So because Hallowe’en is on Thursday NEXT week – what with Thursdays being a bit of a weird night anyway – this weekend is going to involve a great deal of Hallowe’eny type events. And so will next weekend…. I like to call it – a phrase of my own invention – Hallowe’ek.
However, it’s going to last longer than a week as places like The Empress Pub are having their celebrations the following weekend, which naturally you can read all about next week – so let’s call it – cleverly – Hallowe’eeeeeek.
There’s loads on as lots of places come over all creepy and cob-webby like a graveyard… Actually, some places don’t really need to put up much decorations for that do they? I dj’ed a night the other month that was like Djing in a graveyard, only it was less lively, and I was more scared. That notwithstanding there’s plenty of events for budding vampires to get their teeth into, or freeky frankensteins to funk on down to etc etc.
The Halloowe’eeek kicks off on Friday at Retro Bar on Commercial Street, with a special Halloween edition of their “Geek Pub Quiz” night, perhaps involving questions about Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice, which I think is normally what the questions are about anyway. Given that everyone who goes raves about how much fun it is normally, I reckon this will be brilliant and would suggest getting there early.
Into the weekend, on Saturday 26th October Knaresborough has my recently launched campaign – in the wake of Lockdown 2013 – Bring Tourism back to Knaresborough (B.T.B.2.K.2K13) kicking right off with two big events :
The events are called “Fright night” and “Fright Fest”. Let’s deal with them one at a time to avoid any of the usual confusion that is naturally associated with my slaphanded shoddy writying:
The whole Saturday has things going on, for example, Cafe Nero in the market place have fund-raising, face painting and, presumably, coffee, in aid of St. Michaels hospice, starting at the ungodly hour of 9.30 in the morning.
Decorated shop fronts and all of that kind of thing (really, worth the train ticket to Knaresborough just to behold shops that aren’t already tripped out in Christmas tat) lead up to the first BIG event, Fright Night, which is going to be held on Saturday afternoon …. The term “Fright Afternoon” isn’t quite as terrifying is it though, so give them poetic licence as Fright Night starts at 3pm. It takes place in the castle grounds, the market place and Green Dragon Yard (just off Cheap side).
There will be things for kids to do like pumpkin carving, story telling, ghost walks, a fancy dress contest and a colouring contest, which is going to be judged by the mayor. This is probably the most “local news” type thing I’ve ever talked about, but it is one of the reasons that I really love K-Town. I’ve been to a bunch of the kind of events they have there, they are always really good and have loads of places and people involved, giving a proper sense of community. Fright Night concludes with a “Zombie Quest” that is ticket only (two excellent places, Pear records and The Lavender Tea rooms are selling them). Now, this is ONLY for the over 14‘s as presumably it will be a bit frightening for younger kids…. Though I reckon that must mean it’s pretty scary as kids don’t scare easily these days, what with their MTV’s and their Diet Cokes. I mean, the other week I saw a child behaving badly and I GLARED at the back of their head, from a safe distance, whilst muttering under my breath things like “in my day” and “you call that music” and this kid didn’t care and certainly wasn’t scared. In fact, the most scared I think I’ve ever seen a child was my 11 year old nephew when he realised he had left his I-phone charger at home – “but uncle Trev, how will I be able to post instagram pictures of the fizzy pop and bullseye sweets I am eating to all my chums” – is what I suspect he was saying to me, but I wasn’t listening because I find children boring because they cannot conduct informed discussions about the state of the economy, the issue of improved fiscal streamlining and its comparisons to investment when attempting to stimulate the expansion of a nations productive potential and material output.
Meanwhile, for older children, the second event is Frightfest down at Henshaws near Bond End. This is a music festival for charity from the same people who gave you the excellent “Bedfest” on Bed Race day. There is an article including a photo of me trying to look like a member of the undead (it didn’t take much make up, it was 11 in the goddamnmorning)
about it in this week’s advertiser, but if you’ve not seen it I’ll give you some of the details: Entry is £6.50 which goes to charity, all the bands involved (plus certain benevolent DJ’s ) are performing for free. Really, it’s events like this that should remind you that Dj’s and musicians are caring sharing types, it’s not all drugs and hookers – which for me really is a savage indictment of the music industry. Nevertheless, there are two stages : Laurie Hopkins is running the acoustic stage and I’ll be “compering” (posh for “Dj’ing in between the bands) at the Rock stage, which is where Hawk Eyes are headliners. Hawk Eyes are a bit of a big deal, having toured with Ginger Wildheart and System of a Down and this should be a really good gig. https://www.facebook.com/events/473144616115534 is the facebook event page which has the full line up; there’s a bar there and food and stuff too, so this should be a great day. Tickets are available from Pear records in Knaresborough and Space Vintage in Harrogate,
both places are selling tickets for free ( that is, they are not taking any profit from them, you’ll still have to actually pay for them yourselves, but rest assured, ALL the money is going to charity!). It starts at 4pm and runs until 11, with a total of 11 bands, which for £6.50 a ticket means that… each bands… costs… Erm… probably less than a packet of Skips? And will almost certainly leave you with fresher breath.
After that, still on Saturday, I am jumping in a helicopter (which is what I call a car) to get straight to Rehab as I’m covering Dj Pieman’s Saturday night. Please note, I am doing Frightfest for free as it is for Charity and I do them type of gigs for free; however, if you would like me to play your club or birthday party, I want cold hard currency. And drugs and hookers.
I feel I should clear up, I DO NOT WANT drugs and hookers as drugs are very bad for you and despite it being hallowe’eeeek I don’t in fact wish to end up dead. I don’t want hookers because I don’t like any kind of rugby player.
Straying briefly from talking about myself and to a lesser extent, Hallowe’en, The Manhatten Club in Harrogate has been holding a month of Charitable going’s on, and this Sunday is the Grand Finale. Last Orders, Pals in Palestine and The Matt Goldberg Band are playing, hosted by Dj Tim Paul, plus singing from April Lindsay and a raffle and some other stuff. They have had loads on there this month, all in aid of St. Michael’s hospice, so good on em.
Back to me – Bottom of the Bottle’s pre-Hallowe’en Party on Sunday 27th October is generally one of the better Bottom of the Bottle’s of the year, not because I do anything particularly good at it but because the fancy dress costumes people wear are usually amazing… That said, this year we have also got a really strong line up, with Harrogate Bands Pips and Scars Over Broadway being joined by Knaresborough’s I Call Mutiny and k-town rock n’ rollers Pacific Drive. York’s A Jokers Rage are headlining, doors open at 8pm and entry is free, there’s drinks offers on and usually Elena the manager gets dressed as a VERY sexy witch or vampire. Like, them vampire’s in the old movies where they were sexy and still scary, as opposed to the ones in the new movies which are either just TOO scary, or too damn boring. Elena gets the balance right, somewhere between that bird out of Evanescence and Elvira.
Also on Sundays at the moment, Lure Bar are having a weekly Dj contest to win a set at Love to Be. I don’t know who’s in this week, but the heats so far have been good and busy nights so it’s worth checking out. Particularly if you think that Dj’s should stick to Dj’ing rather than trying to branch out by writing about other people dj’ing.
I think there is then a bit of a break from hallowe’en stuuff for a few days, presumably so that Footlights fancy dress can get a new delivery of Facepaint, fake blood and Cat ears for lazy girls. It all gets started again on Hallw-Eve (?) Wednesday 30th October, once again in Knaresborough, which is hosting a Ghost Walk. This set’s off from the Library at 7pm. It’s £3 or 2 quid for kids, but they need to be over 10 and accompanied by an adult. If my experience is typical, this adult will be a dad, who persists in walking behind the child until they get distracted then jumping at them and making a scary noise; the main effect of this being that the child is indeed terrified because they are scared that any of their friends might be watching them having a good time with their parents.
In non-Hallowe’ek related stuff, The Plosnat Society (who are, admittedly, scarily good) are playing the Board Inn this Friday. This was the band who blew everyone away at Feva’s pic-nic in the park recently, they do a great range of covers, from proper muso-old man type acts that I like, right through to current stuff like Daft Punk and all that crazy techno-disco stuff the kids love. I’ve kind of gone on a bit about loads of things in Knaresborough this week, so in the interests of balance and journalistic integrity, I’d like to point out that in Harrogate TONIGHT I’m djing at Rehab, and now Thursday are £2.50 drinks on both floors, all night AND it’s free to get in across the building.
Here are this week’s ACTUAL LISTINGS
THURSDAY 24th October
Charlies Place, live music from the MG Band.
Revolution, “Vodology” NuDisco, Electronic 80‘s & House with Dj Disco Dave, free entry.
Blues Bar, Live music with Birdman Rallies, free entry. OR The unity Reggae band, depending on if you believe the Blues bar website, or facebook. Who knows, maybe its both? Its free in anyway so it’s a bargain either way.
The Alexandra, Live music, free entry.
Rehab Nightclub, 2 floors, free entry, £2.50 drinks all night.: upstairs Flex R’n’B night with Dj Tex, downstairs Party Rock Anthems with Dj Trev.
Viper Rooms Nightclub, Y.O.L.O. R’n’B night with Spencer Matthews. Door charge applies.
Moko Lounge Y.O.L.O. Pre Bar.
Christies Bar, Pub quiz with Sean McGrath.
FRIDAY 25th October.
The Board Inn, Knaresborough, live music from The Plosnat Society.
Retro Bar, “Geek Pub Quiz” night, Hallowe’en Special.
Grape & Graze, Acoustic Night with Aaron Bertenshaw + more.
Lure bar, Dj Sixus, house & Urban, Free Entry.
The Blues Bar, live music from Idle Hands, free Entry.
Christies Bar, Live Music, The MG Band, free Entry.
Rehab Nightclub, “Electro Circus” dance Night downstairs, upstairs live music with Humble Scoundrel, Pseudonympho, Dave Sowden & guest Dj. Free Entry.
Moko Lounge nightclub, “Frat house Party”.
Viper Rooms X-Factor Finalist. Entry £5 or £8 to meet and greet the “celebrity”
Zoso Bar, Union Street, “Vibe” House night with guest Djs.
Grape & Graze, Parliament Street, acoustic night.
SATURDAY 26th October.
The Blues Bar, live music with Jed Thomas and his band, free entry.
Charlies Bar, live music from Scapegoat Kelly.
Moko Lounge nightclub, “Risque”, Hallowe’en special, with a £500 balloon drop, fancy dress competition and lovely haunted House music.
Revolution Bar, front bar Dj Tex (Soul & R’n’B), main room Disco Dave (upfront dance and chart) free entry.
Rehab nightclub, Rock music with a hint of Hallowe’en from Scary Creepy Weird old person Dj Trev, Downstairs, dance music with Dj Wayne. Free entry.
Vipers Rooms Nightclub, Chart & house music, Dj Jay Collins upstairs, downstairs Dj Angel Lee playing guilty pleasures and feel good music, free entry before 11pm.
Christies Pub, Sean McGrath’s Cheesy disco.
The Board Inn Knaresborough, live music from Liam Grey & friends.
SUNDAY 27h October
The Alexandra Pub, Live music with Ben Sowden at the Sunday Soundcheck acoustic night. Free entry.
Rehab nightclub, Bottom of the Bottle, Hard Rock gig & club night, with I Call Mutiny, Scars Over Broadway, Pacific Drive, Pips & A Jokers Rage followed by Dj Trev til 3am, free entry.
Lure bar, Dj Competition. Free Entry.
Banyan, Aaron Bertenshaw acoustic. Free Entry.
Viper Room’s Nightclub, “FREEK-a-boo” R’n’B night, Hallowe’en special, free entry in fancy dress.
Blues Bar, FULL DAY OF LIVE MUSIC live music, The Reeds (afternoon) Dreams of Apollo (Teatime) The Barsteward Sons of Val Doonican (Evening). Free Entry.
Fat Badger , Cold Bath Road, Pub Quiz.
The Empress on The Stray, Pub Quiz.
MONDAY 28th October
The Alexandra Pub Quiz, with Dj Pieman and a roll over cash jackpot of £400.
The Harlow Inn, Otley road, Pub Quiz.
Zoso Bar, Dj Max & Rum Chaser, house music.
Blues Bar, open mic session with Pete Oliver including Aaron Bertenshaw acoustic, free entry.
Moko Lounge nightclub, Karaoki.
TUESDAY29th October
The Tap n’ Spile pub, folk night.
The Blues Bar, acoustic session, 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.
Zoso Bar, Union Street, Electro Jam, open decks sesh.
WEDNESDAYS 30th October
Knaresborough Ghost Walk, set’s off 7pm from the library.
Rehab nightclub, Dj Pieman playing party music.
The Blues Bar, live music from the Paul Middleton Angst band .
SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION
Hey (with the exception of the answers “because it’s rubbish”) why not look at my blog? It is at facebook.com/djtrevuk but it sometimes has swearing in and rarely has things worth reading in. I’m also on mixcloud.com/djtrevuk if you’d like to hear some of the music I like to play, the theory was I was going to do a hallowe’en special this week, but time is getting on and I simply can’t be bothered. Nevertheless if you listen to literally any of the mixes on there, there is plenty of horror, terror and scares as the mixing is just awful.
Thanks for reading, drink responsibly and don’t be loose with your affections.
Trev x x x
