Blackhearts The Ducie Bridge and Festivals

Saturday gone we went to The Ducie Bridge in Manchester to play a show with Dan The Thief. 153 Corporation Road is just up from Victoria Station, not far from the MEN Arena, and his one of Manchesters best live music pubs; free to get in and no pay to play for the bands. The Ducie has close association with Manchester Radio and the two compliment each other by finding new bands for gigs in the Manchester area, providing the very raw but definite sound the city breeds, along side some fantastic talent from the surrounding area. Yes, I'm talking Morecambe Bay!

We got down there, quick line check and rampaged through a set comprising of:

Pressure Drop
Crash
Battle Cry
She Really Goes
Seven Sisters
Rapture
Choke
Black Soul
Planes

The new ones went down really well especially She Really Goes which is the probably our most accessible song to date and will definitely be on the session list for our next recording session which will be at West Orange Studios in April (I think). So, a great night at The Ducie Bridge both for the music and for the top people we met there. Thanks to all.

Coming up we have a night at Jackson's Pit in Oldham with The Number and White Heath, then over to the Live Lounge in Blackburn before hitting The Printworks Festival, The Roughbeats Festival (with Pulled Apart by Horses) and The Carlisle Music Festival (with Death in Vegas).

This is the News

It's been a long time since we last posted so, where to start? The first gig on the year was the return to Ma Murphy's on Jan 14 (with support from Joe McCorriston who was fantastic), we were a bit worried (but only a little) about the turn out as it was mid month and just after the festive season...we needn't have bothered. Last time we played Ma's it was the battle of the bands competition and so it was rammed with all the support for the different bands, this time it was pretty much near the same figures on the floor. We were blown away with the turn out and with the amount of torrential noise coming back at us after the songs, Morecambe were having it proper.

We've been working on some new tracks that will be recorded hopefully late March as before that we will be shooting a video for Too Much Blood on March 15. I'll not bang on about it until it is done and stuck on YouTube. I will say though that we have a script and a story line, a great director and the camera man/tech is reputed to be excellent. I can't wait for the clatter board to snap.

We've been confirmed for the Printworks Festival on May bank holiday and have added our first date in Liverpool at the student union later this month on the 25th. We return to the Stonewell on March 3 with special guests and recently re-formed Natural Thing, plus it is Turner's birthday weekend so it should be a belter!

See you soon, Blackhearts

Blackhearts, Blooz and the Boys in Blue

The last few gigs have been amazing; we can't thank everyone who has been out to see us enough. The Stonewell in Lancaster was up first on Bonfire Night (Nov 5th) and it was probably the loudest crowd per capita we've ever witnessed. The venue holds around 250 and it was rammed; but it sounded like 500 plus, maybe it was all the excitement what with all the Catherine Wheels and roman candles earlier in the evening, whatever, we came off stage 100 feet high. Thunder Jackson and the Bandits were the support and they rocked the place with their rolling 60's R&B and blues, dressed in some lovely finery too!

The next night, sleepless and seeing things, we got up for the Bobbin Beer Festival. I must admit I was dreading it but once on stage everything just fell in and musically we felt we played better than the night before, strange days indeed. The Bobbin is a great crowd, there for the music, they listen, and they are good.

Jackson’s Pit in Oldham, wicked little cellar bar, one week later and we were still waiting to get on at 2am. Mitford Rebel were the main support, also coming from Morecambe, good luck to them in the BotB for Water Aid at Lancaster University tonight. That is all I can remember, the people said they enjoyed it. Don't drink hard until 2am and then go on unless you are Keith Richards, otherwise you end up on your knees playing guitar...and the police after you. Thanks to Sly Disorder for sorting that one.

We have had some fantastic news recently but it is all on the QT until the papers are in. Stay tuned in for the next gripping instalment, probably sometime after we rip the roof off The Ram and Shackle on Monday (21.11.2011) with The Stalagmites.

Walk into the Sea review

Red Rose Music has done a review of the new EP Walk into the Sea which you can check out here - Red Rose Music. We'll forgive them for getting the lyrical content wrong (this time Mr Bennett) but next time we're sending them a visit from the Rippers and Thieves...Red Rose champion the great unsigned, and those lurking around the edges of the pyre on their online pages and they now have a slot on Frequency Radio. Check it out.

We will be shooting a music video this winter, and Turner is currently in the early stages of talks about scoring a short film: more of that when we have details.

Next gig is at the Stonewell on November 5 with Thunder Jackson and the Bandits (Classic Rock/R&B) followed the next day by a slot at the Bobbin Beer Festival (9pm) with Massive Wagons (Hard Rock), The Dead Puppeteers (acoustic/alt/indie) and Beyond the Sun (Metal).

Until next time.

Blackheart Afterglow play Night and Day Cafe Manchester

The band will be performing at Manchester's famous Night and Day Cafe this October 24 with Zero Symphony and Sunday Recovery.

Sunday Recovery is a quartet and music takes inspiration from the best rock bands including Porcupine Tree, Muse and Radiohead. For the release of their first cd "Coma", which contains 11 original tracks, the band collaborated with Colin Edwin ("Porcupine Tree") who played the bass in "In front of you" and "Side C".

The Zero Symphony - "a 3 piece hard rock/punk act from Manchester, UK. Fusing old school metal riffs with catchy choruses, we bring our own blend of high octaine, pure rock n roll fun. Currently putting together a new album and looking for shows".

There are another couple of bands TBA so stay tuned for details.

Walk into the Sea EP

The Blackhearts have released their new EP entitled Walk into the Sea on-line on Amazing Tunes, the sister site of new music champions Amazing Radio. If you are not familiar with Amazing Radio they basically play brand new music that spans every genre from unsigned bands and artists, those about to release their first records and those who are on the cusp of the mainstream. They offer anyone the opportunity to upload their music, they promise they will listen, and if they like it they will broadcast it. Earlier in the year they played Seven Sisters on the Amazing Rock Show, the track got picked up by the BBC Introducing show too.

Walk into the Sea is comprised of four amazing tracks that were recorded at the Alhambra Building on Morecambe's promenade in the west end of the town with Mick Armistead engineering. As with Pressure.Crash.Seven the band went for the 'live' approach rather than all recording separate so as to try and catch something in time, ascendant.

The tracks will be rolled out across the major social media and music sites over the next month or two, and those who venture out to see the band live can pick one up direct.

Walk into the Sea
1.Too Much Blood
2.Planes
3.The Familiars
4.May God Have Mercy On Your Black Soul

Epic win for Blackhearts

Blackhearts

Battle of the Bands down to the wire

Our local music scene is thriving at present and the Ma Murphy's battle of the bands final was further proof.

While bands such as The Heartbreaks, Idol Minds and Liar Liar have grabbed the headlines of late, five entrants in the Irish pub's contest on August 25 are definitely coming up on the rails.
Up to 300 people jammed into the pub to hear the performances from punk metal teenagers Scarred ID, some of whom were only 15, rockers Blackheart Afterglow, funk soul Big Door Open, melodic pop act The Remedy Project and loud and proud heavy metal-heads Massive Wagons.




Scarred ID had their army of young fans screaming with excitment as they played a mixture of original songs and covers including Green Day's American Idiot and Enter Sandman by Metallica. They and Massive Wagons ran the eventual winners, Blackheart Afterglow from Morecambe, very close but in the end the five piece's dynamic brand of brooding rock 'n' roll earned them the £500 prize. The band, fronted by Turner, are tipped to go on to great things.

Massive Wagons

The music was fantastic and there was a great atmosphere in the pub. Judges were Greg Lambert, chief reporter and entertainments editor for The Visitor newspaper, Cherish Otoo from Ma Murphy's and musicians Cameron Seddon and Jeepster Gaz (Rattle and Hum).

Report by The Visitor 6/9/2011





Blackheart Afterglow will be playing at the MS Charity Fundraiser on October 7 @ the Gregson Arts Centre, Lancaster. Further info can be found on the Facebook Event Page