Milton Keynes band rally to support Musicians Against Homelessness

The man who gave the Gallagher Brothers a record deal has teamed up with Milton Keynes artists as part of his new campaign against homelessness.
It's a subject close to Alan McGee too, and the Creation Records founder has slept rough in the past.


Using music to make a positive difference was a no brainer.


This weekend, venues in Newport Pagnell will be throwing open their doors and putting MK artists on the stage under the banner of Musicians Against Homelessness.
Monies raised will swell the coffers of the homeless charity, Crisis.


Things get started on Friday night (September 23) at The Royal British legion with The Dead Heartbeats hosting the launch event.


Then on Saturday (September 24), Adam Ficek (pictured) a former Babyshamble-r, will be back on home soil at Newport's Working Men's Club. He's on early though; the in-demand fella is also being called on for a London date the same day.
But he wanted in for this special show, so you'll catch him at 5pm.


Others appearing at the WMC, The Unionist Club and The Coachmakers Arms on the day will include Mad Mods & Englishmen, The Wah Wah Club and Little Liam.
The bill of plenty also features The Shamed, Colony, Salt, Tony Hill, Ross Conner, Lead Shot Hazard, The King Zoots, Project Noise and Apple Shift Seven.
But there's plenty more too: The Stone Thieves, Treacherous Dogs, Starlings & Sparrows, Santini, Curtis Ersser, Final Clearance, Manny Ademolu, Ian Roberts, Craig Hudson, Kasia Wardman, The Hallows and Rise Bailey Rise.


And on top of that lot, DJ sets will come from Scissors, Mark Stevenson and Adam Jarman.


It's quite the bill, and there's no silly-billy prices here.
Instead, you get a cheap time out, and the charity takes the cash.


“I am delighted that bands of this calibre want to be part of this campaign,” Alan McGee said.
“The support in Newport Pagnell and Milton Keynes has been tremendous and inspiring and it's fantastic to see so many come forward to take part.
“Although our primary concern is to combat the scourge of homelessness it is vital that the MAH gigs also give up-and-coming bands a chance to play to larger audiences.”
“We are trying to build a new wave of opportunities for young bands...due to the eternal gentrification of big cities we are losing music venues all over the country.

"Without these venues what chance will new bands, especially working class bands, ever have of gaining the oxygen of experience and learning to refine their craft?” he asks.


“Inner city redevelopment is killing the next generation of musicians, and very soon the working class artists will be written out of the narrative of rock n roll music.
“Hopefully as well as raising a large amount for Crisis, this project will give a lot of new bands a chance to play and to exist in a place where they can all shine on.”


Local musician Steve Wells, from Colony, is the man responsible for harnessing all the talents who are playing for you this weekend.
“It's looking like an amazing event, the first year of many in support of Crisis, as we do our part to tackle the senseless issue of homelessness in 2016,” he said.

Tickets are £2 per person at The Cannon and WMC, or grab a weekend ticket that will get you in to all the venues, all of that time, for £10.
Visit www.wegottickets.com/mahgigsbucks

The weekend will wrap up at The Craufurd Arms in Wolverton which is showing the Britpop Musical Girl From Mars. Support will come from The Relights and Euan Emerton.
More about that on www.totalmk.co.uk tomorrow.