Merkin Christmas!

ALL CHANGE

Yes, as promised new music from Whitby Now 2008 has been posted on the Whitby Popwatch MySpace site, which is at the top of the links there, if you cast your eyes across.

You can now listen to...

THE MERKINS
HIGH TIDE
SACK THE JUGGLER
FIVE X NINE

Without leaving the centrally heated comfort of your front room. As long as you've got a computer in your front room. Or a laptop that you can take into your front room. I'll shut up now, shall I?

You can download any of the tracks using the extremely simple method outlined here.

THE MERKINS CALL IT A DAY

The Merkins have finally decided to throw in the towel.

In a message to Popwatch, Pug said "After much soul searching we have decided to bring the Merkins rock 'n' rollercoaster to an end . There's no hard feelings between us, we just decided enough was enough. We would like to thank everyone who supported us over the last couple of years, especially Whitby Now who gave us our first and last gig . We had a blast ... We came we saw and most of all we ROCKED!!!"

So have you got something else up your sleeve then Pug? "I am in the middle of putting together a new band which is so different to The Merkins and so much heavier ... Rocking times are comin' and I think your gonna like it!"

Popwatch loved those pesky Merkins. Now let's see what the future has in store. We wait with bated breath.

PETITION AGAINST FORM 696 A THREAT TO LIVE MUSIC

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Scrapthe696/

If you wish to register your opposition to form 696 (see earlier post), you can do so at the above link.

NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, WHERE ARE ALL THE WOMEN?

I have recently had the privilege to be involved in two really great events for local bands: Whitby Now and the Battle of the Sands featuring between them 30 bands all from Whitby and Scarborough or just beyond all of incredibly high quality and with a really diverse range of styles and influences. It looks to me like the local music scene is the strongest it has been for ages.

BUT... out of these bands, featuring, let's say an average of 4 members each, so roughly 120 people only 2 were women, solo artist Tania Rodway and frontwoman of the DTs Alethea Estill (or Leafy). That's a pretty lousy 1.6%, and, whilst I have no wish to cast aspersions on either Leafy or Tania, they are both singers and frontwomen (and long may they continue). There was not one woman playing an instrument at either event.

So I'm throwing down the gauntlet. Come on girls, put on some Patti Smith, or Gossip or Supremes or Hole or PJ Harvey or Fiona Apple or Eliza Carthy or The Slits or Bjork or The Dixie Chicks or Madonna or Joan Jett or Siouxsie Sioux or Girls Aloud, whatever floats your proverbial boat. Then pick up your guitars, basses, fiddles, trumpets, get behind your drumkit or keyboard and get ready for next winters Whitby Now and Battle of the Sands. If you don't, I might just be forced to!!