Wednesday 23 July 2014

The Winners are - - --

Rock schooldrummers
King-No-one
Isaac Haywood
 An amazing start to the Centre Stage Final as Rockschool drummers took the stage and gave a tremendous performance of their talents ably conducted by Isaac Haywood. Then to a crescendo of noise last years winners  King No-One  joined them on stage soon to be followed by the contestants:-
Shupadum
 Shupadum,Chickadees,Girlsondrugs,Bryony Drake,premonition,Random Behaviour,Oliver Pinder,Conflare,the Puppeteers,Arcarode,The Concetines and  demoralised who entertained us for the next 2 hours all hoping to claim the prize to play at Leeds and Reading Festival 2014. All these young bands have raised over £1000 each for Martin House Children's Hospice
   whilst the Judges made their deliberations  the supports keep up a constant chant hoping to sway the judges,
Random Behaviour
Eventually the results were in and all the bands were waiting with baited breath until  they were announced.
Premonition
The Runners up were Conflare and Arcarode
Girlsondrugs
The Winners were Girlsondrugs who received their certificate to a roar of approval from the audience.
Centre Stage registration for 2015 is open in September 2014
We will let you know how much was collected for Martin House when all the money has been collected

Bryony Drake
Oliver Pinder
The Puppeteers
Conflare
We wish all the entrants well as they clearly all have a future and Congratulations yet again to girlsondrugs We are already looking forward to next years competition.
Arcarode
Demoralised
The Concetines

Denis
Yorkshire Gig Guide

Tuesday 22 July 2014

The excitement builds at o2 Leeds








  










**MARTIN HOUSE CHILDREN’S HOSPICE PRESENTS: THE FINAL - CENTRE STAGE 2014**
Back in April, Martin House Children’s Hospice held their fifth, annual Centre Stage Heats at The Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds. The venue hosted three nights of young, local bands and artists  battling it out to earn themselves a place at this month’s Final, where they will compete for a place on the bill at both the Leeds and Reading Festivals this August and also a performance video shot by local filmmakers, Sodium.

The Final is now looming and very eagerly anticipated, and is set to take place on Wednesday 23rd July at O2 Academy, Leeds. The event will see the most diverse range of contenders to date and will be judged by a high profile panel, including Jon McIldowie (Booker for Leeds and Reading), Mike Heaton (Embrace) and James Brown (Pulled Apart by Horses). The evening will be hosted by local Music Producer, Ed Heaton, who also offers a recording prize to the competition.

The Finalists:

CONFLARE: an exciting four-piece from Castleford with catchy guitar riffs. Their third time in Centre Stage!

DEMORALISED: four-piece from Otley. In their words “Showing people how Metalcore should be done”!

BRYONY DRAKE: singer/songwriter from Tadcaster, playing acoustic folk and well-crafted hooks.

RANDOM BEHAVIOUR: a young, four-piece alternative rock band from Prince Henry’s in Otley.

ARCARODE: a new, ambient alternative rock band, from Leeds, with a slight hint of folk from the violin.

OLIVER PINDER: young, fresh, singer/songwriter from Halifax playing upbeat pop/folk music.


GIRLS ON DRUGS: two-piece electro from Selby. Deep bass synths and sultry vocals.

THE CONCETINES: four-piece playing catchy, infectious indie rock. Been on the Leeds’ scene for a while.

CHICKADEES: young, budding band from Leeds. Uplifting saxophone, synth and melodies!

SHUPADUM: from Tadcaster/ York. Their sound is centred around ‘playing fun music’ and ‘rocking hard’!


PREMONITION: a teenage rock band from North Yorkshire made up of four students from Selby College.

THE PUPPETEERS: four-piece bluesy, rock band from Prince Henry’s in Otley. Also finalists in 2013.
 ....and Special Guests King No-One (winners of 2013) and Rock School UK.
Since securing their places, the finalists have been busy upping their rehearsal time, writing new material and getting lots of gigging practice, not to mention continuing their fundraising and helping to raise the profile of the competition and charity. As preparation for the final, Martin House have organised professional mentor sessions at Old Chapel Studios, Leeds, to answer any last minute questions and deliver some constructive advice for their big performance.

To date, Centre Stage has been a great success and last year welcomed its first winning band from North Yorkshire, King No-One, who received an amazing reception at Leeds & Reading, and still remain close supporters of the charity. Previous winners ‘The Mexanines’ reaped the benefits of the exposure that Centre Stage has given them as they enjoyed life on the road as the main support for The Pigeon Detectives at the end of 2013. Also, 2012 finalists ‘Carnabells’ have just played this summer’s Glastonbury Festival on the BBC Introducing Stage.
The competition has now raised almost £150,000 for the charity, which has been channelled directly into the care of the children and their families at Martin House Children’s Hospice.
Fantastic prizes also awarded to ‘the best fundraisers’, ‘the runners up’, ‘best promotion and publicity’ and ‘best door tally’. Blacks Solicitors are assisting with sponsorship for the event.

The Final will be held on Wednesday 23rd July at O2 Academy, Leeds. Doors 6.15pm. Show starts 7pm. Tickets are available at www.o2academyleeds.co.uk at £6.50/£4.50 (concs). The event will also be pay on the door.
END
Notes:
·        Please credit photographs to ‘Sodium’ (http://www.shotbysodium.com/)
Centre Stage Background: The premise of the Centre Stage Competition is to give young bands a fantastic platform and exposure whilst raising vital funds for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Since its initial launch, by The Pigeon Detectives in autumn 2009, Centre Stage has so far provided a platform for over 150 young, Yorkshire acts and raised almost £150,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice. The competition has the support of Embrace, The Pigeon Detectives, The Cribs, Pulled Apart by Horses and Festival Republic. In order to enter, artists must be under 21 years old and in North or West Yorkshire and must be committed to undertake their own fundraising for the hospice.
Martin House Children’s Hospice: Martin House Children’s Hospice cares for children and young people, throughout Yorkshire, who have a life limiting illness. They support their families too, through the life of their child and through their bereavement. On opening in 1987, they were only the second children’s hospice in the UK. They now have an established teenage unit, Whitby Lodge, which was the first in the world to open. Martin House needs to raise over £4.5m this year to run, receiving less than 12% from Government sources.
Contact: Sarah Smith – Centre Stage Organiser:
ssmith@martinhouse.org.uk // 01937 844569
www.martinhouse.org.uk
Twitter: @centrestage2014 // @MartinHouseCH