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Franklin Fest 2016 - Interview With Co-founder Angus McPake

Have you always wondered how all of those wonderful rock 'n' roll, garage and beat bands came to play in Edinburgh over the last few decades? Well, you can almost bet with certainty that this guy has had something to do with it. And, not only that, he's also a member of some of the best loved beat combos around. Think The Thanes, Les BOF!, Preston Pfanz and The Seaton Sands, The Sensation Seekers, and for the Franklin Fest 2016 - The Gastronauts and The Nettles... I caught up with musician, promoter, beat stalwart Angus McPake, on the eve of this year's Franklin Fest. 

Debbie: Could you tell us a wee bit about your involvement in promoting bands?

Both Cal (Calvin Burt - also co-founder of the Franklin R'n'R Club, drummer of The No-Things, Carbona Not Glue) and I have been promoting bands for 25 plus years. For me it was just a natural extension of being an active musician. By the early nineties I had been involved in not just putting on local bands but international artists including Nico, Nick Harvey, Sonic Youth and Primal Scream. Sadly I became disillusioned as this often resulted in little income and regularly having to deal with over-inflated egos - where's the fun in that? As I bowed out for a few years Cal had started being very active in promotion - firstly at Basin Street in Haymarket and later at The Cas Rock where he regularly had bands like Thee Headcoats and The Kaisers playing.  

Debbie: ...and how did the Franklin R'n'R Club evolve?
 
The Franklin R'n'R Club came about on my part by circumstances which could be seen as less than fortunate for Cal. He was running a bar called The Parlour on Duke St. and had been plagued with noise complaints and council interference when trying to have bands playing in his pub. To placate the neighbours Cal promoted one gig in the nearby cricket club, a night which I attended. As soon as I saw the venue I immediately knew we were on to a winner! I suggested we got together and started using the pavilion (ha!) to put on the sort of music we both like - namely R'n'R but probably more specifically the garage punk variety. The cricket club had a rather down at heel and kitsch feel (as well as a very reasonably priced bar) which I felt would suit the music perfectly. I dug out an old valve PA and some vintage microphones and we were off. Our philosophy was not to put on bands on a monthly basis just for the sake of it but only to put on bands we really liked (hence we have the odd gap during the year). In the last 3 or 4 years we have had the privilege to welcome a wonderful array of some of the best garage bands in the world including The Masonics, MFC Chicken, Les Grys-Grys, Muck & The Mires, The Wildebeests and many more. 
 

Debbie: Prior to the Franklin Fest 2015, had you organised these kind of events before?

To distract (our own) attention from a certain royal wedding in 2011 Tony 2-Eyes and myself had organised a small 2 day festival in Edinburgh called The Bottom Rung Festival. Headlined by Janie & The Ravemen and The Thanes (featuring a couple of members of the legendary Scottish 60s group The Poets) The whole weekend had gone without a hitch so in the back of my mind was the urge to do something similar again. The ever increasing popularity of the Franklin seemed an ideal platform to do just that. 
 
So here we are about to embark on the second Franklin Fest with some trepidation!

Debbie: How do you feel last year's event went down, and what can we expect this year?

Last years Franklin Fest was a brilliant weekend with an almost capacity attendance and amazing performances from all involved. 2015's festival mostly featured bands that had previously played at The Franklin - this year we are very excited to introduce some music which is not only going to be a first for most of the audience but also new to us. The Mindreaders are completely unknown quantity for starters - and with Sexton Ming at the helm anything could happen. The Embrooks too have only recently reformed and should be a real eye-opener for anyone who didn't see them 20 years ago. The Courettes, playing their first Scottish gig, have such a fine word of mouth reputation that I think we should be prepared to be utterly astounded. As an addition we are also having something I think was missing from last years event - an afterparty. As well as our resident jock Mr Tony 2-Eyes we are delighted to have Spencer Evoy, Carl Combover and Claire Hyslop behind the wheels of steel for your dancing pleasure until the small hours. A grand finale to what promises to be an superb weekend!

Muchos gratitude to Angus for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat. 

Franklin Fact - The Franklin takes its name from The Leith Franklin Academical Cricket Club which in turn takes its name from Benjamin Franklin. The club was stared in the 19th century by employees of a Leith printing firm. Benjamin Franklin was, amongst may other things, a pioneer of the printing press and they named their club in his honour.  

Here's the line-up:

Friday 24th at The Cricket Club from 7pm:

Les Grys-Grys, The Courettes,The Gastronauts,The Brutes

Saturday 25th at The Leith Depot from 1:30pm:

The No-Things, Fanny Pelmet & The Bastard Suits, The Fnords, Geek Maggot Bingo, The Nettles

Saturday 25th at The Cricket Club from 7pm:

Oh! Gunquit, The Embrooks, Thee Jezebels, The Mindreaders, The Sine Waves

It's not too late - Tickets are now available from tickets-scotland.com. There will be tickets available on the door for Friday and Saturday evenings for 20 per night, or £35 for a weekend wristband which will get you into both nights, Saturday afternoon and the after show party at Studio 24.

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Franklin Fest 2016 - Pre Festival Interview - The Brutes

The Brutes will be kicking off the Franklin Fest on Friday evening with their very own brand of pebbles-y garage punk. I had chat a brief chat with Beauregarde Nanker-Phelge (yes, really) and asked for the low down...  

Debbie: Who are The Brutes?

The Brutes are Highpockets Von Widdling on guitar & (mostly) backing vocals;  myself on bass & (mostly) lead vocals; and Heinrich Mitt-Schticks on thumping. We're just out of hibernation - our opening slot on the Friday of Franklin fest will be our first gig of the year - we've been a bit busy of late with our other projects such as lucrative covert arms trading (Heinrich), hugging puppies & kittens (Highpockets), and shouting at random strangers (me) amongst other "things".
 
Debbie: ...mmmmm... and where can we catch you after the festival?
 
Next gig after Franklinfest for us shall be at a garage punk all-dayer at Broadcast, Glasgow on Sunday 11th July (no line-up details at the moment); and we should be playing Glasgow's Merchant City Music Festival again (seeing as they've used a few seconds footage of us in their new promo video!).
 
Debbie: What would you say to those who haven't been to the phenomena that is The Franklin before?
 
You should come see us at The Franklin Fest because we're the first band on the Friday and you'll get more drinking time in if you're there for our set ...and the booze is real cheap there!!!
 
Debbie: What are you looking forward to the most Beauregarde?

I am most looking forward to getting the opportunity of screaming at random strangers, as well as the cheap booze and its effect on the patrons!

Debbie: I'll bring my camera.

Catch The Brutes along with Les Grys Grys, The Courettes and The Gastronauts on Friday 24th June, that's this Friday, as in tomorrow! Get you skates on. Tickets for the weekend can be purchased here: Tickets Scotland Tickets are £20.00 for Friday or Saturday evenings + £5.00 for Saturday Pm at Leith Depot or £35.00 for the whole weekend (Friday & Saturday evening + Saturday afternoon)! Cheap as chips!

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Franklin Fest 2016 - Pre Fest Interview - The DJ's Part 2 - Claire Hyslop

In the run up to this weekend's The Franklin Fest, I caught up with DJ Claire Hyslop. She likes to spin those black shiny discs, and she'll be doing just that over the course of the weekend... 
 
Debbie: How old were you when you first got into music / started to collect records?
 
I've been a music lover and a hopeless vinyl junkie since my early teens when I harboured dreams of writing for the NME and handed over the wages from my Saturday job to Barnstorm Records (a brick and mortar record shop still trading to this day). I gave up the top 40 for John Peel's radio show, flirted briefly with C90 mix tapes and even CDs but returned to shiny black discs 'cos they're best.
 
Debbie: When did you make the leap into DJing? 
 
I've been playing records out since 2012. I play Garage, early soul, 50s and 60s R&B, some Northern and a whole load of Popcorn and titty shakers (all at the wrong speed). 
 
Rhythm & Blues is my big passion at the moment and that's what I'm collecting most, but I'm lucky to be invited to play all sorts of dos - soul nights, R&B clubs and Mod weekenders. Supporting live bands is a kick:  I've 'warmed up' for The Thanes, The Collectors, The New Picadillys and soul legend Tommy Hunt.
 
Inspired by clubs like Basics (Edinburgh), The Hideaway (Manchester), For Dancers Only (Dublin) and Friday Street (Glasgow), I recently started an R&B club night in Glasgow with my pal Tom Gillespie called "Burnt Toast Black Coffee R&B". 
 
Debbie: ...and have you ever played a duff set?
 
I'm not really the best person to judge that - I can usually get the dance floor moving! Certainly the most nerve wracking gig was playing records before a Tommy Hunt live show. Tommy was late to come on stage. I wasnt exactly running out of records but I was wondering where he'd got to. Unbeknownst to me, he was having a footwear malfunction so I felt bad afterwards that I had played "Shoes", "Barefootin" and "Can't Wait Any Longer" to fill the gap!
 
Debbie: Do you plan your sets in advance? 
 
Never. You always have to judge on the night who's there, what they're enjoying and what other DJs have already played. I do customise the record box the night before though to match the kind of night it is.
 
Debbie: What is the most you've ever paid for a record? 
 
I couldn't possibly comment. I have paid three figures for records I've wanted badly though. I've paid a lot less than that for others that have gone on to be worth a lot more so I tell myself it all comes good in the end. Some people have a pension pot and exotic holidays; I have a record collection!
 
 
Debbie: How did you get involved with the Franklin R'N'R Club?
 
I played records at Friday Night at the Parlour in Leith from 2012 until it closed earlier this year. In fact Tony Two Eyes was the first person brave enough to give me a gig at his night Land of a Thousand Dances (thanks Tony!) and I always had a great time at The Parlour playing records with Tony, Laurent, Derek and Colin.
 
I love the Franklin: Les Grys-Grys took the roof off at their gig there last year.
 
Debbie: I concur, on both counts. If you could take 3 records only to a desert island with you, what would they be? 
 
Trini Lopez - The Search Goes On
Little Jimmy Ray - You Need To Fall In Love
Milt Grayson - Wayfarin' Stranger
 
Debbie: And lastly… just for fun - how many mods does it take to change a light bulb? 
 
Just one, but if he looks cool enough, everyone else'll be trying it.
 
Debbie: Good answer!
 
To catch Claire doing her thing over the weekend, Tickets for the Franklin Fest can be found here tickets-scotland.com
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Franklin Fest 2016 - Pre-Festival Interview - Thee Jezebels

 
Thee Jezebels will be playing at The Franklin Fest on Saturday 25th June (that's this Saturday groovers!!) alongside The Embrooks, Oh! Gunquit, The Mindreaders and The Sine Waves. 
 
I popped a few questions to vocalist/guitarist, and all-round cool burd, Laura... 
 
Debbie: There seems to be quite a big buzz about Thee Jezebels, and you seem like a very hard-working band...   
 
LA: We put out our second release via State Records in March, and coupled that with a tour around Spain. We recorded some of the gigs so who knows what we might do with that... We have only been together about 18 months now but are well proud of what we've managed to do in that time! Especially considering we don't live that close to one another. But we keep ticking over with gigs, radio airplay both here in Europe and in America, as well as writing more tunes, so we will always endeavour to keep ourselves busy!
 
Debbie: What can the punters expect to see from your set, and what are you personally looking forward to most about the weekend?
 
Something that people continually say about us is that we like to have a laugh - which is exactly what it should be about. Good tunes, plenty of beer, gettin' sweaty and crackin' jokes. Bosh. It'll also be wonderful to visit Edinburgh, but I think we're mostly looking forward to seeing all the bands! Such a great line-up! It's also excellent that Lois will be with The Embrooks and Letty will be with The Sine Waves as well! Jezebel take-over! 
 
Thanks v much to Laura. Tickets for The Franklin Fest can be purchased here. 
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Franklin Fest 2016 - Pre Fest Interview - The DJ's Part 1 - Tony 2i's

Turning our attention now to the people who'll be behind the decks at this years Franklin Fest - y'know, that thing that happens in-between the acts. I caught up with Tony Twoeyes / Two-Eyes / 2i's, and blimey, can he talk!...  

Debbie: How old were you when you first got into music, and started to collect records?

I blame Noddy Holder... I was about 9 years old and I was really into Slade. I bought everything I could by them…

My first record was 'Sally' by Gerry Munro that I had heard at my nan's house and I loved it so much singing it all he time that my Mum and Dad bought to for me. I played it to death along with the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang soundtrack LP and other records my parents owned, mainly compilations that featured tracks such as 'Bonnie & Clyde' (Georgie Fame) and 'Hello Goodbye' (The Beatles). I am sure those LP's did not feature the real artists.
 
However, I grew up listening to T-Rex, Gary Glitter, Alvin Stardust and Elvis but I never had any of the records as they were too pricey my mum used to buy 'Hot Hits' and 'Top of The Pops' compilation LP's for me (budget compilations featuring cover versions of the latest chart hits housed in 'cheesecake' sleeves that for some reason I can still vividly remember!). 
 
But I really got into Slade when I was 9 and spent my pocket money, Christmas money etc. on every Slade record I could find 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me' may have been the first. I also listened to a lot of The Shadows, Bill Haley and a few Rock and Roll compilations LP's my Uncle had given me. One a day I was in the local library and saw a Little Richard compilation featuring what I thought was (actually a Bobby Marchan tune) a Slade track "Get Down and Get With It' I was surprised… what was Little Richard doing covering a Slade tune? I borrowed it and took it home stuck it on my battery operated Dansette… I was hooked! The next week I borrowed an Amos Milburn LP; a Clifton Chenier LP; anything that looked like it was Rock and Roll. That was about '78/'79.

I was also listening to Blondie, Abba (sssh) but hated the most 'pop' music as it was shit. Queen and Dire Straits were big at the time, a lot of my mates were fans, but they just bored me to tears. I mean 'Sultans of Swing' FFS...
 
I started to buy stuff by Blll Haley, Buddy Holly (Buddy Holly Lives LP was a life changer!), the Elvis Sun stuff and listening to a radio show on Fridays (Cruising on Capital Radio) on a radio cassette machine I had got from a friend at school (an unwanted bat mitzvah present). I also found a pirate station 'Radio City' that played Rock and Roll records for four hours every Sunday. I recorded the shows and whilst at school I overheard two Rockabillies were talking about 'Reet Petite' by Jackie Wilson. I think I rather surprised them when I said I had it on tape, and surprised them even more when I said I had the Johnny Burnette Rock'n' Roll Trio LP (still the best Rockabilly LP ever) that I had got from my cousin Phil who had 'gone Mod'. 
 
These Rockabilles (Robin and Jim) took me to The Royalty in Southgate. I was floored. The place was full of Teddy Boys and Rockabillies, strolling and bopping to music I loved but had never heard. There was a record stall there selling reissue singles of blues, boogie-woogie, jump blues, Doo-Wop, boppers, strollers, jivers and 'bum huggers'.
 
Debbie: How long have you been DJing? 
 
I started DJing with Robin (who now runs the Rhythm Riot and Atomic festivals) on a Sunday night in a pub in Kentish Town, we called ourselves 'The Real Rock Drive' (after a Bill Haley track) and played what we liked (and what we had bought that week). I was still at school about 16 years old so that'd be 1980-ish. I spun Rosco Gordon, Amos Milburn, Smiley Lewis and as much Doo-Wop as I could afford from the Chicken Shack stall in Kensington Market.  Then my mate Tim's brother started a band, The Sting-Rays. They were into wild music from beyond 1959! One of the band, Alec, gave me a compilation that had 'Talk Talk' by The Music Machine. A friend of theirs, Ski, played me 'Psycho' by The Sonics. Tim bought me Nuggets (the ultimate garage/psych compilation LP) for my 18th birthday present (it cost £18.00 one pound for each year!) this would be in 1982. I started playing garage punk and psychedelia at our Sunday nights, and I jumped on 'the bus' as they say!

Debbie: have you ever played a bad set? 

I haven't ever played a bad set but I have played sets where there isn't much reaction. The worst idea was probably one night spinning records in chronological order from (something like) '55 to '75! It was worth a try! The best nights were at an all-nighter I used to do in Old Street in London (the 'Creation') where I would spin stuff like Sun Dial, Silly Wizard, The Stooges, Human Instinct, Slim Harpo and Brian Auger after each other for 7 hours without a break!! Always a packed dance floor I used to get money and other things thrust into my pocket all night to keep me going! 

I never actually plan a 'set' but I have a few tunes that work well together so they tend to get spun in some kind of order. When the dance floor is full I always have tracks ready to keep people moving or to change the pace if people start to look tired! I always have a selection of records I think people possibly won't know but should and a selection of classics. I don't think anybody who comes to The Franklin has ever gone the night without hearing me spin 'Goo Goo Muck' by Ronnie Cook & The Gaylads it's a totally obscure tune until you've heard it for the first time, then it's a classic! 

Debbie: Do you wish people would dance more during your sets at The Franklin? (I, for one, do!)

I sure do! 

Debbie: What's the most you've ever paid for a record?
 
My wife will read this so I will say £20.00 (hehehe). Actually £70.00 for an absolutely mint condition Small Faces 'I Can't Make It' French EP that had been owned from new by a friend of mine, Jesse.  I am lucky that most of my 'now known to be rare' stuff was bought for 50p - £2.00 from car boots, Camden Market, Brick Lane and charity shops. At that time there were record shops everywhere and prices would vary enormously from one shop and another. I turned down a mint copy of the Birds 'Birds' 45 'cos it was too pricey at £10.00 (but bought mint copies of The Sands 45 'Listen To The Sky' and two Tinkerbells Fairy Dust 45's with my £10.00 note). 
 
Debbie: How did you get involved with the Franklin R'N'R Club?

I've known Calvin for years, and have many mutual friends with Eleanor and Angus. I have collaborated with Angus doing 'Land of 1000 Dances', 'Friday Night at The Parlour' (where I met Colin and Eleanor) and other projects. 
 
Debbie: If you could take 3 records only to a desert island with you, what would they be?  
               
'Going All The Way' by The Squires (ATCO) Garage-Punk/Folk-Rock classic
               
'Sincerely' The Moonglows (Chess)  Doo-Wop ballad
               
'Queen Majesty' The Techniques (Treasure Isle) Killer Thriller Rocksteady. 

 
Debbie: And lastly… just for fun - are you just a fusty old Mod? 
 
To misquote PW… I have never been a Mod, I am not a Mod and will never be a Mod.

Thanks to Tony for the chat, and then some ;)

Tickets for the Franklin Fest can be found here tickets-scotland.com

 

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Franklin Fest 2016 - Pre Festival Interview - Oh! Gunquit

Muso's Guide's favourites, Oh!Gunquit return to Edinburgh on Saturday 25th June to play as part of the Franklin Fest 2016 alongside The Embrooks, Thee Jezebels, The Mindreaders and The Sine Waves - what a line-up! The question is, is that little green shack up to all that shakin'? You betcha. 
 
Debbie: Always a pleasure to chat with you. What's been happening on planet Oh! Gunquit we last saw you play at The Franklin R'N'R Club in November?
 
OG: We have our new 7" single (produced by Jim Diamond) coming out on Trash Wax Records (with video) & also currently working on the our second album which we are hoping to start recording in September/October. Regarding shows we have recently played out in Spain & France which was great fun and are also looking forward to playing at the Clerkenwell Festival in August (London) which is getting bigger & better every year...and we can walk there haha, but even closer is the Somers Town Festival which we could roll out of bed & play...(which we may well do).
 
Debbie: For those who may not be familiar with Oh! Gunquit, introduce them to your unique family... 
 
OG: Oh! Gunquit is the gay capital of New England - USA & is mentioned in the film 'Seven Year Itch'. Simon is currently the only British born member of the group and is always looking for the perfect quiff wax. Tina has midget thumbs and a mean high-kick. Alex can out-manoeuvre lightning & lift quadruple her weight in cymbals. Tina had her shoes licked clean on-stage in Valencia. Chuchi has a serious aversion to baggy jeans & slip-on shoes. VV has the biggest hair in rock 'n' roll.... We ate a few drummers.
 
Debbie: What is your solemn promise to the Franklin Fest goers?
 
OG: Hopefully you'll see a great rock 'n' roll gig that combines lots of different sights & sounds... Maybe you'll do some human caving, maybe you'll get all hot under the collar and shake out some Ju-Ju, maybe you'll dance yourself out of your socks, so you definitely won't see any shoegazing and with any luck you'll let it all hang out with wild abandon and immerse yourself in an exotic trip with us!!
 
Debbie: Apart from the atrocious weather, what you are looking forward to the most about playing at the Franklin again? 
 
Well we absolutely loved playing in Scotland & the Franklin crew last year so can't wait to go back, last time we came we arrived as Hurricane Abigail was unleashed and we witnessed horizontal rain for the first time.. We are also really looking forward to hanging out & talking nonsense with all the other bands and DJ's on the bill and also meeting new rock 'n' roll reprobate friends/fiends that inhabit this international club of freaks...
 
Debbie: I'm sure that can all be easily catered for ;)
 
Tickets for The Franklin Fest can be purchased here. Oh! Gunquit will also be playing the Some Weird Sin all dayer on 20th August, details of which can be found here. 
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