Hound Dog Promotions chats about Acoustic Fringe

YMC chats to John McCabe from Hound Dog Promotions about the recent acoustic fringe

YMC: 7 nights of acoustic music, do you think there has been such an event before?

Not that I can recall in Leeds, and certainly not in the same way as Leeds Festival Fringe was

YMC: Do you think this first acoustic fringe has been successful?

I was completely blown away by the response from music fans, musicians and venues and of course the press. Everyone who supported the Fringe did so in such a huge way that I never expected, The turn out on the first night of Hound Dog Promotions was just phenomenal as it was on most other nights and from what I heard form other promoters that were involved it was the same there too, so yes I would say it has been a huge sucsess in a way which if I'm honest I never expected it to be.

YMC: What were the highlights for you?

Highlights. OOO thats a tough one because every night at The New Conservotry was in its own way special and all the acts who played were just fantastic. I think one of the things that stuck in my mind the most was "The Collective" a band consisting of Chris Sharp Sebastian John and Bernadette Dales who who all played solo sets during the Fringe and to see three such talented musicians playing together was just incredible.

The acoustic blues night that Houd Dog Promotions ran on the Sunday night of the fringe was one of the other highlights for me. Even though the turn out of crowd wasn't huge the musicians were just incredible, Chris Martin, Dac Charnley and Phillip Cockerham were playing, Gerry Cooper was also billed but unfortuantly due to personal circumstances was unable to play. But the musicans were just incredible, Chris Martin's tall tales never fail to amuse and his brand of sliding, finger picking blues never fails to captivate and Dac's own brand of blues was just made even more special when we saw a collaboration between Chris and Dac and then Phillip Cockerham offering a nice alternative on the blues. I'm sure the audience that were there will agree it made for just such a relaxing and lovely evening of acoustic blues sessions.

YMC: Do you think this is a good idea for the next Leeds Festival Fringe too?

I dont think there is a choice haha. From the very first night of Hound Dog Promotions nights and if I recall correctly during the very first act of the first night I was already being asked questions and having details requested about next years Fringe! So i think that is pretty much deicded for us.

YMC: Are you organizing any other events in the near future?

There is talk of possibly some night comming up with Houd Dog Promotions working in association with maybe one or two other promoters at a venue which I am not sure I can mention the name of but can say the latin meaning of the venues name is Seize the day and the venue may possibly be found around the Millenium Square area and hopefuly these nights will be early October.

YMC: How can people contact you if they are interested in playing for Hound Dog
Promotions in the future?

You can follow us on twitter: hounddogpromo or you can email hound dog promotions at hounddogpromo@yahoo.co.uk

All dates of gigs that Hound Dog Promotions or associated promoters put on will be posted on our Twitter page and emailed out to anyone who signs up to our mailing list, you can sign up to our mailing list by emialing the same email address saying that you would like to bve put on the mailing list. If you are wanting Hound Dog Promotions to consider putting you on their database please email me with a sample of your music, website, stage name and short description of your act.


I would just like to say a massive thank you to Fred, Matt, Nick and everone at The New Conservatory, anyone and everyone who came down to support the first ever Leeds Festival Fringe and of course the musicians, who were absolutly phenomenal, without all of these people the Fringe would not of been possible.
 

Introducing...Road To Horizon

YMC chats to Danny, Sie, Daz,and Mark from Wakefield's Road to Horizon

YMC: How would you describe your music? Who writes the songs?

Danny: We find this question pretty hard to answer to be honest lol, and we get asked it a lot, I think the reason people ask it is people find it hard to pigeon hole our music to a specific genre. We have some older songs that are really pop punk and our newer stuff is more what we call Alternative Rock with a heavy edge so we have a good mix.

Sie: I think thats just us finding our own sound as a band and also due to the line up change in January and just natural progression as a band.

Daz: We tend to write songs as a band not too much individually, we find we write better doing it this way as we can all have an input right from the begining.

Mark: People say we remind them of Young Guns which is awesome as far as were concerend cause there bands we love. Were not trying to be like them or write simalar music, we just write whatever comes natural.

Daz: Its a bit wierd somtimes, well be jammin and the next thing you know there's a new song pretty much writen in minutes. Its just a case of working out a structure for the song then Dan working his magic on the lyrics. Im not moaning tho weve spent days working on songs before which can get a little.......lets say annoying! 

YMC: Who are your main influences?

Danny: Not to sound too cheesy but life, a lot of shit happens and also a lot of good, so when I'm writing lyrics I try to use things that have affected me, it helps makes the songs more personal. Musically I LOVE Rise Against so there a massive influence on me too.

Martin (manager): Cough! Cough! poof Cough! lol

Daz: Blink 182, who isnt influenced by them in someway or form?

Mark:  Alcohol, Alcohol and erm.......Sorry What was the question!

Sie: I love listening to up and coming bands like Young Guns and Yashin, being a drummer obviously Travis Barker and.....Erm.....Phil Collins, Maybe not so much Phil Collins actually!

YMC: What venues do you like playing?

Sie: Everywhere, I love playing live. Its cool when we play the bigger venues with bigger band in front of a big crowds.

Mark: I like playing Bradford Gasworks its got a pretty good music scene so the crowds get a little crazy!

Daz: Leeds Cockpits always good to play.

Danny: Yeah I love playing Cockpit.

YMC: What can people expect from a live show?

Mark: Energy for sure, were very rarely stood in the same place for more than about three seconds lol.

Daz: Yeah we just like to have fun on stage and get the crowd involved as much as possible.

Sie: Probably a few penis jokes!

Daz: lol You cant beat a good penis joke to get the crowed involved.

Danny: We have something for everyone, So if you're not into the heavier side of our music we have some nice softer songs and some songs ya can have a little dance to!

Sie: People should definatly come check us out.

YMC: Do you have any recording plans?

Danny: Yeah were actually in the middle of recording our debut E.P now and are hoping to release it at the end of the year, We're two tracks in, weve only just finished the second and put it up on our player today so go have a listen if your reading this!...........Then you should probibly come back and finish reading this

interview! :  )

Sie: DO IT!

Mark: What!

Daz: You guys are wierd!

YMC: You recently played the Leeds Festival Fringe, do you think this sort of thing is good for the city?

Danny: Yeah definately, Thanks by the way for letting us play the first ever Leeds Festival Fringe! We had a blast. We know you were one of the promoters for the festival.

Daz: Its something Reading have been doing for a few years I believe so to be able to bring it to Leeds is awesome.

Sie: Yeah i think its a great idea and is good for the city, It may bring people to Leeds that have never been here to check out the awesome music scene we have.

Mark: Ditto!.....Im gunna throw it out there!......Can we play next year?

Find out more on www.myspace.com/roadtohorizon