Cupids take aim on future

IN conversation . . . Jake Fletcher with Simon Smedley

ARMED with a clutch of new tunes, a great video and now under new management, Oldham leading lights Cupids are gearing up for an exciting next stage of their career development.

The increasingly popular four-strong band of ace tunesters - Jake Fletcher, Sid Cooper, James Cardus and Ryan Comac ­- look set to create a stir this year as they continue their steady progression.

Guitarist, keys star and vocalist Fletcher told the Chronicle: "We've got a couple of releases in the pipeline for springtime hopefully, and we want to build a tour around the next release.

Product

"We've got a video ready for the first single - in fact, that's been done for the past year, really.

"We've been sitting on it, but it is really good and we really want people to see it now.

"Lots of people are asking about when stuff is coming out, but we have learned from the past that it is important that you don't just release so you're then busy trying to recoup money or get back in the studio quicker.

"We're trying to line all our ducks up and get the finished product ready to just bang out one after the other.

"The focus is clearer now. We are doing the same thing, but it seems to be more streamlined. Our new management ­- George and Terry - are just saying 'look, go away, rehearse right and just do what we do'.

"The other boring stuff can make you feel a bit deflated, so we're all really excited about the future again now.

"We've got a new rehearsal room at Sub Pressure in Diggle, and we're ready to go. It's good up there and they've got some great bands there."

Support

As hinted above, the Cupids' management duo are currently working out what is hoped will turn into a nationwide tour and maybe a support tour or two this year, but reflecting on the back end of 2016, it really turned out to be a hugely significant few months.

The band played at the massive Brit Sound Project all-dayer in September in Trafford Park and Manchester's prestigious Neighbourhood Festival.

Then came the call to support none other than 1990s chart superstars Ocean Colour Scene at the Manchester Apollo, Hammersmith Apollo and Liverpool Olympia in early December.

The Manchester Apollo must have seemed like a world away from his early gigs at the Go-Go Club at Oldham's Royal Oak pub for Fletcher, who added: "They (OCS) needed a band to open, and it was a no-brainer for us.

"We were supposed to be recording that weekend, but we couldn't really turn Steve Craddock down," he added.

"As Cupids, I'd probably say those three gigs were the best ever.

"The Paul Weller ones (in the band's former Gramotones guise) were good because of the sheer size of the venues - certainly the Warwick Castle one a couple of years ago was just daft big.

"I think there were 9,000 people in there for that one, but as far as theatre gigs go, they were brilliant.

"I've done theatre stuff before, and they're just lovely to play.

"I know Paul Weller doesn't necessarily like arenas, but he loves theatres. I can see why.

"We perform miles better in these kind of slightly bigger venues. It just helps us up our game, while we're also more relaxed because there's room and of course the sound is so much better."

Fletcher certainly placed a big tick on his list when he stepped out at the legendary Ardwick haunt.

"For me personally it was brilliant," he added.

"I've seen so many people there, so it was nice due to the history that goes with the place.

"My mate Jimmy took a picture of me from side-stage as we were playing, stood in exactly the same spot that Paul McCartney had stood when the Beatles played there in 1963 when the invasion first happened.

"It was so good to just look up at the balcony. I recognised every bit of it, but seeing it from the stage view was really nice. Surprisingly it was really busy when we went on, on the night, and it was standing at the front, so people were right up close.

"Seating gigs can be a bit sterile in comparison.

"Stages like that are a doddle to play, too. The sound is brilliant of course.

"We had 10 minutes to sound check, which is still more than ample for us, and it was perfect straight away."

Watch out for Cupids' tour and release news on the band's Twitter and Facebook pages.