Clint Boon supports Battle of the Bands

DJ and Inspiral Carpets legend Clint Boon tells Go! Oldham why he supports the Battle of the Bands gig at Oldham Library.

"I’m really excited at the idea of using the country’s libraries for purposes other than storing, lending and reading books. It’s been heart-warming in recent years to see the amount of libraries around the UK that have been holding live music events within their walls….yes…GIGS!!... who would ever have dreamed of it?!

I’m from the generation who grew up scared of breathing too loudly in the local library. The word ‘Library’ never equalled ‘Fun’

We should indeed celebrate our libraries. They are at the very heart of our culture. Everything about our life, our world, our nature is in there somewhere. So let’s have a party. Let’s have a gig. Let’s sleep over. Let’s talk really, really loud!

Oldham Library is an absolutely wonderful building - in its architecture and its spirit.

The work they’re doing there is priceless and groundbreaking.

I wish them every success with their Battle of the Bands event on the Saturday 19th March.

LIBRARIES=FUN"

Clint Boon, March 2011

It's not too late to get your tickets for Battle of the Bands at Oldham Library. Collect tickets from the Library on Greaves Street. Tickets are free.

Describe your sound...

Three more bands to play at Battle of the Bands at Oldham Library on 19th March describe their sound…

Temple
"Progressive metal, unconventional but listenable. Conceptual lyrics and sung vocals (as opposed to screamed). We try to be as original and interesting as possible"

Torn
“We class ourselves as a punk/metal band, inspired by artists such as sex pistols, black Sabbath and killing joke. Although we haven’t been together for that long, we have preformed a number of times already and are very entertaining”

Unholy Messaiah
“We are a heavy metal band that plays covers and also plays are own songs, we have been going for just under a year. We do covers from Five Finger Death Punch to Ozzy Osbourne to Metallica.”

You can have a listen to Torn on you tube www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNPlrb7Whog&feature=related and check out Unholy Messiah on their Facebook page.

Latest news on Battle of the Bands

Oldham band The Green Wall Beat Club are the latest band to sign up to Battle of the Bands at Oldham Library on Saturday 19th March.

The band have been together since December last year - a debut gig at Night n Day shortly followed as did an invitation to perform as part of the North West rounds of the Surface Unsigned Festival. Their style is alternative rock n roll with a 60s vibe.

They have a few tracks up on our MySpace - www.myspace.com/thegreenwallbeatclub

Don't miss The Green Wallbeat Club perform at Battle of the Bands. Collect your tickets from Oldham Library.

Are you in a band? It's not too late to enter and be part of an exciting night of local music. Find out more and contact kate.smyth@oldham.gov.uk.

Make a Difference with Oldham Youth Council

Last Saturday, a group of young people from Oldham Youth Council carried out a litter pick on Oldham edge. Yasmin Jolly tells us all about it for the Go! Oldham blog.

On Saturday 5th March, a group of the Youth Council Members, including myself, became actively involved in making a change in our community. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to show just how helpful, caring and involved that we young people of Oldham are. Oldham Edge was dazzling once we were done with it!

Our task started at 10am. Eleven of us set out with wellies on our feet, gloves for protection and out handy litter pickers, all prepared for the mission ahead. We found all sorts of rubbish from bags and bottles to electronic devices scattered around the edge of the field and by the noon we had filled the back of a truck with bags of garbage!

However small, we made a difference that day; not just to the visual appearance of a popular field in Oldham but also to the people of Oldham who didn’t know just how fantastic we are (thanks to Big Al from Revolution Radio who interviewed us). If you want to help make a difference, visit www.OYWEB.info or speak to your youth workers and don’t miss out on these great opportunities. Make a difference today.

Yasmin Jolly – Member of Oldham Youth Council

Who’s your favourite band?

In the run up to Battle of the Bands on Saturday 19th March at Oldham Library, we ask the question who’s your favourite band?

Lily, 19, who lives in Chadderton said: A band I really enjoy listening to and seeing perform live is The Fayre. They are a local band which makes them even more interesting and enjoyable to watch knowing band members through school and friends they have a huge following. I’ve seen them headlining my local festival Mozfest and play lots of nearby venues in Oldham and Manchester. They always give a exciting live performance. There mix of of Ska/funk music sets them apart from other up and coming bands and gives them a definite edge in playing packed out gigs. They recently supported Daisy Dares You at Oldham Library which me and my friends went to, was a really fun night.

Sophie, 18, who lives in Lees, said: The Vaccines are a new up and coming band I really enjoy. I recently saw them at the NME tour and they were by far the best band there, it was a really amazing gig. I listen to them all the time on Spotify and there song recently appeared in Teen TV Series skins which has boosted there popularity. They play lots of small venues round the country, including venues near to me such as the Ritz in Manchester. They are also similar to a new Manchester band called The Hurts who have also been playing around local Venues such as The Ritz and Manchester Academy they are a very edgy new band and have recently gained lots critical acclaim from The NME. I would definitely love to go and see these two bands live again!

Liam, 17, who lives in Oldham: One of the best local bands I have seen live are Twisted Wheel, so much in fact that I have seen them four times. They never fail to create an energetic atmosphere and always get the crowd going! I have seen them in local small venues in Manchester and Leeds and in front of a packed crowd at Heaton Park when they supported Oasis. The people of Oldham can relate to the songs as they sing about local people and local places, which i think is why they are so popular amongst the young music crowd in the local area. Definitely a band that must be seen live. Cool as milk.

Don’t miss a great night out of local music with Battle of the Bands on Saturday 19th March, 8pm. Contact Kate Smyth to enter your band kate.smyth@oldham.gov.uk. Collect gig tickets from Oldham Library – don’t miss out, collect yours today.