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LIVE drum and bass, “Americana soaked in Bolton rain” and thumping guitar will make up just part of this year’s Bolton Music Showcase main event at Leverhulme Park on Saturday.
On the lineup this year are Andrea Glass and The Last Waltz, The Broken Door, The Minions, Strangers In Paradise, Hans Island, Instant Species, Last Chance, Drama, The Planets, The Right Hands, Merchandise, Second Hand Wings and Showcase Showdown winners, OCD.
Andrea Glass released her album, Stood Under Stars, earlier this year. A dedicated exponent of “Lancashire Americana”, Radio 2’s Bob Harris described her as “wonderful”, and Maverick country magazine called her “extraordinary”. She plays at the Showcase with her new band, The Last Waltz.
The Broken Door are as far from Andrea’s laid back tales of love and loss as it is possible for a band to be. Initially not even a band as such, they formed in 2001 out of a series of improv nights at Liverpool anarchist art collective gallery, The Art Organisation. In 2005 the gallery closed, but the band continued with their own special brand of live drum and bass.
The Minions are one of the most established names on the Bolton music circuit. Their blend of infectious hooks and joyous trumpet and guitar riffs have kept fans dancing for more than five years. Formed in 2003 and bonded by a love of punk and drinking, they have a new album out this year.
Strangers In Paradise list their influences as Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age and the Arctic Monkeys, and make driving British rock music.
Hans Island were formerly known as ASBO, and are influenced by the Stone Roses.
Instant Species hail originally from Bolton, but relocated to the dark side of the Pennines to hone their –driven rock sound in Yorkshire. Leverhulme Park will be a welcome return for the band, who receive a warm reception whenever they come home.
Last Chance are a five-piece punk-pop band who formed in 2005. They hjave self-released three EPs, and have shared the stage with the likes of The Wombats, The Wallbirds and Reverend and The Makers.
Drama fuse rock, prog, pop and indie, and pride themselves of being one of Bolton’s hardest rock bands. Meanwhile, The Right Hands content themselves playing straight-up indie music they way they think it should be played.
The Planets were a surprise hit of last year’s Showcase. Their Kinks-inspired sound is typically English and clever, with infectious choruses and highly dance-able rhythms.
Merchandise have just released their latest single, Sometimes, on their own label, Cityscape Records. Summery pop, they have had a raft of rave reviews, and the BBC’s Mark Radcliffe went so far as to play them on his show.
Second Hand Wings play subtle acoustic pop songs with fun harmonies and down to earth lyrics. They chose their name from a Greek myth, not because they are a Paul McCartney tribute act.
And through to the main event from the Showcase Showdown on July 10 are OCD, a phenomenally talented young punk rock band who can boast Clint Boon as one of their biggest fans. Joining them will be Showdown runners up Insectorcide and War Against Sound, three bands formed by this year’s Rock Ed project plus the seen-to-be-believed Junk Band, who do exactly what it says on the tin.
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