Banding together

SUCCESS . . . Martin Schofield

MUSIC EXTRA: JOINT-OWNER of live music venue Whittles, Martin Schofield is bidding to make 2016 a great year by throwing his doors open to bands of all shapes, sizes and sounds.

The King Street Oldham venue has predominantly been regarded as a rock haunt during recent years, but though the heavier sounds will continue loud and proud, a more eclectic range of acts is set to appear between now and summer.

The UK Ramones are in town soon, as are the Happy Mondaze, ZZ Tops, The Force, Who’s Next and Total Stones Roses. Beki Bondage and original punk band Vice Squad play at Whittles on March 26, but before that, on February 5, founders of the Glitter Band, John Rossall and Harvey Ellison, will play a full set on what promises to be a brilliant, if slightly controversial, night..

Schofield explained: “I don’t know whether that booking will cause any controversy or not, but John and Harvey wrote a lot of Glitter Band hits back in the Seventies.

“It came about because the drummer, Chris Connolly, who lives in Royton, got in touch as he has played here a few times before in other bands. I didn’t even know he was in the Glitter Band, so when he rang up on spec I thought about it before deciding yes.

Whittles will also be the setting for “Revolution Live — Love Spreads” on February 13, when the local radio station will host a terrific night featuring DJs Clint Boon and Dave Sweetmore, and up-and-coming Oldham bands 5ft Fez, Ok Broken and Shadow Palace. That promises to be a surefire sell-out.

A determined Schofield said: “We’ve got to start supporting these local bands. There’s too much talk and not enough action if you ask me, and I do always put my money where my mouth is with things like this. I always have done.

“If we can start doing this once a month from around June onwards say, I think it’ll be cracking for local bands and the town.”

Visit www.whittles-oldham.com.

Listen to Simon’s interview with Martin Schofield: