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The Situationalists Gig Diary

Check out what one of Sheffield's up and coming bands, The Situationists, thought of the recent Red Stripe Music Awards event at Leadmill's on 9th February.

7pm - At the venue

We arrive at the venue and meet Situationists' frontman Dan Shamplin-Hall and drummer Ralph Wilson. That's half the band accounted for... where are the other two? "They've gone to pick up the rest of our gear," explains Dan.

With his band onstage in an hour's time, you'd maybe expect him to be a little less calm. "It's okay, we always like to leave things until the last minute...". That's lucky, then. We tuck into their generous rider of Red Stripe while we're waiting...


7.10pm - Eyes on the prize

Talk turns to the rewards on offer for this year's Red Stripe Music Award winners. "It'd be amazing to win it," says Ralph. "Yeah," agrees Dan, "it's a great chance to get yourself known to people. And we could do with a free van as well!" That's right: along with a spot at The Great Escape festival in Brighton, the winners walk away with a fully functioning tour van.


Rich pickings indeed, but with fierce competition tonight in the form of fellow local lads Craine and The Headliners, how do Situationists plan on trumping the opposition?

"Well," ponders Dan, "the other two bands seem to have bought a lot of fans with them, more than we have, but hopefully that won't sway the judge. I think we're in with a great chance, as long as we don't make any mistakes or do anything stupid."





7.30pm - The others arrive

It looks like Dan might have spoken too soon. Bass player Nick Cox and guitarist Sam Weatherald arrive, but it soon transpires their mission hasn't been wholly successful. "I've, erm, left my distortion pedal at home", imparts a sheepish Nick. Cue rolled eyes, followed by laughter.

7.40pm - Choosing a setlist

With less than half an hour before they're due onstage, the band begin writing their setlist... on your correspondent's notepad. Ralph discards the first two attempts ("the writing's too small!" complained his bandmates) before deciding on the eight songs they're going to play. It's copied four times, and by the time he's finished there's mere minutes before they hit the stage. Just enough time for a quick can of Red Stripe, then.

8pm - It's showtime!

They might be a little bit disorganised off it, but onstage Situationists remind us again why they're one of the most promising new bands around. After a less-than-perfect 'Lost My Narrative', they soon pull things back with 'We Are Weightless', a track from their forthcoming EP.


But it's the newer songs that sound most exciting tonight, and the band's enthusiasm for them is obvious. 'Comprende!' is dispatched passionately, with Dan looking particularly animated, while 'Cold Front' is possibly the song of the night. Their signature tune 'This City Holds Us All' caps a consummate, well received performance.

Their verdict? "Yeah, I thought we were pretty good," says Dan. Whether the judges agree... well, we'll just have to wait and see.

* Situationists release their debut EP, 'This City Holds Us All', on Monday March 3. Hear them here.

Evolving Media