READ ALL ABOUT IT! - LOVING LIVERPOOL AND GREAT REVIEWS

We're each going to have a go at writing this blog thing some time or other.
We do this thing and you wonder where it's going and then other times it all begins to fall into place and you pick up a good review to let you know that, at least in someones eyes/ears, what you are creating has a place in some peoples world other than your own.
We can certainly feel things beginning to change in Sisteray land - there's a feeling in the air. We completed three gigs in a row last week - you could say it was our first real taste of touring. We went from North London (Camden) to North West England (Liverpool) to North East London (Walthamstow), up and down the country, three gigs on three consecutive days. I don't envy the driver and fair play to him but we had a great time and wouldn't have changed it for the world and got not one but two supportive online reviews as evidence that it was not all a dream

Day 1 - Camden Town, London
Camden has kind of become our second home, so it was good to be at Our Black Heart where we had been invited play one of our #guerillagigs support sets on a night headlined by The Jacques, a bunch of bouncy up and comers from Bristol, who are even more buoyant tonight because they had just got the news that BBC Introducing are going to take them out to New York to be part of the CMJ Music Marathon but more of them later.
We like doing these #guerillagig slots because you can set up, soundcheck and then you don't have to move all your stuff off the stage for some other bunch to mess things up, so it's as you leave it and there's time for a quick beer and chat before you take the stage. The downside is that you have to do all the crowd warming up but as we say, the tide is turning and people didn't need much asking to get into our set - and for that our friends, we thank you. Towards the end I was nervous as Dan was waving his guitar about over the audiences head and it ended up in the hands of the front row. We got lucky, the boy who grabbed it could play guitar... in tune ... a moment to cherish! We were buzzing, thinking job well done and when this review appeared on the blogasphere a few days later we were over the moon.
svendoesblogs.wordpress.com/2015/09/21/sisteray/

The Jacques are a lively bunch and we made sure we caught their set, especially as they have at least a couple of top tunes buzzing around such as 'Artful Dodger' and 'This Is England', they don't disappoint, some wicked bass lines, bits of The Pixies, The Libs and The Clash. Their song 'Ow' might not win any competitions for lyrical imagination but it's a great tune and you can imagine their soon to be legions of fans singing it at gigs and festivals - we'll be there and singing too, don't you worry. So with a long journey the following day we all sensibly went home immediately after their set to get some sleep - really? No.. of course we didn't, hopefully we'll get to hook up with The Jacques again, there was loose talk of something messy near Amsterdam - we'll keep you updated.

Day 2 - Hope Fest, Liverpool

Friday was Liverpool. It doesn't look SO far on the map and we had discussions over a cup of tea, soothing our hangovers, about how long it might take to drive, plus some of us still have to make some coin and had dreaded work in the morning. We thought we had allowed plenty of time and arranged a meetup at Luton of all places, from where we could all continue North in the same vehicle. For those that think all bands that tour have luxurious tour buses with a bar and four poster beds etc for everyone, we haven't quite reached that stage yet so for the moment we all squeeze together in more humble transport, snare drum and effects pedals on knees, passing around a bag of beers and crisps. We had a varied soundtrack, from 'Anthems From Doomed Youth' to 50 Cents 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' (a lot of variation and thinking outside the box is required in these situations). We had also stopped to pick up some reading matter for the trip, on a day that roughly coincides with the NME going free and the launch of Louder Than War magazine on the streets - as no one would volunteer to go into Topman to pick up a free NME. Louder Than War has always been good to Sisteray, giving an outlet to the 'No Escape' video/film and keeping in touch to see what's happening in our world. The Stone Roses go the cover this time, we will be waiting for the call ;-)

So we'd been on the road for six or so hours and we were barely passed Manchester, apparently there should have been a toll road but somehow we'd missed it, too busy reading, drinking, listening or something - wasn't navigation the drivers job? Oh, he says 'No' - fair play, this is a team effort. And the hours pass and with two mobiles crashed and the other two on 1% and 3% remaining battery, guiding us in for a safe landing at tonight's venue is going to be hairy - no phones/no nav. But somehow we find it - exactly nine hours after we left London, aching but ready to go.
Here are some amazing photos from the night by Lis Garrett - If you want to check out her photos from the whole of Hope Fest over the weekend check them out here: Lis Garrett - Hope Festival 2015 photos

We had always been totally into the idea of Hope Fest since we were asked to do it and a big thanks to Dodgy (who we supported earlier this year) for recommending us to play when after they were invited but couldn't do it.
We've explained the idea behind Hope Fest before but it's worth saying again; lots of bands over lots of venues for a long weekend, in aid of Liverpool's homeless. To get a wristband for the whole weekend all you had to do was put together a pack of things that a homeless person would need or give a voucher for a supermarket - so simple and a great concept. All towns cities should do a Hope Fest. We had picked up on Twitter and Facebook etc that there might have been a bit of narcyness over the fact that on the Saturday of Hope Fest another big charity gig had been arranged at the Echo Arena in Liverpool in aid of refugees called With Love From Liverpool, with comedian John Bishop and a load of Liverpool musical luminaries. We love you all back bruvvers and sisters, there's nothing wrong with any of these things or the lovely people of Liverpool behind both events - it's our politicians, especially the ones currently in power, who have created more uncertainty, more homelessness and have failed to sort out the refugee problems, that are the problem - Hope Fest / With Love From Liverpool, these London boys salute you.

Anyway, after lubricating the nerves before stepping out on stage and popping our Liverpool cherry on stage @ District, we weren't quite sure what reaction we were going to get but the audience were great and a hot sweaty stage made us feel more welcome than we could ever have hoped. The new song we recorded recently 'Welcome To The Monkey House' went down particularly well and once again a great reaction.

 Alongside us there was some great Liverpool music and bands, particularly liked Jimmy And The Revolvers, a great bunch of fellas and good to see a Liverpool legend Tommy Scott from the band Space, we were a bit young for Space first time round but he has some great songs. Then, sadly, we had to hit the motorway home. Next time we'll hang around to see a bit more of what Liverpool has to offer. A big thanks to Anna, Hannah and the rest of the team for looking after us like we were family. Went to sleep in the car - arrived back in London @ 7am - some to bed, some to work - we're going to do it all over again today/tomorrow
Once again, after the event, we got loads of feedback and this cracking review from Liverpool Sound And Vision - for us 'It's Getting Better All The Time' as a band from Liverpool once sang.
SISTERAY @ HOPE FEST LIVERPOOL  - REVIEW

Day 3 - The Stow Festival

Saturday night we were always going to be up for a homecoming gig in Walthamstow, Dan was brought up just a few streets away. The Stow Festival is an amazing live music celebration across several venues in E17. It is an all day event but as you can imagine it took a bit of repair and rest work to get us in the mood.
We arrived at dusk to find the streets littered with dancers connected to the Silent Disco, free flowing beer (well we were playing in a brewery) and a venue packed full of an eager crowd. The Wild Card Brewery was small, loud, perfect for turning up the heat and making a racket. Rain Maze were the band on before us, we had a bit of communication before hand with them and well, they were a bit cheeky so we weren't sure what to expect but Amol and his band are all sunshine, good vibes and toons and you can't help but like them.
Some gigs you do on stage and some gigs you do on the floor and this was the latter, love all the crowd cheering and dancing and was that our local MP Stella Creasy spotted for a time in the audience, one minute she;'s here and the next 'The She Goes' and at the end of our set we take one step to the side of the 'stage' dripping with sweat.
We haven't really decided our/any policy on encores yet but we had more time and although we hadn't planned it went on and did a few more tunes - there were a lot of people asking for 'She Likes The Drama' and when you are on the floor and somebody is standing right in front of you asking.. .. well, at this point in the game it's rude not to. Not sure how long 'Drama' will remain though, we have a lot more better tunes coming through, or we might just shake it about with a revamp. You'll have to come to see to find out. Once again a big shout out to the festival organisers for inviting us.
Here's some great shots of Sisteray @ The Stow Festival 2015 by Albert Jagger for the full album on Facebook click HERE

We love what we do, and we love the people that love us for it.  This time around we witnessed what it was like to be on tour and the madness that comes with it.  But for me, and I think I speak for us all, I wouldn’t ask for anything else.  Rather than slow us down,  all we want is more.  Expect longer tours,  more mayhem, in every town and city that invites us. We are certainly on The Road To Reading 2016 and nothing will stop us ;-)

Until next time

Mick “Haribo”