And so, here we with the second part in our look at the original bands currently active in Barnsley right now. Our first post listed 40 active bands, covering all genres; rock, metal, folk, indie, punk, jazz, comedy. Hopefully this next post will do the same, and will act as a usefull tool for bands and promoters alike.
Coming soon…. A Guide to Current Barnsley Music #3: Solo Artists.
View A GUIDE TO CURRENT BARNSLEY MUSIC #1: ORIGINAL BARNSLEY BANDS A – L here.
Enjoy and explore.
MARK JACKSON’S CRIMINAL WASTE OF TALENT: Mark often played in the 80s with his bands Exceedingly Good Cakes and Swinging Lovers, and being known for his stand up comedy. In the last few years, here has taken to the scene again; initially as a two piece but now with a full band. Barnsley’s own John Cooper Clarke – punk, poetry, pasties. https://www.facebook.com/MarkJacksonsCriminalWasteOfTalent
MCCARTHY VIGIL: Another quality band that recently released music through Of National Importance Records. Intense, dramatic, measured, sedate, atmosphere – have all been used to describe this brilliant alternative five piece. https://www.facebook.com/mccarthyvigil
MIDNIGHT HITCH: Relatively new but already have a couple of impressive support slots to their names. Previously called Swamp Fever, this dirty blues bands also features members of The Hurriers. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Midnight-Hitch/432387100159888
MIGHTY VIPERS: The natural evolution of previous Barnsley ska big-bands Napalm Breath and Catch-It Kebebs. Upbeat sounds featuring elements of Trojan Records, Motown, Latin, Funk, Swing and Punk. http://www.facebook.com/MightyVipers
MYNAS: Over the years, this band have evolved from male lead, indie three piece into six piece indie pop band featuring stunning boy girl vocals, violin, hints of latin and funk and some of the most impressive songs coming out of Barnsley. Second album on its way. https://www.facebook.com/mynaspage
NEW MESSIAHS: A great indie band that fuses big rock with brit-pop era indie, with lots of hooks, brass and melody. Recently released a full length album. https://www.facebook.com/newmessiahs/
NEW PARTY ARMY: A new electro-industrial act established 2013, and although their page described them as a band, so far all is pretty hugh-hugh. Brainchild of former Cry frontman Dave Pearsall. A number of tracks released on soundcloud. Think Gary Numan and early NIN. https://www.facebook.com/NewPartyArmy/
NO MEAN FEET: A unique band performing folk and acoustic music from Barnsley and further afield for parties, ceilidhs and other events. They sing and play violin, piano, accordion, mandolins, banjos, clarinet, guitar, percussion, whistles etc. https://www.facebook.com/NoMeanFeet/
NOWHERE NEAR LONDON: Vibrant and popular local indie pop band, writing original material and currently producing their debut. https://www.facebook.com/NowhereNearLondon
OLIVER/DAWSON SAXON: An amazing offshoot of the original Barnsley NWOBHM band Saxon, this group features founding members Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson and also now features Seventh Son vocalist Bri Shaughnessy. The bands legacy stretches back to the late 70s band Son of a Bitch. https://www.facebook.com/pages/OliverDawson-Saxon/163079953711145
OUTSIDER: Fantastic punk/slacker alt rock inspired by Brand New, Title Fight and Such Gold. A single and demos released as well as a number of notable regional support slots. https://www.facebook.com/outsideruk/
OVERCLOCKWISE: Three piece alt-rock/prog band, formed at Uni. Recently released their debut EP and now playing regularly locally. http://www.facebook.com/Overclockwiseband/
PARSON’S LOT: Barnsley band playing contemporary and traditional Irish and American folk music, featuring members of Cambodia, Mynas and Black Shoes. The line-up varies depending on the projects and features up to six members. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Parsons-Lot/165033166999508
THE PETE RIGBY QUARTETBAND: Currently playing French jazz as a quartet, featuring Sharon Stacey on vocals. Pete Rugby is a former bassist with the Straight Razor Angels and has often played at Aroma Cafe. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-Rigby-Quartet/274168782641719
POLYOPIA: Three piece alternative indie band formed at the back end of 2012. Already played BDTD nights at Opium and was part of the Coalfield Festival line-up. A couple of singles recorded. https://www.facebook.com/Polyopia
PARABLE: New Barnsley based Folk n Roll band inspired by Mumford and Sons, Passenger, Earl and Scruggs, Ben Howard, Kate Rusby, Daughter. Played venues already about South Yorkshire including Magna and the Sheffield Tattoo Convention. http://www.facebook.com/Parable.uk
PROJECT ORANGE BEAN: University formed AltRock/Fusion experimental bands. A number of recording made and gigs played at venues like the Walkabout. https://www.facebook.com/ProjectOrangeBeam
PUSHER: New Alternative/Dark/Pyschadelic/Indie/LowFi/Doom/Garage band. Recently supported Exit Calm, played dated around the UK and a second single will be with us soon. https://www.facebook.com/pusherukofficial
REDLIGHTS: Alt rock band who have released a debut single and EP who have already played the Cockpit and the Corporation and despite the alt rock sound, there is a definite hint of the New Romantics in there too. https://www.facebook.com/TheRedLightsUK
RED JESTER: Red Jester are an energetic 4 piece original rock band based in Barnsley/Sheffield, pulling influences from a wide variety of bands including AC/DC, Queen, Guns N Roses, The Sex Pistols, Oasis, Metallica and Nirvana,. Supported acts such as Voodoo Johnson, Marco Mendoza, and are just releasing there self financed debut album. https://www.facebook.com/RedJesterUKBand
REDMIST DESTRUCTION: Absolute quality old-school Thrash Metal band. Despite being an extreme metal band, when they played Coalfields and Live in Barnsley, their audiences were filled with music lovers of all kinds – a testament to their technical ability and their fantastic frontman. One EP and album down, second on its way. http://www.facebook.com/RMDestruction
REMAINS OF YOU: Over the last year, after numerous line-up changes, ROY because regulars on the local metal scene. They had just released their debut EP prior to three members jumping ship again. It seems the band is still active and seeking new members. Don’t expect these guys to quit so soon. https://www.facebook.com/remainsofyouband/
ROK INK: Traditional metal band inspired by Metallica, ACDC and Iron Maiden. They have played numerous regional rock festivals and released their debut album in 2012. https://www.facebook.com/rok.ink.bandpage
THE ROLLING DOWN HILLS: Acoustic grunge duo from Hoyland/Wombwell who originally played together back in the late 90s but got back together again in 2012. Sounds like Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains unplugged, Blind melon, Counting Crows, STP and hints of 60s crooners. http://www.facebook.com/TheRollingDownHills
THE SALIENT BRAVES: Non-gigging band lead by long-standing Barnsley songwriter, Matt Bailey. Purveyors of tuneful, lo-fi indie pop, smidgens of Half Man Half Biscuit, Echo and The Bunnymen and The Fall. Debut EP ‘Something Sordid’ and a handful of demos are available on their website. https://www.facebook.com/salientbraves
SERVERS: The new band formed by former GU Medicine/Sunlounger frontman Lee Storrar. Expect big sounds along the lines of QOTSA, ISIS, Black Sabbath, Killing Joke. Debut single comes Dec 13 with an album in Feb ’14. Expect big things. https://www.facebook.com/ServersUk/
SEVENTH SON: Formed in 1980 and considered by many to be Barnsley’s premier heavy metal band. Still fronted by original vocalist Bri, the band recently celebrated 30 years on vinyl and released an album Sprit World. Still hard at it touring. https://www.facebook.com/SeventhSonBarnsley
SHERMER: A familiar sound on the Barnsley alt-rock scene and inspired by Motion City Soundtrack, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, Shermer are now making waves over in Sheffield. A big sound from just a three piece and an amazing debut album to their name. http://www.facebook.com/ShermerUK
THE SHERLOCKS: Formed in Bolton-on-Dearne and influenced by The Arctics, Libertines, Oasis etc. these lads are doing well in Sheffield and Barnsley and have just released a debut EP. https://www.facebook.com/TheSherlocksOfficial
SIGSERIES: A new band playing a mixture of classic rock/funk/fusion/jazz/prog, they have just recorded a live nine track album and have played with Oliver/Dawson Saxon. https://www.facebook.com/SigSeries/
THE SILHOUETTES: Four piece indie band inspired by The Black Keys and Kings of Leon. Although relatively new, they are now playing regionally and also have a couple of demos on soundcloud. https://www.facebook.com/thesilhouettesuk
SKINBOAT: The present line-up has been active since ’06, but the band have been around since the back end of the ‘90s. Anti-pop space pirate funk, inspired by bands like Faith No More, Primus and a definitely dollop of Vic & Bob style humour. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Skinboat-Page/207412089291813
SOULPRINT: One of the newest bands to be gigging locally, they’re a four piece alt-indie band playing their own material inspired by Biffy Clyro, Arctic Monkeys, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Foo Fighters and the odd cover too. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Soulprint/419157191466008
STATUS UNKNOWN: A blend of rock, soul and country. Formed later 2012 and now playing regular gigs in Barnsley Central and Sheffield. The band are putting the finishing touched to their debut EP. https://www.facebook.com/StatusUnknownBand
STELLAVISION: The name sounds like laddish Brit-pop but these fellas are actually influenced by acts as varied as Neil Young, The Clash, The Ramones,The Kinks, Nick Cave and The Pixies. The bands contains musicians that have been playing for over fifteen year. They released an album early 2013. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stellavision/299009241635
STRAIGHT RAZOR ANGELS: Fronted by Craig Vegas, this rockabilly/punk n roll band are in it for the long haul. They’ve been around for a while now, 100% quality band with a number of records and hundreds of gigs all around the UK to their name. https://www.facebook.com/straightrazorangels
THE STRAY TARGETS: Four piece alt-indie band with a good following. Influences range from Radiohead to Tom Waits to Carter USM. Debut EP released in 2009 and a new album released this year. www.facebook.com/straytargets
STRING THEORY: Three piece folk band consisting of fiddle, guitar, mandolin and uke, these guys play version of traditional British and American folk, a few contemporary covers by people like Jack White and plenty of their own folk songs. All three are regular hosts of the now fifty year old Barnsley Folk Club. http://www.facebook.com/pages/String-Theory/176734452873
THE SURROGATES: Lo-fi alternative rock outfit from Barnsley/Donnie. Influenced by Neil Young, The National, Soulsavers, Explosions in the Sky, Mark Lanegan, Isobel Campbel and Portishead. Not played locally for a while but they’re back at The Polish this December. https://www.facebook.com/TheSurrogatesMusic
SYSTEM OF HATE: Formed after the long established Total Confusion split in 2012, this is a much dark breed of punk band, with gothic and now synth leanings. One EP in and they have already played with punk royalty including Sham 69, Vice Squad and Peter & the test Tube Babies among many, many others. https://www.facebook.com/systemofhate/
10 FLAWS DOWN: A mix of Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield. A mix of Alt-Rock, 90s Brit-Rock and melodic pop hooks. Influences by The Pixies, The Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Manic Street Preachers, The Wildhearts, Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Debut record is imminent. https://www.facebook.com/10flawsdown/
THIS CONDITION: Anthemic, psychedelic indie. Comparisons to Stone Roses, Ride and Verve. Don’t play half as often as we’d like. https://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Condition/286999818004296
TIMBRE CULTURE: Formed 2011, Indie band fusing elements of funk, punk and alt rock. Played a couple of well received gigs but not heard from them since summer. Still around? https://www.facebook.com/TimberCulture
TOKYO WITCH HUNT: Electronic pop-duo front by in-it-for-long-haul Izzy Voodoo. Played often in Barnsley and around the region, they have a good number of tracks available on their website. https://www.facebook.com/tokyowitchhunt/
TRUDGER: They launched their debut EP a year ago and did a handful of gigs in town. They got picked up by Manchester’s Church of Fuck Records and are now recording their debut album. This band evolved from Debts and their EP one of the most impressive sliced of Sludge Metal I’d heard in a long time. https://www.facebook.com/trudgeruk
UNDAFRET: An alternative Rock/Punk band that although don’t play central Barnsley often, they did play Crooked Ways Festival this year. They have released one EP and are currently working on a second. https://www.facebook.com/undafret1/
UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Four piece local indie band influecned by Frank Turner, The Kinks, The Undertones, The Libertines, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Under-The-Influence/141197555927770
VELCRO TEDDY BEARS: Acoustic rock n roll influenced by 60s and 70s greats Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Play Sheffield often and also have a debut EP available. https://www.facebook.com/velcroteddybears
WILDE SAMMON: Acoustic duo mixing indie, comedy and folk. Comprising of Chris Sammon and Dave Wilde, they host regular nights at Station Inn, Silkstone with acoustic acts from around the area. Just about to release their first record. https://www.facebook.com/WildeSammon/
THE X-RIPPERS: Possibly Barnsley’s most ‘legendary’ punk band. Formed from the ashes of the Maingate Rippers in 1978, for three years they played all over the UK with the greats. 20 years later they reformed and their first gig attracted over 300 punks. Still gigging. https://www.facebook.com/pages/the-x-rippers/132294881102
YELLOW ELEVATORS: After Silent Gestures came Yellow Elevators. One of many psychedelic indie bands in Barnsley, but these guys have an uplifting vintage groove to them. They’ve recorded a number of tracks but currently on hiatus while they find a new drummer. https://www.facebook.com/YellowElevators
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