Nestled in sunny North Wales, Colwyn Bay to be precise is an up and coming resurgence in the live music scene, namely The Pavilion Pub. It's a big old pub with plenty of character and the musical home of local (Wales) promoter Zoe Rogers.
Having played the venue recently, I was intrigued as to how and why Zoe took on the mantle and began to put on bands. We at Last Stop spoke to her recently, this is what she had to say.
DLW: Thank you for taking the time out to chat to us. Firstly who is Zoe Rogers, tell us briefly your (punk) background and how you got involved in the scene.
Zoe: I am originally from Stockport. After getting into a local pop-punk band (Echo Freddy) around the age of 12/13 I started going to the Thatched House, Star and Garter, Retro Bar etc and finding some awesome bands. At age 18 I decided to host my own birthday party at the Thatched and then carried on with the occasional show from there.
I moved to Wales age 18 but had been coming there my whole life.
DLW: How did you get involved with the NWPR scene and for the uneducated, what is the NWPR?
Zoe: I made friends with a guy called Johnny around 2000. He introduced me to this group of friends and used to tell me about the shows. Really good times indeed travelling to gigs and festivals all over and all supporting the awesome shows Dave Cox and Ste Brute used to bring to Rhyl. NWPR was built up of people and bands with similar taste in all sub genres of punk.
DLW: Obviously the Dudley Arms in Rhyl was quite prolific in putting gigs on back in the early 2000's, were you involved in promoting gigs back then or were you attending the gigs as a punter?
Zoe: Attending as a punter and shoving flyers in people's hand at other shows. I'm sure there was a couple of links between bands I knew in Manchester who I passed info over but it was Dave and Ste who made that place so awesome.
DLW: What are your fondest memories of the Dudley gigs and favourite bands you saw?
Zoe: I think the main memory that sticks out is when everyone got served an ASBO for singing along to "Bastard Coppers" when Dave (Cox) decided to blast it at full volume when they came in to check ID. Stuntface, 3 Minute Warning and Seize The Day always had awesome shows there and always filled the place.
DLW: Did attending these gigs inspire you to put your own gigs on and what venues did you use?
Zoe: It just became a bit of a natural progression as I worked in bars in the bay. There was a few different pubs like the Litten Tree, IMP, Speakers etc that held a few shows but I really enjoyed a spare room at the Madocs where a few of us had free creative license to do what we wanted there. Sadly when the pub changed hands we had to stop.
DLW: What name did you use for promoting your gigs and how did you find the experience?
Zoe: I've always used Splatthing. It's a nickname I've had from birth as my brother was called Sploj and "Splatthing" was my nickname growing up. I can always tell how long I've known a person if they refer to me as Splat!
DLW: What was your personal favourite gig you put on? Did you ever feel like stopping putting gigs on?
Zoe: Bear The Red Light at the Madocs was definitely a show that blew my head off. They had downplayed themselves so much when they ask me for a booking I had no idea how amazing they were going to be. Harijan was also an amazing vibe as always. My personal favourite was my 21st when Stuntface played. Absolute insane! There's a great picture of me and my my friends having to protect them from that pit!
DLW: Am I right in assuming that at some point, you stopped promoting gigs, why was that and what drives you now to start again by putting gigs on at The Pavilion?
Zoe: I 3stopped putting on gigs shortly after having my first son. I even remember taking him over to it in the park pub to meet the hostiles. I fell pregnant again pretty quickly and the pressure of being a parent and PND meant that I didn't think I could do it again. The strangest conversation happened 10 years later with my good friend and tattooist Woody. He sat me down and said how I'd lost myself. Mentioned Mark and Unsy buying the Pavilion and as we stepped out the front of the shop there Mark was ... and here we are. It's weird how things can fall back into place really! And after lockdown it's personally been perfect for me to find something to focus on in all these crazy times. But the way the Welsh government has messed around hospitality over these past 2 years and it has been extremely hard work, and it's still sending curve balls!
DLW: How do you find promoting gigs now back to when you first started, any valuable lessons learnt?
Zoe: Not a lot has changed. Finding out which bands are doing what now and catching up with old friends has been amazing. People that know you for more than just being a parent. Well... wear good shoes (I've literally danced so hard my toe nails have fallen off!)
Don't drink too much too quick (no matter how badly things aren't going to plan) and I've learnt that you gotta stick with the people who are supporting you rather than listening to the negativity. Mark and Unsy found me at a really low time and were my family when I needed it, me and my kids. I said I'd give it a go and it's still early days. Having their 2 venues in Colwyn Bay in Bolton and the guidance and support of them in every aspect has really helped me carry on doing something I truly enjoy. As they are so good at what they do any changes they have helped me every step of the way.
DLW: What inspired you to start putting gigs back on at The Pavilion and were the pub owners giving you total support for wanting to do it again?
Zoe: It was a huge matter of coincidence they moved here from Bolton, my job had me on furlough. The support has been amazing. It's just been hard when we get given such short notice on changes. Especially when things could go ahead at one venue and not the other (being in England). The support off everyone has been incredible.
DLW : I bet it's nice to catch up with up with so many old faces again, at there any old bands that you'd love to see play or even reform to play the Pavilion, if so.... who?
Zoe: We've already had some old faces coming back. Former Stuntface, M9L, Instant Agony, The Dead Pets etc. I've got loads more waiting to come play. I would love to see Out Of Use reform as that's my partners old band who I never actually got to see play.
DLW: How are you finding the current local scene, have the gigs you're putting on, re-ignited N Wales scene?
Zoe: The scene never really went. Mark WJ was putting on shows pre lock down in the Marine and Rastin in Rhyl. Covid just put a spanner in the works. Everyone has been working really hard but the turnouts have been really hard for promoters. A lot have people have moved, Or have busy family lives now. But at the same time there's a lot of new people who are getting into it. People in their 20's/30's saying "Wow, what is this?! I love it!" And coming back each show. You'd be surprised how many people locally had never seen a live band. Especially goes down well when there's some brass or double bass thrown in. That's why I do free entry for now to see the crowds hopefully grow.
DLW: The Pavilion is obviously an old (big) pub. Are there plans in place to develop upstairs to either, put gigs on or provide a place for out of town bands to crash?
Zoe: The Pavilion is a community arts project as well as a venue. They offer free practise space for musicians and want to help the local music scene of all genres grow. My latest idea is a wanted board for people looking to jam with each other. Especially those finding it hard to get back into society or feeling isolated. The plans for each room have had to change a few times due to licensing. Mark is hoping to have 2 or more function rooms going at the same time to each other. There's plenty of room for bands to crash over.
DLW: I always throw a daft question in when conducting an interview so here goes, if you were a wrestler, what would your nickname be and why?
Zoe: Splat Attack!!
DLW: What next for The Pavilion?
Zoe: Personally I will be doing monthly shows but that's already turning into more to fill bands tour dates.
DLW: Well many thanks Zoe for giving us the low-down on the current Welsh underground music scene. Keep up the good work and see you in the new year, take care.
Words: DLW
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