Music
Meet the A Shot at Discovery finalists: Oxford
Meet the Oxford finalists for The Pogues Irish Whiskey Presents: A Shot at Discovery ahead of the regional heats.
The Pogues Irish Whiskey have teamed up with Academy Music Group, the people behind all of those iconic live music venues across the UK, to award one unsigned band with a huge prize. The national winner will enjoy £3000 towards new instruments, studio time with The Pogues as guest producers, live opportunities and management services, plus much more.
With the regional finals kicking off on Sunday 5 March, we’ll be bringing you an introduction to each of the bands scheduled to play.
See all of our A Shot at Discovery coverage here.
Here are the Oxford finalists, who will take to the O2 Academy 2 on Tuesday 7 March. You can grab tickets here.
Peerless Pirates
Describe your sound and how you formed.
Our sound is a rollicking, roustabout mix of classic 80s energetic indie, sea shanties, rockabilly, surf-rock and spaghetti western soundtracks. “Rum-soaked fun” is a phrase often – and justifiably – bandied about. The singer’s late father used to be in a ten pin bowling team in the 60s called Peerless Pirates. The original silk shirt still exists. It’s a fitting tribute. Ads went out locally and only true Pirates were accepted!
Why should fans come and watch your band?
If anyone has forgotten the time when indie sounded fun, here’s your chance to get re-acquainted.
A Way With Words
A Way With Words aren’t your everyday rock band. In fact, this alt-rock four-piece makes sure they steer clear of any and all rock clichés. Making them a breath of fresh air playing rock music that’s very much living in the here and now. The band’s blend of big riffs, catchy choruses and energetic live performances can make any venue feel like an Arena show.
BIGG
BIGG are injecting the UK indie rock scene with energy and a big breath of new life. This quartet takes inspiration from an eclectic range of genres, including grime, pop punk and electro. It’s because of this diversity that the band are creating a BIGG rock sound that only ties them closer as a band.
The Autumn Saints
The Autumn Saints are an Anglo-American trio based in Oxford, UK. Although there is no mistaking that the band’s sound has been influenced by British music – audible in the melodic guitar lines and an atmospheric depth that British indie groups have always done well. Overall, however, there is one other thing Autumn Saints bring to the table and that’s southern storytelling and the soulful, weighty music history of North Carolina, where lead singer Britt Strickland is from.
The Garden
Describe your sound.
Our sound is: light rock, glazed with drizzly reverb!
Why should fans come and see your band?
Come see us play, you might like the other bands.
Who’s Alice
Describe your sound and how you formed.
Who’s Alice? are four pieces big and make alternative rock that will make your brain dance and your feet think, with a mix of energetic, vivacious tracks and slower more thought-provoking songs. The band met at school and have played every week since.
Why should fans come and see your band?
We always aim to make our gigs a fun, lively experience and to pass on our excitement to the crowd.
Find out more about the Pogues Irish Whiskey: A Shot At Discovery competition over on the Academy Music Group website.
Grab tickets to all of the A Shot At Discovery regional finals through our friends over at TicketWeb.
