WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?
Lots of things, actually. Primarily, it's about the bands - as anyone will know from this site, there are several Dundee bands (no doubt more to come) who I just think are sooooo good that it seemed about time to take the message about just HOW good they are, to a much wider audience, hence "B In The Bar" - a festival of the finest music from Dundee bands (+1). It's also about having a good time - as you will - and about time that the music played by these bands became more well known.
WHO'S BEHIND IT AND WHY?
Me - and because I love the music. Simple as that, really. You could call it an act of self-indulgence on a par with when Steve Davis brought Magma over to play in London because his snooker schedule wouldn't allow him to see the band when they were on tour in Europe.
I'm not making any money out of this at all. As soon as the (relatively small) costs have been recovered, all extra money goes entirely to the bands.
DEAD EARNEST?
It looks good on the leaflets - otherwise, nothing at all to do with the label, although that's the name of the website, so it seems fair.
WHY SO MANY DIFFERENT STYLES OF MUSIC?
That's the whole point - besides, who else would dare put on such a vast range of bands on one bill and get away with it (well, Fritz at Bannermans in Edinburgh is another) - that's what my life's been about - enjoying music on a wide scale. That's why the price of entry is so ludicrously low - readmisssion allows you to purchase your ticket and from thereon you can stay for the duration or check out the bands that you don't know, staying for the ones you do know, or discovering bands that you find to be just awesome.
THE BANDS?
ALTRES - Dundee's answer to Tangerine Dream (when they were good - T Dream, that is) - a trio and part-time quartet, they feature synthesizers and electric guitar, recently blew the heads off the audience at Bannermans and will close the festival on the 7th with what I promise will be a very special show - more details shortly.
HENNISI - How do you describe Hennisi - you don't - you experience them first - Indie rock? Maybe - as good as any - only this band are soooo much more inventive. In Don, they have a singer who grabs your attention the moment he begins, while the core unit of Cath on drums and Micahel on electric guitar provide the drive and dynamics at the ehart of a band with the potential to be massive.
THE WILDHOUSE - I always decribed them as "Velvet Underground-meets- Can-meets-Neu" - and the live experience that is this band in concert is pretty well guaranteed to leave you jaw-dropped in amazement. With Sheila on drums, playing standing up, and the two electric guitarists (no bass, no keys, no synths), this band whip up a furnace heat with the effect of a small nuclear reactor - you owe it to yourself to see this band.
SAZ - crushing heavy metal that's delivered with the firepower of a small army - featuring the core trio of electric guitar, electric bass and drums - a powerhouse of furnace heat proportions - the two female vocalists provide the focus of attention while the wholly original songs will have all metal fans, from traditional to thrash, eating out of the palms of their hands from the moment they start to deliver the goods. Not only Dundee's finest metal band, but one that deserves to be hallowed from Kerrangg to Metal Hammer and beyond.
LIGHT WHITE NOISE - When i saw this band for the first time, they struck me as almost a heavier Oasis style of things only more intense - as a hinterland between "rock" and "indie" the band play original material and just cook in a live setting - the quality of the playing and the excellent vocals make this band way more than "just another indie band" - check them out!!
BOX - The solo project of Neil McIntee, Box could be called an avant-garde electronic/electric music act, but with every concert a different experience, the music is much more than that term applies. From drifting waves of sound through rhythmic muscle to squalls of drones, searing guitar textures and treatments, and beyond, you never quite know what you're going to hear when he plays live - heck, even he doesn't know, some of the time - but the one thing you can be sure of - as a sonic experience it will be unique and intense.
21FX - The debut of the new solo project from Hennisi's electric guitarist, this set will follow on immediately, even possibly overlap, with the one from Box on just before, so it gives you some idea of what you can expect.
ELECTRA - Well, what can I say about Electra - "unique" just doesn't do her justice - "wondrous" doesn't even come close - and then there's her music (ho ho - just kidding, Electra). A one-woman show (although you might expect the odd suprise), a near 6 foot blonde American will command your attention like no other as she sings (and speaks) her way through a set of orignal songs that range from sultry electro-ambience to all out, guns-blazing rock attack, with a vocal that is simply incredible - her range is fantastic, her delivery awesome and her songs and singing to die for - promise me, you'll kick yourself if you miss this one.
WHERE'S ISIS??
Couldn't do it - a matter of logistics more than anything - a shame, because they are among Dundee's finest, but you can guarantee that there'll be lots more to come from them - count on it.
WHY ELECTRA?
When I learnt that Isis couldn't make it, disappointed though I was, I decided I wanted something special to replace them - and Electra is very special. What she does is unique - that's why she deserves to be included with the Dundee scene - as "special guest", it's a pleasure to have her play the festival.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE?
Because it's going to be fantastic - I'm not going to go into diatribes of how you owe it to the bands, etc - it's quite simple - we have here a set of bands who all have one thing in common - they play incredible music and deserve to be heard by a much wider audience. If just one person finds a band or artist, as a result of this festival, that they come to know and love, then it's all been worth while - and hopefully there will be lots more than that. If it puts the "Dundee Collective" of bands on the map - then that's a bonus- right now, Scottish music has rarely had a higher profile, and, of all the "scenes" around, Dundee has one of the widest ranging and potentially best-selling hotbeds of talent, of any of them. Also, because it's freakin' amazing value - to allow you to hear some incredible music.