One new member has doubled band's ambition

Rising stars Rainmaker formed in January, this year, after 24-year-old drummer Jamie May received a New Year's Eve text message from the band's lead guitarist and vocalist Anthony Rooney, asking how he was.

Jamie and Anthony, a University College Worcester student from Droitwich, were in Worcester band Columbus Four about four years ago and teamed up with fellow UCW student Chris Scott, aged 22, from St John's, Worcester, on bass, to form Rainmaker.

Now the three-piece rock 'n' roll band's line-up has been bolstered with an additional member - Russell Underwood, a student at UCW.

Twenty-five-year-old Russell used to be in indie band Naive, which had considerable success, but the group fell into problems after the drummer left and he was unable to find a replacement.

"Basically, when we were in the studio our producer told us what would be an absolutely ideal addition to the band would be another vocalist so we have a bit more diversity and dimension," said Jamie, from Perdiswell, Worcester.

"When we told him that we were possibly looking to recruit a new member, his words were that he'd be honoured to play with us."

The band - who have been playing scores of gigs in the Worcester area - have since been breaking in with an intensive week of rehearsals.

Their raw rock 'n' roll sound draws on influences such as Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix to more recent indie bands such as Muse, the Foo Fighters and Supergrass.

And they also organised a charity band night at Evolution at the end of October, which raised £482 for the County Air Ambulance.

New recruit Russell performed for part of the gig and Jamie said he was delighted with how it had gone.

"Just by recruiting one member it's doubled what we've wanted to be, so it's fantastic and it's really done us a favour," he said.

"Obviously the vocals are the most important part of the band where you've got 90 per cent of the people coming along to gigs who are not musicians and listening purely to the vocals.

"By having him with us, he's got 120 per cent stage presence and vocally is superior to anyone out there at the moment."

The group have been working with producer Martin Walker of Icehouse Recordings Studios in Stourbridge for about two months and have nearly finished laying down a five-track demo EP - Listening To Mirrors.

They got involved with Martin after doing music for a property programme on BBC1 and are now remixing and remastering the tracks for the demo.

"There's a variation of tracks and styles which range from some unusual numbers to rock 'n' roll numbers and funk-injected rock 'n' roll so they're all very groove-based and melodic," said Jamie. "There's a track on there for everybody really."

One of the songs on the EP - SH - is also set to feature on a promotional video the band are working on with visual arts students from UCW who approached them after seeing them play at a city gig.

This month is also set to be a busy one for the band as they play a handful of dates in the area - including Droitwich Youth Centre on Friday, December 17, and The Farriers Arms in Fish Street on Sunday, December 19.

And they are hoping the New Year will bring them more success further afield as they plan gigs in other parts of the country.

"We really love playing and the recording side of things so that's the big thing really," said Jamie.

"If we're getting somewhere with things then that's really positive and hopefully means we're on the road to stardom."

Boogie and blues night

A HEADY cocktail of West Coast Blues and Chicago Boogie will be served up as Paul Lamb and The Kingsnakes take to the stage at Worcester's Marr's Bar.

The Kingsnakes' line-up has been augmented by the long-term collusion between Paul Lamb and John Whitehill.

The silky smooth vocals of Earl Green - who started out as Otis Grand's frontman - add to this potent mix to result in the unbeatable combination of virtuosi talent and raw power.

Green has also performed and recorded with other modern contemporaries such as Jeff Beck, Joe Louis Walker, Todd Sharpville and Larry Garner, and is internationally renowned as Britain's classiest blues vocal export.

Band member Rod Demick has long been known as one of the UK's more aggressive bass players, showing no mercy when it comes to delivering a hard and pumping rhythm.

Fellow member Sonny Below is a genuine enigma: a pure blues drummer, undiluted and tastefully strong.

As a whole, Paul Lamb and The Kingsnakes merge their wealth of experience to create a live experience few bands can imitate.

Tickets for tomorrow night's gig are £5 or £7 on the door.

WORCESTER'S TOP TEN ALBUMS - brought to you in association with Face the Music in the city's Cathedral Plaza.

1. U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

2. Robbie Williams - Greatest Hits

3. Eminem - Encore

4. Il Divo - Il Divo

5. Kylie Minogue - Greatest Hits

6. Girls Aloud - What Will The Neighbours Say

7. Shania Twain - Greatest Hits

8. Lemar - Time To Grow

9. Maroon 5 - Songs About Jane

10. Ronan Keating - Greatest Hits

Strummer

GUITARIST Perry Foster will be bringing his own unusual style of strumming to Worcester when he plays the city's Marr's Bar on Sunday.

The eight-string guitarist - who used to live near Kidderminster - is renowned for playing the instrument half on his lap - in the style of Big Joe Williams - rather than in the normal manner.

The talented musician is also rated by none other than Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant, who invited him to support his new band Priory of Brion on their last tour.

Tickets for the concert are £5 on the door.

Barber's big band

INFLUENTIAL musician Chris Barber is set to unleash his big band sound on audiences in Worcester when he plays the city's Huntingdon Hall tomorrow night.

Chris and his 11-piece band will play a wide selection of his favourite music including Bourbon Street Parade and the early music of Duke Ellington, such as Black and Tan Fantasy and Jubilee Stomp.

Over the years, the musician has influenced many of today's leading jazz and blues musicians, including contemporary artists such as Mark Knopfler, Eric Burdon, John Mayall, The Stones, Eric Clapton and Van Morrison.

Steel yourself

ONE of the best known folk bands will be playing a sell-out gig at Huntingdon Hall tonight.

Maddy Prior is back at the helm as Steeleye Span celebrate their 35th anniversary this year, with stalwart and fiddler extraordinaire Peter Knight, Rick Kemp on bass, Ken Nicol on guitar and vocals and Liam Genockey on the drum stool. The concert will feature songs from their latest album.