Thorpe Hall Fund Raiser Night

When Thorpe hall Running Club approached Unity a few months ago asking if we'd host a fund raiser for Thorpe Hall, well, we were honoured to have that privilege. The nurses/runners proposed a class line up of acts to appear on stage. The first being Staceman whose repertoire has grown as has his ability to perform. It's interesting to note that to keep going the fund raisers at Thorpe Hall have to raise annually 1.2million pounds just to keep the place afloat. This is no mean feet. Especially when it has to be done year after year. Next up on stage The Ghears. What can I say you've got to witness the passion to believe it. Never have we seen such emotion put into a set as we had this night. Outstanding.
Our good friend Dan Donovan on stage next as his altar Ego king kool variously described as Swamp Rock, garage Rock, Grunge Rock, Bombastic guitar, whatever you call it, it's powerful. hardly surprising when he let me into the secret which I hope he doesn't mind me sharing with you. Drop down E string to D then put the guitar through two amps. Yes boys and girls count them, two amps, one guitar amp, then a bass amp to get that massive bassy grunge sound. So now you know. Oh yeah the other secret is you've got to be as good as King Kool. Rock on Danny boy.
The final act of the night the gloriously talented and funkadelic Groove Cartel, who never fail to entertain. Groove Cartel carried on the party atmosphere that had developed throughout the night.
We're proud to announce that we raised over £200 on the night for Thorpe Hall Hospice, and had a lot of fun doing it. It's such a worthy cause.

So next week is Shaggys birthday party at Unity. To celebrate we have local legends Opaque on stage. Those crazy guys Columbian Necktie. Pip and Phils Magic Penny
and finally all the way from Norwich winners of Bands Of East Anglia 2006 so they've got to be good, Rigo Jancsi. They've also got a new single out so it'll be your chance to hear it live. So wew want you there. It's Shaggys Birthday for Chrissakes come and celebrate with him. Thank him for all the hard work he's put in to bring you amazing live music every week. Lets Partay.

Thursday 19th July 2007

Welcome to another edition of "wassyourgame sonny". Firing off the night with all guns blazing Richard hall and little sis Mel performing selections from Richards new long player Horizons. Available at all good record shops and the Glass Onion. Then to further confuse people reading the programme of events we had the impossibly tall John Litchfield and the impossibly talented Sir James Chadwick on stage to do a couple of songs. Just as you think it's safe to go to the bar Disposable man take the stage complete with backing tracks and a choir of angels on hard drive. You aint seen nothing yet. Not until you've witnessed Disposable Man. Political like Billy Bragg, poetic like John Cooper Clark, angry like all of us. Yet spitting it out to the brilliant guitar work of Steve Satori. If you'd like to receive more words of wisdom from the motormouth that is Richard verbal I've a sneaky feeling you needn't look any further than the Palmerston Arms on Oundle Road.
Double Handsome Dragons rising from the ashes of what was Sidearm. They got their name from a Japanese film about a marshal arts soccer team. Well they exploded onto the stage and never let up the energy. No vocals just pure enthusiastic playing, visually very exciting and for your listening pleasure? Well would you expect anything less than brilliance from those Sidearm boys? Check out how handsome those Dragons are.
Next week for your entertainment pleasure. Unity is hosting a fund raiser for Thorpe hall Hospice. Those lovely nurses at Thorpe Hall are organising the event and we'll be hosting it. So we'll have on stage Groove Cartel, The Ghears, King Kool and Staceman. It's a cracking line up and all for only £4. It's a good cause so get down here next Thursday 26th July.

Peace Love and Unity

Thursday 12th July 2007

We couldn't have been more excited about tonights gig, seeing the return to the stage of the legendary Angry Man, after a long absence. Steve and Scot managed to pull a fantastic performance out of the bag to rapturous applause. It's great to have them back on the scene. John Quinn and friends as Alpha Red, rocked the place.
Finally a triumphant return to the Unity stage The Brackets who in a very short period of time managed to make their first ever live performance at unity and then follow that up with winning Unitys Band of 2007 competition against very stiff competition. But todays star performer award has to go to Mr Cameron, The Brackets drummer. He performed a masterclass on how it's supposed to be done, his brilliance shone throughout the set.
...and here's some of you enjoying the evening....

Don't forget next week we present live on stage: Disposable Man, Double handsome Dragons and Richard Hall.

What's on this week

Greetings summery folk!

Time for a return of the Muddy update - I'm hoping that this can become a weekly mail again now as I suddenly find myself with a little more time on my hands. Hooray!

Hope the summer (what summer?! lol) has been treating you all okay. We've had some lovely times already within our community and many more are on the way.

Newfoundland Festival tickets are now on sale at the Glass Onion for only £25(!!!!!!) and there's only 100 of them selling there so snap them up double quick before they go. The festival will be 7-9 September in central Wales, and Muddy Promotions are privileged to be running a stage at what will be a very special event showcasing live and electronic music, literature and visual arts. Like Grassroots last year there will only be 500 people on site including artists and crew, so you are guaranteed a lovely intimate community vibe for the weekend. What more perfect finish to the summer could you have?

Something lovely is growing locally from within our community for the 1-2 September as well. Gary and co have been working like crazy people to put together the first Exhibit:U event, to be held in Central Park, Peterborough. This two day event will be free and will be focused on two large temporary art galleries showcasing work by local artists, as well as a small stage showcasing local musicians too! This will be a free event - please support it or come and get involved with it and maybe it can become a yearly event.

More immediately you will find the Muddy geo-dome set up at Secret Garden festival (nr Huntingdon 27-29 July) presenting workshops and and open mic stage. If you are at the festival come and say hello.

Anyhow - onto the happenings of this week:

Thursday

Unity at Spirit & Soul (24 Lincoln Road) have a particularly special line-up on the go this Thursday (and it's still free to get in). Alpha Red is local legend John Quinn's new incarnation - and has been receiving a wonderful response everywhere they have played. The city is also very glad to see the return of Angry Man to the stage after a long break since the untimely death of their drummer - Mark Randall (keep your eyes open for details of the Randall Rootz events, in honour of Mark.... mid-August). Completing this quality treble bill are Unity band of 2007 winners The Brackets - who always make for a great show. Doors are 8pm till 1am.

Friday

The city's most successful acoustic night/open mic is still running at the Muddy's home the Glass Onion (Burghley Road) every Friday night and always has a lovely vibe and great music. And it's still free too. Music from 8pm. And for later bizzle:

Contact returns to Spirit & Soul on Friday night for another outing electronical wizardry. The boys are very excited to be hosting special guest Phase - a London based techno-producer who has released through Lost/Cosmic records, Inogma and Inceptive Records. Alogside him in the techno-themed main room will be Contact regulars such as Sys-Ex *LIVE* (Inceptive Records), Static Noise, MJ Dubs and Techno 303. There are two more rooms on offer as well. Peddlebreaker is hosting a room showcasing breaks and dub, and Revolution-Arry is hosting a housey/techy room (including a debut hour of wrongness by the imaginatively named F*ck). Doors are open 10pm till 4am and entrance will cost you just £4 before 12 and £5 after.

Saturday

Get up nice and early on Saturday morning and make your way down to Farcet Fen, where you will find the Muddy geo-dome set-up with workshops and a live performance from the band Opaque. The event is running from 12 till 4 and is free.

Later in the day there's a fantastic four band line-up at The Silver Jubilee (North Bretton). Point of Origin are hosting the event and have invited some amazing acts along in support. Many of you will already know Mr Zed - of you don't, why not? They are dubadelic space rock pioneers based in Cambridge and always put on an amzaing and energetic line-up. Free Will & the Bad Influences are also from Cambridge and play a funky kind of blues rock that harkens back to a bit of seventies sleaziness with a modern flavour. Completing the four band billing is Free Peace, who's new demo is sounding lovely by the way - well done guys. Entrance is free, there's a beer garden you can smoke in, and live music starts around 19:30 so get there nice and early!

If you're looking for an all night electronic dance affair check out Bish Bash Bosh at Spirit & Soul - who have established themselves firmly in the city's calendar with their diverse mix of hard dance, hardcore, drum & bass and breaks and more. They start at 10pm and finish at 5am. Entrance is £5.

Sunday

Sunday nights are film night at the Glass Onion, with big screen showings diverse flicks. Entrance is free and showings start around 8pm.

Until next time - peace love unity and respect.

Thursday 5th July 2007

Charlie Alexander one of the lads lads. He ducks and he dives, he's up for fun. But beneath that rebellious exterior is a thoughtful character full of emotion and depth. His songs reflect this, the lyrics full of colourful imagery and the music the same. Charlie has a unique style developed from when he first started playing guitar never having been taught. Not knowing the chords he played around until he found sounds he liked, chancing on chords and chord progressions not normally considered. He's since learnt all the chords and music theory but his unusual style luckily stayed with him. He plays with passion, it's not very often you see a solo acoustic artist break into sweat playing a love song. He plays with such intensity he told me "There's no point unless you give it 100%." and that's what you get with Charlie, on stage, off stage, he's 100%, living life to the full, and playing as if his life depended on it. Midwezt, the creation of a partnership between Charlie Armitage and the local legend that is Mick Davison. I've never heard them play so well as at Unity this night. Every song a well crafted classic that could easily be heard on any radio show. You know they're good. The intensive rehearsals shine through in their faultless tight performance.They certainly won a few extra fans tonight.
The Hendo-San project. Jay the bassist called me answering a plea for a band to step in at the last minute due to Intwined pulling out through illness (Don't worry we'll rebook them later)"we've been playing together for 12 years" he said. "You're booked" we said. They turned up "It's our first gig." Jay says. "What the f***?" "Don't worry we're good." Whenever you see the word "Project" in the name of a band, you know it's going to be experimental. Well true to their word and the theory they were experimental but were good, turning out a set so intense even the audience were sweating.

Now then we're really excited about next weeks Unity. We've have The Brackets, winners of this years band of 2007, Alpha Red and the band with a rapidly growing cult following Angry man. This is the "must see" event of the year. You really need to be there.

Rock on dudes

Peace Love and Unity

Summer Playlist

OK here's the summer term playlist for all those studenty types. Just to let you know what those clever little buggers have been listening to whilst swanning around at university, and presumably what they're listening to over the summer hols. I can see them now packing their little bags ready to dash off to Kirrin Island armed with lashings of ginger beer, eggs and bacon. Oh and don't forget Timmy the dog. And as they investigate strange goings on at the old manor house and the curious behaiviour of old man Jacobs they'll have their iPods crammed full to the gunnells with Snow Patrol, The Fratellis, Editors, and Andy Williams. Oh to be a student again... interrailing around Europe, sleeping on trains and on the beach, getting arrested and mugged, visiting far off distant lands, and, ignoring the cry of "Don't drink the water", getting dysentry. So what will you be listening to this summer?

1. White Stripes - Icky Thump
2. Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
3. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder
4. Editors - Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
5. Funeral For A Friend - Into Oblivion
6. Maximo Park - Books From Boxes
7. Snow Patrol - Signal Fire
8. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Hump De Hump
9. Arcade Fire - Intervention
10. The Fratellis - Ole 'Black 'N' Blue Eyes
11. Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Is Not Enough
12. Chemical Brothers - Do It Again
13. Biffy Clyro - Living Is A Problem (Because Everything Dies)
14. Pigeon Detectives - I'm Not Sorry
15. Gossip - Listen Up
16. Queens Of The Stoneage - 3's & 7's
17. Fall Out Boy - Thnks Fr the Mmrs
18. Groove Armada - Get Down
19. Mutya Mueno - Stop Me
20. CSS - Let Make Love
21. Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
22. The Twang - Either Way
23. Bloc Party - I Still Remember
24. Jamie T - Sheila
25. Kings Of Leon - On Call
26. Mutya Bueno - Real Girl
27. The Wombats - Kill the Director
28. Hello Goodbye - Here In Your Arms
29. Maximo Park - Our Velocity
30. The Killers - For Reasons Unknown

Thursday 28th June 2007

Only two acts on tonight. First in our regular acoustic slot Graham who some of you wil remember was a key member of Opaque in another incarnation. Here he is again gone solo and getting better with each gig. Our headline band tonight from Cambridge GODFATHER. We'e having a Mario Puzo moment here. They tell me their name was conjured up not to say they had any mafia affiliations but to reflect their no nonsense, focussed dedication and get the job done attitude to music. They certainly get the job done with their unique blend of 70s funk and rap with a tincy bit of disco thrown in for good humour. Actually if you listen to the words there's a load more humour in there as well. Any way they're in the middle of recording their new long player and hope it's gonna be out towards the end of summer so watch out for it. It's gonna be brill. We know that because we got to hear, live, a load of tracks from the new CD. How lucky are we? So here's the pics...
Next week at Unity we have the on stage for your entertainment folk rock wizzos INTWINED doing an acoustic set plus new alternative country (they hate that "We are NOT a country band") rock band Midwezt featuring the lovely Charlie on lead vocals and the legend that is Mick Davison on geeetar. Midwezt have just recently won a place to play at the beer festival this year. They beat Intwined by just one point.But despite that the two bands are best mates. Oh and did you catch INTWINED on the Steve Titman show the other Thursday? (BBC Radio Cambridgeshire thursday 6- 7pm) Brilliant.

The on the 12th July we have a massive line up of talent new boys Alpha Red, well worth a listen, The Brackets up and coming indie rock band and finally Angry Man who's reputation is akin to cult status. People whisper in hushed tones claiming to know them personally or have met someone who once saw them play live. If ever there was a band that deserved a cult following it's this band. if you haven't caught them before now, here is your chance and there hasn't been that many chances recently. I was honoured to be present during the photoshoot where this next pic was taken. No amps no effects just Steve and Scot playing acoustically, it was a moving experience.
Rock on dudes

Myspace of the week

We're having a bit of a change this week. Normally myspace of the week goes to a band or a musician. This week I want to introduce to you cultural officionados, the up and coming Artist, Ruth Joyce. Ruth is 20 years old and currently studying Medieval History in London. She's your typical do- my- own-thing rebel who refuses to paint pretty flowers and landscapes, instead opting to paint rock bands and extreme sports (which she's passionate about), she's also a cool cartoonist. The illustration is of two of her creations the radical cats, Wuss'n'Boots.
So go and check her out. She's cool. You'll love her art. I don't think she plays guitar but who cares when you're that good with a paint brush.

Check her out here http://www.myspace.com/imsurethataintlegal
Say hello make friends. Do what young people do.
Go on it's only polite.


Don't forget this week at Unity we have the brilliant Godfather on stage supported by Graham (ex Opaque) giving us an acoustic set.

FR3PEACE @ The Brewery tap

So Abi has been on the blower for the last week asking me to come and see her at the Brewery Tap, because her and the boys have worked out a new sound. So I went, what else am I gonna do? So the new sound? It's a little like Paul Simons Gracelands, with that African rythm vibe going on. Well I gotta say it's pretty good and the audience thought so as well. So here's Abi and the boys in glorious colour.We've got Godafther playing this week @ Unity. Shaggy says they're the dogs bollards but I could have misheard him. Anyway get down to Unity and check 'em out.

Rock on dudes

Thursday 21st June 2007

Finally we persuade Chopper to do a solo set of his own material. And what material it is. Virtuoso finger picking accompanying some great songs often humerous and the whole set interspersed with Choppers impersonation of a sicilian mafia Don il capo di capos. He's the Man. You may recognise these next guys as "Rigollo". They played at our band of 2007 competition earlier in the year but they've been reborn, harder faster moodier and better and now called The Galaxy.
How can you put these guys down? The awesome Revenue who many think should have won Band of 2007 but fate snatched victory from their grasp and gave it to the Brackets. But in many eyes there was nothing in it. Either band was worthy of being the winner. For shear energy and enthusiasm alone they would have certainly won.
Meanwhile across the Road and down Geneva Street In Faith, those guys from The Glass Onion are at it again. Here they are again showing just how caring and compassionate they can be. This time they've organised through a group called lava Lamp a fun DJ dance night for people with learning disabilities. Well they may have learning disabilities but just like the rest of us they know how to have a good time. As always The Glass Onion is struggling for funding for events like this. So if you have the ear of someone who can say yes, bend it now. Tell them that to continue doing all this very valuable work that is a BENEFIT to the community they need the money. GIVE THEM THE MONEY!!! I feel like Bob Geldoff now "Give us your money". No don't give it to me give it to those people who very modestly and anonymously call themselves "The Volounteers". They don't get paid. Most of them don't even have jobs, but they give up their time to help the community. They do it because they care. And people criticise the younger generation? Per-leeeese. Have a look at what they achieve and be amazed. I was honoured to be asked to take the photographs for this event. Here's a few...

Myspace of the week

Oh I am such a fan of this band now. I heard them last night on BBC Radio cambridge on the Steve Titman show and immediately resolved to find out more. This band is a must see band. Well you must see the myspace site which has the obligatory four tracks loads of endorsements and the best off all three glorious videos, each one worth watching for bizarre humour, a Fritz the Cat Sorry I meant Felix the Cat type cartoon full of good versus evil whackiness, and finally an old time musical vaudevillean extravaganza featuring music on mandolin and various other instruments. It's priceless.
I mentioned them to Shaggy. "D'ya fink we cun book'em for Unity?"
"Mebbe."
Watch this space. Meanwhile watch this myspace

The band it's Flipron. They're fabulous.

http://www.myspace.com/flipron

Thursday 14th June 2007

There are no words to describe the deep lurve we have for Irene Rae. Her heroism is an inspiration to us all. From being sold into slavery as a child and subsequently brought up in the slum tenements of Stamford, weaving persian rugs for the rich and famous for tuppence a day. She has risen above all that and grown into the consumate artist she is today. She is in demand all over, for her original songs and her vast repertoire of covers. She's even found time to record songs for a CD, the profits going to Cervical cancer research. So go and buy it. Not only will you get a chance to help a worthy cause but have the opportunity to listen to some beautiful music...and so onto The Gangsters. It's Sterrets birthday bash. He's ahem years old. The gangsters, led by Sterrets passion, are famous for their Funk ska sound. It's a big sound from a big band starring a big man and an even bigger drummer. Man! he's tall.

We've got some great acts on the way check out the Unity Calendar to see who we've got coming to entertain you. Meanwhile here at Unity towers we've been working hard and things are afoot to make Unity bigger and better. So watch this space we'll tell you more in due course. Don't forget to tell your friends what they';re missing. It's a lot of fun and still FREE!!!

Rock on dudes until next time

Peace love and Unity

BBC Spring Watch

The BBC Springwatch event at Central park Peterborough. Here's Richard Hall and Claire Cordeaux with special guest appearence of Melissa Hall.A pared down Hamfatter.
AOB (Any Other Business)
Opaque of course
Waht day wouldn't be complete without Point Of Origin

Thursday 7th June 2007

It's a heavy metal night tonight. First onstage rather confusingly renamed The Darren Macer Poetry Experience. Well that'll be our old friends Pattern of sin then without their former band mate er... Darren Macer, who presumably has become a poetry buff. waxing lyrical on such stuff as clouds wild flowrs and lurve. Not that we at Unity Towers knows anything about that.Moving on. This is "Sever the Wicked". I don't know why they use that name because they're not at all wicked and what they intend to "Sever" I don't know. Any old ways they are obviously getting rather popular as this is the last gig in the boro for ages maybe this year as they are fully booked up to play places that aren't Peterborough.
Now then 1000 Fires. One of their first gigs if not the first. Well we were impressed the relentless tribal drums acompanied by ferocious guitar playing that was so tight you wouldn't have got a rizla between them. Fantastic. and there's more to come.
The headline act of the night Barrellass. They came on stage like a horror film version of The Village People, the Doctor covered in blood, the monk, the evil leprechaun (I'm assuming here) the Bavarian Superhero Drummer, Che Guevara and not forgetting Kid Kendo the all in wrestler on lead vocals. Actually he's not really an all in wrestler his mates bought him the mask just recently, but he does a good impression. Not since The Super Penetraitors has Unity seen such madness on stage. We love it.
The world marches on and next week we have the fabulous "Gangsters" supported by that lovely lovely Irene Rae. So don't miss it.

Thursday 31st May 2007

Pink & Ruby on stage at Unity. We didn't care they were late. WE didn't care they got lost in Northborough. Because they were brilliant. Gob smackingly beautiful songs, couldn't understand a word, but who cares, the songs were a triumph of subtle harmonies and delicate finger picking guitar. Hardly a surprise when they recieved the biggest ovation heard at Unity in a long time. Tres Cojones. No vocals here just flamenco gypsy jazz guitar with percussion thrown in. I've got to say we've been watching young James career from his very first public performance at Unity about 18 months ago to now. Gone are the nerves and instead we have a guitarist with the confidence of a matador and skill to match. All in all this band have the Cajones to continue and be very sucessful.

Well we're all off to Strawberry fair now. See you there.

Ciao bambinos