A new age of bands (From Messenger Newspapers)

A new age of bands

4:41pm Thursday 15th May 2008 in Leisure

Review - All Ages Gig, Bar Amp.

IT'S the start of May and 300 teenagers are having their final night out before GCSE's loom in what has become South Manchester's finest exponent of teen musical talent

If the precedent is anything to go on these all ages gig, with bands such as El Policia attracting attention from NME and Radio 1 and other bands going on to support Ian Brown (The Difference), gather swarms of press (Kid 4077) and open up the infamous Channel 4 Skins Live Tour (Copycats), then today's bands are destined for great things.

It's a mixed bill showing the breadth of the all ages scene with The Guide sounding like The Hoosiers meets The Fratellis, Joe Palmer looking back to troubadours such as Bob Dylan and more recently Damien Rice, The Flying Brew Bags creating their own unique sounds and The Result returning for a storming set which sends the mosh pit wild with their post punk riffs and quality tuneage.

Headliners Fugitive made the final of XFM Rockschool last year attracting the attention of Clint Boon and Dave Haslam and its easy to see why; mature classic timeless song writing that sets them apart.

The all ages gigs may make anyone over the age of 18 feel very old, but the bands coming out of the scene are equally as relevant as bands twice their age.

The next all ages gig at Bar Amp hosted by Designer Magazine is on Friday, July 11, which will see the Mandigans launch their debut album - tickets available from Bar Amp early June. Check www.myspace.com/baramp for updates