More gigs for The Verinos

We played loads of gigs in March with some of the other Unglamorous Music bands and had loads of fun. Our intention was to do less in May and June because there’s a compilation album to release and we want to start recording our own album. But people keep offering us gigs and it’s hard to say no. But are we punk or are we pop? It’s hard to say and we think we’re maybe both …

On Friday 30th June, we’re back at The Big Difference, Leicester which is a super-cool venue to play at. It’s where French/German TV channel ARTE came to film the unglam bands playing recently. Arte Film

On Sunday 20th August, The Verinos have been added to the Leicester Punk Weekender closing party bill, along with Unglamorous bands Glitch Magnet and The Wonky Portraits. There’s some vintage punk bands on and we’re on stage 2 just before Buzzcocks hit stage 1 at the end of the night. We’re grateful to Matt from Firebug Bar who has arranged this second stage which balances out the male-dominated original punk sets with the cool new mainly women bands. It’s refreshing, modern and doesn’t detract from what Chelsea, UK Subs, Buzzcocks etc provide – it just acknowledges that women also love punk and can be part of it! We’re honoured to be asked – especially because we’re a very poppy punk band!

The following week, on Saturday 26th August, The Verinos take a road trip to Sheffield to play at Sidney and Matilda for the Sheffield Pop Weekender. This is a great line-up and again, we’re honoured to be asked … especially as we’re a punky pop band! Tickets here This is what they say: “Don’t go to those hideous massive festivals with sponsors’ logos everywhere and leery lads setting fire to tents!” Sheffield, we’ll see you soon!

Next Gig – a Film Festival!

Festival season is starting! The Verinos’ second ever gig was an audition to play at a festival called Glastonbudget. We played there last year in a massive marquee to about 30 people.

We made a T-shirt to show how quickly it all happened.

But this year we’re playing at a film festival! The Verinos have been asked to play at Phoenix Arts Leicester as part of the REAL Documentary Festival. The festival has sessions for documentary film makers and industry people as well as showing films to the general public. There’s a big selection of award-winning films, works-in-progress, exhibitions and a few premieres.

Where do The Verinos fit in? We’re playing live on the evening of Thursday 20th April after the film ‘I Am A Cliché‘ is screened. It’s the story of Poly Styrene (real name Marianne Elliot-Said) who grew up in Brixton and formed the band X-Ray Spex after seeing Sex Pistols play on her 19th birthday. Although the boy band punks are usually cited as the important ones, Poly Styrene’s original style, lyrics and presence as a bi-racial young woman fronting a punk band are massively important.

Tickets for the film, a Q&A discussion with director Paul Sng and The Verinos gig in the new bar area of the Phoenix are just £5, but be sure to book early because it’s going to be popular!