Swindon Music

The Hoosiers plus support – MECA Swindon
Date: Saturday 24th March 2012
Times: Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:30pm
Tickets: £16.00 Advance plus booking fee (£20 on the door)
Venue: M.E.C.A. Regent Circus, Swindon, SN1 1PR


Book Online at http://swindontickets.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=11&products_id=475

Or Visit Swindon Tourist Information Centre or telephone 01793 495527

“The Trick to Life” at MECA



Their first single “Worried about Ray” debuted at number 5 in the UK charts in July 2007 and was followed up in October with a number 1 debut album “The Trick to Life”; British Indie Pop band The Hoosiers will be appearing in concert at Swindon’s MECA on Saturday 24th March 2012.

The Hoosiers released their second top ten album in August 2010 with the lead single “Choices” again riding high in the UK charts.

MECA’s Marketing Director, Steve Causer said “We are trying to bring something for everyone to MECA; since the new management team got together six weeks ago; so I am really pleased to have a band like The Hoosiers coming into the venue”.

The Hoosiers consisting of original members Irwin Sparkes (lead vocals, lead guitar), Martin Skarendahl (bass guitar, rhythm guitar) and Alan Sharland (drums, percussion), hail from Reading, Stockholm and Exeter respectively, the band claimed to create a sound that they called "odd pop", combining a number of musical genres with their first album “The Trick to Life”. They reinvented themselves for the release of “The Illusion of Safety” as a more conventional pop band with electro influences.

With their third album “Bumpy Ride” being released in 2011, with 5 UK chart hits and work commencing for a 4th album to be released in 2012, The Hoosiers are sure to be a hit in Swindon.

Justin Britchford, one of the new management team at MECA said “ We have been working hard to get things sorted around the venue with adjustments made to the balcony, dressing rooms and we are starting on the toilets in the new year. We are also working hard to get MECA open regularly; we have just had a sell out night with Milton Jones and booked Glenn Wool to follow up; The Hoosiers will add to other shows we are just trying to finalise contracts on as we speak; Rome wasn’t built in a day but we are trying !”

The Hoosiers will be in concert with a support which will be announced very soon.
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Back in 2007 this would've been a smart move, the band were having hit singles and also a number one album, but that was then and this is now, in 2011 the band have just been dropped by their label (Sony) and their last single scaled the dizzy heights of number 150.

This is the sort of band who aren't tied into an 02 venue which is why they are available but £16 for a band who have passed their sell by date, I can't sell this selling out.

Surely someone like The Wombats (who I can't personally stand but appreciate others do) would've been a more appropriate band?

I don't like being negative but as a fan of live music and someone who lived in Swindon for 25 of my 39 years on this planet I feel I'm entitled to an opinion.

So this "new approach" so far has generated T-Rex minus all the original members, the drummer from the Boomtown Rats, a Commitments "Tribute" band and now the Hoosiers.

Dear oh dear

Well, most of the complaints so far on here have been about the fact it's just retro/tribute acts from the '70s. Now a proper modern indie band has been announced so, isn't that at least a step in the right direction? Anyway, I thought you loved their latest album, Rich?

I think the Hoosiers show is a step in a "better" direction and hopefully will mark a move into territory that will appeal to the types that frequent this board. So if it's the start of the "new approach" we keep hearing about then it's all for the good. On it's own ...not so much. Trying my hardest to be optimistic about the MECA but they don't give me much to work with.

There's no doubt this is a much better announcement than the last two music related shows at MECA, but it still falls woefully short of what should be happening in a venue of that size and nature.

It's a 1800 capacity venue for crying out loud. My estimate would be c.250 ticket sales for The Hoosiers in Swindon - and I'm being optimistic.

And £20? Seriously??

agreed, nowdays I would suggest The Hoosiers at The Furnace/12 Bar for half the door fee would be more realistic.

Perfect Heart FM fodder.

Imagine if the promoters were able to give 6 pairs (12 tickets sounds like a realistic winnable scenario) to Heart FM (and heart were willing) to run a competition to win. Said singles get a few more airings - remind people who they were, and boom you got a show on your hands!

Both Wombats (13th June 2007 w/ support from Johnny Foreigner iirc) and Hoosiers (Monday 15th Oct 2007) played the 12 Bar 4 years ago anyhow...

My mum would come to this show... So it might not appeal to our demographic, but I can see this doing well if promoted right


A more promising note is that now the venue has 2 consecutive Saturday nights with live music, arguably up to the standard of the venue, could this be the start of a run of press releases??

Where?

I'm generally unwavering in my hatred of censorship, but you've gotta draw the line somewhere.

i wont bother writing a comment i will just repost your one!

keep going MECA !

play nice Mr H!

Can't stand the Hoosiers mate

Yes it is an original band and yes it's an improvement on T-Rex minus all the original members and some bloke who played a bouncer in the Comittments but it's still way off the mark.

They'll struggle to shift 200 tickets for that.

I like The Hoosiers but, £20? Think I'll pass on that one. Like the Jester, I'm still waiting for an excuse to go to MECA

Hoosiers would've been a good call in 2007 but not now, they are in freefall, and it you are going to book a band that'll draw 200 people you put them on at the 12 Bar or Furnace and pack the place, you don't have 200 people rattling around a 4/5 empty MECA

I do appreciate that a number of acts would either cost too much to put on, or would be already tied into nationwide contracts with 02 venues etc but even with all of that taken into consideration these announcements are very disappointing.