Musicians Against Homelessness fundraiser was at Rough Trade in Nottingham
Music mogul Alan McGee, responsible for discovering Oasis, launched the nationwide campaign earlier this year and it carries support from a host of top names from The Buzzcocks to Shaun Ryder. Not only has he launched the campaign, he has helped source talent with his latest managed act Alias Kid headlining tonight’s show.
Performing first were Nottingham-based Smith & Groves who played a stripped back acoustic folk set which set the tone nicely for the night of music ahead. Touted as a duo, the pair were accompanied by a third member hitting an improvised wooden drum which added an extra dimension and value to an already gifted musical pairing.
Next on stage were The Ruffs, the Hucknall based indie band who have become stalwarts of the Nottingham music scene over the last 18 months. Upping the ante a little bit, the four-piece band brought heavy riffs and party anthems to the stage, showing why they are not an act to be missed. It is still early days for the young band but on this evidence they will be around for some time.
Manchester's Alias Kid
Nick Aslam is often regarded as one of the best up-and-coming singer songwriters in the country and he brought his Rebel City Revival to the show. It is clear to see why Nick has received so much adulation recently as his voice carries through the packed room, and his band match the performance to perfection.
With every act the volume appears to increase along with the excitement levels and everyone was in full Friday mode by the time Alias Kid took to the stage. Anticipation was high for these boys as they continued to set the world alight this year and they did not disappoint during their powerful and tenacious set. It seems easy to make comparisons to Oasis, with the obvious link between the two bands however you can see the influence the legendary band have had on Alias Kid throughout the set. What the boys have managed to do so well is find the tried and tested method such iconic bands have used, but also differentiate it to make it their own unique style. This was evident throughout the set and shows why they have been so successful across the UK and afar.
It was a hugely successful night and judging by the size of the audience raised a lot of money for an incredibly worthy cause. It was a cracking line-up with organiser Alan McGee stating “I am delighted that young bands of this calibre want to be part of this campaign. The support in Nottingham has been tremendous and inspiring and it’s fantastic to see so many come forward to take part.”
To donate to the Crisis in support of Musicians Against Homelessness text MAH to 70004 to give £3 to Crisis.
Musicians Against Homelessness was at Rough Trade Nottingham on Friday 23 September 2016.
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