In anticipation of Mosborough Music Festival, taking place on Saturday 6th June this year, Plug hosted a special warm-up gig featuring 4 unique bands that drew in a crowd from various corners of the UK.
First up was Nottingham-based band the Gorgeous Chans. I last saw these boys at Y Not festival in the summer of 2014, so it was a pleasure to see them perform somewhere with four walls and a roof. They started the night with ‘Night in Graceland’, charming the audience with their warm melodies and cheery disposition. Within 3 songs the crowd were dancing along – clearly enjoying the music from the talented six-piece.
The Gorgeous Chans slowed the evening down again with ‘By The Highway’, the latest single from the boys. The golden melodies are entwined with melancholic words, making it a song that will shimmer in the summer evenings.
“Have we got time for one more song?” lead singer Brandon tenatively asks the room’s authority (the sound tech). He was met with an awkward silence, which became evident to mean “no”. The audience wouldn’t let the boys leave the stage without one final applause; The Gorgeous Chans had won over the enthusiastic crowd and set up the night ahead.
Next up was Walsall-based band Regale. Growing up in Walsall, I was never too impressed with its non-existent music scene, so I was immediately sceptical of any band that comes from that corner of the West Midlands. However, Regale fought my initial prejudices and proved that decent music can come from even the most unlikely of places.
Marquis Drive provided an assortment of covers to the crowd, getting them to sing along to the most popular songs of the past few decades. Their cover of ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ received the brightest reaction, as the Sheffield crowd sang along as loudly as they could. Farm’s ‘All Together Now’ was also a popular song of the night.
Dodgy finally took to the stage, bringing the entertainment to a close with a long set of indie pop. The party wasn’t over just yet; the band wanted to celebrate their drummer’s birthday and even brought a cake out on to the stage for the occasion. Tonight was their first gig of 2015, and the first time they’ve been out since completing their new album Cherry Red (due to be released later this year.)
LIVE DATES (Gorgeous Chans)
7th April – NOTTINGHAM – Rescue Rooms
8th April – SWANSEA – The Garage
11th April – LONDON – KPH
13th April – BIRMINGHAM – The Sunflower Lounge
14th April – EDINBURGH – Wee Red Bar
15th April – GLASGOW – Old Hairdressers
@gorgeouschans
facebook.com/TheGorgeousChans
@REGALEBAND
@MarquisDrive1
@DodgyUK
