Rick Betamax and friends combine to send good vibrations to 300+ nightlife pleasure seekers with opening night.

 Bandstand kicked off on Saturday the 5th of February in fine style. 300 plus curious weekenders turned out to The Crown in Middlesbrough, to see what the fuss and hype was all about. There was no dissapointment as audience and artists alike took part in something completely different.

Pantomime, poetry, comedy, hot new bands and a few shenanigans re-energised the weekend entertainment scene, leaving a positive feeling with all involved.

Clubbers of Middlesbrough may be used to high door prices, a night of DJ’s, or a low key gig. Bandstand set out to turn it all on its head, and succeeded.

For the entry fee of £3, an evenings show of quality entertainment was provided by Bandstand’s organisers. Rick Betamax and his beautiful assistants Peaches & Cream opened up, and then weaved together the entire show from start to finish. Top Middlesbrough poet and King Ink collective main man Tim Marshall was the first of the performers. Breaking ground by performing poetry in a night club on a premium weekend evening. Hot new local bands The Brucey Rippers, Bare Phut, and Young Hegelians energised the audience, welcoming them into their varied brands of music.

The show ended around 12.45, every artist who had performed returning to the stage once more, for a joint take on The Beatles Twist and Shout. Audience and artists were in harmony for the wonderful gran finale, giving off a real feeling of togetherness. A grand bow from the artists handed the rest of the night over to the DJ’s, who played a variety of music leaving all involved excited for the next show on March 5th.  

 Interview Quotations from the night taken from CVFM radio documentary ‘An Outsider Looking In’ by Liam Portues.

“Events like this are important, a bit of a spectacle” Carl Jackson, Young Hegelians.

“New bands, new music, hopefully it will be the seeds of something good” Member of the audience.

“Bands instead of just DJ’s, the start of something good” Ian Hird, Young Hegelians.

“The best night out i’ve ever had” Tom Relph (18 year old local musician).

 Interviews are available with the organisers and the acts involved.

 Contacts:

Email – [email protected]

Facebook – ‘Bandstand Middlesbrough’

Twitter – ‘Bandstandboro’

Event Organiser: Rikki Doolan, Bandstand 07594652477

 A big thanks to Rikki Doolan for putting these nights on and for keeping us informed of what has gone on. We hope to get to the March show to see what all the fuss is about. (March preview up soon, watch this space……)

By peter on February 25, 2011