ONE of Carlisle s most popular bands is set to perform a gig with a difference this summer. Hardwicke Circus will be performing at St Cuthbert s Church in the city on July 9 - but the choice of venue isn t the only unusual thing about it. The band will be supported not by another music act, but by the wedding of their sound engineer, Jason Randall and his fiancée Maria. Lead singer Jonny Foster explained the thinking behind the plan. He said: The idea is before the gig, Jason is the support act. He came here from New Zealand and was just travelling through. He was only going to stay in Carlisle one night before heading off to Sardinia - but he parked by a music venue where we were playing.
Carlisle band Hardwicke Circus has reacted with sadness that the city is about to lose a popular music venue. The city council has announced that the iconic Old Fire Station will not reopen its doors on May 17 after a deal could not be reached between the owner – Carlisle City Council – and the proposed operator. A spokeswoman for the city council said: “Unfortunately during the pandemic the new lease for the Old Fire Station couldn’t be completed with the proposed operator. The opportunity to run the venue will be going out to tender again to get an operator in place to manage the venue.”
A POPULAR entertainment venue will NOT be reopening when restrictions ease next week, it has been confirmed. The iconic Old Fire Station in Carlisle will not reopen its doors on May 17 after a deal could not be reached between the owner – Carlisle City Council – and the proposed operator. A spokeswoman for the city council said: “Unfortunately during the pandemic the new lease for the Old Fire Station couldn’t be completed with the proposed operator. “The opportunity to run the venue will be going out to tender again to get an operator in place to manage the venue. “Like other venues of its type, there are government restrictions on when the Old Fire Station can reopen. No date for reopening has been set as yet but we are still working with promoters to book in future events.”
Carlisle band Hardwicke Circus will be heading home to play gigs in the city on several dates in the summer. The next few months will see the band promote their debut album in St Cuthbert’s church on July 9, with the six-piece collective returning to play at Wild on the Wall Festival on August7. The St Cuthbert’s gig is sure to hold a special place in the band’s heart as it is the church in which band members Jonny and Tom were both baptised, as well as the place their parents were married and where the band’s sound engineer will get married prior to the performance.
Their forthcoming album is a collection of songs about growing up in the city. The single features a video shot by the band themselves in lockdown.The band say new single “Walking On Broken Glass” is a distillation of the band s unique sound. Infectious melodies laid over classic sounding rock n roll, but infused with a true punk spirit . Hardwicke Circus is made up of Jonny Foster (lead vocals, guitar), Tom Foster (drums, vocals), Ben Wilde (bass, vocals), Lewis Bewley-Taylor (keys), Andy Phillips (saxophone) and Zack McDade (guitars, vocals). They describe themselves as a band who who value the song above the single, a group who have a sound soaked with the classic sounds of rock n roll history but still sound completely of the moment .