Directory: ROCK, POP & DANCE MUSIC

 
     _{MAJOR VENUES}

Rock & pop bands (touring): Venues for touring bands in & around Stoke are: Britannia Stadium (very occasional large 'big name' concerts such as Elton John); The Sugarmill (400 capacity); Staffordshire University SU (1700 capacity, but NUS card needed for entry); The Underground in Hanley; The Glebe; The Rigger in Newcastle-under-Lyme; Keele University (1500 capacity? - enough to host the Pet Shop Boys and The Levellers in recent years); Queen's Theatre, Burslem (1300 capacity).

Country Music: Bidds is a large country music venue in Longton, Stoke. Another is Drovers in Hanley.

Folk & Jazz: See Creative Stoke's Classical & traditional music page.

(See also: BBC Staffordshire's music venues listings.)

     _{INDIVIDUAL BANDS}

We have around 220 original bands in & around Stoke — such as: RoughKutz, The Skalinskies, The Queensberry Rules, The Fat Cats, dead set against, Boztick Haze, Trilemma, Draw The Line, Grace, Agent Blue, The Boat Band, Texas Hurricane, Charger, Transit, Hereafter, The Ravens, Valkyrie, Laminator, NEMO, Accountable to None, Pornographic Monkey / Centrifuge, Long Time Dead, Rachel Rimmer and Two Tonne Soul, Fire Fly, Shiro, Skincheese, Maelstrom, Friends of Ken, and Altern8. But, sadly, Creative Stoke doesn't have the resources to keep up with the fast-moving local gig/band scene. Listing websites include: BBC Stoke Music and Subculture; the www.stokerockscene.co.uk; Crafty magazine; Music Mania; and Stoke Sounds.

     _{ORGANISATIONS & PROMOTERS}

::  Unsigned magazine - a printed colour publication from Stoke-on-Trent, which is devoted to local unsigned bands. Launched March 2006.

::  Upstart - supporting local bands who want to make it to the next level.

::  StaffsMetal - promoting heavy metal in Staffordshire.

::  Stoke Rock Scene - has up-to-date gig listings on their site.

::  Stoke Gothic - promoting "goth, cyber, industrial and darkwave scenes" in Stoke. See their site for details of the Resurrection nights.

::  Dinosaur Music - promoting local songwriters.

::  Staffordshire Music Net - from the County Council, aimed at school and college teachers. If you want to start an after-school band club, point likely teachers here for advice about how it's done.

     _{RECORD LABELS}

::  Psychophonic Records.

::  Prism Music Group.

::  Fulmination Records.

::  CP Recordings.

::  SONS: Soul of North Staffordshire - based in Hanley.

     _{PRODUCERS & COMPOSERS}

::  All4One Music - provides production music for film, TV, video productions and websites.

::  Andy Moor.

::  Adam White.

::   Poco a Poco Music - a freelance music composer specialising in music for corporate video, documentaries and short films. Based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.

     _{GIG/CONCERT/FESTIVAL LISTINGS}

::  BBC Radio Stoke - 'SubCulture'.

     _{RECORDING STUDIOS}

::  Clock House Recording Studio - based in the Music Dept. at Keele University.

::  Sub Sound Studio - based in Stoke.

::  Prism Recording Studios - based in Stoke.

::  Big Dan Studios - based in Stoke-on-Trent.

::  The Toilets - band rehearsal rooms in Stoke.

::  Cross Rhythms Radio - offers recording sessions for independent bands.

::  Sub Sound Studio.

::  Cosmic Studios is a professional recording studio, located in the heart of the beautiful and extensive grounds of Trentham Lakes and Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

  Silence Studios (aka Goldphone Recordings)

 Mad House Recording Studios. "Professional but affordable" 16/24 track digital studio, with "tons of valve gates compressors", and engineers who are "specialists in achieving the authentic punk/oi sound".

 Tremolo Studios. Large six-room studio & rehearsal complex in Stoke-on-Trent.

 Blue Lizard Studio. Down in the basement of the Burslem School of Art, Stoke-on-Trent.

 Studio Q - based at the Queensberry Youth Centre (Old school buildings on corner of Queensberry Rd. / Furnace Rd., just off the A50 at Normacot). Provides subsidised recording studios and rehearsal space. Free of charge, or at nominal cost, if you're younger than 25.

     _{SPECIALIST SHOPS, SERVICES & INSTRUMENT REPAIRS}

::  Cookies - based in Longport, Stoke-on-Trent. Well-known DJ superstore. They also offer DJ training, and maintain a register of local DJ's who can be hired.

::  Synth Repair Services.

::  Living Design - sound & acoustics design. Based in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

::  Madhouse Music - based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Specialist record collector's service.

::  The Guitar Doctor.

::  Musical Lines - based in Leek. Sheet-music specialist.

     _{VOICE COACHING & MUSIC TUITION}

::  Sally Rivers, a highly experienced vocal and singing coach, based in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent.

     _'ZINES

::  The Exclusive - the long-running Stoke-based music & poetry fanzine. Now branching out into radio and CD's.

::  Songs in the Kiosk of Life (Flash only) is a Stoke paper 'zine, club night and radio service. Kiosk also have an online 'zine at www.kioskpost.com.

     _{LIGHTING, VJ's, PHOTOGRAPHERS & MUSIC-INSPIRED ARTISTS}

::  no.ground.processes - a co-op for experimental music + filmmaking, and also interested in DJ's/VJ's, interactive-media artists, photographers etc. Regular events held at the art-house Stoke Film Theatre.

::  Peripheral Anomaly - specialist rock & pop band photographer. Has a very extensive online portfolio, featuring just about every band that's played in North Staffordshire in the last 18 months!

::  dirtee - video projections.

     _{TRADITIONAL, FOLK & CLASSICAL}

(See Creative Stoke's Classical directory page.)