The annual Valentine's-themed gig supporting Youth Music
The St Valentine’s Day Massacre is seven years strong in supporting Youth Music through Give a Gig Week. This superb gig takes place in Portsmouth and is always full of high energy performances of love, lust and heartbreak songs by local bands.
The success of the event over the years is down to the organisers, the support of venues and the bands. We had a chat with one of the organisers Matt to learn more about the event and the exciting plans for the eighth St Valentine’s Day Massacre!
This year they're taking their fundraising online, helping us to invest in more music-making. Follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates on the show.
Where did the idea of the gig come from?
"The [Valentines] Massacre was inspired by a legendary local charity event called The Southsea Christmas Covers Party. It's been held annually since 2010 and serves as an end of year office party of sorts for local musicians in support of The Rowans Hospice. My band first played in 2012 and we’ve been involved in one form or other ever since.
"That first year we had so much fun, we knew we wanted to do it again but didn’t want to wait until next December, so we decided to create our own gig. Valentines was fast approaching, and we thought that was as good an excuse as any.
"So with the organisers blessing, we pinched the format, restricted it to love songs and slapped together something in a few weeks. Over the years it developed into its own thing as we started flexing our creative muscles and learnt how to run a gig properly (still learning!)."
What do you enjoy the most about putting on the gig?
"I love receiving the song choices and imagining them live. Discovering the acts and the audience share the same enthusiasm for some half-forgotten pop gem is always exciting. In terms of the actual work I really enjoy branding the event and playing with the visuals.
"It’s a wistful throwback to what pop music was, tipping our hat to Top of the Pops and Smash Hits. The marketing material and set decorations have become more saccharine and cheesy every year. We create our own little world for the evening, a shrine to teenage pop culture when music was everything."
Watch highlights from the 2019 gig
We create our own little world for the evening, a shrine to teenage pop culture when music was everything.
The St Valentine’s Day Massacre has been a sold event for the last two years. Can you share with us any tips for getting tickets sold?
"Make your event as unique as possible. These days there is a lot of noise and it’s increasingly hard to cut through. On a practical level just make sure the basics are covered.
"Create a social media presence, work with a professional music venue, have a decent high-res poster, reach out to local press etc.
"But more importantly, surround yourself with people who are passionate about raising money and determined to put on the best show possible. This event has grown because of all the people involved from the musicians, venue staff and raffle contributors."
What would you say to someone thinking of supporting Youth Music with a Give a Gig Week?
"Do it! It’s a great cause and if you’re already in a band or putting on shows it really doesn’t require you to do much outside of the norm.
"The arts and music, in particular, continue to be marginalised by our government, so charities like Youth Music and the projects they support are more important than ever. We live in difficult and divisive times and music is a great healer that can help bring communities together.
"Not only are you raising money with your Give a Gig event but you’re raising awareness. If you can have as much fun as we do that’s just a bonus!"
What are you looking forward to at this year’s 8th Annual St Valentine’s Day Massacre?
"So many things to be excited about, we have lots of old favourites performing and some newbies too. Last year one of our performers invited his young music students to attend and they had such a great time that they immediately asked to play next year.
"So we’re looking forward to seeing Southstreet on The Wedgewood Rooms stage. Hopefully, this is something we can build on for future events and give some young people opportunities on the night itself.
"We also have the return of the Neptune Girls. They’re a great dance company centred around body positivity and empowerment.
"We’ve been really lucky to have some members involved the last two years but for our next event, they will have more of a featured slot. It’s so energetic and fearless and a natural extension of the pop music aspect of the event so we’re thrilled to have them involved.
"I’m also really excited to see the members of Fleetingwood Mac take to the stage to tackle another seventies act.
"Their singer Beth was the sound engineer at some of our earliest events in the small room, so to have her performing for us in the big room is a nice reminder of how long the event has been around and how it’s grown.
"They’re incredibly popular down here so to have them take time out of their schedule and get involved is a real privilege."