Concert in your area for Pop, Folk & Blues, Indie & Alt, and Rock.
Formed of longstanding childhood friends Roy Stride (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Greg Churchouse (bass, backing vocals), and Pete Ellard (drums, backing vocals), Stride and Churchouse began playing gigs together at the age of 15. During their time at university, the pair formed the band Cape, before playing shows as Scouting for Girls in a room above a pub in Harrow, London. Scouting for Girls significantly raised their local profile during this time, later utilising MySpace and Pulse Rated to appeal to a national audience.
After hearing the group’s demo CD featuring the single “Heartbeat”, Epic Records signed Scouting for Girls in 2007. Soon after inking the deal the band headed to East Sussex to record their debut. Prior to a full-length LP Scouting for Girls released the EP “It’s Not About You” in June 2007, which became the highest-charting limited edition EP in chart history. Subsequently released in September 2007, the group’s debut, self-titled album topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks, selling close to a million copies. The record’s success was strongly aided by the radio-friendly singles “It’s Not About You”, “She’s so Lovely”, “Elvis Ain’t Dead”, and “Heartbeat”, all of which charted within the UK Top 20.
In support of the record, Scouting for Girls embarked on an extensive UK tour, including a host of sold-out shows, and ending with two sold-out nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. In 2008 the band performed shows in Europe, Japan, and Australia, before heading to the U.S. to play the year’s SXSW Festival and New York’s CMJ Festival.
The band released their sophomore album “Everybody Wants To Be On TV” in April 2010, led by the No. 1 single “This Ain’t a Love Song”. The singles “Famous”, “Don’t Want To Leave You”, and “Take a Chance On Us” were subsequently release, following which the band undertook a full UK tour in April. Scouting for Girls’ third full-length “The Light Between Us” arrived in August 2012. Spawning the singles “Summertime in the City”, “Rains in La”, “Without You”, “The Light Between Us”, and “Snakes and Ladders”, the record peaked at No. 10 on the UK Albums Chart.
Comprised of keyboard player and vocalist Joseph Washbourne, guitarist Dan Hipgrave, bassist Matt Knight, and drummer Rob Green, Toploader was formed after a night in the local pub. A second guitarist Julian Deane was invited to complete the lineup in 1997, following which the group began performing live, playing small venues across the UK with the likes of Coldplay and Muse. In 1998 Toploader signed with Sony Records’ UK division, who secured the band a supporting slot on Paul Weller’s European tour. The successful shows raised Toploader’s international profile considerably and also drew comparisons to the likes of Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and the Rolling Stones.
Toploader subsequently issued their debut single, “Achilles Heal”, in May 1999. Rising to No. 64 on the UK Singles Chart, the single was well-received and resulted in Toploader playing the year’s Glastonbury and Reading Festivals. Towards the tail-end of the year the band released the single “Let the People Know”, before issuing their most successful and fun-loving single to date, “Dancing in the Moonlight”, in early 2000. Produced by George Drakoulias, the single rose to No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, the chart where it remained until 2001. The band’s debut full-length album, “Onka’s Big Moka”, aided by the single, peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Earning positive reviews, the record drew comparisons with funk singer Jamiroquai, and later achieved three-times platinum certification.
The band’s sophomore album, “Magic Hotel”, was released in August 2002, which despite peaking at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, was scorned by critics. The album’s lead single “Time of My Life” was the record’s only charting single, following which Toploader were dropped by S2 Records and embarked on a lengthy hiatus. The band subsequently signed with Underdog Records and released their third full-length “Only Human” in June 2011. Spawning the non-charting singles “Never Stope Wondering”, “A Balance to All Thing”, and “She Said”, the record was supported by performing at small venues around the UK including various university student’s unions and at Lakefest Festival.
After winning the title of Best British Breakthrough of 2009 at the Brit Awards, Scouting For Girls made their mark in the indie rock charts with their second album Everybody Wants to be on TV. Whilst I have always enjoyed their music, it wasn't until I saw them live, initially as a support act, that I really became a true fan. I knew the music, but not inside out, but it materialised that that didn't matter at all. Their performance was full of enthusiasm, fun, and life, and I found myself singing and dancing along regardless of my knowledge of their material.
After becoming enthused by their live show, I booked tickets to see them headline, and was not disappointed. The entire set was a theatrical performance with fantastic lighting, great sound and acoustics. The band worked together blending their harmonies, whilst maintaining their intense dancing and performances.
The vibe was absolutely fantastic, even people who seemed unsure initially, seemed to be their biggest fans by the end of the show - that just seems to be the effect that they have on you! I'd really advise that you take the opportunity to see them (in a standing venue - because you'll want to dance!) before you miss your chance.
On 15th May 2014 I saw The Hoosiers for the first time at Newcastle’s Think Tank venue. The intimate gig was an interesting way to see the indie pop group. I remember the band’s peak of popularity a few years back and, associating it with my school days, I thought I’d missed the boat with seeing them live. So, I was pretty excited when I heard that the Hoosiers were touring near my university town.
The Hoosiers opened with tracks from their new album, ‘The News from Nowhere.’ Unfortunately, ‘Handsome Girls and Pretty Boys’ and ‘Make or Break’ were met by a fairly lacklustre response from the audience. While I enjoyed the danceable drumbeat of the latter, I could see how the songs’ unfamiliarity disappointed the mainly twenty-something crowd hoping to hear the anthems from their teen years.
When The Hoosiers did deliver theirs hits, they did so in style. Front man Irwin Sparkes took full advantage of the intimate venue. During the encore the singer made his way into the crowd, impressively rousing the audience into enthusiastic participation in old favourites, ‘Choices’ and ‘Goodbye Mr A.’ Treating my neighbours to a particularly out of tune refrain of ‘stop giving me choices’ I imagined how a teenage version of myself would feel to know that one day I’d essentially be joining Irwin Sparkes in a sing along.
The Hoosiers adapted their style to the intimate venue, so I’d encourage you to see what they do in their upcoming gigs.
Toploader’s cover of ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ - and it is a cover, as is frequently misconstrued, with the original by King Harvest dating back to 1972 - will probably, depending on how old you are, conjure up images of Sainsbury’s, a rather yuppy-ish house party and, most heinously of all, Jamie Oliver; the song rose to prominence when it was featured in an ad for the supermarket chain back in 2000, ending up in the top ten - the highest chart position that that particular song has ever enjoyed - and helping Toploader’s debut album, Onka’s Big Moka, to a number four placing on the albums chart. Despite the fact that the era in question was already fizzling out by that point, Toploader pushed ahead with a Britpop sound, and despite the fact that they enjoyed some chart success and high-profile support slots - they were the last British band to play the old Wembley when they opened for Bon Jovi - they soon ran into difficulty keeping the public interested in a tired sound, and disappeared after album number two, Magic Hotel, met with a scathing critical reception. Their 2011 comeback album failed to chart, but with four original members still present, they continue to tour across the UK, taking in provincial towns and leaning heavily on Only Human, where the temptation to fall back in Onka’s Big Moka must be considerable. They’ve a slew of festival dates lined up across the country this summer, should the mood take you.