Moray rockers New Mode ready for support slot on Complete Stone Roses vs Oasis tribute night at Elgin Town Hall
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NEW Mode have been rocking Moray music venues to the core, and the rising four-piece are preparing to thrill close on a thousand revellers at their biggest gig yet.
The Moray indie/alternative rockers will fill the support slot at the Complete Stone Roses vs Oasis concert at Elgin Town Hall on Saturday.
It will be the pinnacle of an exciting 12 months for the Mode boys since creating a new line-up, recording a series of songs and videos and taking their music across the country and even south of the border.
Formed four years ago by singer Ross Campbell (24), from Burghead, and lead guitarist Aaron Christie (28), from Elgin, the band initially found progress hard to come by due to work and commitments of the original members.
The two founder members had started performing at open mic nights in Craigellachie to give them the confidence to play in front of people.
Just over a year ago, Elgin-based drummer Craig Howard (25) and bassist Elwyn Hughes (38), from Lossiemouth, were recruited and a line-up with a shared passion and determination to succeed was put in place.
"Since we got Craig and Elwyn it’s finally taken that leap forward that we needed," said Campbell. "Now we are riding it out and seeing where it leads to."
Perhaps it's fitting that an Oasis tribute band is headlining New Mode's biggest night on Saturday, as the music of the Gallagher brothers has been an inspiration to the Moray group and played a part in their current line-up being formed.
Bassist Hughes explained: "Aaron and I met one day in the pub and just got chatting. It was just through a love for Oasis, he said he liked them and they are my favourite band ever.
"They needed a bass player but nothing ever happened. Then a year ago they messaged me, asking me if I would join."
The Oasis connection doesn't stop there, as years before Hughes once sold a Dig Out Your Soul boxset to a buyer from Burghead, and it was only when the new line-up was formed that he realised singer Campbell was the one who had bought his Oasis album.
It soon became apparent that the new line-up had a chemistry and a shared passion to make their band venture succeed.
"With all four of us playing the same ball game, guided by the same influences it just seems to flow," Campbell added. "Somebody will have an idea and before you know it, by the end of the night you’ve got a finished song.
Hughes said: "One of us will come in with a riff or a little melody and all four of us will put something into it and it becomes a song."
The group may be fans of Oasis and the Stone Roses, but drummer Howard is driven by the rock rhythms of AC/DC, with a brand new tattoo influences by Aussie legends emblazoned down his band and set to be on show at this weekend's gig.
New Mode been working tirelessly to produce their own material, with an array of songs borne from various influences now available to listen to on major platforms like iTunes and Spotify.
Recordings like 'The Ryder' and 'Rolling Stone' were made at Magic Box Studios in Dundee, with more recordings planned for this year.
Saturday's support slot isn't the only big event for the Moray rockers, who have also earned a slot at the Steel Town Festival in Consett, Durham at the end of August, as well as July dates in Manchester and Glasgow.
