Almost Famous Music speak to Dave and Seddy from Davestock Promotions, the men behind the second annual Devilution Festival.

Taking place at The Boulevard in Wigan on September 15th, this year’s event features two stages chock full of awesome live bands from across the country. Check out our exclusive interview with Dave and Seddy, the men behind the event, below.

For more info, check out www.devilutionfestival.co.uk

It’s the morning after the morning after the night before, and we’ve just about made a full recovery from Wigan’s Hottest Party of the Summer.

From The Fifth Root’s opening notes to This Devastated Fan’s scorching finale via the smash-mouth assault of hard rock that was Prairie Dogs and the ever-entertaining presence of Smitten Kitten (complete with epic rendition of Free Bird, much to our delight), all we know is that we had an awesome time.

What’s more, judging from the feedback we’ve been getting this past weekend, so did  many of those who turned up, stuck around and rocked out with us.

Looking back in the sober light of Sunday, we couldn’t be happier with our first event in our hometown:

A good turn out packed into The Press Rooms, the bands each delivered first-rate performances that we’ll remember for a long time to come, and the support we received from many members of the local music scene couldn’t have been better.

We owe a great deal of thanks to many people for making The Hottest Party of the Summer happen, not least of which being our Sound Man Supreme, Ste Anders, gear-lugger, drum-provider and all-round great help Stew Skoyles, photographer Marc Taylor the team from Simfest and Devilution Festival organisers Davestock and everybody else who helped us out in any way. We appreciate your support!

What happens next? Well, we have a few ideas in mind.

With the future of The Press Rooms uncertain, we’re currently looking for a regular place to call home for a series of monthly nights. Until then, AF boss man Chris Skoyles will be spinning tunes and providing compere duties at a charity event in Manchester later this month and we’re already in talks to start planning next year’s Millstone Rocks festival.

There’s lots more to come too, so do stick around, and for all the latest updates be sure to come say hi at www.facebook.com/almostfamousmusic.

*Image: This Devastated Fan rock The Hottest Party of the Summer. Pic by Alexander Bradley.

Temperatures are set to rise in Wigan this coming Friday as Almost Famous Music brings The Hottest Party of the Summer to town.

Taking place at The Press Rooms on Rowbottom Square from 7.30pm, the live music event marks Almost Famous’ return to the borough following a stint working in the United States.

The music promotion company was formed earlier this year by 28 year-old Chris Skoyles who, after working on events such as Haigh Fest and supporting many borough-based bands, left for the US to support artists and events from such diverse states as Minnesota, New York and Chicago.

Returning to his hometown, Chris hopes to inject a bit of the vibrant party atmosphere he experienced at shows across the States into Wigan’s rejuvenated music scene, starting with The Press Rooms and three of Wigan’s most popular rock bands.

Fresh from storming the stage at Diamond Fest in June, Prairie Dogs are ready to pummel The Press Rooms into submission with the kind of scathing, hard-hitting rock that has thrilled audiences across the North West and beyond for the last several years.

One of Wigan’s most established and popular rock bands, Prairie Dogs have earned their reputation thanks to solid, blistering anthems combining equal parts aggression and emotion with thunderous rhythms which pound beneath wailing, cataclysmic guitars, all delivered in an exciting, energy-fuelled live show.

Joining the ‘Dogs are one of the more promising and exciting bands to emerge on the local scene over the last two years. The Fifth Root’s potential for stardom is only matched by their own unabashed passion for performing the kind of riotous live shows that have earned them both a loyal following a reputation for being one of the more entertaining live acts around right now.

Headlining the night come veterans of the local scene, This Devasated Fan.

Over the course of three studio albums and more live shows than some bands have had hot dinners, the Wigan-based rockers have continually upped their game; constantly delivering not only ferocious live shows which see powerful guitars swooping and crashing and threatening to rock every venue they play to rubble, but also songs which take arresting, emotionally-charged stories and set them to a scolding soundtrack combining the best bits of grunge and pure, unadulterated hard-rock.

Chris Skoyles said:

“We’re really lucky to have three of the town’s most popular bands on one line-up.Time and time again each band have proved that they’re a force to be reckoned with on the local scene and I can’t wait to see what happens when they’re live and unleashed in the same room!

“The Wigan scene seems stronger than ever right now. The first night I was back from the States there were no less than four gigs going on around town and the level of talent and dedication to the scene, not just from the bands themselves but also many of the promoters who work tirelessly to promote them is impressive.

“Coming back to town with Almost Famous, all I can hope to do is add my experiences and lessons learned working in America to that scene and celebrate Wigan music by  throwing The Hottest Party of the Summer.”

The Hottest Party of the Summer featuring This Devastated Fan, Prairie Dogs and The Fifth Root, plus a live DJ playing rock, metal and alternative, takes place on Friday August 10th at The Press Rooms in Wigan. Entry is £3 on the door. For more information please visit www.almostfamousmusic.co.uk