011 week on week
This week.
Wrexham Football. Wrexham music. Wrexham life.
This is Wrexham, week on week.
From record shops to big stages — a Wrexham music story
I stand on the balcony of the Victoria Warehouse, looking down at thousands of hot, sweaty music fans. They’ve just witnessed a magical show by one of Wrexham’s greatest exports, The Royston Club.
I sacrificed the last night at Focus Wales and I’ve no regrets. The lads have smashed it, and I’m not alone in thinking this. Right now, they’re the benchmark.
Earlier that day, I’m standing outside a record shop in town with Roscoe, a local band who are playing the main stage at one of the country’s best showcase festivals later in the afternoon.
They, and some other local bands, have been asked along to ReVibed Records to play an acoustic set.
As we listen to The Cherophobes doing their stuff, we discuss Focus Wales. It’s become the highlight of many people’s musical year. I’ve covered the last couple as media, but this time I’ve hit the big time and am now an official photographer.
The Cherophobes are on the musical climb to the summit and have just left base camp. They’re not at Focus, but this is like a fringe event. Festival-goers looking for their early live music are popping in and taking note of their name.
It’s what you have to do.
Roscoe have already played a set — late last night.
They smashed it, as they do, and a few Roscoe ‘virgins’ ask me about the band. What can I say? Four college friends coming together to form a band — not unique — but they’ve all now moved to Leeds to study and are loving the music scene up there.
And there’s a link — the same stage, the same journey.
Roscoe are playing the very same stage that The Royston Club once played to in front of about 100 people on a Saturday afternoon. The crowd was small because there was a football match on at the same time.
I explain this to Roscoe, but I needn’t have worried.
The tent is well attended for their big stage experience, and the lads play out of their skin. You can see exactly why people are starting to talk about them.
I shoot some shots from the pit, and then video them.
I’ve unofficially promoted these lads, and I feel proud that others can now see what I can see and hear. People come up to me and ask about Roscoe. They’ve started their journey.
As the gig finishes, I start my journey to Manchester — not before grabbing the playlist.
I’m like a fanboy.
Car parked, and the usual ticket chaos (I really should download them prior to travelling 🤣).
I’m aghast at the size of the queue.
We get in and make a decision to avoid the bumps and bruises of the lively crowd and head upstairs — and I’m so grateful.
The Royston Club can do nothing wrong.
I even make the bold statement that they’re too big to play anywhere in Wrexham — which, of course, was disproven two days later when they announced a hometown gig.
And the night is topped off when they play two of my favourite songs.
My day is complete.
So it doesn’t matter where you are on your journey to the big stages.
Put the effort in, and people will reward you.
Wrexham and the surrounding areas are producing some seriously good bands — and people are starting to notice.
This isn’t luck anymore.
It’s a scene.
This is Wrexham, week on week.
The football club, the music scene, the people and the places that make the town what it is..