Events' return will be music to punters' ears

TOASTING live music. . . Craig Gill and DJ Zak Thompson

IT'S definitely happening - live music and club nights are returning to Tokyo's in Oldham, with the relaunch night set for bank holiday Saturday, August 27.

The promoters behind the exciting town move are Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill, whose association with Aaron Mellor's Roscoe Street club as a DJ, promoter and musician stretches back to the late 1980s, and DJ Zak Thompson, a legendary name from the club in more recent years.

On August 27 Gill and Thompson will introduce 'Bier Kellar Live' downstairs at Tokyo's, and 'Tokyo's Reunion' upstairs.

Manchester aces Feed the Kid will play on August 27, then on Sunday, August 28, acoustic talent Danny Mahon will grace the big stage.

Performances

Live music will play at Tokyo's until 11pm, then a regular club night will follow.

A further boost comes with the news that entry to the live gigs will be free.

Lots of hugely talented acts have been targeted to play at Tokyo's over the coming months, including the likes of Cupids, No Hot Ashes, Ok Broken, Brahma Loka, Drink and Drive and Shadow Palace, to name just a few.

All have offered positive feedback and appear to be relishing the opportunity to get involved in a project aimed at truly revitalising the central Oldham music scene.

Gill told the Chronicle: "Myself and Zak just felt this would work.

"It's short notice we know, we've got our work cut out, but anyone who remembers Tokyo's on a bank holiday Sunday will know they were special occasions, really special nights.

"We're piecing stuff together, though, and we've got a long list of great bands to work through.

"There's no lack of talent in Oldham, it's just a question now of channelling it into one place.

"It would be nice to attract the old Castle crowd back, people who want to see a live band.

"There's going to be variety, too. We might have a covers band on one week and an up-and-coming band the next."

Gill and Thompson have vowed to look after the bands and artistes who are set to grace the Tokyo's stage(s), but the former also acknowledges it won't be easy to drag Oldham back into the buzzing regional music scene.

Encouraging the artistes will certainly help.

Gill added: "Some promoters are just thinking about the bottom line and how much they can make from selling tickets.

"Some bands play at places for nothing, but because I'm looking at it from the other side it will be different."

In an added bonus for live music fans, Gill also proposes to incorporate his successful 'Manchester Music Tours' venture into the new Tokyo's nights by offering daytime runs to and from points across the area - including Uppermill - on the day of gigs.