(Or places to park your keister this Easter)
Easter Weekend is kind of a watershed for winter within the late night entertainment industry. Generally speaking the year is pretty rubbish – or perhaps just chaverage – up until Easter, then the weather picks up a bit and people come out of hibernation. Not just the good looking people mind (seriously, where DO they go over winter, have you SEEN the streets recently? Boi-iing!) but everyone. Accordingly, that means that lots of places put on lots of things. Thus this weekend you are spoiled for choice.
In an attempt to make all of what’s on easier to digest (like when you get an easter egg, break it into about 8 bits and think “I’ll just have one bit” before you eat all 8 bits and feel sick, and a little disgusted with yourself) I have tried to break down all of what is on into manageable subsections – hopefully without making you feel sick disgusted with yourself by the time you’ve read it… Though that is somewhat doubtful. Still, this format works for me, as it not only makes sense, but since I am now “Mr. Diversity” in the field of featherweight entertainment, I personally have something that features in each section, so I can be as biased and underhanded as I like and you probably won’t notice:
Quiz nights: Thursday night has a pub quiz at Christies, presented by my arch rival and fellow beardy weirdy Dj Sean McGrath. I’m led to believe his quiz is speedily and efficiently performed with a minimum of mess. Alternately at Lure Bar I take much too long to present “Dj Trev’s Easter Quiz” which is justly renown for it’s general crapness. Followed by a night of my own invention, the Patented “Crap Disco”, with party, disco, house, 80’s, pop, soul and shoddiness, Thursday nights really are the beginning of my working week, and I have honestly no idea what I am going to do when this precarious house of cards I call a career collapses. But that’s been the case for 12 years so I wouldn’t worry about me (or indeed ask me “What are you going to do when this precarious house of cards you call a career collapses Trev?” as people have taken to doing for the last 12 years). Friday has Retro Bar’s quiz, which is far more popular than mine, making me think it is a massive cult. The “Geek Pub Quiz” is always busy and this is the 21st quiz there; to celebrate, bizarrely, there is a “Zombie” fancy dress theme. Fast forwarding to Easter Monday, your Dj Pieman hosts his quiz at The Alexandra, plus So! Bar and The Harlow Inn both have quizzes on in the weekly Otley Road Pub quiz war, which in my imagination threatens to end in a bloody orgy of violence and complimentary bar snacks.
Dodgey Student R’n’B type nights: pretty much everywhere has a dodgey R’n’B type night over the weekend, including Revolution and Rehab. However, sitting proudly at the top of the pile is Viper Rooms Nightclub which has the “The hotly anticipated return” of their showcase night YOLO. I can’t begin to accurately convey how excited I am about the return of YOLO, and am only disappointed that I can’t go to it because I am working / a bit under the weather mate / playing football that night / dead (editorial note: remember to change your excuse every week Trev). Still, I will no doubt be able to enjoy some of the best bits of YOLO, which I find is watching the orange girls who go there struggle to walk because instead of wearing shoes they have accidentally put small double decker busses on their feet. Still… fit.
Tribute acts: There are two big tribute acts in town this week; Harrogate town has Elvis on Friday, whilst on Sunday Neil Diamond is at The Bilton WMC. I said earlier that I have a night that relates to each of these sub sections, and indeed on Saturday night you can come and watch me perform a loving tribute to people who can actually Dj, at The Den. Whilst talking about Bilton WMC, on Thursday they have a kids Disco there including an Easter bonnet competition, with lots of music, silly games and prizes. This is probably going to clash really badly with the return of YOLO though isn’t it winkey smiley face?
BBQs: The Empress on the Stray have a BBQ on Easter Monday, and whilst I’m on they hold their annual St. George’s Day pub Crawl on Wednesday. I went on this last year and had a genuinely excellent day with them; however this year I am going to have to miss it, as now that I’m single and tragic again people find my company crushingly depressing.
House Music: House music continues to relentlessly take over the known world, and several places are holding big house nights over the weekend. Friday see’s Lure Bar host a new night called “Full Circle”. This has got Dj’s, Paul Murray, Rickie Dh, Graham Dixon and Dj Yogi Play on from 9-2am and is a fiver to get in. On Saturday Moko lounge – which is, for me, the ideal venue for house music – has a Hed Candi classics night. Hed Candi are a bit more at the mainstream end of house music, and a classics night from them will always be busy. Regrettably I don’t know how much it is to get in, as I always swan into these things without paying, not because I think I’m a big deal, but because I am slippery and smother than an oiled codfish. Finally, and probably most adventurously, promoters “Discotek” host an All Dayer at Retro Bar on Easter Sunday. This has got 16 (S.I.X.T.E.E.N) Dj’s on and is only five quid.
Live Music: The Den has two helpings of live music, starting on Friday with The Blue Flies, then on Saturday afternoon it’s “smarter than the average bear” Dan Burnette. After that, as I mentioned earlier, there is Dj’ing in the evening from Harrogate’s answer to Boo-boo, Dj Trev. The MG Band are playing Christies on Friday, whilst Thursday see’s the new live night return to The Regency Pub hosted by Faried and friends. Of course there is live music constantly at the ever good Blues Bar, but they have so much on I’m just going to refer you to the listings below, as naturally it is time for me once again to shamelessly plug my own night, which is at Rehab on Sunday. It is the Battle of the Bands GRAND Final from 8pm and is free to get in. Doors open at 7.30pm, with Set Sails, Humble Scoundrel, The Shades and Pips having made it this far over a great couple of months worth of gigs. After that there are two floors of partying, including “Dj Trev’s Bottom of the Bottle Rock night” upstairs and the Rehab Residents Dance Party Downstairs.
Knaresborough: It would be remiss of me to not mention that every Easter weekend in Knaresbrough Market Place they have a family entertainment fair. I’ve been before and they are really good events with plenty going on. I’ve been reliably informed that Ice Hole, who play there on Saturday are particularly excellent, and there is a young Dj called Rory Hoy playing a set there on Saturday that I think will be fun too.
I hope you have an excellent Easter whatever you decide to get up to, time to get out there into the sun; listen though: wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis or reliable than my own meandering experience, I will dispense the full weekend listing now.
THURSDAY 17th April
Bilton WMC Childrens Easter Party.
Live music at The Regency Pub.
Retro Bar, Selby Green live acoustic.
Lure Bar, Dj Trev’s Easter Quiz of general crapness. Followed by, of his own invention, the Patented “Crap Disco”, with party, 80’s, pop, Soul and shoddiness.
Viper Rooms Nightclub, “The hotly anticipated return of YOLO”.
Rehab Nightclub with Dj Tex. “Urban R’n’B”.
Blues Bar, live music from The Resonators, Free entry.
The Alexandra, Live music, free entry.
Christies Bar, Pub quiz with Sean McGrath.
FRIDAY 18th April
Knaresborough Market place, all day family entertainment.
Christies Bar, MG Band live.
The Den, live music from The Blueflies.
Retro Bar, The Geek Pub Quiz’s 21st birthday! Zombie Fancy Dress theme, for some reason.
Harrogate town AFC, Elvis Presley Tribute.
Lure Bar, Full Circle house night, Paul Murray – ( Rock Bar – Shine ), Rickie Dh – ( Pryzm ), Graham Dixon – ( Stinkys ), Dj Yogi Play
Zoso Bar, “Vibe” House & Techno night with Andy Winters, Matt Watson, Johnny Kendal, Jake Bartle Cloudbass. Free Entry.
Rehab Nightclub, “Electro Circus” dance Night.
The Blues Bar, live music from The Early Mac Band, Free entry.
Moko Lounge nightclub, “Frat house Party”.
SATURDAY 19th April
Knaresborough Market place, all day family entertainment.including Ice Hole live at 1pm & Dj Rory Hoy at 3pm.
Harrogate Town at home against Leamington.
The Den, live music in the afternoon from Dan Burnette, Dj’ing in the evening from Dj Trev.
Retro Bar, Dj Dave’s electric Dreams night, 80’s and 90’s dance music.
The Blues Bar, live music with The Jed Thomas Blues Band.
Moko Lounge Hed Kandi classics.
Revolution Bar, front bar Dj Tex (Soul & R’n’B), main room Disco Dave (upfront dance and chart) free entry.
Rehab nightclub, Rock music upstairs from Your Dj Pieman, Downstairs, dance music with Dj Wayne & James. Free entry.
Vipers Rooms Nightclub Dj Angel Lee & The Legendary Neil Jaques playing tunes for upfront clubbing upstairs, Harvey Westwood downstairs.
Christies Pub, Sean McGrath’s Cheesy disco, free entry.
SUNDAY 20th April
Retro Bar, Discotek all dayer, 16 djs, House & Tech House. £5 entry.
Bilton WMC, Neil Diamond Tribute. Free Entry!
Hales Pub, live acoustic night.
Rehab Bar & Club, Battle of the Bands GRAND Final from 8pm. With 4 Bands from 7.30pm, followed by two floors of partying, including Dj Trev’s Bottom of the Bottle Rock night upstairs and the Rehab Residents Dance Party Downstairs, FREE ENTRY ALL NIGT til something like 4am.
The Alexandra Pub, Live music at the Sunday Soundcheck acoustic night. Free entry.
Viper Room’s Nightclub, Peek-a-Boo Urban night.
Blues Bar, live music from Roadhouse 59 in the afternoon, Endless Remedy around teatime and Pelico at night.
Fat Badger, Cold Bath Road, Pub Quiz.
MONDAY 21st April
The Empress on the Stray, BBQ.
The Alexandra Pub Quiz, with your Dj Pieman.
The Harlow Inn, Otley road, Pub Quiz.
So! Bar, Otley Road, Pub Quiz.
Zoso Bar, Dj Max & Rum Chaser, house music.
Blues Bar, fully hosted fully entertaining open mic session, free entry.
Moko Lounge nightclub, Karaoke..
TUESDAY 22nd April
Zoso Bar, Union Street, Electro Jam, open decks sesh.
The Tap n’ Spile pub, folk night.
Pitcher & Piano Re:Session cheap drinks night.
The Blues Bar, Karl Culley, Free entry.
Moko Lounge Nightclub, “Skint” main room upfront dance and electro, VIP Room Rock Box Rock night Dj Jaye Selway.
Revolution Bar, “Back to Rev’s” House Night, Dj’s Tex & Sixus.
Coach and Horses Pie and Peas night with proceeds to Martin’s House Children’s Hospice.
WEDNESDAYS 23rd April St. Georges Day
The Empress on the Stray’s annual St. George’s Day pub Crawl.
The Harlow Pub “Midweek Madness” pub quiz with Dj Tim Paul.
Pitcher & Piano Quiz night from 8pm. Free for new teams or £1.50 PP.
The Regency Pub, big screen quiz.
Rehab nightclub, your Dj Pieman’s “Midweek Madness” playing party music.
The Blues Bar, live music from the Paul Middleton Angst band .
The exact same bit of SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION I used the week before last week AND the week before AND aaaaand the week before that. Pretty much since the dawn of time actually. I didn’t bother with it last week but not one noticed. Let’s face it, you’ve stopped reading already.
Should you wish to listen to some of my actual Dj’ing from the comfort of your own home, you can do that at Mixcloud.com/djtrevuk but really I’d much rather you can out and partied, not for my financial gain you understand, but for your emotional wellbeing.
Thanks for reading, drink responsibly and don’t be loose with your affections.
Trev x x x
