Steph : How long has Junktion 7 been open now and did you promote gigs from the start?
Adrian : We have been open about 4 and a half years now, we didn't start the gigs straight away as the upstairs was derelict when we bought the place, in fact most the building was apart from the downstairs bar. The upstairs venue was all boarded up and the flats were hideous, we had to have cleaners come in and clean it all out as my parter, Diane, and I as well as my eldest son lived up there when we opened. It was horrible, I lived and slept in the dirty venue for quite a few months in the early days while we sorted the flats out! It was hard work sorting the venue out getting it all set up and I was working the bar as well.
Julio : The venue opened in the March 2001 and I was one of the first people to come in after the first day or two, my band rehearsed down the road at the time so we came in after practice for a drink, I remember coming into the bar and seeing him (points at Adrian) through the window on his knees scrubbing the floor with his punky hair, we were like 'Check that guy out!'
(everyone laughs)
Julio : He looked miserable. Later he came and chatted to us asked about our band as we had our guitars with us and stuff.
Adrian : It was important and still is to know the scene, in the early days we had to chat to everyone and get to know the bands and the local scene. Then, while doing that we were fitted the venue, I build the stage as I have done plenty of building work in my past and it has collapse on anyone….not yet! We started gigs after about 6 months…Bud were one of the first bands we had here, now Fat Lady Singh, they have been through a few changes! We have grown from there really, back then there was no Rescue Rooms and a lot of other venues didn't exist so it was a breath of fresh air for the scene I think at the time.
Julio : It was very different back then guitar music didn't really get a say or unsigned music just bigger commercial stuff at Rock City and things so there was nowhere for local bands to play as such.
Adrian : It has changed massively over the last few years! It is a lot harder to sieve the good from the bad these days.
Gaz : What have the highlights been over since you opened? Which bands have you enjoyed and rated?!?
Adrian : Wow there is so much, I mean I formed my first band in 78/79 when I was 12 or 13 and I was into all my punk stuff in the 80's and to bring back some of my biggest influences and have them play here has been amazing, stuff like The U.K Subs and things, it was like being a kid again! Digging them out and putting them on in a decent venue was brilliant, you know they are my idols, I have all their original singles and things. Spending most my life watching bands and now being able to put them out is a dream come true really!
Julio : Band wise Berserker was pretty amazing big bands like that are great to see here.
Adrian : Yeah but it is weird cause there are so many levels of highlights, some nights catch you unaware. It is hard work tracking down some bands and you get a sweat some nights when you need to pay bands and aren't breaking even but it is rewarded by those amazing shows and is all worth it then. It isn't a huge venue and it isn't easy to break even but after 4 and a half years we are now getting the reputation and are looking to do bigger and better things.
Steph : Talking of that reputation, what do you thin has helped J7 build such a rep and what would you say it has which other venues might not?
Julio : Having played in many venues across the country with my band I can say that Adrian is a perfectionist, nothing can be half arsed, it has to be spot on and one thing he always says is he wants this to be a place he would want to play and enjoy playing if he was in a band. From making sure we listen to demos and get line ups right, to getting bands running times and directions in advance, making sure all the staff know who is playing and what is going on to keeping everything tidy, if anyone is sick in the bathroom it is cleaned straight away you know? He is very well organised and we look after the fans and the bands you know? Someone greets them and shows them round when they arrive and we keep good contact with promoters, making sure we have posters and flyers on time and the guest list is sorted and things….I mean you guys as promoters know how anal we can be!!
Adrian: We also try to employ the right people, people in bands who know the scene or people who know the area and know the regulars. Everyone knows what they are talking about so if we get a phone call asking questions, they know what is happening. They all speak the right language.
Julio : Everyone wants to work here who is here you know? They have energy cause they enjoy working here and love the bar and venue.
Adrian : It is important to have that atmosphere, when bands come in and have been touring and are tired or don't know what's going on as contracts haven't been pasted on or whatever, the staff know and they make them feel comfortable and at ease so they can g do there job and put on a show without stressing and everything is just as organised as possible and the communication is good. We try to be fair, giving bands food maybe or drinks, hoping they have a good time. I dont want to see bands here over and over really I want them to play here and then go on to bigger and better things but all I can do is provide my service as best I can, it is organised and clean and we communicate, we have a good room and I have to hold my hand up and say we have a great P.A and team, one of the best in Nottingham and we have a good relationship with the guys at Soundcontrol who help with equipment and are bang on.
(everyone nods in agreement)
Steph : Well Battle of the Bands is just starting again, tell us about that? How many years has it been going and what can we expect this year?
Julio : The first Battle of the Bands was 2002 but that was ran by an outside promoter, which is the one my band played in but since then it has been ran by Junktion 7. it gets better and bigger every year, I mean past winners have gone on and done some really good things, when we won it in Illuminatus it helped us tour and get radio and T.V airplay, Splint did a lot the year after they won too. Deadfall, last year's winners are playing Bloodstock now due to contacts they made with their win and Weeble have toured the country and played loads of gigs with some awesome bands…..I mean the Battle of the Bands was our first gig and Deadfalls so it is a great boast to a band who win.
Adrian : It is a great platform for new bands to be seen, I mean it gives us the chance to see bands we haven't seen before and people like yourselves a chance to check out new bands.
Gaz : Yeah, I can't wait for it to start again, it is such a good atmosphere!
Julio : What we are trying to do is make something that has an annual buzz on the Nottingham scene, something bands and fans can look forward too. A Landmark, where everyone gets together, bands, fans, you guys, Sandman are there, Soundcontrol, us….the whole scene can look forward to it!
Adrian : It is like a mini festival every week just you don't pay £60 to come see these bands and there are always some brilliant bands every year too. It is a lot of work to set up and with the scene growing and more things like this going on to keep it up there is hard but the response this year has been amazing!
Julio : We have had applications from all over the country!
Adrian : We have kept it as local as we could but it is so hard deciding who goes in to the heats, we have to listen to so many demos! We might consider making it bigger or more national next year but this year we have kept it local and we are just pleased that bands in Manchester, London and Hull know about it and applied it shows the reputation it is getting now!
Julio : The marketing this year has been massive, we have given all the posters the same look and told every magazine about it. We have really tried to get it out there in the places it needs to be and with the sponsers we have tried to keep it tight, make sure we have a good mix and everyone works together which we are really pleased with.
Adrian : I mean we have you guys involved and Sandman and Soundcontrol but then I mean, Jack Daniels is one too! I mean fucking hell they asked to help us! That has been a massive help, they have given us the budget which has gone on printing and the banners as well as it being a great name to link to it! So a big big THANK YOU to them! It has just been great and once again it is about bringing the scene together and all enjoying the Nottingham music scene. We have tried to mix up the genres and styles and hopefully we can introduce bands to people they won't have met before and get everyone better contacted.
Julio : It is great that we get kids who have never played before and then bands who have been around years all playing together.
Steph : So what else is happening at Junktion 7 in the near future?
Julio : There is some really great things happening after the Summer, after the Battle of the Bands, such as Iron Sloth, a metal band with 4 members of Will haven in it. A lot of classic punk bands coming again but we also have plans for some bigger things maybe elsewhere.
Adrian : We are getting to the point now where we want bigger challenges and to do more bigger things so there are things in the pipeline. My head is already in September and October, booking bands for then, looking at new things, getting new balls rolling but then we have to come back to gigs now that we booked months ago, it is liking a shaking ship you know? Hence the pirate flag outside! We are the pirates of the local music scene, grabbing what we can! That is how I see ourselves anyway!
(Everyone chuckles)
Adrian : It is hard keeping on top of it all, I mean we have a new database and since Julio started 6 months ago we have been trying to get on top of that so now when we get a demo we listen to it and then rate it but the band name into the database with the genre or genres so we can bring it up whenever we are booking gigs and we also have to keep on top of the touring bands looking for things too.
Julio : We get offered some crazy stuff at crazy prices you know? Like Big Brother contestants coming round chatting to people and shit, some real crap!
Adrian : We get offered some big bands too though, I could probably run this place on just big signed bands for 2 years but I would go bankrupt! I mean you will get crowds but weighting that up with costs won't work so we like to keep that mix of small and bigger stuff and we take what we want, if I decided I wanted to do bigger things I would do it elsewhere.
Julio : It is hard to balance.
Adrian : If more bands did things like gig swaps that might work well but again it is getting people known about, giving them a chance and working the scene. I try and put out of town bands on most local line ups I think it is important.
Gaz : It keeps things fresh and again lets bands make new contacts.
Adrian : Yeah so there is loads going on, I mean I have been offered some open bars at festivals and things and more all-dayers and things but we are thinking about them and playing with ideas so watch this space.
Steph : Cool, finally shout outs, anyone you want to thank?
