Sunday 25 May 2014

Hop on your scooter for Midlands' biggest Mod and Ska weekender says The Birmingham Mail

Suited & Booted 2014 at Alvechurch FC to feature The Selecter, The Small Fakers, Badness, The Southmartins, DC Fontana, The Jam DRC, Tempting Rosie, Little Liam and The Coopers Samuel Rogers Band

Parkas ready! Baggy trousers ready! Boots ready! Scooters ready!

Suited & Booted 2014 kicks off on Saturday (May 24) at Alvechurch FC where the West Midlands’ largest independent musical event will have the twin goal of raising money for both Help For Heroes and Birmingham Autism.

The UK’s leading Mod and Ska weekender will be headlined on Sunday night by The Selecter bringing their 35th anniversary Too Much Pressure tour to a close.

Promoter Kris Gozra says: “We’ve already had 1,500 advance sales online with people coming from as far afield as the south east and Angus in Scotland.

“Who knows, if the weather is good we could even get up towards our capacity of 5,000.

“Both the Mod and Ska culture prevail in the West Midlands, which is home to more than 50 scooter clubs.

“The sight of several hundred vintage scooters coming up the road during one of the numerous scooter runs is a sight to behold – the region is literally the epicentre of UK Mod.

“Some have hundreds of members and host Mod and Northern Soul nights every week throughout the year.

“They also organise many charity events such as the recent March of the Mods.”

Kris says Ska history dates back to the 1960s and the Don Christie record shop – the UK’s first reggae, ska and blue beat importer on Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook.

“The scene was ignited with Two Tone, the last significant Midlands’ based musical movement,” he says.

“And it continues with club nights like Pressure Drop (Barcelona, Birmingham and Middlesbrough) and Scorcher.

“Both scenes have great colour and vibrancy and Suited & Booted 2014 will bring together the best of both Ska and Mod.”

The event features a mixture of national names including The Selecter, The Small Fakers, Badness, The Southmartins etc) as well as local acts DC Fontana, The Jam DRC, Tempting Rosie, Little Liam and The Coopers Samuel Rogers Band).

There will also be covers bands like The Iconics, Heavy Sol, Ordinary Affair and original artists The Universal and The Get Go.

DJ Sunflower will host the event and there will be food outlets on site as well as several bars and stalls including vintage clothes and records.

Accompanied children under 12 admitted free. An adult day pass is £20 or it’s £35 for the whole event which is being staged at Alvechurch FC, 53 Redditch Road, Alvechurch B48 7RS.

The stage has been built by Birmingham rehearsal studio Robannas and will be behind one goal, with fans given half the pitch.

The other half of the pitch has space for 150 tents, with farmer’s fields on standby nearby for more tents.

Tickets available on the door.

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