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Post by kieran on Feb 6, 2007 23:55:05 GMT
Hi guys and girls............
First Firefest band for Oct 2007 announcedCheers Kieran FIREFEST 4 PRESS RELEASE Following on from the success of Firefest 3 in Oct 2006, FIREFEST 4 will take place in Nottingham Rock City on Saturday October 27th 2007. It is with great pleasure that we announce the return of the melodic rock icon‘s F.M as the festival headline act . Following lengthy negotiations Merv Goldsworthy, Steve Overland, Pete Jupp, Andy Barnett and Jem Davies will reunite live on stage for the first time in 12 long years for one show only on Saturday October 27th 2007. The boys have been offered many shows over the years , all of which they have graciously declined, but now, they feel the time is right to get together for the most important reason they could think of : the fans . The boys are absolutely chomping at the bit to get out and play and they have promised to deliver a show that will keep even the most ardent F.M. fan happy. The full line up for FIREFEST 4 as well as full ticketing details and the line up for Day 1 (Friday October 26th) will be announced on www.thefirefest.com by end Feb 2007 . Look forward to seeing you all there Kieran Bruce and Daren
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Post by ARfm Press Office on Feb 15, 2007 12:59:35 GMT
Emerald Productions and Fireworks Magazine will be announcing the Firefest IV (Main Day) line-up this coming Satuday, 17th February on ARfm.
Kieran Dargan will be joining the Steve Price Show between 6pm 9pm UK (1pm 4pm EST, 19:00 22:00 CET)
Firefest has become the benchmark Melodic Rock Festival so don t miss this opportunity to be amongst the first to hear this years fantastic line-up and this years event will take place in Nottingham on Saturday, October 27th 2007.
This Saturday will be a busy show for Steve, Jim Peterik and Toby Hitchcock will also be appearing live on the show to talk about the Pride Of Lions and the new album The Roaring Of Dreams
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Post by kieran on Feb 17, 2007 20:50:16 GMT
Hi there, thank you all so much for the positive responses to the line up . Steve at ARFM has just told us that we have broken all listenership records for his show, by a country mile.
I do hope you like the line up, I firmly believe it's our best yet.
Just for the record :
NOTTINGHAM Rock City : Sat Oct 27th
F.M.
Tyketto
Harem Scarem
Jorn
Valentine ...the original line up
Crunch (Adriangale)
Jaded Heart
Tickets on sale from Firefest Monday morning :
I'm off for a beer
Cheers and thanks
Kieran
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Post by ARfm Press Office on Feb 19, 2007 12:38:22 GMT
FM What can you say about FM? Arguably the biggest AOR act ever to come out of the UK, FM very quickly became Britain’s answer to Foreigner, Bon Jovi et al. The debut album 'Indiscreet' spawned no less than five singles, including the all time classics ‘Frozen Heart’ and ‘That Girl’, which paved the way for the band to become a bona fide headline act in super quick time. The normally difficult second album ‘Tough It Out’ appeared in 1989. Gone were the flashy suits and the quaffed bonces to be replaced by a harder edged guitar sound as the band started to find their feet . The title track ‘Bad Luck' and ‘Someday You’ll Come Running’ showcased a new direction for the band without once forgetting they key ingredient - melody. A change of label saw 1991’s ‘Takin’ It to the Streets’ emerge on Music For Nations and saw the band have a surprise, yet well deserved hit with the old blues standard ‘Heard it Through the Grapevine’. ‘... Streets’ also included the mega ballad ‘Only the Strong Survive’, perhaps a slightly autobiographical track in the face of changing and challenging musical times. ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ emerged in 1995 and despite the lack of hit singles the band continued to tour hard to their ever faithful hard core, never once failing to convert even the most cynical of concert attendees with their biggest weapon - their stunning live show. ‘Paraphernalia’ appeared as a Japanese only release in 1996, in effect after the band had decided to call it a day, but effectively was nothing more than an album compiled of out takes and unused demo versions. It wasn’t until 2003 that another official FM release appeared, ‘Long Time No See’, a triple disc consisting of updated versions of FM classics and a live recording from the London Astoria in 1989. Since then FM have seen their entire back catalogue re-issued in one form or another and consequently have never had so much product available on the market at any given time. FIREFEST are delighted that the boys have accepted our invitation to headline Firefest 4. We are also very proud that they have chosen our festival to finally make that appearance that so many have waited, hoped and prayed for over the last twelve years. We’re not sure if they have in actual fact realised that it’s the 21st anniversary of the release of ‘Indiscreet’ but either way it will be a hell of a way to celebrate it! To quote Merv Gold worthy ‘This may the only time this reunion happens’. With no future plans for the band outside of this one off appearance this is a MUST for all FM. fans………the long wait will be over on October 27th . TYKETTO Tyketto are without doubt one of the finest live melodic hard rock acts ever to grace a stage. A love affair with UK fans that has lasted for sixteen years on the back of the seminal ‘Don’t Come Easy’ and ‘Strength in Numbers’ was only recently cemented with a reunion of the original line up in November 2004. Well, the band had so much fun last time out that they decided not to leave it so long again to come back and say hello to everybody. Tyketto are not a going concern per se, and with all the guys in the band so busy with their other projects we at Firefest are grateful that they guys will take the time out to rip up the stage at Rock City for Firefest 4. Danny Vaughn is currently on the promotional trail with his storming new album ‘Traveller’ and has just been invited by Journey to open for them on their UK tour in March. This of course will be followed by a string of Danny Vaughn band dates throughout the UK and Europe in May. Mike Clayton keeps his hand in by playing regularly in his native New Jersey where he owns and manages one of the biggest booking agencies in the New Jersey/New York area and Brookie ... well what can you say about Brook St James? Talented to the point of insanity, a guitarist of unbelievable dexterity and vocal chops to match, it’s no wonder Tyketto are still hailed as one of the all time greats of the genre. To those of who have had the pleasure of seeing them live you will already know this, and to those of you who have not yet seen them this is the ONLY chance for you to see just why they have earned this reputation. HAREM SCAREM A swift return for the Canadian maestros after gracing us with their presence at FF2. Harem are a band that have never stood still and continually put out quality product for their adoring army of fans. ‘Human Nature’ is a return to the classic Harem sound with plenty of big guitars and huge choruses as well as more modern elements, ensuring Harem are constantly moving forward musically, not intent in sitting on their laurels. Credited with possibly the most popular benchmark album of the genre, ‘Mood Swings’, they swing easily between the heavier approach of the aforementioned album and the lighter moments contained on ‘Higher’ and ‘Weight of the World’, both of which have earned the band further accolades amongst their huge fan base. ‘Human Nature’ saw the band undergo a huge surge of popularity with it’s instant combination of pounding hard rock and effortless balladry and this will be the only chance to catch the guys live in Europe in 2007. Definitely a show not to be missed. JORN Jorn Lande is one of the greatest singers on the face of the planet, period! Jorn’s previous work with The Snakes saw him almost out-Coverdale David himself. If that wasn’t enough, he fronted Millenium and took the band to a new level with ‘Hourglass’, endured a brief spell singing for Yngwie Malmsteen and then went on to front German power metal act Masterplan for both ‘Masterplan’ and ‘Aeronautics’ generating almost half a million sales. In between Jorn has continued to record and release solo work: ‘Starfire’, ‘World Changer’, ‘Out to Every Nation’ and ‘The Duke’. Currently on the promotion trail with two new albums ‘Unlocking the Past’ and ‘The Gathering’ Jorn is one of the busiest singers in the world, and of course his live show is nothing short of amazing. Firefest 4 will be Jorn’s first solo appearance in the UK since 1999 and no doubt will be eagerly anticipated by all. Just in case you thought we had forgotten, you can throw in two albums with Ronnie Le Tekro’s Vagabond and another two with Ark just for good measure. There is no end to the man’s talents. VALENTINE Valentine’s self titled debut album, despite not getting the attention it deserved upon it’s release, is quite rightly revered as a classic of the era. Peppered with up tempo feel good rock songs and heartfelt balladry, tracks such as ‘No Way’, ‘Tears in the Night’ and ‘Nobody Said it Was Easy’ conjure up images of stadium rock as it should be. Led by Hugo Valenti, Valentine were compared to Perry era Journey, Hugo’s voice and looks bearing an uncanny resemblance to the legend himself. Valentine were pushed by the record company, having a number of tracks featured in the hit movie ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead’, but changing musical times meant the band, despite recording a fantastic album, were lost in the mix. Valentine morphed into Open Skyz and released a self titled album in 1994 which once again contained a wealth of stunning tracks, but alas the band called it quits shortly afterwards. Hugo has continued to release albums, in fact the self titled debut ‘Hugo’ featuring Vinny Burns and Gary Hughes can rightly be described as a latter day classic. For the first time in 15 years, Hugo, Adam Holland, Craig Pullman and Gerard Zappa will appear live on stage as Valentine at Firefest 4. The set list is being debated by the band, but Gerard has insisted it will encompass Valentine, Open Skyz and even a couple from the debut Hugo album. Another definitely not to be missed. CRUNCH Formerly known as Adriangale, Vic Rivera (AG, Poley/Rivera), Jamie Rowe (Guardian/AG) and Eddie Campbell head into the fray once more and despite Adriangale being left behind, are keen to insist it is in name only. It was our pleasure to witness one of the finest 45 minutes of rock and roll in Madrid in 2001 when Adriangale absolutely blew the place apart with their own brand of classic American hard rock. Now calling themselves Crunch, the guys have a wealth of material to draw upon from their song writing past in Adriangale, songs such as ‘Feel the Fire’, ‘Faith’, ‘A Moment’s Notice’, Closer’ and ‘Save Our Love’ are all bound to make an appearance as well as new material which is currently being recorded . The band plan to have new music available this summer and will look to Firefest as the event to premier those songs live for the first time anywhere in the world. Watch out for CRUNCH as possibly the surprise package of the day….. JADED HEART Germany’s finest exporters of melodic rock have enjoyed a 17 year career . Albums such as ‘Inside Out’, ‘Slaves and Masters’, ‘Mystery Eyes’ and ‘IV’ have helped cement the fact that Jaded Heart are a band capable of coming up with the goods time after time. ‘The Journey Will Never End’ and ‘Trust’ further enhanced that reputation whilst new release ‘Helluva Time’ has continued to draw the plaudits from critics and fans alike. Jaded Heart last appeared in the UK in 2001 and are really looking forward to getting back to play. In fact we’re pretty delighted that they are coming too………. FIREFEST 4 takes place in Nottingham Rock City on Saturday October 27th . Tickets will be on sale directly from FIREFEST from Monday morning February 19th . Payments Accepted : cash (at senders risk), postal order, or bank draft in Sterling pounds made payable to Mr Bruce Mee c/o Fireworks Magazine, 10 Dunnock Close, Offerton, Stockport, SK2 5XD, England. Payment can also be made by PAYPAL . Payment to fireworks.mag@ntlworld.com , please be sure to include your name and address in the message box. The level of interest in FIREFEST has never been higher, especially with FM already announced, we have been inundated with Email enquiries for tickets and information in general. We would think that this show will sell out pretty quickly, so therefore we would like to advise anybody attending to purchase your tickets well in advance. FIREFEST is an age 14 years and over show. The Day 1 show (formerly known as the pre-show ) has taken on a life of it’s own and the full line up for FridayOct 26th will be announced shortly . We hope to have 5 bands appearing and it will NOT be in the Rig. We are moving this to a larger venue to accommodate everybody - bands, organisers and fans - with a bigger stage and more room for all concerned, thus ensuring everybody will have a better vantage point. Well, we hope you like then line up. It’s taken a while to put it together but I’m sure you will agree it is a veritable best of the best. We think this line up is the strongest yet for FIREFEST and once again would ask you for your support in making this show a success. If you are considering purchasing tickets, you can do so from us . It is the cheapest way to do this as we do not charge booking/convenience fees per ticket or per transaction. Please allow 21 days for delivery of tickets but we will try get them out sooner. The web site www.thefirefest.com will be up and running shortly. It’s currently being redesigned in advance of FF4 and you can continue to pick up the latest news about the bands and the show there, or indeed at our sponsors sites, www.melodicrock.com and www.hardrockhouse.com . A full list of ticket agents will be made available shortly , including specialist mail order melodic rock stores where you can purchase CDs and tickets all in one go! Well that’s about it. As usual we can be contacted at firefest@hotmail.com with suggestions, questions, bribes and anything else you would care to send us. See you all in October hopefully Kieran, Bruce and Daren. FIREFEST |
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Post by Steve Price on Jun 5, 2007 13:37:00 GMT
First off may we say a huge thank you to everybody who has purchased their Firefest 4 tickets so far. Over 50% of all available tickets for Saturday have been sold and to be perfectly honest, it looks as if the show may well sell out in advance. Looks like there is a lot of life left in melodic hard rock yet (despite what others may say). We have been in regular contact with all the bands and they are really exited to be playing. FM are currently in rehearsals and according to Merv Goldsworthy it sounds great…..in fact he says it sounds as they have never been away. Now we can't be giving away any secrets, but all we can say is the FM set is a must see….repeat a must see! You have been warned, so miss it at your peril!! The Valentine guys are also beavering away at home in New Jersey and the set list is nothing short of stunning!! Of course Hugo has played in the UK previously but this will be the first time that Valentine will set foot on English soil as a group. With the band rehearsing since April, they intend to be fully fired up come October 27th. As usual we would also like to thank our sponsors for their support. They may be small in number but their contribution is immense and greatly appreciated by everybody at Firefest. Take a bow ARFM, www.melodicrock.com, www.hardrockhouse.com, www.guitarstoreuk.com, www.aorheaven.com, www.cargorecords.co.uk and www.rock-it-magazine.de. A finer bunch of people we couldn't wish for. Tickets are selling quickly so if you are intending to travel to the show it would be advisable to pick up your tickets sooner rather that later. Tickets an be purchased directly from us at Firefest (full ticketing details are available on www.thefirefest.com/pricing.aspx) or from one of the official ticket agents ST Records, Loud 1, Destiny Records and Z-Roxx, all of whom have a stock of tickets on hand ready to mail out to you along with any new music you purchase. We are working on a number of official meet and greets as many of you have asked about it. Due to the very busy nature of the day and tight scheduling of bands coming and going from backstage, it will not be possible to arrange a mass meet and greet but we will in conjunction with the bands appearing do our best to accommodate everybody. Our first official meet and greet will be with the Friday night headliners Threshold. The band will meet 20 fans at a private meet and greet prior to their appearance on Friday night, and the band will present a personalised signed copy of their live album 'Surface to Stage' to everybody attending. Not only that but Firefest will have a photographer on hand to record the moment and present you with a copy (just in case your camera won't work, the flash fails or you have run out of space ... it happens!!). So if you fancy meeting Threshold in person, here's your chance. So how do you enter? It's simple. Just purchase your Friday night ticket before July 1st and you will be included in a free draw, with the first twenty people out of the hat qualifying. Please note, to enter this competition you must purchase your Friday ticket directly from Firefest either by Paypal or by post from the Fireworks Magazine postal address, both of which can be found on www.thefirefest.com . Winners will be notified and provided with all the details relevant to the meet and greet such as time, location etc. Etc. Here's the link: www.thefirefest.com/pricing.aspx. Good luck!! We will also have a number of other spot prizes and give aways available in the coming months, including some guitars, free merchandise and perhaps even some artist donated collectibles, so keep an eye out for some more great free competitions. With regard to merchandise, we will once again be offering t-shirts in advance of the show. However as per FF3, there will be a limited number only. At FF3 we only printed 100 shirts and sold 90 before the day itself, so if you fancy grabbing a shirt make sure you order as soon as they appear on the web site. Look out for further updates on the website www.thefirefest.com and on our sponsor sites www.hardrockhouse.com, www.melodicrock.com and www.hardrockhouse.com in the coming weeks, plus some in depth interviews and updates directly from the bands appearing at FF4. That's about all for now, Thanks for your support so far, please continue to spread the word about the show. We need all the support we an get and the most important thing to remember is, it's YOUR show. Firefest - for the fans, by the fans. Cheers Kieran, Bruce and Daren." |
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Post by Steve Price on Jul 20, 2007 10:35:17 GMT
FIREFEST 4 UPDATE Hi Everybody, hope you are all enjoying the summer (or what is supposed to be summer here in Europe). A few things have come to light in recent days regarding some bands playing FF4 in Nottingham in October .First off , with Harem Scarem announcing they will go their separate ways after the current tour, FIREFEST 4 will be HAREM SCAREM’s final gig anywhere in the world, so if you want to avail of your final opportunity to see the band live in the flesh one last time, Rock City, Nottingham is the place to be on Oct 27th. We will be speaking with the Harem Scarem guys shortly to see what, if anything ,we can do to make this their most memorable gig ever. Regarding Threshold, their lead singer Andy Mc Dermott has not been able to perform with the band at some festival shows in Europe this weekend, and they are currently being assisted by the return of previous vocalist Damien Wilson . However according to band member Richard West , Wilson’s return at this moment in time is a temporary measure as the band remain unclear as to Mac’s current disposition. As soon as the position becomes clearer regarding the current vocalist problems , we will let you know. TYKETTO have also confirmed it will be the ORIGINAL line up of Vaughn, St James, Kennedy and Clayton that will take the stage on Oct 27th . As you are no doubt aware, the guys are all busy outside of Tyketto, and scheduling was problematic, but Jimmy Kennedy will now join the band for the FIREFEST show meaning once again the four guys that created ‘Don’t come Easy’ will rock the house. Anybody that saw the reunion tour of 2004 will know exactly what to expect, for those of you that missed out, here’s the chance to see just what an incredible live band the Tykes are. Incidentally , with no future plans for the band , Mike and Danny are convinced that this will be the last time the Tykes hit the road . Ticket sales for FIREFEST 4 have been PHENOMONAL . Thank you for your support so far. Almost 70% of tickets for the Saturday show are now sold, and ticket sales remain extremely strong as summer nears it’s end. With Harem Scarem confirming FIREFEST 4 will be their last live performance anywhere in the world, and Tyketto as much as admitting the same , we expect the demand for tickets to increase sharply in the coming weeks, so if you are thinking about coming along , please get your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Please also feel free to check out our web site for news, hints and tips, as well as sound bytes and video of bands playing the show. Tickets are available from the following outlets : FIREFEST TICKETING DETAILS TICKETS ON SALE : NOW TICKETS : Saturday : £46.00 incl. Postage :Friday : £20 incl. Postage Please note Friday tickets are ONLY AVAILABLE directly from FIREFEST or Rock City . Tickets can be purchased from the following outlets : Directly from FIREFEST using cheque, cash (at senders own risk) or postal order. Payments made to Mr. B. Mee. SEND TO : Fireworks Magazine 10 Dunnock Close , Offerton , Stockport, SK2 5XD, England. Payments can also be made directly to FIREFEST using paypal. Paypal address : fireworks.mag@ntlworld.com Please allow 21 days for delivery of tickets Rock City Ticketing details Online Agencies: www.alt-tickets.co.ukBox Office Telephone : 0115 9588484 Or by calling in person to the box office at Rock City, 8 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GG. Loud 1, 144 Congleton Road, Biddulph, Stoke on Trent, Staffs ST8 6QN Tel +44 (0)1782 522370 / Fax +44 (0)1782 765013 E-mail: gez@loud1.net. Z Roxx, PO Box 300, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 9AY Tel +44 (0)1323 833049 E-mail: sales@z-roxx.com. Destiny Records, PO Box 139, Fareham, PO15 7JE Tel +44(0) 1489 603549 / Fax +44 (0) 1489 603550 / E-mail: destiny.records@ntlworld.com ST Records, 165 Wolverhampton Road, Dudley, West Midlands, Tel: + 44 (0)1384 230726 Should you have any queries regarding ticketing , please contact firefest@hotmail.com or fireworks.mag@ntlworld.com and you will receive a reply within 24 hours. |
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Post by Steve Price on Aug 9, 2007 15:06:50 GMT
FIREFEST PRESS RELEASE Further to the recent announcement that Thunderground has been cancelled and questions raised about the current state of the melodic rock scene, we would like to take this opportunity to address a few points . It is indeed a battle every year to put on a show such as FIREFEST. The costs involved are astronomical , flights, accommodation, work permits, venue hire, transport, back line and crew hire, advertising etc. The simple facts are that nobody is obliged to attend a show, it is entirely at the fans discretion to attend or not to. We have been very fortunate at FIREFEST that we have had the support of the fans since day one, and despite taking a financial beating on FF1 & 2 , we have been able to continue and hopefully have provided you with a great weekend, good value for money, as well as the opportunity to see some bands that you normally would not have the opportunity to see in a touring capacity. We are only too aware that FIREFEST weekend is an expensive one, with so many people travelling from all over the UK and the world, travel and accommodation as well as the cost of a weekend away can make it prohibitive for many, and the fact that so many choose to attend make us incredibly grateful for your support and belief in our show. If you are a fan of melodic rock, then there are further opportunities to support the artists by attending either Melodic rock’s 10th Anniversary show in South Bend or UFOR in Germany. Please try and get out to support these shows, not only for the people promoting them, but for the bands themselves, otherwise we will see the last remaining shows disappear and we as fans will be left with very little in the way of seeing bands whom we all love. On a more positive note, FIREFEST has now sold in excess of 75% of all tickets available for the Saturday show and over 60% of tickets to the Friday show making FIREFEST 4 our most successful show by far with regard to advance ticket sales. As tickets are selling steadily there is a growing optimism that the Saturday show will sell out in advance, so if you haven’t ordered your ticket yet, please do so sooner rather than later. Full ticketing details available from www.thefirefest.com. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors - they may be few, but they are mighty. Take a bow : Melodicrock.com, ARFM, Hardrockhouse.com, Cargo Records, Rock It Magazine, AOR Heaven, Guitar Store UK .com and rathole.com. Life would be far more difficult without your assistance and genuine love of the music . We look forward to seeing everybody in Nottingham on Oct 26 and 27, and maybe if you can’t make it to Firefest, there is a chance you can make one of the other festivals and lend your support to live melodic hard rock. Can we also take this opportunity to ask anyone who is willing to help passing out Firefest 4 flyers at upcoming shows to drop us a line at: fireworks.mag@ntlworld.com Cheers FIREFEST |
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Post by shaggy on Aug 9, 2007 20:04:32 GMT
Kieran's hit the nail on the head there. The cost of travel and accommodation is a primary reason for folks not going to all the shows. Finances are tight for many of us and it's a fact that folks will make the effort for shows that have well established acts but less likely to for shows where the bill has a host of bands not many know. We have 3 major gigs all within a few months of each other and unless you live within a reasonable travelling distance, or have unlimited funds, its a big ask of people to fork out for all 3. I'm sure the good folk of Scotland and Ireland and even those in the far south west of England must be wondering why 2 shows are in Nottingham and a third in Wigan near Manchester. With Z Rocks in Wigan and Firefest IV in Nottingham, both shows have established bands on the bill. Names like Dokken, House Of Lords, Kingdom Come appearing at Z Rocks and with Tyketto, FM and to a lesser degree Harem Scarem at Firefest will draw in the fans cos people remember them from rock's glory years of the 80s. Bottom line is names put bums on seats. As LJC says, Hull is a typical example of the apathy towards the rock genre aside from the established acts. The Iron Maiden's and Bon Jovi's of this world will always draw huge numbers cos they have the track record. But you try promoting a band to folks to get them to take an interest and its always "Never heard of them so I dont wanna listen to them." A point blank refusal to remove their blinkers and take a chance on some new bands. So many bands with talent like Wig Wam, Brother Firetribe, and more don't get the exposure they surely deserve cos the major league magazines like Kerrang!! and Metal Hammer and Classic Rock that we all see on the shelves in our newpaper shops etc, have no interest in these bands. Of the three gigs, Firefest has the better track record with some quality bands appearing. I feel sorry for the organisers of Thunderground if it has been cancellled, I thoroughly enjoyed Wig Wam's appearance at Firefest 3, and if money was no object we'd be there too. But we have to balance our budget between running a house with a 10 year old and trying to have some spare money to do a few things we want to do and also pay for Catherine's horse riding lessons.
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