Dave offering bands step on fame ladder

From the archive, first published Tuesday 7th Feb 2006.

A KIDDERMINSTER music enthusiast who is promoting unsigned rock bands as a hobby is offering local bands the chance to benefit from his help.

Dave Smith, a television weather man from Lea Street, set up the Avalon Music Project with his friend, Aimee Halford, and helps publicise mostly unsigned female-fronted rock and metal bands in the UK and Europe.

The 51-year-old said the project started because of his "love of music" and wanting to help to spread the word about artists and bands he liked that were relatively unknown in this country, by putting them in touch with rock fanzines, specialist websites and record labels.

He said: "The project is still very much in the infancy stage but it is starting to take off. I just love music - I have got 500 CDs at home. I feel strongly about the local scene and if there are any local rock bands who want to contact me I can try and help get their music heard. They can send me their demos and, if I like it, I will do what I can to help"

Dave added: "Female-fronted rock used to be a taboo subject and still is in some quarters but there are some great rock bands with female singers out there.

"I listen to some of the music and I think it's melodic pop rock. It could be heard on the radio - why isn't it?

"There are musicians, whether they are in London, Bradford or Kidderminster, who are working hard to get a record contact and then they see someone on X Factor getting a deal straight off and must be annoyed.

"I'm not saying people on X Factor haven't worked hard but there are musicians who have been working at it for years and not got anywhere."

He has helped American artist, Niki Barr, whose album he was able to get played on Norwich-based internet radio station, Pulse Unsigned.

Dave has also worked with pop-rocker, Danielle McKee, who was backing vocalist for Nelly Furtado's touring band, as well as metal bands Xandria and Vesicas, which is fronted by his friend, Aimee, who lives in Munich.

Any bands wishing to contact Dave can e-mail him on amp_records_uk@yahoo.co.uk

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