In a career I embarked on when I was just 14 years old, one of the projects I'm the most proud of is our 'Local Music Spotlight' feature, which we launched a year ago on Tameside Radio and in the Quest Media newspapers.
Next Friday night, January 26, we will be celebrating the Local Music Spotlight feature with a one-off special event at Whittles Live Music Venue in Oldham.
Each week, we support a local unsigned band or artist from Tameside, Greater Manchester or Derbyshire, who write and record their own original material. We play their music for a full week on every weekday show on Tameside Radio, supported by features in our local newspapers and online, a spot on our official Spotify playlist, and a live studio appearance and interview on my Monday night show.
The response and feedback we've had to the feature has been, and remains, unbelievable. We have featured over 50 bands and solo musicians, with many more still getting in touch daily, meaning the feature shows no signs of slowing down. At our celebratory event, I will be combining an indie rock 'n' roll club night with a celebration of a year of the hugely popular and successful Local Music Spotlight feature.
The night will take place at the iconic Whittles Live Music Venue, which was formerly Tokyo Project Nightclub. I have many fond memories of my time there as a resident DJ, when it was fondly known as 'Tokes', so I really can't wait to be back there playing again.
From 7pm until midnight there will be a selection of live bands that have featured on Local Music Spotlight playing live, followed by a club night I'll be DJing at until the early hours of the morning. Playing live with his full band will be Alex Spencer, who is without a doubt the most talked-about young musicians around right now. Since we launched Local Music Spotlight with Alex's help, he's been signed to the Modern Sky label, released his debut EP, and headlined and sold out Manchester's Deaf Institute venue.
Also on the lineup are Scapegrace, who recently supported Black Grape at Manchester's Albert Hall, and are one of the most exciting young bands around, fronted by one of the most gifted female singers to arrive on the music scene for a long time. Time served musicians North Blood, who released their faultless debut album 'Rolling Doves' the week they featured on Tameside Radio, will also be on the bill, along with Kaiden Nolan, one of Manchester's favourite musical sons who, since leaving his band Scuttlers, has gained a big solo career and a huge fan base. He's performed a sell-out gig at The Deaf Institute, and played at last year's legendary Glastonbury festival.
The Sprats, who burst onto the scene in 2022 and quickly gained a loyal fanbase, will be playing a full set on the night, along with The Notion, who with their catchy choruses and riffs were a Local Music Spotlight listener favourite, and were a highlight of last summer's Northfest festival.
Completing the lineup are The Marbellas, a must-see band who are managed by the popular After All Festival promoter Owen Meikle Williams, and were one of the first bands to appear on the Local Music Spotlight feature. It's a really strong lineup with seven bands who quite easily have the music world at their feet.
We will be recording the whole night live, which will then be featured as a special programme at a later date on Tameside Radio and will also be released as a podcast. Quest Media presenters and broadcast journalists Olivia Briggs, Laura Beth and Erin Parker will also be joining us on the night interviewing bands and their fans, which will then be included on the special show and podcast.
Advance tickets for the over-18s event are very limited. Priced at £8 each, any remaining tickets are available now on Eventbrite, or via tamesideradio.com.
Local Music Spotlight is a pleasure to be involved with, and I really can't wait for this night. With the lineup of bands appearing, I honestly believe it will quickly become an 'I was there' event, and hopefully the first of many. What a great way to start 2024! I hope to see you there and I thank you for all of the support we've had with Local Music Spotlight. For more information on the feature and the live event, visit tamesideradio.com.
See you next Friday 26th January at Whittles for what will definitely be one of the best unsigned band line ups of the year!
Dave.
