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LIVE REVIEW & EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW SPECIAL

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Hello...

BeX

Stoke Rocks! Magazine11A Hill StreetStoke-on-trent

ST4 1NLTel: 01782 384730

www.stokerocksmag.com

Editor:

Becky Davis

beckydavis@stokerocksmag.com

Contributors:

Becky Davis

Dan Fallows

Lee Barber

Photos:

Becky Davis

Paul Briscoe

Tom Pepper

Daniel Rowlands

Cover photo:Tom Shaw of Sworn To Oath

taken by Becky Davis

The contents of this magazine may not bereprinted or reproduced without proir

written permission from the editor. All rights reserved.

Competition terms and conditions: Theprize is as stated and no cash alternative

can be given. The winner will be notifiedby email or phone. The editor’s decision is

final. Entrants must be aged 14 and over.

HELLO

MAY 2012 3

@StokeRocks

www.facebook.com/stokerocks

I am very pleased to welcome you to the first issue of StokeRocks! Magazine! Stoke-on-Trent has a fantastic music sceneand great local music venues such as The Sugarmill, whichwas voted the Midlands Best Small Venue in NME. Here atStoke Rocks we write about and champion local rock music,local rock bands and promote relevant local events and clubnights. This is a magazine written by local Stokies for localStokies!

In this very first issue we have an exclusive interview withlocal band metal giants Sworn To Oath where we take a lookat the progress they have made over the past year and find outwhat their future plans are.

This issue also features a variety of live reviews, CD reviews,the latest music news and a fantastic competition where onelucky winner will receive a pair of tickets to see Hadouken!play live at the Sugarmill.

Take a look at page 7 for our ‘Band of the Month’ feature whothis month are alternative rockers The Hiding Place.

We also explore club nights across the city, digging out thebest ones for you rock, metal or indie fans scoring them out offive on value for money and quality of music and venue.

Not forgetting our features on the top five recording softwarewith Dan Fallows and Radicals Rising radio show run by LeeBarber at Six Towns Radio.

Please enjoy reading and I’ll see you next month.

Keep on rocking Stoke!

FOLLOW US ON

www.theacademyofsound.co.uk

16-22 Hillchurch Street,Stoke-on-Trent,Staffordshire, ST1 2EXTel:01782 205100 we are here

The Casino Brawl call it quits.

The Hiding Place.

Tell us what you think.

Live gig & CD reviews.

Find out what we love and

hate this month.

Exclusive interview with Sworn

To Oath.

The best places for band practice.

Want to write for us?

Radicals Rising radio show.

The best recording programmes.

Where to rock your socks off.

All upcoming live

shows.

Need a job? Look no further.

Win tickets to see Hadouken!

MAY 2012 5

CONTENTS

NEWS

ARE TO PLAY STOKE ONTHEIR FAREWELL TOUR THIS MONTH...

THE CASINO BRAWL

MAXIMO PARK

Northern post-hardcore rockers TheCasino Brawl perform their

penultimate show at the Underground,saving their last ever show for closer tohome in Newcastle. TCB have been together for five years andhave undergone many line-up changes. Itwasn’t until lead vocalist Jonny Fergusonand guitarist/backing vocalist Adam Ridley left last year it finally took its tollon the band, as in any band they are thetwo key band members to lose. Followingthe loss of two of their members TCBwent quiet for a while, postponed liveshows and decided to write new materialfocusing more on a metal influencedsound. Last November (2010) TCB were due toplay at the Underground but had to postpone their show due to line-upchanges. TCB have built up a strong following in stoke over the years whenthey’ve played here while touring. Whenthe band announced they were going tocall it quits, it left many disappointedStoke fans. Since they postponed theirshow they promised to return to Stoke.

The remarkable MaximoPark have announced that

they are to perform an intimateshow at The Sugarmill here inStoke-on-Trent.The five-piece will be returningto The Sugarmill on TuesdayMay 8. This is to be one of only two intimate shows announced aswarm up gigs ahead of their‘Great Escape’ headline tour. The last time the Newcastleindie rockers performed at TheSugarmill was extraordinaryand we hope that they will pulloff another fantastic sold outshow that will overpower the

previous and take over as thebest show to ever go down inThe Sugarmill and Stoke-on-Trent’s live music history.Maximo Park are Brit-rock giants that have been together12 years with three albumsunder their belt and another(The National Health) soon to be released on June 11 this year.The Sugarmill are thrilled towelcome them back such asuccessful and massive band. Tickets are available for purchase direct from The Sugarmill as well as from SeeT ickets and Music Mania.Facebook.com/maximopark

Source: www.mypsace.com/thecasinobrawl

Source: Flickr

MAY 2012 6

HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE PLAYING STOKE SUGARMILL AS PART OFTHEIR TWO INTIMATE SHOWS IN THE UK.

BOTM

THE HIDING PLACE

Alternative rockers The HidingPlace have had a great year so

far and are aiming for “bigger andbetter” things say frontman Dominic Webber.The band – completed by guitaristsOli Fencott and Jonny Wood, bassistRich Lockett and drummer JoeBarber – are currently working on

writing new material for a potentialnew EP.

Last year the band was nominated forthe Six Towns Radio ‘Best LocalBand’ award and was also chosen tofeature on the Wolf At Your DoorRecords unsigned showcase. “This year is about moving forwardand seeing what comes next. Beingchosen to feature on The Wolf AtYour Door Records showcase was agreat publicity boost for us” addsWebber.

The five-piece have been workinghard since they first formed back inearly 2010. They’ve been playing livetogether as a band for a year and ahalf now, forming a couple of monthsprior to that. Vocalist Dom Webberand drummer Joe Barber were in another band previously but wanted anew direction. Everyone is the bandis doing a Music Technology or MusicProducing course at Universitybut that’s completely coincidental asthey claim to have met through thelocal music scene.

The Hiding Place have come a longway since they first got together atband practice, they used to singthrough guitar amps at the beginning.They are now in a good routine of rehearsing twice a week and that’sstandard for the band, as well as always pushing their social media

presence. “Everything now justcomes natural to us” continues Webber. They admit that since theirguitarist Oli Fencott joined the bandthings just got “better and better” forthem, “it carried on the ball rollingand we’re having a great time! Biggerand better, that’s how I always aspireto be, always push things to the nextlevel” Webber says.

The band plan to do a small tour thisyear, make sure to go see them live asthey are definitely ones to watch outfor.

For fans of:Thrice and Brand NewListen to: ‘Popular Myths’Go see: See them live at Stone Music Festival July 14 this year.More info: Facebook.com/thehidingplace

MAY 2012 7

Photo by Tom Pepper

Pictured from left to right: Joe Barber (drums), Oli Fencott (guitar), Dom Webber (vocals), Jonny Wood (guitar) and Rich Fencott (bass).

Tonight The Underground bids

farewell to Post-hardcore rockers

The Casino Brawl, a band that will

be dearly missed by many fans in

Stoke. Sadly, the number of people in

the Underground are lacking tonight.

But perhaps that is because The

Casino Brawl have lost numerous

fans since their line-up change last

year or maybe purely because it is a

Sunday night gig. TCB however do

not let the attendance deter them from

playing and singing their hearts out.

Those who did join TCB for a final

goodbye were thoroughly enjoying

themselves by moshing and 2-step-

ping along to the breakdowns of their

songs and some members of the

crowd were even grabbing the mic off

vocalist Warby and screaming the

lyrics themselves. TCB play a mix-

ture of old school songs from their EP

(Save Your Self From The Gates Of

Hell) including the EP title track and

‘Re-Enact’, as well as crowd

favourites from their debut album

(Shades, Directions) such as ‘The

Cause and the Definite Effect’ and ‘L

Is For Liars’. The band disappear

shortly and when they return for an

encore Warby dedicates their last

song ‘Into The Light’ to their

ex-vocalist Jonny Ferguson who he

announces as a recently ‘married

man’. The band goes down a storm

with the few fans stood before them

and after the show the band posted on

Facebook: “Stoke tonight was

awesome. Thanks so much for the

great send off and incredible support

over the years. We love you TCB”.

THE CASINO BRAWL@ The Underground 06/11/2011

SWORN TO OATHPLUS: Nameless, Mordecai & S.L.U.G@ The Sugarmill23/03/2012

REVIEWS

Crowd members singing along and reaching out to vocalist Warby.

Sworn to Oath guitarist Dave Leese.

The Sugarmill welcomes a night ofheavy rock and metal from a four

band line-up and Stoke-on-Trent metallers Sworn To Oath as headliners. Moments after the doors open S.L.U.Gtake to the stage, a four piece Stoke-On-Trent outfit with fast pacedguitars. But the band lacks in stagepresence, vocalist Steve Milligan inparticular makes very little effort to engage with the crowd and fails to introduce the band to the crowd stood before him.Next up are Mordecai who are the

WORDS AND PHOTO:BECKY DAVIS

WORDS AND PHOTOS: BECKY DAVIS

MAY 201210

REVIEWSodd ones out this evening hailingfrom South London. Their sound isboisterous hard rock that has a strongAmerican influence and a heavy doseof guitar solos, you can tell that AlterBridge are a strong influence to theirsound. This band gel together incredibly well and encourage thecrowd to move forwards, closer to thestage.

Nameless are the main support actthis evening, another local band fromStoke-on-Trent. These youngstershave lots of energy, frontman JoshSutton is especially enthusiasticshowing off somewhat by runningaround the stage, getting up on thespeakers and singing while lying onthe floor. Their sound is very American rock n’ roll and they’reclearly very influenced by Americanrock bands like Guns n’ Roses andMetallica. Unfortunately the lead guitar is too loud and lead guitaristAdam Broadhurst has difficultieswith his guitar at one point duringtheir set, swapping from wireless to acable connection. Nonetheless thisfour-piece are a great and energeticband to warm up the crowd fortonight’s headliners.

The lights go down and finally headliners Sworn To Oath take tothe stage, opening with their singlethe catchy and punchy ‘Last Call’.Sworn to Oath have received a lot ofhype recently and have a strong fol-lowing in the West Midlands in par-ticular, and if you ever have theprivilege of seeing them perform liveyou will understand why. For just a three-piece band they have such a strongand fierce metal sound but with acatchy melodic side also. The crowdclearly love this local band and enjoysome moshing during the heavierbreakdowns of Sworn to Oath’ssongs. Time seems to fly by and before you know it they’re sayinggoodbye and concluding their setwith the song ‘Leave You For Dead’.Vocalist and Bassist Tom Shaw andguitarist Dave Leese encourage thecrowd to punch their fists in the air

and shout back the lyrics “leave youfor dead!” After the Sworn to Oathguys left the stage the crowd were leftwanting more and they begin chanting for an encore which sadlydoesn’t happen.

MAY 2012 11

Sworn to Oath vocalist/bassistTom Shaw.

S.L.U.G vocalist Steve Milligan.

Nameless lead guitarist Adam Broadhurst.

Mordecai vocalist/guitarist Dan M Hicks.

REVIEWS

MAY 201212

ALL THE YOUNGPLUS: The Control & The Get Alongs@ Keele University 24/03/2012WORDS AND PHOTOS:LEE BARBER

“ ” Thewails from the crowd were fierce and boisterous as thelocal heroes took to the stage. This was it. This was themoment. The moment music lovers in Stoke-on-Trent hadbeen patiently waiting for since Agent Blue’s explosivealbum ‘A Stolen Honda Vision’ was released back in2006. All The Young have come a very long way sincethose days of Fifth Action Shelter and New Education.Days of Agent Blue and Model Radio filling local venueThe Underground every week are very sadly gone, butmembers of these great bands from yesteryear were atKeele University to support their good friends tonight.Tonight. Tonight was never going to be just a gig, no - itwas always going to be much more than that for everyonethere. The fans, eagerly awaiting the release of All TheYoung’s debut album, ‘Welcome Home’, on 2nd April.The support bands, secretly hoping they could do theirheroic peers proud. Even the photographers, one of whichadmitted to be feeling nervous at the prospect of snappingAll The Young on home turf even though he himself wasfrom Liverpool. And the band members themselves, itwas clear from the moment they ventured out on stagethat they are still very much in love with the city thatraised them.As fans flocked in, The Get Alongs got the night off to atypically hectic start, with Shane Davis on perfect frontman form. Entertaining the crowd with his reckless style,which somewhat unbelievably still manages to accommodate his sunglasses, Shane and the lads morethan justified their place on the stage. All The Youngpersonally picked the supporting acts for tonight’s gig:after coming home and checking out some local gigs, theyhad been impressed with The Get Alongs’ style andprowess on stage. And The Get Alongs certainly didn’tlet their headlining peers down with tonight’s performance, and neither did second support band of thenight, The Control, with their unique up-beat and hightempo riffs impressing all present. As with Shane Davis,The Control front man Joseph Brennan-Hulme was up tohis usual tricks, feeding the crowd with awesome presence which blended greatly with the band’s tight set.And then it was almost time. The minutes seemed likehours as All The Young waited back stage and the fansstood with intense anticipation and beer in hand. The GetAlongs had got the crowd roaring with excitement and

now they were ready for this night of local brilliance to hita whole new height. The chants grew louder as the boystook to the stage, with immense pride filling the room.“ ”Here were four lads from Stoke-on-Trent who already thisyear have supported the Kaiser Chiefs on tour and playedat the incredible SXSW Festival in Texas, and now, withjust over one week to go before the release of their debutalbum, ‘Welcome Home’, All The Young had walked outfor their hometown gig to well-earned rapturous applause.The band was on superb form right from the off, giving aperformance that proved that this debut album tour wasjust the beginning of something huge.Front man Ryan Dooley - clad in trademark sunglasses,and wearing a raincoat that only true rock and roll starscan get away with on stage - provided amazing stage presence, as did his bass playing brother Jack and guitaristDave Cartwright, and least we forget the brilliance of WillHearney on drums. The Horizon, personal favouritealbum track for Ryan, went down a right treat (to use aslight Stoke twang), and is to be the fourth single to be released from the album. The song was also played at thebands acoustic set earlier in the afternoon, which, to thefans at that performance, gave a beautifully intimate slanton the song. During the acoustic set, Ryan had the misfortune of a string breakage during a song. “We’re getting the mistakes out the way now, and thenwe’ll be sound tonight.” Was the perfect response fromRyan, highlighting not only his calm attitude on stage buthis professionalism and wit also. And his statement wasmore than true to the word. Possibly the band’s biggestcrowd pleaser of the night, however, went to The FirstTime, with the crowd going a little crazy to say the veryleast. Also high on most people’s favourites was of courseWelcome Home, the track which first made All TheYoung realise that had formed something a bit more special than just another guitar band.Going into the final stretch of this passionate love-for-all-things-Stoke performance, Ryan pulls from the back ofthe stage a black T-shirt, on the front of which rests thewords ‘The only way is Oatcakes’. One given to eachmember by Oatcake Day organiser and 6 Towns Radiopresenter Terry Bosson’s, Ryan proudly showed off hisnew shirt in front of his hometown fans.

“This is for the hole in the wall.” He cries, a direct act of

REVIEWS

MAY 2012 13

pride for his beloved Stoke-on-Trent. Such a referenceonly goes to show you can take a band out of Stoke, butyou can’t take Stoke out of their hearts, with Ryan clearlypaying his respects to the last hole in the wall oatcakeshop, which is sadly to be closed this very weekend afteralmost one hundred years of business. All The Young’sstrong sense of pride ran deeply through the veins ofevery person at Keele University as they powered throughtheir set with unmatchable passion. If ever there was atime to see All The Young live, this was it. This was themoment. The moment four local lads dropped in on theirbeloved hometown ahead of their highly anticipated debutalbum release, and will set off once more having broughta great sense of pride back into the hearts of music loversin Stoke-on-Trent.

Frontman Ryan Dooley

lead guitarist David Cartwright

All The Young and their crowd at Keele University.

MAY 201216

COVER STARS

Photos courtesy of Paul Briscoe

Tom Shaw

Al Junior

Dave Leese

This stoke-based metal trio are blowing up the music

scene here in Stoke and are definitely a band to

check out live and have rightfully earned their place as

one of the most successful bands to emerge from the

local Stoke-on-Trent music scene.

For only a three-piece band they have such enormous

energy and a brutally heavy sound. They are

continuously touring up and down the country trying to

get their music heard and to try and accumulate more

fans. The band’s ethos is to try and always get the crowd

at shows involved as much as

possible.

“When you come see us live ex-

pect a loud, heavy, fun and ener-

getic party” says vocalist and

bassist Tom Shaw.

“Get involved, don’t just stand

there and watch” adds guitarist

Dave Leese.

“We are as much in the crowd as

we are onstage, not physically but metaphorically” adds

Shaw.

“All for one and one for all” jokes drummer Al Junior.

This is a band known for its cheeky one-liners, long hair

and big bushy metal beards.

Sworn To Oath have been together for about three years

now. Shaw has known Leese since he was aged 15 and

when they met Junior they soon discovered they were all

like-minded with what they wanted to do and play and

went from there. They began to start recording tracks and

Sworn To Oath were born.

The band motto tht Sworn To Oath carry around with

them is ‘don’t fuck about’ which can be referred to in all

matter of situations but was choen primarily because they

are an honest and straight up band with no gimmicks,

what you see is what you get - smell the sweat” says

Leese.

Since their formation they have created a solid fan base

for themselves always selling out local home shows here

in Stoke. As well as receiving a lot of media attention,

with lots of positive feedback on their music.

“We’ve had loads of online reviews coming through on

our EP (Leave You For Dead) which are all really

positive” explains Junior.

Their video for their single ‘Last Call’ has even been

played on Scuzz TV and they were also nominated for

the Six Towns Award for ‘Best Local Band’.

“It’s good to be recognised locally” says Shaw. “We try

and tour as much as possible

but it’s always good when

there’s positive feedback and

support from close to home.

But people are expecting bigger

things of us. We just want to

keep doing what we’ve been

doing but now try to get bigger

and better as we do it” contin-

ues Shaw.

The band is continuing to work towards a potential debut

album out later this year laying down demo tracks, but

they’re not making any promises yet.

“We want it right, we’re not going to put an album out

until it’s exactly right” says Shaw.

Sworn To Oath are currently on a UK tour and will be

playing in Manchester

on June 2, see gig guide

for more details.

New single Stand Alone

is out now on iTunes.

Facebook.com/

sworntooath

MAY 2012 17

...ARE TAKING OVER THE MIDLANDS METALSCENE BY STORM AND NOTHING WILL GET INTHERE WAY ON THEIR ROAD TO STARDOM.

COVER STARS

DONT fUCK aBOUT!

This month Stoke Rocks! catches up with the guys from Sworn To Oath to talk about theirsuccess at achieving an almost cult following in Stoke and their plans for the rest of 2012.

“What you see iswhat you get -

smell the sweat”guitarist Dave

MAY 201222

Radicals Rising is a fantastic show on SixTowns Radio Stoke that champions localmusic and local bands.

Ideal for music lovers Radical's Rising is a show on 6Towns Radio created to bring the people of

Stoke-on-Trent the best music the city has to offer.The show is presented by local lad Lee Barber with aclear passion in local talent and is helping to show thatStoke-on-Trent is definitely a city worth noticing whenit comes to music.

Lee is always chatting to local bands and musicians onhis show, as well as bigger bands that come to playgigs in Stoke. He also invites along local bands andmusicians to perform live in the 6 Towns Radio studio,recently he has had the likes of Emilio Pinchi andAaron Mobberley live in the studio.

The rest of the Radicals Rising team includes DanielRowlands (photographer), Anya Szczur (design) andBecky Davis (freelancer). Off-air the team take photosand write reviews of local gigs and festivals, band CDsand pretty much anything to do with local music forthe Radicals Rising Facebook page:facebook.com/RadicalsRising and WordPress blog:www.radicalsrising.wordpress.com.

Tune in to the Radicals Rising show on Six TownsRadio every Friday morning from 12-2am and Sundays from 4-6pm online at www.6towns.co.uk.

Radicals Rising Hype Chart 06/04/2012

1.All The Young – The Horizon

2.Six Towns – Wasting Away

3.Electroshock Therapy – Occupy

4.Sworn To Oath – Stand Alone

5.The Hiding Place – Popular Myths

6.The Way A-Team (Ruby Owen Appeal)

Presenter Lee Barber

Lee Barber in the studio with Aaron Mobberley

Emilio Pinchi live in the studio

Photos by Daniel Rowlands

LISTEN TO

Acoustica Mixcraft 5

One of the most user friendly interfaces outthere, mixcraft comes pre-loaded with a

factory of pre-sets, EQ setting and samples forusers to easily drag and drop a drum track andstart recording. With a Virtual Instrument installed into the software, users can create anything they wish, from a slow piano song to astraight up rock song with great audio quality.With all music file types supported, this is ahandy piece of software to have. This has beenmy main recording software for 4 years now.The only downside to Mixcraft is that the mixedfiles don’t sound too great, often audio is compressed too much or the mixing is just toomuch to fiddle with to get the right settings.

4/5

Sonama Wireworks RiffworksThis is a revolutionary piece of software whichhas a great user interface that is so simple anyone can install it then instantly jam andrecord their ideas. With a unique riff maker,users can piece together parts of their song withminimal effort to ensure that there’s no splittingtracks or going through the tedious part of finding a certain area that needs changing.

4/5

Steinburg CubaseStriking the right balance between value formoney and features is a hard thing to do intoday's economy, Cubase is a nifty piece of software that justifies its price tag whilst offering much more than just a recording program. High quality recording and a vast feature full mixer ensures a track won’t go unnoticed. However the user interface isn’t up toscratch with its other competitors.

3.5/5

AudacityAudacity is a free open source piece of softwarefor Windows, Mac and Linux. Its basic featureset and recording capabilities is used by manyfor Podcasts and basic recording chores. With asimple and fool-proof user interface, it’s probably one of the most popular recording software packages available. Updates are quiteregular so minor bugs are fixed and enhancements are being added all the time sousers have something fresh and exciting to useonce updated. Its a fantastic free piece of software, however being free it hasn’t got the features that many of the big gun software packages have but still packs a punch being free!

3/5

Fruity LoopsThis has a wide array of recording capabilities,from midi samples to creating a song fromscratch with its own built in factory of samples.What’s great about this software is that it alsoworks in standalone. The output quality is 32bit,so the sound of your creations won’t sound thinand gritty. The user interface is complicated butonscreen help boxes and an extensive FAQ helpbring it all together.

4/5

RECORDING PROGRAMMESWITH DAN FALLOWS

MAY 2012 23

We take you through what we think are the Top 5 best recording programmes for musicians out there. For use by those who want to get the best out of their music and record from the comfort of their own home...

Dan Fallows recording in his home studio

Photo by Becky Davis

TOP 5

Monday nights @ The Underground, Hanley10pm - 3amLocated on Morley Street

Monday nights at The Underground is the placeto be for all your alternative rock/punk/indie

and dubstep music needs. With prices as low as 50p ashot for vodka and whiskey, and 2 for £5 on Jagerbombs you can be sure of a fantastic cheapnight out! FREE entry is granted before 12am for studentswith an NUS card, and if you’re arriving after12am it’s only £2 entry! The Night starts at 10pmand finishes at 3am so get your best shoes on causeyou’re going to rock till you drop! Who likes free shots!? Yes that’s right if you dancelike a crazy fool there might be a free shot in it foryou from the DJ! But it gets even crazier than thatbecause themed nights are becoming a hit at The Underground. After a successful themed night thatkicked-off at Halloween last year, word is spreading fast about The Underground and it's

becoming clear where the party is at on a Mondaynight! Student nights have just got better and nowonder the venue is always packed to the rafters.So get yourself down to The Underground, anddon't forget to bring your ID and drink sensibly ofcourse. The Underground itself is a bit dark and dingy andrather grim, especially the toilets and is not verysmall in size but plays great music and is alwaysjam packed with people dancing. Photos are posted on The Underground’s Facebookpage so make sure you get noticed for those important bragging rights to your friends!

Visit The Underground’s Facebook page for moreinformation: Facebook.com/pages/Monday-Nights-at-The-Underground.

Ratings:Value for Money: 5/5Venue: 3/5Music: 3/5Uniqueness: 3/5

24 MAY 2012

CLUB GUIDE

We guide you through what we think are the best four club nights available to rock musicfans in Stoke’s city centre Hanley. We rate them individually on their value for money,quality of venue and type of music played. All you have to do now is decide which onesuits you best...

18+ ONLY!

ALL PHOTOS: BECKY DAVIS

The Underground front door

MAY 2012 25

Monday nights @ The Sugarmill, Hanley10pm - 3amLocated on BrunswickStreet

Monday nights spent on a roof and FREEentry! Yeah you read that right, The

Sugarmill is one of the best places to be on a Monday night if you want a great experience ofamazing music and the stars above you! But don’tlet the bad weather put you off because The Sugarmill also has two separate inside rooms, onethat plays indie music and the other plays punk andemo.Doors open at 10pm so get yourself down early for£1.50 bottles and £1 shots! The Sugarmill is knownfor its successful Friday and Saturday club nightsand is now on the map with its Monday nights!With music to suit everyone, your night is sure tobe an eventful one! The Sugarmill offers a varietyof rooms, one with its own dance floor and stage aswell as three different bars to choose from.Resident DJ Scott Thomas is found in the mainroom downstairs playing pop tunes and indie

classics from the likes of Blur and the Smiths.The Sugarmill is a venue for live bands too so ifyou just happen to come to watch a band on a Saturday or Friday night, and you’re over 18 youwill automatically receive free entry to the clubnight after = winner! So bring your mates, bringthe good times but don’t forget to bring your ID!Pictures are taken regularly so pull a pose and getyourself posted on their Facebook page!For those with a strong willpower and who feeltheir night at The Sugarmill hasn’t been longenough, try one of the Sugarmill’s bi-monthly Fri-day night all-nighters from 10pm until 6am. See ifyou can make it until the morning!

Visit their Facebook page for more information:Facebook.com/stokesugarmill.

Ratings:Value for Money: 4/5Venue: 4/5Music: 4/5Uniqueness: 4/5

CLUB GUIDE

Side view of The Sugarmill

The Sugarmill front door

Devils Night @ Jumpin'Jacks' (JJ'S), Hanley10pm - 3amLocated on BrunswickStreet(next to Liquid)

In recent years Jumpin’ Jacks (or as people prefer tocall JJ’s), has been a revolutionary place for all rock,metal and alternative music lovers. On the first Thursday of every month JJ’s plays host to the famous ‘Devil’s Night’ - unique for its fancy dressthemed nights. Past themes have included: pirates,sci-fi, superheroes and villains, zombies and fantasy creatures to name a few of the spectacularthemed nights to take place there. It will cost you £4 to enter or £3 if you’re a studentwith an NUS card, but the music is loud, the peopleare nice, and if heavy and alternative music is yourthing then get yourself down here fast as your nightwon’t be a disappointment! JJ’s boasts a decent sized dance floor and two bars forall your drinking needs. There are often deals ondrinks but most drinks are expensive as unfortunately JJ’s is a part of Liquid who have veryexpensive drinks prices. The inside of JJ’s looks incredible, like the inside of a

pirate ship, it’s very well designed and has seatingareas to take a rest if you've been rocking too hard!Devils Night have their very own set of cage dancersthat even use angle grinders to shoot sparks in the airas part of their show. Song requests can be made to DJ Beard so get in thereearly and get asking for your favourite tracks to rockout to. DJ Beard plays the best rock and metal songsfrom the likes of Linkin Park, Slipknot and Blink 182.Half way through each night, those with the bestfancy dress outfits are invited onstage to stand along-side other contestants for a competition to win thebest dress prize.With a massive cult following, Devil’s Night at JJ’s isno doubt the best Rock, Metal and Alternative night inStoke! Photos are often taken and put up on the Devil’s NightFacebook page so remember to pose.

Visit their Facebook page for more information:Facebook.com/devilsnight.hanley

Ratings:Value for Money: 2/5Venue: 5/5Music: 5/5 Uniqueness: 5/5

CLUB GUIDE

26 MAY 2012

Outside entrance to JJ’s

Monday nights @ Reflex, Hanley9pm-4amLocated on BrockleySquare

Monday nights are the best nights at Hanley Reflex.

You can’t go wrong with cheap £1 and £1.50 drinks

and special partini cocktails to share with your

mates.

DJ Terry Bossons blasts the best rock and party an-

thems from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. Including songs

by Five, the Spice Girls, Avril Lavigne, Guns n’

Roses, The Offspring and Blink 182.Reflex has a fun and friendly atmosphere and if you

like the idea of dancing on a lit up dance floor then

Reflex may be the ideal place for you.

It also has all the cheesy merchandise you can han-

dle available to buy, from wigs to giant y-fronts,

heart-shaped glasses and head boppers.

All those 80's and 90's hits you are embarrassed to

sing in broad daylight can be sung until your heart’s

content in this special place.

Whether you consider yourself to be a dancing

queen or maybe grease lightning then you're sure to

bring out the moves when you hear the library of

music DJ Terry Bossons has to offer.

Reflex is open longest out of all the best club nights

we have carefully selected for you. So if you’ve

been partying at The Underground or Sugarmill all

night and don’t fancy going home yet head on over

to Reflex.

Keep an eye out for the photographer who will offer

to take photos of you and your mates having a good

time and even ask you if you want the photo printed

and put in a key ring.

Reflex often has themed nights and weekends like

the neon Easter bank holiday weekend just gone.

Visit their Facebook page for more information:

Facebook.com/hanley.reflex

Ratings:Value for Money: 4/5Venue: 3/5Music: 4/5Uniqueness: 5/5

CLUB GUIDE

MAY 2012 27

The front of Reflex

CONTENTS

GUESS WHO...

We’ve blurred the face of afamous celebrity singer.

Can you guess who it is to winyourself a pair of tickets to gosee Hadouken! play live atStoke Sugarmill on Thursday19 April.

Well we’re not that mean here atStoke Rocks! so here’s a fewsmall clues as to who it is if youhaven’t guessed it right already.

1.The man in the blurred picture performed live with hisband at The Underground inStoke back in 2006.

2. The blurred man once dated afamous blonde-haired UK modelwell- known for her partylifestyle.

3. This man is widely known forhis reckless behaviour and some-times hasn’t even turned up to hisown shows.

If you think you know who it is,then please enter by sending your answer along with your name, age, emailaddress and telephone numberto:comps@stokerocksmag.com.

The closing date for entries ofthis competition is Wednesday18 April. The winner will becontacted by phone or email and

announced on our Facebook page: Facebook.com/stokerocksmag.

Come back next month for another fantastic competition.

TICKETS TO GOSEE HADOUKEN @ THE SUGARMILL

??MAY 2012 32