Gaymers Grassroots

Gaymers Grassroots

20 May, 2009
by: Gemma Thomson

We've all been there: we discover some small-time unknown band, fall desperately in love with them, loyally follow them around to their sparsely attended gigs and madly sing and dance along at the front alone like Mel from Flight of the Conchords (OK, maybe that's just me). Then all of a sudden everyone catches on, discovers their amazingness, jumps on the bandwagon and before we know it, our favourite band makes it big and is playing the Brixton Academy.

Unfortunately, it's all too easy for bands to get caught up in the rock 'n' roll whirlwind, get too big for their boots, forget where they came from and, more importantly, forget about their loyal fans who got them where they are in the first place.  

Thank goodness then for Gaymers Grassroots Gigs, which take bands back to their roots to play exclusive hometown gigs to a small, intimate crowd of loyal fans who have been with them since the beginning. The series of money-can't-buy London gigs includes performances from Starsailor, The Holloways, The Maccabees, The Zutons, The Rumble Strips and The Twang.  I'm lucky enough to catch The Holloways in London and The Maccabees in Brighton (and yes, I did see both bands in tinpot little venues before they made it big, so I've most definitely earned my place at the front).



It feels slightly weird entering the Bull and Gate at 3pm in glaring sunshine for the Holloways gig, but a free pint of Gaymers later I'm getting in the gigging mood. Support act Sam McCarthy warms up the crowd with a cheery acoustic set, including a cover of The Kinks' ‘Sunny Afternoon', which seems quite fitting, especially when he sings ‘Sipping at my ice cold Magners' (er, I think he means Gaymers). The Holloways are in equally high spirits, and perform an energetic set complete with audience interaction, banter and their trademark bright-side-of-life statements such as: ‘We lost our way, but we're back. And thanks for being here.'


Photo Credit: Dale Harvey

A few weeks later I'm back in the glaring early afternoon sunshine, this time in Brighton, heading towards the Maccabees gig for another free pint of cider. But wait, there seems to be a problem: the rude, obnoxious door staff aren't letting anyone in, which results in over half the attendees missing support band Lyrebird. Not good.

When The Maccabees come onstage the atmosphere feels a bit odd. The boys are on top form but for some reason the crowd is pretty unresponsive. Maybe it's because they're still pissed off about being kept outside for so long (for which Orlando apologises, which is rather sweet considering it's not the band's fault), maybe it's because it's the middle of the afternoon and they're not drunk enough yet or maybe, like me, they're still recovering from the carnage of The Great Escape the night before. Whatever it is, it doesn't affect the Maccabees' performance one bit, which is as passionate and heartfelt as ever. My only complaint? It doesn't go on for long enough. But then again, I could listen to the Maccabees all day.  

The Holloways will be playing Barfly on 12th June.
The Maccabees will be playing Brixton Academy on 3rd October.

Click here to read Gemma's Holloways interview.

Click here for things to do in Holloway.
Click here for things to do in Camden.
Click here for things to do in Brixton.
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Gemma Thomson