THE HISTORY (As retold through a hazy memory)

Ok, just to get this straight, this is all from memory, with definite details, like dates, being located from posters and fliers, which I have managed to keep. There are lots of details missing, I’m sure, this is cos I either cant remember, or I can’t be bothered to stretch my memory that far; it hurts!
Basically, this is a rundown of all the gigs that I Jasper C.S. and poo promotions (so the same, really) have been involved in, starting back in 1984, when me and my mate annoyed our work colleagues at the staff Christmas do, to the present day, 2006, where hopefully I am still annoying someone (preferably who deserves it, and not my wife and kids).

7TH JAN 1984- Stan (gtr and pizza maker, long haired, dosscoat wearing hippy) and Jasper (vox and pot walloping, spikey haired, donkey jacket wearing young punker) perform as ‘THE SHITS’ at a works do for employees where we ‘worked’, Zeffirellis, a vegetarian pizzeria in Ambleside, Cumbria, U.K. We attempt to play ‘anarchy in the U.K.’, the power is turned off on us.
We decide to change our name to ‘LES TURDS’, les as in the French plural for ‘the’, and turds as in, er, turds (less abrasive than shits, we thought?).Note that none-one actually pronounced les in the French way, but more in our natural northern ‘ey up’ accents, so it was les turds, not lay turds.
 

27TH JULY 1985- We had added a crap drummer, James, to the band. He couldn’t play drums, but it didn’t seem to matter. This gig was our first supporting BLYTH POWER on their first tour, it was at Ambleside football club. The stage was built out of old school desks. *see posters/photos*
 

28TH JULY 1985 – ha ha, this was funny.. We played in the afternoon on the school playing field where the previous day there had been some village fete, so there was still marquees and stalls up and standing. It was raining, it got muddy. We had power supplied from a nearby house, a long extension lead. Les Turds were playing, the police came and stopped our fun. So we packed gear up and went back to the football club, where Blyth Power played. This was an all ages matinee show.
 

16th SEPT 1985 MON- By this time LES TURDS had a proper drummer, Chris Acland (Tiffer, later to drum for successful indie band, LUSH, sadly no longer with us) and a proper bass player, Kerry Taylor (Kez). We used to practice at Tiffers house in Burneside, just outside Kendal, Cumbria, in an old barn – barn owls used to fly out when we turned up! Crap drummer James Bradley had now joined me as a second vocalist, which is pretty common these days, but it wasn’t then.
Anyway, we did this gig in Staveley youth club, I’d say Kez sorted it out cos that’s where he’s from. I can’t remember anything. * No poster*
 

27TH SEPT 1985 FRI – Albert hotel, Bowness-on –windermere. This was like the ‘heads’ pub, all hippies, bikers, punks, metallers used to drink in here. They had an upstairs room, it must’ve been Stanley who sorted this gig, he was quite on top of organising shit back then, when he wasn’t sniffing glue. see poster
 

3RD OCT 1985 THURS- LES TURDS first gig at Kendal brewery arts centre. Stan definitely sorted this one, I can remember, he might have even had some hippy contact in there. We were organising all our own gigs now cos no-one would give them to us. The brewery cost £100 sterling to hire, including the pa. This was a lot of money in 1985. There was support from Kendal band THE PAPS and Windermere madcap duo HOT ‘ N ‘HORRID. Tickets were £1. We must’ve had enough people in cos I don’t remember being in debt from this gig. James, ex-crap drummer, now second vocalist, was doing the artwork for posters at this time.
Can’t remember anything, except that Brewery gigs were usually good fun. It was quite a good venue. Low ceiling I remember, a few pillars in the way.,
see ticket & poster
 

12TH OCT 1985 SAT- LES TURDS played the Salutation hotel, Ambleside, Cumbria. A low ceilinged, dark ‘ n’ dingy, damp, mouldy back bar part of the hotel. It was a home town gig for me, Stan and James, the place was packed with allsorts of folk, everyone from the town had come along to see what we were doing now! We were supposed to play sun 13th as well, but they didn’t want us back cos there was too many underage at the gig. I think we got paid £50 or so, Stan would’ve kept his hands on that, being main Turd, axeman and heavy Evo user. see poster
 

31ST OCT 1985 - Ambleside youth club. Can’t remember a thing about this gig. Must’ve got too much of a whiff from Stan’s Evo bag (he was never without it! I’m very surprised he’s an accountant now!) no poster
 

2ND NOV 1985 - Staveley youth club. After fireworks. Ace! Kez was/is still from Staveley, so that’s probably how we got this gig. Can’t remember what charity the profits went to, probably Stan’s ‘new tin of Evo’ fund.
see poster
 

29TH JAN 1986- WEDS- LES TURDS accidently, unexpectedly play Leeds Adam and Eves. We went to this gig to see ATV, BLYTH POWER and BRIGANDAGE. Only ATV turned up. We asked Nick Toczek, who was the promoter of Adam and Eves if we could play, he agreed, we got 1 pint each. I think we must of used ATV’s equipment, cos we hadn’t brought our own. I think we must’ve recorded our demo by now, cos I had sent one to Nick Toczek by this time.
I remember asking Mark Perry if he would play ‘How much longer’, ‘You bastard’, ‘Life’ etc, but he wouldn’t play them, didn’t want to know about them. ATV were parts of Shock Headed Peters at this time as well, I believe, and that’s what the ATV set was like, lots of guitar feedback. I wasn’t impressed anyway. 10 years later, I see ATV at Blackpool winter gardens, Mark Perry playing all the songs I had asked him to, that he wouldn’t , ££££ signs in his eyes. I was not impressed at all. *see flyer*
 

8TH FEB 1986 SAT – Staveley youth club. Les turds. Can’t remember this gig, it was my 17th birthday (I think), so I was probably oot me heed. * no poster*
 

14TH FEB 1986 FRI – Albert hotel, bowness on windermere. LES TURDS. This was the ‘heads’ pub around that area, that must’ve been how we got these gigs, through Stan being a long haired hippy. Had to put over 18’s on the poster. It was the last gig there. Always remember Albert gigs were good ones. see poster
 

18TH FEB 1986 TUES – LES TURDS back at the Brewery Arts centre, Kendal, Cumbria. These gigs were always good, apart from when people were smashing bogs up. What was that all about? We had to pay for them damages, which cancelled out any money made, and eventually led to me getting banned from the Brewery after the May ’87 Chumbawamba police riot incident see poster
 

11TH MARCH 1986 TUES – LES TURDS/INSTIGATORS/THE LOSERS.
The Barn, Charlotte Mason college, Ambleside, Cumbria. This gig was meant to be at Staveley youth club, but they decided against it for some reason, that was never given. So I had to re-arrange it, find a new venue, I persuaded the students to let me use their venue. First band from outside the area that I’d put on , THE INSTIGATORS from Huddersfield, great band. Also THE LOSERS from Paisley, Scotland played. It was to be a benefit for GREENPEACE, but I don’t think they got any money due to the fact that there was about £75 damages that had to be paid. Great medium sized hall, stage, all wooden floored. There is a tape recording somewhere of this gig. Ash from Kendal did the poster and he recorded the gig. see poster
 

4TH MAY 1986 SUN – LES TURDS play the Cellar bar, Paisley, Scotland, a return gig from my mate Vinny McMenemy of the Losers. I remember it being a long drive in a hippy van, Hawkwind and loads of joints. I think we drove back the same night. no poster
 

14TH MAY 1986 WEDS - Brewery arts centre Kendal. Chris Acland, LES TURDS drummer got BLYTH POWER to play again. DESPAIR from Penrith didn’t turn up. LES TURDS, DANBERT NOBACON (chumbawamba) played. HOT + HORRID compered the gig. Big crowds at these Kendal gigs I remember, usually 80+, up to 100. This is on cassette tape as well. I did the poster, copied from BLYTH POWER’S record sleeve. see poster
 

11TH JULY 1986 FRI – LES TURDS/ HOT + HORRID/lots more. Hawkshead Village hall. James LES TURDS singer got this gig together. I think the police stopped it half way through. Pretty shambolic proceedings I remember.
 

15TH JULY 1986 TUES – LES TURDS LAST GIG. Kendal Brewery arts centre. Can’t remember anything about this gig, but it did happen. I will try find details of who played (I think DAN mightv’e played). Must have a poster somewhere.
 

17TH DEC 1986 WEDS – POO’S Christmas gig, Kendal Brewery arts centre. Benefit for local mentally handicapped kids school. H.D.Q/ELECTRO HIPPIES/DAN/INCEST BROTHERS/ACT (a band I played bass in , badly)/VOICE OF POO (me and Stan, tin of Evo, vox, 1 guitar, 1 song). Got a tape recording of the Electro Hippies set, somewhere.

14TH MAY 1987 - Kendal Brewery arts centre, Cumbria. This was a benefirt gig for Lakeland Animal Aid and West Cumbria Hunt Saboteurs and the last gig I was directly involved with putting on at the brewery, as I got a lifetime ban after this gig (which I took no notice of). OI POLLOI were due to play, but had to pull out. Lancaster band FINAL SOLUTION, JOINT PLAN from Hulme, Manchester, SCREECH ROCK from Burnley, Lancashire, HOT + HORRID from Windermere all played sets. This was the biggest gig I’d done at the Brewery, the place was packed, easily 150-200 people there. CHUMBAWAMBA were pretty popular band back then.
CHUMBAWAMBA started their set, would’ve been that NEVER MIND THE BALLOTS album set, but they never got very far. DANBERT NOBACON made an announcement from the stage that the police were illegally searching a living vehicle (a converted bus that had travelled up from Leeds)that was parked in the Brewery’s car park.
SCREECH ROCK had been shoplifting the town all day, CHUMBAWAMBA wouldn’t share the dressing room with them (they stayed in their van, apart from Danbert, who would always be about at gigs talking to people).
The Brewery arts centre is in a bottle neck, only one way in, one way out.
The entrance/exit led to the main street in Kendal. The filth were being antagonistic, they wanted a ruck. I had the manager woman shouting at me to control the crowd (ha ha missus) which by this time was all outside in the car park, no-one really knowing what was going on (the billies that had been searching the bus had gone back to the ranks).
I went to speak to the top pigs at the ‘neck of the bottle’, the entrance onto the main street, which I then saw to be absolutely full of pigs, coppers, filth, riot vans, bizzies, foot pigs, horse riding pigs, everything except a water cannon! It would have been suicide to engage in a conflict with the law. Somehow, I managed to persuade the crowd that it wasn’t a good idea to go apeshit with the rozzers ( I remember Sean Pyscho Faction/ RocknReel helping liase with the bizzies and helping the crowd to see sense). So I seem to remember there was a couple of arrests, but nowt like it couldv’e been. I got a lifetime ban from the Brewery, but I see Chumbawamba played there in 2005 – in their folk band/acapella thing they do. Where’s the solidarity there? Haha. I think the benefits got £100-£150 each, which was very good and meant there must have been a lot of people there, cos the money was never anything like that after everything was paid. I can’t remember what the bands got, I’m sure it’s written down somewhere. see poster/flier
 

8TH JULY 1987 WEDS – Maggot from HOT +HORRID managed to get the bandstand on the Glebe ( a park like area) in Bowness-on-Windermere, for a daytime gig, part of the Windermere festival. This is right next to the lake, a big tourist place, in the middle of busy summer. I promoted and got bands to play. Maggot took the shit from the straight ‘real’ festival organisers. By the way Maggot, you bastard, I know you nicked my Carlsboro amp, you cunt. Blyth Power, Dan, Electro Hippies, Final Solution, The Magic Bastards, Deadline, Hot+horrid all played.
It was a great gig, outside in the sunshine, a few beers, the old cheese n onion crisp packet glue bag, mmmm.
I remember the D.S twats wearing KILLING JOKE t-shirts. Wankers.
see press cutting ‘drop outs bring rock event ban’
 

23RD JULY 1987 THURS – Kendal town hall- this gig was a collaboration with Little Barry from Staveley, Nr. Kendal, who used to be commandant of the Staveley branch of CLASS WAR.
INSTIGATORS were meant to play, but pulled out. GENERIC/ELECTRO HIPPIES/HOT+HORRID played the gig. We weren’t allowed to do anymore there. I remember a big picture of the queen of England, it had a big black marker pen moustache by the end of the night!
There were a lot of dogs ( canine) at gigs around about this time, something that venues disliked, cos of the shit, I guess. Also it’s not good for your dogs ears. see flier
 

2ND OCT 1987 FRI - Windermere Ladyholme community centre. STATE OF DECAY from Scotland were to play, but pulled out tho’. They had a great demo tape, still have it knocking around in my cassette graveyard. H.D.Q. from Sunderland (Middlesborough?) played, FINAL SOLUTION, HOT+HORRID, THE DOO DAHS all played. It was a benefit gig for the Special Care Baby unit at Lancaster Infirmary. This gig got turned over badly by the pigs , whose sty was about ¼ mile from the venue. Fascists. see poster/flier
 

11TH APRIL 1988 MON - I couldn’t get a venue anywhere. You can see by the length of time between gigs, and the many venues tried, it wasn’t easy putting on D.I.Y. punk gigs back then. Much like today then, eh?
I couldn’t go back to the Brewery in Kendal, but that didn’t stop others booking the venue, did it?
Little Barry (staveley class war) and Jo-Anne put this gig on at the Brewery, I helped with promotion etc. CITY INDIANS from Derby, DANBERT NOBACON (who would play anywhere, him and guitar, just for his train fare). I had ATAVISTIC lined up to play, but they pulled out. They were a fuckin’ noisy band, two 7” singles. CROW PEOPLE from Doncaster, fuckin’ ace band, had some sort of space thing going on. FAT+HAPPY was Hot+horrid in disguise. SURPRISE SURPRISE was some Cilla Black punk take off, with 2 fingers at the Brewery management.
I remember the manager woman saying to me ‘You’ve done it again! How did you do it?’ ‘ I’m just here as a punter, Angela (or whatever her name was) I replied. Ha Ha. Fuck you Brewery (boring old farts, if ever there was any) arts centre in Kendal. Ha Ha. Gig was a benefit for ‘Reggie the Veggie versus Ronald McDonald’ libel case. see poster
 

24TH SEPT 1988 SAT – I had moved to Yorkshire by this time, next to Lancaster. Started putting gigs on in Lancaster, in fact this is when the dole had been hassling me for some time, they had this Enterprise Allowance scheme where you were supposed to set up a business and become rich. So somehow, they let me on this scheme, where they paid you £40 a week, it was loads back then, shit loads more than I was getting on the dole. They made me get a bank account, which meant a cheque book, which eventually meant some debt and total disrespect for banks, even more than I had in the first place. Fuck ‘em.
This gig was a failure, not by my making though. I had booked THE GREGSTON INSTITUTE, LANCASTER.
It was meant to be OI POLLOI and THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE PSYCHOS. I was in Preston the day before at an EX gig, handing out fliers for the Oi polloi gig. I’d been given an old ‘banda’ machine, a carbon-paper copier, it was crap and didn’t work the best see flier.
The Saturday morning I phoned home, my mum said Deek Allen had phoned – they weren’t coming, some fuck-up with van hire. I was well pissed off. So gig didn’t really happen, well HOT+HORRID played.
It was meant to be a benefit for The Warzone Collective In Northern Ireland.
I think the Gregston was £25 to hire and I was paying £25 to hire the pa system.
Fair play to Deek Allen, who sent down a bundle of vinyl L.P’s to make up for losses. see poster/flier
 

14TH FEB 1989 TUES – ‘FALL IN LOVE AT A POO GIG’. By this time I had taken the option from the DHSS to do the ‘enterprise allowance scheme’, doing a ‘business’ organising and promoting concerts. Poo Promotions became official! Haha!
You had to have a bank account to get this allowance, so that meant my first (and only) cheque book, with Poo Promotions on the cheques – hahahahaha. Fuckin banks, I hate them , they can fuck off.
This gig was at Lancaster Gregston Institute and these bands played – THATCHER ON ACID (London)/POLITICAL ASYLUM (Scotland)/DANBERT NOBACON/CROW PEOPLE (Doncaster)/YAN TREE (Leeds).
I remember Ramsey political asylum whinging cos I paid Crow People, tho’ they weren’t billed to play (see poster). But they were – I had asked them, they just never confirmed and just turned up on the night. I liked thgeir music better than Political asylum anyway. Benefite for Heysham peace camp, Dolphin fines ( some people had tried to free Rocky the dolphin from Morecambe marina, into the bay, they got caught by the old bill). After expenses, don’t think made much for the benefits, which was often the case. The start of ‘themed’ Poo gigs, ‘Fall in love at…’, it being valentines day. see poster & flier
 

14TH APRIL 1989 FRI - Lancaster, Gregston Institute – ‘OH MY GOD! IT’S FRIDAY THE 14TH! WHAT’S THAT SMELL? IT’S A POO GIG!’
BLYTH POWER/SHRUG (Middlesborugh)/SOFAHEAD (Darlington, Armstrong, meantime, you fuckin businessman. Punk belongs to the punks not the businessmen, so fuck off). Staraight forward gig. Can’t remember the benefit. Was well pissed, in fact this must be the gig that Jessi Eastfield admitted to bunking into about 10 years later! The sod!I can’t understand it, I was very vigilant on the door, even so far as poking someone in the eye (and having to apologise about 14 years later, as they had paid to get in. Sorry Shelley.) see poster
Good things to go to flier. Solidarity friends! We are not businessmen in competition with each other. I used to include Bob nuffzanuff’s Blackburn/Bolton gigs on my fliers, same crowds, not too far away. Flier by London Sue who used to live in Lancaster at the time.

6TH MAY 1989 SAT – ‘POO’S MONSTER NOISE BASH’, at Lancaster Gregston Institute; with LEGION OF PARASITES – fuckin ace grinding thrash band from down south somewhere, I can’t remember. Got this set recorded on cassette tape. It’s great. GAY ANIMAL WOMEN – this was one bloke, Stream Angel he was called, had backing tracks, industrial noise, visuals (slide show). Different. Sound bloke. ACTIVE MINDS – two blokes, Set and Bobs, guitar and drums, from Scarborough. Murder in the laboratory good stuff. OBLIGATORY – from Boston (U.K.), Bodge was his name, used to do a fanzine called Shitrot. Metallish grind.
This gig was to be a benefit for U.K. Resist & Counter Information newssheets. I think they got about £5 each after expenses. This was the last gig they wanted me to do at the Gregston, can’t remember why, probably cos we are all worthless dropouts. Hahahahahhahahahahahah. see poster
 

18TH MAY 1989 THURS - Lancaster Georgian (working men’s) club, opposite the bus station. This place has been empty and boarded up for years now. CITY INDIANS from Derby, great band. THE NEXT WORLD from Bradford, drum machine bit droney guitars and vocals.
PLEASANT VALLEY CHILDREN from Leeds, fuckin’ noisy disjointed harsh thrash. BUM TRIP JIM – can’t remember what they did, but Wolfhead and Brench were in it, they went on to do HEADCORE (and Wolfhead became PHOBOS DEIMOS’S sick drummer ’92-’93, Yorkshire). This was meant to be a Stonehenge free festival benefit. see poster
 

9TH FEB 1990 FRI – Last gig in Lancaster. Surreptiously booked the Gregston Institute for a private 21st birthday bash, thus no posters around town, ticket only, word of mouth. Made tickets out like birthday invites to James ‘Turd’ Bradley’s 21st ( crap Les Turds drummer, then 2nd vocalist), tho’ he was in fact much older than that. It was my 21st the day before. Always like having/going to a gig on my birthday.
TOXIC EPHEX from Scotland (Aberdeen??) headlined and they were excellent, a proper punk rock band. Lancaster’s FINAL SOLUTION, Stream Angel as GAY ANIMAL WOMEN. Gaia – don’t know who they were, not sure if they played, can’t remember them anyway. see invite/ticket
Really may 18th City Indians was the last Poo gig, I’d gone off travelling by then, feb 9th was just a birthday bash. I stopped for a couple of years, started again I suppose when me and Chris Knipe (of the famous Knipe guitar brothers from Natland, Kendal) got together

PHOBOS DEIMOS (FEAR TERROR) – a jazz- horror-punk-serial killer-despair at life-dark ritual on the Yorkshire moors- psillocibe at full moon type of band.We had the 6ft 6” tall Wolfhead, the sick drummer, continuously suffering from flu but still playing like a mad bastard, the fever burning inside of him. Chris played guitar and afro- dreads, as did brother Knipe Paul, who played bass and had even longer (thinner) dreads, when he was allowed to come out and play, away from his muse in Huddersfield. I wrote sick lyrics, which none of the rest liked, and sang them at gigs. Little Barry drummed on the first demo, then ran to messy killings (Milton Keynes), down south. Two demos recorded in Skipton, West Yorkshire. The first ‘Gradely Maungy’, very sloppy, the second ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, was much better. Band existed from early 1992 – july 1993.
These were the last gigs I organised in the U.K., before moving to Ireland in March 1994, sick of the Criminal Justice Bill.
 

25TH MARCH 1992 WEDS – Kendal Park club. With Windermere band ‘VEAL – IT’S SURREAL’. I projectile vomited chocolate soya dessert with taglatelle in it everywhere, signifying diarrhea with tape worms in it. The management didn’t like it. see flier
 

20TH FEB 1993 SAT – PHOBOS DEIMOS played The Packhorse, Leeds, an upstairs room of a pub. Must have got the proper band together by now. We were living on hippy traveller sites around Skipton, West Yorkshire. Paul was in Huddersfield, Wolfhead lived in Devon , I think, at the time. We must have done the demos by this time. I think my sister, who lived in Leeds, and her boyfriend came to see us. That was it.We organised the gig and flyposted Leeds. see flier
 

3RD MARCH 1993 WEDS – PHOBOS DEIMOS played The Fenton pub, Leeds. Probably the same result as the Packhorse gig, I can’t remember. see flier
5TH MARCH 1993 FRI – PHOBOS DEIMOS played a miners benefit gig at VICKIES PUB, KEIGHLY, WEST YORKSHIRE. My brother, who lived in Keighly, organised this gig. We shared a bag of chips and 1 pint of Bitter between 4 of us. We had to hire some gear cos the other band wouldn’t let us use theirs. Bastards. We blew ‘em off stage. The main band were ok tho’. Rudimentary Peni were playing in Leeds this same night, I would have loved to have gone to that gig, it was all that Cacophony, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Cthulu stuff they were doing at the time.
 

6TH MARCH 1993 SAT – PHOBOS DEIMOS played Ripon University – some student used to come to the site we lived on to score drugs, we gave him a demo tape. He probably thought he had cred with his mates by getting us to play. We got paid (can’t remember how much) and some beers. Slept in the car, a Lada. The students didn’t get us at all.
 

25TH MARCH 1993 THURS – PHOBOS DEIMOS played at the York Bonding Warehouse. No- one came. We had flyposted the town, got the gig in listings etc. We still played, to the barman and bought him a drink afterwards.
 

23RD APRIL 1993 FRI – PHOBOS DEIMOS played at Wolverton, Milton Keynes. Little Barry sorted this gig out and he played drums cos Wolfhead couldn’t make it. It was with other bands, some community centre.
 

26TH MAY 1993 WEDS – Bradford 1 in 12 club with BLYTH POWER. I remember I was ill at this gig, but apparently we went down well.
 

28TH MAY 1993 FRI - We played at the ROYAL PARK, LEEDS. It was ‘Teenage dead records’ presents –PHOBOS DEIMOS/ZOOPSIA/NOSEBAG. This bloke was putting out a compilation L.P. with these bands and others. It never happened. He still has our acetate and we want it back. see letter from teenage dead. This was a good gig. I think the other bands were students. We didn’t get any money. Sold demo tapes, blagged drinks, was a good night. see poster
 

9TH JULY 1993 FRI – Lancaster Georgian Club. This was a good gig, sort of back on home turf, a good turnout. JABBERWOCKY was Sam, the bloke with the recording studio in Skiptons band. He’s a good bloke, wherever he is, helped us a lot with equipment, duplication of tapes, cheap prices. JABBERWOCKY was acoustic rock.. SQUIRTY BOTTOMS was my old mate Stan , the hippy gluesniffer of old, now an accomplished accountant. The Bottoms were a comedy, caberet show, serious (ha) social comment. PHOBOS DEIMOS played jazz-folk-punk rock songs about Dennis Neillson, Andre Chikotila, Sainsbury’s butchers, Maggie Thatcher (the curse of) see poster/newspaper cutting
 

11TH JULY 1993 SUN – PHOBOS DEIMOS played York fibbers, supporting BLYTH POWER. Josef Porta got this gig for us, what turned out to be our last gig. Amen. Paul continued at college getting a music degree. Wolfhead became an environmental activist. Me and Chris Knipe carried on travelling, busking with tin whistle and bodrhan. Decide to move to Ireland to try to continue the band. Chris moved back 1 year later. I stayed. Lived 6 years without electricity. Eventually moved into a house, started growing my own vegetables, which is a way forward for personal autonomy. Dig for freedom, grow for peace.

2004 – So after a hiatus of 10 years, I decided to start putting on gigs again. This is a brief listing of gigs from 2004 – present day. More detailed accounts to follow in the future. All (bar 1 or 2, which would be my efforts) poster art by LUDDITE GRAPHICS (0871334079).
 

3rd JULY 2004 – THE BLIZZARDS/THE VIBES/EILEEN O’ TOOLE –Meehans Bar, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim. This was a benefit gig for Emma Raymont, sadly no longer with us. see newspaper cutting
 

6TH AUG 2004 – LOS LANGEROS/CHRISTOPH LOMBARDI (magician)/SHERMAN M4 –Meehans bar, Drumshanbo, Co.Leitrim. Benefit for Amnesty International. see poster
 

9TH OCT 2004 – CANKICKERS (USA)/OFF THE WAGON- Meehans bar, Drumshanbo, Co.Leitrim. PINE HILL HAINTS were meant to play, but had to pull out. Benefit for Mayflower Community Centre, Drumshanbo. see poster
 

21ST OCT 2004 - FILTHPACT (SCOT)/FRACTURED/SNAKEBITE – Meehans bar, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim. Benefit for Ardcarne youth club. see poster
 

26TH NOV 2004 – LOS LANGEROS/NOMATRIX/TORN – Meehans bar, Drumshanbo, Co,.Leitrim see poster
 

11TH DEC 2004 - POO’S CHRISTMAS ON EARTH – CLASH JAM WALLOP (Clash, Jam tribute band)/UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC/NICE’N’SLEAZY/EXCUSES – Mayflower community centre, Drumshanbo, Co.Leitrim. Benefit for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin. see poster
 

22ND JAN 2005 – EASPA MEASA/SHERMAN M4 –Meehans bar, Drumshanbo, Co.Leitrim. see poster
 

24TH FEB 2005 – ‘POO’S VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE’ with NICE’N’SLEAZY/FRACTURED/SNAKEBITE- Sligo Trades club, Co. Sligo
 

11TH MARCH 2005 – ‘ST. PATRICK – THE SNAKES REVENGE’ with UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC (who stood in when acrobats of desire backed out)/NOMATRIX/PREDICA –Meehans bar, Drumshanbo Co.Leitrim. see poster
 

23 APRIL2005 – MOUTPIECE/SHERMAN M4/NOMATRIX At Sligo Trades club, Co. Sligo . STEAMPIG were meant to play, but pulled out, so NOMATRIX stood in at short notice, fair play to ‘em. There was meant to have been a matinee show, but the Trades pulled it, the start of their nasty, underhand behaviour. see poster/Gig listings
 

30TH APRIL 2005 – FRACTURED/CUB SCOUT DISCO/CAPTAIN SPAULDING. Two galway band spulled out. This was the last Meehans gig, ‘too noisy’ ‘blah blah’. see poster/scene newspaper report
 

28TH MAY 2005 – RUNNIN’ RIOT/1,000 DRUNKEN NIGHTS/FOREVERAFTERMATH. This gig was meant to be Sligo trades club, but they fucked me off about 4 days before the gig. I managed to get Drumshanbo mayflower community centre. Foreveraftermath couldn’t make it that far,1,000 drunken nights singer had no voice (they played Galway with riot the night before) so they didn’t play. Runnin’ riot played for ages, was a good gig. see poster
 

18TH JUNE 2005 – Blue Lagoon, Sligo. This gig was meant to have been at the Trades club, it took some time to find a replacement venue. CLASH JAM WALLOP/PAUL BYRNE (PLAYS BILLY BRAGG)/THE NOVASKORES Played. It was a good gig. About 80 people all told, about 60 paying. Management had no complaints, but didn’t want any more gigs. see poster

SAT30TH/SUN31ST JULY 2005 – leechrum mini fest – this needs loads more explanation, but that will have to wait til a later date. The festival was ruined a bit by the Gards, who tried to stop it happening, but eventually couldn’t. see flier for full list of who was meant to play the Poo Promotions marquee. These bands did get a chance to play - RUNNIN’ RIOT/FILTHPACT/MOUTPIECE/1,000 DRUNKEN NIGHTS/FREEBOOTERS/POCKET BILLIARDS/20 CENTURIES OF SLEEP/TIGHTWAD(?)/FULCRUM(?)/UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC/SNAKEBITE/DROPPIN’ BOMBS/SHORTY AND THE FAT BASTARDS/PURPLE MONKEY DISHWASHER/COUNCIL OF TEN/MULTISTOREY/ see flier
A more detailed account at some later date.
 

14TH AUG 2005 SUN - Sligo Trades club, THE JUSTIN CARROLL BAND – Hammond organ virtuoso and Irelands top jazz musicians. Nice.
Support by MULTISTOREY – Donegal funk monsters. see poster
 

24TH AUG 2005 WEDS – Diffelys Bar, Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim. HEROIC DOSES from London. UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC from Sligo. In ‘beer garden’ of pub. In the rain. With dodgy extension leads all going to one socket. Good gig.
 

16TH SEPT 2005 FRI – Sligo trades club – THE DEAD PETS From Leeds, rocked the packed venue to pieces. As did LOS LANGEROS from Cork and DIE FEDZ from Letterkenny. A brilliant gig. Top gig of the year. Poo arranged Dead Pets tour with other promoters. Hope to bring The Pets back soon. see poster/flier
 

23RD SEPT 2005 FRI – Moving Stairs, Boyle Co. Roscommon. THE PINE HILL HAINTS from Alabama, U.S.A. They played an excellent gig. see poster
 

24TH SEPT 2005 SAT – Sligo trades club – THE PINE HILL HAINTS.
 

1ST OCT 2005 SAT – Sligo Trades club – INTENSIVE CARE from London. RUNNIN’ RIOT. From Ballina FOREVERAFTERMATH. Class gig. Good fun all round.good turnout. see poster
 

8TH OCT 2005 SAT - Trades club, Sligo. Gig in association with LEECHRUM RECORDS, a Leechrum minifest fundraiser. MOUTPIECE/SAMBA BAND/ASYLUM CHOIR/D.J.’s.
There was a violent incident at this gig which led to the club not letting me do any more gigs there. Fuck them. see poster
 

29TH OCT 2005 SAT - The Trades weren’t going to tell me they had decided to cancel my Halloween ‘Hellfest’, I only found out about 3 days before the gig was due to take place. The Scum. I persuaded this guy Tad who lives in a mansion outside Boyle to let us have the gig there. Fair play Tad.SHORTY AND THE FAT BASTARDS/THE N11’S/THE HERBAL JAHZ/TIGHTWADS/THE SCAVENGERS all played. Then some ravers made loads of electro – bang noise. Good party. Fuck the trades club, they are losers – they lost their license and are now closed (2006).
 

24TH FEB 2006 FRI – COOLERA HOUSE STRANDHILL SLIGO.
Got a great new venue here, it really is a gem. The sound is great in there and the Guinness is lovely. The management and staff are great as well, they enjoy a bit of real live music. KHATARINA from Finland, KIDD BLUNT from Wicklow, EXCUSES, ASYLUM CHOIR. A great gig, hopefully the first of many. see poster
 

1ST APRIL 2006 SAT – COOLERA HOUSE, STRANDHILL, SLIGO. Poo presents ‘A FOOL’S DAY CELEBRATION’ With EASTFIELD, Urban rail punks from Birmingham, U.K. From Dublin ROOSKY and MOUTPIECE. EXCUSES playing under the name VICIOUS CIRCLES. DIE FEDZ return from Letterkenny. THE DERELICTS, young Sligo snots got to do their first Poo gig. Brilliant gig, great night, even though I never got to make all the fake papier mache dog turds that I was gonna leave lying around everywhere. (Fool’s day, yeah. Next year). see poster
 

22ND APRIL 2006 SAT – CARDIFFS BAR DRUMCONG, Co.LEITRIM. Coolera House was booked, otherwise I would have used that venue. P.A.I.N – PROPAGANDA AND INFORMATION NETWORK/THE HERBAL JAHZ (Dublin)/THE CHROMASTONES (Mohill). This was a brilliant gig, the place was chocka. I haven’t had as many people at one gig since that Chumbawamba gig at Kendal Brewery in 1987. see poster
 

20TH MAY 2006 SAT - Back at COOLERA HOUSE with another great night, this time POO’S SKA-TASTIC NITE OUT’ featuring THE UPGRADES (from Dublin)/THE HYPOCRITES (ska punks from Belfast)/DROPPIN’ BOMBS (Blandchardstown skankers)/EXCUSES (sick in the head punk rock)/CAPTAIN SPAULDING (Galway thrashers)
see poster
 

9TH JUNE 2006 FRI - Back at Cardiffs Drumcong Co.Leitrim. THE SOOPHIE NUN SQUAD (from Arkansas, U.S.A.)/THE GHOST MICE (U.S.A.)/SNAKEBITE (Boyle)/EXCUSES. *see poster*
 

1ST JULY 2006 SAT – COOLERA HOUSE, SLIGO. This gig hasn’t happened as I type this, but whilst I’m here… CONSTANT FEAR (from Scotland)/THE TUBERS (from Florida, U.S.A.)/EXCUSES/DECAYER (black metal from Killibegs) *see poster*


POO HISTORY PART 2
1/4/06-28/11/08

Many thanks must go to Hugh the dead lamb for his continual encouragement of me to get off my arse and get this shit written down, after 2 years of failed promises to do so, I am now doing it within the next hour or so on Jan 8th 2009 .

SAT 1ST APRIL 2006 – POO’S APRIL FOOLS DAY GIG – STARRING – EASTFIELD/ROOSKY/MOUTPIECE/VICIOUS CIRCLES/DERELICTS/DIE FEDZ.
This was at Coolera House, Sligo, €8 euro in or €5 for real life fools/village idiots.
Gig went well I remember, well attended. Vicious Circles was excuses going through an identity crisis.*see poster*

SAT 22ND MARCH 2006- P.A.I.N/HERBAL JAHZ/CHROMASTONES
This was at Cardiffs Bar, drumcong, Co. Leitrim, €10 in.
Some gig this was, great attendance, great bands, great venue (apart from the management), it was basically in middle of nowhere, big back lounge with small stage, reckon there was about 200 people all told in at this gig. All costs were covered and some. The bar did well also. I would’ve done this at Coolera, but it was booked already.*see poster*

SAT 20TH MAY 2006 – THE UPGRADES/THE HYPOCRITES/DROPPIN’ BOMBS/CAPTAIN SPAULDING/EXCUSES
Back to Coolera house, Sligo for ‘POO’S SKATASTIC NIGHT OUT’. €8 in. Not strictly a full ska lineup, what with the inclusion of punk herberts EXCUSES and thrash noisemongers CAPTAIN SPAULDING, but still quality ska from BOMBS, punk ska from Belfast’s HYPOCRITES (RIP) and some Spanish sounding ska from the UPGRADES from Dublin, who if I remember correctly had an accordion player amidst their ranks.
A good gig as I remember, well attended, there was a good crowd of regulars around about this time, which was heartening, as it meant things were going well, all costs were getting covered.*see poster*

FRI 9TH JUNE 2006 – SOOPHIE NUN SQUAD/GHOST MICE/EXCUSES
This was at Cardiffs bar, drumcong €5 entry. I wanted to put another gig on at this venue after the success of P.A.I.N back in April. I did say to the management that it more than likely wouldn’t be a s busy as the last time, but she took no notice and got in extra staff that she had to send home. Not a great turnout, but a great fun gig –SOOPHIE NUN SQUAD are a mad bunch of Americans with loads of silly dress up costumes and audience participation – yeah I know it sounds sickening & cheese already, but they weren’t that whacky really, just silly fun, and they were alright folks as well, not that stupid American studenty twat type. They did have an amazing drawl of an accent; sort of make one vowel be two.
Management acted outrageously, searching GHOST MICE rucksack for cans, SNS merch bag for cans, also putting bar prices up by 50 cent a drink when the big crowds didn’t materialise.
Obviously this was the last gig I did here.*see poster*

SAT 1ST JULY 2006 – CONSTANT FEAR/THE TUBERS/EXCUSES/DECAYER
Back at Coolera House, Sligo, €8 entry. A poorly attended gig in comparison to previous Coolera outings, I put it down to it being summer, there is usually lots more going on. Still Constant Fear put on a good show, can’t remember what we (Excuses) played like, can’t remember the Tubers from USA either, decayer were death metal from Donegal.*see poster*

SAT 29TH JULY 2006 – BLACK TAX/HEROIC DOSES/EXCUSES/DIE FEDZ/DERELICTS
Coolera House, Sligo, €8. Pre- Leechrum fest gig, I would have both these London bands playing the Poo marquee the following weekend. Can’t remember much to be honest, not sure how the attendance was, not great I think, but still respectable. S’pose a lot of folk were saving for the fest?? *see poster*

AUGUST 5TH & 6TH 2006 – LEECHRUM FESTIVAL Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim – I did a marquee for live music bands at this small independently run festival. There was 3 music areas- Poo promotions (punk, hardcore, metal, etc), gypsy rhythm tent (trad & world music), electronic/experimental (Djs etc) as well as a kids area. All the usual food stalls, camping etc etc.
Fest went well, great weather, lots of sunshine. Out of the 3 leechrum fests I did, this was probably the best for me, although the first one was good for the chaos & lawlessness of it all Here’s a list of bands that appeared in the Poo marquee – MULTISTOREY/BABYDAVE/NOMATRIX/LEBOWSKI/20 BULLS EACH/DEIN KAMPF/BONEYARD WITCH/MO7S/EXCUSES/ROOSKY/POCKET BILLIARDS/NICE N SLEAZY/HERBAL JAHZ/UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC/DEAD DOLLS/EXPLODED FACE/FUBAR/CAPTAIN SPAULDING/KYDRASTIG/MUFF PLUNGER/DROPPIN’ BOMBS/DERELICTS/FREEBOOTERS/RUNNIN’ RIOT/KIDD BLUNT/LUNGS/THREADS/SPELLBOUND/MONGOLIA

SAT 30TH SEPT 2006 – MOJAKKA
This was at McGirls bar, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. Mojakka are a 10 piece traditional hoompah band from Finland. They played out the back of the pub, under a covered area, although the evening was dry enough. A great gig, it was donations, so I can’t remember how much they got or if I got some cash from the bar, which I remember I did with the French band when they played here (am I forwarding to the future or has Les skalopes happened yet??). I enjoyed mojakka and asked if they would come back and play at the next Leechrum festival.*see poster*

SUN OCT 1ST 2006 – BRIGADA FLORES MAGON/RUNNIN’ RIOT/DERELICTS
Was to have been at Coolera house, but was cancelled by French band having flight mix ups or something, anyways it didn’t happen.*see poster*

TUES 17TH OCT 2006 – THE CANKICKERS
Mcgirls bar, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, free gig. Great band , old timey Americana, fiddles, washboard, geetar, drums… yeeeehawwww!!!!! Great poster artwork by myself – see that can being kicked!!

FRI 3RD NOV 2006- SONIC BOOM SIX/NUMSKULL
Coolera house. The band cancelled about a week before the gig.*see poster*

SAT 2ND DEC 2006 – SUBHUMANS/EXCUSES/CAPTAIN SPAULDING (replaced OF&C)/DERELICTS
Coolera House, Sligo, €10 entry. The third date of 4 gigs for subhumans,(Belfast, Dublin, Sligo, Derry) arranged by Poo Promotions with Excuses supporting. This gig was packed out, easily the busiest gig at Coolera so far, bands were great, great crowd, brilliant gig for Excuses on home turf, Subhumans were excellent in Coolera. Only bummer of the gig was some bastard nicked one of my banners – ‘I didn’t go to work today…..’ bastard! I want it back you thieving shithead!*see poster*

SAT 16TH DEC 2006 – POO’S CHRISTMAS ON EARTH
Coolera house, €10 entry, proceeds to Our ladys hospital for sick children, Dublin (they got €465, €40 for expenses, bands played for free)- UPGRADES (cancelled)/ NOMATRIX (You can always trust the dead lamb!)/EXCUSES/ASYLUM CHOIR *see poster*

WEDS 31ST JAN 2007 – PINE HILL HAINTS/ALMIGHTY DO ME A FAVOUR
This gig was held in Sligo town in a small pub called Sheela na gig or Fureys bar. Cathal who was doing the PA for Poo gigs at Coolera and the fests (and doing a brilliant job, loads of bands –such as Excuses - got to sound better than they really were thanks to Cathal. Hahahhahaha), his mum used to run this bar, so that’s how I got this gig. It was very small, packed like sardines, a no cover charge, but bar had agreed to pay €200. One local was overheard to comment the bar was only ever this full on new years eve. It was a smoking gig. Almighty Do Me a favour was a one man band, the Haints played a blinder of a gig, as they usually do. Excellent poster for this gig as well.*see poster*

FRI 16TH FEB 2007 – BUD HOSKINS/EXCUSES/ANTI STATE (Cancelled about a week before)/THE DRAGGED (Cancelled on the morning of the gig)
Coolera house, Sligo. €8 entry, benefit for Mayo Shell to Sea campaign. About 75 people turned up, which was very good, €378 taken at door, bud Hoskins from Scotland (melodic power punk stuff) got €150 expenses, €70 poo expenses, excuses – n/a, Rossport camp got €150, quite a successful gig all considered. Cathal , fair play did the PA for free.**see poster*

SAT 17TH MARCH 2007 – ST. PADDY’S DAY BONANZA – FREIBOITERS/FREEBOOTERS/EXCUSES/DEAD DOLLS
Coolera House, The 2 booter bands were doing an Irish tour, this was part of it, Freiboiters & Freebooters - German & Irish streetpunks united!! Excuses as local band and Dead Dolls last ever gig. Well attended gig, couldn’t have been otherwise, it being a sat and Paddy’s day!*see poster*

THURS 22ND MARCH 2007 – OI POLLOI/LA LUAIN/GRA GRANNA
Coolera house, Sligo, a Scottish Gaelic speaking rock gig with old punk favourites, Oi Polloi alongside natives of the Isle of Skye, rockers La Luain and mad noise mentalists Gra granna.
Poo had organised a 7 date tour for these bands, weds 21- weds 28 March, taking this route – Derry, Sligo, Galway, Cork, limerick, Wexford, Dublin, Belfast.
This Sligo gig being only 5 days after Paddy’s day and the last big gig meant that the crowd wasn’t what it should’ve been, in fact there was 33 in at the door paying €8. everyone is always skint after the massive blowout that is Paddy’s day, plus the fact that it’s hard to do gigs too close to each other in Sligo/Leitrim, the crowds just aren’t there for more than monthly gigs really.*see poster*

SAT 28TH APRIL 2007 – CONSTANT FEAR/DROPPIN’ BOMBS/SPESHAL ED
Coolera House, a benefit for Bunanandan animal sanctuary. A very poor turnout, no money raised for the sanctuary, in fact Poo down by €100. Sometimes it happens like this, everyone who puts on gigs knows this, I’m just glad that usually I break even and cover costs, am not out of pocket.
Speshal Ed were awful. Bombs were there usual top notch punk ska thrash, don’t know if I’ve ever seen these lads do a bum gig ( I not seen em for some time now tho’ hahahaha).
Constant Fear did the business with their rough anarcho punk tunes putting in a good set for those present.*see poster*

SAT JUNE 7TH 2007 – LES SKALOPES/FROG FROM THE BOG/DJ WILLIE
McGirls bar, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. This was a great gig, 10 piece ska band from France, sort of like the Selecter, but French. I put this on outside the back of the pub, there was a small platform to one side, which we rebuilt and fortified – it was going to have to hold 10 Parisians.
All other weekends had been wet, I was taking a chance with the weather; I had some half arsed contingency plans involving erecting a scratty tarpaulin to cover the stage in case it rained, but we were blessed with the lovely summer’s evening that could reasonably be expected for the time of year.
A great turnout, a great band, had the place hopping around. It was a donations gig, so I did the rounds with a hat and got €250 from the bar for the band, totalling the money I gave them to €500 + (I do have correct amounts written down somewhere in my accounts documents –ie- in that plastic bag full of scraps of paper, gig fliers & posters with scribbles of names and figures, that’s stuffed in a cupboard underneath loads of other crap), poo expenses were paid and I got to drink lovely lovely creamy Guinness all night – thanks Liam!
There must’ve been in the region of 150 – 180 people present, with many camping in a small field at the very back of the land.
There was also a very tasty veggie barbeque supplied by those Red Ink (AKA –Stitchy Press, Domino Sound system). Great Poo gig.*see poster*

Thurs june 21st 2007 – special summer solstice entertainment – ONE MAN ANNA/LYNCHED
This was at Flynns bar, Arigna, Co. Roscommon. Arigna is on the Sleive an Iarran mountain, Flynns is frequented by mountain folks. Noleen from Drumshanbo, whom I’d bought a Fiesta car off a couple of years ago, had taken on the lease of the pub and was willing to try different things.
Lynched from Dublin(?) who played punky- folky rebel songs were doing a few dates around the country with One Man Anna from USA, a one woman band who played bawdy songs with a casio organ and unusual percussion.
Lynched went down well with the mountain folk, whistles, guitar and pipes, the lynched boys joined in with the locals after the gig for the regular trad session.
One Man Anna’s act totally freaked out the locals along with a few of the more liberal minded punters who’d come along to the gig. Her songs were lewd, filthy tales of sexual encounters involving embarrassing yeast infections – so not your everyday happenings in Arigna then, oh no.
Anna did indeed have a small casio organ that she performed along to the preset samples as well as small cymbals strapped to her elbows, knees, and if I remember correctly, hanging from her tits (she did have clothes on mind).
Noleen came to me halfway through Anna’s short show and inquired whether I’d done it on purpose and was I trying to ruin it here for her? Obviously I wasn’t trying to ruin it for her and I truly didn’t know the extremes of Anna’s bawdiness I explained as I looked to see Anna rubbing shaving foam into her crotch and singing about yeast infections.
I swear I saw a woman faint and there was many crosses fingered in front of chests.
Another incident that marks this night was getting attacked by Leechrum Liam with a chair and having to put him on the floor and stand on him to keep him down. The poor man was losing his mind at this stage, pressure from the imminent SAI fest (as Leechrum had become) in August.
Yeah, check out the poster for this gig – one of my own efforts that I’m quite proud of – thanks to Steve Bell, who’s dancing penguin art I knicked. *see poster*

FRI 6TH JULY 2007 – 3CR/DR BLOODMONEY/SOCIAL SUICIDE/CARRY NO BANNERS
Coolera House, Sligo. Approx 36 paying €8 entry = €290.
3CR , obnoxious punks from Manchester got €190, CNB got €20, social suicide (Mark die fedz) wouldn’t take any money. €80 to the PA (which was usually €150), so Poo got no expenses back. A poor turnout, but that’s the way it goes – maybe middle of summer aspect?*see poster*

3,4,5 august 2007 – SLI AN IARAINN FESTIVAL
Drumshanbo, Co. Roscommon. Three days this year, which was to be the last of the fest, due mainly in my opinion to the fact that the main organiser (leechrum Liam) spent well well way over fucking budget and thus got into a lot of debt. His main act of the weekend cost more than all my acts over 3 days put together, plus their hospitality beers!!!
Anyways the fest went well, apart from not making enough money, it did rain a bit more than we would have liked, but it was a wet year, and this is Ireland!
Again PA provided in the Poo marquee by Catahal Furey, who once again worked really fucking hard the whole weekend – respect.
Also respect due to Pious for letting us use his land.
And much respect to Leechrum Liam, Stephanie for all the hard work they put into doing the Leechrum fests/SAI over the years, with very little thanks from anyone. Mend yourself soon Liam.
Here is a list of bands that played the POO marquee, from Fri to sat – SEPTIC PUSSY/THE DOWNFALL/ASYLUM CHOIR/BABYDAVE/PROPHESISED/DERELICTS/SOCIAL LUBE/FUBAR/LOBOTOMIES/THE DUBTONES/ROOSKY/DANGERFIELDS/KIDD BLUNT/MONGOLIA/MELODY NELSON/THOMAS McPARTLAND/SPESHAL ED/BASTION/COMPLAN/SETTING OFF SIRENS/EXCUSES/1,000 DRUNKEN NIGHTS/HEROIC DOSES/FREEBOOTERS/MOJAKKA/RUNNIN’ RIOT/COLDWAR/POCKET BILLIARDS/LOS LANGEROS/P.A.I.N/THE BLAME/CORMAC COMPLAN’S HARDCORE WORKOUT/OBLIVIOUS/CAPTAIN SPAULDING/SANDTRAP/RES NULLIUS/S-T BASTARDS/NOMATRIX/EASPA MEASA/THE HERBAL SPA’S/BARFIGHT/MOUTPIECE/ONLY FUMES & CORPSES/UNITE TRIBE/PARANOID VISIONS/CLASH JAM WALLOP/ESTEL/UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC

THURS 6TH SEPT 2007 – KAMIKAZE SPERM/LOBOTOMIES/EXCUSES
Coolera house, Sligo, €6 entry. Went well this gig, quite a big crowd, everything got paid anyways I reckon. Manc punks Kamikaze Sperm were alright, it was the sax that made ‘em in my opinion.*see poster*

SAT 27TH OCT 2007 – UNITE TRIBE/DR BLOODMONEY/DOMINO SOUND SYSTEM
Coolera House, Sligo, €8 entry. Good gig, Unite tribe, reggae band from Dublin who had played at the SAI fest, drew a good crowd, local band Bloodmoney played also.*see poster*

SAT 17TH NOV 2007 – LOS LANGEROS/10 PAST SEVEN/NINEIX LIVES (didn’t turn up)
THE HIGHEST BANDS IN IRELAND TOUR- Langeros & the tenners released a split single after walking up the highest mountain in Ireland, then recording songs about it. As always, langeros were brilliant – the ultimate good time party band – they live up to it. 10 Past seven put on a great show as well, thrashing the hell out of their instruments and leaping all over the place – proper band.
Good turnout I remember.*see poster*

SAT 15TH DEC 2007 – POO’S CHRISTAMAS ON EARTH – CLASH JAM WALLOP/MOMMA’S SLIPPERS/DR BLOOODMONEY
Coolera House, €10 entry includes complimentary glass of mulled wine, proceeds of gig going to Our Lady’s hospital for sick children Crumlin, Dublin.
€600 raised for the hospital, bands played for free, €100 expenses for CJW driver&van.
A great night, good turnout, CJW were great, if you’re a Clash fan they are the tops. Slippas as always put on a great gig with their Ramonesque tunes and riffs, bonza! Bloodmoney did their rock act, competent playing of a set of covers and their own originals, a great local band.*see poster*

FRI 19TH JAN 2008 – COMPLICITE CANDIDE/TOXIC WASTE/MOUTPIECE
Coolera house, Sligo, €10 entry.€550 taken at door, all costs paid, bands etc . Complicite Candide, a Czech band who played punk rock n roll were joined by 80’s anarcho punk band Toxic Waste and the subliminal Moutpiece to create a fantastic first gig of the year – yay!!*see poster*

FRI 8TH FEB 2008 – SEMMI KOMOLY/LES CHRISTPUNCHERS/CAPTAIN SPAULDING
Coolera House, tenner in. My birthday this gig, not the lineup I would chose for me birthday gig, this gig was originally meant to be sat 9th, but I had to re arrange it. Can’t really remember much of the gig, was that bollixed, even puke up outside. Semmi Komoly were from Hungary, the other bands are from the Galway hardcore pool. Expenses were covered I’m sure.*see poster*

SAT 23RD FEB 2008 – THE MINGERS/LOS MENDOZAS/ONLY FUMES & CORPSES/THE COMPLAINTS
Last gig at Coolera House due to some pillock throwing a glass at a plate glass window right in front of the bar man (this was the first gig this idiot had attended, not seen him at any before, what a way to make an impression, eh?) amongst other reasons, but that was the main reason for old Michael saying no more gigs Jasper. Anyways there was 58 paying in at the door (probably a tenner), so all costs (€150 PA etc) and band expenses would’ve been paid.
It was a shame to lose Coolera, the management were sound people, the venue was just right, the Guinness was lovely.
It will take some time to get a new venue, I shall find.*see poster*

SAT 19TH APRIL 2008 – THE BEATLESONS/ILYA K
I did this gig with Mike Mantua, who was working for the venue, the Dock arts centre in Carrick on Shannon. A bit of a strange venue, more suited to performance- theatre, comedy, plays etc, rather than live music events. Mike tried several gigs here and they didn’t seem to work – all poorly attended, this gig being one of them , unjustly so because the Beatlesons were the best craic, very lively and very up tempo, they would go down a treat in a marquee at a fest I would say.
I didn’t get to see Ilya K as I was doing the door, but by all accounts this is a very interesting band to see. *see poster*

SAT 10TH MAY – INNER TERRESTRIALS/DR BLOODMONEY/AXIS OF…
This gig was at Planxty Mcguires in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, a big cavern of a nightclub place – it was the only venue I could get, nowhere to be had in Sligo.
€10 entry, got enough through the door to pay IT! Their guarantee and an extra €100, as well as bloodmoney, axis, PA, printing etc.
A good gig and I can do more there, though it is not ideal, the location and the size of the place. I’d have to get the right bands on in there top be able to sort of make it look a bit full, instead of a normal crowd for a pub gig that looks small in such a big space. Not making sense now? Not surprised, this is taking ages to do, a good job I’m not doing detailed accounts of each event/band performance, I’d be here til the end of the month, it’s too cold to be sitting around not moving. *see poster*

SAT/SUN 28TH/29TH JUNE – DRUMACANOO PUNX PICNIC, CHURCHILL, CO. DONEGAL
A two day event with camping, 3 music areas (main hall, marquee, decking area). I did this with Mary & Oisin Rebellious Jukebox (Letterkenny) and the Erne Music Co op (Enniskillen, Setting off Sirens/Momma’s Slippas). I was mostly involved with booking the bands and doing the running orders, but did shitloads of other stuff as well. Mary did all the legal, official stuff, fair play to her.
It was a great success overall, with only a couple of incidents to mar an otherwise cracking weekend. We broke even, which was amazing, after initial fears of being in debt a few grand, so that was a relief. Big expenses such as €8000 for security, it was some undertaking. Still we lived through it and so did Churchill, now it’s time to get ready for Drumacanoo number two – 27/28 June 2009 – get your tickets in early, there’s going to be big demand.
Here’s a rundown on the bands that played over the weekend – THE HINGES/SECTION 4/ CLASS DESTRUCTION/SETTING OFF SIRENS/THE UNDERTAKERS/MOMMA’S SLIPPERS/MOUTPIECE/TOXIC WASTE/CONSTANT FEAR/THE DUBTONES/PARANOID VISIONS/MADDOGDOM/FUBAR/EXCUSES/ESTEL/STUNT/ONLY FUMES & CORPSES/DROPPIN’ BOMBS/3CR/SMALL MERCIES/KIDD BLUNT/BLOOD OR WHISKEY/3RD TIME LUCKY/APATHETIC YOUTH/FIRST IMPRESSIONS/VIOLENT FUCKWITS/SICK JOKE/SEPTIC PUSSY/AXIS OF/LES CHRISTPUNCHERS/DIVISIONS RUIN/BLEEDING RECTUM/THE EVANGELISTS/DECEPTION POLICY/ELROY/SEXMAN 4/ZAFARANCHOS/BACCHUS/ANTI STATE/HOPE IS NOISE/DR BLOODMONEY/THE TROUBLES/GAN BHRATACH/GHUNDI/LOBOTOMIES/DIRTY LOVE *see poster*

SAT 26TH JULY 2008 – KILNABOY
McGirls bar, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. I had Kilnaboy over from Wales to come play at the following weekends Mantua festival, so sorted ‘em out this wee gig, they played Letterkenny as well. Like the Levellers, but rougher and dirtier, they put on a good gig in the barn behind the pub, which has now become a co operative space ran by a group of folk including them Stitchy press folks. *see poster*

AUGUST 1-3RD 2008 – MANTUA FESTIVAL, Co. ROSCOMMON.
Mike Mantua asked me if I wanted to do a bit of a stage at the fest, I ended up with a split stage over the weekend, that is , I had the stage from fri night, half of Saturday, the Jason Langeros would take over the running.
Right from the start it was pretty much calamity, due in main to the weather – high winds and lashing rain- but also to lack of planning- the stage I was to use wasn’t finished by Friday lunch, and thus things ran late. The main stage blew away and they had to get a lorry stage in as replacement at the last minute. The rain proceeded to continue through Friday, and Saturday, eventually easing up for Sunday.
Most bands I put on were happy enough with it, despite the extreme conditions, shit PA and all the mud. All the bands got paid and all got good drinks riders, more than other artists were allowed at other areas. The only band I put on who were really unhappy were the Offenders from Italy, who didn’t like the weather, though that was out of my control, although on reflection after the event, I could’ve put some planks down across the mud to the back stage, but I didn’t think of it at the time .Understandably they were pissed off with the shit sound, as were all the bands – not much I personally could do about that, I had wanted to bring my PA man, Cathal Furey, who knows the bands I put on and who had done the last 2 years of leechrum fests fro me, but Mike Mantua wanted to go with his PA men from Cork, so that was that.
Anyways, here’s a list of bands that appeared for Poo Promotions at the Mantua fest – TRAD EDGY/THE DUBTONES/THE BLAME/SMOKE LIKE A FISH/KILNABOY/BLOOD OR WHISKEY/ROOSKY/ESTEL/DROPPIN’ BOMBS/THE OFFENDERS/DR BLOODMONEY/SKAZZ/

SAT 4TH OCT 2008 – SKAMENTO (from Spain, didn’t come)/THE FREEBOOTERS/EXCUSES
McGirls bar, the CO OP shed, Ballinamore. €5
Skamento couldn’t make it , so was just local punx Excuses and musty streetpunks THE FREEBOOTERS. Was a good gig, it’s great in that barn/shed, though not so good in winter, unless a door of sorts gets put on it.*see poster*

THURS 30TH OCT 2008 – INNER TERRESTRIALS/EXCUSES
Upstairs at Harry’s bar, Sligo Town, €10 entry.
Great gig this one, small room above an old mans pub, bout 70 folk there all told, a good crowd. Everything got paid. Can do more gigs there but not upstairs, the owner worried about the ceiling falling in.

FRI 28TH NOV 2008 – LOBOTOMIES/EXCUSES/THORN
A night to remember Robert Boyton, a punk and metal tribute gig at The Leitrim bar, Sligo town. Thorn a young metal band from Mayo, then Excuses, falling down an all (I do all me own stunts!), then Lobotomies. Raised a good few euros for Boyton’s wife & kids. Would be good to get gigs in this venue again, here’s hoping, cos I’m going to speak to them soon, so watch the home page. *see poster*

Bloody hell that’s taken about 4 hours all told, didn’t do it all last night, been at it since 10am, it’s 1pm now. Jesus at least it’s done now.
Gawd bless the Dead Lambikins

To be continued...