Coventry Night Club Launches New Live Music Event

At a time when many venues have either closed down or stopped playing live music in Coventry, one night club is bucking the trend as it launches a brand new live music event. S7VEN will be hosting 'Friday Night Live' on Friday 10th August 2012 in a bid to showcase local bands and keep live music alive in the city centre.

Coventry musician Daniel Connolly is spearheading the event and I caught up with him to ask him why S7VEN were launching 'Friday Night Live'. It was clear his passion for live music is real as he said, "We're launching the night to try and get the point across that live music isn't as dead as people say and that a venue like S7VEN is extremely diverse. Going from, house nights, to garage and to now indie!" 

Daniel wants to see not only local bands perform, he has plans for UK acts to come to Coventry's 'Friday Night Live' over the coming months, "people can expect not only the best local acts but the best acts from all over the UK. Big things are going to happen with this new night and S7VEN will be put on the map for being a diverse, energetic and warming venue." 
The music scene in Coventry will welcome this new venture and as a young musician himself, Daniel was keen to say why music is so important to him, "music is my life, I love writing and playing music. Being in a band myself I know how hard it is for the local live music scene, but we are going to make this happen, and people will know about us here at Friday Night Live - S7VEN."

The Old Fire Station in Hale Street has been transformed in recent years from the disused fire station to the swanky S7VEN night club, it was put on the map when Coventry chart toppers The Enemy recorded their 'Gimme The Sign' video back in February 2012. The band have been zealous in promoting new unsigned bands and Daniel wants to follow in those footsteps, "with hosting The Enemy and Pint Shot Riot and other acts like Reverend and the Makers, S7VEN have a lot to offer. We will be giving local bands the opportunity to support big names and offering them a fresh new venue to perform in."

The launch night has a great line up, featuring the cream of local talent. Daniel is hoping to continue Friday Night Live as a regular live music slot in Coventry, giving young people a chance to perform and get the party weekend off to a flying start. He said, "Friday Night live is hopefully going to take off after the launch night, we will be announcing some big names towards the end of 2012,start of 2013. Things are going to look up - it's going to be all about Club S7VEN more than it is at the moment!"

Coventry band The Fallows will take to the stage as they continue their successful year, having been BBC Coventry and Warwickshire's 'Band of the Month' and were booked for the main stage at Godiva Festival (the weather meant a venue change with  some cracking pictures by Redwood Photography). Like the venue, The Fallows are quality with a rich sound that music lovers will enjoy. Check out their folk pop music and  head down to 'Friday Night Live' at S7VEN.

Another exciting Coventry band are This Modern Youth, they were the only Cov band to be featured on the Teenage Cancer Trust tribute to The Specials recently and have been in the studio with Matt Terry, who has produced for The Enemy. The video below gives you a flavour of the sound you can expect at 'Friday Night Live', with TMY  bursting with energy and a rock 'n' roll stage presence that earned them a place in MTV's Unsigned Band UK final.

Since Daniel Connolly is launching 'Friday Night Live' at S7VEN then it only seemed natural that The Espadrilles should be there for big night. The five piece hail from Coventry and Bedworth and will be sure to kick your weekend off to a foot stomping start. The lads formed last year and hope their love of music will result in tunes that people can sing-a-long too. Have a listen below, then come and see The Espadrilles perform their set with Daniel Connolly on drums.

The Old Fire Station venue will also be host to four local lads The Charmers, described by Front magazine (I could only find a website that has lots of  boob pictures!) as an 'baby faced' indie rock band. Their sound is anything but childish, as fans of The Ripps found out when The Charmers supported their album launch in May. With a voice that comes straight out of The Kooks, this up and coming band has a great future that Coventry should get behind and support.

Get yourself down to the launch of 'Friday Night Live' @ S7VEN in Coventry for an evening of live music and then stay for the after party to get your weekend off to a flying start.

The Specials To Perform At Olympic Closing Ceremony

The Specials will be joining Blur and New Order for the closing Olympic Ceremony in London on Sunday 12th August 2012 it has been confirmed today (21/02/12). The Coventry 2-Tone band will feature as part of the 'Best of British' celebration concert, which will be seen by millions around the world.

Fans will be able to register for tickets on the BT London Live website - prices will be announced soon.

Jerry Dammers - The Specials Reunion?

Jerry Dammers, the man behind The Specials success thirty years ago, is back in the news today as one of the performers at the Love Music Hate Racism event on May 30 at Stoke's Britannia Stadium.

He will be joined by some "very special guests", which is leading some to believe that the long awaited reunion with Jerry and the rest of The Specials could happen. Both Dammers and The Specials have long been campaigners for equality and spoken out against racism, having performed together at Coventry's Butts College at a similar event three decades prior.

The Specials and Dammers had been unable to agree about the way The Specials would return to celebrate thirty years of Two Tone SKA music, eventually leading to Jerry Dammers missing from the line-up during the tour which is currently taking place. Yet, Jerry and The Specials have both left the door open with the hope of being able to perform together on stage once again.

The Love Music Hate Racism would be the perfect opportunity for the whole band to reunite under the umbrella of racial harmony. Could the 'very special guests' appearing on stage with Dammers be the original Specials? Watch this space for more updates....................

Mojo Awards: Winners List 2008

Duffy arriving at Mojo Awards

The Mojo Awards 2008 took place in London and here are the list of winners:

It was the first major award for Welsh sensation Duffy, who won 'Song of the Year' with 'Mercy'. Duffy's debut album looks set to sell over 1 million and is seen as an alternative version of Amy Winehouse. She is being hailed as the new Dusty Springfield and the biggest act to come out of Wales in a long time.

The Last Shadow Puppets picked up 'Best Breakthrough Act' with Arctic Monkeys front man Alex Turner at the helm, it was to be expected the LSP would get an award.

The Mojo Awards Full Winners List 2008:

Song of the Year Award: Mercy by Duffy

Best Breakthrough Act: The Last Shadow Puppets

Best Album Award: Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Hero Award: Motorhead

Icon Award: the Sex Pistols

Best Live Act Award: Led Zeppelin

Classic Songwriter Award: Neil Diamond

Hall of Fame: The Specials

Lifetime Achievement Award: Genesis

Special Award: Judy Collins

Legend Award: Irma Thomas

Classic Album Award: Loveless by My Bloody Valentine

Inspiration Award: John Fogerty

Outstanding Contribution to Music Award: Paul Weller

Roots Award: Toots Hibbert

Les Paul Award: John Martyn

Maverick Award: Mark E Smith

Vision Award: Julien Temple for The Future is Unwritten

Compilation of the Year Award: Juno Original Soundtrack

Catalogue Release of the Year: Pillows & Prayers Cherry Red Records 1981-1984

*Read more on The Specials Mojo Award: HERE

Tom Clarke: Why The Specials Still Matter

The Specials feature on the May cover of MOJO magazine and within the excellent article is an interview with The Enemy frontman, Tom Clarke. Here he talks about the lyrics and influence of The Specials:

"The Specials' lyrics were written in times of recession and disarray, when there wasn't much positive to speak about, so to realise that those lyrics are still relevant today is obviously quite sad. I didn't realise it, until it was pointed out to me, that the title track of our album, We'll Live And Die In These Towns, which is about the whole essence of a city that's full of culture but people just don't take notice of it - that it's a dead town - that it was clearly the same city that The Specials wrote about in Ghost Town. We also wrote a song, This Song Is About You, after a conversation with an old school friend who said all of our old school friends have got kids, which I couldn't believe, at our age, which is Too Much Too Young, isn't it?

It's clear how much society has changed since 20, 30 years ago, but with massively key elements that have stayed exactly the same. There's still fighting on the dancefloor, there's still young girls having babies and being forced to be a mother at an age before they've had a life. The Specials were ahead of their time in seeing how society was heading, and one of the first bands to comment on it in a blunt and straight forward way.

Besides Ghost Town, the other song that epitomises The Specials is Too Much Too Young. It's the no-nonsense lyrics and the energy. They were amazing, incredibly tight band. Listen to the drum fill at the start of that song. There's not even been any music played yet, it's just two drums being hit, but it's already a fucking surge of energy. You can see how much it got audiences jumping up and down in anticipation. The Specials used music as a form of escapism, but the music still sounds like a party. Not many bands combine that contrast. If you don't entwine your lyrics in riddles and metaphors, lots of people can relate to that straight away. That's what set a band like The Specials apart then, and still does today."

*The Full 11 page feature on Coventry band The Specials can be in the May issue of MOJO magazine.

visit: www.theenemy.eu - for the latest news on The Enemy

Entertainment News

* Spice Girl Mel B is to release a fitness DVD in the near future, according to The Sun.

* Research by the University of Arizona last year found the average office desktop harboured 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat.

* Campaigners on the Greek island of Lesbos are to go to court in an attempt to stop a gay rights organisation from using the term "lesbian" says the BBC website.

* Neville Staple from Coventry SKA band the Specials will be playing at this year's Glastonbury reports efestivals. He will be playing at the late night Shangri La tent. Meanwhile fellow Coventry band, The Enemy will be performing on the Other Stage on Friday 27th June 2008.

*Sky said the match-time average between Chelsea and Liverpool last night was 3.3 million viewers, making it Sky Sports' fifth highest ever audience and its record for a Champions League match. The Apprentice suffered as a result with 600,000 fewer viewers but still on a healthy 6.8m as Kevin got the chop for comparing Clinton's Card bosses to George W Bush.


visit: www.theenemy.eu for the latest news on The Enemy

The Specials Are "Rehearsing Together"

The Specials

Neville Staple has revealed that the Specials have been back in the studio together rehearsing and may do a UK tour later this year. This backs up the story last week (as reported HERE), where Terry Hall said the Specials could do a "dignified" return, if they "were good enough".

NME and Music Week reported the story and Neville Staples is quoted as saying:

"A couple of months ago we (all) started talking, We had to talk first to see if we could get on, but we got past the talking stage. Then we said, 'Okay, let’s see what we're like in a room together rehearsing with instruments'."

Following early talks Staple said singer Terry Hall met up with the band and they held two rehearsals.

"We're just seeing how it goes," Staple told Music Week. "If it gels, it gels. If it doesn’t, you don't wanna go out there as some old geriatrics – not me. What we've got to do is make sure the music at least is right.

"So if it works, we'll do it. If not, well. I'm sorry lads and girls. But we're trying."

Neville Staple was back on stage this weekend performing a string of Specials classics in front of an 8,000 crowd at The Enemy gig in their hometown of Coventry. The band may be older but the sound is just as good now as it was back in the hey day of SKA music.


The Specials were last in the charts in 2001 when an expanded, remastered version of their self-titled 1979 debut album reached #22, The Specials album debuted at number 28 this week on sales of 6,271 copies of their CD/DVD combo package "The Best Of The Specials". The Enemy are also inside the Top 30 with their debut album, "We'll Live And Die In These Towns", which has already sold over 300,000 copies since it's release last July. This is possibly one of the only times Coventry have had two bands inside the Top 30 album chart on the same week!

Watch Neville Staples and the band performing at The Enemy gig: HERE




visit: www.theenemy.eu - all the latest news on The Enemy.

The Enemy: Ricoh Arena, Coventry - Sunday Review and Videos

The Enemy surpassed themselves with their final gig at Coventry's Ricoh Arena. As if Saturday's gig hadn't been electrifying enough, Sunday was a nuclear bomb of energy and a room full of dynamite.

I thought the Sunday gig would be calmer or quieter but how wrong I was! Although the crowds were timid to begin with, it didn't take long until the party was fully going. The first support act consisted of most of the Specials including Neville Staple, which treated the Coventry crowds to ska classics like "A Message To You Rudy", "Ghost Town" and many more (Watch the videos: HERE). While the older members of the audience (and those with discerning taste) lapped up the sound of two-tone, the new generation were more into Boy Kill Boy and the Displacements as support acts for The Enemy.

Coventry grew restless as 9pm approached and the bottle battle commenced for a second night at the Jaguar Hall. Football chants and pushing kept everyone entertained, one brave young man climbed on a friends shoulders - goading the throng to throw bottles and cans at him. He wasn't disappointed as bottles hurtled towards him in vast numbers.

The Enemy rock the Ricoh!

The reason another 8,000 people had turned out in the snowy weather was solely this - The Enemy. From the moment they entered the stage until the moment they left, everyone gave 100%. The audience fuelled and ready to dance, sing and celebrate - the band were home and proud of Coventry. Fast moving songs like "Away From Here" "Technodanceaphobic" and "Pressure" meant no time to stand still and be an observer, it was dance or be crushed! Other songs slowed it down, "Sing When You're In Love" and "Happy Birthday Jane" - giving you a chance to cool down for a few minutes. Then everyone would leave with the anthem tunes of "This Song Is About You" and "We'll Live And Die In These Towns" ringing inside their heads for days to come. Arms waving and crowd surfing was the order of the night as The Enemy delivered an ever maturing set.

Here are a selection of videos from Sunday 6th gig:

The Enemy - "Sing When You're In Love" - Ricoh Arena, Coventry



The Enemy - "We'll Live And Die In These Towns" - Ricoh Arena, Coventry



The Enemy - "This Song" - Ricoh Arena, Coventry



The Enemy - "40 Days And 40 Nights" - Ricoh Arena, Coventry



The Enemy - "It's Not OK" - Ricoh Arena, Coventry

Saturday's videos can be seen: HERE

Coventry Telegraph pictures.

Wound from the "bottle battle"


visit: www.theenemy.eu - for the latest news on The Enemy.

The Specials To Reform

The Specials are to reform officially for some gigs at the end of the year, according to former front man Terry Hall, speaking to the BBC. It was almost 30 years ago the Coventry band made SKA music big in the UK with hits like "A Message To You Rudy" and "Ghost Town". Even though the Specials have transformed over the years, it would be the first time they have reformed with Terry Hall. Many reunion stories have circulated over the years, now the reality has been confirmed by Terry Hall, who said:

"Well we're still trying to put dates together, but hopefully
September/ October time. We need to spend the Summer rehearsing... I think
it's taken me 30 years to realise we could do it really well."

Terry Hall and Lynval Golding made surprise appearances at last year's Glastonbury Festival. The pair appeared onstage with Lily Allen to perform "Gangsters", and later on a different stage, with Damon Albarn on piano and a beat boxer, performing "A Message To You, Rudy". Neville Staple had appeared onstage in Coventry a few months prior, with the up and coming Coventarian band, The Enemy.

*EMI have released a CD/DVD featuring most of the Specials tracks today, entitled "Best of the Specials" and is available for just £8.99 from HMV online.

* For a detailed look at the history of the Specials visit: www.thespecials.com

Updates on The Enemy @ www.theenemy.eu