Tatty Seaside Town promoter Colin Wakefield celebrates 10 years of leftfield gigs with the TST.X festival at the Green Door Store in March (Sat 16th / Sun 17th). His Edgeworld Pop-Up Record Stall regularly serves up underground sounds at the Blind Tiger.
What’s happening at TST.X?
It’s a get together of old friends and a few current bands I really like, like Sealings. There’s a bunch of bands who have reformed for it, like Teen Sheikhs, and some very special guests which I’m not allowed to announce cos they can’t risk a load of London bookers hassling them thinking they’ve got back together. And we’re bringing back the Naughty Corner from the Freebutt days, where musicians who don’t need a PA play in between the main acts; people like Iain Paxon from Hamilton Yarns on his mic’d-up bike.
Ten years is a long time in DIY promotion.
Well I’ve only ever done it for fun really. The objective for each show is to not lose money. If I can cover my expenses then that’s job done and the rest is shared around or put into the next show. There are so many promoters around that you’re always competing. You’ve got to try and find your market, make it attractive, put together considered bills in the right venue. My one yardstick when I set out to do a show is, would I go myself? If I can achieve that, that’s a winner.
Do you promote shows further afield?
No, I just stick to Brighton really, apart from being involved in Supernormal festival (in the Chilterns). I had such a great time there as a punter and thought, this is good but I think I can help you out a bit. Last year I pulled that off and turned it around so it wasn’t actually losing money. I thought I was just going to be helping out but I actually booked probably 85% of it, a lot of TST regular bands I knew I could rely on.
How’s the record stall going?
Brighton’s good enough, but I almost do it out of a social angle, to see the regulars that do come. The pop-up stall does far better in other towns to be honest, places like Portsmouth, Southampton or Canterbury, where there’s not really any shops to speak of. I’m still buying new stuff in and selling mail order as well so I’m constantly busy one way or another.
Photo By James Kendall
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