 people and over 400 people (sold out).
Both in Edinburgh. It is really tough getting gigs though, and i know that it may sound like we're very well off up here, but i assure you, it's not THAT great.
However, i am going to try and set up some gigs for bands to play. So if anyone is looking for any gigs in Edinburgh, i could probably sort you out to play to a crowd of at least 50+.

Upcoming gigs:

Paramore + New Found Glory
Ludovico Einaudi
A Perfect Circle

i think this would actually help other metal bands to form as well, coz like the hardest part (for me anyway) is actually starting up the band, like ive bin in countless bands mainly more on the hair metal/sleaze rock side but im all for it n i live near york so s'all good

the metal scene isnt bad in wigan, even thought theres quite a few emo fans around now and again, some bands do play at a couple of clubs here but there not like "huge". all i know is bands have played at The Tavern and Cafe Nirvana(U18s *thursday night*)

If anyone is interested in networking, then talk to Jay on myspace, he has a charity backed promotions company of his own www.myspace.com/tribaljambandnights or email him jayx69suckit@hotmail.co.uk, i know he'll be more than happy to network with some people, especially as he has just got his company Tribal Jam signed up with Roadrunner Records.

Sonisphere 2010, 2011

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

 
are you joking???
the scene in that areas terrible
 
and becoz southport and ormskirk and other surronding area never hold gigs. apart from comrades
 
every1 piles to preston, and theres no oppurtunities for bands to gig
 
im in a band and im constantly hearing...no avaliable slots til april onwards
 
in which all the same bands from previous months will end up playing again
 
 
 
www.myspace.com/edgeofhonour

bands for download:
necrophagist, zyklon, unearth, job for a cowboy, NILE, obituary, KATAKLYSM, Opeth, stapping young lad, arch enemy, sepultura (please), all shall perish, emporer.... none of this mcr sh**e

Hertfordshire has always been cool for gigs either at independant venues or pubs like the Horn of plenty etc. St Albans, Watford, Hitchin have always been buzing but I think it's dying out now tho. there is still a funk load of good quality bands here but the venues are ever changing and most venues only get in covers bands nowadays.
 
My band Maxdmyz generally play in London but we're looking for tour venues for this summer and a bit of good organisation would come in handy to avoid conflicts of interest. Sounds like a common plan, but done by the right people it could fly.
 
 

They called me heretic and flout, and they drew a circle to keep me out, but will and i had wit to win, i drew a bigger circle and brought them in"

Now this is a decent thread with a good point.
Anyone who pays enough attention will see that our culture is not doing so well at this moment in time.
This is mainly because everyone is bitching at each other because your either emo or a metal head.
Plus its really hard to get a band sorted out because of this because if you do a gig and you play anything that doesnt sound metal then you get abused and bottled.
Plus no-one seems to have the same mentality as i have becaus ehtey are all lazy and im always the one who has to sort out gigs and band practices and make the songs and lyrics.
 
It never used to be this hard.
I really wanna carry on doing gigs because its just the best thing ever.
 
 i would rather do a gig with my band and see the satisfied faces in the crowd as we rip through a set than get pissed or have rampant sex...(although sex and beer is good....especially when combined)
 
The last gig my band done was amazing and we had an encore aswell as everyone in the joint watching us where as the headlining band on seen half of that crowd.
It was an amazing experience...i just done wanna stop but i cant carry on unless the rest of my band co-operates.
 
Who else knows whati mean
 

ORIGINAL: Scott_EOH

ORIGINAL: Jonnysus

The metal scene in Preston is absolutely fantastic. some gigs we can get upwards of 300 people turning up.

are you joking???
the scene in that areas terrible

and becoz southport and ormskirk and other surronding area never hold gigs. apart from comrades

every1 piles to preston, and theres no oppurtunities for bands to gig

im in a band and im constantly hearing...no avaliable slots til april onwards

in which all the same bands from previous months will end up playing again



www.myspace.com/edgeofhonour

who are you asking? I know Harry's Bar in Chorley is utterly booked up until April - they'll be opening up booking for June soon. It's an extremely popular venue to play.

JonnysusXcore.myspace <3

im a promoter, i own Hybrid Metal promotions. some of you might know it as i have alot of english bands as a freind on myspace.


cant you notice the difference from when a major touring band has a full house as aposed to a local band with 8 people by there side? all who are just freinds of freinds.

this is simply because gigs are awkward to book and venue's are more expensive to charge in.
the trend nowadays is that u have your own band, and never go see other bands. its an act of selfishness.

pitty really. there are amazing bands out there that throughly rock without a doubt and are so talented but nobody will look at them in that way untill they see them on kerrang or something. thats when they really get peoples attention to look at them in that certain way. thus = major crowds at a gig.

if you can manage to look at your local band for there lack of non-trendy ways, (which is rare these days) your guna see a whole new perspective. i guarantee you. its just a pitty it takes tv to do that.

anybody agree?

i know im right because iv looked into this so much.

fact dies

ORIGINAL: HEAD17

im a promoter, i own Hybrid Metal promotions. some of you might know it as i have alot of english bands as a freind on myspace.


cant you notice the difference from when a major touring band has a full house as aposed to a local band with 8 people by there side? all who are just freinds of freinds.

this is simply because gigs are awkward to book and venue's are more expensive to charge in.
the trend nowadays is that u have your own band, and never go see other bands. its an act of selfishness.

pitty really. there are amazing bands out there that throughly rock without a doubt and are so talented but nobody will look at them in that way untill they see them on kerrang or something. thats when they really get peoples attention to look at them in that certain way. thus = major crowds at a gig.

if you can manage to look at your local band for there lack of non-trendy ways, (which is rare these days) your guna see a whole new perspective. i guarantee you. its just a pitty it takes tv to do that.

anybody agree?

i know im right because iv looked into this so much.

couldnt ave said it better myself!!!

then again i aint no promoter or ne thing

Definatley . .. this is a big problem. . and at last someone is trying to sort things for the better, The metal scene here in bristol is gd dont get me wrong .. but it can still be improved a lot more.  . .me and my band Shrapnel will help any way possible ..  .so im in .. . bout time the metal scene got a damn gd shake up. . . [:'(]

WhY So SeRiOuS?

With your bitch slap rappin' And your cocaine tongue You get nuthin' done!!!

Where's Your Will To Be Wierd?

its guna be so hard to lift this back up again and teach everyone to be open minded and to look at a band for what there playing, not the attention that there after. ( i know, its hard, but if u love music youll apreciate it!)

dirtyazz thanks so much for being so honest!

fact dies