Gig plans finalised...

I followed up an email I had sent to David Foran today, regarding the 'Forever Manchester Music Festival' we had been invited to play at, with a quick phone call.  I talked with him about the gig and managed to secure us a 7pm slot on the event's main stage at the Printworks.  This was big news!  Being on the main stage will mean that everyone who walks in to the Printworks will be able to hear us playing so it will be a great chance to gain a lot of exposure.

I also got a call back from Bozo of Beatbullyz this evening and he said that he would be happy to perform on our song 'Devil's Little Finger' at the gig too.  So far things are going well.  I am currently reading through a message I was sent on Facebook by, a friend of a friend and promo director, Sharon.  She had a big hand in organising this gig and has offered to help promote us and give us advice on ways to improve our band's image and media recognition.

Upon reading her message, it will indeed be a good idea to design a logo for our band and make flyers and even a banner to help promote ourselves to the audience on the night of the gig.  Too many times have I been to and played gigs where the audience has no idea which band is on stage at the time.  I think it is really important that we make an impression on people at this performance and ensure that they go away knowing exactly who we are.  I can look back and see now the many opportunities where I could have gone the extra mile for a gig and really made an impact as opposed to just going up on stage and playing the songs well and so I'm determined not to waste this great opportunity!

Let's push things forward...

So, this morning has been quite an exciting and slightly nerves-inducing experience.  I received a call from, our lead singer, Hollie-Jay's mum, Maggie, this morning telling me that she had been on the phone with David Foran from Manchester Radio Online.  He is helping organise a big festival at the Printworks in Manchester and was very interested in having Jeanie in the Radiator on the bill.  It sounds like a great weekend festival; it's going to be free entry too so they're hoping to get thousands of people down to the venues that are showcasing the live acts.

After noting down his details and beginning to phone the rest of the band regarding availability for the gigs, I get another call from Maggie saying that she had had a call from a band manager, expressing their interest in managing us having seen something David Foran had written online.  He had apparently listened to our music on Myspace and posted that he loved it, which, according to this manager, was a very rare thing for him to do!  Good news all round then, but it sounds like a lot of good things could come of this gig so we better start working hard!

I'm awaiting a return call from Bozo of Beatbullyz to see if he can make the gig, but apart from him it looks like we should all be set for a date on 20th November.  Here's to lots of practices...

Devil's Little Finger first (of at least 2) radio plays..

So I got the news today that we had one of our tracks, Devil's Little Finger, played on BBC Manchester's 'BBC Introducing' show.  The slight problem was that I had accidentally sent in an unfinished version of the track which had the rap verse at the end of the song missing.  A stupid mistake which I quickly rectified today by emailing the correct one to the host of the show.  Luckily they said that they had enjoyed the unfinished version so much that they would happily play the finished one!  They were excited to see that Bozo from Beatbullyz appears on the final version of the track too...

So the result is that the finished version will be played this Sunday on the BBC Introducing show, and I plan to send in more tracks and maintain correspondence with the show from hereon.  And in future I will ensure that I am sending the right thing in...

Also their reaction to the collaboration with Bozo has shown me how much a more established name can help to promote one's own material.  Here's to more collaborations, more networking and more radio plays in future!

Jeanie in the Radiator on the BBC Introducing 17.10.10 Tracklist

Jeanie in the Radiator debut gig..

Last night I played one of the best and most enjoyable gigs I have ever played.  I had organized it a month prior to the gig, with Alex McCann who runs Designer Magazine gig promotions.  It was the launch night for his new event 'Fish, Chips and Rock & Roll' where the idea is for the people who buy tickets get a free portion of chips and the option of buying fried fish and deep-fried Mars bars at the venue.  It was a great way of getting people's interest, but gimmicks aside it turned out to be a really good night!

It was our first gig and with an acoustic setup necessary to cater to the constraints of the venue, it was both interesting and good fun to adapt the very electronic sounds of our songs to simpler, stripped down versions.

We were surprised at the turnout, with the venue's (Altrincham's 'Slug and Lettuce') performance area packed with almost 100 people.  Despite a few issues at the sound technician's end at the start of the set we played a smooth, well practiced and tight set and I think the people who knew the songs enjoyed the different spin on them with the acoustic guitar and live percussion.

It was great to play in front of an enthusiastic audience and be so relaxed.  I think playing for League Liege is a bit more of a burden as the music is so much more complex.  Having only the responsibility of the acoustic guitar and a few backing vocals in a live performance allowed me to have a lot more fun on stage and playing with a group of people who I trust and know so well is always comforting under pressure!

All in all it was a great gig, enjoyed by both the band and the audience, we made a bit of money towards the next practice room booking and we all gained a lot more confidence in ourselves as performers, and in the songs.  A great success!

Rather good drums recording..

So today was spent in the company of local Manchester experimental group Swansea Love Story whose E.P I am producing.  I made the decision awhile ago to start looking for young artists who might be looking for a cheaper recording solution than going to big expensive studios.  Not only is it an opportunity to make some money, but it is a great way to get my name out there as a producer.  You've got to keep your fingers in as many pies as possible!

I've known these guys for a fair few years, having gone to the same school as them, and they have a sound which is truly rare for a Manchester band, more reminiscent of artists like Subtle, Ratatat and in their more ambient moments, Sigur Ros with an electronic twist.  It is a project I am happy to be involved in and it's good to be able to see music writing from a fresh perspective.  It can be difficult to write and record one's own music from start to finish whilst maintaining an outsider's point of view with regards to the overall impact of the end product.

We recorded drums for 4 of the tracks off their planned E.P.  Using the SSL studio at Futureworks College we were able to spend a good 8 hours in their, which gave us enough time to hone the sound of the drums and make the recordings.  I still find that projects like this, which are separate to and less personal than recording for my own songs, are perfect for practicing different recording techniques with a more objective point of view.  It was good experience and I feel more confident than ever, now, recording drums in a studio environment!

Drum Mic setup..

View from the SSL desk..