Narnia Festival at The Mad Ferret

A three day winter festival with live local bands, mulled wine, cocktails, fancy dress and snow. What more can you ask on a cold December weekend?















Below is a timeline of the opening night with pictures and reviews of all three bands with links to their homepages.



The above timeline was created on www.dipity.com




Through the wardrobe. The glorious and strange world of Narnia comes to Preston.

Meet the bands from the opening night of the Narnia Winter Festival

I caught up with bassist Ian Halliwell from Dirty Circus to find out about music in the northwest and how they got on the line-up for Mad Ferret's Narnia Festival

1. How long have been together and how did you form?
We have been together around 3 or 4 years, we had a couple of line up changes early on before settling on this one.


2. Do you tour the region a lot? How many gigs do you play a month?
Recently we have been doing quite a lot of gigs all over the region but earlier this year we were finishing our album so the live stuff had to take a back seat for a while.


3. What kind of relationship do you have with each other? Do arguments result in a bit of a set-to?
We usually have a good releationship with each other, with there being 6 of us and us all being so opinionated then there's obviously going to be tensions but we usually settle things a bit more amicably!


4. How would you rate the music scene in Preston compared with other areas of the Northwest? Manchester, Wigan, Liverpool etc.
I think it's good, we have only played Preston a couple of times and the response we have had has been really good. In some other towns, apart from Wigan where we have our biggest following, the crowds are sometimes a little too reserved for our liking! We like it when everyone is going crazy!


5. How did you hear about the Narnia event at the Mad Ferret?
We played a gig at Mad Ferret a couple of months ago and straight away afterwards the promoter and manager wanted us to come back so we jumped at the chance to come back because the crowd were really good to us last time.


6. What are your hopes for the future? Is it harder to make a career out of being in a band being so far away from London? Would you consider moving to London?
Were hoping to have a single and our album out early next year and keep gigging all around the country. We have just done a gig at the Levis shop in Manchester so hopefully we will be able to get some links them. I dont think it matters that we're not in London, there's so many great bands outside of London, although it probably does make it easier for bands who live in the south as the majority of the industry is based there. I dont think the whole band would be up for moving to London. I personally would as i think it would help things move a lot quicker for us but I think most of the band are settled in the north.

Drummer Andy Lyth from Preston band Jelly's Last Jam gave his thoughts on the Narnia Festival and the Preston scene

1. Did you enjoy the Narnia festival?
I really enjoyed the Narnia festival. The Mad Ferret and Fraser Boon (the pub's landlord) excel when these kinds of events are put on; from this Summers Glasto-Ferret to last years One Big Fringe, Fraser goes all-out to ensure a great, fun and different event for all! Narnia indeed, I'm just looking forward to finding out what plans he has for 2009!

2. Was it difficult being the opening band?
Being the opening band is not without it's challenges, and I wouldn't say it was difficult as such, but maybe just a little different as we're used to playing later in the evening. Personally, being on first did not mean I enjoyed it any less!

3. How long have you been together?
The band's been together 3 and a half years.

4. What are your plans for 2009?
In 2009 we plan to release our debut single, Alibi. The date is set as March 2nd, and we'll be supporting the release with a few gigs; also we'll be developing our Manchester club night at Moho Live.

5. How would you describe the music scene in Preston? I would describe the music scene in Preston as being very lively and supportive. Also diverse, with a very wide variety of musicians and club nights. Having venues like 53 Degrees helps as it draws bigger names to the local scene, which does put Preston on the UKs musical map a little clearer. And the Mad Ferret is one of the best music venues you're ever likely to come across!

Click here for a video diary of Jelly's Last Jam

Has Preston got a music scene?

The Guardian recently reported that with the tightening of belts and the onset of a recession the amount of people willing to pay for live music may decline. The audience who at one time would be prepared to pay anywhere between £20 and £50 to watch Oasis or, heaven forbid, The Pigeon Detectives may have to look elsewhere for their musical fix.

Do-it-yourself local bands may find their audience boosted by people looking for live music, a few drinks and somewhere to forget about the black clouds hanging over the world's economy. Clouds we are told everyday by newspapers and television news will only get worse engulfing us all in a financial shit-storm.

Preston has many such pubs that may fit the bill. The Mad Ferret on Brook Street in the heart of the university campus has live music on most nights of the week and will host a winter festival this weekend. Narnia Festival will see a host of bands from Preston and all over the North spread over three days with the pub decorated to look like the other side of the wardrobe and a stall where the mulled wine will flow.

THE PROMOTER'S VIEW

Phil Moss, 23, whose band Underdogs play on Saturday night is also a promoter for the club night The English Gentleman's Drinking Club showcasing the best of local bands as well as bands from further a field. Together with promoters Apples and Pears he booked the line-up for Narnia festival.

The local scene is very healthy and vibrant according to Phil with loads of talented bands playing regularly and a receptive patron supporting them in the form of Mad Ferret owner Fraser Boon. Fraser may be Preston's answer to Manchester music guru Tony Curtis.

Phil said: "The fact that Fraser gives us the freedom to do what we want to do is important. He doesn't interfere in what we do."

Russ Carlton, 30, promoter who host the long-running club night Where's Mavis, currently at PR1 on a Tuesday night, agrees that the Preston scene has a lot going for it. He said: "Considering the way money is at the moment it is doing alright. You can go and see live music nearly every night for free."

Fraser Boon, owner of the Mad Ferret, when asked about the Narnia Festival being hosted at his pub said: "Events like this are important to attract new custom and for bands to get their music across to fresh faces. It seems to attract other people other than regular gig goers and hopefully after seeing the quality of musicians they will be left wanting more."

There is trouble on the horizon as Preston council's plans to redevelop the Tithebarn area of town get ever nearer. The plan will see many alternative clubs such as The Venue, PR1 and possible the alternative nightclub The Warehouse demolished to make way for a John Lewis shop and other retailers.

Russ does not think this is necessarily a bad thing. " It has never been about the buildings. If bands are still wanting to play they will find new venues. It might even give them a kick up the arse and force them to do something", he said.

Unfortunately no one from either Preston Council or the Arts Council could be reached for comment about funding and help given to promote the music culture in Preston.

For a highly subjective and lively discussion about the state of music in Preston and the councils role in all this visit Prestone, a forum for people of Preston to discuss music and anything else they see fit.

The map shows the venues on the university campus and in the town centre.


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