WELCOME to the new "Live in Glasstown" music column. I'm Simon Trubshaw and every week I'll be bringing to you what's happening on the local live music scene across St Helens.
This town has always had a great local music heritage since the early 1960's and has had live music venues, such as the, Plaza in Duke street, famous for being a venue that the Beatles and countless other bands from the 60's played in their early days before becoming world wide chart phenomenons. This musical heritage has carried through to the present day in the pubs and social clubs of the town, bringing with it some wonderful and talented local musicians some of whom have gone on to international success.
Since the huge success of the Westfield street music festival back in June, organised by one of the biggest supporters of live music in St Helens, Paul Griffiths of the Zoo Bar, the local scene has expanded from being a small, almost underground, music scene with a few dedicated individuals and bars promoting the local musical talent. It seems that St Helens has rediscovered live music with a vengeance and many more pubs and bars have opened their doors to local talent making the scene probably one of the liveliest in the North West.
Last Friday I visited three venues, The Sefton Arms, The Zoo Bar and The Rendezvous and saw three different genres of music. At the Sefton were the Cental playing indie covers and their own indie inspired material. At the Zoo bar I was treated with psychedelic prog rock from local legends Genghis Ghrimes AND dub reggae, space rock and a song about Geno's kebab house from One Eyed God! Finally, another band of local legends, and possibly the longest surviving band in the town The Swampstompers finished the evening off with their own inimitable brand of Blues and rock at The Rendezvous bar.Three very different venues with completely different genres of music. So there’s something for everybody out there.
In the coming months, as well as the gig listings, we shall be bringing whats happening, news-wise, with the venues and the local music scene in general. But first here's what's on in the St Helens borough in the next week.
Thursday 30th Oct
The Green Room - Duke street - open mic night presented by Chris Bailey and friends.
Friday 31st Oct
The Sportsmans, Duke street - King Monday, rock and indie covers.
The Rendezvous, Church Street - Polkerdice, rock covers.
Bull and dog, Lea Green - Mr Swap's jam night, join in the fun and make music with Matt, James and Mr Swap.
The Sefton Arms, Baldwin street - Zebra 3, sounds from the 60's through to today.
The Griffin inn, Earle street, Earlestown - Malarky, rock/pop covers The Junction inn, News lane Rainford - open mic night presented by Tony Schofield.
Saturday Nov 1st
The Junction inn, News lane, Rainford - 909, music from the 60's.
The Red Lion, Robins lane, sutton - Tightrope, hard and heavy rock, The Sefton Arms, Baldwin street - Titors Insignia, original indie rock, The Griffin inn, Earle street - Earlestown, Mothers Ruin, anthemic hard rock.
The Pheonix, Canal street - The Central, indie rock.
The Citadel, waterloo street - Merry Hell, indie folk/rock, Tuesday 4th November The Junction inn, News lane Rainford - open mic night presented by Flora Golding.
So that's whats happening "live" in the borough of St Helens this coming week.
If you're a venue and would like us to add you to our weekly live music listings, drop me an email at simon.trubshaw2014@gmail.com and I'll gladly add it to the listings.
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