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ew Noise Events’ started around Mid-January of this year, with the first night being 27th of January. First-off, what made you decide to start doing club nights?
I was approached by the guys from masons and asked if I would be interested in running a once a month rock club/showcase of live bands. I thought ‘yeah why not’ – I’ve never really been a promoter or ran events other than small independent gigs for my band, but from experience in gigging I kind of knew the jist of how things went and how events were run. I mainly took up the offer for the opportunity to bring some new bands to the city, some big names, some new names, live music is everything to me so I’m just happy to be involved in the local music scene as much as possible!
Tonight will be your third club night. How has the reception grown since the first one?
The first night we had around 110 people; I couldn’t believe it! The place was buzzing and we got so much positive feedback, I didn’t expect to have half that turn out on the first night. The following show ‘FEBRUARY: A PLASTIC ROSE’ was a kind of indie night and I was lucky enough to have booked the guys from A Plastic Rose for New Noise literally days after they played a sold out show in the O2 Arena in London supporting Snow Patrol, the turnout was slightly bigger again with around 120+! So hopefully it keeps on growing with each show .. Although I don’t think masons can hold much more than 150!
Is New Noise open to all genres, or is there favouritism toward rock – not that that’s a bad thing at all.
New Noise is open to all genres under the ‘rock’ category; rock is my thing and I wouldn’t know as about other music genres. New Noise was started as there isn’t really any other regular (original material) rock nights in the town. Masons and other local venues run specific night for other genres such as Dance music, 80s, Acoustic, Jazz etc
As a musician yourself (guitar – Making Monsters), do you wear your musician hat during your club nights? By that I mean, are you continually critiquing the sound, the levels, etc. Or do you just enjoy the show as a punter would?
A bit of both, as any musician will know; when you go out to see a band you can’t help but be a bit in the musician mode, admiring other guitarists technique, watching their crowd interaction, sound levels, song structure etc. But every band is different and I always take a step back and enjoy the show as a regular.
Have there been any particular highlights from the first three shows?
It’s hard to say, each one has been great so far and had its own highlights. I really enjoyed the first one as it was great to see In Case Of Fire for the first time in years, such a tight 3 piece! One of my favourite bands!
You have an interesting intermission at the start, end and in-between bands; you play songs from local bands (and famous bands). Is this open for others to get involved? As in, can local bands submit music to be one of bands on the New Noise Playlist?
Of course! You can email us at newnoisederry@gmail.com . All submissions are welcome no matter how big or small the band is and the playlists will be put together according to the line-up/ general sound of the overall night, so that everything fits well and isn’t too out of place e.g. more heavy songs for a Metal showcase etc. I just thought why not use the time before/in-between/and after the bands wisely and give some local bands a bit of exposure for anyone at the shows, mixed along with some of the famous and big bands on the playlist!
Can you give us a band that is due to play an upcoming new noise event?
The next showcase will be at the end of this month (Friday 27th) with Dead til Friday, Jackalfeud, and local instrumental band Eros Theory. Three super heavy and super tight bands, so this one is going to be a metal showcase – can’t wait!
Do you plan to expand the night, pending its success? I heard that you may end up staging new noise events at the (much bigger) Nerve Centre – is that true?
Yes definitely! Hopefully in the next few months if all goes well and the demand grows, there may be bigger shows in bigger venues, and some big names coming to Derry
Sweet talking usually works.. So are there any bands you’d like to play on of your events, which might be reading this and get suckered into doing a new noise show?
Personally I would love to have Skindred play. I had them booked previously but unfortunately the show could not go ahead due to a few of their other Irish dates falling through. I’m working on it though and they have promised to return soon!
Finally, for any bands reading; how can bands get themselves into consideration for a New Noise Event?
Just send an email to newnoisederry@gmail.com with a small bio and a link to your music, all emails will be read and reviewed. Although bare in mind there are a limited amount of slots available at the minute with only 1 showcase a month with 3 slots per show, and an overwhelming amount of emails from bands every day , but I will get through them all and do my best to accommodate everyone!
