2 Promoters, 1 Pod

The Download line-up is out and Gav and James avoid all spoilers to react to it in real time. 

The highs (Green Day), the lows (Steel Panther) and the billing stunners (Sikth) are all the topics of the night. 

But what’s that hardcore din in the background determined to gatecrash the UK’s biggest rock and metal party?

Oh, just Outbreak not giving a single f#@k over the same weekend. 

Let’s go! 

We go again, every Thursday morning.

Damnation ‘24 is in the bag and we’re still rattling in disbelief days later but there’s no time to feel sorry for our souls because there’s an event to pick over. 

Thankfully, Damnation’s Irish general, Paul Farrington, joins the pod to tackle the PTSD of two days' aural abuse in a Manchester industrial estate. 

From LLNN to Dragged Into Sunlight via Nails, we open up about it all… and why did Gav’s usually placid wife chase an “influencer” around the Russian Circles crowd?

There’s also the small matter of the debut 2 Promoters, 1 Tour to announce with tickets going on sale tomorrow. 

We go again, every Thursday morning.

It's here...Damnation is tomorrow, Gav is stressed and James is ready to go big. 

Gav chats us through some of next year’s Damnation plans, and boots off about  lanyards and car number plates. Whilst James gets stuck into some questions and talks about whether he is mid feud with Bloodstock or not.

We go again, every Thursday morning.

We go again, every Thursday morning.

Five headliners for three nights with an unbelievable reunion coup on top? 

2000trees dropped an atom bomb of a band announcement and it exploded over every self-respecting rock fan’s socials.

Gav and James quickly reconvened for an instant reaction pod to the news the Kneecap, Pvris, Taking Back Sunday, Coheed & Cambria, Alexisonfire AND Million Dead will invade Upcote Farm in 2025.

But nothing is ever completely without a little ballache with the billing!

Enjoy some rare Friday fun.

We go again, every Thursday morning.

Gav and James dive back into the virtual mailbag to address the most pressing concerns of the listeners. 

Would we allow an artist to "curate" our festivals? What's our thoughts on oversold shows? And why did James have the police at his door earlier this year?

More importantly, is Gav really going to slag off the mighty Black Sabbath?

First though, can we all just take a moment to discuss THAT Sick New World line-up poster!?

We go again, every Thursday morning.

The Damnation clashfinder is out and Gav is ready to take his licks as the fans demand to know what idiot clashed Dragged Into Sunlight with Ahab and why?

But before the slot by slot lines-ups of A Night of Salvation and Damnation can be explained there's some Trees headliner news, a change of ArcTanGent's Wednesday plans and another late cancellation for Gav to contend with.

And is it a face cloth or a flannel?

We go again, every Thursday morning.

Let's get down to business. And who better than to pour over the industry spreadsheets, receipts and album charts than Mr Andy Farrow, manager of the likes of Opeth, Devin Townsend, Paradise Lost and Katatonia?

The Northern Music Company boss talks promoting to publishing, The Wildhearts to Oceansize and the chances of ever seeing Strapping Young Lad again.

Get your pen and paper ready, this is a crash course in music management.

We go again, every Thursday morning.

The first wave of bands have been announced for 2025, and it's a tsunami worth diving into.

Karnivool, Melvins, Rolo Tomassi, Kylesa, Between the Buried and Me playing Colors, The Fall of Troy playing Doppelgänger and not just one, but two We Lost The Sea sets, including "the greatest post rock album ever"... Departure Songs.

Plenty to get swept away by but first, what's the issue with international bank transfers, music award bashes and agents selling you a dummy! 

Curly fucking Wurly, indeed.

We go again, every Thursday morning.

When you're up to your eyes in it on show day a friendly tour manager can save your mood but an aggressive tour manager can ruin it.

But what is a tour manager, why are they so important to bands and why do their roles and attitudes vary so wildly?

Gav and James do their level best to describe the role before sharing their experiences of dealing with the good, the bad and the downright ridiculous sides of the hard-grafting TM.

And what the fuck are ginger shots? 

We go again, every Thursday morning.

You've made your offer for the band, it's been accepted and even the ballache of billing the poster might have been settled... but now what?

There's a series of hurdles to deal with before your prized booking ever sets foot on your stage; press and promo, backline, production, hotels and ground transport and did you remember there's no onion or garlic allowed in the hot meal?

Gav and James pick through the pitfalls of "advancing" any band and explain that even when everyone appears to be on the same page, maybe the drummer hasn't read the memo.

We go again, every Thursday morning.