8:00am Friday 12th January 2007
By Stephen Abbott
Chiswick might not be well known for its indie music scene but it should be.
In fact, there's a live gig night held at a local pub on the first Sunday of each month that has become so popular that even Hollywood A-listers have trouble getting in.
Blue Flowers, organised by local lads Chris Pearson and Richard Brown, was launched back in September 2004 and now regularly draws hundreds of punters to the George IV pub on Chiswick High Road.
Established with a mission to "save the state of live music in west London", the night - named after a Doctor Octagon song - has developed an enviable reputation for being the place to check out some of the best new music around.
Over a drink at the Raven pub near Stamford Brook station, Chris, 23, who does A&R work for Universal Publishing by day, explains why the pair launched the night.
"We were always moaning about how rubbish live music was around west London, how there were no decent gigs - or any kind of gigs," he recalls. "We were literally walking back from the gym ... and then just went to the George IV there and then. They offered us a Sunday and we thought, Yeah, why not?' "It was the first time we had ever done something like that, and it was a bit difficult. No one would go out to a gig in Chiswick. But then our name started to get about and it developed quite nicely from there."
Each month, Chris and Richard - who have known each other all their lives and used to be in a band, Shiver - line up three or four acts who perform intimate acoustic or stripped-down sets in front of around 150 people.
Chris says: "I go out looking for hot bands and bring them to Chiswick. It's kind of a blessing being in an area where nothing else is going on because they want to reach audiences in different areas of London. But that's the beauty of our club. People come to see the next big thing."
Kate Nash (myspace.com/katenashmusic) - whose songs include Caroline is a victim and Merry Happy - is one of the Blue Flowers artists who says she loves the "really warm atmosphere" of the gigs. "It is a great night to perform at," she says. "All the guys running it are really into their music and it's got a very folky feel. Lots of guitars. Perfect stuff for a Sunday evening."
She also felt that "nights like Blue Flowers are so important to help start up and coming artists' careers. They give you the platform and also the hope that people are actually interested in spending a bit of time on what you're writing/performing. It shows that there is demand for good quality music."
Another musician, London indie folkster Jeremy Walmsley (jeremywarmsley.com) also had great memories of playing the night back in 2005 alongside Twickenham's Larrikin Love, with one of the Larrikin boys' mums playing spoons on stage.
Other bands featuring over the last year may not be chart toppers yet, but some of the stars of tomorrow are likely to come from amongst their ranks.
The careers of acts such as Jamie T, from Wimbledon, have skyrocketed after appearances at Blue Flowers.
"We were one of the first people to put him on," Chris says.
Less than 18 months after first gracing the stage in the George IV, Jamie (jamie-t.com) is selling out gigs at London's Astoria and has a new album due out later this month.
Other Blue Flowers acts such as Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Laura Marling and Vincent Vincent (correct) & The Villains look set to do well.
And local talent is up there too. Bobby Cook hails from Hounslow, Tom Hatred is from Chiswick and Air Hammer call Isleworth home.
"We've got a little scene going on round here," Chris says. "But we like to bring bands in from all over."
Has the success of Blue Flowers come as a surprise? It is now very popular with talent scouts - one was once even heard to say he liked one of the artists "but couldn't sign another Blue Flowers band".
Chris seems unfazed. "When you work really hard at something, it's more of a relief than surprise when it goes well. There's nowhere else in London that you can find a night like it. I don't want to blow my own trumpet, but the vibe's really good and real."
By far the biggest Blue Flowers night so far was their triumphant second anniversary gig last September when Jamie T returned to play again and the George IV was graced with the presence of Hollywood royalty.
"It was packed that night," Chris says, still shaking his head in amazement. "Someone turned up from Switzerland! And they couldn't get in. Someone else came from Glasgow and couldn't get in.
"Then someone came up to me and said, You're not going to believe this, but Kevin Spacey is outside at the bar and he's having trouble getting in.' So I literally went around and had a look and he was there.
"I couldn't believe it. I took him to the front of the queue and everyone started chatting about him. At the end of the night, he rode off on his bike, getting chased by young kids screaming Kevin!' It's a legendary story."
It later transpired, Chris reveals, that the film star had come to see one of the acts, Johnny Flynn, perform as the singer is also a budding actor who was in a production at the Old Vic, where Mr Spacey is artistic director.
Despite the night's popularity, Chris says the organisers makes very little money out of the venture.
"We just get door money and we've got to pay the artists. But it's not really about making the money, it's just about building a reputation for putting on good nights."
But, luckily, they haven't even had to do much advertising to get sell-out crowds in each month.
"We've built it up quite a lot through word of mouth," he says. "Every time people come down, they've always liked it. And there has been a nice little range of artists."
The internet - and especially social networking site Myspace.com - has also been vital to Blue Flowers' growth.
"Myspace has been a big thing. One: for discovering artists and contacting them about playing. And, secondly, for advertising. Everyone is on Myspace and everyone checks their Myspace at least once a week, if not every day. People are able to access music a lot easier now and find out about these things ... and it's the easiest way to get in touch with people."
So who will be the biggest Next Big Thing', according to the Blue Flowers boys? Jack Penate - whose rockabilly style and crazy dancing has led to rave reviews in the national press, landed him on the front page of Dazed & Confused and seen him on tour with Lily Allen - will do well in 2007, Chris says, adding: "He has just had a single which sold out and he's getting Radio 1 loads."
But Chris also reckons that smooth-voiced singer-songwriter Adele could do even better. "She played last week and made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck."
And as for Blue Flowers, it's just set to get bigger and better. "We've conquered Chiswick," Chris says with a twinkle in his eye. "We want to always keep it a west London thing to keep it to its roots. But this coming year we really want to make it a lot bigger. My ultimate goal - and it's a bit far-off - is to have a TV show like a Jools Holland-type thing."
That may seem far-fetched now but for someone who has single-handedly resurrected live music in Chiswick it'll probably be a walk in the park.
- The next Blue Flowers will be held on Sunday February 4.
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