Thursday 9th July 2009

Going to my nephew Alfie’s 3rd birthday party with a colossal hangover was never going to be a good idea. The odds are always going to be stacked up against you – over excited kids, a British heat wave, a 1pm kick off, scotch eggs and a gathering of family, unknowns and vaguely familiar’s. I admit it wasn’t looking pretty, especially my face, but it’s impossible not to have fun at classic children’s party, with hangover or without hangover.

I’ve got good news to share with you about the Greenman Poll. Not only have Mechanical Owl managed to seal their place in round 2 but Heal the Last Stand have found themselves in the last 20 also.

Voting for round 2 finishes at midnight this Sunday with the 6 most voted bands going through to grand slam final showdown in London where they will play live sets in front of a judging panel of music suits. As mentioned last week, the overall winner gets to open the main stage at the Greenman Festival in August. So, get on the website (www.thegreenmanfestival.co.uk) and get voting.

Other news from the Heal camp – Their first single from the eagerly anticipated debut album ‘What Love is’ will be ‘Take a Step’ which will be available as a free download very soon.

They have been invited to play 4 shows at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen this weekend which includes a spot on the S4C stage which means a possible television appearance could ensue, now that would be Jurassic Park.

Following Heal the Last Stand hosting the Telfords Warehouse Open Mic night last Sunday, this Sunday it’s time for another Wrexhamite to play moderator. Andy Hickie, who toured Barcelona with Heal last month, will be parking up his never failing Camper van into Chester on Sunday night from 8pm. Free entry, of course.

Wrexham’s pied piper Danny Gruff is set to release his debut EP ‘Last of the Big Time Small Town Lads‘ on Friday 17th July on the small Leeds based label Broken Heart Underground.

Danny has compiled what he believes to be the best 5 songs he’s written over his 18 month solo career. The EP itself was recorded in three different locations with one of the tracks being recorded in his bedroom squat at his University in Leeds. The title track from the EP ‘Last of the Big Time Small Town Lads‘ features the Danny Gruff band and his friend from Uni features on ‘SOS’ and the final track ‘City Lights’.

After his first year constantly gigging in Leeds, Danny has returned to Wrexham for the summer with a long string of gigs lined up with the most important one being the EP launch on Friday 17th July at Bradley Cricket Club.

Supporting Danny will be The Witherdons, Sam Jones (formerly of Ashbey) and Lightnin’ Hopkins.
Tickets are available from Danny’s myspace (myspace.com/dannygruff) and from the other bands. Tickets are £5.

Local indie rockers Seb Green are the live band at the first of possibly a few more indie nights at Llay Miners Welfare. Cheap beer, £3 tickets or door, a bar till way past midnight and a bowling green make this an ideal way to spend your Friday night. Expect indie classics, both old and new, from the DJ so take your dancing shoes and your drinking ways to Llay tomorrow night from 7:30pm.

North Walean hardcore underground death-music outfit Severenth will be playing their first ever Central Station headline show at the Alt Nation club night tomorrow night. They went into the studio last month to lay down some new material with producer Andy Gilbin (who produced their first demos) and are hoping to start recording their second album soon. The show tomorrow night features support from Apollyn who are old school thrash metal from Ellesmere Port and Primal State who are ‘female fronted aggressive metal’ from Oswestry. Sounds suitably scary. Tickets are £4 from the bands or £6 on the door, doors are 7pm.

The Tiv has announced their first upcoming gig in what seems too long. On Friday 24th July they have a charity night in aid of the Willow Foundation featuring Connah’s Quay’s I Am Austin. Support comes from The Tuning, The Imposters and Lloyd Davies. Admission is £5 and doors are 7:30pm.

There you go, all done for this week. I’m on holiday next week but rest assured you’ll still find me here on Thursday, reporting from god knows where – hopefully a beach somewhere. Email me at ben@wrexhammusic.co.uk or tweet me on @bendaviswxm with your news. Until next time, take care.