A book about Nettles? Mushrooms, wildlife, amateur football, music. What combines all of these? What links them together? Let's find out as we have a chat with Dave Higginson-Tranter, also known as Dave Fungalpunk (for reasons which will become obvious). Dave is an avid supporter of the DIY ethos and has, over the years, put on many a punk/alternative/DIY gig up and down the country. He tells us about his ethics and his reasoning for being a gig promoter.
DLW: So Dave, hope you are well and thanks for agreeing to talk to us. So how have things been during these odd times?
DAVE: It doesn't stop me mate, I've been up since the crack of dawn - six am everyday. I do my wildlife walk/cycle and get back for about half nine. I've been a bit static doing the CD reviews but I've kept myself going by doing other things.
DLW: I'm sure you have buddy so my first question to you is, what drives you or what inspired you to start putting gigs on?
DAVE: The motivation was, well I've been into music since the year dot really, I listened to glam rock and some early 60's rock and roll stuff then onto punk when the scene hit us. I fell away from the punk scene for a bit, like a lot of us did back then and duly dropped out of the societal flow for a goodly while. As for gigs, I just kinda got talked into it really. I saw people and bands going through the motions with no real emotion and enthusiasm. So, I thought I'd get involved and try to help people that weren't getting a look in and give them a bit more of a chance, so that was my ethos - and it still is to be honest. I love helping people who get overlooked and are chomping at the bit to be heard and given a chance to play their music. There are too many just not getting a fair crack of the whip and many starting out who just need to make those initial contacts.
DLW: Yeah totally as you're definitely a supporter of the DIY scene.
DAVE: I love it, it's by far the way and I'll argue til the cows come home that the best gigs you can go to are the smaller ones. You meet people in the same boat with no delusions of grandeur. Honest, proper people who just want to see some bloody proper noise makers. Of course you come across users and abusers too – but hey, in all walks of life there are fakes.
DLW: So how long would you say you've been doing it? Putting gigs on etc?
DAVE: I've been into punk since '79 and the first gig I put on was only in 2003, 2004? So fairly recent, 16 years but in that time I've put on over 160 gigs.
DLW: Have the majority of them gigs been at The Station in Ashton?
DAVE: No, no all over the place. I've done about 40 odd gigs in Bradford, I've put gigs on in Blackburn, Altrincham, Blackpool, Retford, Liverpool, Wakefield, Halifax and I’ve done a couple in Liverpool but can't remember the name of the places.
DLW: So a while then, how many bands have you given opportunities to play?
DAVE: I've put on about 360 bands to date with the main object to keep things varied whilst retaining the obvious ethos - I try my best
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DLW: Obviously, you don't like big festivals do you? I got that impression when we spoke one time in Ashton.
DAVE: Each to their own but I don't care what anybody says, you go to a festival, there are lots of people there who are just posing, lots of scenesters and lots of people you don't see from one week to the next and thinking punk ends with big gigs and socialising and everything is ‘fuckin’ brilliant’. On the other hand you get honest, objective awkward bastards like me who stand and watch and think ‘It's not fucking brilliant’ and the sound at a lot of these festivals is shit, the beer and merch is well over-priced and it is just a shadow of what the commercialised scene has been doing for years – it many ways it leaves a sour taste. Alas the punks don't seem to be bothered as merch prices fly through the roof and the same old bands play the rounds – baffling!
DLW: So when you're putting gigs and trying to get them organised, do you find it stressful at all or do you enjoy it?
DAVE: When I first started with it, I went in the deep end with a guy called Andy Noise Anoize... he used to put gigs on up in Blackburn. He'd been doing them for a couple of years, as had I, so we teamed up and formed the Spit and Sawdust tour and ended up putting on sixteen gigs on consecutive weekends. That was stressful but what it did highlight a lot of the flimsy, fly by night, people in the scene. And when that tour was going on, I was making and taking 300 plus calls and when the tour ended, no fucker rang me – sobering hey?. Then when the second tour started, the phone went mad again and it just proved to me that people just want to use you and call you or pretend to be your friend. It's tragic, that side really gets to me. You get to stage and you think "Fuck it" and you just cut them out.
DLW: But do you enjoy it now though?
DAVE: I do, I've always enjoyed it. Someone needs to put their arse up against the wall and defend lots of bands who are getting a duff deal. Bands that play some good music and even bands that get up on stage and make lots of mistakes, raw and ready, they deserve attention because it's the best phase in a band's career. It's the best time. I've seen bands play shit sets, through sweat and blood and I'm thrilled by it. I've seen bands who have played a technically, wonderful set and it can be boring. So yeah, I love it and along the way you meet people who are doing it for the right reasons and for them, it's just worth hanging on.
DLW: True, a lot of bands do it because they just love it, love playing their music, love the chance to perform in front of 20 or 200 people.
DAVE: Yeah, for the select few who kiss the right arses, there is a bit of cash in it for them. It doesn't count for nothing! Longevity and respect will never come through chasing the coin.
DLW: Do you think the scene is cliquey?
DAVE: Of course it is. There are many sub-circles within the big circle and many boundaries are rarely crossed. I used to ping about here and there but these days have scrubbed many from my diary and pick and choose what I go to with care – time is precious – one has to learn what and who are important!
DLW: You've got your own website whereby you review CDs and gigs etc, have you ever played in a band or wanted to play in a band?
DAVE: No, the ultimate truth is that if I was in a band, we'd never get any gigs due to my honesty and transparency. You can't go along and try to say what's what and try to be transparent, to get along in a band, you have to say certain things to keep people sweet and that's not me. The punk scene should be built on honesty, it's all divisiveness and keeping people ‘sweet’. I've had situations where people have called me "The man" then to find out they've been talking about me behind my back and rubbishing me – par for the course – thanks goodness I be a punk rock pachyderm.
DLW: Moving away from the music scene then, I know you have other interests including amateur football and your nature blogs. Is that something you've always been close to or is it a recent discovery?
DAVE: Instead of going to school, I used pinch eggs with my drunken uncle. It's just what we did, we lived in the middle of no-where and in them days, taking eggs was just one of those things many a tinker did. It turns my stomach now when I think back to what I did as I know now it's wrong obviously but what it did was get me close to nature and have a better understanding of it. When punk came along, I got involved with that but nature has always been there. I always had my eye on a flower, a bird (our feathered variety) or a bug. I dropped out of society for a while after leaving home early in life and did fuck all - as I was disillusioned by everything. I was 30 when I met my good lady and when courting we used to go out for walks and I suggested we got a bird book and I would show her all the different types of birds we saw and make a note of it. Then we got a flower book, a bug book, a fungi book etc. etc. Then we bought binoculars and so it continued. A few years later, I attended a mushroom walk but the leader never turned up so after some slight persuasion, I led the walk (begrudgingly). Someone said they enjoyed it, as I was requested to do another, someone came on that and booked me in to do a walk elsewhere – the rest is history! Since then I've led over 300 walks, which have included insect walks, nosey nature pootles, moth nights and flower walks etc but primarily they are mainly fungus walks.
DLW: Hence the nickname Fungalpunk?
DAVE: Exactly, I combined my punk and fungi website and that's obviously how my moniker came about. I manage to show people about 50 different species of fungi in the field, I'm not an expert but I tell people I'm an enthusiast. People seem to enjoy it so whilst they do, I'll continue. I've seen over 4,000 species of wildlife in Britain. I've written a book about nettles and have two more books that are in the throes of being written. I also read quite a lot and I have over 70 books of fungi alone – I do get passionate about things ha, ha.
DLW: Obviously, you are involved with the great work that Pauline Town does at The Station in Ashton. How did that come about?
DAVE: Urgh I don't know! I think, I was just putting gigs on here, there and everywhere and somebody suggested putting a gig on at her pub. That's how it happens, it was the same in Bradford. So I got in touch and it's a proper DIY gaff. Every noise is there, in your face, the people are in your face, everyone is together and it's a good ethos. There's a good root system behind it all and I kinda feel at home there. There is a vibe that this is earthy, real and right – that will do for me – the gut always must dictate!
DLW: We Shall Overcome is a big part of yours and Pauline's remit, who started it?
DAVE: Joe Solo, he started WSO and Pauline got drawn into it as she does with her runaway spirit and generous ticker. She's a good soul. Sometimes I do worry about her because like anybody who has high enthusiasm you sometimes have to rein it in as it does tear you in half, you ride the lows and highs. More and more people want you to do more and you find that before you know it, you're being stretched many ways. But, it's not a bad thing. She does it right and just cracks on with it. To be fair I am a mere peripheral player and dip in and out again, if the gigs help in some way and I can do an annual Solidarity gig to help the gaff out that is my small humble bit done.
DLW: True, she must be thankful though when you put gigs on at her place as she must struggle financially with the pub?
DAVE: I don't do it for thanks but because I like Pauline and the whole shebang of what is going on at The Station. We need places like this! I do try and keep all gigs super low budget for her though, the bands play for some petrol money only and if that is not enough then bands don’t play and we get someone else in – no grudges, it is how it is, we have to get the balance right because if the gaff goes so do the gigs. I know it's not a lot for bands, we understand that but I always say to bands if you don't want to play then no offence taken but we have to keep the cost down to make sure The Station stays alive.
DLW: Indeed as I imagine some bands would want big money?
DAVE: Well it goes on. I've seen some bands take the piss. I could name some bands but I won't, I've known some bands that has inadvertently contributed to pubs and venues shutting down because they simply grabbed too much money with little pulling power. So with The Station, bands know exactly what the deal is as Pauline is always on the cusp. One time I was doing a gig called Solidarity and the bands then were playing for nothing just to give Pauline a free day and raise some much needed funds. What a lovely thing to do and what an enjoyable day knowing you are surrounding by folk happy to help out – that will do for me. Like Non-League football, we need genuine fans, putting back and on the same level.
DLW: Of course, it's like today’s news that Wigan are potentially going under!
DAVE: Really? And this is after them winning the FA Cup a few years ago! And yet some grabbing bastards are making a real mint – another example of the big imbalance.
DLW: Yeah, it's just shows you!! With this virus being here, when do you foresee your next gig taking place?
DAVE: The next one is November, I don't know if that'll go ahead. It's looking 50/50 to be honest who know?. The one's after that are January, February, March next year which are all booked up. If not, we'll just wait and re-schedule them. I only worry though that when we do get back to gigging, lots of promoters will just go mad and we might have gig clashes everywhere.
DLW: But the thing is, punters will be desperate to see gigs as well.
DAVE: They will, or just to get out but we need to try and not trip over each others toes and respect each what other is doping – alas some promoters though will never work together. Me and Stu Taylor actually converse and make sure that we don't clash our gigs but some others don't bother. I would gladly move a gig if somebody else has another gig already booked locally which I have done in the past, but if I am already booked in and a clash arises on we go
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DLW: I know you're not one of them but there must be promoters out there who are only interested in lining their own pockets?
DAVE: Indeed. I can honestly say that having doing 160 odd gigs, I've had three payments for my efforts. Two, thirty quid payments and a forty quid one, I argued with the joint promoters that I don't really want it, I'm not interested but the brass was forced it on me so I took it and splashed it out on a bit of booze and brought a few drinks in. I don't want money involved as it just stains things and I've seen people fall out over it. Let's just do it together! This is simply my way, I may be skint, so what, and if others want a bit of dosh then go for it but me, nah, I can’t be arsed with it to honest. The venues, the bands and the promoters should all be on one level. So when I pay bands petrol money, it's more of a thank you as we appreciate the band playing. I know of one band that wanted 300 to play and the promoter said no, then they wanted 200, the promoter stood his ground and said no, too much. Eventually they played for 30 quid!! It's wrong, just wrong!! Shame as the promoter eventually packed in as he'd had a belly full and just fucked off. He was sickened by it all. These chancers are not punk, are not in tune with the DIY ethos and are wolves in sheep’s clothing – beware.
DLW: I bet he was, too many people try to take the piss and it could potentially ruin the scene.
DAVE: Indeed, I remember The Subhumans did a gig for us and we agreed a door deal with them which was great for us. They actually made more money than what they normally would charge so everybody was happy. That says a lot to me and although I haven’t put the band on since they are held in good regard for that snippet of trust!
DLW: Bands like Subhumans will pull an audience though as they are one of the best live acts going in my opinion. I've heard stories though of promoters having to pay out of their own pockets to pay the band as the door takings have not covered their fee.
DAVE: Yeah, yeah I've seen that happen myself. It's terrible. But because of how I work and the relationship I have with bands, I have a ton of bands that will come and play for me and sometimes I wish I could pay them more as I don't want them thinking I'm taking the piss. Thankfully many know the script and how I am trying to keep things earthy and more about the passion of creating and doing for the love of it than anything else.
DWL: Exactly, you hit the nail on the head before stating, we're all in this together.
DAVE: Yeah and I always say, you'll never override the success of actually doing it (putting a gig on and playing in one) - that's the true success and doing it with your ethics intact is the ultimate victory. If you can do that, job's a good 'un. I've took some shit over the years about how I do things but people know what I'm about I hope and see that I don’t bend and warp when it suits and always treat people fairly and with respect when due.
DLW: But people respect you because you stick to your guns.
DAVE: I hope so, I really do. I would rather watch local bands than go and see someone who is asking silly money and just go through the motions! The street level stuff is much more real and duly speaks to my soul.
DLW: Personally, I play with my band purely and simply because I love doing it. I'm not in it for money as for a start, there isn't any, I just enjoy making and playing music and having a good time. Over the years, I've never made any money out of it.
DAVE: There are bands out there making some serious money out there! I always say to bands that are making money out of it - remember there are bands out there getting fuck all! I've no interest in these bigger bands, they're ten a penny! There is nothing better than seeing a new band and watching them grow and develop. It's was always my thing as a young punk, going into a record shop and buying a couple of singles just because of how the cover looked or the name of the band. It was a great feeling!
DLW: I did likewise but I did buy some shite in my younger days!!!
DAVE: Me too but that was part of the joy of it. I've stumbled across some brilliant stuff though, especially on the Crass label, Flux, Peni to name a few. It's nice to seek out some different stuff. That's what I do with my gigs, I tend to always have curve balls in my gigs.
DLW: So do you predominantly put on punk gigs?
DAVE: You know as I've got older, I hate being put under that tag due to the limitations it brings with it. In essence they are punk gigs but I try and distance myself from that label as it has been raped and rogered by all manner of users. That raw-boned punk ethos is still there though, get up, do it yourself, fuck it! I don't agree that punk can be anything because it can't because if punk can be anything you could put on a fucking Tory gig!!! There are certain structures that I like to follow, mix and match. I love mix and match. Over the years I have had a diverse mix – rap, pop punk, hardcore, indie, solo stuff, magicians, poets, ska, etc etc. I once put a band on called The Thing, they turned up and played one song for 30 minutes, it was magical.
DLW: For me, punk is not about how you look and/or sound, it's an attitude.
DAVE: Exactly. Everyone claims to have it but when you stand amongst it, there's not many that's got it! The most punk thing I see these days is people going out recording wildlife or bands playing for the love of it or these non-league teams I go and support. There's a punk ethos there!! DIY is a far better label as we're doing it ourselves, getting stuck in together and getting our hands mucky.
DLW: When you're thinking about putting gigs on, do you contact bands or ask bands to play?
DAVE: Sometimes I'll do that but primarily, I'll have my little set up of who I want at that particular gig and if I have a couple of bands sounding similar, I'll seek out somebody who sounds different and also, every gig I'll try and put on somebody who I've never seen before. Every gig I have to have that bit of diversity. Another important thing I consider is to put bands on from out of town so that they can make contacts with local bands and expand their network. My ideal is that all promoters should be put out of business so that bands can organise their own gigs and deal direct with the venues via net-working with each other.
DLW: Okay mate, last question.... What does the future hold for Dave Fungalpunk?
DAVE: Targets, I always have targets...... so to get to 2,000 CD reviews - I've done about 1,600 so far, carry on with my football reports - my next target is 500 and to do as much as I can for the natural world and of course look after my loved ones and keep my friends motivated.
DLW: With reference to football, what team(s) do you follow?
DAVE: Mainly the North West Counties League but I've done some further away. As far up as Carlisle, down to Shropshire way and even London (Tower Hamlets FC) and sometimes I go over to the Yorkshire leagues and I pootle over westward to places like City of Liverpool, Widnes FC. I love it, I sometimes go down to Cheshire League games as well. Denton Town is a favourite and the biggest crowd I've seen there was just less than 30 people! But it's proper, you're stood with people who are doing it for the right reasons. I can't watch the Premier League anymore as it's just wrong. It's a business now, a money-orientated business at that without any source of reality, they've taken it away from me. So me and STP Stu go and a few other folks we natter with, and take in the ball-hoofing beauty. One team we watch is Denton Town. In early season the kick-offs are half six because they have no floodlights, the pitch in autumn gets covered in mushrooms, the guy behind the bar serving tea and drinks usually has to run out and put the nets up, stick the corner flags in and retrieve any balls during the game – isn’t that just great. So whenever I go somewhere, I do a report for them and send it to club and some even put it in their match-day programme. Magic and as per, tis all about doing your bit and putting back – simple hey!
DLW: And that Dave is the perfect place to end the interview. Thank you so much for your time.
DAVE: No problem, I really appreciate the opportunity and having a chinwag. I'm sorry if I've talked a lot, I do go on quite a bit. Ha, ha!!
DLW: No worries mate!!
Words DLW
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