Len_derby

A busy, 2 band- 2 gig, weekend. Friday night 5 Hills Out folk punk at a crowded sweaty pub in Ashbourne. Loads of energy both on stage and in the audience. It was our first return since the landlord changed, but he was a happy chappy at the end of the night and even gave us our fee without us asking. A very drunk fan wanted to help us break down and carry the gear out. Erm, no thanks very much. Saturday, blues and gospel with the Daz Kelly Band at the Ripley Music Festival. For a small festival it has a fantastic stage and sound provision. We were in stark contrast to most of the acts (heavy rock covers) but went down well, maybe because of that. It's a charity festival, raising money to keep the small local hospital going but we got a small fee for expenses. I went home and spent it mostly on beer and then grooved around the kitchen with my daughter to the R6 Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show. Incidentally, hosted this week by Colin Greenwood.

Over time, I've tried to stop fretting about it. Particularly in a live situation. Yesterday I payed at a festival with an active Precision through a Trace Elloitt combo. I didn't like the tone I was hearing on stage at all, but the people out front said it sounded just dandy.

5 Hiils Out played a short set this afternoon at The Belper Food Festival. Under an awning in a pub yard, very hot in the sunshine. Amazingly there were three other Basschatters in the audience; Chris Sharman, KevB and Andyjr1515! That's 4 active members at one gig (and already knew each other). Anyone beat that?

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1499532013' post='3332051'] Depends on the type of band your in Tim. In my band I only have control and opinions on my performance and stage presence. Unfortunately we're not the type of band that reviews and has open discussions on this topic. Blue [/quote] Blue, if your band is getting regular gigs and good feedback from audiences and promoters then things are ok. We talk over here about rule 1 of engineering. "If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it ".

Yamahas are great choices for 5 strings in my experience. Enjoy!

I spent a week in Barcelona last autumn and during a lot of wandering around the bar and restaurant areas only found one place that had live music. There seemed to be no music scene of that type. I Conversely, I know someone who retired out to Malaga and keeps himself busy playing in a rock covers band. Most of his band mates are Brits, and from what I can tell so are his audiences!

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1498922448' post='3328002'] . I swear, every Guardian reader in North Nottingham must have been there. [/quote] Hope the houmous was good John! Good luck tonight. A rare weekend off for me this summer. A chance to properly to try my birthday whiskey. Scapa from Orkney.

Yesterday 5 Hills Out played at the Exile Festival in Derbyshire (our home turf). This is on a farm high up on the side of the Derwent Valley with great views. The organisers were vague in advance about what backline might be there so I took my rig. However there was one already set up which the soundman wanted me to use. It was a decent set-up, Ampeg, but had I known that I'd have gone by bus and had a few beers (it was my birthday). A small annoyance though; we did a good set, made some new friends and got a fee as well as tickets for the whole weekend festival. A weekend off next before playing the Belper Food Festival on the 9th July

The George and Dragon in Belper with 5 Hills Out. The pub hosts music every week and has a decent in-house pa and a sound man. We played well but the effects of the earlier England Scotland soccer match meant the crowd was a thin by regular standards. We got a slot at the town's food festival next month out of it (as well as payment), so all good The stage area is fairly generous at The George so I took my Barefaced Big One, with my Genz Benz Shuttle on top. Much air was moved.

Just received a Status gig bag off Mick. Excellent transaction, prompt communications, all good. Trade in confidence.

Good music that's well executed. Preferably at regular gigs, but for me a good rehearsal can be motivating and uplifting too. I don't really go in for the social/friendship side of bands. I think it can be counter-productive sometimes. Some people seem to get upset when I don't want to be "matey", like they needed me to validate them. I'm not really a misery-guts, honestly 😘

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1496653855' post='3312913'] what a nightmare! I hope Belper Goes Green was good? [/quote] It was great Tom, I can see why you liked it. Glad your time in Doncaster went well. The Uttoxeter Festival seems an odd one. We did a benefit gig in the town earlier in the year with a promise we'd get a slot. We weren't greedy, and were prepared to be bottom of the bill but they totally blanked us. We never got a sniff, messages not returned etc. One of my aims for the summer is to actually see you guys. I've got my eye on the dates.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1496605453' post='3312656'] If I ever make it to the UK, I'll be looking all of you up. Blue [/quote] And you'll be very welcome Blue. Do it!

I was having a chinwag with two other Basschatters this weekend; Chris Sharman and Dave Sturt. We were all playing at a local festival, some of us twice. We have a nice little enclave of supportive forum members here in Derbyshire, not forgetting the incomperable Andyjr1515. Andy was probably far too busy on his latest wonder-build to come out.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1496309957' post='3310359'] This is an ace festival! Shame I can't make it this year, have a good one! [/quote] Cheers Tom. Sorry I didn't get to see you at the Hairy Dog. I had a broken down coach and 64 8/9 year olds to entertain in the Peak District. 32 a side footy match!

Another one in the bag! (Ouch). I've just received a Gator mixer bag from Gareth. Very well packaged and overall as near to a perfect transaction as you could realistically hope for. Thanks Gareth, a pleasure doing business with you.

Indeed, and Chris Sharman. Although to be totally accurate Andy is a Duffield lad.

The Eco-themed free festival at Belper Rugby Ground in Derbyshire. I shall be playing with 5 Hills Out (folk punk) at 1.30 Saturday on the solar powered stage Then Sunday at 12.00 midday with the Daz Kelly Band (acoustic blues and gospel) on the bike powered stage. Come and say hello if you're there.

We always do a recce in advance if it's possible. With the best will in the world most pub staff won't see it from a band's point of view and therefore might miss some real difficulties. I'm sure we've all got horror stories. Landlady " power sockets? I'm sure we used to have some behind this sofa".

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1496043665' post='3308241'] Small festival slot as a part of the Anglo-Hungarian Motorcycle Festival. 2 hour drive down to Molehill Green. We'd played a few duds recently, but yesterday everything just clicked. Decent monitor sound, me an the guitar player could run at full power for a change, somebody competent and sympathetic doing the live sound. Best of all, it was early afternoon and blazing sunshine so everyone was up and about two pints into their Sunday breakfast and there was no mud. Well worth the trip and the pay was okay too. [/quote] That's good news John. I was getting a bit worried for you after the last couple of gig reports you posted.

Interesting questions regarding the north/south divide. I have family in Greater London (Hampton) and Brighton. When I visit one thing I notice is the lousy road congestion and parking opportunities. I think that would take some of the shine off gigging for me.

[quote name='Callumjord' timestamp='1494659284' post='3297607'] I play in a function band up in the north of Scotland (moray), we primarily play weddings and functions but do the odd pub gig to fill our calendar. A number of the pubs up here would rather just pay for an Acoustic guitarist in for the night but a number in the area are more than happy to pay for my 5 piece band. I don't think our going rate has been any less than £350 for a 3 hour set. I'm actually quite surprised to hear about the going rate down that end of the country. [/quote] Yes, the higher rate is interesting. Two possible reasons come to my mind. One is that, even with the sector in apparent decline, most places in England still have a glut of pubs. Secondly, I have a hunch that 'up there' you appreciate live music more and hence audiences make more of an effort to turn up and spend money. Your travel costs maybe high though? I gig porobably 3 weekends out of 4 and rarely have to drive more than hour each way. But scenery isn't like yours!

We're currently working with Nick Hollis at Alpha Studios in Wirksworth Derbyshire. Very experienced. He's a busy chap, but all the good ones will be!

For what it's worth, £200-250 is the norm for pubs in Derbyshire too. Although some pay significantly less and still have regular acts. As a 5-piece the economics aren't great, but without doing them we wouldn't have got our festival and private party bookings. So, for us it's about looking at the bigger picture.