I feel like a rant, but that’d be far too predictable. Quite often when I get the chance to write for the first time in a while it is a natural step to venture down an avenue of frustration venting about whichever recent events have done my head right in. Those of you that know me will know all too well the grief that I have had lately from Percy (my motor), but I am going to resist the temptation to whinge further about him beyond that mention. I don’t really want to give the wee fucker the satisfaction. Instead I want to talk about good stuffs!!!

So, we are just a couple of weeks away from the first Mix_Up_Mayhem night of 2011. I know that there are bound to be lots of you that are sick of hearing about it via facebook. I wonder often if I should make an effort to better separate event promotion from my personal facebook page, but to be honest it isn’t really possible. Playing, promoting and photographing music are the things that I love most. Apologies to those of you that don’t share these interests and have your news feed perpetually peppered with such updates from me.

For those of you that do share said interests however, I hope you are as excited as I am. Simply said, Mix_Up_Mayhem was born from me thinking about a live music and club night that I’d want to go to. It isn’t rocket science by any means, but I am personally delighted with the program of events for Part 1 this year. Having Kirstin working on this project with me full time has been a massive help, and I cannot thank her enough for her attention to detail, dedication and patience over the last three months. Similarly, the ever present legend that is Miss Louise Cochrane has been such a comfort during the madness of putting it together.

Relatively speaking it is a pretty small event, but when working full time, playing in a new band, getting back involved in PodcART and trying to expand my photography portfolio, it soon becomes a damn sight more daunting as the days tick down, and without the comfort of sharing it’s workload with these fine ladies I would really find it hard to enjoy it so much. Halina and I went for lunch the other day and wrote a to do list of the final bits n bobs that had to be sorted out in order to make it a success. The feeling of working on something with Halina’s input and backing again is really good. I can tell she is genuinely excited about the night, and that is reinforcement and reassurance I just can’t put a price on.

The press release is out, hand drawn invitations have gone to new music Radio veterans Jim Gellatly and Vic Galloway, all the bloggers have had their invitations too. The stickers, badges and T-shirts are nearly there, Mr Jamie Sturt has been hard at work remixing his jazzy socks off, the poster is about ready to go all over the tinterweb in a final push for awareness, and we have been putting in good hours of facebook and twitter time to try and make sure y’all don’t forget bout it.

At the end of the day, if you lot don’t show up the gig is pointless. The whole point in Mix_Up_Mayhem is that the finest local bands n’ DJ’s get to play a night that is fun and something a bit different for them, and it aint going to be any fun for them if they are dishing out their set to seven punters, the members of the other bands n’ their gf’s. No sir. That is unsurprisingly my worst case scenario. No matter how good the idea is on paper, for it to be a success it has to be rammed with you lot so we are able to make sure all performers get the buzz of a wild wee crowd n’ a few pennies for petrol and bruski’s. The night as a concept is of course on trial in our new home at Bar Bloc too. For all it’s baws n banter Mix_Up is a virgin night.

We are keeping it free to get in before 11pm, and a massive thank you must go to Chris Cusack of Bloc for helping me to secure some funding from Jack Daniels to make this possible. Chris shares exactly the same ethos as us when it comes to music. He even has gone to the bother of setting up a record label that is essentially a one stop shop for the facilitation of self release. For not one penny he will give you access to all his contacts and knowledge to empower unsigned bands to help themselves put their music out and go on the road. Such altruistic acts are hard to find in the music business at any level, and us PodcART//Mix_Up_Mayhem folks sure applaud such decency.

So…What is next???

On Friday the 25th of March Glasgow PodcART and Jack Daniels Present Mix_Up_Mayhem Part 1 2011. Once you have finished yer scran in the bar, the glorious voice of Jim McNulty will kick proceedings off at 8pm with an acoustic spot. Following Jim, the triple headed juggernaut of steel baws, bitchin’ riffery n alternative guitar greatness that is …

CARNIVORES

YOU ALREADY KNOW

and

OTHER PEOPLE (yes that is what the bands are actually called … I am not just teasing)…

will take to the stage and Mix_It_Up. What does that mean? Each band will play one of each others’ songs, a well know cover of their choosing and a few of their own beastin’ choons for you. Running order not yet decided, and will not be announced before the night. We really want people to come down and see everyone.

Following the gig, our very own dancetastic expert Amanda Mitchell will spin choons for us until the wee hours. The final twist in the evening is an exclusive Remix_Up_Mayhem Mix by Jamie Sturt (Oh You Dancer) featuring each of the three bands. The entire night will be photographed by Greig Middlemiss of Different Light Photography, and be captured on film by Sean Mccann of LightUpGlasgow’sSkyline.

This is exactly the sort of gig/club night that I want to go to. I hope that you do too. All feedback and suggestions will be welcome in the evenings visitor book. We know we need to know what you think to keep making sure every night we put on is how you want it. See yeez soon

Ally

Poster Design by Louise Cochrane