Fibbers•3 Toft Green•York•UK
Live Events
Friday 6th January
Native City, Two Reasons Why, Pura Vida, Luke Pierce
NATIVE CITY burst onto the music scene earlier this year, born out of successful Selby rock band Premonition.
The addition of rhythm guitarist Jack Randles to the already established talents of frontman Robbie Cliff, lead guitarist Ryan Mellor-Davis, bassist Richy Jones and drummer Max Shaw saw the band take a new direction with a greater leaning more towards catchy pop tunes.
The new-look band have already laid down three tracks at Czar Street Studios at Old Chapel in Leeds, two of which have been mixed and mastered in New York by producer Jeffery Lackscheide. The first track Tomorrow has received radio airplay with For The Record set to follow shortly.
Having played two storming gigs at Fibbers before under their old name the new Native City set is eagerly anticipated with new songs and some great covers.
Doors: 7pm
Age: 14
Thursday 12th January
Devil You Know feat. Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage), Oni, Wearing Scars, Brutai
Face-melting metal taking you back to how it used to be; DEVIL YOU KNOW are simplicity and brutality in a beautiful blend. No intricate backing tracks or crazy tempos just super heavy riffs, killer blast beats, and Jones’ signature screams.
This is one helluva USA metalcore supergroup featuring Howard Jones on vocals (Ex-Killswitch Engage, Blood Has Been Shed), guitarist Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish) and Ryan Wombacher (Bleeding Through) on bass – signed to Nuclear Blast Records with two albums out – The Beauty of Destruction and They Bleed Red (produced by ex-Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader (Gojira, Five Finger Death Punch).
And check out the rest of this amazing bill…
ONI – are the strange, straightforward prog-metal band you need in your life; they’re even from the Cayman Islands, how much more exotic can you get. In Japanese folklore, the Oni is a malevolent shapeshifting demon. At Fibbers we’ll settle for armour-plated melodic metal, ta. Check out Eternal Recurrence here!
WEARING SCARS and BRUTAI complete a classic line-up.
Ticket: £12.50 Buy Now
Doors: 7pm
Age: 14+
Friday 13th January
If you’re going to pay tribute to The Thin White Duke, you may as well get the best one around. ABSOLUTE BOWIE have been touring the UK & Europe for years, consistently selling out venues and we don’t expect this show to be any different AND THEIR LAST SHOW WAS PACKED…
Woody Woodmansey (Spiders from Mars) said, “Absolutely wicked. As one who was there, watching AB put me back there again. For anyone who missed it or fans who want to relive it I definitely recommend it. As close to the real thing that you’ll get. Enjoy.”
You’ll be taken from A to Z (Absolute Beginners to Ziggy!) with Station to Station in between. Costume changes, all the best bits you remember from Brixton’s David Robert Jones; unquestionably one of the finest contemporary artistes of our times – we will never see his like again.
Ticket: £13.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Thursday 26th January
There’s two types of people in this world: Those who like Johnny Cash and those that don’t know a damn thing about music.
CASH, featuring the rich and gruff baritone of Ben Welburn, have recreated the sound, vibe and appeal of the master himself. Ex-farm boy Ben Welburn came across JR through musical parents and freely admits to a lightbulb moment and identifying with his outlaw approach to life.
The Man In Black, one of the most influential musicians of the last century spanning country, rockabilly, blues, gospel, folk and rock ‘n’ roll. That deep baritone, the chick-a-boom of The Tennessee Three, the surly guitar twang of Carl Perkins, the ground-breaking prison shows and all the battles with alcohol and drugs … its all there in a great survivor’s story, book-ended of course by the unbelievable sessions with Rick Rubin.
“The last time CASH played London with us, BBC 6Music’s Huey Morgan personally asked for the support slot – it doesn’t get much better than that!” – Jon Wing (02 Academy Events Promoter).
“Without a doubt, CASH are one of the most authentic and skiiled tribute bands we have worked with and we look forward to booking them again in the near future.” – Alan Mcleod (promoter – Shetland).
“The CASH band are 12 Bar favourites. When they play, you close your eyes and you feel like you’re at a real Johnny Cash concert – I’m forever being asked when they’re coming back.” – Barnet Mark (promoter/manager of The 12 Bar, London)
“I don’t like country music. The chords are too clean and the lyrics are too darn obvious. With this mindset I was dragged to see a Johnny Cash tribute band (and I don’t like tribute bands). Then they started to play… Never did I get hooked on an act so fast, which by right should have caused a severe allergic reaction. Fun, kicking and above all unpretentious – thank you, CASH!” – Yak Bondy (songwriter/producer).
Cash was born … they walk the line.
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Friday 27th January
Rick Witter & Paul Banks (Shed Seven) – an Independent Venue Week show
Fresh from yet another year of sold-out shows, and long after the NME darlings have faded away, the mighty SHED SEVEN are still packing huge venues UK-wide, and why ever not. Since when did bloody great big tunes, consummate musicianship and fabulous shows ever go out of fashion…
And so we welcome the thinnest man in pop with the biggest voice and the warmest personality, Mr Rick Witter; the witty and urbane frontman of a band that, lest we forget, in their time rivalled Oasis for Top 20 hits.
Joined here this evening by partner-in-crime, the brilliant guitarist and eloquent songwriter Paul Banks, an electrifying showman in his own right and a player with an instantly recognisable style and sound.
And check out these amazing pics from last year’s show…
So what’s all this about INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK, then? Small venues are the bedrock of the live music industry and without them new acts would have nowhere to play and learn their trade. Fibbers has been performing this service since 1992, hosting some of the world’s biggest bands on their first tours – and some of them even come back and repay the favour! Which is where the Shed Seven boys come in…
It’s a whites-of-their-eyes show and you already know it’s going to sell out so don’t get bothered with last year’s unholy scramble for tickets and purchase early for a holleralong to some of the best anthems EVER.
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Wednesday 1st February
An Evening With Liverpool Legend Jamie Carragher – SOLD OUT!
5Times are bringing Carra to York! Your chance to shake hands with one of the heroes of Istanbul!!
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher dedicated his whole career to the Reds, making his debut in 1997 and finally bowing out over sixteen years later.
By then he had 737 appearances to his name and a string of trophies including two FA Cups, three League Cups, a UEFA Cup and of course the big one – the Champions League, won on that unforgettable night when Liverpool “won it five times” at the Ataturk in 2005.
Carra will be in York Fibbers to talk not only about his Anfield career but also about current events at Liverpool and in the football world, all told in his hilarious yet disarmingly honest style. There’s a good chance there’ll be a few stories thrown in you wouldn’t hear elsewhere!
Meet and Greet tickets give you the chance to shake hands with the man himself and to bring along one item to have personally signed. Included in the Meet and Greet ticket price is a snap of you taken alongside Carra by our professional photographer, with a link to download the image available shortly afterwards.
General admission tickets are well worth the money and as well as being a great laugh listening to Jamie’s take on the game you get the chance to take part in auctions and raffles for some very special and rare sporting memorabilia. It’s a night you won’t forget.
Ticket: £25.00 (general admission) & £45.00 (meet & greet) Buy Now
Doors: 6pm (meet & greet); 7.30pm (general admission)
Age: 14+
Thursday 2nd February
Proper British rock! Voted ‘Best Band’ by Rolling Stones fanzine “It’s Only Rock & Roll” for what RockTimes critic called ‘a bridge between the sixties and seventies’. Drawing heavily on classic rock a la Zepp/Hendrix/Who, Grimsby trio THE BREW have certainly being paying their dues having been around for ten years.
Father/son rhythm section of drummer Kurtis Smith and (dad) Tim on bass, young and astonishingly talented guitarist and front man Jason Barwick will blow you away (“tight as a bear’s arse” – GRTR mag) proudly bearing the classic blues-rock badge.
Wonderfully authentic and highly recommended!
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Saturday 4th February
Renowned for an action-packed pyrotechnic-fuelled explosion of a show, LIMEHOUSE LIZZY continue to keep the spirit of Celtic rock icon Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy alive!
Attention to detail, a thundering live sound and playful audience interaction leaves you with that feeling of witnessing the real thing, audiences and critics alike hailing the show as ‘beyond tribute’.
With incessant UK and European touring, this is one of the most highly rated acts on the circuit and Limehouse shows are always PACKED…
Whiskey In The Jar// The Boys Are Back In Town // Jailbreak // Don’t Believe A Word // Dancin’ In The Moonlight // Rosalie // Waiting For An Alibi // Do Anything You Want To // Sarah // Chinatown // Killer On The Loose // Cold Sweat… the list goes on and on…
Early ticket purchase advisable, as usual!
Ticket: £14.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Tuesday 7th February
THE TURNPIKE TROUBADORS first UK tour after developing a huge US fanbase, their most album recent hitting No.3 (Billboard Country Chart).
When the Turnpike Troubadours are playing in a town Stateside, you’ll know it. A block or two from the venue, you’ll see the crowds lining up. Get closer and you’ll start to hear the music – rockin’ hard, lashed by burnin’ fiddle and guitar, maybe a little rough on the edges but with a deep-rooted soul that’s impossible to resist.
And if you make it through the door, you’ll witness one of the best shows you’ll ever see.
Audiences in their home state of Oklahoma and down in Texas have known this for years. It’s no longer news when they draw 5,000-plus at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, sell out three nights in a row at Gruene Hall or turn several hundred away at the Legendary Stubb’s Bar-B-Q in Austin.
Word has spread, though: Their shows in Chicago, St. Louis and elsewhere have pulled in more than 1,000 fans. And they’ve drawn full houses at Joe’s Pub in New York and The Troubadour in L.A., among many other venues coast to coast.
They’ve even been picked by Playboy as one of three acts to watch in 2015 – a distinction lead singer / guitarist / songwriter Evan Felker admits is “pretty bizarre” but impressive nonetheless.
So is that the story? “The Turnpike Troubadours Tear It Up Night After Night”?
Actually, no. There’s another side to singer/guitarist Felker, bassist RC Edwards, fiddler Kyle Nix, steel and electric guitarist Ryan Engleman and drummer Gabe Pearson. Maybe you don’t notice it as much at their shows, where their blazing performances tend to obliterate detached reflection.
“The show is about people having fun,” Felker says. “The more fun they have, the more fun we have and the better off everybody is. The record is about understanding the poetry in a real way. I figure it’s like people sitting around in their house, maybe drinking a beer. That’s more the place for poetry.”
“Our sound comes from playing country music, punk rock and anything else we liked in honky-tonks and beer joints,” Edwards adds. “You’ve got to give the crowd something to dance to and have a good time. But songwriters are the most important thing. So I think everything we’ve done says that you can have it both ways.”
The proof is on The Turnpike Troubadours and at whatever place they’re playing down the road near you. Think of them as a two-headed silver dollar; on both sides, you’ve got a winner.
Ticket: £12.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Wednesday 8th February
Skindred, Raging Speedhorn, RSJ
SKINDRED are the ultimate soundclash… tough and infectious metal riffage colliding with the biggest, phattest hip hop and reggae grooves, cutting edge electronics and pop sensibility.
An utterly unique band of disparate musical elements melding explosions of energy and cross-culture fervour; rightly earning them a worldwide reputation for uniting people and making every last one of them tear up the dancefloor with a giant shit-eating grin! Yup, guaranteed to encourage even the most curmudgeonly music fans to bellow along, Skindred are the ultimate thinking man’s party band.
Widely acknowledged as one of the most devastating and exciting live acts on the planet, over the course of four universally praised studio albums – Babylon (2002), Roots Rock Riot (2007), Shark Bites And Dog Fights (2009) and Union Black (2011) – the Newport destroyers have been a force for invention and positivity since 1998 when they emerged from the ashes of Benji’s former band Dub War.
And with the release of 5th studio album Kill The Power, Benji Webbe and his loyal henchmen Dan Pugsley (bass), Mikey Demus (guitar), Arya Goggins (drums) and new addition Dan Sturgess (DJ/keys/electronics) hit the UK album chart for the first time peaking at number 28.
The music world may be in a permanent state of panic and flux, but one basic principle of rock’n’roll remains true: the key to longevity is delivering the goods. No band has better encapsulated this ethos of integrity and determination over the last decade than Skindred.
Benjii Webbi is a man of insane energy, seemingly on the increase with every album, “The world’s getting worse so how can I get more mellow?” he laughs. “Of course I’m getting angrier! People normally stay in a bag when it comes to lyrics. Stephen King stays with horror and he’s brilliant at it, you know? With Skindred, it’s always about encouraging an uplift. It’s about a sense of unity. Lyrics can change people’s lives, you know? You can be going down one road and hear a song and have a Road To Damascus experience and become someone else”.
“We’re a global band. We’ve played in Colombia and India and everywhere and it’s the same energy”, Benji concludes. “I get letters from people in Hawaii and people in Turkey. It’s all the same. We resonate globally and it’s the greatest thing ever. It seems funny to us sometimes because we’re always kicking each other’s heads in and saying ‘You’re a wanker!’ to each other before we go on stage, but as soon as it’s time to play the show the oneness this band creates together and the unity we bring is unique. I’ve never experienced anything like it and we can’t wait to get back on the road and do it all again”.
Anyone ever witnessing a Skindred show will confirm it’s impossible not to get fired up and drawn in to joyous abandon, and with a new album in the pipeline set for release later this year primed and ready, the best live band on the planet simply cannot fail to conquer the entire world this time round.
Wherever and whoever you are, Skindred are coming. Open your ears and get your dancing feet ready. You know this show is going to sell out sharpish… ON SALE FRIDAY 10am!!
Ticket: £20.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Sunday 12th February
Dean Pearson, Paul Mullen (yourcodenameis:milo, The Automatic) and Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party) collectively known as YOUNG LEGIONNAIRE “… crashing post-hardcore and acerbic punk embellished with frantic percussion. Loaded with darkness but still managing to galvanise your senses with a thrilling barrage of noise” – LINE OF BEST FIT. Three-piece rock chaos…
Also on the bill, from the Leeds stable of Clue Records (Forever Cult / Allusondrugs), “Pouring fury on driven-alternative-indie noise, NARCS “creating a unique blend of passionate lyrical incisiveness with powerful, spine-cracking intensity & the occasional shaman-like rantings of a possessed mad man”.
The band have received support and radio play from the likes BBC 6music, BBC introducing and Amazing Radio. Check out PIG– and buy a ticket…
Ticket: £9.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Saturday 25th February
One of the longest-established Smiths tributes and boy is that obvious every time they play here. And tonight celebrating the 30th anniversary of fourth album, ‘Strangeways Here We Come’ with some rarely heard live treats, plus all the crowd favourites throughout the Smiths career.
The crowd – and what a BIG crowd – went wild …
Two hours of classic Smiths material – truly A SMITHS BAND OF SMITHS FANS FOR SMITHS FANS!
“You’ll never see The Smiths again, but THE SMYTHS are the next best thing.” (Music-News.com)
“Amazing…just like The Smiths” (XFM)
“The Smyths give you just what you want”, Rob Hughes, journalist and broadcaster (Uncut/BBC Radio 6)
“The Smyths are indeed the BEST Smiths tribute band in the world”, Phil Gatenby, Author, ‘Panic on the streets of London’
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Saturday 4th March
As close as it gets …
THE GUNS N ROSES EXPERIENCE have the only singer able to deliver the exact same unique vocal style and stage show synonymous with classic Axl Rose.
They have the only tribute band guitarist OFFICIALLY ENDORSED by MARSHALL AMPS, decease just like the legend SLASH himself.
And together with 4 other Guns n Roses clones, these guys deliver a sound and look that is unequalled by any other band.
Since their very first gig the Guns N’ Roses Experience train has been rolling at an incredible pace, visiting various Middle Eastern countries, mainland Europe, Cyprus, Ireland and all of the major venues and theatres in the UK.
With a true Guns and Roses sound and stage show, The Guns N’ Roses Experience meticulously recreates every visual detail and every musical note to capture that reckless spirit of the original Guns’N Roses legendary live performances.
In a bone crushing two hour set all the essentials are covered with breath-taking accuracy including Welcome To The Jungle, November Rain, Sweet Child O’Mine, Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone,You Could Be Mine, Night Train, Rocket Queen, Knocking on Heaven’s Door and so much more!
Ticket: £12.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Monday 6th March
Bonding over a shared taste in British giants Arctic Monkeys / The Beatles / Libertines / Oasis / Jam, THE SHERLOCKS (two sets of brothers, Kiaran and Brandon Crook, Andy and Josh Davidson) follow up supporting The Libertines in arenas and a sold out tour of their own – with another headline UK and Ireland jaunt in 2017.
New single ‘Will You Be There?’ has been on rotation with Annie Mac and Steve Lamacq. Head of BBC Radio 1, George Ergatoudis – “This band have got it. LOVE this track”.
“It’s basically about the notion of when you’re doing well and everybody wants to know you and cling on to you,” drummer Brandon Cook says. “As opposed to when you’re going through a rough time and most people jump off board and forget you. Who will be the ones still with you because they truly believe in what you’re doing as much as you? ‘Will You Be There?’ seemed like the title to sum the whole meaning up really.”
Fibbers March 6 – it’s going to sell out, we know this. But will you be there?
ON SALE 10AM FRIDAY NOV 18
Ticket: £9.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Friday 10th March
Bonafide, Chase The Ace, Killer Bee
Look, do yourself a favour right now. Crack open a cold beer, plug in that air guitar and rock out with BONAFIDE like your life depends on it…
Sweden´s finest in low down, dirty mean rock´n´roll – AC/DC meets The Cult with roots in the electric blues and early R´n´B.
Produced by Chips Kiesbye (Hellacopters / Nomads) this is one fist pumping, ass kicking, jaw-dropping monster of a band. Fill Your Head With Rock indeed…..NOW !!!!!
Proper rocking support bill too with CHASE THE ACE and KILLER BEE
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Saturday 11th March
Dub Pistols – 20th Anniversary Tour!
Over an 18-year career the DUB PISTOLS have worked with legends like Rodney P, Busta Rhymes, Gregory Isaacs, Terry Hall, Lindy Layton, Akala and Horace Andy; while the band’s mainstays are fiercely loyal and dedicated. An unorthodox collective of musicians who each have their own personal interests and solo projects, when they come together to form the Dub Pistols some dubwise magic happens.
They’ve burned through different members and hundreds of thousands of pounds on assorted capers and hedonism and it should have been a recipe for oblivion, but the band that started out in the mid-90s with Barry DJ’ing while musicians jammed over the top has metamorphosed into a mighty reggaematic bass-driven live machine, a super-tight festival regular that keeps winning over new fans at Glastonbury, Bestival, Beat-Herder and across Europe.
As they gear up to celebrate 20 years of riotous marauding, the Dub Pistols are prepping their seventh as-yet-untitled album in 2017 and there’ll be a documentary about the band dropping at some point in the year, too. And they’ll be out on the road, as usual, of course — the hardest working band in showbiz.
“The next album is actually a bit more chilled-out than the last two,” says Barry. “It’s still a classic Dub Pistols album, but ‘Return Of The Pistoleros’ and ‘Worshipping The Dollar’ were more club-orientated — leaning more towards peak-time bangers. This album is a bit more relaxed, with a smoked-out reggae vibe — although there are still a couple of bangers on there.”
A kinda 21st century equivalent of 2-Tone acts The Specials or The Beat, the Dub Pistols are the quintessential festival band. Coming over a bit like if King Tubby and The Skatalites bumped into Terry Hall at a Goldie gig, the Dubs have reached their two decade milestone with a lot of ups and downs along the way – ALWAYS A BRILLIANT NIGHT!!
Tickets on sale Friday!
Ticket: £13.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Thursday 23rd March
Sari Schorr & The Engine Room, The Dead Cats
“SARI SCHORR is a force of nature, a meteor, a comet. The blues speak through her. The real dirty sad funny wonderful blues, lives again! She’s got an amazing voice and sings with fire and grace. Go see her, and hear the living blues again, for the very first time.” – Dan Cohen
Welcome, folks, to Janis Joplin meets Tina Turner, all blustery vocals and emotionally-charged performances, a red-hot blues mama who rconnects with and inspires her audiences, leaving a lasting impression that’s larger than life itself.
Coming to light after several years of US/Europe touring with blues legend, Joe Louis Walker and renowned guitarist, Popa Chubby and now inducted in to the New York Blues Hall of Fame.
At times with her dark version of Black Betty, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds come to mind, Elkie Brooks at other times. And she can REALLY let go and rock as good as anyone with her take on Zeppelin…
Sari Schorr’s Manhaton Records debut, A Force of Nature, has been described as, “A hailstorm of an album sure to go down in blues history” by Blues Rock Review. Maximum Volume Music has given the album a 10/10 and exclaims, “The quality of the record frequently touches jaw-dropping. Sari Schorr & the Engine Room have just made one of the blues records of the year.”
A Force of Nature is produced by iconic blues pioneer Mike Vernon, whose credits include Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall & the Blues Breakers, David Bowie, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Christine McVie and Ten Years After. The critically acclaimed album features her stunning guitarists Innes Sibun (ex Robert Plant), Walter Trout, Oli Brown (RavenEye) and keyboardist John Baggott (Massive Attack, Portishead).
Sari’s new band, The Engine Room, features stunning British guitarist Innes Sibun (former Robert Plant guitarist). “The Engine Room truly is a remarkable band,” says Sari. “Something magical happens when we’re on stage together. We’re fuelled further by the audiences’ reaction and everything’s possible. I love touring and enjoy the privilege of meeting so many like-minded people who share our love of the Blues.”
Recommended!!
Ticket: £12.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Saturday 25th March
Longtime Sabb fans were BLOWN AWAY when this trib appeared last time, “The guitarist and singer have it absolutely nailed” / “Reminded me of seeing them first time around” / “Amazing booking, best tribute I’ve seen for years!”
The wind, the rain, the tolling bell, THAT RIFF – Track 1 Side 1 of the album generally acknowledged as the birth of heavy metal as we know it – and still more powerful than anything churned out by many of today’s overproduced ‘metal’ bands.
And so we welcome SACK SABBATH the UK’s most popular and established tribute to the Birmingham boys, Osbourne, Iommi, Ward and Butler.
Fronted by best Ozzy impersonator in the business, and check out this recommendation from of one of the actual Black Sabbath road crew …
“I worked for the real Sabbath and they are like the real thing, you don’t have to close your eyes, because their Ozzy has got it off to a tee. I go to their shows because it reminds me of all the fun I had with the real thing. A great night out, we love you all!” – Les Martin Stage & Production Manager, Black Sabbath 1970-78.
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 19:30pm
Age: 14+
Thursday 13th April
The Quireboys, Last Great Dreamers, Souls Of Tide
With a sound that harks back to the 70’s heyday of The Faces, Stones, Slade and Mott The Hoople, THE QUIREBOYS have always remained true to their roots from the start. The boys’ mission is simply to keep the spirit of good time rock ‘n’ roll alive and kicking into the 21st century.
So… there’s a neat bourbon in your glass, a good woman on your arm and a long night of hard partying ahead. All you need is the band. And for those seeking a group of true Brit troubadours, capable of crafting the quintessential bar room experience with arena-style style hooks, look no further. Over 30 years and The Quireboys know how to keep the party going with no plans of stopping it anytime soon !!!
And with latest album, Twisted Love, is the sound of a band that’s been there, done that and bought the T-shirt – the torn and faded favourite with hundreds of tour dates on both sides of the Atlantic plastered across the back. “I don’t think there’s a harder working band out there,” concluded Spike. “And I’m proud of that. A record like Twisted Love doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because this band plays so many shows, spends so much time together and is incredibly tight – as songwriters and performers. There’s a song we recorded in Sweden that didn’t actually make the cut this time called Win Some Lose Some. That’s The Quireboys for you. And we’re all the better for it.”
See you at the front for good old rock ‘n’ roll!
Ticket: £20.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Sunday 16th April
Resurrection w/ Happy Mondaze, Oasish, Resurrection (Roses), Stereotonics
Annual event reliving the heady Madchester vibes of the infamous Hacienda with cult classics from tributes to the best bands of that era!
PLEASE NOTE EARLY BIRD TICKETS WHICH INCLUDED ENTRY TO AFTER-SHOW ARE NOW SOLD OUT
HAPPY MONDAZE capture the true essence of the originals with such dedication to re-creating these revolutionary tracks transporting you back to the birth of rave culture. Sing along with Shaun (Marc), Rowetta (Jocelyn), Bez (Peter) and the band to smash hits such as Step On, Kinky Afro, Wrote For Luck and many many more. From the dirt of Squirrel and G Man, the attitude of Bummed, slick grooves of Pills n Thrills and the hedonism of Yes Please, you’ll be amazed at the authenticity, “Spookily good” – Bez.
OASISH – well, just look at the press… “… got Liam Gallagher spot on! The next best thing and more enjoyable than their real-life counterparts performance at Glastonbury!!” – The Sun; “To see Oasish live is as good as seeing the real Oasis – only better!” – Sunday Times; “The attention to detail is quite incredible!” – The Culture Show BBC2. ‘Nuff said.
RESURRECTION formed in 1998 under the name The Complete Stone Roses, touring with many celebrities including Mani!
With an uncanny likeness to the voice of Kelly Jones,STEREOTONICS cover all the great hits from past to present. Seems they impressed the real thing as well, “They’re really good! They sound just like we did years ago!” – Kelly Jones; “You guys rock!! Keep spreading the good word!” -Richard Jones.
Ticket: £20.00 (early bird + after show now sold out) Buy Now
Doors: 5pm
Age: 16+
Thursday 20th April
Sheffield metalcore band WHILE SHE SLEEPS formed 2006 with vocalist Lawrence Taylor, guitarists Sean Long and Mat Welsh, bassist Aaran McKenzie and drummer Adam Savage.
Since the release of 2010 mini-album, ‘The North Stands For Nothing’, the band has been on a trailblazing path to become one of the fastest rising acts on the UK hard rock and metal circuits for some years.
From a sold out headline tour, their tent-swelling set at Sonisphere festival, venues on the prestigious Kerrang! tour having queues of people snaked around the block so that fans could get in to see Sleeps open the bill, to critical acclaim across the pages of Kerrang! Metal Hammer and Rock Sound and regular plays on Radio 1, Scuzz and Kerrang! TV, the Sheffield natives have rapidly and justifiably become one of the highest regarded rock bands in Britain.
While She Sleeps are a terrifying force to be reckoned with, a barrage of belligerent sound that straddles and combines a variety of genres they’d prefer you to just call “alternative rock”.
Tickets on sale 10am Friday November 25; it’s gonna be a VERY rapid sell-out…
Ticket: £15.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Saturday 22nd April
Rockin’ Em – back to the ’50s!
Step back in time to the 1950’s with a night of jiving, strolling, bopping and singing to an evening of rock’n’roll with Rockin’Em– an original trio performing all over the UK and Europe, taking audiences by storm.
It’s only rock’n’roll but we like it, like it, yes we do…
Ticket: £8.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Thursday 27th April
For those about to rock… we salute you. Yup, that’s right – legendary AC/DC drummer PHIL RUDD, veteran of all but three of AC/DC’s 18 studio albums, Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and (previously) fully signed-up member of the rock’n’roll lifestyle club (“…after Highway to Hell went multi-platinum worldwide I headed straight down the road to buy my first Ferrari”) is coming to York!
“The real deal” – Malcolm Young
“The heart and soul of AC/DC” – Eric Singer (Kiss)
“AC/DC were my absolute heroes because they are simple and easy to copy. Though soon you find they are not so easy to copy” – Christoph Schneider (Rammstein)
Over to the man himself, “My hell raising days are over and I see a psychiatrist every week and I’m closer than ever to my children. I still have all my flash cars but now I want to grow chillies”.
This gig with a genuine legend (fag-in-gob AC/DC version of Phil here Back In Black / River Plate) is going to rock like a b*st*rd, and if other shows on this tour are anything to go by it’s going to sell out real quick…
Ticket: £28.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Wednesday 17th May
Chameleons Vox Magical History Tour 2017 – Chapter 2
A career-spanning set chosen by the fans from their entire back catalogue…
CHAMELEONS VOX is the continuation of The Chameleons, arguably the most influential band ever to come out of Manchester, featuring Chameleons vocalist, bassist and principle composer Mark Burgess, longtime collaborators Yves Altana on drums and guitarists Neil Dwerryhouse and Chris Oliver.
Still touring hard to a huge and dedicated growing fan base, the band has recently completed sold out tours across Europe and the USA.
Some eloquent and heartfelt words from the eminent Dave Simpson, writing in The Guardian…
“There’s a wonderful – if apocryphal – story about the major-label A&R team that was dispatched to Manchester in the 1980s with instructions to sign the band that was making enormous waves in the north-west. The industry bods took one listen to the sounds at the Hacienda, and Geffen signed the Chameleons. The story goes that it wasn’t until much later that someone told them they’d actually been sent to secure the Stone Roses.
The tale underlines the peculiar seductiveness of four lads from Middleton, Manchester, who should have shook the world. Sadly, just when they were on the verge of massive US success, they split in 1987 after the death of manager Tony Fletcher.
The oddest thing about the Chameleons’ comeback is that they’ve carried on exactly where they left off, with their devoted fanbase still intact (the Verve and the Gallaghers reputedly among its members).
In the old days, their elemental anthems came from somewhere deeper than a record company balance sheet, and this hasn’t changed. When singer Mark Burgess loses himself in the still awesome Soul in Isolation, you wonder what on earth went on in those mysterious lost years.
The Chameleons may have missed the commercial boat in 1987, but they have still made a fascinating voyage”.
Early ticket purchase recommended…
Ticket: £17.50 Buy Now
Doors: 7pm
Age: 14+
Thursday 18th May
Foy Vance: The Wild Swan World Tour, w/ special guest Ryan McMullan
FOY VANCE knows how to write a song. It’s a naturally finessed skill that led to collaborations with such diverse artists as Plan B, Sheryl Crow and Rudimental; syncing on multiple TV shows from Grey’s Anatomy to the Sons Of Anarchy finale, and beguiled some of the biggest players like Elton John and Ed Sheeran.
So in the run-up to the new album release, Vance travelled a long way from home (born in Bangor, N Ireland and now living in Aberfeldy, Scotland) to Nashville and, for an incurable songwriter, Music City is an irresistible draw where Vance can work with the best of the best. Not, Vance clarifies, for himself or his own material as he has already completed The Wild Swan featuring twelve brilliant songs of such high calibre there’s no need for any outside assistance!
“I’m not snobby about it, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable writing with other people for myself. That feels like it’s my own private joy,” adds a man who craftedThe Wild Swan entirely to his own vision, in Nashville’s Blackbird Studios, aided by Jacquire King, who recorded and mixed one of his favourite albums, Tom Waits’ Mule Variations.
“And I used to steer clear of writing with other people altogether until I started doing it just by chance. And then I realised that even when it goes shit, it’s still a learning curve,” Vance notes with a smile. “Every wrong path is a way to the right path. I keep it pretty lean. But when good people come up, I give it a go.”
One of those good people is Ed Sheeran. Vance co-wrote “Tenerife Sea” and “Afire Love” from 2014’s multi-million- selling X, and he wrote “Make It Rain”, which Sheeran sang over the final episode of cult biker drama Sons Of Anarchy.
“Ed’s like a wee song machine,” Vance notes approvingly. “He would always go places lyrically that I wouldn’t go myself, so he makes me think about the lyrical choices I make. Working with Ed made me a better writer.”
Now, with the impassioned, rootsy, rousing The Wild Swan – an album that makes nods to, and takes cues from, proper heroes ranging from Noam Chomsky to Ziggy Stardust to WB Yeats – the pair’s relationship moves to another level. Sheeran has signed Vance to Gingerbread Man Records, the label he launched in 2015 with Jamie Lawson and his self-titled, chart-topping debut album.
But in fact, Vance and Sheeran’s relationship goes back way further than that.
“Ed’s dad used to bring him to my gigs when he was 13,” begins Vance, a born hobo-raconteur (and he has the storyteller’s hat and showman’s moustache to prove it). “He only told me this after we’d done a couple of gigs together, but he’d been to something like 48 gigs of mine before we’d ever met.”
As an up-and-coming artist always keen to honour his formative influences, as soon as he started to have some success, Sheeran sought to pay it back.
“He reached out and said, ‘do you want to come on tour with me?’ And I’m thinking: ‘When else is a thirty-something, white, baldy Irishman single father who lives up in the mountains gonna get to on a bona fide pop tour?’ So I said, ‘yeah, I’ll go and do it.’
“And that tour was tough! I thought I’d just go in and do my own show. But I realised very quickly that, even though he hadn’t fully broken through at that time, his crowd of screaming teenage girls was ferocious – I spent more time bombing than I did anything else,” laughs Vance. “They just looked at me as if I was Ed’s demented uncle wheeled on for the craic, singing about heartache and cancer.”
Still, the Sheeran/Vance relationship flourished, with the pair emailing each other works-in-progress songs and Vance supporting Sheeran on the closing, Antipodean leg of the mammoth X tour. There was even a night trading riffs and rhymes with Sheeran, Jay Z and Beyoncé in the basement of Snow Patrol’s New York bar. But that’s another story for another biog.
One of the impetuses behind Sheeran founding Gingerbread Man Records was to give musicians he truly believes in complete artistic freedom, and so he made his friend an incredible offer: the chance to make a new album with an Artist-led record company, with full support and without constraint.
“Ed said, ‘go and make the record you want to make.’” Vance took him at his word. Similarly, he made sure Jacquire King was fully onboard.
“Mule Variations is not only an exquisitely-written record but a wonderful sounding record. I actually flew out to meet Jacquire in person before agreed to work with him because I wanted to look in the whites of his eyes and make sure we’d be on the same page. I didn’t want something too clean and polished and commercial.”
That said, there’s no denying the infectious beauty of The Wild Swan. It opens with “Noam Chomsky Is A Soft Revolution”, a rock’n’blues celebration of a roll-call of musical, philosophical, literary and polemical insurrectionists. It stops off with “Coco”, a tender, campfire song written for the young daughter of good friend Courtney Cox (Coco is a friend of Vance’s own daughter, Ella). And it ends with a dash of uillean pipes and “The Wild Swans On The Lake”, astop-you-in-your-tracks breath of Celtic balladry inspired by WB Yeats’ poem The Wild Swans At Coole.
Vance’s rich, rich voice also gets up close and personal on the hymnal “Burden”, then digs deep for “She Burns”, a song and a performance evocative of Bruce Springsteen’s “Tunnel Of Love”.
There are other, equally deeply felt glories too, like the ancient-but-modern “Be Like You Belong”, Vance’s soulful rasp weaving through pedal-steel and simple piano chords, or “Ziggy Looked Me In The Eye”. The latter is a piano-based, strings-buoyed soul-stirrer that compresses anthemic cri de coeur into four minutes of dignified tribute to, says Vance, “various people who I think have been part of a revolution. I’m not talking about Che Guevara or Ghandi or even Russell Brand for that matter – I’m talking about personal revolution. I like that idea constantly revolting against your own parameters.”
This thinking no doubt informs Vance’s embracing the opportunity of a summer tour with Elton John. Ever attuned to passionate artists, and forever intent on giving audiences the best possible night, Elton has invited Vance to support him on the British and European legs of his Wonderful Crazy Tour. But Elton’s enthusiasm for Vance goes deeper, still, than that – he’s Executive Producer of The Wild Swan.
“I feel so privileged to be a part of this remarkable artist’s first album on Gingerbread Man Records,” says Elton. “He is an extraordinary writer and singer.”
As seals of approval go, they don’t come much better than the imprimatur of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
Referring to the album’s penultimate song, the “antsy”, agit-folk “Fire It Up”, this tyro-troubador sets straight his goals: “|t just has to be real. You go back to ancient Irish music, or Native American music, or people out on the plains of Africa – those people who are struggling for food, sometimes not eating for weeks on end, and having to hydrate themselves by piercing the neck of a wildebeest. But every single night the drums are out, and they’re singing around the fire.
“That tells you something about what music actually is. Whereas we’ve turned into a commodity – it’s become something to sell, a vehicle to get money or fame,” Foy Vance says with cheerful distaste. “That’s not what has ever interested me. It’s the music itself that matters. It has to be real.”
Ticket: £15.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Sunday 21st May
“Hot, Blue and Righteous” – Classic Rock.
Having scored three radio hit singles on Planet Rock with Crazy, Hurricane and, most recently, Rush Hour, KING KING were nominated for Best New Band (2015 Classic Rock Awards) and followed that with a UK arena tour supporting Thunder.
“King King are the living, breathing, here and now of classic rock music”…
A multi-award winning rock/blues band with a brilliant back catalogue to die for; this is a wonderfully talented bunch with a reputation for chemistry not only between band members, but the audience as well – working them like stadium pros but keeping it intimate and genuine so the whole crowd feels part of the show.
King King are just not ordinary. A powerhouse rhythm section (Wayne Proctor/drums and Lindsay Coulson/bass) with a dazzling keyboard player (Bob Fridzema) underscoring Alan Nimmo, a virtuoso frontman possessed of an almost impolite level of charisma and the talent to back it up.
Nimmo’s full-blooded style, technical brilliance and impassioned vocals are infectious and instantly recognisable. No smoke and mirrors, just killer songs performed with true passion.
“In footballing terms, King King are the musical equivalent of Real Madrid or Barcelona; supremely talented individuals who come together to produce a compelling performance” – Lancashire Telegraph.
Ticket: £20.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Friday 2nd June
ELVANA – THE WORLD’S FINEST ELVIS-FRONTED TRIBUTE TO NIRVANA! Smells like cheeseburgers and teen spirit, daddy-o…
From the bowels of Disgraceland, rock ‘n’ roll icons of the afterlife are raised from the dead!
Rock ‘n’ roll meets grunge as Elvis fronts Nirvana and gives the band the front man it’s been missing since ’94.
Elvana tear through Nirvana’s catalogue whilst splicing in grunged-up sections of the king of rock ‘n’ rolls finest moments, culminating in an audible orgasm of overdrive and old school rockabilly.
Elvana’s short lifetime has already seen them support NYC titans ‘Tragedy: A Heavy Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees’, Drive Thru-Metal’s finest – LA’s ‘Mac Sabbath,’ as well as tearing up venues throughout the UK.
“Elvana – they’re as awesome as they sound.” – the Clown, Mac Sabbath
Please welcome Elvis ‘The King of Tourettes’ Presley (vocals, shaking, rattling, rolling, swearing) // Captain Doom (bass, vocals, doom) // The Bray Bros – guitar, vocals, drums, shared DNA).
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+
Saturday 3rd June
COASTA are back! And fifteen years later you can catch the second wave.
April ’98 and four lads with nothing but guitars, enthusiasm and a love for real music served an apprenticeship based on hard graft; turning tunes in to songs, making grooves out of beats and putting on a great show for the fans.
The result was two years of relentless gigging, their infectious vocal harmonies and rocking riffs travelling the length and breadth of the country; from Fibbers to ‘Night and Day’ in Manchester to ‘The Sound Republic’ in London’s Leicester Square.
After recording their debut E.P., ‘Just Like You’ (produced by Alan Leach from Shed Seven), they finally reaped their rewards, landing a slot at the Leeds Carling Festival in 2000.
One more E.P. followed (‘Meet Your Match’) before the lads parted company to follow other pursuits. Now they are back to relive the glory days and release the album they never did.
Matt Appleton, Kev Barnes, Paul Downes and Ian Peacock are back – catch the 2nd wave!
Ticket: £5.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Saturday 17th June
Van Hailen, Strangers In The Night
VAN HAILEN – a tribute to the music of Dave Lee Roth-era Van Halen and boy do you have to be good to reproduce that classic era – thankfully they are; and more.
So reach down between your legs, ease the seat back and get ready for the ride!!!
Longterm UFO fanatic Andy Greig gathered a group of like-minded UFO obsessives to quickly establish a top UK tribute consisting of all of the tracks from UFO’s iconic “Strangers in the Night” album plus a sprinkling of UFO and MSG classics. That band is STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT and this is one helluva night of Flying-Vs and classic rock!
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Thursday 20th July
THE JAM’D show includes the only replica of Rick Bucklers ‘Great White’ drum kit AND features their own brass section!
No wonder they’ve built a huge following and have gained a reputation for being the finest tribute to ‘The Jam’ gigging countrywide estivals, scooter rallies and some of the UK’s top venue.
Plus! The Jam’d are the only Jam tribute to play at Claridges, one of the most reputable hotels on Mayfair…
The brilliance of Paul Weller is laid bare in their energetic performance all of the classics – Going Underground, Down in the Tubestation at Midnight, Strangetown, A Town called Malice, The Beat Surrender and many more are all included in a varied and extensive set.
The Jam’d are totally committed to giving an unforgettable, authentic performance with all the energy, passion and style of Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, allowing the audience to relive the experience of one of the most influential bands of the British music scene.
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Friday 18th August
Just can’t get enough Depeche Mode?
Even Johnny Cash and Marilyn Manson covered the most successful technopop group of all time. But who can play live, original versions apart from Depeche Mode themselves?
REMODE are one of Europe’s biggest Depeche shows and nothing else comes close to the power and passion of the boys from Basildon as this band from Bielefeld.
What started as a fan project for a single concert in January of 2006 has continuously developed. The reaction of the crowds to the band’s stage debut was so fantastic that the group decided to expand and perfect the Remode project.
Under the motto “the original is the holy grail” and a solid foundation of bass, guitar and drums, Remode quickly developed a loyal fan base that continues to grow.
This was just such a fantastic show this time last year; and you can expect all the hits again and more NEW LIFE // JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH // SEE YOU // THE MEANING OF LOVE // EVERYTHING COUNTS // PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE // MASTER AND SERVANT // PERSONAL JESUS // I FEEL YOU // DREAM ON // PRECIOUS oh the list just goes on and on… (!)
Ticket: £12.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14
Saturday 26th August
Formed 2005, WHITESNAKE UK play tribute to the very best of David Coverdale’s Whitesnake, from the early classic Moody/Marsden line-up to the present day USA incarnation, faithfully reproducing classic songs such as “Fool For Your Loving”, “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again”. With a combined musical experience of over 100 years Whitesnake UK can proudly boast of having some of the most accomplished personnel in any tribute band and concentrate purely on reproducing the classic sound of Whitesnake without the aid of backing-tracks, gimmicks or wigs. “ARE YOU READY & WILLING?”
Specialising in the classic Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice (MKII Deep Purple years), the PURE PURPLE press speaks for itself…
“The most authentic sounding Deep Purple Tribute Band in the UK”
“Your singer looks and sounds exactly like Ian Gillan in 1993- Come Hell Or High Water era!!!”
Ticket: £10.00 Buy Now
Doors: 7.30pm
Age: 14+