Dave Sweetmore column: Night spot to help homeless

Tameside Radio presenter Dave Sweetmore speaks on a new music venue in Stalybridge.

For those who own and run music venues, or for anyone who works in hospitality, the pandemic has hit the industry harder than any other over the last 18 months. 

So to open a brand new music bar in the middle of it all, wouldn’t be something most promoters would even think about.

But this isn’t any music promoter, this is local councillor, new music lover, Sam Gosling. 

Not only has his bar, Zeros Bar in Stalybridge, been at full capacity (with restrictions) almost every night since opening in May, he’s also found himself in the hands of one of the most talked about new music venues on the scene. 

His love for unsigned music is second to none, and the only rule for bands who play each weekend night is simple – all your own original material. 

The venue is brilliant. It’s dark, its walls are full of music icons, the sound system is provided by Kieran Lee of Crash Audio, a well-respected sound engineer on the Manchester music scene.

The excellent projections, lighting, and effects are by Sam’s right hand man Dan Hinchcliffe, and the bar and security staff are everything a venue team should be. 

It’s easy to see why Zeros has gained such a great reputation already, and with restrictions now lifted comes another new beginning for the Stalybridge venue. 

Tonight, (Thursday) Sam and his team launch ‘Club Zero’, the downstairs part of Zeros Bar. Club Zero’s stage will host live bands every Friday and Saturday night from 8pm, with an Indie DJ continuing until 3am.

Advance entry to the club will be £3, but for the first month the club will be a ‘pay what you can’ entry fee, with 50 per cent of takings going to local hero Pauline Town MBE’s ‘We Shall Overcome’ charity for the homeless. 

Upstairs, in Zeros bar, acoustic acts will also remain playing each weekend night, with a more 50’s to 90’s rock n roll vibe provided by the bar’s resident DJ. 

Tonight is the preview night for Club Zero, in which everyone is welcome, and it’s also free entry. Playing live are venue favorites ‘Freeda’, currently riding high with their new single ‘Young’, alongside one of the North West’s favourite musical son’s, Ryan Jarvis.

I’ll be there hosting and DJing for the night. Doors for this special event open at 7pm, it will be great to see so many of Tameside’s music fans come along and support the venue. 

If any local and original bands or musicians wish to play at Zeros Bar or Club Zero, email Sam at zerosbarstalybridge@gmail.com. I’ll hopefully see you tonight at the launch of one of the North West’s best new Rock n Roll Clubs! 

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