Double the fun at venues

Jul 14 2008 by Katie Campling, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

ECCENTRIC English indie popsters Tiny Dancers and Italian punk group Sorry-Ok-Yes are heading for Huddersfield.

Tiny Dancers are probably the most exciting thing to come out of the wilderness between Doncaster and Wakefield – an area known more for its coal than creativity.

So what will you hear when you hear Tiny Dancers? Distinctly British 60s pop melodies with close harmonies, memorable guitar riffs, touches of country rock, of techno-funk and post-punk innovation. They’ve created a sound that’s impossible to pigeonhole since forming in February 2005.

They all began forming bands at around 12 or 13, as an escape from the abandoned collieries, rubble and unemployment.

Manchester was as distant as LA for these guys growing up, so they made do with the local Miners Welfare Club as a gig venue.

After trying out jobs and university, music remained a passion and once they joined forces, talking music, discussing influences and playing a lot of Beach Boys albums.

“In other bands, I never really felt that comfortable,” says their charismatic singer, David Kay. “But this time something just clicked. It was the music I always wanted to make.”

Despite the serious surroundings of their upbringing, Tiny Dancers are as playful as the name suggests. Not for them depressing social commentary or sarcasm - just plenty of balloons, glitter, which looks great on stage but causes one or two problems in the van!

David said: “We were always looking outwards. We weren’t interested in social commentary. I never really wanted to sound like anyone else. I never analysed records and fretted over them. We’re obviously influenced by certain bands and artists, but it’s more about how they looked and what they did, not by any particular sounds or styles.”

Supporting them at the Duvel Live Sessions on July 18 will be Ten Bears and Little Tremors. Ten Bears were the winners of the Glastonbury ‘new tent’ last year and are a band on the up. As are Little Tremors. These guys have A and R men fighting over them like gladiators, so if you want to catch them at an intimate gig you had better get yourself to the Peacock Lounge while they are still the industry’s hot new secret.

Find out more at www.thetinydancers.com or www.myspace.com/tinydancers.

They are at Huddersfield’s Peacock Lounge in Viaduct Street on Friday. Tickets for the 7.30pm gig cost £15 and can be bought from the venue, nearby sister bar Sleepers or via www.ticketline.co.uk.

Sorry-Ok-Yes come from Tuscany and their synths, guitars, vocals and drums combine to create their unique sound which has won them fans everywhere since the group formed in 2006.

Initially they had no joy with Italian music fans. It was only when their talents were revealed to Britain via Myspace that they began to take off.

It seems there is a dearth of live music venues in Italy – not a problem the band found when they began playing in places such as London and found themselves hot property.

They signed to Wigan indie label WiT Records and have played more than 50 shows in a year – 20 of which were in the UK, including support slots with The Futureheads and Hot Gossip.

But what do they sound like? Well, think of The Kinks updated for the 21st century and you’re nearly there – danceable music with no frills. If you still can’t imagine it, get their first single, which came out on WiT in June.

Or check out their now famous Myspace at www.myspace.com/sorryokyes.

Joining the Italian teenagers at the Vedett Live and Uncut night at Sleepers will be Rotherham boys White Circus Fever.

The foursome formed last year and since then have played 50 gigs in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and almost every nook and cranny of Sheffield.

They are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for musical success and have already created 50 tracks, committing 12 to record at 2Fly Studios in Sheffield.

A quick listen will show you that their intention is to combine driving melodies with lyrics that reflect a thinking man’s fight, taking on the country one step at a time.

It’s music to provoke thoughts – of course, they want you to have a good time while you’re at it!

Find out more about them and hear their music at http://www.myspace.com/whitecircusfever.

They play Sleepers on Wednesday. Tickets for the 7pm gig cost £5 and are available from Sleepers or The Peacock Lounge.