The Freebutt, a place of music history that has played a significant part in the growth of the music scene in Brighton.  A place of history that has found a place in the hearts of bands and fans alike, from Kaiser Chiefs, Foals, Steve Lamacq and Sub Pop to NME and Bella Union.  Once again it is threatened with closure, to help and read more click here.

Hot on the smoking tail of that announcment comes the news that another Brighton venue, The Engine Rooms, might also be closing.  Unlike the Freebutt that has had the problem of noise hanging over it, the Engine Rooms has been an alternative and metal club hub for years.   Tucked away in the basement of 5 Preston Street, this club doesent lack character but now its brash past may be all but memories as the closure looms. click here to show some support.

With the loss in recent years of Brighton Barfly and the Pressure Point, where is the future of Brighton music venues?

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Us and Them have pulled out of our May 1st gig and quite possibly played their last gig together as Adam Roffey has left the band.  Adam their bassist since the beginning has joined other Crawley band Press To Meco while Us and Them’s current drummer is away touring with Bury Tommorrow as their merch guy.

All is not lost though as we have called upon Matt Garland aka Forever A Fraud.  The Former Blue Sky Summer guitartist is performing his solo material in what is a debut in Crawley.  On the bill with former band mate Liam Bashford once drummer of BSS and now a member of In The Long Run, this is surely worth checking out.

Check out our Events page for more info

Once again some of the hottest talent in the music industry are set to grace the south coast this May with Chase & Status, Broken Social Scene, Marina and The Diamonds and Ellie Goulding amoungst the first group of acts announced for the Brighton festival, see more here

Through no fault of their own, Small Print opened the proceeding with their first track to what seemed to be one man and his dog that had wondered in to see what was happening.
Their set was nothing more or less than they needed, a well rehearsed and entertaining performance.

As the night continued with Heroes Vs Villains, a band reminiscent of last years winners A Day After Tomorrow.  Eyes, an electronic 3 piece that (played without the 4^th member female vocalist Charlotte Savage) were a pleasant act.  It did seem that they slowed the pace of the night like taking the scrabble board away from the pensioners at the old peoples home, leaving them to just sleep.   This does not mean they aren’t talented as they would sit better in a Brighton or London club, complimenting a larger band, just not in a Crawley school.

Anubis we’re what seemed like the veterans of the show with their classic rock/metal music breathing life back into a weary audience.  This however wasn’t on of their better performances with lacklustre lead vocals over somewhat chaotic and uncharacteristic tracks.

The Mirrors from East Grinstead were the outsiders on the night in the penultimate slot.  Leaving Dizzy Tales up last with their Babyshambles/Libertines inspired jingle jangle indie.  These guys have definitely improved started going to BIMM and that seemed clear in their performance.

All that was required now was the results.  As this was the first year that the audience have received a vote it needed a few minutes to count up the scores which revealed that Small Print and Dizzy Tales would progress through to the final.

As which every BOTB across the country and indeed world, their were divided opinions as to whether or not that was the right result.

Lets see what heat 2 brings!

The Small Print – www.myspace.com/thesmallprintuk
Eyes – www.myspace.com/eyesuk
Heroes Vs Villains – www.myspace.com/todaysoceantomorrowsflood
Last Time Hero – www.myspace.com/lasttimehero
Anubis – www.myspace.com/anubisuk
Mirrors – www.myspace.com/mirrorsbanduk
Dizzy Tales – www.myspace.com/dizzytales

Heat 2 – Saturday 13th Feb

Mass with a Herbivore – www.myspace.com/masswithaherbivore
The Dead Summer – www.myspace.com/thedeadsummer
This Means War – www.myspace.com/thismeanswarband
Prime Addiction
Picture the Betrayal – www.myspace.com/picturethebetrayal
Raising Maise – www.myspace.com/raisingmaisie
Flight School Academy – www.myspace.com/flightschoolacademy

Heat 3 – Saturday 20th Feb

Six Time Champion – www.myspace.com/sixtimechampion
Drop Out Luke – www.myspace.com/dropoutlukeonline
Lights of Paris – www.myspace.com/lightsofparis
And the Caution Horses
Zero Killed – www.myspace.com/zerokilledok
Smile from a Stranger – www.myspace.com/sfasuk
He’s a Bear – www.myspace.com/hesabearuk

All heats are at South Hall, Hazelwick School, Crawley, 6pm, £3

Either way this competition, in whatever spirit or standard it is produced will hopefully breath fresh life into a town to drunk to find its way or to remember the good times.

The heats are on 6th, 13th and 20th with the final on 27th Feb 2010, all in the South Hall at Hazelwick, 6:30pm.  There is also an acoustic final on 14th March in the  Hawth Studio, Crawley at 6:30pm.

You can find out more about the competition via Facebook, Myspace or the Website.

Brightons music showcase is preparing for another year with tickets and reistration open.  You can find more info via the links below.

Tickets
http://www.escapegreat.com/buyTickets/

Artist registration
http://www.escapegreat.com/artistRegistration/

Until next time