For One Mike Only at FC2, Warrington
Friday 6th May 2022

It’s one hell of a lineup tonight. With 4 acoustic sets followed by 5 full band performances, it’s a full and excellent bill! ‘For One Mike Only‘ is now in its 7th year and is gaining huge momentum. It’s a Warrington based event, held annually to raise monies and awareness for the Warrington branch of the ‘National Autistic Society‘. It’s all in honour of Mike Carter, a local musician who sadly passed seven years ago, as a tribute to his memory and to raise funds for the Autistic Society which was very close to him and also helped and supported his family.

Starting out initially as a group of local musicians who all knew and loved Mike, over the years it’s grown and become something much bigger. It now includes performers of all genres, backgrounds and ages and often has acts from outside the local area, all performing totally voluntarily in aid of the charity. It’s a brilliant event, organised by Mike’s Mum, the inspirational Sam Heathcote, and highlights a wealth of talent. It’s a real celebration of music, is totally inclusive, and is a very fitting tribute to Mike. Tonight the event is being held at FC2, fast becoming the ‘go to’ destination in Warrington for live music.,

Alan Jacob (meatbehindabeat), Greg Dixon (Pray for Mojo), Sam Clancy (32 Tens), Max Vickers (32 Tens), The Raymond’s, Serratone, Lost in Echoes, Rivver and Nineties.

Alan Jacob_Credit: Christabel

Alan Jacob (meatbehindabeat) Acoustic set
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Warrington based Alan Jacob is somewhat of a legend around these parts. A multi talented musician, he plays most instruments and is a singer/songwriter too. An avid supporter of local music, he’s often getting the crowd antics started at many a gig and is well loved for it. Having performed previously in numerous For One Mike Only events, it’s an enthusiastic set from the off tonight – very upbeat, real crowd pleasers – Alan’s very likable and has brilliant audience interaction. With a mixture of covers and his own material, the original tracks have a very individual feel: quirky, jangly guitar with an electro feel, very David Bowie sounding at times. It’s uplifting stuff and Alan has a clear, soft, and uplifting vocal – a very multi-dimensional sound with a whole host of influences, from Americana and rock to indie and electro, all seamlessly crafted into his own style. A real entertainer and musical force – another brilliant set from meatbehindabeat.

Greg Dixon – Acoustic set

Greg Dixon is another Warrington based musician, well known and performing regularly on the local circuit as a solo artist, but he’s also part of the phenomenal band, Pray for Mojo. Greg has been a part of For One Mike Only from the start, supporting and performing in each event, and was friends with Mike (Carter). It’s a very special and heartfelt performance – a totally different but equally brilliant set, which really highlights the huge diversity of this event. Greg strums his guitar with real feeling. This is much more grunge feeling, raw and angst ridden. His vocal is raspy, gravelly, with a real throatiness. Quite honestly, as a crowd we’ve become transfixed – we’re hanging on his every word, you could hear a pin drop! It’s a great sound, originals mixed with covers, all with that grunge/heavy rock feel to them. There’s a real genuine feel between songs, banter with the crowd, and a shout out to Sam from 32 Tens for lending him his guitar. Very moving, very honest sounding, it’s been a brilliant, totally engulfing set.

Sam Glancy (32 Tens) – Acoustic set

Warrington based Sam Glancy is lead guitarist in the brilliant band, the 32 Tens. Another regular performer at For One Mike Only, it’s not often Sam performs a solo set, preferring to play guitar in the band than singing, so it’s a rare treat and has become a special tribute for this event. I’ve seen the 32 Tens many times and heard Sam as backing vocal, but I’ve never heard him sing a full lead set….let me just say WOW!!! What a voice…I’m totally blown away! The feels are different again, a real blues, jazz type feel, but with that indie edge. Very slowed down, great guitar sounds and the songs are truly made Sam’s own. The vocal is haunting, rich, and full, with a real smoky jazz tone, more great crowd interaction, and is very likable and humorous. This was a fully immersive performance which I personally didn’t want to end…but finishing with a duet with Kerry Sheree in what I can only describe as a powerhouse of voices (which worked brilliantly) this set ended with a real bang. Genuinely a stand out set for me, I look forward to the next rare outing of your voice, Sam…though you kick ass playing with 32 Tens too!

Max Vickers_Credit: Christabel

Max Vickers ( 32 Tens) – Acoustic set.

Max (Vickers) is frontman of the aforementioned, amazing 32 Tens, and another local talent who’s contributed to For One Mike Only regularly over many years. His voice is pretty well known, very distinctive and instantly recognisable. It’s a real privilege to hear stripped back and acoustically. Performing mainly 32 Tens’ original songs, it’s a full on, nonstop set. The differing layers and multi tonal sounds in Max’s voice are something very, very special. From sultry, low, husky tones, to high end of the range, then loud, rich and full, then a gravel or grate, a real rasp in longer held notes which really does give us goosebumps. Max is great at conveying real feeling through his singing, the material he performs is gritty, witty, and original. Real indie rock feels to the sound but a blues rock undercurrent…a completely captivating performance, keeping us on a knife edge as an audience. Another full and spell binding set from Max Vickers…and this is acoustic…imagine with the full band? Take it from me, worth checking out 32 Tens!

The Raymond’s – Full band set

Fin Richards – lead vocal/guitar
Max Morrow – guitar
Evan O’Toole – bass
James Lynchehaun – drums

Another Warrington based act, The Raymond’s are a fairly new band, but have exploded into the local music scene and are much talked about, and it’s all good, so I’m really keen to see them for what will be the first time. It’s the first full band performance tonight and it comes positively raging at us in a sea of shimmering guitar lines, skippy beats, and high vibrational sounds. A very crisp and clear performance, very fresh sounding. a funk feels to it but it’s indie-pop at its heart. It’s very feel good, almost bedroom pop but with fine tuning. It’s great and I’m eager to hear more! With an abundance of energy on stage these guys are bouncing around, fascinating to watch, and as an audience, you want to join in and bounce along with them. There’s definitely that cool, quirky, something a bit different vibe. The vocal is very smooth, light, and mellow, warming like a summer’s breeze. For real charisma, a great sound, very tightly performed, you can’t go wrong with The Raymond’s. I predict we’ll be seeing a lot more of this band. Sheer brilliance of a set, nonstop energy, and bopping tunes.

Serratone– Full band set

Joe Hill
Olly Nash
Ben Cunliffe

Originally from Newton le Willows, but now firmly Manchester based, Serratone are one force to be reckoned with. Gig wise the band have been relatively quiet recently, so tonight is a very welcome opportunity to see this wild, guitar driven, indie rock fuelled band at last. Another complete genre change…we’re getting heavier, firmly indie rock/punk rock…buckle up for one hell of a ride. Throwing themselves about the stage, the performance is 100 mph, ‘must see’ stuff! Crunching bass lines, utterly chest pounding drum beats, blistering guitar riffs, and a vocal with that real northern indie feel that suits this sound so well, but verging on a punk sound at times with that shouty style. It’s a whirlwind of raw energy, untamed and furious. Nonstop, back to back, original music is batted toward us at full throttle; the feels are up, it’s loud, full on, bouncing, and brilliant. I think it’s safe to say this was an utterly show stopping performance… crashing, frantic, hard hitting, and amazingly good. Smashed it to pieces!

Lost In Echoes_Credit: Christabel

Lost in Echoes – Full band set

Lee Egerton – lead vocal/guitar
Alex Hesketh – bass
Mike Jones – drums
Liam Tamber – guitar

Even heavier we go for this next set. 4 piece, grunge/metal/rock band Lost in Echoes are straight in and at us, coming in hard and fast. It’s a no holds barred, no nonsense, fast paced and grungy, real heavy metal feeling performance. Often a slight 80s rock feel, often 90s grunge feelings, but the overall sound is a thunderous heaviness…a blistering hard edge…this sound hits us and we feel it through our entire bodies. It’s loud and it’s raw; it’s a completely different feel again – full on drumbeats pound, utterly guitar melting riffs, splintering bass, and a smooth, low, angst-feeling vocal including some spoken word sections and monumental instrumental parts. It’s all original material and very well played. Another great, very tight performance from the Lost in Echoes guys, with that real juxtaposition of anger and sorrow coming through. A whole host of influences lie beneath these sounds – as well as the obvious grunge and heavy metal, there’s psych, blues, and rock, all tightly knitted together into one incredible sound that’s really being felt in here tonight. For originality, enthusiasm, great performance, and a real dark, heavy feel – you can’t go wrong with this set. Great stuff from Lost in Echoes yet again.

Rivver – Full band set

Matt Barber – vocals
Tim Glynn – drums
James Snow – bass
Adam Lloyd – rhythm guitar
Jamie Mitchinson – lead guitar

5 piece, Wigan based indie rock band Rivver play next for us. I’ve seen this band so many times now, and I never tire of them…a pure joy to hear/watch…I love them! A total change in genre (again)…it’s about to get jangly, skippy and a crashing indie sound to boot! Rivver creates a real uplifting sound, combining clever lyrics inspired by experiences and local surroundings, intricate guitar riffs (deliciously the Smith’s sounding), soaring bass lines and often the addition of keys. Lead vocal is rich, distinctive, soulful, and full bodied. It’s one brilliant sound – toe tapping, makes you feel good; it’s completely dance inducing and we can’t keep still. All smiles whilst performing and between songs, there’s banter, joviality, and laughter. We get real ‘cheeky chappie’ energy from the Rivver guys; pure energy and an abundance of talent and creativity, very polished and well executed. It’s high vibrational, exuberant, serotonin fuelled waves of sound crashing over us. Brilliant set from start to finish…what a set! The Rivver guys are amazing …go, see them!

The Nineties_Credit: Christabel

The Nineties – Full band set

Matt – lead vocal/guitar
Isaac – bass
Tom – guitar/backing vocals
Dec – drums

Closing for us tonight are local lads, The Nineties, a Warrington based indie pop band.

It’s a real glistening, mesmerising blaze of shimmering guitars as the set begins. Up-tempo, upbeat, fizzing, effervescent synth and electro sounds, but with a guitar lead undertone. It’s brilliant, a great set. Matt’s vocal is soft, light and free sounding – it fits perfectly with the overall sound this band creates. Guitar swinging and dancing around, it’s another engulfing performance from the Nineties who always deliver! Even when Matt struggles with his voice toward the end of the final song, it doesn’t dampen or affect a thing – the crowd know all the words and eagerly belt them out back to him whilst he plays guitar, dancing and apologising (for which there really was no need as it was still brilliant). An amazing set, so full of energy; spot on! For zany feels, that sunshine vibe, a dreamy, surreal feel, and banging tunes…the Nineties have it in abundance.
So all in all this was one brilliant night – such diversity and a real mixture of musical genres. All performers did so entirely voluntarily, which is to be commended. The next For One Mike Only event will be at Acoustic Cafe in Warrington on 1st July and will be a free entry acoustic performance with 5 artists.

I’d like to thank Sam Heathcote who tirelessly organises these events, which really are amazing, all the bands and musicians, the sound techs, the venue staff, photographers and volunteers…without this selfless team there could be no event.

In memory of Mike Carter …For One Mike Only.

Review by Janet Harding

Photography By Christabel

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