This week’s main thing for me is that I’ve got my quizzle night at The Den on Thursday 6th November. It’s not really the main thing for me, the main thing is it’s my birthday, but seeing as that is almost certainly going to be a crushing disappointment this year due to the fact that I’m not very nice and no one likes me, lets concentrate on my quiz… which is almost certainly going to be a crushing disappointment this month due to the fact that I’m not very good and no one likes me. It may seem like I’m not doing a lot this week but after Hallowe’ek, which is kind of my Christmas, to be honest I’d rather just sleep for a time.
Cleaning facepaint off of every single thing I own has taken me hours and I actually DID a body of work last week, so forgive me if I take it easy. Plus I am feeling older a’ready, and really could just do with a nice nap. So come to my quiz on Thursday and see if I manage to get through it without forgetting my name or putting the milk in the oven, or alternately do one of these fine things what I has picked out of what’s on:
Barcode Zebra are playing the Blues bar this Sunday, they are a jolly good band, I’ve played with them a couple of times and they do soulful rocking, if that is a term… if it isn’t it should be, check em out. They are on in the evening, but Blues always has live music all day on Sundays, indeed later in this very article I will be expounding on the virtues of another forthcoming gig there, perhaps even two.
When writing this I am wary of talking the talk but baulking at the whole “walk” thing. This is because I have, as a dj, had quite a good deal of experience of people saying how people should support nights, whilst not actually going to them themselves. For example, last week I ran Bottom of the Bottle for Halloween and there were loads of people on facebook saying “you should go to this” and of those people I noticed only about a third of them actually came themselves. Because it’s easy to preach ain’t it? As it goes, Bottom of the Bottle was really busy, so presumably the online support did serve a function – so thanks for that – thus indeed I will keep doing the night, which was in question for a while… my point is, I know how frustrating it can be when people say “support this, do that” but don’t do it themselves. That notwithstanding, I am now going to tell you to go to something that I don’t go to myself:
On Friday at Retro Bar on Commercial Street, Playtime, the monthly house night returns for its November date with guest Dj Slacky (Space Ritual) and the Playtime residents. I can’t go because I am Djing in Manchester that night, but if you like house music and think there should be more house nights in town then YOU really should go. Otherwise, when there are no nights like it, you should SHUT UP complaining. In much the same way that people who haven’t set foot in a pub in years should shut their jaws instead of saying it is bad that pubs are turning into convenience stores. Whilst I’m on, if you come up to me and say “I’ve not been to one of your nights in 6 years how come you don’t play the same music you used to?”, you should probably not talk at all. And try breathe less. If you think that there is nothing on in Harrogate, you just aren’t looking. There is plenty of stuff happening but it will only continue to happen if people support it. So yes, Playtime, this Friday at Retro Bar, which puts on a lot of cool different kinds of nights, so if you are into that, give them your support.
Whilst I’m preaching from the gospel according to Trev, here is another gig that you should ABSOLOUTLY go to that I won’t be at (if that in itself isn’t reason enough to go, trust me, the band that are playing ARE). A week on Sunday at the Blues there is a band called Echo Town playing. I saw them at Frightfest at Henshaws last week and they really are an excellent act. There is just the two of them and they play coutry folky stuff, with a sort of americana swagger, aided and abetted by weird instruments like Didgeridoos, Harmonicas and something that definitely looked like a Lute to me. Or possible a Lyre.
I’m not sure and I’m not googling it, as every time I go on google it tells me the websites that I visit most and that really is a savage indictment of just how tragically single I am. As it goes I was going to write a review of Frightfest, but due to having to get off to work I only saw two acts. Lence is a rapper from town and is really good, with excellent delivery and some brutal lyrical flow and Echo Town are the band I am telling you to go see in this paragraph. But that would basically BE my review and it doesn’t really warrant it’s own separate page does it? I WOULD actually go see these guys again myself but I am at a gig in Nottingham, because I do actually support live music rather than just talk about it, believe it or not. I will be at The Blues to see the Memphis Cruisers, the Rockabilly band I was raving about a few months ago, when they play there on the 27th of this month, but that is a way away yet isn’t it, and I will be a year older by then. And, one suspects, even more grumpy and “thou shalt” about life.
Closer to now, on Friday The Den has The Yum playing live. I don’t know what The Yum are like but The Den is a decent venue and has got a crew of regulars, but still makes everyone new welcome. Another decent venue with live music this week is Major Tom’s Social, which is still hidden away above space vintage Retro Shop, but really I can’t believe it when people tell me they’ve not been there, as it is a smart pub. This Wednesday they have Billie Marten playing and it’s free to get in. Billie played FEVA in the Park this summer which I also played, and she has some mad decent tunes which have got plays on Radio 1, so it’s not just me that thinks she’s good!
Finally, this Sunday is Remembrance Sunday. In a change to regular programming for once I’m not going to tell you what to do about that, I think it’s a personal choice. I personally will be going to one of the dedications and like to think I will remember to remember how lucky we all really are, instead of just complaining about stuff that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, like what I have for this entire article. The listings has got some approximate times for the parades on Sunday, also there is a Remembrance Concert at Grove House on Friday with Matt Anderson.
Here are the full listings of what’s on:
Thursday 6th November
Blues Bar, live music from The Sharon Colgan Band.
The Den, Dj Trev’s “Quizzle your Nizzle” time of the month Quiz night.
Christies Pub, Sean McGrath’s Pub quiz.
Viper Rooms “YOLO” R’n’B studenty night.
Lure “Thirsty Thursdays”, house & beats with Dj Scuba.
Rehab “Flex” Upfront R’n’B & Party.
FRIDAY 7th November
Grove House, Remembrance Special show with Matt Anderson live
Retro Bar, Commercial Street, Playtime House night with guest Dj Slacky (Space Ritual) + Residents.
The Den, The Yum live.
Moko Lounge, #Fridays.
Blues Bar, Crosscut Saw, free entry.
Lure Bar, Shuffle with Toby Skinner. House, Breaks & Funk.
Rehab Nightclub, “Electro Circus” dance Night. Free entry.
SATURDAY 8th November
Blues Bar, The Jed Thomas Blues Band.
Rift & Co. Bar, front bar Dj Tex (Soul & R’n’B), main room Disco Dave (upfront dance and chart) free entry.
Viper Rooms, Angel Lee & Neil Jaques upstairs, Harvey Westwood Downstairs. Door charge applies, or contact the venue for guest list before 11pm.
Moko Lounge, Drop Out house night. Door charge applies, or contact the venue for guest list before 11pm.
Rehab nightclub, two floors of music: Top Floor : Max Czernic Pop Punk 10pm ‘til 4am.Downstairs: Doors open 8pm with Pop & Dance music from Djs Wayne & James. Free entry.
SUNDAY 9th November Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Services in the area:
These times are approximate, for example the minute’s silence at The Cenotaph is aat 11am shart, so I expect the parade to start around quarter to:
Harrogate Cenotaph 10.45am, Knaresborough Castle 11am or12 noon? I’ve tried to find out, please don’t take my word for that time though as I am just speculating? Stonefall12.30, Starbeck 2.50.
Music & Nightlife Listings:
Blues Bar, live all day: Pink Peg Slax 3pm, TBC 6pm & Bar Code Zebra at 9pm.
Major Tom’s Social, Dj Scooby’s Big Band Sundays.
Viper Rooms. Peek-a-Boo R’n’B night.
Hales Pub, live acoustic night.
Fat Badger, Cold Bath Road, Pub Quiz.
MONDAY 10th November
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 11th November
The Blues Bar, keith James live, 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.
Rift & Co. Bar, “Back to Rev’s” House Night, Half Price Drinks with Toby Skinner & Steve “Scuba”.
Coach and Horses Pie and Peas night with proceeds to Martin’s House Children’s Hospice.
WEDNESDAY 12th November
Major Tom’s Social, Billie Marten live, free entry.
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. Enjoy yourself!
Trev x x x
