Four for a tenner bands bargain
Kennet Radio will be featuring music from the night’s ‘Rising Stars’ at Arlington Arts
Rising Stars Showcase at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore, on Saturday, April 6
Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON
Tonight was a great opportunity for four bands with Newbury connections to play to a good-size audience and for local people to see what is happening on the local music scene
FOUR bands for a tenner has got to be good value for money in any live music fan's book. Unsurprisingly Arlington Arts was nearly full. Local and new bands need the experience of playing to live audiences but, sadly numerous venues have closed, a situation made worse by the pandemic. Tonight was a great opportunity for four bands with Newbury connections to play to a good-size audience and for local people to see what is happening on the local music scene. A win/win situation.
Each band played a 30-minute set, with the band who sold most tickets via their website headlining with a 45-minute set.
First on stage were No Good Sons, a four-piece rock outfit with three albums under their belts. They are working on a fourth.
They offer hard, driving, new style rock. Powerful, loud and proud. My favourite track was Bad Decisions from their third album released last year. They definitely got the night off to a good start.
Who Ate All The Crayons were next up. Billed as folk rock, with influences including Mumford And
Sons, I would have placed them closer to indie rock on this showing. With powerful and highly emotional vocals and tight instrumental backing they proved that rock is a broad and varied genre and impressed more than just their own vocal following.
They have been long-listed for the emerging talent stage at Glastonbury. My favourite tracks were Tired, their new single, and 5 Seconds.
Small Town Saviours were third on with what I’d describe as ‘industrial punk’ rock. High energy and fast paced, this was a powerful set which, despite it's brevity, amply demonstrated their considerable musical ability. I particularly enjoyed No Rats, No Snakes, No Second Takes, The Drinking Song
and Crying.
Revenant headlined tonight with some fine anthemic classic rock, full of catchy riffs and excellent guitar work.
The Healer from their forthcoming EP was excellent and their mini-set of mash-ups, which mixed excerpts from the likes of AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Queen, Nirvana and Michael Jackson brilliantly demonstrated both their versatility and humour. The Masquerade ,a new track, was also excellent. A great night of music which has the support of Kennet Radio, which will be featuring music from tonight’s bands.
There will be another live Rising Stars event in November.
Be there.