Soaring summer sounds in offing at free music co-op night

The campaign to reopen Lancaster Music Co-op hots up this week with the return of its free monthly music fundraiser at The Pub.

'Desert-rock' grooves are promised as Blackburn-based duo Sky Valley Mistress headline in the upstairs room of the China Street venue from 7.30pm this Friday (June 26).

The co-op, homeless since 2018, has been undergoing major structural repairs but needs to raise a further £100,000 to fit out and re-open its revamped rehearsal facility, recording studio and music space on Lodge Street.

Sky Valley Mistress combine the ferocious fuzz guitar sounds of Queens of the Stone Age, the Stooges and Black Sabbath with the soul-smoked sound of vocalist Kayley 'Hell Kitten' Davies' deep rich voice. 

The pair take you through a range of soaring, delicate and yearning melodies amid peaks of mountainous riffs and depths of the aforementioned granite-heavy desert rock grooves.

The duel-drumming duo face each other on stage, with Kayley stood behind one half of the kit with guitarist Max 'Leather Messiah' Newsome holding onto the kickdrum pedal. There are no samples, backing tracks or click tracks.  

Second on the bill are Manchester trio Worried. Kenny from the band grew up in Lancaster and is a long-time co-op user. He even played a co-op benefit gig at The Yorkshire House back in 2005.

Aneta Maeso of Bonnie Scotland Presents has spoken of how their ‘Dark basslines, echoing the influence of The Cure, combined with dirty, Dan Auerbach-style riffs and the best-dressed drummer in the business, came together to create an intricate, sophisticated, and a completely unique performance.'

In their own words, they are for fans of 'heart palpitations and crying in the shower.'

Opening the evening are Lancaster homegrown indie rockers and friends of the co-op, The Zoffs. Supporting the release of their latest single, Preston Fog, they blend moody guitars, driving rhythms and cinematic northern textures - equal parts post-punk atmosphere and melodic indie rock. 

The single was produced by Mick Armistead, formerly of James, whose production brings depth, energy and clarity to the recording while preserving the raw emotional edge of the band. 

Preston Fog continues the momentum built by The Zoffs’ recent releases, further establishing the band as one of the North West’s most compelling emerging indie acts.

Co-op director Derek Meins said: "Sky Valley Mistress have created a live show that has to be seen to be believed. No one is playing rock and roll like these two do - it’s going to be ace!

"All in all it's another really exciting line-up and another chance for music lovers to enjoy some fantastic free sounds while supporting a facility which is so important for the aspirations of current and aspiring artists in our district.

"While there is a lot of money still to be raised, it does feel like we're into the home strait now, chipping away towards that target, and with people's wonderful support it's a matter of when not if we get there."

While entry to Friday's showcase is free, there will be a donation point and merch will also be available.

The co-op has been homeless since 2018, but major structural repairs have been taking place, funded by £1.2m from the government’s Community Ownership Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Lancaster’s High Street Heritage Action Zone and Lancaster City Council.

The city council, which owns the co-op premises, issued it with an eviction notice in 2018, but it was eventually granted a long-term lease following a community campaign and support from city councillors.

The big renovation which was needed is making good progress, with the rehearsal rooms and recording studio having now been rebuilt. But funding is still needed to allow heating, air conditioning, a full electricity supply and lighting to be installed, flooring put in, and the public areas and office completed.