Stratcast Podcasts Stratcast Podcasts

James Blackburn and Wayne Bartlett brought three hours of radio gold live from The Riverside Revelry in Barton. We've collected all the best bits for you to download and keep. Check back at www.stratcst.co.uk for more upcoming events for you to get involved in.

James Blackburn brings you exclusive interviews with two performers at the Stratford Fringe Festival ahead of their performances. Ginny Davies popped in to chat about her two plays, 10 Questions and Double Booked. We also caught up with Fiona Cox, the warm up act for The Occasional Orchestra.

Coffee Shop Situation vs. Basement Services vs. The Death of Johnny Alpha

After many weeks of local unsigned bands battling it out to be crowned the winner of Soundclash 2011, the final is finally here. We’ve had passion, performance and integrity and now the public have chosen the final three. Two indie acts and a metal rock, the music promised to be varied and colourful.

First up was a very nervous Coffee Shop Situation who has been classed as the underdogs of this competition. Let’s face it; the other two bands have a bigger following so they would really need to pull out all of the stops. This band performed better than their previous sets, with more energy and charisma than we thought possible. This band genuinely wanted to win but they certainly had a great appreciation of the competition. With an excellent cover of the Kook’s ‘Naïve’, the enormous crowd were treated to a beautiful set. The crowd were singing along, and really soaking in the atmosphere.

Crowd pleasers Basement Services were up next and they were to enjoy every moment of the set. This young band delivered every ounce of musical talent they possessed, and loved every minute of it. The band was quite nervous, but in awe of the support and opportunity to have a place in the final. The tempo was definitely quicker which gave the set a more raw edge. The crowd loved it, with cheers of support. This competition was going to be close, well if you were an indie fan, but we still had the epic delights of zombie loving Johnny Alpha.

We were promised an epic performance, and they were not lying. Opening the act were performers from Koss and Doktors Rendezvous to allow the Death of Johnny Alpha walk on stage and deliver metal rock, as we know it. From outfit to music, this band had thought of it all. The adrenaline from the guys oozed into the audience, with wannabe zombies dancing with the dead. One of the most energetic sets to be performed on Soundclash, these guys was always going to be finalists. However, it’s not up to us to choose the winners, it was down to the overpopulated audience to make that choice. Would we have an indie or metal winner? Will this really be the end of Soundclash? What will we do on Wednesdays from now on? As always, check out the podcast to find out and have a quick recap of the night. If you really miss it, you can always catch up and watch the whole show back again on Stratcast to your heart’s content. From full sets to all the interviews, you really are in for a treat.

This is sadly the end so far, and we would like to thank everyone involved. All the staff at Cox’s yard, all the bands that have performed and have become good friends, all the technical crew who have helped out in the background, all the college staff with their support and dedication, and also to you at home that without, this venture would never have been possible. Whatever happens with Cox’s Yard…let’s keep music rocking.

After many weeks of musical talent being thrusted upon us, we are finally here at the penultimate round of Soundclash. We have three bands all fighting it out for that last available place in the final. So which band will be joining The Death of Johnny Alpha and Basement Services?

First up was Deflection Theory, who gave us a set that showed us what heavy metal was all about. Pure passion and andrenaline was delivered through the vocals alone, but accompanied by the pumping instrumental this was a treat for all in attendance. Deflection Theory deserved a place in the final, and would be good competition for the likes of Alpha and company. If it is enough was down to the voting system and if their stage presence encapsulated the crowd.

Doktors Rendezvous were favourites for this round because as half of them are in Johnny Alpha, it would have made for an interesting final. However, it’s the music that counts and not our wishful thinking. This band had more of a stage presence than Deflection Theory but not as heavy as them. You could see that the band was enjoying the performance, and so they should. They were delivering a set that was considerably better than their previous performance, and I think they knew it. A beautiful band for a beautiful competition, the final was definitely in their reach.

Coffee Shop Situation was up last, and was the mellow indie band of the night. There was a lack of stage presence by these guys, but they more than made up for it with their catchy lyrics and amazing tunes. The set flowed seamlessly, and the audience enjoyed what were they were hearing. These guys would have a winning final set if they considered having more of a stage presence, which needs to be looked at if the audience voted in their favour.

So who will be joining stage loving Death of Johnny Alpha and crowd pleasing Basement Services? Will it be more of a metal or indie based final. Check out the podcast to find out and make sure you join us live from 7pm for the last ever grand final of Soundclash. And for those wondering what has happened to the curse of Soundclash, Stratcast was its latest victim…but don’t worry we have the cuts and bruises to make sure that we will never see it again.

Well after a heavy start to the semi-finals last week, the music has mellowed slightly with three very popular bands battling it out for a place in the final.

Basement Services had the honour of starting the ceremony, and even though there was a slight glitch with a guitar string breaking, it was an excellent start to the show. The strong audience thrived on the epic skills of this band, with much kudos going to the sheer talent of the lads and their musical skills. Let’s not forget our female vocalist, who has a unique voice, which can only be described as gravelly. She puts her own mark to the lyrics and the style she sings them in. With the inclusion of a funk cover, this band had a range that created so much final potential for them.

Second up saw the return of Wave Goodbye Sunset, and some of their tracks that originally secured them this spot in the semis. A bit more relaxed than Basement Services, WGS had the attitude that their music has you engrossed. There is no denying that this indie act had a sense of melancholy intertwined with the lyrics and instrumentals. The crowd loved them, which caused confusion as to which band they were actually here to support. Music seemed to be the actual winner tonight, but with two strong acts so far Upon Collide needed to pull all the stops out to win.

Let’s just say that the strings were pulled. Upon Collide is one of those bands that seem to have everything. They had the audience at their beck and call. With the banter on stage to the most stunning voice the lead vocalist delivers with, the odds were certainly looking better for this band. Upon Collide had brilliant songs, great adaptations of covers and another request for an encore. The crowd loved them but then the crowd apparently loved them all. The discussions backstage all involved comments about who the crowd were here to support. This was genuinely going to be a close call, with three talented bands all deserving that final place after their performances tonight.
To find out which band the crowd loved the most, check out the podcast. With one more place left in the final, things are definitely hotting up at Soundclash, and we’re loving every minute of it.

Stratcast will also be doing a feature length special for the final, so listen out for more details on the next show.

Well the selected bands are back to fight it out for that divine title of Soundclash Winners 2011. Yes, the semi-finals are here which means more music, more sweat, and more ridiculous interviews from Stratcast. Round one saw Beyond Dreams of Grandeur facing the wrath of zombie wannabes Death of Johnny Alpha. Both bands have previously been very successful and popular, so this was not an easy ride for either band. They would need a cunning plan to ensure a place in the final.

Beyond Dreams of Grandeur were first up, and ready to kick zombie ass. There was no faulting their set, with excellent choice of tracks, brilliant vocals and instrumentals that would rock any rocker’s world. This band have shown a real passion for live events, and it was clear to see, well hear, that this has been a new focus of theirs. It is a strategy that seems to be working because this was pure live rock that deserved a place in the semi-final, and excellent practice if they were to make it to the final. The only criticism that could be said about the band was that their stage presence was not as inspiring as their music, but surely that really isn’t something to worry about…

Well apparently it might be. Zombie obsessed Death of Johnny Alpha followed with what can only be described as the best entrance to a set that has ever been seen at any live event. Johnny Alpha has obviously been researching, because zombies are walking the earth, and they’re dressed to impress. And impress they did, with a rocking set that would have woken the dead in a ten mile radius plus their well thought out stage act, Johnny Alpha had certainly done their homework. However, would the crowd buy into a zombie stage gimmick? Both bands were impressive music wise, but is it a case of dreams coming true, or nightmares wearing red shirts for the final vote outcome.

To find out the first band to secure a place in the allegedly last ever final, check out the podcast that also features exclusive band interviews and banter. With only two more rounds before the final, music is going to get bigger and better at Stratcast. More news on the end of Soundclash will be featured in upcoming shows, let us know your thoughts on the possible end of an unsigned music era.