CULTURE CLUB
L ocal bands are the lifeblood of Cambridge, from the unstoppable songsmith of Katrina and the Waves’, Kimberley Rew, to fresh talent like Mumble Tide, creating a thriving and diverse sonic neighbourhood. One group that might well already be on your radar are Local Hotels, a recently formed post-punk quartet whose sound sits somewhere between Nick Cave’s brooding back catalogue and early 2000s indie rock. Helmed by lead singer Brian, its members first amassed during lockdown, finding each other at a time when each – with their own separate history of band-playing – wanted to get back into music. With a few strokes of luck Local Hotels were born, and started to compose their own songs, socially distanced, by sending each other recordings. Since, the group has been turning more than a few heads and are set to perform at The Blue Moon this month to raise money for Cam Skate, which is hoping to use the funds for a skate park on Donkey Common. “It’s a kind of serious hobby, I suppose,” says bassist Frank Bowles. “We don’t look to making any money from it or anything like that, we just do it because we really enjoy doing it.” In fact, Frank has a long-running career as an
the pandemic, I don’t think we would be where we are today,” he insists. “Since we were stuck at home, it made us work out how to record things properly with computer software and send files to each other.” Describing their energy as post-punk, influences stem from the music they grew up listening to in the 80s and 90s. “We put a bit of dub into it as well,” Frank adds “We try to make it a little bit dancey too, and we try to insert a bit of – not quite funk – but getting there.” After Frank writes the bass lines, he sends them over to Brian to work his magic. “He’s a singular individual,” says Frank, “and his lyrics are really interesting. They all tell strange stories.” Local Hotels are regulars at The Blue Moon, where Sophie Littlechild has been busy booking a dazzling array of eclectic events for eight years. “It was a tough start, we didn’t have a stage or lights or anything, but having grown up in Cambridge I was not going to let us lose another music venue,” she explains. “This place has long been part of the music scene. Many people fondly remember playing here. We try to ensure it is accessible to everyone so that, as well as working with long- standing promoters like
11 Feb
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PROVING YOU NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN YOUR OWN BACK DOOR FOR MUSICAL MARVELS, LOCAL HOTELS WILL PERFORM AT THE BLUE MOON IN AID OF CAM SKATE THIS MONTH
Green Mind, any upcoming band or promoter can put on a show.” Part and parcel of championing great music is nurturing all the subcultures that go with it. Cam Skate is a cause many in the music community feel strongly about. “My son is a keen skater,” says Frank. “The skate community has been really good for him, especially during the pandemic. He was at sixth form and didn’t have a good time at all because of schooling from home. It’s quite a wide span of people and he has made strong friendships through it with people from many walks of life and different ages.”
WORDS BY MIRIAM BALANESCU
landscape designer and nurse, Brian an ex-masseur, Rich a copywriter, while David works in UX (user experience). “We’ve got quite varied life skills.” The Blue Moon is just one of a host of independent venues in Cambridge pivotal to sustaining the city’s creative community. “They’re welcoming to anybody,” enthuses Frank. “You can just rock up and play there. Frank suggests that Cambridge’s busy band scene is a result of the increasing ease of writing and recording music, made accessible through technology. “Without SKATING BY Local Hotels are gigging with Ember Rev to fundraise for Donkey Common skate park – a cause that’s close to the band as well as the alternative music scene as a whole
archivist at Cambridge University Library: “An interesting job if you’re into old stuff,” he laughs. “We are all a pretty mixed bag, mixed bunch of people,” he explains, noting that guitarist Paul is a former He’s a singular individual and his lyrics are interesting. They all tell strange stories
See Local Hotels at The Blue Moon on 11 February at 8pm
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