Hotbed of talent

INSPIRED . . . Inspiral Carpets’ Steve Holt

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MUSIC EXTRA: SO, it’s been a truly memorable first full year for me in the music hot-seat at the Chronicle.

There is such an eclectic mix of sounds coming out of Oldham at present. Take the two weeks running up to this as an ideal example: I’ve featured legendary MC Jimmy Semple and the red-hot and totally dedicated young outfit that is Louie Louie. That pretty much sums up perfectly what this town is all about.

Here’s my review of the Oldham music scene in 2015 - back to front, starting with my highlight of the year on December 22 at the 02 Academy in Leeds.

That was when arguably our town’s finest ever exports — the Inspiral Carpets — brought the year down with the final gig of a 16-date nationwide tour supporting the wonderful Shed 7.

The Carpets might be in their 40s and 50s now, but they’ve still got the X-Factor that helps them to belt out brilliant, hour-long sets.

Britpop royalty the Sheds were magical that night too (a Rick Witter exclusive will feature on this page later this month).

One of the major stories of 2015 has been the successful transformation of the breathtakingly superb Gramotones into the even better Cupids.

I went to see Cupids — led by Oldhamers Jake Fletcher and Sid Cooper — belt out their final gig of the year at a rammed Deaf Institute a fortnight or so ago, and they are now set for a mammoth 2016, hopefully a high-profile recording deal of some sort and even more hopefully, another nationwide tour.

When I covered the lads’ mega-decision to ditch the Gramotones in the summer I was a bit taken aback at how monumental their change of heart could prove to be. But Cupids — the same line-up — is destined to make big waves this year - certainly if the sound of their new material is anything to go by.

Ok Broken and 5ft Fez are two Oldham bands who have also made huge strides in 2015. The teenage Fez lads — Matt, Joe and Ross — have released a class original EP — Watch Me Fall — and have played at some huge venues alongside some big names. Two packed-out shows at the Hard Rock Cafe in central Manchester may well be their highlight of 2015.

Don’t forget to catch 5ft Fez at the Witchwood Quadrophenia Night in Ashton on January 30.

Ok Broken — Gaz, Dave, Phil and Adam — have also made huge progress, with lots of gigs and even starring roles in their own short movie! I’ll be heading to the 02 Academy, Leeds to watch the lads try to win the prestigious Soundwaves competition title on January 16.

Success there would surely set the band up for an even better 2016. They knock out a super, rocky sound destined to be picked up by the nation before too long.

Those are just a few of the 2015 highlights of Oldham’s music scene. I haven’t got room to mention all the other artistes out there today, but I’ll try my best: there’s Jonny Brown, the High, the Visitors, Goda Tungl, the Recreation, the Crash Mats, Lyceum, Shadow Palace, Dahlia Soul, Kieran McMahon, McGladdery and Wilson — I could go on.

And venues? Whittles, Jackson’s Pit, the Bank Top, the White Hart, the Railway, the Commercial, and now, hopefully, Tokyo’s!

I’m going to be busy again in 2016. Happy New Year!



CUPIDS have announced a couple of exciting new dates. On January 30 Sid, Jake, Ryan and James will head to the Night and Day Cafe in central Manchester to play at the “This Feeling” night alongside Bang Bang Romeo, the Fronteers, No Hot Ashes, Tibet and Hello Operator. Advance tickets are £4 and selling fsat: www.thisfeeling .co.uk.



Cupids will also feature further up Oldham Street on April 16 at the When in Manchester festival at the increasingly popular Castle and Gullivers venues. Again tickets are flying out for that all-day special: reserve yours at www.skiddle.com.