The first gig...

We'd done it before at the Beat Happening but Track & Field had started as a night out for dancing rather than a forum for new groups. November 1999 soon changed that. The Betsey isn't ideal for bands (the upstairs room is pretty tiny and there's no stage) but it does make for a great atmosphere (we like to think of it as our version of Alan McGee's Living Room!)

First band up, significantly, were Kicker; club regulars and subsequently the first band to release a single on the T&F label. Comet Gain surprisingly enough also turned out for a great night. This show was quickly followed up with the rest of many appearances by Birdie who brought the Heavenly massive with them. As Sarah Cracknell pointed out, "It's nice to support the arts, isn't it!"

Winter Sprinter...

January is always shite. It's cold, you go back to work after New Year and you're broke...There was a time when you could rely on the NME to provide some decent entertainment at their "On" gigs. But the desire to bend over backwards for the corporate pound brought a change in direction and a soulless procession of boring rock groups with no personality. So we thought we'd have a go and the Winter Sprinter was born.

Four nights; nine bands; one club...Piece of piss! Well, sort of...Night One-we're late, Tram are early and we have the embarrassing situation of a bunch of amateurs (us) being watched by serious musicians (them) as we bumble about setting up...Eventually, the show is a stormer! Night Two-the upstairs at the Betsey should hold about 75 with a band... but there's a queue into the street as we cram 120 in for Tompaulin, Kicker and Miss Mend.

Subsequently. we've put on almost 50 bands including The Tyde, Beachwood Sparks, Butterflies of Love, Salako, The Clientele, Delta, Sportique, Action Time, Adekola Sound, Olympic Lifts, Airport Girl, Saloon...Beachwood Sparks was probably the highlight. Four west coast Americans plus The Clientele, Comet Gain and Kicker was a dream for us and 250 punters crammed into Camden's Undersolo agreed!

Pow to the People!

The first Pow! To The People in April 2000 was the Winter Sprinter in a day. Loads of great bands on one floor with the club atmosphere in the bar below. I can't say I'm a fan of Camden; it's lost the vibrancy it had when PIAO! and Blow Up held council at the Laurel Tree. But that said, the Monarch is a great venue for an all-day event and the Barfly people are very helpful. As usual, we had a really friendly crowd who supported all the bands - Saloon, the Chemistry Experiment, Airport Girl, I Am Kloot, Kicker, the Clientele, the Butterflies of Love, Salako - and when they didn't, they had the DJs in the bar to entertain them - Screen Prints, Comet Gain and, of course, Track & Field. We also met Darren from The Tyde...but that's another story!

We had such a great time that we decided to do it all over again this year! Pow! to the People 2 returned to brighten up Easter Sunday with a magnificent array of our fave pop bands-Fonda 500, the Clientele, Beachwood Sparks, the Tyde, the Aislers Set, Olympic Lifts, Kicker, Vermont, the Gospel Oak.

Andrew Williams, part time T&F DJ and full time pop kid summed up the day for us...
"I was just thinking that there are some days when you realise 'this is what it's all about', and all the cares in the world seem to recede somewhat... I suppose those of you who were at ATP felt that way then, but for me Sunday was the best day I've had in a long time... not just the bands, or the records but just everything, the people, the atmosphere... it was a really magical day.

Highlights were, obviously, the Tyde… I met this guy in the toilet (not something I make a habit of by the way) and we were both enthusing about how great they were, and he came out with this great line that they "were the West Coast Strokes..." and that totally sums it up for me - I mean, musically they're very different, but the kind of feeling you get hearing them, especially live, is exactly the same I think.

And then for the Beachwood Sparks to play as well, it was all too much… all in all, an absolute triumph, I'm sure most of you were there anyway and don't need me to tell you..."

What else can we add? If you were there hopefully you'll know what he means. If you couldn't make it then we hope you had a good excuse because it was a truly fantastic day. Maybe we'll do it again sometime…

The Tyde UK Tour, April 2001

This was the first T&F organised tour and we had great fun driving the lovely Tyde people round the UK to delight pop kids in Brighton, Birmingham and Manchester. We also got to see The Clientele, Delta, The Loves and Tompaulin who joined our West Coast pals at these dates. If you're patient enough to wait for them to download (you have been warned!), take a look at our tour photos.

The Track & Field Organisation
Top Flat, 7 Lakefield Road, London, N22 6RR, UK
info@trackandfield.org.uk
Last Updated: March 28, 2004