This Friday has a big charity night on at The Den. It’s being run by Thea’s Trust; without going into it too much, Thea’s Trust is a really positive charity coming out of something that was very sad and they are releasing a Charity Single on line i-tunes and what have you, likewise, this Friday.
The single is called “Keep the candle burning” and is a cool way to remember a brave person AND do some good for the future. Check out the website for full details http://www.theastrust.co.uk/ and get you down to the Den at 7.30 on Friday. I guess Jonny Skinner will be playing, as he sings the song, and Jonny is great live, a cracking voice, quality player and really quite handsome toboot.
If you’d rather do something that’s good for your health whilst still being charitable, there is a Thea’s Trust Three Peaks Challenge on 16th August, but I’m not kidding just writing the Three Peak Challenge exhausts me. I mean, good on you if you are doing it, but my kind of charity work is more – ooh lets say – sitting in a shop window playing Scrabble?
Speaking of which I’d like to say a really big thank you to everyone who came and pointed, laughed, threw money at or bought me: a latte, biscuits, orange juice… or more importantly donated some money last week whilst I did that ridiculous thing in Oxfam’s Bookshop Window. Given that I was just sat there, really kind of looking how I look normally, I was pretty impressed we raised any money at all; whilst it was hundreds rather than thousands we raised, it was a really nice event to be involved in and there was a good amount of satisfaction to be had by seeing that what we were doing was actually putting a smile on a lot of peoples faces. Usually when I am djing peoples facial expressions are kind of the opposite to smiles, so this made a nice change of pace for me. I had a great bunch of people helping me out over the three days; Bev, Biffy, Max, Sam, Louise, George, Caroline, Troy, Adam and more plus volunteers from the shop itself were all magnificent and I’m sure that once I put it in writing that they agreed to do it again in a few months will feel that they have to, by obligation. Also props to Jakes coffee shop who kept me supplied with delicious Lattes for the duration and are top sorts!
Back to the live music thing; the other live highlight for me this weekend would be the band The Shades, who are playing the Blues Bar at 6pm on Sunday. They are a bunch of young lads who clearly really like Joy Division, and they have got some brilliantly catchy tunes that are beyond their years… AND a keytar player. What are you doing on Sunday evening that is so important that you don’t want to go and see a keytar player? Frankly, you should probably adjust your lifestyle priorities to fit this in… Hopefully The Shades are gonna play a Bottom of the Bottle for me soon, as I genuinely love them!
If you are into House Music, this Friday there is a fairly underground night on at Retro Bar, called Playtime. My close celebrity showbiz DJ friend Bri Buckle and his crew have been running house nights in and around Harrogate for a minute (which, for any old uncool people, that is to say, people not like me, means “quite a long time” in street parlance) and have a very strong ethos of pushing the music they love. These are not promoters who are in it for the money (again, not like me) they are doing it for the love and passion that they have for house music and this comes across with the attitude and outlook of their nights. If you are into house get down and support these guys!
If all this talk of House Music, Diet Coke and MTV is a little too “Radio 1” for you, there is a Michael Buble Tribute on this Friday at The Dower House hotel in Knaresborough. It won’t be too loud, and you’ll be able to understand the words.
Retro Bar have another night on this Saturday with Selby Green playing live, I don’t know anything about the music Selby Green play, but it’s just dawned on me that the name “Selby Green” is quite similar in both structure and content to the name “Lincoln Park” which would also be a great name for a band.
Actually – and this has nothing to do with Harrogate but I’m going to mention it anyway: the new Linkin Park album is actually quite good… I know, I was surprised too. I’ll still just keep playing old Linkin Park records for now though eh? To be on the safe side yeah? I play that kind of stuff on Saturdays at Rehab if you’re interested? No, just me then.
Back to the Future
There are a few big events coming up over the next few weeks, and there is kind of something for everyone:
For House Music, Monthly club night Knee Deep are back on Friday 1st August with a big line up for them, including Dale Howard & the pretty darn legendary Buckley. Knee Deep are also hosting the House tent one of the days at Fieldtrip festival, which is over the weekend of the 15th August with some massive names in Dance Music playing, things are looking very bright indeed for this brand!
For live music, indeed an afternoon of live music for all the family, FEVA’s Pic-nic in the park hits Knaresborough house on the Afternoon of Saturday August 16th; It is a free gig and if previous years have been anything to go by will be a great day. And hey, I don’t want to mention it – but will – this is one of the gigs that I play for free, cos it’s a really nice community event and something I look forward to every year.
Something for fans of heavier music is coming on Friday September the 12th at the Bilton WMC. It’s a charity night for “Fighting Epondymoma” which is set up to fund research into a cure for this very rare form of Cancer, and features the reunions of some of Harrogate’s old underground rock and punk bands.
If that seems a bit far away, Crusader Fest is a small independent bands festival held on the 2nd of August at Garforth. Impyus, who played a great gig for me recently are playing that and their music will be great to relax with a beer in the sun to. Proceeds go to Charity and it’s only a quid to get in!
Next week I’ve got a Burlesque night on the top floor at Rehab, but I’ll no doubt go over the top talking that up next week… so more immediately even than that – that is to say, happening this weekend – there is the Deer Shed festival at Topcliffe, which is near Thirsk. I’m not sure if that fits within my remit of “Harrogate What’s On” but it looks like a good festival; some of the highlights are Dan le Sac v’s Scroobius Pip, Stornaway, Johhny Marr, plus a load of bands I’m not really cool enough to have heard of. If you’ve never been to a smaller festival though, they are well worth trying out, don’t get me wrong, Pepsi-Presents Leeds fest in association with Nike Trainers is fine too, but the slightly less “Tuborg” orientated festivals are a lot of fun, and quite a bit cheaper!
If you can’t be free the full weekend, what about a Sausage and Beer festival on the Saturday? Camp Hill, near Bedale have a sausage and beer festival on, this Saturday, called the “Sausage and Beer Festival”. It’s at Camp Hill. This isn’t rocket science is it? There’s a load of bands including an Oompah band, and it’s got beer and sausages. If I didin’t have to do what you do during the week (that is to say work, after a fashion) I’d go to this. As it is I will be slogging my guts out pressing play on CDs and getting shouted at for not knowing what “that big song, the one I like, I really like it, come on, you must know what I mean” means.
I’ve obviously been out in Ripon or something recently, as I have another evert near there to list too, which is a “family fun day” at The Royal Oak in Stavely. That’s on Saturday too. So there’s loads to do on Saturday sort of in that neck of the woods. If however you are reading this and are thinking “wait on, this is all well and good for people who live in “North” North Yorkshire, what is there to do in Harrogate on Saturday if its nice and sunny?” can I suggest you stand outside my bedroom window at 10 in-the-god-damn-morning having a conversation on your mobile phone really loudly, as that seems to have really come into fashion recently.
Here are this weekends full Listings:
THURSDAY 24th July
Blues Bar, live music from The Memphis Cruisers, Free entry.
Lure Bar, Pub Quiz with Dj Trev questions that are, at best, not difficult. 8.30pm, 2 quid.
Viper Rooms Nightclub YOLO R’n’B nigh.
Rehab Nightclub with Dj Tex. “Urban R’n’B”.
The Alexandra, Live music, free entry.
Christies Bar, Pub quiz with Sean McGrath.
FRIDAY 25th July
The Den, “Keep the Candle Burning” single launch night, in aid of Thea’s Trust. http://www.theastrust.co.uk/
Deer Shed Festival, Topcliffe Nr. Thirsk.
Eiger Music Studios, Leeds, “Hyde Park Unity Day” fundraiser, with lots of bands, DJ’s and MC’s including a favorite of mine, Humble Scoundrel.
Retro Bar, Playtime House Night with Bri Buckle, Paddy Wood & more. Free Entry.
Blue Bar, live music Little Stevie and the Business, free entry.
Dower House Hotel, Michael Buble Tribute.
Lure Bar, Shuffle with Toby Skinner. House, Breaks & Funk.
Moko Lounge, Shakalakaboom club night with a weird name.
Rehab Nightclub, “Electro Circus” dance Night.
SATURDAY 26th July
Deer Shed Festival, Topcliffe Nr. Thirsk.
Sausage and Beer Festival, Camp Hill Estate, Nr. Bedale.
Royal Oak Pub, Stavely, Family fun Day.
Blues Bar, live music with the legendary Jed Thomas Blues Band
Revolution Bar, front bar Dj Tex (Soul & R’n’B), main room Disco Dave (upfront dance and chart) free entry.
Moko Lounge, Drop Out house night.
Retro Bar, Selby Green live. Free Entry.
Rehab nightclub, two floors of music: Top Floor : Bottom of the Bottle ROCK NIGHT with Dj Trev 10pm ‘til 4am.Downstairs: Doors open 8pm with Pop & Dance music from Djs Wayne & James. Free entry.
Vipers Rooms Nightclub Dj Angel Lee & The Legendary Neil Jaques playing tunes for upfront clubbing upstairs, Harvey Westwood downstairs
SUNDAY 27th July
Deer Shed Festival, Topcliffe Nr. Thirsk.
Blues Bar, live all day: Rabbit Foot 3pm, The Shades 6pm & Bar Steward sons of Val Doonican 9pm.
Empress on the stray, Pub quiz every week.
Rehab nightclub, Dj Trev’s Sunday Social.
Viper Rooms. Peek-a-Boo R’n’B night.
Hales Pub, live acoustic night.
Fat Badger, Cold Bath Road, Pub Quiz.
MONDAY 28th July
The Harlow Inn, Otley road, Pub Quiz.
So! Bar, Otley Road, Pub Quiz.
Rehab, late bar.
Blues Bar, fully hosted fully entertaining open mic session, hosted by Pete Oliver.
Moko Lounge nightclub, Karaoke
TUESDAY 29th July
The Blues Bar Acoustic Session, Free entry.
The Tap n’ Spile pub, folk night.
Pitcher & Piano Re:Session cheap drinks night.
Rehab nightclub, Dj Max Czernic.
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, Half Price Drinks with Toby Skinner.
Coach and Horses Pie and Peas night with proceeds to Martin’s House Children’s Hospice.
WEDNESDAY 30th July
The Harlow Pub “Midweek Madness” pub quiz with Dj Tim Paul.
The Regency Pub, big screen quiz.
Rehab nightclub, Dj Max Czernic. Anything goes party set with Harrogate’s next big hair.
The Blues Bar, live music from the Paul Middleton Angst band .
Thanks for reading, drink responsibly and don’t be loose with your affections.
Trev x x x
