Worcester Music Forum

From Andrew Martson - BBC Hereford and Worcester friday Session

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www.bbc.co.uk/fridaysession

2 January

It's the Friday Session Introducing... The top tracks from 2008!

We invited in the organisers of the Wyeside Music Festival, Worcester Music Festival and the Nozstock Festival to present their top five local music tracks from the last 12 months.

Plus, Andy O'Hare counted down Andy's Anthems in the last half-hour of the show.

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The Top Tens looked like this:

ANDY O'HARE'S TOP TEN

1. The Irony: A Man's Fears

The Evesham outfit whose sound underwent a renaissance after the addition of keyboards - not only mine but one of Tibbers' favourites of the year!

2. Dandelion Killers: Golden Age

Another classic from the Ross threesome who've been a permanent fixture in every one of my Yuletide hit-lists!

3. The Donns: Home Truths

This number usually kicks off the Worcester 24-hour party people's set - nice to have an airwave-friendly offering from the sometimes risqué ska-poppers!4. Tastyhead: Surgery

This is the number the controversial Hereford outfit had just started when the power was pulled on them at the Wyeside festival - so here's a chance to hear it in full!

5. The Atats: Hey! Little Suzy

Sparkling little number from the Worcester rock'n'rollers who are heading for the big time in '09 - they're appearing in the national final of the Big Red Battle in February!

6. We Do Kung Fu!: All Fall Down

Not yet even down on record - but one of the highlights of the kicking live show from the Hereford band of all the talents.

7. Roxanne De Bastion & The Happy Havenots: It Flew By

A delicious little number from the Berlin/Worcester outfit (sadly no longer gigging) that was just too late to be included in last year's top ten - guitarist Ben is now illuminating Highway 5 and Absolute Ataxia!

8. The Elements: Hallelujah

Now this number bends the Friday Session rules as yes it's yet another cover of 'that' song - but it's what the Kington pop-rockers have been closing their set with for the past year - in only 2 minutes 11 seconds!

9. Skankbox: Crime Of The Century

Another risqué little number thats awaiting a radio edit from the Worcester ska-punkers - the fastest improving act I've seen this year!

10. SmokeStack: Smoking Blues

Classic blues-rock from the Bromyard outfit fronted up by sisters Scarlett on vocals and the awesome talents of Ebony on guitar.

NOZSTOCK FESTIVAL'S TOP TEN

1. The Anomalies - Kid Riot

They always do a brilliant set at Nozstock, a great bunch of guys and this is possibly there catchiest song yet. The lyrics are very relevant to everything going on in the news today.

2. Sam Isaac - Fire Fire

A brilliant song, love listening to it always makes me feel good listening to his songs. One of my daughters faves. A great Nozstock set.

3. Dandelion Killers - Generic

I've seen this band go from strength to strength. Great little song.

4. Rupert & The Robbers - Ringing Chambers

I heard this on the MySpace. It really stayed in my head, that's why I've picked it today. Great potential this band, managed by IdLe Hands promoter Joe Schiavon. It's got a kind of Ska feel about it.

5. And What Will Be Left Of Them? - Filthy Little Christmas

A great band with so much energy. Really young, fresh and different. I love all their stuff. Thought this song suits the time of year! They were supposed to play Nozstock, but had to pull out last minute. Great harmonies.

6. Zebedy Rays - Control

They really had the crowd going at Nozstock. Great song. Really going somewhere.

7. Fallout Theory - Good Fight

This band, and particularly this song, are very different from anything else being played around Hereford and Worcester at the moment I think. I like a band that aren't afraid to do different stuff.

8. Undercover Hippie - Money Money Money

Always does beautiful melodic top quality songs.

9. Bruno Gallone - Forever Eighteen

What a set at Nozstock this year. People talked about it for ages afterwards. I like this song because the lyrics ring very true to me.

10. Gossamer Albatross - Little Bird

Very different this band. Talent is clear in all their music. This new song shows them off.

WORCESTER MUSIC FESTIVAL'S TOP TEN

1. Blue Radio We're Not just Sauce

This song was written by Blue Radio as a tribute to The Worcester Music Scene. A terrific group of musicians and wonderful songwriters all passionate about the supporting the Worcester Music Scene.

2. Will Dance For Chocolate I Don't Wanna

These guys were the first band on the Friday night, and provided a fantastic start to the first ever Worcester Music Festival.

3. Flo Rowland - Warning

Flo may have played more gigs at the Worcester Music Festival than any other performer. From the Friday Session stage at the Marr's Bar, to the acoustic sessions at The Swan With Two Nicks, to her own open air acoustic show at the Firefly, Flo deserves to be a huge success.

4. Da Vinci - Sarah

A couple of weeks before the festival, The Five Ways Hotel changed ownership without anyone telling us, so we had to move four bands to the Eagle Vaults. But when that pub suddenly closed down a day before the festival we had to quickly relocate Fusion, Zanders Of Severn, Danse Macabre and Da Vinci back to The Five Ways Hotel. Everyone involved with that gig did a great job and all four bands played a blinding set, not least the headliners Da Vinci, who were also joined by Claire Boswell for a guest performance.

5. Neil Iverson & The Misers - Lord, Shuffle My Feet

A truly great band who played an amazing set at Keystones on the Sunday. This track also kicks off the 'Now Thats What I Call Sauce' Worcester Music Festival compilation CD.

6. The Brazilians - A Girl Like You

The Brazilians played two gigs in as many hours on the opening night of the festival, both live on air as part of the Friday Session and later on at The Firefly on the iDLE Hands gig. A great local band who play don't seem to play enough live gigs.

7. The Abbot Of Unreason - Ring Out The Changes

As well as donating this track to the 'Now That's What I Call Sauce!' Worcester Music Festival Compilation CD, Gary Tolley was a key member of the Worcester Festival team organising gigs, running PAs, raising money for charity, and also playing a couple of sets as the Abbot Of Unreason.

8. Ten Fifty - I Know When You're Lying

Ten Fifty played a storming set at the Pheasant on the Saturday night of the Festival last August.

9. Angelcynn - Rochdale Coconut Dance

Angelcynn played on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival at the Tudor House Museum and each day played to a full house, proving that folk music is alive and well in Worcester!

10. Jamie Knight & The Acoustic Tree Stay Right

Jamie is one of Worcestershires most accomplished singer/songwriters and he performed on the BBC Hereford and Worcester Friday Session on the opening Night of the festival.

WYESIDE MUSIC FESTIVAL TOP FIVE

1. SmokeStack

No particular track, I just happened to walk into the Nilam stage when SmokeStack were playing and they were in great form.

2. Rupert and the Robbers

They played on the Friday Session Stage, they just had so much energy and were really working with their audience. I was even involved in the stage invasion (I was helping to get the people off stage...honest).

3. Frantik

Frantik took the Loud And Proud stage by storm, they started to play and people just kept on piling in. They rocked. Did just what it says on the tin. The audience loved them.

4. Dandelion Killers

They were superb as usual. I only caught a small part of their set, but as they were just great as always.

5. Miss Conduct

Up until Wyeside I'd only known their MySpace stuff, but live they really came across. I thought these are going somewhere. Really enjoyed their music and enthusiasm.

ANDREW MARSTON'S TOP TUNE:

Mash Badley - Down And Round

This little gem has been floating about for quite some time now, but never really received the credit it deserved. When we say 100% local music, people assume it's just rock - but this track sets out to prove that we have a love of every genre. Listen again to BBC 6 Music Introducing to hear the nomination.

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IT'S THE FRIDAY SESSION INTRODUCING... 100% LOCAL MUSIC.

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