The Dorset Rock Online 1st Birthday Bash

July 12, 2010 | Posted by Dan Renton

DRO1stBdayBash

Two stages, six bands, burlesque, DJ’d rock, hot bar food, drink promos, pool tables, merchandise stall, filmed performances. Interested?

Dorset Rock Online is about to turn one year old (whoo!) and we intend to celebrate in style. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when DRO hits that first milestone. It’s a bit like a couple who kissed and had sex before they got together for reals. Do we count from when the website was created, or months afterwards when I made that first proper posting!? Either way, the beginning of August sounds about right and have we got a show in store for you!

Join us on Saturday 7th August at Champions, Bournemouth for a double staged, multi band line up. Here are some of the highlights of what to expect on the night:

Two stages
Six top notch live bands
Burlesque performance
DJ’d Rock
Drink promos
Hot bar food (before 11pm)
Pool tables
Merchandise stall
Filmed performances

We’re gonna be professionally filming and recording the performances for some videos after the event. For this reason you can guarantee the bands will be giving it all they got for the cameras but they’ll need your support.

So, possibly the most important bit – which bands are playing you ask? This was no easy task selecting just a handful of bands that we’ve covered over our first year, and bands that work well together on a line up too. There’ll be no waiting around on the night. To squeeze everyone in, there will be two stages set up at Champions to speed up that changeover time (an idea courtesy of those live music event maestros Devil’s Music). Below are the performing bands and artists.

The Longest Day

TLDparty Above photo by Tim Churchill

Winners of The Dorset Music Awards, these guys had one of our very first Tracks of The Week for ‘Breathe More Air’. I was quoted on BBC Radio saying “A truly professional effort from a band that are destined for good things…” If either their recently released debut album A State of Indifference is anything to go by, or indeed the Dorset Music Award issued by Ryan Farley (A&R scout at Warner/Chappell publishing) and Jon Webster (founder of the Mercury Music Prize) – I was dead on the money. www.myspace.com/longestdayuk

The Neon Tigers

TheNeonTigersParty Above photo by Tim Churchill

This will come as no surprise to many that The Neon Tigers will appear as part of this line up. They’ve captured the attention of everyone here at Dorset Rock Online and if you haven’t seen them yet, it’s only a matter of time before they do the same to you. ‘Out of Control’ was another Track of The Week and here’s what we said “Balancing poppy hooks with a rock ‘n’ roll sound is a winning formula and The Neon Tigers have nailed it. (Their song) Out Of Control is going to divide crowds for sure, but the only decision you must make if you find yourself in this fortunate position is whether to rock out or throw some shapes.” You can download The Neon Tigers‘ demo EP here. www.myspace.com/theneontigers

Rapids!

RapidsParty2

Rapids! have been causing a stir across the underground UK indie rock scene and most recently were signed to a London record label, interviewed by Steve Lamacq on BBC radio and appeared in Rock Sound magazine with a favourable review! Rapids! are intense to say the least and here’s what we said when The Elitist was… you guessed it – Track of The Week: “The Elitist is an atmospheric, multi-layered, indie-rock triumph. Rapids! are another band stepping beyond the call of duty and creating something of a standard so high that they deserve a title better than ‘local band’.” Download the Rapids! demo EP here. www.myspace.com/listentorapids

The Otherhalf

The Otherhalf Above photo by Tim Churchill

Described by our very own Tom Fisher as “right up there as one of the most relevant bands in Dorset”, I would agree with him entirely. Another semi finalist in The Dorset Music Awards, these guys have shown time and time again that they’re a force to be reckoned with. The Otherhalf will be performing a very special ‘acoustic & keys’ set. This is something totally new for the band and fans alike. Be sure you don’t miss it! Download Emergency (a previous DRO Track of The Week) here. www.myspace.com/theofficialotherhalf

Nion Abeo

NionAbeoParty Above photo by Tim Churchill

Nion Abeo are a band that myself and Dan Roberts have been quite infatuated with since we heard (and Dan reviewed) their debut EP ‘The Company Expires’. Nion Abeo were gigging heavily in Southampton before tackling their home turf in Bournemouth. With back to back shows around the south and a recent stream of excellent studio recordings, Nion Abeo live and breathe their brand of post rock/modern prog. Download The Company Expires here and Dimensions here. www.myspace.com/nionabeo

Western Sand

WesternSandParty

Western Sand are our ‘young bloods’ of the night. I reviewed these guys back in March and was really impressed with what I saw and heard. Still a new band, and a young one at that, we introduce you to the face of the next generation of local rockers. “Ballsy, bluesy, hard rock ‘n’ roll just about sums up their sound. Covers such as Mountain’s Mississipi Queen and Aerosmith’s Mama Kin re-enforce their inspiration and fit perfectly into their repertoire. Western Sand’s own material has a little more Black Label Society and Black Stone Cherry to it.” www.myspace.com/westernsand

Scarlet De Beau

ScarlettParty

I did mention above that we would have a burlesque performance. The very sexy Scarlet De Beau is guaranteed to hold your full attention as she performs a very special routine, created just for us. Scarlet is part of The Retro Bombshells, a burlesque group who are taking the south by storm and are at the pinnacle of the recent burlesque revival in the area.

Aftershow

Once the bands are finished, we’ll head downstairs and rock out at JD’s Bar & Club. The Jack Daniels affiliated basement club has a dancefloor should you wish to throw yourself around in a drunken stupor. Expect a soundtrack from bands such as -

AC/DC
The Rolling Stones
Pearl Jam
Metallica
Kings of Leon
Van Halen
Hendrix
Soundgarden
Foo Fighters
ZZ Top
White Zombie
Alice In Chains
Led Zeppelin
The Who
Nine Inch Nails
Kiss
Guns ‘n’ Roses
Queens of The Stone Age
Aerosmith
Nirvana

Event Details

Champions
51 Norwich Avenue West,
Triangle, Bournemouth,
BH2 6AN

7:30pm – 2am

Entry fee – £5 on the door – £4 advance (see below).

If you want to pay a little less, guarantee your entry to the night and help the bands in the process, a limited number of advance tickets are available from any of the bands on the line up.

Facebook event here.

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