The time is right

STEVE HOLT

MUSIC EXTRA: AFTER almost 20 years away, Steve Holt’s “other project” — the Rainkings — is about to hit the live scene once again.

Oldham will be the stage for the band’s first official appearance in more than two decades, when the Rainkings headline Mick Harwood’s new monthly showcase night — Oldham Rocks — at Jackson’s Pit on June 11.

Current Inspiral Carpets’ front-man Holt, who hails from Chadderton, first formed the Rainkings back in the late 1980s. He and fellow former Carpet Dave Swift featured in a line-up which was busy gigging and recording until they went their separate ways towards the end of 1994.

After Tom Hingley’s rather acrimonious departure, Holt returned to the Carpets in 2011 and has since enjoyed touring and recording success. But in 2013 the Rainkings also reformed, in the shape of Holt, guitarist Swift, drummer John Rowland, bassist Cathy Brooks and keys man Paul Williams. They released “Another Time” - remixed original material from 1989-94 - before the new “Fiveways” EP last year.

“Low hit”, “Getting nowhere”, “Nothing’s Set in Stone”, “In from the Rain” and “By My Side” went down a storm with fans old and new, but still the Rainkings resisted playing a live show.

The plan was to try and hit the stage towards the end of last year, but the Carpets’ hectic schedule and back and shoulder problems for Rowland put paid to that.

With Kev Jackson now having replaced the unfortunate Rowland on drums, the Rainkings are ready to rock again in June.

Explaining the reason why Jackson’s was chosen for the big return, Holt said: “Mick Harwood is a good friend of mine and Dave’s, and we knew for quite a while he’d been trying to get something going in Oldham.

“He’s doing a great job, he’s really keen to get the scene moving again. There are loads of great young bands coming through, so to help Mick try and get it all going again we agreed to play.

“The gig will help us too. It’ll help us get used to one another again after all these years, so yes, let’s go for it. We’re also looking at the possibility of an invite-only warm-up gig before June 11, and we are looking at other dates after Jackson’s.”

Holt is excited at the prospect of the Rainkings’ resurgence, adding: “We’ve been rehearsing this year and it’s sounding brilliant to be honest. We’re trying to line a couple of things up, but it is all new because we’ve not played live in around 20 years, and as this line-up, never. It’s been crying out for us to come back, though. The time is right.

“Unfortunately things had to go on hold as things went wrong with John, and of course I was busy with the Inspirals, but there was quite a lot of interest in the ‘Fiveways’ EP so I think it is about time we did something live now. We need to be busier.”

There are plans to record further new material, too.

Holt added: “We’ve written four new songs that we’re going to try and fit in the set at some point, and as for recording, that’s definitely part of the plan. It’d be great to release something this year.

“There’s no firm plans on that at present, but we definitely want to record something new.”

For more information, check out the Rainkings Facebook page.

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