Alan Dearling shares some images from this strangely diverse event. Many ghouls, ghosts and vampires were indeed in attendance!
So, the Halloween Music event organised by Amusia took place on the 31st October in the impressive Unitarian Church in Todmorden. Described on-line as:
“Mind bending, a third eye stretching array of frequencies.”
Nine musical outfits were due to perform, but sadly, the Sentimentalists had to drop out to allow the event to finish on time. I was there from 2.45pm until after 9pm and saw six of the acts. But it was getting too lively with my expensive camera gear beginning to be at risk during China Shop Bull. And I left before Petrol Bastard and the headliners, the Cheeky Girls took to the stage. Shame, but I felt it was the right decision. These are my pics from Billy Billy 5p, Guts, Thunderboob, Leucotome, The Manifestation Group and China Shop Bull.
Billy Billy 5p… Described by themselves as “internationally unsuccessful regressive” rockers. They are the Bee-keepers in Space. They certainly look different from most other bands, sort of a Space Rock Devo.
Guts: A strange, slightly surreal mix of camp, evolutionary posturing burlesque, over the top Freddie Mercury vocals, but quite in yerr-face heavy rock too.
Thunderboob: Ladies with attitude(s) and a mixture of styles and instruments and vocal harmonies. Their self-description is: “Hormonally charged grunge, with a sprinkle of punk and a dash of soul.”
They said afterwards: “We supported the Cheeky Girls and got to sing Sanctimonious in a church.
Massive thank you to @amusia_awareness for organising the most bonkers day, set in beautiful settings, with the best acts. It was unforgettable.”
Leucotome: Ethereal, floaty, but powerfully strong. From Manchester. They say, “We’re organic industrial femme folk cult-harbingers of the apocalypto-medieval era.”
The Manifestation Group: Some good material and an interesting interplay by the musicians, especially the big muscular singer and his female synth-colleague. A little shambolic, but nicely so. They suggest that they, The Manifestation Group, “… are concerned with demonstrating and investigating the phenomena of songs as distinct, agential entities.”
China Shop Bull: The commencement of chaos in the Church…Punk, ska, rap, rave, noise combo – confrontational, and plenty of mad-dancing across and over the pews and the lectern. The crowd erupted. That’s when I exited stage left with my camera gear…
And here are a few words about the two headline acts, which I sadly didn’t see!
Petrol Bastard: They claim: And on the eighth day, God created really shite music with immature lyrics and very very bad dancing. Tesco Value Prodigy. Electropunk party nonsense with lots of SWEARING AND MINDLESS VIOLENCE. Not my pic, but from the on-line posts of the day…
The Cheeky Girls: The famous twins from Transylvania. Halloween and their joint 43rd birthday (I think, from checking on line). And the Halloweeners’ sang them ‘Happy Birthday’, Mc-eed by Pip Fowler aka, Miss Airedale!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/24823255327326310
I guess nearly everyone on the planet knows their Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)! Legendary.
Danny Sapko’s video short about the event:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pz48df0sPKU
It really was a totally weird, bonkers All-dayer!
