Broomhead are about to sweep in...

Photo: Seagrave Social Photography

MAKING their mark . . . Broomhead

BACK on the buzzing Manchester scene during what has proved a hectic last 12 months, Woodhouses guitar/singer/songwriter Dave Broomhead's musical juices are clearly flowing again.

Former Oldham College student Dave first picked up a guitar at the age of 12, initially urged to take up jazz by his talented musician dad.

However, Dave soon realised jazz wasn't his genre of choice, so, after working his way through the Oasis songbook, he tried indie bands, punk, and even heavy metal.

There was a degree of success on the scene, most notably when Dave's band at the time, Chevron, supported Kasabian at the now closed-down Roadhouse in Manchester city centre.

Open

A break from his music followed, Dave returned as a solo artist five years ago almost to the day, then 12 months ago he leapt deeper into the Manchester scene by dropping in on 'Northern Social' and 'The Big Slice' open mic nights and get-togethers.

Dave explained: "My first solo gig was five years ago, and since then just played sporadically I guess.

"I played a few open mic nights here and there, but during this last year or so that I've really started pushing it.

"I was going out there and playing, and just starting to believe in myself a bit more.

"From that, I've ended up in a situation now where I'm in this great band.

"Playing at places like the Northern Social and the Big Slice has helped so much ­- it's people who are into music and who are there for the music.

"They help you grow and develop, they are very important.

"I had very little confidence up until 12 months ago, but through meeting these like-minded people it has helped me be more confident with my song-writing and my abilities as a musician."

Dave mentions his band, and they are Broomhead.

Having met fellow guitarist Stuart Bray, bassist Will Ellis and drummer Ash Chopra at some of the aforementioned open mic nights, Broomhead officially formed in March of this year, and have already made their mark.

Influenced by folk music and the likes of REM and the Counting Crows, Broomhead have played a number of city gigs already and released three terrific tunes ­- 'Sweet Denial', 'Man I wanna be' and 'Lucas Lane'.

Broomhead's next gig is at the Castle in Manchester on Sunday.

"There are opportunities popping up for the band right now, and in particular the Castle is a venue I've always wanted to play," added Dave.

"We're still trying to work out when next to release something.

"We have got lots of stuff knocking around, but one of the problems is that we're all perfectionists. There's music we could put out, but we're not quite happy with it yet. We'll decide soon whether we'll do an EP, an album, we just don't know just yet."

After the Castle gig, next up for Broomhead is a Sunday main stage appearance at the epic Rum 100 Festival, which is being staged at the Goose Green Farm in Mottram St Andrew between September 8-10. Dave, who is also a member of the event's organising team, said: "First of all I can't believe we're on with that line-up, and on the main stage, too.

"I was looking at the line-up on the posters and thinking 'wow'.

"There's Rum Thief on there, King Kartel, Ok Broken, Last Race Home­- all of these are bands I've looked up to as a performer myself this last year.

"It's great just to be on a poster with these guys.

"It's going to be a celebration of everything that is new in Manchester music, put together by people who've lived with it.

"It's not just some promoter who thinks 'let's cash in on this and let's cash in on that'.

"It's being run by people who have worked on the scene and are passionate about the scene. It's been a big labour of love for (chief organisers) Paul (Owen), Denis (Ferrige) and Dawn (Roach), they've absolutely worked their socks off to get where they are now."