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When you are a new media company and you are looking to move offices to a new fresh and vibrant location, where do you go? Old Street Of course! Following in the vein of our last newsletter Old Street is really old, I mean way back in them Roman days old. However, like wine age only makes it better and although we are barely out of our metaphorical nappies we rather like its distinguished history, it suits us. HybridLab is at the forefront of promoting unsigned bands to our hungry public. Our web page www.hybridlab.org is our space for you creative folk to showcase your talent.
HybridLab is social enterprise set up by IEA (Innovative Enterprise Action). IEA is our omniscient Mount Olympus and us HybridLabbers being their all-trusting mortals seeking out talent to please the gods: people with a passion for writing, photography and graphic design, and unsigned artists of high calibre. HybridLab works along side WHAM (Women Helped to Advance in Media) that helps women gain invaluable experience in media by employing them at HybridLab to work as our writers, photographers and designers. So sit back and absorb all the totally cool info on upcoming gigs, reviews and much more |
 When the sun sets over the façade of an almost derelict house in the heart of Brixton, an inebriated tramp is often seen slouching up the road. This self-appointed gate-keeper of the Jamm, with his trousers too short for his legs and a lop-sided walk, begs of you a desperate charge of two pence. Whether you pay your dues or not you scurry into the large forbidding house on the corner. Inside the warm red walls refract a sleepy light. Musicians and groupies slouch in the shadows, their conversations humming against the clink of pouring pints. The room yawns against the gloaming, stretching out the smoky structure as if preparing itself for the night ahead.
No night is quite the same at the Brixton Jamm. The venue not only throws parties and plays great live music, but also host arts and cultural events. And if the versatility of this venue hasn’t bitten you then as summer approaches, the tasty BBQ smells wafting from their terrace with certainly entice you in.
261 Brixton Road
SW9 6LH
www.brixtonjamm.org
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One of Hybridlab’s featured singer/songwriters, Ben Griffith, soared into the media spotlight recently as the subject of the Ford Focus advertising campaign. As Ben delightedly put it “It means a whole audience of people will check out my myspace site who don't even know I exist. I think in music, if you're passionate about what you do, you basically need help to get out there and be heard”.
His Serene acoustic Indie is so beautiful it rocks you to sleep. Griffith's soothing sounds make for a calm and content ambience after a long day. Slightly melancholic, it stimulates memories of relationships lost and warm summer evenings. Ben and his guitar alone can create an entire atmosphere that penetrates even the coldest of hearts. If you like the melodic vibe of Counting Crows, Ben Griffith will definitely strike a chord with you. He has a vocal strength and a smooth style, nicely backed by the gentle plucking of an acoustic guitar. Slightly haunting, his lyrics pull at the part of us all that thinks of times gone by with regret and longing. So if you are feeling stressed out, tired and in need to some “me” time, stick some Ben Griffith on and chill out.
Ben is also a generous soul, offering £1 off his next gig at the Spitz club on June the fifth for all lucky HybridLab Headlines readers. Just tear off the ticket below and head along!
www.myspace.com/bengriffithmusic
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In our line of work, you hear some real horror stories about the way promoters treat bands. When it comes to gigs, it is a struggle for survival. Firstly, it is not always easy for an unsigned band to book a venue, and even if they succeed, they need to deposit expensive rental fees. You can get a promoter to sort out the money angle for you, but this often comes with another high price tag when the promoter takes their cut.
In a typical scenario an unsigned band receives around £50 from playing a venue (this is shockingly often less). By having a promoter as the middleman means the band often finds it hard to find out what the door-takings have been that night. Unfortunately some London venues insist you use their promoters to book a gig there.
Most venues make their money through selling drinks during the show. However the entrance fee that the fans pay on the door is also taken by the venue to pay their rent, employees, and the bands’ promoter.
So what are the promoters doing? Apparently, they only book the gigs. The venue is responsible for their website updates.
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The band often has to create and distribute flyers and posters. And what about media promotion? Just don’t ask…
Obviously there are some salt of the earth promoters out there, but with unsigned bands when smaller amounts of money are involved these seem few and far between.
Let us know how you feel about this - drop us a message on our myspace.com/hybridlab.  |
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Amplifiers are essential for gigs as they produce the sound of the band’s music – and we want that to be loud and clear. The majority of venues don’t provide any back line. The bands have to bring their own and share it. Guitarists and bassists use their own instruments and effects pedals whilst drummers use their personal snare, cymbals and bass drum pedal. Venues usually provide the PA but sometimes it is not of great quality because of the constant use.
There are several reasons why the venues offer little or no back line. Most importantly because amplifiers are at risk during the gigs – misuse, abuse, heavy use. They often need to be replaced, and that equals money loss for the venue. Because unsigned musicians often have to bring their own gear they bear the burden of extended exhaustion and transportation fees. Bands should be devoted to their music. We should not forget they are artists that work for the cultural development of our world and therefore it is our duty to support them. Should more venues provide the heavy basic equipment to help these artists? It’s a tough call…
We’d love to hear your views, so get your fingers tappin’ at myspace.com/hybridlab.
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