Gigs in the South East

It seems hard to believe, but the local British scene seems to be dying a slow death.

As a member of a band based in Kent, it has become an almost impossible task to arrange shows in the local pubs and clubs that once heaved with customers clamouring to see the latest in local talent. Today, these very same venues seem somewhat afraid to put on gigs showcasing the songwriting talent that, if anything, seems to improve year after year. 

With the descending price of home recording equipment, people are spending longer crafting the music they choose to make, but where is this music to be performed? It's all well and good having thousands of 'e-friends' listening to your music on myspace, but when it comes down to it, live music is where the true excitement lies. 

Now, I'm not saying the pubs and clubs up and down the country no longer put on original bands, but throughout Kent there seems to be a trend of only booking bands that play cover versions. Sure everybody enjoys hearing the classics, but when different bands play the same material week in, week out, there seems to be an obvious problem.

For fear of this article being little more than a personal rant, it is imperative that promoters and venues look back to the days when bands were performing their own material and building a fanbase that would follow them around. 

Today, it seems that such a thing can only be achieved virtually. 

Send to a friend | Digg this! | Del.icio.us | Added by: Mike Johnson (19/02/2008)