Brighton and London in April?
Scotland in May?
Festivals?
Germany in August?
... nothing confirmed yet, so watch this space
**** AWARDS AWARDS AWARDS!!! ****
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
...rock!
Cinema run:
Reviews:
Brentwood Theatre, Brentwood, 15 Nov.
Great gig, great crowd, great merch sales... made even greater
by Craig's "Praise the Load" tattoo (see above!)
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.
Keswick Film Festival, 13th Feb
On our way up the M6 heading for Cumbria, in the middle of
winter in the back of a freezing cold van, I'm thinking to myself, "It
better be worth it"....
We'd never seen so many cushions in a holiday cottage - we
were certainly going to be comfortable! And Anne and everyone at the
Film Festival got the beers in... so far so good!
Good crowd for the film - would anyone come to the gig at the rugby
club?....
It was packed! Filling a venue so far away from home where we didn't
know anyone was incredible - we felt like indie legends! People had
come up from Liverpool and down from Scotland just to see us, all totally
up for it. And we played a great gig too - airing for the first time
a new track called "Shut It" (listing in true Heavy Load style
everyone we think really ought to shut their faces) also the beginnings
of a new one called "Sexy Film" came about during the sound
check... ooh sexy, sexy film.
Was it worth it?... TOTALLY
ICA, London 1st October
flashback...arriving in the lobby to see our
incredible yellow film poster... Paul on the edge, imploding and tearing
a calf muscle... press calls... Channel 4 News interview... huge applause...
Q&A's... Simon out amongst the audience, "What do you want
to ask me?"... friends and family... and Sham 69... hugs and warmth
in the bar... Luminous Frenzy, very dark, very big, immense... The Load
taking to the stage... huge crowd... huge encore... huge fun!... Jim
cooler than cool... Simon on cockroach duty... Michael salutes the crowd...
Sham 69... legends of the punk era... a storming set... and us joining
them on stage for "If the kids are united"... Paul waving
his crutch... me, Si and Michael on the mic... Can it get any better
than this?...
Bethnal
Green Community Festival,London6th
Sept Supporting The Blockheads!
This band have touched the zeitgeist taking punk rock full circle. They
embody the fun, give it a go and piss in the face of convention, mentality
of the movement that took the 1970s by storm. They keep it real because
of who they are. Punk started with the Ramones and other
bands who exploited the idea of doing a parody of learning disabled
people. And now we have a learning disabled band parodying the Ramones.
They do a song about going to the USA which is a direct steal.
Heavy Load are going from strength to strength - launching their film
at the ICA and being asked to support The Blockheads. Way to go!
Colin Hambrook, Disability Arts
The film wins The Audience Award @ BritDocs!! and The Load play a blinder....
You know you've arrived when your band's personal assistant
introduces herself as you pull up at the venue. The only thing missing
was the blue smarties and the crate of Jack...
The film got a massive cheer at the screening, and the Q&A'shad all the randomness that comes with The Load. It was looking
good for the awards that night...
We'd never seen Jerry looking so intense as we all sat waiting for the
results. And then there he is, collecting the Audience Award from Larry
Charles, the guy who directed Seinfeld and
Curb Your Enthusiasm. Fantasic!!We're
all feeling really proud, and it's not even our film! Thanks for everything
Jerry and Al - it's amazing what's happened.
The gig at the bar went down a treat - full of mad women in the mosh
pit. Simon joined them at one point, and was later
boasting about getting a snog off someone... High point was Jerry and
Al joining us on backing vocals for "We're in a film".
Thanks for having us BritDocs! And a special thanks to Hanna and Amelia.
Where do you start? This was always going to be an amazing
trip, but it went way beyond our expectations...
It started at T5 in Heathrow and a sighting of Duran Duran Duran Duran's
Mr Le Bon. Simon asked him if he wanted an autograph, but he feined
disinterest...
Barker wasted no time on the flight and got chatting up the BA stewardesses.
One 'lovely lady' asked what we were all up to, so we told her, and
Simon says, "You can throw your knickers at me!". From that
point on we were treated like the superstars that we are. I got a hard
time because a 'lovely gentleman' took a shine. Who cares? It's nice
that anyone fancies you, isn't it... and I got a shed load of gin miniatures!!
Dumped our bags at the hotel and headed downtown to find where we'd
be playing the next night; Arlene's Grocery is everything
you'd want from a sweaty NY grunge club - we couldn't wait! In fact
it was so cool we stopped there, had some beers and stayed up
late.
The film was really well received at the screening at DisThis
the next day, and it was followed by a Q&A session with us and Jerry.
It was starting to sink in... here we were, in NY, holding up our Stay
Up LateUSA banner at a full house, getting
'psychoed up' for the gig at Arlene's...
The gig was wild man! 4
Wheel City kicked things off with a killin' Hip Hop set
about the reality of guns, adjusting to life in a wheelchair and falling
in love with your care assistant. Major cool dudes who love their Moms.
We did our usual stuff... but we were on fire, inspired by our journey
so far and the warmth of everybody we've met. We were "demons",
"pumas", and we were playing our set with the energy and passion
that can only come from a true punk band. Simon was stripped to the
waiste, anarchic and very sweaty; Jim looked like he'd stepped out of
the Velvet Underground with his newly aquired fly sunglasses, and he
couldn't stop smiling! Michael was serious man, and hit those muthas
with untold power. Paul... solid, happy. Me? VERY happy!
Thanks Lawrence from DisThis
and Catherine for helping to make this all come true!! We love you.
The barmaid loved our set, and helped get us on our way... after that
it got very messy....
Next morning we were at WBAI Radio giving an interview
and playing some of our tracks off the new album. Each of us had something
to say, can't remember what we said, but we were relieved to leave the
building without a huge fine for any profanities. Thank god for 5 second
delays and mute buttons... Mr Barker!
The 'lovely ladies' at
IFC,
Christine and Electra, treated us to to a slap-up lunch
in front of BIG screens for the Germany V Portugal match... heaven!
Followed by a tour of Manhatten in a BIG white limo. Some of life's
memories will sadly be lost in the ether of time, but not these... Brooklyn
Bridge to the sound of "Farty Animals" (hefartlastnight, hefartlastnight),
Morgan's musical limo chairs...
Sightseeing and photo-calls in Times Square, standing next to the mural
of Joe Strummer, getting off the plane with our guitars, staggering
home with Michael (it's always the drummer isn't it?)...
Morgan, we love having you 'round man - thanks for being with us and
bringing your camera!!!
Big New York medals of honnor to the bravest support workers we've had
the pleasure to have known... Chris, Ian and Laura..... Now pull your
fingers out and do some work.
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