Steve Guest, Author at Blackpool Social Club

21 Jan

April Keen & Jekyll Feature in New Music Videos

Steve Guest0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Its difficult to comprehend sometimes just how lucky we are to have some forward thinking and creative types in and around the Blackpool area, who are willing to give up their time and put a considerable effort in to helping new musicians get the promotion they need. Unsurprisingly though, there is an abundance of creative people waiting to unleash their skills, but then choosing to pick the best moment to do it. When locally based IGI Music & Media and independent video producer Jester were given the opportunity to strike, they grasped it with both hands and the result of…

09 Jan

Featured Musician: Savage Jaw

Steve Guest0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Kicking off 2014 in fine style, our featured local up and coming musician for January is SAVAGE JAW (aka. Harry Westall). Only Harry himself knows how he conceived the name for his one man project, but it's certainly a name that isn't forgotten easily. Neither are his live shows, which seem to be embedded in the memory long after the final sample has been phased out and the curtain has fallen. I can vouch for that personally, after watching one of the most incredible local live performances of 2013. On a cold clear Autumn evening at the Sixth Form College,…

12 Dec

Preview: The Blue Room – A Phoenix Rises From The Ashes

Steve Guest2 CommentsMusic & Gigs

It is probably Blackpool's worst kept secret and the music community in the area has been given snippets of information over the last ten days or so through a new Facebook page, set up with the intention of bringing cheer and a huge sigh of relief for many. As we were feeling the hangover from the final curtain coming down at the legendary Blue Room as a live music venue, it has emerged that there is some very positive news, which will delight and excite everyone connected to the local live music scene - bands and fans alike. The Blue Room reopens for business…

05 Dec

Review: Belvadere Launch Debut EP At The Galleon

Steve Guest0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Unfortunately, its not very often these days that we get the chance to be excited about the prospect of a young band making the very tough breakthrough in the music business around this area. But in Belvadere we could possibly have a real chance of seeing it happen and it is long overdue. For the very hard working, driven and extremely talented three piece folk/country band, it definitely has been a whirlwind few months. After meeting at Blackpool Sixth Form College and forming only late last year, the three 18 year old band members, Jess, Harrison & Danny have gone…

28 Nov

Review: Try Colour at The Galleon

Steve Guest0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

We were tipped off quite late doors about the Try Colour gig at the Galleon last Thursday evening. So, not wanting to miss one, I hastily re-arranged my schedule and quickly recruited the help of altblackpool Photo Editor Claire Griffiths to join me to grab a few snaps for this review. Funnily enough, Claire had the same idea to go along too, so it was an instinctive choice. I had heard a whisper that we were in for a bit of a treat, so had no hesitation at all in venturing out on a cold night and into the warm…

25 Nov

Featured Musician: Ryan Cregan

Steve Guest0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Music & Gigs

Continuing our regular monthly feature highlighting the enormous talent we currently have in the area, the second article this month looks at the very hardworking Ryan Cregan. I honestly can't think of any other young solo artist in the area who puts as many hours into his work as Ryan, by getting out into various venues and showcasing his talents regularly. Not only that, he also puts plenty of graft into promoting his work via his own web pages online when not performing live. These ingredients are obviously essential when you are a young artist trying to get your work noticed…

19 Nov

Featured Band: Jekyll

Steve Guest0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Music & Gigs

This is our first article, which will be a regular monthly feature here on altblackpool, looking at promising upcoming bands and solo artists that we hope to see making a future impact on the local music scene. With everything crossed, hopefully one or two can make the breakthrough and go on to bigger and better things, keeping Blackpool and the Fylde coast on the map for producing great talent. If altblackpool can help in some small way to highlight the abundant talent we have in our area and help raise their profile, then we believe we are doing our job…

15 Nov

Preview: Dinkey Donkey Do 2013 – A Day of Live Music In Aid Of Local Charities

Steve Guest0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

At a time when we wax lyrical about the amount of hard work and time that goes into organising and promoting live music events and venues, it is perhaps fitting and just that we give a big heads up to this special musical extravaganza to be held at Birchwood Country Park, Warton, this Saturday. Following the highly successful Rock The Dead Donkey Festival which took place at the same venue in May, comes The Dinkey Donkey Do Festival, the second installment, which with an equal quality cast of bands and musicians, promises to be yet another day to remember. If…

12 Nov

Rock City – Live Bands Find A New Home

Steve Guest10 CommentsMusic & Gigs

After the unfortunate and sad demise of the legendary Blue Room as the town`s jewel in the crown for local live music, it left all music fans and bands alike wondering what to do and where to go next. Blackpool was left with very little to offer in the way of suitable and viable venues for live bands to perform and a void was created. That was until a team of visionary people grasped the opportunity to shake things up and get the town back on the map as a place to see bands play. The Blackpool Music Festival,…

16 Oct

Review: Blackpool Music Festival 2013 – An Overwhelming Success!

Steve Guest0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

I'm not going to mince any words with this review, because it was evident from the reaction around me as I stood in various venues over the weekend, and taking in the whole atmosphere and vibe of the festival, that it was a great success. Okay, it didn't pass without some hitches and I don't think realistically it could. Organising a debut festival on this scale and getting it to run without minor hiccups over four days is a huge, no, near impossible task in itself. But to deliver the unbelievable quality of live music that this inaugural festival delivered…