Centre Stage competition in full swing

You Had Me At Hello

 Another fabulous night in the Centre Stage competition for the search for a new band to play at Leeds and Reading Festival. Kicking us off was "You Had Me At Hello" from Bradford College. They tell us they are a pop/punk quartet and they certainly did create a buzz. They have just returned from Austin, Texas where they played at the South By South West Festival.

Exit Strategy

You Had Me At Hello

 Next up was another talented young group from Kettlethorp High School called "Exit Strategy" an alternative rock/punk group.

Exit Strategy

The Metro Gnomes hail from Halifax. They attend  Trinity Academy and Huddersfield New College. This band started out playing cover songs but now usually play their own material which went down well last night.

Metro Gnomes

  Frequency go to Castleford High School and have been playing together for about 2 years. They have entered a number of music competitions and played well for us last night.

Frequency

Frequency

Next on stage was The Arcane. This band which plays indie/pop comes to us from Pontefract New College. They have played a number of venues in the North of England and had radio airtime as well.

The Arcane

The Arcane

Roadside Light

Metro Gnomes

Alice At Last

Another Life

Alice At Last

Another Life

 Heavy rock from my old high school, Abbey Grange, Leeds was played by Another Life. Popular round Leeds these boys play loud!

The Maxanines

The Maxanines

Roadside Light

Roadside Light featured the only female artist on the night. This band is a combined group from Priesthorp School, Outwood Grange and LCM. A new act on the Leeds music scene.

The last band to play in the competition for the evening was from Pontefract New College - Alice At Last. Fast pace music and lots of energy brought the competitive spirit right up to the wire.

The Maxanines made a guest appearance to close the evening. These were last year's worthy winners and we were all pleased to see and hear them again.

This competition is fund raising for Martin House Children's Hospice.  All the bands in this event  are also raising money for this very worth cause. Too often the youth of today are decried as difficult and trouble seekers but these young people put the lie to this false theory. They have all worked very hard to raise funds.
The Judges (Isaac Heywood, Phil Weller, Michelle Dalgety, Micky Dale and Kate Prothero) will have a very difficult job and I am glad I do not have to make the choice of who will go forward to the final.
The whole event was ably compared by Alan Raw from BBC Radio Leeds.
The finalists will be announced on Facebook on Saturday.
 
Denis Heaton
Yorkshire Gig Guide

"Yes Prime Minister" at The York Theatre Royal

 Running at the York Theatre Royal from Monday 16th April to Saturday 21st April starting at 7.30pm :-
Graham Seed as Prime Minister Jim Hacker and Michael Simkins as Sir Humphrey Appleby brought back to life our favourite characters in high places and have not lost any of their original sharpness and wit since they left our television screens. Beautifully crafted by the writers Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn our heroes are brought right up to day with financial crisis at home and abroad including the collapse of the euro, the energy crisis, global warming and the Blackberry - to name but a few.
The setting was Chequers where they were entertaining the Foreign Minister of Kumranistan and their Ambassador. The plan was to obtain agreement from this Foreign Minister to fund a bail-out of the Euro. This entailed considerable spin and skulduggery. Poor Bernard - the Permanent Personal Secretary to Sir Humphrey and Claire - Personal Secretary to the Prime Minister both managed to make a bad situation worse along the way. How the crisis is resolved causes much hilarity along the way.
The stage setting and lighting enhanced a well rounded performance.
Judging by the audience reaction, this is a must-see show!
Denis
Yorkshire Gig Guide

The search begins at the Wardrobe

Sarah and Michelle at the Launch 2012.

Taken at 2012 Launch

 We are really looking forward to this year's competition and we wish all the entrants the very best in their endeavours to reach the goal of playing at Leeds and Reading Festival this year.

Below is all the information you need which has been supplied by Centre Stage.

Martin House Children’s Hospice presents….

***CENTRE STAGE 2012 – THE HEATS***

16^th – 19^th April – The Wardrobe, Leeds.

The eagerly anticipated Centre Stage 2012 is now upon us and is set to bring local, young bands and artists into the limelight. Now in its third year, the competition is about to kick off and offer a platform for over thirty performers, bands and soloists, to compete for a place at July’s Final at O2 Academy, Leeds.

Monday 16th: Hosted by Dan Carroll and Stephen Newsham (BCB Radio)

The Gonzos, Forgot About Leo, The Riatines, Traffic Wire, Edna Sulejmanovic, Euthemia, Seas-of-Green, British Daylight… and special guests… The Mexanines (Winners of 2011)

Tuesday 17th: Hosted by Alan Raw (BBC Introducing)

You Had Me At Hello, Exit Strategy, MetroGnomes, Frequency, The Arcane, Another Life, Roadside Light, Alice At Last…. and special guests…Penguin (Winners of 2010).

Wednesday 18th: Hosted by Dan Carroll and Stephen Newsham (BCB Radio)

Glassbody, French Soul Party, Distorted Sky, Test Transmission, Rebecca Kendall, Stay The Night, This Legion, Suicidal Republic..and special guests…St Somebody (Runners up 2011)

Thursday 19th: Hosted by JoJo (Capital Radio)

The Artists, Seaton, Indecisive Crisis, PaperPlane, Elliott's Incentive, White Comic, The Scandal… and special guests… Marsicans (Finalists 2011).

Judges: Mike Heaton & Mickey Dale (Embrace), Isaac Heywood (Rock School), Phil Weller (Bang the Drum), Michelle Dalgety (YMC), Richard Watson (360 Club), Sara Garvey (Out of Control Records), Mark Hubbard (Old Chapel), Rebekka Kill, Kate Prothero.

Doors 6pm // Show starts 6.50pm // £4/£3 conc. on the door…..or, £10 for all four nights!

Great press and media coverage, throughout.

Great prize for the band with the best door tally and a fantastic free prize draw for a Schecter Omen 6 electric guitar within our fab programme!

Come down and support the best new music in West Yorkshire and help raise money for Martin House Children’s Hospice!

Sarah Smith | Centre Stage

http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=123867864886

Martin House Children's Hospice

Grove Road, Clifford, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 6TX

01937 844569 www.martinhouse.org.uk

                  

 Denis 

Yorkshire Gig Guide