The Sugarmill in Hanley, Stoke on Trent has long been a staple of the indie and rock touring circuit, ever since its conversion from a scouting hall back in the distant past, but these days tends to put on fewer what might be termed rootsier acts, in between the local band nights, touring indie names and Taylor Swift themed cheap drinks student events. Thus, the challenge was laid down in such an alien environment – could Skinny Lister, Vandoliers and Claudia Kate do it on a cold Thursday night in Stoke? Listening to conversations in the queue outside, it was clear that the audience was going to be constituted of as many travelling hardcore fans as there would be locals – maybe a sign of the midweek pre-Christmas times, but a little disappointing from a local perspective.
Claudia Kate had the unenviable task of getting the evening going with the venue only around a third full when she took to the stage. Armed only with an acoustic guitar, a fine, soulful voice and songs about such things as a former boyfriend who owned a bunk bed, her warm, approachable and witty stage demeanour and literate songwriting went down well with those in attendance.
By the time Vandoliers took the stage, the audience had swelled to around a reasonable 60% capacity. Many in attendance were clearly fans of the band who seem to be reaping the rewards of recent visits with the likes of Less Than Jake in building a following. Ironically, this reviewer had seen them twice before – at the Bloodshot Backyard BBQ in Nashville and at the Static Roots Festival in Oberhausen, Germany, and they’d gone down extremely well on both occasions – but this was a whole different ball game, a mere 5 minutes from my front door. The cold midweek night in Stoke test was not a problem for the Texans, however, who delivered their usual energetic cow-punk rowdiness with a mass word-for-word sing-along ignited by ‘Cigarettes in the Rain’, confirming suspicions about their growing following. The usual set-closing cover of The Proclaimers’ ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ brought the expected mayhem on and off stage – although the traditional shirt-removal associated with the band was absent – maybe it was a bit too cold in Stoke…
Normally, any act who has to follow Vandoliers would have a difficult task, but it was one that Skinny Lister rose to, with a set full of well-oiled folk-punk anthems. Lots of shanty-esque “Wo-oh-oh” encouraged audience singing, and there were several moshing outbreaks. During ‘Drinking Song’, singer Lorna Thomas passed a jug of indeterminate contents around the audience and in ‘Arm Wrestling In Dresden’, she went out into the audience and – yes – arm-wrestled an audience member. There were more traditional moments too, such as with the traditional song ‘John Kanak’ with its “too-rye-ay” chorus. Quite how the band haven’t been headlined at the major folk festivals is a mystery as they’d be perfect stage closers. Maybe they’re a bit too rowdy – and thank goodness they are.
No encore due to a venue curfew, but lots of smiling faces drifted out appreciating a fine night’s entertainment. It’s just a pity for all sorts of reasons – financial, pre-Christmas, competing attractions, etc. – that more folks don’t go out and take a chance on something that they’d undoubtedly enjoy. So could these travelling troubadours do it on a cold Thursday night in Stoke? Of course, they could.
All photos by and with permission of Nick Barber
