Bands ready to do battle for prized ticket to festival - The Worcester Observer

Bands ready to do battle for prized ticket to festival

Worcester Editorial 9th May, 2018   0

TALENTED bands are limbering up to do battle for a hot festival date, thanks to a Worcester man who knows exactly how crucial a chance in the spotlight can be.

Stu Evans is a process engineer by day and a singer in an AC/DC tribute by night and his band Soul Stripper is soaring after getting a try-out session at the city’s Marr’s Bar eight years ago.

Now Stu and Drunken Monkey Rock Festival colleague, Chris Harvey who runs Tower Studios near Pershore, have launched the festival’s first Battle of the Bands in which four groups – including Worcester-based Vintage Inc. – will vie to win a coveted place in the summer rock extravaganza.

The festival was launched in memory of Ian Downton, who died in 2009 after a car accident. To date, more than £25,000 has been donated to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC).




Tickets are already selling fast for this year’s festival, which takes place in Upton from August 3-5, with a line-up including Wizards of Oz, Pearl Jamm, and Van Hailen plus Gage hot footing it from South Africa.

The organisers had to turn away scores of would-be performers and the slots are already filling up for next year.


But Stu and Chris, kept three 2018 places free for the winners of the Battle of the Bands.

The four bands will do battle at Evesham’s The Valkyrie Bar, starting at 7pm on Friday, May 11.

They include Voodoo Stone, whose lead guitarist Chris Clarke is from Worcester, Hereford-based Hate.System and Evesham teenagers Ranstone.

Worcester band Vintage Inc’s four highly experienced musicians can’t wait to get on stage.

“We may not be the youngest or have the most hair, but we are really excited and honoured to be invited and will be giving all we have to gain a place at the festival,” said drummer Rich Beard.

“We look forward to meeting everyone for a great night of music for a great cause.”

The popular band, which brings together 150 years’ gigging experience and belts out rock and blues classics with a unique twist, was formed in 2017 by drummer Rich.

It includes Danny McInerney (singer and frontman) and bassist Graham Clarke while rhythm guitarist Mike Brown is from Cofton Hackett, near Bromsgrove.

Soul Stripper’s Stu, a father-of-three who works for a cold storage company and lives in the city with civil servant wife Debbie, had only ever sung in front of family, friends and the bathroom mirror when he spotted a Facebook post.

Scott (Fast Fingers) Pinchin, from Pershore, gave him a try out and the Marr’s Bar-gifted chance to drop in and perform one song turned into all of the six they had ready and they never looked back.

The band morphed into Soul Stripper, now with Scott on lead guitar, Upton man Andy Noon on rhythm, Colwall bass player Barry Pedlingham and Dudley drummer Ian Overfield.

AC/DC fan Stu perfects the sound of Bon Scott. So how was it the first time?

“I was more nervous about whether we could pull it off as a band, but we did,” smiled Stu, whose band is now in big demand and often offers support slots to up and coming sounds.

“We like to talent spot and give new bands a break, just like we had.”

  •  Check out www.drunkenmonkey rockfest.co.uk for the full line-up and tickets.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Worcester Observer newspaper.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Advertising

Advertise with the Worcester Observer to reach your audience