Its Grinchy Lou here, rather than sparkly and shiny I take on a rather grumpy form around this time of year. I’ve seen grown men reduced to tears over a pot of cream, questions about how many minutes it takes to cook a frozen turkey in a microwave and let’s not even talk about the insanity of seeing in Easter Eggs before I’ve even had a slurp of eggnog.
The bit about the festivities I am rather partial to is New Years Eve. It’s a chance to wipe the slate clean, to announce new resolutions and commitments that quite frankly have more staying power than Matt Hancock in the Jungle (how does that joke fare?) Given half the chance I would celebrate Halloween at Christmas (Nope I missed out on Blink tickets as well as Glasto!) and Christmas in January, saving myself a fortune, I could miss the shopping hordes and have the pubs to myself come January! Winner! Patent pending.
The new year however does have its perks, its the month of the mighty fine Beat the Streets event, the one day multi venue festival is back for its forth year and quite frankly that was all the Christmas pressie I needed, to see not one, but yes two, Beeston Bands on the very fine line up, both of which I have interviewed for this very magazine! Eeekkkk!! in the words of Borat “Veryyy Niceee!”
The date is set for Sunday 29th Jan and tickets start at £10 for a wristband, now here is the very clever bit all money taken on the door AND merchandising AND the bar sales are donated by the team over at DHP family to Framework, a local Homeless prevention service, this means that last year alone £76,000 was raised for Framework Charity to be used to provide housing and specialist support to rough sleepers in and around Nottingham, and in its four year history a huge £320,000 has been raised.
This year boasts Lawnmower Deth (hmm how do I sum up that crazy parody metal rock band? Done..) my fave song is ‘Egg Samichh’ but more famous for their ‘Kids in America’ cover. Stuart Pearce (my sport is hazy but am sure he was a footballer?) Ferocious Dog, English Folk Punk band for lovers of the Levellers, and the two mighty fine bands from Beeston Nactus Kunan, who have graced the stage for BBC Introducing and are hot off their Hockley Hustle slot at the Angel as part of the Phlexx records stage.
Then there’s Lilac Grove who have been busy promoting their new E.P, Resonate and hosting a sold out E.P launch party, phew them boys have been busy!!
Also a huge mention to the lovely Sharp Class band also announced for BTS, they recently had their launch party at the Chequers in Chilwell for their debut album ‘Tales of a Teenage Mind’ . Also on the line up, 7th in Line, Alt Blk Era, Buenos Tree House, Cat Milk, Electric Pets, Ellie Stainsby, Express Office Portico, Fat Bamboo, George Gretton, Girl band, Good-Goodbye, Head-Sticks, Herd, Jack Wolff & Ty Healy, Joey Collins and the Bushido Code, Left Hand Lane, Palm Reader, Reflekter, Sharp Class, Tash Bird, The Avion, The Big Sad, The Chase, The People Assembly and finally Vona Vella. FYI This is the first wave of artists announced as well!
Aaaah go on Santa, I’ve been good!!!
Happy Christmas see ya in the new year for more ramblings, musics and shenanigans
LD