Interview: Avalon Way

11:58am Tuesday 8th July 2008

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By Martin Cooper »

Members: Ric Roberts, Rik Holden, Matt Dearden, Chris Holden.

YOU could be forgiven for thinking that old-fashioned rock star behaviour had been totally eradicated, what with plasma TVs unable to penetrate double glazed hotel windows and recreational drug use being no less hazardous than today’s fast food.

But thank goodness there are still some creatures of the underworld lurking and striving to keep the dream alive.

The four young members of Avalon Way, for example, still fly the flag for the excesses that only rock would allow.

OK, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but I did spot them enjoying a swift Pimms the other day, and I definitely noticed a broken guitar at Darwen Live 2008, intentional or not.

But it’s the music that makes these boys as venomous as they are, and that all comes down to a blend of superb writing and immaculate playing.

The band have been around the scene for a few years now and anyone even mildly interested in local music will have heard their name.

They don’t shy away from work, ensuring they have a wealth of gigs on the books at all sorts of venues.

The most delightful thing about Avalon Way is their adaptability.

The chameleons of the local scene, they change their set to suit the crowds probably more effortlessly than of any other artists I’ve seen around these parts, ensuring that they are always welcomed back by the organisers.

They regularly play the major venues in the area, from Darwen Library Theatre to the opening night of the new-look Jubilee, in Blackburn, and big events like Darwen Live and Arts in the Park. They also frequently work with great enthusiasm for charities, even going as far as to set up their own charity gigs with other local acts.

So what is it about Avalon Way that makes them so desirable?

Well, a good place to start is always at the front with the vocalist, and the post is filled by the brilliantly-tuned pipes of Rik Holden.

I’m a fan of singers who can actually sing rather than the shouty types, so it’s great to see a graded vocalist take to the front.

There’s a great quality to Rik’s voice that conjures up artists like Jamie Cullum and Michael Buble, only spiced up a little. And there’s nothing taken away from him as a guitarist either, his vocal setting the pace for his rhythm rather than the opposite way around.

Keeping time at the back is the rock-steady drummer Matt Dearden, happy to provide the heavy beat as if it was built into him.

His is a natural talent for playing, his sticks an extension of his arms, and when Matt is swept up by the piece, you can rely on him to drive it into those mounting middle eights and climatic choruses with vengeance.

Chris Holden’s bass is an omnipresent foundation for the guitars to work upon, never faltering, never flawed.

Ric Roberts’ guitar work rings out with a defiant force that completes the composition beautifully.

If you’re a fan of slightly heavier yet melodic rock music then Avalon Way will be right up your street.

They could be likened to bands like The Killers, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers or even My Chemical Romance, but their own input into the thriving genre makes them stand out a mile from their peers.

Also keep a look out for their quirky covers and even the challenges they accept from the punters on what they can and can’t play.

They’ll always guarantee you a good night, so why not take them up on the offer?

• Martin Cooper presents Martin’s Sunday Sermon on 107 The Bee from 8am to noon every week