Out Then In

A busy day. Load out after the huge Junker gig, then load in at The Tav for Slug. We set up for the band on the outdoor stage using essentially the same spec as the Junker gig. Then it went cold. So we broke it all down and set up a significantly smaller system in the back room of the pub! The show must go on!! In the end all went well and the crowd enjoyed Zeke et al.

Blimey!

Junker + Chimps at our biggest production to date. You'll have to take our word for it that it was outstanding. The new lighting rig was stunning and Mat Badger made a fine job of the sound. A sizeable crowd too! No pics of the show as we were too busy, but here's a pic of Nick Badger, AB and one of the venue staff after the show...

It's Happening!

Well on the way now! Stage and lighting sorted, First sound check done. The room looks amazing - the bunting is gone and the chairs and tables cleared to make space for the crowd. It's going to be a great gig! Tomorrow. The Crown. Junker + Chimps. BE THERE!!!!

Here Comes The Bride

Yes, we know that it doesn't look much yet, but this is the start of the set-up for the Royal Wedding gig on Friday (we think that we may have mentioned it!). It's a free gig featuring JUNKER and CHIMPS ON DEATH ROW at The Crown in town. It's going to be special. Miss it at your peril...!

Baby Badger Broadcasting

BB took a trip to our good friends at Redshift Radio to make an appearance on Martin's "What's On" show to promote this Friday's Never Mind the Royal Wedding gig at The Crown in Crewe. He's super-excited about this gig, so pop down from 7pm to see him bang his little head to some top tunes!

Moorlands Radio

At Moorlands Radio in Leek tonight with DD and Dan Logan for a live session and interview. Coincidentally we were there on Easter Monday last year too. We played three songs and had a nice chat with Greg, the new presenter guy.

All-dayer

Back in Nantwich for the obligatory Jazz Fest drinkathon with several chums. Caught a bit of With Bob On Our Side, Houseparty, Jim Farmer and The Jalepenos amongst others... A cracking day out!

Nantwich Jazz Festival

What a gig! We ripped the roof off Harrisons! A huge crowd lapped up Foulplay on their second visit to the Jazz Fest. It was, to be blunt, fucking amazing!! Thanks so much to all that came along. See you next year!

Good Friday

At Square One tonight. Nick and Dayve cobbled together an acoustic covers set for the next instalment in the Unsigned Friday series. We had to compete with a rowdy disco upstairs but all-in-all a decent show which was well received by the crowd. Afterwards we wobbled to The Brunny to have a look at The Generation who were playing on Fester's new stage.

JJ

Tonight Jason Johnston from Staylbridge was our featured artist at Acoustic Addiction #4.

A stunning show from Jason and his mate Martyn. If you missed this, you missed out. Really.

These AA gigs are proving to be very special indeed. The next one is in two weeks - Thursday May 5th at The Imp. Our guest then will be the mighty Tom Seals, an exceptionally talented young pianist and vocalist. See you then!

Rider!

AB's just been to collect the rider for the Royal Wedding gig next week which features our friends from JUNKER and CHIMPS ON DEATH ROW. It's a free gig at The Crown in Crewe. You can expect us to plug the gig mercilessly over the next week.... ;)

Come On Down...

AB is reading The Crewe Chronicle. There's a nice editorial about our Acoustic Addiction gig on Thursday. This week our featured artist is Jason Johnston from Stalybridge. He's been described as a male Taylor Swift, so well worth a look we think! We met Jason earlier this year at our Acoustic Lounge gig and we booked him there and then!

The gig on Thursday at The Imp starts at 9pm and is FREE! See you there!

Dangerous Dayve

DD's firmly back in the saddle now after his trip to the Costa Brava and is rehearsing hard for Friday's covers set at Sq1. He's a busy chap at the mo - tomorrow he's rehearsing with Liz Rozenfield. No rest for the wicked (and he's VERY wicked!)...

Dr Snuggles

Here's a picture of Sazo and AB with a true gentleman and local legend. Simon Mellor has been a drummer since drums were invented and has played with some amazing bands. He was with local act The Helicopters back in the 80's and went on to tour extensively with Tower Struck Down (along with Nick Badger) in the early 90's. Simon and Nick were also in the much celebrated party band PANTZ! for a number of years. More recently, Simon has drummed for the veteran supergroup Rock of Ages. He says that he's taking 2011 off from drumming to concentrate on other pursuits(!). (Drum)roll on 2012!!

Sandbach Transport Festival

A rare out-of-town gig for Foulplay. The band christened the new outdoor stage at The Market Tavern in front of a decent crowd. A great show, with new visuals, including lasers! Woohoo!! Here's our hero with Neil and Lee from the band.

Our Phil

Or so it seems! The amazing Phil Maddocks is firmly at the top of our artist roster. Tonight he played a great set at a very raucous Square One as part of the Unsigned Friday series. He's a busy chap at the moment, with a hectic schedule of radio and live performances in the diary.

Inuendo and The Cat

At Sq1 for a live radio broadcast tonight. Paul Senior of local radio station The Cat hosted his 'The Alternative' show with special guests Inuendo playing live to the decent crowd. Here's AB watching the band.

Baby Badger By the Bridge

Unfortunately the weather's taken a bit of a nosedive but BB's layer of fur is standing him in good stead and he's back on the road again; here he is stood in front of Oxford's Folly Bridge, which eagle-eyed readers may have spotted briefly in the opening scenes of the first episode of the new Lewis series. (Yes, even badgers watch TV.)

Bring Out The Bass!

DD is back from his jaunt to Benidorm, so he's been rehearsing with Nick ahead of their acoustic show next week.

Studious Badger

Here's AB looking all intellectual. He's busy looking at the flyer from the Valve Rider gig.

Mic Check. One, two...

We got some nice new microphones this week. AB is trying one out...

Tube Passenger

A Double Picture Super Bonus tonight; Baby Badger got to go to The Box on his own to see the rather marvellous Valve Rider (with support from the no less marvellous The P.L.O.T.); regular readers may recognise Valve Rider's frontman par excellance as none other than Adam Ward who also does sterling work with Nathan Moore (another 25% of VR)...

Load-out

Here's AB contemplating the load-out from the Foulplay gig at The Brunny. Rock and Roll eh?

Christie

Here's AB with the annoyingly young and talented Christie after another great Acoustic Addiction at the Imp; if they weren't so nice it'd be easy to succumb to jealousy! It's shaping up to be a rather special night so don't miss Jason Johnston on the 21st.

Baby Badger at Balliol

BB is still in Oxford, and after all this culture he thought he ought to get himself some learning so here he is at Balliol College following in the footsteps of luminaries such as Boris Johnson; Nobel Prize winner Baruch Blumberg; Rabbit, sorry, Rabbi Blue; Baron Bingham; Sir Benjamin Brodie (second baronet); and Aldous Huxley, notable drug fiend (and author).

Labour Guy

Here's AB with David Williams and Delia Smith. David was the local Labour party candidate at the last general election. AB was bending his ear about the lack of local badger ameneties. Or something.... ;)

Baby Badger and the, er, Badger

BB's thirst for culture continues, and it's onward to Oxford, seat of learning, city of dreaming spires, and home to this rather handsome specimen who looks surprised rather than angry...

Dirty Angel

It's been while since these guys were photographed together. About 25 years in fact. Nick and AB are with Simon Gibbs, one of the resident DJ's at Square One. In a former life, Gibbsy was a singer, and a fine one at that. Nick and Simon were both in a band called Boomerang back in the 80's and Simon went on to front Angels With Dirty Faces, who enjoyed considerable success including topping the charts in Japan.

Follow The Trail

Slug. The Ex. Brilliant.

A wicked night with our friends from Slug. We followed the trail to The Corner Bar afterwards too for apres-gig drinkypoos.

Here's AB with the band...

Be Wise...

At Sq1 for another Unsigned Friday do. This week, The BlueYellows. Long time Badger associates and thoroughly decent chaps, they played a blinder. Good show!