What a cracking night! And a hot one too... you could see the sweat
running down the walls! Camden
Calling are a great group of people who help homeless and vulnerable
people access the arts and music scene in London... and take them out
for a pint now and then. This was one of their legendary club nights
at The Enterprise in Camden... with superb sets from Dee Kay and the
stunning Priscillas (we need a look!)among others... we had to do the
business!! It's always been one of my musical ambitions to win over
a packed Camden pub... and we were cooking (quite literally!) Highlight
for me was seeing complete strangers singing along to "We Love
George Michael". Simon, out amongst the audience as usual, had
his crack out, and is now threatening to remove his trousers... save
it for Copenhagen mate! Two girls came over after and said hello, "You
were even better than when we saw you at the Keswick Rugby Club"...
how bloody cool is this... an audience that follows us from Cumbria
to Camden, and sings along to the hits!!!!
Stay Up Late Scotland Tour, May 2010
Glasgow G2, 19th May
Edinburgh Roxy, 20th May
Sterling Tolbooth, 21st May
We were met off the plane by Keith, John Paul and Dougie from C-Change,
sporting their "Stay Up Late Scotland" t-shirts.... a meticulously
planned mini tour with a few other bits to do...and the t-shirts looked
fab!
First stop was Glasgow and the G2 - great venue, BIG sound and fantastic
crowd. Many words of support after from people who found us "inspiring"
and "fooking awesome!"
On our way to Edinburgh, we stopped to do an interview for C-Change
videos - talking about what we do and promoting the SUL campaign. Then
a presentation to a group of local service users and staff - very random,
as per usual. Most people liked what we were saying about the campaign
- however, one staff member didn't seem to get it though and said, "That's
all very well, but I need to finish by 10pm." ... some way to go,
we feel...
A quick sightsee of the beautiful town of Edinburgh, and it was on to
The Roxy for a sound check. We were pointed towards a curry house attached
to the local mosque, and we feasted for under a fiver... lovely!
Gig was great, and a truly memorable set from Brainstorm who had only
got together a couple of weeks earlier - a real happy and UP vibe on
stage - watch out for them - they're SPECIAL!! Also great were The Hotliners,
one of the many top bands you can find on the Wild Things compilations
- released by Heavy Load on "Get In Or Get Out" records...
nice
Simon was getting some regular girl attention after the gig, however
her mum and sister were standing over her like bouncers, and were clearly
cramping his style... Brainstorm tried to get us out clubbing, but forgot
we're no "boy" band (Stay Up Late my arse!) A few beers after
and we were off to bed... it's a young man's game this!!
Next morning we stopped off at Brainstorm's hang out for a jam. High
lights were some very bad versions of Honky Tonk Woman and Move It.
One of their lead singers really wanted to do some Tom Jones, so he
wasn't too impressed...
Last stop was The Tolbooth at Sterling where the film was shown, followed
by a gig. The small but very enthusiastic crowd helped to make a perfect
end to one of the Load's best ever experiences. Thanks so much Keith,
John Paul, Dougie, Hannah and Natalie for a great time... we're coming
back!!
No Limits Festival, Berlin, 25 Oct.
The Load in Berlin... how amazing is that!?! We got to our hotel on
the Friday so we had the whole weekend to enjoy the city. We were in
Mitte, in the old East Berlin, just round the corner from the festival,
and in a very cool area with loads of cafes, interesting shops and a
flea market to explore.... and every morning we were treated to a harp
player over breakfast.... nice!
Our first job for the weekend, after staying up very late and enjoying
'The
Freak and The Showgirl', was a photo shoot outside the Reichstag
holding up the Stay Up Late banner with our guitars. Great shots from
Morgan, and a new Jim/burlesque inspired tune composed on the steps
- "Lovely Ladies"... nice. The next day we found an accordian
at the local flea market going for a song, and the perfect sound for
our new tune...
Some more shows, some more bars and some more beers, and it was our
turn to do some work. Our gig was the end of festival party, and everyone
there was up for a big night. There was definately something in the
air - I think we all had a feeling it was going to be a wild one, but
it went way beyond. Simon spent most of the gig singing amongst the
crowd and being sprayed in true punk style with beer and water. The
dance floor turned into an ice rink and he was on his back sliding up
and down with mic in hand - You can't get more punk!!! Mat and Julie
joined us for 'I Fought the Law', and more beer spraying, and by the
time it came to finish, the crowd wouldn't let us get off the stage.
Friendly complaints came later from the organisers - apparently we hadn't
played very long, and they were used to bands playing till dawn. I quickly
pointed out they had just got our best ever performance, so 'Shut It'.
Si's support worker, Mark, said it was THE best gig he had ever been
to, and was later telling everyone, "I support him!" Michael
saved the day an hour or so later, and did an impromptu drum solo, and
earned himself a solo(!)gig with Mat
Fraser and Julie
Atlas Muz - apparently they're going to do a drum-off with some
added burlesque routines.... god help us!
Said it before, but... can it get any better than this?
Thanks Mark and Claire for joining in the fun, and get well soon Palmer.
Bethnal
Green Community Festival,London6th
Sept Supporting The Blockheads!
The Load pick up Broadcast Now Diversity Award
for the film "Heavy Load" (presented to Met Films)
Alan Carr gets some Heavy Love...
.. and Paul and the misses do some serious ligging
AND... we also won a DADA
Community Arts Award (presented to the band)
DaDa
are a fantastic and innovative disability arts organisation based in
the North West of England - we were lucky enough to play at the DADA
Fest 2008 in Liverpool. This is amazing for us, and great recognition
to win this award.
Thanks to everyone for voting for us - we're over the moon!!
*** Wild Things Volume 2
- OUT NOW!!***
Following the success of last year’s CD ‘Wild Things
– sounds of the disabled underground Vol.1’ we’ve
decided to bring out Volume 2. This time it's a double
CD and features artists from all over the world. We're really excited
about this one - some incredible tunes!
This release is again on our own ‘Get In Or Get Out’
record label, and all proceeds will go towards furthering the work of
our Stay Up Late campaign (please see www.stayuplate.org
for more details). Greenbelt
Festival have helped to sponsor this release through the
Trust Greenbelt initiative.
The Stay
Up Latecampaign is really gathering momentum and international
support - click the logo and check what's happening in your area, and
find out how you can get involved. If you want to Stay
Up Late, get in touch with us - we've got loads of leaflets
and green cards you can use to tell your support staff when you're planning
your next big night out.
Get Us...
Rosetti
sponsors Heavy Load with Adam Black guitars
JJ
Hudson sponsors Heavy Load with catwalk T Shirts
Have a look at our My Space page. Not only can you
hear a selection of our tunes, but you can also meet our strange friends
from all over the world. It's a strange world, isn't it....?
Wild
Things
Sounds of the disabled underground Vol.2
Double CD featuring 37 artists with
learning disabilities From all over the world!
This is a WILD listen
£10
DVD now available!
£10.00
Region 2 (UK and Europe)
includes:
Theatrical Trailer
Extra Scenes:
Jim and the Boar
Lost Backstage
Southern Counties Radio
Tent
Beautiful Colours
Meeting the Levellers
The 'Load Take New York
Interviews with Director and Band
Extra Songs: Frank Butcher & Farty Animals
Photo Gallery
Info about Stay Up Late
Scene Selection
Audio 5.1 mix
Audio Description & Subtitles for Hard of Hearing
Winner of Britdoc Audience Award
2008
FRONT
BACK
"Praise the Load"
Brown
£12
FRONT
BACK
"Stay Up Late"
Prairy Dust
£12.00
"Stay
Up Late"
Black
£12.00
FRONT
BACK
Shut
It
Album Track listing:
Flashing
Lights
Farty Animal
Stay Up Late
Oh Nicole
Bruce Forsyth
USA
We're all in a film
Yeah Yeah Yeah
Counting Screws
When will we get paid?
We love George Michael
£5.00
Also
available on download @ iTunes
Morgan
White's stunning photographic book documenting our rise to
notoriety is now available to buy. With comments and stories from
the band, and Dunners' graphics, it's the only coffee table book you'll
want!
Wild
Things
Sound of the disabled underground Vol.1
1.That's a beautiful Thing
Vanessa Ryan and Kick Me Ugly
2.Stand Up
Beat Express
3.Planets
Catherine O'Rourke
4.Dr Who
Dele Fakoya
5.Friends
The 1st Chancers
6.Farty Animal
Heavy Load
7.Watching People
Firestone Rock Band
8.Alphabet
Dean Rawat
9.Striptease Roadway
Martin Russon
10.Closed Door
William Slack
11.Spanner Spirit
Time Spanners
12.Dance On, full circle
The Coasters
13.Gravy Train
The Unknown Band
14.Onion Breath
Ellen Goodey
15.Cats
Soundwave
16.Forever is my destiny
The Heroes
£5.00
Queen Mother's Dead
Album Track listing:
Heavy Load Theme*
Be Bop A Lula
Can't get you out of my head
Batman
Frank Butcher*
Friends and Family*
Psycho
I see you baby
TOTP*
I fought the law
Wild thing / Louie Louie
The Queen Mother's Dead*
Only available at gigs
although tracks marked *
are available on download @ iTunes