NWB - Community Blog

23 Mar 2011

Blackpool gigging scene...

Posted By : ~ THE SUG4R BULLETS ~ | Comments : 9

Whats it like at the mo generally? Is it worth playing over there?

In the 3 years we've been together we've never ventured over to play in Blackpool, we were close & did have a confirmed date but our booking coincided with a load of shit going on at the venue (about 18 months/2 yrs ago) so decided not to bother.

I remember around that time NWB's very own trilby buddy Keef was booking bands for the Eddy and then another venue which I can't remember...things appeared vibrant, with many bands off here heading to the seaside at weekends to play their gigs. Nowadays Blackpool rarely gets mentioned by bands on here, is that because there isn't much of a scene over there now? Or is it that when Keef started booking bands everybody jumped on the Blackpool bandwagon...in other words was it a passing phase?

We have gigs booked in Morecambe this year which we're really looking forward to playing and making a weekend of, with possible gigs in Lancaster too. Blackpool is an area we're really interesting in playing but only IF there's an audience for our type of show (Classic Punk), it's just not worth us travelling over there on the 'off chance' there's people who'll like us. Obviously if we got a booking we'd give it full promotional attention as we do ALL our gigs. Given that the Rebellion and Nice n Sleazy Punk festivals are held in Blackpool and Morecambe respectively, there must be at least some sort of following in the immediate area.

I'd like to hear from those bands that currently play in Blackpool and hear your views on gigging over there. Are pubs generally busy? Is there a specific time of year to play...ie, during Summer season? Is it out-n-out Classic Rock at venues such as the Old Bank Inn or would they gis' a gig there? (I only mention them cos I get a few event invites on FB from band's playing there).

So the main question is:
Whilst we look for new opportunities for the future, is it worth us pursuing a gig in Blackpool or are we barking up the wrong tree?

Comments

# Posted by John Wilkinson: - 23/03/2011, 15:57 (GMT)

I can only comment on the two venues we used to play

The King Eddys and The Royal Oak.

Only venues we played which were free entry venues.

Both good venues which we used to fill but sadly the managment of both venues changed and they started offering much less money than previously agreed. We couldn't justify playing the gigs for the amount offered, given the fact that it takes two and a half hours to set the show up and a further hour and a half to put it all away again.

The people of Blackpool took us to their hearts and I miss playing there to be honest.

Hope you do decide to have a go there.

Best wishes

John

# Posted by Bad Horsie (Mick) - 23/03/2011, 16:00 (GMT)

The only phrase I can use to describe the Blackpool scene is erratic. lol.

# Posted by Defunct account - 23/03/2011, 16:53 (GMT)

Afraid I can only talk about the originals scene which seems healthy but with lots of competition. However, most of the audiences we get over there certainly look as though they'd love your set - you'd have to advertise well to get these folks moving from their usual haunts ( such as the blue room ) but I reckon you could do alright on a Friday night.

# Posted by Call me DIVA - 23/03/2011, 18:33 (GMT)

The Blue rooms is very good :0)

# Posted by ~ THE SUG4R BULLETS ~ - 23/03/2011, 18:34 (GMT)

Thanks for your input guys, it does appear to be one of those places where it's the luck of the draw on the night what sort of audience you get.

I guess the next question is, who are the venues worth contacting? Obviously being a covers/tribute band any venue that's predominantly originals is out the question.

In the meantime I'll do a search...

# Posted by SKP - 23/03/2011, 19:03 (GMT)

i think once ur in..ur IN! its the getting in thats the problem - we played a blackpool venue recently to cover a cancellation, although they 'loved it' we havent heard so much of a peep yet with regards to another booking. Was a great night tho, everybodys busy i spose :-)

# Posted by Keef - 23/03/2011, 20:51 (GMT)

@Dean (SB), The scene is still vibrant, however very few venues seem willing to take risks putting on bands that are not so well known.
I went about it in a cavalier fashion, calling in bands mainly from this site. Whilst I may have been 'flavour of the month' with a lot of NWB bands, I ruffled more than a few feathers locally.
The venues are still there, and some of the bands I booked at The Eddy have got repeats there, or Jackie has booked them at The Old Bank.
I do get the nod from time to time to help out with the odd booking, but would love the chance (and Budget) to show Blackpool what an amazing wealth of talent there is to be had outside the town boundaries on a weekly basis..

# Posted by DAKOTA - 23/03/2011, 21:04 (GMT)

@keef agreed @Bad Horsie Mick agreed ! it is a funny owd place is blackpool and it has had its troubles well aired on here ,there is still to this day a clique, and in my opinion there allways will be,

keef did and still does a fantastic job getting bands up there to play , ourselves included. but we do get rebooks on merit now to so all i would say Dean is keep pluggin it coz there is DEFFO a punk scene in Blackpool and i see no reason why you guys wouldnt do well there at all, its just gettin the break, which will come eventually

Trig
Dakota

# Posted by MICK NASH - 23/03/2011, 22:30 (GMT)

Until last year I regularly played Thursday nights the Walkabout with 'Made In England'. We used to go for a pint after soundcheck, because we had a couple of hours to kill and it was like a ghost town, even the old established venues like Brannigans and Yates' were dead, but that was mid-week, don't know what weekends are like, Walkabout used to get busy late on so maybe some of the other places did too but, for the last few years at least, it was dead all season.
MN

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