Earlier this year we have had a new addition to the music scene – The Rat Race.. The Rat Race are a mod, indie, punk and rock and roll style band. They have popular influences like The Courteeners, The Stone Roses, The Specials and local influences like The Get Alongs, The Control, Vellocet and The Blue Collars. Like the sound of that, give the page a like and information about all upcoming gigs, singles, ep's albums and much more is posted on a daily basis. - Lucy Clarke August 2012.

PICKERINGWHITE is a blues, country, rock and roots duo from Staffordshire.
Comprised of partners Jennifer Pickering (vocals.../percussion/harmonica) and Matty White (vocals/guitar/percussion/bass). Our sound is made up of a combination of unique overdriven acoustic guitar providing meaty riffs, a stomping beat, beautiful soulful vocals, wild overdriven blues harmonica and use of other percussive instruments. 

All of our EP's have received a run of 150 physical copies which have all been purchased, plus online download sales.
We have been described as 'refreshingly original', with inspiration from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, Dr Feelgood, Fleetwood Mac, The Black Keys, Jake Bugg and Johnny Cash noticeable in our tracks. Our songs cover subjects of love, loss, hate, envy, drug abuse, ecstasy, the devil, shame, politics and war.

PW has been making waves in the Staffordshire area since april 2013 with live sessions on BBC Radio Stoke, Radio Moorlands and 6Towns Radio (with a live session recorded at BBC Radio One studios in London and broadcast on three different daytime shows by Annie Mac, Hugh Stephens and Fearne Cotton). We have received substantial media coverage from local newspapers 'The Sentinel' and 'Biddulph/Congleton Chronicle' as well as many positive recording and gig reviews describing us as "destined to make a huge impact nationally" and "amazing".

2014 release 'You Always Want What You Can't Have' received positive reviews from local promoters and radio DJs and interest from DJ's across the north of England, and the lead track was given the number one slot on Maverick Country Music magazine's monthly compilation CD release which goes out to 30,000 readers every month. The EP also received a great review from Fatea Music magazine.

The EP has also received interest from US sync licensing agents for use in American TV shows and adverts which may well come to fruition in the near future.

We are well known for our high-quality professional standard music videos, which have received a combined total of nearly 7,000 views in just 12 months and are played in UK gyms. Our Youtube channel has received over 12,000 views in total.

We have played in most major cities of the UK, slowly but surely building a national following and putting on live shows that have created stage invasions and wild scenes with audiences roaring for an encore at nearly every show. Working with other local acts, we have managed to sell out some local shows at top local venues with demand for us from promoters being high. In 2014 we organised and performed at a charity event in the largest venue in our hometown of Biddulph to raise money for The Donna Louise Trust and Treetops Hospice. Nearly £2,000 was raised in total.

In late 2014 we were competitors in 'Brand New Artist 2015', a nationwide music competition to win a record contract, tour and publishing deal. We came second by a very narrow margin, therefore we didn't win the ultimate prize, but nevertheless secured a festival slot in Nottingham for the summer of 2015 and a spot on a compilation CD of BNA 2015 Contestants which will be distributed by Sony Music across record shops in the UK.

In early 2015 we were selected by Bright Button Productions Limited and the BBC to film a video which will be used on the BBC Bitesize website to help young people learn about/revise English through the medium of music. We are very proud to be involved in this.


Band formed in Stoke-On-Trent in 2013, creating a dark atmospheric sound with a melodic hook, you just have to listen!

Lead Singer/Sythn - Joel Hughes
 Rhythm Guitar - Declan Melbourne
 Lead Guitar - Toby Simcock
 Violin/Backing Vocals - Eloise Smith
 Bass Guitar - Dan Hyatt
 Drums - Danny Carroll

A brand new four piece rock 'n' roll band from Stoke-on-Trent, ROCK/BLUES ROCK/ROCK 'N' ROLL/BLUES/INDIE/ALTERNATIVE/2013/NEWWAVE. BIG RIFFS, FAT BASSLINES, POWERFULL VOCALS, MEGA DRUM BEATS. Grant Foster, Sam Morris, Dan Aubrey, Bass Man Bass :)

I play guitar in a band called Malthouse and record various demos with different people in my spare time. 


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