Review | Christmas Covers Party at The Wedgewood Rooms: A post-Christmas highlight
Where else could you get to hear live music ranging from industrial metal to pop bangers of various vintages, punk both old and new(ish), grunge, techno and various other stops en route in the space of a couple of hours?
Yes, it’s the 15th annual Christmas Covers Party.
The conceit is simple – acts pick three songs, usually on a theme or in tribute to a specific performer.
It’s basically an excuse for the local scene to dress up, play some of their favourite songs and have fun. For a few hundred folks it’s become a staple, nay a highlight, of the post-Christmas/pre-New Year’s doldrums.
Oh, and it’s all for charidee, mate!
The seasonal bugs doing the rounds do their best to derail things – openers Box Office Flops have to press in El Morgan as a new vocalist with just a few hours notice, and she rises perfectly to the occasion.
The occasional sloppiness of the night has long been part of its charm, but the quality of the 10 acts performing this year is notably top notch.
Milkin’ It are a new grunge tribute act who make their live debut covering three of the genre’s big hitters, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Nirvana with impressive musicianship.
Slow Century masquerade as 228.6mm Nails for a Nine Inch Nails set. In a nice touch, they dedicate it to Myke Eales who died suddenly in October and was a popular scene supporter.
Smells Like Animal Nitrate splice (more) Nirvana with Britpop to hilarious effect.
And Bosh Jovi provide the: “What am I watching?!” moment of the night. Organiser and founder Rusty Sheriff caps things off with a deliriously daft Prodigy tribute – The Instigators.
The stage crew are the unsung heroes of the night, keeping things on track with the crucial tight turnarounds.
And best of all? Rowans Hospice and Music Fusion get to split the evening’s spoils between them, an impressive £5,379.
A most heartfelt ‘well done’ to all involved.