After the successful launch of Newport’s first indie and live music night, Radieux, its creators dream of fuelling a new Arts movement.
The Shutes’ frontman Michael Champion and his friend Michael Yates were inspired by Sixties’ culture and Berlin’s ‘White Trash’ club night in conceiving Radieux (pronounced ‘Radio’), which will bring together mainland bands and local talent.
The pair say it was a ‘mutual agreement’.
“It’s all standard club nights. We wanted to do something different with live music as well, Island bands, UK bands and DJs.”
“If we can make the night credible and interesting that will reflect on the bands that play as well,” says Champion. “We’d like to make it an Arts ‘happening’. Almost like the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol. You know Warhol set up a factory where bands could play, and he could show his work.”
What is it that appeals to them about the 1960s?
“There was a lot more creativity, rather than this generic”¦” Champion trails off.
“They did things for the love of it,” inserts Yates. “That came through in everything.”
“Yeah people seemed to do things for the right reasons then. They had a lot of energy.
Yates was brought up on Bob Dylan music and is excited about bringing new talent to the Island. “Not bands that are famous necessarily, ones that are doing something a bit different.”
“A bit left-field.” Champion nods. He grew up on the Island and has been making music here for the past seven years. “You feel more in touch with nature here. I’m told I talk about rain and snow a lot in my songs.”
The landscape inspires
Yates points out that he often goes on long walks. “It would be different if you were in a place where you didn’t spend so much time thinking”¦”
“Books are good too.” Champion confirms he’s fan of the Beat generation and I’d already have guessed it from The Shutes’ songs, which reminded me of Kerouac. I ask him how he got into music.
“I discovered it out of luck, really. My friend said ‘why don’t you come along to a guitar lesson?’ and I thought it was alright. I used to listen to some terrible things. I think I liked metal. Blink 182. Then I got well into the Beatles three years ago. I was obsessed with the sixties for a while. Now I’m into more modern music: Grizzly Bear and the Flaming Lips. They’re great bands.”
His first gig was in Niton Village Hall with a band called Attic Melody. He insists that the Isle of Wight’s poky little events are ‘a great thing’: “We want to keep that local feel, but bring it into a proper venue.”
Local aspects aside, he and Yates are convinced mainland talent will invigorate the Island’s music scene.
“We have four bands in mind for the next Radieux,” says Yates. “But we don’t want to tell you who they are yet. It could be exciting.”
Image: © Oscar May
