Opening Stagefrite: Xfm Rock School winners Black and White, with Xfm DJ Alex Zane
Young and into music with loud guitars? You lucky, lucky thing. Not only are there countless young rock bands roaming the streets, thumbing their plectrums, and not only have you got RockStock for them to showcase their talents (plus the odd Bourne To Rock and Leatherhead Lick), now you have Stagefrite.
Headed by former RockStock MC Dave Clarke, Stagefrite is a new monthly (or so) band music night at 350-person capacity Wallington Hall. So what are you getting for your requisite £7? Quite a lot, actually. Four bands, playing half an hour each, and not any old rubbish either. The first night on Friday, February 29 has local rock heroes and Kerrang! award-winning Flaming Monkeys on the bill, as well as the equally talented Black and White, Vytl Syne and Three Fates.
Stagefrite isn't just about the bands though. For instance an open mic slot, which, for those audience members feeling brave, gives you your moment in the limelight. Just put your name down on the night, pick one of 25,000+ tracks on the Stagefrite official laptops, grab the mic and away you go (not suitable for somebody who suffers from, errm, stage fright). And don't worry, we're not talking about cheesy old stuff like Abba and the Bee Gees, it's the good stuff.
For the more passive audience members, you can be kept entertained while the Stagefrite drones are busy setting up the next band. There will be competitions and giveaways, in which you can win Sony mp3 players and an iPod, and Stagefrite also promises music from your favourite bands and a light show.
Dave says: "What we thought was, if you get a kid who gets a tenner a week pocket money, he could spend seven quid getting in, then if his mate's band is first on and they're not interested in the other bands, then they're not getting much for their money.
"This way we're giving them a load of other stuff to enjoy like the laser show and smoke machines, loud music, competitions, we want to make the kids feel part of something. The bands will be great but it's not just about them."
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So there you have it. You are officially spoilt for choice for band nights. You want my advice? Inhale as much of the local music scene as you can. You now have even more scope for tracking which bands are blowing everyone else off the stage, which are quietly turning brilliant, which are falling from grace, which are visibly cracking up, which aren't good yet but have that certain something...
Turn up, tune in, get an opinion. It's better than hanging about in the cold.
Stagefrite; Wallington Hall, Stafford Road, SM6 9AY; Friday, February 29, 7pm; £7, visit myspace.com/stagefrite for more details.
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