NEWS..
Welcoming Barnsley’s new music hopefuls onto stage for the penultimate leg of the 2009 “Live and Unsigned” national new music competition was exciting – not least because I’d already heard great things about this new funk-rock trio, but also since these guys are from my own backyard, telling the stories of my town and it’s people; our concerns, our trials, and our triumphs…
In the dimly-lit arena in Manchester heavy drapes shielded the afternoon daylight, setting the tone perfectly for the glamour of stage performance. Artificial illuminations in their smoky green and purple hues struck suddenly the expectant crowd; the atmosphere swelled as one by one, 16 bands, duos and solo artists fought hard for their place in the national final.
Our own Barnsley champions, “Doric Arch”, were cast for the twelfth spot. The wait was a long and impassioned one, fuelled further by the somewhat overwhelming number of Doric supporters I found lurking in the wings, peering out from the darkness with a mixture of hope and apprehension in their eager eyes.
Doric did not disappoint – in fact they were super-charged. Deviating from the standard cover choices of the majority of performers, which included Duffy, Kings of Leon and Coldplay, the Doric eclectic instead found James Brown, proclaiming from the outset that Yeah, they Feel Good. Coupled with a rather wild-eyed frontman, whose vocal forced the feel-good factor on the bopping crowd, the catchy melody and lead guitar thrust on the much-loved pulsing riff provided the sort of introduction they needed to get noticed. Doric didn’t break as they meandered directly into their own composition Dirty Roses; a pitiful salute to the tragic demise of women wrapped neatly up in hard electric guitar and energetic riffs. The three-way vocal harmonies were salute to the all-round talent of Doric, and for me lifted the whole piece to its dramatic, yet precisely engineered, climax.
Finally announcing the time of judgement, presenters called the hopefuls and their contingents to order, announcing the five places given by the panel and the three bands that would ultimately go through to the final. The hall bounced from silence to roaring gratification; Doric came through the first hurdle. And then, inevitably, as the Doric company held its breath, so they stole one of the finalist spots – and the room rocked at least half as much as they did that evening.
Maybe here’s the next big ones to come from our humble town, to deliver the name to the map and provide inspiration to our young artists, who continue to uncover their talents in the schools, colleges, homes and communities of South Yorkshire. Despite the rough, these guys and the ones like them are our shiners, who give me, and our town, hope and aspiration and prove that the wide world of art is alive, available, and conquerable.
The final will be held in Portsmouth on 27th June 2009. Hopefully next time, I’ll be reporting a contract, management and record deal for Doric Arch of Barnsley.
Independent arts education writer Emma Thomas
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Superbly over-Arching, Doric!
Posted on Jun 09, 2009Welcoming Barnsley’s new music hopefuls onto stage for the penultimate leg of the 2009 “Live and Unsigned” national new music competition was exciting – not least because I’d already heard great things about this new funk-rock trio, but also since these guys are from my own backyard, telling the stories of my town and it’s people; our concerns, our trials, and our triumphs…
In the dimly-lit arena in Manchester heavy drapes shielded the afternoon daylight, setting the tone perfectly for the glamour of stage performance. Artificial illuminations in their smoky green and purple hues struck suddenly the expectant crowd; the atmosphere swelled as one by one, 16 bands, duos and solo artists fought hard for their place in the national final.
Our own Barnsley champions, “Doric Arch”, were cast for the twelfth spot. The wait was a long and impassioned one, fuelled further by the somewhat overwhelming number of Doric supporters I found lurking in the wings, peering out from the darkness with a mixture of hope and apprehension in their eager eyes.
Doric did not disappoint – in fact they were super-charged. Deviating from the standard cover choices of the majority of performers, which included Duffy, Kings of Leon and Coldplay, the Doric eclectic instead found James Brown, proclaiming from the outset that Yeah, they Feel Good. Coupled with a rather wild-eyed frontman, whose vocal forced the feel-good factor on the bopping crowd, the catchy melody and lead guitar thrust on the much-loved pulsing riff provided the sort of introduction they needed to get noticed. Doric didn’t break as they meandered directly into their own composition Dirty Roses; a pitiful salute to the tragic demise of women wrapped neatly up in hard electric guitar and energetic riffs. The three-way vocal harmonies were salute to the all-round talent of Doric, and for me lifted the whole piece to its dramatic, yet precisely engineered, climax.
Finally announcing the time of judgement, presenters called the hopefuls and their contingents to order, announcing the five places given by the panel and the three bands that would ultimately go through to the final. The hall bounced from silence to roaring gratification; Doric came through the first hurdle. And then, inevitably, as the Doric company held its breath, so they stole one of the finalist spots – and the room rocked at least half as much as they did that evening.
Maybe here’s the next big ones to come from our humble town, to deliver the name to the map and provide inspiration to our young artists, who continue to uncover their talents in the schools, colleges, homes and communities of South Yorkshire. Despite the rough, these guys and the ones like them are our shiners, who give me, and our town, hope and aspiration and prove that the wide world of art is alive, available, and conquerable.
The final will be held in Portsmouth on 27th June 2009. Hopefully next time, I’ll be reporting a contract, management and record deal for Doric Arch of Barnsley.
Independent arts education writer Emma Thomas
[ << Return to News Page ]
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