The Trend

 

Band of the week on Tameside Radio's Local Music Spotlight feature are The Trend. The five-piece Manchester based band consists of Mark Revell (Lead Vocals), Steve Scott (Bass Guitar and Vocals), Charlie Vincent (Rhythm Guitar and Vocals), Jake Higgs (Lead Guitar and Vocals), and John Woodruff (Drums and Percussion), and are influenced by the likes of The Beatles, 10CC, Squeeze, XTC, The Who, and Steely Dan. The Trend first came together in the late 1970's and were signed to Universal Music Group on the MCA label and released several singles. During this time, they played venues around the country and in London at Dingwall's, The Rock Garden, The Venue and The Marquee. In 1980 they also toured the UK supporting MCA labelmates Wishbone Ash. After this, the band decided to split up during the 1980's. In 2016 a music promoter asked them to re-form for a one-off reunion gig, which they went on to do, and then decided to carry on playing, writing and recording original music. Since reforming, the band have released two albums and two EP's, and played several gigs including headlining in their hometown of Glossop at the Town Hall Sessions in August 2017. The Covid-19 pandemic restricted activity but the band have since released a new EP entitled "Songs From A Rainy City". During the writing and recording of this their rhythm guitarist, Charlie Vincent, was told he had blood cancer and he very sadly passed away, just as the EP was released. Charlie was an incredibly "can do" and upbeat person in the band, and his fantastic contributions to both the writing and playing on the EP really stood out in the recordings. 
Future plans for the band are uncertain at the moment without Charlie, but all members of The Trend continue to write new music and there is a host of new material waiting to get out there, so watch this space. The Trend will be played on every weekday show on Tameside Radio between 6am and 7pm all of next week. Mark Revell, the bands lead singer,  joined the team on The Dave Sweetmore Show last Monday night, you can listen again via the OnDemand section of the website. For more information on The Trend, the Local Music Spotlight feature, and a link to the official Spotify account which features all bands and artists who have been included so far, visit www.tamesideradio.com