The starting line up
After a lot of preparation and panic, last night finally happened, the very first gig under the name The Sunday Alternative Live. I was nervous about things going wrong but everything seemed to tick along smoothly apart from a few minor matters such as not getting in the building exactly on time and late arrivals from the bands. Everyone had been asked to show up at five o'clock to give plenty of time for soundchecking and sorting out, but when I arrived only City of Kites were waiting outside. Adam Clarkson had a good reason and had warned me in advance that he was going to turn up, play, then leave because of childcare issues and I was genuinely very grateful that he didn't pull out, even though I would have understood if he had. George Gadd and The Breakfast Club were held up in traffic but there was sufficient time for everything to be ironed out.
Adam Clarkson
As with all new gigs, this wasn't particularly well attended but the prime motive for these nights is the filming for the series. Of course it would be nice to have a full house because all of the door money is shared between the acts, (I am a strong believer in paying people for services) but I am not going to be disheartened by the poor numbers for a first night. The way I see it, it is the public's loss that they missed out on such a strong line up for an opening night. As far as last night's performers are concerned, I have started with the bar raised. Adam is someone I have enjoyed and supported for years, both as a solo artist and with his band Captain Dangerous, and went down well with the small but appreciative audience. Adam aside, it was nice to see all the bands hanging around to watch the rest of the show, something I am keen to encourage. City of Kites blew the cobwebs off the room with an extremely loud set, they did an acoustic set on the radio show last year but sadly that show didn't survive. I hope enough people heard it to be able to compare and contrast. Gerry Trimble is one of the nicest and most enthusiastic people on the circuit and it is impossible not to like him. Prior to doors opening he tidied up the beer garden/smoking area and sorted out the tables in the venue. He is hosting a charity event at The Maze on the 19th for Cancer Research and the artists last night let him have all the door money which I thought was a lovely gesture and I could tell from his reaction that he was moved.
City of Kites
I had wanted a solo/band/solo/band running order and Adam's predicament automatically put George Gadd on third but I wasn't sure how the bands were going to be placed. Of course the only thing to do is play an on stage game of 'scissors paper stones' between members representing The Breakfast Club and City of Kites. It is a little known fact that this is how Live Aid was sorted.
George Gadd
George Gadd appeared on NottinghamLIVE in 2013 which was our first meeting and we got on straight away thanks to a shared sense of humour; we spent a fair bit of the interview discussing which cartoon character you would have sex with. I worked with him later the same year for my American radio show but for some reason haven't worked with him since. His band Little Bribes played a gig a little while back at the Golden Fleece and it was them that I originally booked but they weren't available. On his own he is great though and delivered a great set that again was popular with the room.
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club were a great booking for the first show (as of course were all the acts) as I only saw them live for the first time last year, (I wrote about them in detail here) and they are on their way up with a new album on the horizon and a consistently strong (if a little shambolic looking - it adds to the charm) live set. They closed the show in style, asking the audience to build the set list as they went and over-running beautifully by playing a couple of encores.
Then it was all over and plans for the next one commenced, August 9th at The Maze if you can make it. The line up isn't 100% set yet but I will announce it as soon as I can.
The Sunday Alternative #46 is available from here.
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July Housekeeping
Bags and T-Shirts are still available from here. All money goes in the fund. Feel free to browse the shop page while you're there.
If you donate £5 or more, you get to choose a song for me to cover on kazoo for a YouTube video, details here.
Seriously, I am grateful for the donations so if you haven't got round to it yet, I thank you in advance.
steveEoliver@gmail.com
