The Get Down Nights

The Get Down Nights. Four words that evoke imagery of gritty, sweaty stage shows, of crunching power chords, catchy riffs, undulating basslines and pounding beats. Four young men who have united to create a formidable force on the Sheffield unsigned music scene.

The first rumblings of a rock phenomenon in Sheffield were felt in late January 2007, when four intrepid young men established their modus operandi; to create a new rock subgenre all of their own – turbo rock ‘n’ roll.

Blending their influences which range from cheesy eighties electro pop to thrash metal to hardcore punk and many things in between, the goal was to find an agreeable medium, and if possible, to create something unique which would be truly astounding.

They knew this was no going to be no easy feat; that compromises would have to be reached, that egos would need to be sated, and occasionally hurt. But from early February 2007, The Get Down Nights have busted a gut to reinvent British rock, beginning with their home city, Sheffield.

Perhaps the most defining feature of TGDN is that they are true to themselves and do not bow to conformity. Like Popeye The Sailor Man, they am what they am.

At a time when popular bands produced by the UK all sound the same TGDN are shaking it up a bit, and giving a bit of rawness back to the British rock scene.

The Band

Lead Vocalist /Guitarist - Ben “Mixed Grill” Orrah.

Encompassing the raw vocal power and resonance of the likes of James Hetfield with nuances of Cliff Richard’s subtle sweetness, Mixed Grill is truly a crooning legend in the making. Some say he can consume so much chicken in so short a time that KFC are concerned that they’ll be put out of business, as chickens may soon have to be protected under the endangered species act. When asked, Mr. Orrah refused to comment. Well, it may have been refusal – his face was filled with greasy chicken strips at the time so we couldn’t really tell.

Lead Guitarist - Ashley “Chico” Cowley

Combining sweet guitar licks with boy band looks that would make Louis Walsh wet himself, Ash is the lead guitarist for The Get Down Nights. He has the ability to communicate a range of sounds and emotions with only six strings at his disposal. There are two sounds Ash is working on that have continued to elude him thus far. Firstly, a sound that allegedly causes the contents of a grown man’s bowels to explode into his underwear; and secondly, a sound that apparently causes a spontaneously orgasmic response from women. Why he needs sounds to do that when he can work such magic with his hands is beyond us. He also likes cross dressing, long walks on the beach, and “your mum” jokes. How he loves it when the other guys do those jokes!

Bassist/Vocalist - Ads “Hollywood” Marsden

Nobody’s quite sure whether Ads takes his “Hollywood” moniker from his dashing, whitish-yellow toothed smile, or because of his prima donna strops, but what we do know is he’s the only bassist in the world that is dwarfed by his instrument, but he doesn’t like to brag. Alongside his rhythmic plucking duties, Ads chips in with the backing and occasional lead vocals for TGDN. Rumour has it that the reason that Ads never goes fishing is that he was irritated by the number of people that have tried to grab him and put him in their carrier bags, saying “Ooh, that gnome would look great by our pond!”

Drummer - Stuart “Dingo” Trentham

Dingo plays drums for TGDN. Not only plays them, but beats the living hell out of them, bashing them to within an inch of their lives each time he strikes with the sticks. Dingo is the ladies’ man of the band – well, he would be, but the ladies can’t seem to fight their way past the crowd of screaming psychopaths who attach themselves like molluscs to him. Perhaps the most interesting thing about Dingo is he was raised by wild dogs in the Australian outback, and is the only recorded 9 foot 2 inch tall albino aboriginal Australian who follows Leyton Orient. Astounding.

Individually, their powers are awesome. Together, they are TGDN.