Apollo landing for Starkie
MANCHESTER band Slow Readers Club are looking forward to a huge homecoming gig later this year - and singer Aaron Starkie says they’ll be taking every second in.
The band - who won the CityLife Breakthrough Award last year will play Manchester Apollo in December to round off a stellar 2018, and Starkie says the venue is ‘extra special.’
“It’s a venue we’ve always wanted to play,” he said. “There’s something special about the Apollo. There aren’t many places bigger in Manchester. Except the arena - but let’s not get ahead of ourselves...”
Slow Readers Club formed out of the members of Aaron and bassist Jim Ryan’s old band Omerta around 2010, with Aaron’s brother Kurtis joining them on guitar and later, after a few line-up changes, David Whitworth on drums. At times, says Starkie, it’s been a slog.
The band have steadily filled some of Manchester’s biggest venues though - sold out shows at the Albert Hall and the Cathedral pointed the way to the big time, as has the support of some of their heroes.
“When you hear the likes of James, The Charlatans and Clint Boon talking about you in positive terms, to get their backing, it’s awesome,” he says.
“It makes it all worthwhile when you’re playing the Roadhouse to 20 people and you think maybe you’re mad for sticking with it.” Starkie has spent plenty of time in the Apollo as a punter, seeing bands such as The National, Arcade Fire, The Charlatans and Basement Jaxx. Now he gets to plan a night on the same stage as them, determined to take it all in. “It feels a bit mad to be honest,” he says. “This is always the nervy bit. Just as tickets are about to go an sale and you wonder if you’re going to get that extra boost. It’s squeaky bum time. But we’re just going to enjoy it.” They’ll also play dates in Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow and London as part of an end-of-year mini-tour and the band are in a good place, according to Starkie - thanks largely to a fervent set of fans who have served as social media cheerleaders over the last couple of years. “We’re just so grateful to them,” says Starkie. “They’ve really driven it. They’ve dragged their mates along to shows or shouted about us on the internet. This gig is as much about them as it is us.” The Slow Readers Club play Manchester Apollo on December 14. Tickets go on general sale today at 10am via Ticketmaster. Aaron Starkie