Molly Leigh - something a bit spooky about the new EP...
The BBC Introducing show has the latest news from the local band music scene in Stoke, Staffordshire & South Cheshire.
Here we were reporting February 2011 stuff, but, if you have any news and gig-announcements now, please just let us know.
News included: spooky band in new release, Pistol get very bluesy, Sherry Counsellors do the birdmen dance, Charlatans man in Burton - plus gigs!
Sam Ostrouchow updates this page every Friday.
Thanks to all of you for the news snippets that you send in. Please keep the bits coming -
just send us stuff via e-mail
For last month's news, see link on right hand-side of this page.
February 2011 NEWS (and Gossip)
Dance of the Birdmen give-away
Sherry Counsellors invent new dance craze. Apparently.
Stoke-on-Trent indie pop-punk collective, Sherry Counsellors, have announced new gig dates, alongside releasing their EP Dance Of The Birdmen - which is available to download for free from
You can catch the guys performing tracks from their EP at The Fat Cat Café Bar, Stoke-on-Trent, on 5 February 2011.
Charlatans drummer shows Burton College a thing or two ...
Charlatans drummer Jon Brookes, one of the co-founders of the band, is set to hold a
master-class at Burton College
on February 11. The drummer, who recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his band's first album, will deliver three seminars over the course of the day covering subjects such as management, promotion and record deals. An extensive collection of memorabilia from Brookes' time in the music industry will also be on display. Talking about the visit Music Technology Curriculum leader Peter Holyman said, "It is fantastic that Jon is able to join us."
Metal-heads on Stoke witching scene
A new metal-rock foursome has been writing heavy riffs in the deepest, darkest Stoke-on-Trent. Matt Massey, Dave Snell, Lukas Searle and Ben James are joined to form the band
in August 2010. Their debut EP titled 'Feed them to the Dogs' is free to download now or catch them at The Sugarmill, Hanley on 19 February.
And, yes, you are right - 'Molly Leigh' is also the name of north Staffordshire's most infamous witch. Check out
her weird and wonderful story.
Fresh music Served Raw
It is all about the blues for Stafford lads .44 Pistol
Stafford electric blues band
have launched their new album Served Raw - which is available for download now.
Band members Pete Wearn (vocals and slide guitar), Ash Jones (lead and rhythm guitar) and Dunc Smith (drums and percussion) describe their sound as "up-tempo, rough & ready... this is music to drink, dance and stomp your feet along to". The three-piece have a string of venues booked for a UK tour following the album release, including playing at their hometown spot, Joxer Brady's in Stafford, on 12 February 2011.
The Cape Race debut new video online
The Cape Race are now streaming their new video for single 'They're Young, They're In Love' free on their website. The song is the first single from the album which has recently been recorded with Pete Miles. Expect big things from The Cape Race in 2011 and head over to
to catch the video now.
Grunge video shoot in the West Midlands
are filming their ninth video on location in the British west midlands. The band which features Midlands born guitarist Nick J Townsend have decided to invite loyal fans along to the dates and plan for this single to be the first release from their forthcoming album - which will be released on Stoke-on-Trent based label
Basement Sound Records.
Spot of Brother at The Underground
Brother, the 'gritpop' band from Slough (hotly tipped for 2011) are now confirmed as doing a headlining gig at The Underground, Stoke-on-Trent on 15 February.
have recently been signed to Geffen, have made the front page of NME, and have grabbed media attention with their loud, self-assured declarations of being 'the future of music'. Want to know what the hype is about?
Gigs you missed
4 Feb: The Retrospective return to The Box, Crewe with support from Crewe based Tomorrow's Yesterday, Stoke band Carnation and from Macclesfield The David International.
4 Feb: Progressive metal six-piece Devil Sold His Soul play the Sugarmill, Hanley. Support comes in the form of Feed The Rhino and Betrayal Within The Ranks.
5 Feb: Sherry Counsellors @ Fat Cat Café Bar, Hanley
9 Feb: Holy Coves @ Harry's Bar, Stoke town.
10 Feb: Japanese Voyeurs @ The Sugarmill, Hanley. With support from Troops of Mafeking and The Midnight Lycan Party.
10 Feb: Liverpool's Red Rock perform a free gig @ The Box, Crewe.
11 Feb: Local band The Elastics headline at The Sugarmill. Support is from Wildfires and Clockwork Owls.
11 Feb: Junker, Chimps on Death Row, Revelation and Leave Me A Whisper @ The Box, Crewe.
11 Feb - Dead Radio Society are at The Full Moon, Newcastle Under-Lyme, with support from The Native Divide and Goodbye Tonight.
12 Feb: Stafford band .44 Pistol play a set from their newly launched album, 'Served Raw' @ Joxer Brady's, Stafford.
Expect all the classics and snippets of new material from Sham 69 in Crewe
12 Feb - Punk legends, Sham 69, make their return to The Box in Crewe. Expect all the classics and snippets of new material from recently released Who Killed Joe Public?
13 Feb - Sheffield based The Heebie Jeebies stop off at Newcastle Under Lyme's Old Brown Jug to deliver their upbeat brand of math-rock.
15 Feb: Hotly tipped for 2011 by NME, The Guardian and Radio 1, Brother will be headlining at The Underground, Hanley.
18 Feb: The Flares, Goodbye Tonight, The Dusk and Filthy Trigger @ The Box, Crewe.
Saturday, 19 February: The Main Stem, a Stafford/Birmingham-based collective of disco disciples, launch their debut album with this gig. Support from uber-weirdos MausKramp and funketeers Matrix Club Mix.
19 Feb: Stoke-on-Trent progressive metal band Anaphearo play The Sugarmill, Hanley. Support is from local bands Bet It All In Vegas, the newly formed Molly Leigh, and Purify The Fallen.
19 Feb - New rockers Molly Leigh play The Sugarmill, Hanley.
Monday, 21 February: Miles Kane at Square One in Crewe, supported by Crewe's own Sumo Kings and Iron Door Club.
22 Feb - Modified Toy Orchestra launch their second album Plastic Planet at the Axis Arts Centre in Crewe.
26 Feb - Tribute act Jilted Generation pay homage to dance music heroes The Prodigy when they play Nantwich Civic Hall.
23 Feb: Post hardcore Essex 5-piece We Are The Ocean return to The Sugarmill.
25 Feb: Young Rebel Set headline @ The Box, Crewe, with support from Proud Proud People, The Escape and Little Nine.
Reporting what's happening on the local unsigned bands scene is just part of what BBC Introducing does.