The Rawmarsh Mashers is what happens when two guys in their mid fifties get together to make music. Too old for MTV, and too young for a reformation tour, they got together in bars and back bedrooms to recreate the music from their youth.
Richard (he’s the one with the hat and no hair), claims to do the lead vocals and laughingly, rhythm guitar. He put his guitar down at the very early age of twenty five to take on what his Dad called adult responsibilities.
Twenty five years later, duster in hand he cleaned away the years of dust and rust that made a sad site of his guitar, so as to help his son learn to play the instrument.
But five years later, neither of his sons now pick up their guitars, instead, Richard has over, the long years (according to those who have suffered at the Rotherham Rugby Club, The Black Bull, The Rig Dyke, The Monkwood and his Wife) homed his performing skills to produce a sound that only he is capable of.
It has become known as the sound of The Mashers. Loud, lively and enthusiastic.
And on lead guitar, the Master of the duo, Myke (he’s the one with the hair).
Myke has played with so many pro and semi pro bands that not even a Myspace page is big enough to contain all the names. His music has ranged from progressive rock to folk.
Myke adds the colour to a Mashers performance, clever with the strings and nifty on his toes when moved to dance.
He’s a clever boy. Not only is he currently working as a Masher but also accompanies several local open mic artists. He is also a writer, and news of his folk based musical getting an airing in 2008 should be watched for.
The third member of The Mashers is of course Murial the music stand. A really essential part of a Mashers performance. Please See Blog.
AND PROOF POSITIVE that the Mashers do practice their deliberate mistakes hard.
You can find them at the Monkwood most Monday nights if you want to come and join in on a practice night. Join in the arguments, comment on the new songs, or just sing.
View my page on London Recording
Influences
YES, you can blame this lot...........
Wally Whyton - The Spinners - The Fivepenny Piece - The Houghton Weavers - Jon Isherwood - Shep Wooley - Fred Wedlock - Bearnard Wrigley, Tom Paxton, Noel Murphy, Matt McGinn, Watt Nichol, Jake Thackray, Peter Paul and Mary, Richard Digance, The Kingston Trio, The Yetties, The Dubliners, Tommy Maken and The Clancy Brothers, Neil Diamond, Roy Orbison, Lonnie Donigan,The Corries, Pete Seeger, Christy Moore, Ewan MacColl, Joe Brown, The Oldham Tinkers, Eric Bogle, The Leesiders, Cyril Tawney, The Weavers, The Strawbs and Bonzo Dog Band etc, etc, etc even Rambling Sid!!!
Yes, the mix of styles truely reflects what can be expected from a Mashers Gig.
As one punter was heard to say at a Rawmarsh Mashers Gig, “well that sounded like nothing I’ve heard before”. We’re not quite certain if he was talking about the songs or the usual enthusiastic Masher delivery.
The Mashers have a sound of their own, now recognised on the Rotherham scene as being distinctive.
If you’ve listened to the tracks, having taken the recommended precautions, you will know the truth of this.
Want more, then Email or call for a Bootlegged Demo Disc.
NOW BOOKING DATES SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2008 CALL 01709 306688
WE’RE AT HOME IN PUBS - CLUBS - FOLK CLUBS - FESTIVALS - AND BROTHELS, (IF WE CAN GET THE BOOKINGS)
FOR THOSE WHO WANT A GOOD OLD FASHIONED ACOUSTIC EXPERIENCE - LIVELY - ENTERTAINING - ROWDY - AND (IN PLACES) FUNNY
A UNIQUIE BLEND OF, VERY VERY OLD SONGS: VERY OLD SONGS: THE BASIC OLD SONGS: PLUS SOME NOT SO OLD, PLAYED IN A STYLE ALL OF THEIR OWN - THE MASHER WAY
For those interested we now have a full show of Irish / celtic music in addition to the normal Masher mix. Well we’re nothing if not versitile.
CHECK OUT THE PLAY LIST BLOG FOR A FULL PICTURE OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
ARE YOU LISTENING TO THE PROFILE TRACKS? PLEASE BE WARNED. These tracks are the results of a Rawmarsh Mashers GIG being secretly recorded by people who should have known better. PLEASE TAKE FULL PRECAUTIONS while listening to the tracks. You must drink at least five pints of strong ale and a bottle of whiskey.
AND NOW ON VIDEO!!!! OUR NOT SO GREAT RENDITION OF "ORDINARY MAN" can be found on the LOFTUS profile page or use this link - but take your medicine first. http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=40682179
WHO ARE THEY? WHO ARE THEY?
It’s a common chant at a Rawmarsh Mashers gig.
The Mashers hail, not surprisingly from a small village just outside of Rotherham, called, you’ve guessed it RAWMARSH, where even to day they can still walk the streets completely unrecognised.
The Mashers bit of the name comes from a term to describe a “jack the lad” or “lad about town”, which we believe has it’s origins, sin of sins, from across the County boarders in Lancashire. Although some have suggested that the word Masher reflects what they do to the songs they sing. They are nothing if not enthusiastic in their performances.
The reason The Mashers came together was quite simply to inject THE FUN back into the Folk Music scene, where rightly or wrongly the general impression held is of serious men with beards either singing heavy work songs or clever people demonstrating their undoubted skill upon their instruments, but so clever no one else can join in.
The Mashers make no apologies for being lively, entertaining, or for singing songs that people can join in with. A raucous version of The Spinners, some have said.
WE VISIT CHORLEY FOLK they wont forget us in a hurry
The Rawmarsh Mashers are a LIVE duo. You won’t find any backing tracks being used at a Rawmarsh Mashers gig. We are firm believers in keeping music live in all senses of the words.
There is no doubt that The Mashers are different, described by one Land Lord as the "antidote" to the all too common back tracked vocal artist.
The Mashers like to take their music into places not normally asssociated with Folk Music, and try where ever possible to open up new venues. This is getting harder as more and more pubs put up the shutters and close down, and the profits of traditional pubs drop dramatically because of the price of beer and the smoking ban. Made worse by the 2008 budget. (Sorry about the politcal comment there).
A RECENT GIG AT THE NOOK HOLMFIRTH
GIG FUN AT LEGENDS
IS IT FOLK? IS IT COMEDY? IS IT POP?
It’s hard to put a label on the music that the boys perform. Many have tried, but no one has really nailed it down. Some say it’s folk, not surprising as Richard in particular spent his idle youth days frequenting the Folk Clubs of Gosport and Portsmouth. Yes, there is a lot of POPULAR folk in The Mashers large repertoire ranging from the sing along material made popular by The Spinners (that’s the Liverpool Spinners), through to a wide range of Celtic traditional songs.
You can find a listing of typical Masher sets in the PLAY LIST BLOG above.
Some have tried to describe the act as being a comedy act. Well, yes again. It’s true that The Mashers repertoire does have a core of comedy songs. Anything from a Jasper Carrot type Chastity Belt, to the traditional satire of writers like Matt McGinn and Watt Nichol, to more contemporary writers and performers like Bernard Wrigley, the late great, great Jon Isherwood, Richard Digance and the late great Jake Thackray might pop up their heads during a Mashers gig.
But what about the sixties pop? Songs from The Beatles, The Bonzo Dog Band, Joe Brown (of Brothers fame), the Kinks and many more all feature in The Mashers material.
So the word the boys like is VERSITILE, as they can tailor their sets to the needs of any event or gig, be it a Folk Club appearance, or playing in front of a Pub / Club audience.
What’s more the Rawmarsh Mashers provide value for money. With over a hundred songs in their growing repertoire they can perform two one hour sets in an evening.
YOUR EVENT PUBLICISED – THE RAWMARSH MASHERS PUBLICITY KIT
HERE'S A FEW MORE PLACES WE HAVE PLAYED AND SOME FRIENDS OLD AND NEW
The Mashers have an ever growing net work of friends and fans, all of whom are circulated with news of all Masher shows, via the Emails, Events invites and by mentioning our up coming appearances on our Web Page and at all our shows.
We are also registered with certain Events publicists, which means your Masher event will be circulated to all local media.
The Rawmarsh Mashers also self produce A4 sized posters and A5 sized fliers to bring their Show to the attention of your regular patrons.
We do everything we can to make the event a success.
Given that the Mashers charge a very modest fee, we do ask that the promoters of an event do invest in at least one advert in their local paper on the Entertainment Guide page.
LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS? - THEN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BOOKING THE RAWMARSH MASHERS: EMAIL themashers@freeuk.com or call 01709 306688
THE RAWMARSH MASHERS REPUTATION GROWS
Over 2007 The Rawmarsh Mashers have grown in popularity on the local Folk and Open Mic scene, where their short sets are always well received.
They have been played on Rotherfm, (Rotherham’s very own Local Radio Station), an event that made a legend of Hairy Mary, that apparently well known Rawmarsh inhabitant, to certain male members of the community.
Later in the year they have made many appearances at pub venues throughout the Rotherham area, following successful appearances at the Rotherham Open Arts Festival and the Treeton Arts Festival.
HERE WE ARE AT TRACKS MAYFEST, NORTH ELMHAM, NORFOLK 2008
THE MASHERS WILL TRAVEL ANYWHERE – WITHIN REASON!! - OUR FRIENDS SAY THE FURTHER AWAY FROM RAWMARSH THE BETTER!!!
AND CLOSER TO HOME THE ROTHERHAM OPEN ARTS FESTIVAL
In fact, they would love to spread their wings more in 2008 and find new audiences to play to at venues outside of their Rotherham base. They are always willing to discuss any opportunity for an appearance, be it a Festival, Folk Club, Pub or Club.
We have our own PA 500w system, good enough for up to 200 folks, and we also provide posters and fliers.
THERE’S A DEMO DISC. HAVE YOU GOT A COPY OF “THE BOOTLEGGED DEMO DISC” CD?If not why not?
EMAIL themashers@freeuk.com or call 01709 306688 to have a Copy rushed to you or if you can’t wait you can down load the entire CD in MP3 format from http://rapidshare.com/files/68485277/BOOTLEGGED_DEMO_CD.rar.html
Just remember that the demo disc comes with the usual Mashers Health Warning – “make sure you have drunk at least five pints of strong ale and a bottle of whiskey" before letting the laser onto the CD.
Some people have asked where the tracks on the Profile site and CD originated from. The truth is that unbeknown to The Mashers certain individuals, who will remain anonymous, secretly, but not that secretly, recorded one of their live appearances. When the Mashers got to hear of this they immediately marched around to the premises where they had been told the secret tapes were being held. This happened to be one of Rotherham’s better institutions for the musically insane. After what seemed endless negotiations, The Mashers were eventually persuaded to take the tapes away with them, but only after The Mashers had secured a promise that regular payments be made into their account, equal to the benefit cheques received by the bootleggers. The Mashers have made it clear that any future Bootleggers will not be treated so leniently, they will be made to suffer for their sins by having to retain any tapes made, and be forced to listen to them on a daily basis, without beer or whiskey. The prognosis to the sanity of such individuals is not good.
LIKE THE DISC? WANT TO BOOK THE RAWMARSH MASHERS THEN : EMAIL themashers@freeuk.com or call 01709 306688.
JUST A FEW MEMBERS OF THE FAN CLUB
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE RAWMARSH MASHERS
"YOU'RE ALMOST SINGING IN TUNE! (THIS COULD RUIN YOUR STREET CRED.)" Someone who knows The Mashers really well.
"I'VE GOT TO SAY IT - YOUR SO BAD YOU'RE FLIPPIN' BRILLIANT" An obvious music lover, with a serious drinking problem.
"AND THANKS FOR TEACHING THE REST OF US THAT REHEARSING IS A GREATLY OVERRATED WASTE OF TIME!!" A new friend in music.
"WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ENERGY GIVEN HOW OLD YOU ARE?" A satisfied young Lady..........
"WONDERFULLY DIFFERENT, BRILLIANT FUN, SURPRSINGLY PROFESSIONAL" Folkie in the Gents.
"THEY'RE A THROW BACK TO MY YOUTH AND THE WAY FOLK USED TO BE IN THE CLUBS, THEY MAKE YOU WANT TO SING ALONG, AND GET DRUNK" Another old bugger remembering the good olde days.
"IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SUBTLE MELODY - THEN THESE BOYS ARE DEFFINATELY NOT FOR YOU" Another shocked Land Lord
"THESE BOYS SHOULD CARRY A PUBLIC HEALTH WARNING!! THE CONSUMPTION OF 10 UNITS OF BEER, AND A HUGE NUMBER OF WHISKEY UNITS WILL HAVE A SERIOUS AFFECT UPON THEIR LISTENERS LIVERS" A Doctor
"AND WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?......................." A very suspicious Folkie.
"ROTHERHAM'S ANSWER TO CHAS AND DAVE"A Folkie trying to be kind.
"THESE GUYS ARE MAD!!" Another Doctor.
"BRILLIANT SONGS LADS" A new friend of the Mashers
"WHAT AN AMAZING MIX OF SONGS, FOLK, SKIFFLE, FUNNY, SAD, AND SOME WITH A STING IN THE TAIL. COMPLETELY OFF THE WALL. YOU JUST HAVE TO LOVE THE MASHERS." Some bloke who came up to us in a pub.
"A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ON THE FOLK SCENE" Local Folk Club Organiser still reeling from a short burst of Masher material.
"DO YOU KNOW ANY CHRISTIAN SONGS" A rather hopeful member of the audience, and a first time request and one suspects the last for The Mashers
"CAN YOU DO "LIKE A BUTTERFLY" IT'S THE ONLY SONG I CAN SING" Someone suffering from heat exhaustion
""THEY DON’T SOUND IRISH" A very perceptive member of the audience.
"I LAUGHED ALL NIGHT" A Folk Music critic on realising that The Mashers were for real.
"THAT WAS DIFFERENT. WE REALLY ENJOYED THAT" Someone claiming to be a music lover, we have our doubts.
"THEY’RE REALLY QUITE GOOD" A Surprised Land Lord.
"I HAD TO PROTECT MY CUSTOMERS" A Land Lord who had not done his research.
"IT MADE ME CRY" Member of the audience on hearing The Mashers arrangement of The Patriot Game.
"WE SOLD A LOT OF BEER" A Land Lord.
"TALENTED!!???" A sober member of the audience.
"IF THERE WAS THREE MORE OF THEM, THEY WOULD ALMOST SOUND LIKE THE DUBLINERS" An optimistic fan of The Mashers.
"HAVE THEY FINISHED?" A Drunk in the corner of Pub.
"ARE THESE PEOPLE FOR REAL? A PINT OF BEST AND A WHISKEY PLEASE" A local at the bar.
"YOU DON’T EXPECT ME TO SIT HERE ALL NIGHT LISTENING TO THIS?" to Husband (THREE HOURS LATER) to us "COME ON LET ME SING A SONG WITH YOU!!" A new Masher fan having enjoyed her five pints and bottle of whiskey.
"THEY REALLY ARE NOT AS PRETTY AS I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE" Someone who was really trying to be a fan of The Mashers.
"I LIKE YOUR STUFF. BUT YOU WONT GET ANY GIGS WITHOUT A 7K SOUND SYTEM!! DO YOU WANT AN AGENT?" Someone living on another Planet!!
"THOSE ARE GREAT SONGS. HAVE YOU GOT A CD?" Yet another drunk and Wife.
"CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPHS? THEY’RE FOR MY DAD" Eight year old child of a Drunk.
"AT LEAST THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING FUN" A not so happy leather jacketed motor bike rider at the Bar - who did not like folk music.
"I BET THAT GEAR IS HEAVY. I HOPE YOU THINK IT WAS WORTH IT. I SUPPOSE YOU’RE GOING CLUBBING NOW. YOU ROCKERS ARE ALL THE SAME." Land Lord on paying us at end of evening.
"WHO ARE THEY?" Sound Techs at Rotherham Open Arts Festival.
"BRILLIANT!!!! NEVER HAS SO MUCH EFFORT AND ENTHUSIASM BEEN PUT INTO A PERFORMANCE FOR SO FEW PEOPLE. I LOVE THE MASHERS"Roy Blackam. Rotherham’s Mr Memory Man, and writer of the people, who booked us for the Rotherham Open Arts Festival.
"THEY WERE ALMOST BETTER THAN THE RUGBY" Over celebrating England supporter, following the France World Cup Semi - Final.
""WELCOME ON STAGE THE ROPETON SLASHERS" Over enthusiastic Folk Club MC.
""WHERE ARE THEY?" Festival Organiser who had not checked on Mashers time availablity.
""THE RAWMARSH MASHERS, SURELY YOU’VE HEARD OF THEM. WORLD FAMOUS IN ROTHERHAM." The Smartdriving.co.uk Web Site
""THAT WAS GOOD LADS. WE COULDN’T HEAR A WORD AT THE BACK." A punter with a hearing problem.
""REALLY ENJOYED THAT. WELL DONE. WHAT YOU NEED IS A LIGHT SHOW" Helpful advice from a Land Lord.
AND SOME CHARITY WORK FOR BLUEBELL WOOD
The Rawmarsh Mashers are sponsored by WHEELSr4U, Call 01709306688 for all your Driving Test Success. Email wheels4u@freeuk.com
The Mashers can also be found at www.entertainment-heaven.com : http://uk.music-jobs.com and http://ezfolk.com
THE RAWMARSH MASHERS on iSOUND.COM
visit our page at www.bandmeup.co.uk
http://www.soundclick.com/therawmarshmashers
