rockaoke is born!
Band Without a Singer Wins Dream Summer Booking
Few bands get very far without a singer…
But one bunch of Sheffield musicians have proved the exception – and landed a dream summer booking despite having no frontman.
Then again it could be said that ROCKAOKE have actually got through around 7,000 singers during their 3 years touring British venues.
The band is a live karaoke act which encourages punters to get up on stage and sing the songs of their idols to a full live musical backing. Now the threesome have been invited to repeat the winning formula at the notorious Manumission nightclub on the holiday isle of Ibiza. “We are essentially a Sheffield rock band who, around three years ago, decided it would be fun to start doing shows without a singer,” said Jon Short. “We kick off each show, then rely on getting people up out of the audience to sing.”
“It sounds awfully cheesy I know, but it really is more about offering people a genuine and unique opportunity to get up and perform live with a professional rock band.”
“And, unlike karaoke, it seriously rocks!” The band is booked regularly at venues around the country, including a weekly residency at Sheffield’s Walkabout Aussie Bar on Carver Street.
But a few weeks ago they were called out of the blue by club millionaire Andy McKay, co-founder of Manumission, the Ibiza nightspot once famed for its live sex shows but now expanding the dance-dominated Ibiza scene by staging live rock bands.
By David Dunn – Sheffield Star
Oh My God! – it’s Ricky Wilson!
OH MY GOD, IBIZA’S NEW KARAOKE STAR IS – RICKY WILSON!
HE may have gone to Ibiza hoping for a spot of rest and relaxation – but it seems Ricky Wilson’s trip abroad is rapidly turning into a busman’s holiday.
The Kaiser Chiefs frontman was spotted living it up in typically flamboyant fashion at the trendy Bar M nightspot near San Antonio on Wednesday evening.
He stole the show at the venue’s weekly karaoke bash by getting up on stage and treating revellers to a surprise rendition of his band’s hit I Predict A Riot.
And that wasn’t all – Ricky later clambered onto a table with pals from New York rockers We Are Scientists to belt out a raucous version of the Oasis classic Wonderwall.
One onlooker told the YEP: “No one had noticed him in the bar – it was a bit of a shock to suddenly see him up there on stage!
“At first he had his back turned to us, so when he span round and we realised it was him doing one of his most famous songs the place went absolutely mad.” Ricky, who comes from Ilkley, also performed a rapturously-received DJ set at the launch of this summer’s Ibiza Rocks event at Bar M on Monday evening.
Ibiza Rocks is the brainchild of former University of Leeds student Andy McKay and his brother Mike, the men behind the party island’s legendary Manumission club night.
Billed as a bid to bring top live bands to a destination that’s traditionally been dominated by dance music, its line-up over the next four weeks includes Dirty Pretty Things, The Streets and Kasabian.
They will be following in the footsteps of Leeds lads the Kaisers, who played at the first Ibiza Rocks extravaganza last summer.
By Paul Robinson – Yorkshire Evening Post
photos from ibiza rocks
Some of our favourite pics from IBIZA.
