After doing a stretch in the wilderness courtesy of Her Majesty, I thought it was about time to catch up on what has been happening in this tarn we call home. So once again I had decided to place Barnsley under the microscope to see what sort of a state the music scene is in.
For the record: There's a line of philosophy that states "Where there's cool Californian sun - you'll find blandness personified. But where there's poverty and deprivation - you'll find absolute creation". It's a similar idea to Orson Welles's cuckoo clocks of Switzerland. Well, was I surprised, there's an amazing amount of creativity bursting out around the area. It's absolutely spawning with life. Where better to start at the dawn of a new century, and where stranger than with the past!
Y2K
No more surprised than Bri Shaughnessy himself, the singer/co-writer of the dearly departed Seventh Son, who had called it a day in the 90s. However, a Metal revival in Germany had found themselves back on the wanted list. So Y2K kick-started with the album 'Dangerous Kiss'. An album of unreleased tracks from the 1986-88 period. Also Bri was promising live appearances and a Greatest Hits album later in the year. You just can't keep them down.
Sunlounger
Sunlounger, not just another heavy rock band, but one of enormous promise. They've been together since February '98, and although were currently in the middle of completing their debut album, had managed to fit in a support spot at the Leadmill with the Yo-Yos, and a little later, a one off at Barnsley's Bodega Bar. Lee Storrar, singer / guitarist with Sunlounger, was pleased that their latest single 'Personal Services' had been the 'Single of the week' by those lads at Front magazine. They will soon be receiving the 'keys to the tarn' at this rate, from the mayor no less. . . they're that good.
By the end of January, King Palooka, Indie Kids with Barnsley stalwart Dean Ormston (ex- Creatures of Habit, Silent Scream) - a veritable powerhouse on the drums, were to be found rocking up a sweat at the Bodega Bar.
On another astral plane in February, Kate Rusby, the folk phenomenon, was playing an extremely rare date at the Memorial Hall. She is seen rarer than Haley's Comet. Fortunately, she's more accessible by CD, and her second album 'Sleepless' has been described as 'Elogant austerity'.
Playful Spring came early for King Palooka, who had managed to cause a delightful incident at Bodega's in March, by being banned from playing. The gig poster was advertising 'free sex and drugs', and so, the landlord was not a happy man . . . those 'Palooka wags. Fortunately the Fealty and Firkin stepped in at the last minute to rescue the night. For the following month, their collective tongue had been restrained and they were able to play at Durty O'Dwyer's.
In May, Sunlounger along with Doncaster's own Groop Dogrill rocked out at the Leadmill.
And it's heartening to know that even in the age of CD, its heritage has not been forgotten, as Junk Yard Dog tentatively announced to the world their 3 track cassette demo of Jazz, Latin swing beats. It was their taster for the forthcoming appearance at Chunky.
The Spring Back Holiday brought its own festival for the town to show off its diversity. Barnsley's Nick Fig was doing what DJ's do best as part of The Deejay day at the Student Union Bar. The college's own salsa band, Its Salsa, were being very English by playing in the midday sun. In the evening The Fealty and Firkin was host to 'Rock On', a showcase event for the forthcoming Chunky Festival. Finally Internationally renowned
Trevor Wishart [Photo] was at the Central Library with his 'Electronic Experience', which could best be described as the point where vocals and computers met in stunning cacophonic soundscapes.
And in the name of diversity, let's not forget The Barnsley Jazz Society and its Jazz festival.
However as festivals go, the real surprise was Barnsley's very own music festival, Chunky 2000 on the 9th June. Firstly it was funded via the Town Council with some Millennium Project money - "Gawd Bless ya Ma'am". The man behind it was Glen Sutton, the council's live music officer. His aim was "To showcase the best local talent covering Rock and Indie music" and "to bring everyone's attention to the original talent in Barnsley", was serious about it. There were to be four venues for 'day or evening wear': Mandela Gardens, Fealty and Firkin, O'Neils and Durty O'Dwyers. Basically the Festival was a HM, Punky, Folk, Indie, Jazz, Accoustic, Ambient dance sauna with the dialled turned up.
Headliners in the 'Garden were Groop Dogdrill (pictured left), who are four years down the line and still vital. Groop Dogdrill were currently airing their latest single -'Every six seconds'. Other notables worth name checking that day were the Urban Dance Collective, Becci Taylor and Sheffield's latest Indie starlets - Lioka. The day went well and Glen Sutton was left to dream of an annual gathering in the making.
As promised Sunlounger's album 'Some Is Good, More Is Better, Too Much Is Just Right' was released in September. The launch gig was at Bodega's, where they played alongside Purple Sticky Punch (thrash punk) and Pearl Mary (grunge rockers) in support. To their credit, Sunlounger had just knotched up to an impressive gig at the Monarch in London, and also were part of Kerrang's 'Week of Rock'. Furthermore Sunlounger had their own Spinal Tap moment by replacing their drummer with their former sticks man, Pete Williams.
On a more sensible note, Barnsley has been staging its own Carling Premier 'Search for a Star' with the usual type of suspects. This time around a boy/girl duo called N-Chanted seemed to be getting some favourable attention. They used to part of a four piece called Enchanted. Let's hope they don't go solo. And whilst on the subject, could Barnsley ever produce a 'boy band'? - makes your blood curdle just thinking about it.
Helen Ellis of Utopia Music, the studio in Shambles Street announced an access web site for unsigned bands, to record and upload their results onto the excellent Vitaminic site without great expense.
As winter approached, King Palooka went for a mid season transfer by outing Gary Pollard, who was soon replaced by Greg Firth (ex-Party Day). Is this a 'supergroup' in the making.
In December there was a flurry of activity. Those noisy lads Purple Sticky Punch, Heroes for Sale (Heavy Indie rockers) and Crudity 7 hosted a Christmas Party 2000 at the Firkin's Venue. Elsewhere, college band The Daze (60s RnB/Primal Scream'ish) went far-a-field to play The Cavern in Liverpool, no less. And like a duck to water, King Palooka were out and about again drumming up support at Isaacs.
The year ended with Seventh Son keeping their word by playing their first gig since '94, and it was at the Arches pub in Pit Street. Also they were armed with a new single from the album of the same name, 'Dangerous Kiss'. Life was becoming rosier for the 'Sons.
Y2K+1
Sunlounger started the year as they'd finished it, in top gear, and were continuing to grab more media attention. Music Week's article on ORG Records had given Sunlounger a favourable notice as 'hot property'. But not ones to rest on their laurels, they were soon gigging again, this time at the Casbah club in Sheffield with the band J*R.
King Palooka released in March their promising debut CD single - 'Wellington Street'. It being a 3 track delight reminiscent of the Cure and the Clash.
'Palooka style
Purple Sticky Punch, who could definitely be described as hyperactive, were next seen at the Casbah with Sherbert Burp and Sheffield's Mine. PSP's lead singer Jamie Silver has the vocal qualities of a gravel pit, and visually, his sidekick Ryan is losing the battle with his Repunzel sideburns. In April, they had the Fealty and Firkin all hot and sweaty for the promo night of the latest Lockjaw compilation, No.6 - 'Helping You Back To Work'. The CD features 19 bands and obviously included the aforesaid spunky boys. Whilst on a roll, they were then seen in Rotherham and then the following night at Bodega's with This Girl and Heroes For Sale. Which was swiftly followed by a further involvement in the CD world. This time a compilation by Real Promotions with its drab title of 'Sheffield Unsigned 2001'. Purple Sticky Punch definitely want to be noticed.
Not to be out done, April saw the release from Abuse Records, that of - 'Vol.3' featuring Sunlounger and the track subtly entitled 'When She Comes Slowly'. . . PC in Barnsley? Nah mate!
Glen Sutton returned with a more ambitious Chunky Festival 2001 set over 2 days, 8-9 June, which included: 25 bands, numerous DJ's set around 3 venues. Glen Sutton had been busy. The DAYTIME section at Mandela Gardens was a little tarnished by the nasty wet weather, but not enough to dampen anyone's spirits. It was estimated that throughout the day around 300 people were in the 'Gardens, sampling the delights of the B-Movie Heroes, Marie Lynch (whose acoustic debut CD will be released shortly by Pearl Records), King Palooka, The Daze and the stunning Headliner - Sunlounger. For the EVENING, the festival switched to the Fealty and Firkin and the Union Bar for the hot sweaty delights of Purple Sticky Punch (of course), White Trash(hip-hoppers), Godstone (Thrash Metal) to name but a few.
Glen Sutton is now looking for some sponsorship and hopes to be back next year with another Chunky. So come on Carling, Heineken or whoever - Give a little joy.
Purple Sticky Punch had another release to celebrate, that of ORG Record's latest compilation CD bearing the subtle title - 'Org Radio 16 - Smack My Gorilla Head Off'. Can anyone stop them, but more to the point - should they . . . and it's only June.
Finally, for several months now there has been a regular DJ contest at Browns pub on a Saturday afternoon, which when I was there was full of energy and vitally. And full of damn good grooves, so expect to see our very own 'Fat Boy' sometime in the future.
So had the new technology reduced everyone one to being bedroom 'Tech-eads' as I'd thought previously. Strangely not. Although the bands are more empowered thanks to the web. There's nary a band without its own site. Also Barnsley seems to have more going for it today; musically from thrash metal to folk whilst stopping off at all stations in-between, and with so many venues too. It warms the cockles of my heart to see that there's more to the tarn than Wellington Street. Finally, to quote Jeff Goldblum's character in Jurassic Park "Nature finds a way" . . . well, I never said I was contemporary! . . . and can you believe it, Goldblum and Elizabeth Taylor - what's THAT about!
Part One on Barnsley's musical history can be seen at Ayup.co.uk. Click [HERE] for direct access.
