A (not very) brief history of Sheepish

[Paul]

A (not very) brief history of Sheepish:


2000 around Easter:
Paul & Jamie start DJing at the existing Sunday Club, which has run under various names at the Phono for as long as anyone can remember. The name "The Sunday Club" was a legal entity (private members club) which allowed the Phono to circumvent the then existing drinking laws and open on a Sunday. The night is "informally" renamed Black Sheep, although is still legally know as "The Sunday Club"!

2001 around November:
Black Sheep gets it's own website, and thus history begins to be recorded!

2001 - 11 - 11:
Black Sheep runs a joint night with Black Lodge (the Uni's predecessor to Wendyhouse).

2001 - 11 - 25:
Howard from Carpe does his first guest slot. Many years later he'll become a Friday Flock resident.

2001 around December:
Black Sheep mascot Shaun goes "cyber".

Throughout 2001:
There were guest DJs from Black Lodge, Black Veil, BlackOut, Carpe Noctum, The Chosen and Dead Stars, not to mention Nightbreed Records. Which probably covered just about every goth night in area at the time!

2002:
The "Sunday Club" membership forms were refined with a proper membership survey being done... which would probably make fascinating reading if anyone knew where they were! The old membership photos would probably be worth a laugh too.

2002 sometime before April:
Jamie moves to Harrogate and steps down as a resident DJ.

2002 in April:
BlackOut in Harrogate closes, Implant in Huddersfield opens (later to move to Manchester). Guest DJs from both events have sets at Black Sheep.

2002 - 04 - 29:
http://www.sheepish.net arrives! The Black Sheep site moves off the Phono's server onto it's own domain

2002 - 05 - 13:
After a year of dominating the Phono's "Ezboard" affair, Black Sheep gets it's own forum.

2002 - 10 - 14:
After months of trouble http://www.sheepish.net moves to a decent webhost!

2002 - 11 - 10:
After much cajoling, guest DJ's setlists start to be recorded in the forums, along with occasional setlists from the whole night.

2003 - 04 - 03 (Easter Sunday)
The first "proper" Bank Holiday special (running from 7pm through to 2am), it's Black Sheep's longest and busiest night to date.

2003 - 05 - 11:
The first ever Black Sheep gig night! Black Sheep moves to the Bassment for the night and features Screaming Banshee Aircrew playing live! The gig is free entry to Sunday Club members.

2003 - 05 - 25:
After the success of the Easter special Black Sheep runs another extended Bank holiday special

2003 - 07 - 04:
The Phono is changing around it's Fridays and has one free night before the new clubnights start. Fired on by the success of the Bank Holiday specials, "Friday Flock" is created as a one-off Black Sheep special. Friday Flock runs from 9pm - 3am with the Phono virtually at capacity!

2003 - 09 - 07:
Back to the Bassment for the second Black Sheep gig night, from now on gigs would become roughly monthly:
Screaming Banshee Aircrew + Psychophile

2003 - 09 - 28:
Little Match Girl + Zeitgeist Zero

2003 - 12 - 14:
All Living Fear + Zombina & The Skeletones

2004 - 02 - 06:
"Thank Flock It's Friday" aka Friday Flock launches! Six months on from the one-off Flock and the Phono is looking for a new night to fill the now vacant first Friday. Initially pencilled in for a four month run, Friday Flock exceeds expectations and becomes a regular monthly night.

2004 - 02 - 29:
First proper "free to all" free Black Sheep gig:
Skinflick

2004 - 03 - 28:
Season's End (free gig)

2004 - 04 - 11:
Disaster! The Phono management screw up the licence renewal and the Easter Special is cancelled!

2004 - 05 - 02:
Vampire Division (Inkubus Sukkubus side-project)

2004 - May:
May 7th-9th is declared the "West Yorkshire Goth Weekender", featuring an incentuous mix of Friday Flock, Carpe Noctum and Black Sheep residents DJing at each other's nights.

2004 - 05 - 30:
The Ghost Of Lemora + Screaming Banshee Aircrew

2004 - 06 - 27:
First joint event in association with Heartland:
The Sisters Of Murphy

2004 - 09 - 05:
DeathBoy + Caffeine Kill

2004 - 08 - 26:
Cauda Pavonis

2004 - 10 - 10:
Devilish Presley (free gig)

2004 - 11 - 07:
Conspiracy + Uncle Fester (ex Alien Sex Fiend)

2004 - 11 - 28:
Rhombus (free gig)

2004 - 12 - 05:
Ultraviolence's management independently organise and promote a gig (with help from Black Sheep) and then pull out without letting the venue know. It's the only gig to date (2008) that's been cancelled.

2005 - 01 - 23:
The Ghost Of Lemora

2005 - 02 - 04:
Start of the "Anniversary Weekender" celebrating Friday Flock's first birthday and Heartland's third. This is the busiest Friday Flock ever at the Phono, with the venue significantly over-capacity,

2005 - 02 - 06:
The Sisters Of Murphy

2005 - 02 - 13:
Zeitgiest Zero (free gig) - album launch party for Zeitgiest Zero's debut album, featuring a live perfomance from the band.

2005 - 02 - 27:
Psychophile + Systemyk

2005 - 03 - 13:
Faces Of Sarah

2005 - 03 - 27:
The final Easter Special at the Phono is a typically busy and raucous affair.

2005 - 04 - 10:
Devilish Presley + The Way Of All Flesh

2005 - 05 - 01:
Killing Miranda + Screaming Banshee Aircrew + Action Directe
The first of two Bank Holiday specials in May 2005, this is by far the busiest Black Sheep ever, although it's a record that won't last the month out.

2005 - 05 - 29:
NFD (ex-Fields Of The Nephilim) + Mist Of Avalon:
Breaks the record for the busiest Black Sheep and Paul breaks his arm, running the night delirious on painkillers.

2005 - 06 - 12:
DeathBoy + Deviant

2005 - 07 - 24:
Misnomer + Trauma Pet
This is intended to be the final live event on a Sunday night, for a variety of reasons, but mostly due to the poor state of the Bassment and general lack of organisation in the venue which had become progressively worse over the year. It had become the norm to find equipment missing or broken and while there was never a problem that couldn't be worked around, it was becoming evident that it was only a matter of time before something went seriously wrong.

2005 - 09 - 01:
Killing Miranda + Screaming Banshee Aircrew + Zeitgeist Zero + The Way Of All Flesh
First Sheepish gig at Joseph's Well
The decision to end the Bassment gigs had been made sometime around May and Joseph's Well had been approached as an aternative. It's a predictably busy (Saturday) night and running gigs at the Well is a dream compared to the chaos of the Bassment.

2005 - 09 - 07:
Friday Flock kicks off "Black Oktober", another joint weekend with Heartland.

2005 - 09 - 09:
James Ray Presents Peru 4080 + The Sisters Of Murphy + Rhombus
The final Sheepish gig at the Bassment is a busy but chaotic affair, with James Ray's performance becoming the stuff of legend.

2005 - 12 - 18:
The final Black Sheep at the Phono
Although the truth of the Phono closing will probably never be told in full, which the doors finally closed in December 2005 it caught many people by suprise, although some of the promoters (including Sheepish) knew that it was a distinct possibility. So Black Sheep didn't have a "proper" final night, but it went out in style with an extended Christmas special. More by luck than design, the last night at the Phono featured all of the Sheepish resident DJs (past and present) on the decks: Paul, Jamie, Simon, Howard and Jack.

2006 - 01 - 08:
The Sunday Goth Social begins.
If the Phono had stayed open, the next Black Sheep (due to Christmas/New Year) would have been on Sunday 8th January. And thus it was that a "temporary" replacement was created, called "The Sunday Goth Social", in the Cellar bar of the George, while a suitable venue could be found for Black Sheep. The Cellar bar had previous been used for the joint Heartland dos and while serviceable was not deemed suitable for Black Sheep itself. The Social was run by Jack who was also the resident DJ, although the general format (including weekly guests) remained the same as for Black Sheep.

2006 - 04 - 14:
Friday Flock starts at The Mixing Tin
Screaming Banshee Aircrew play live
The Mixing Tin had already been scouted at as a potential live venue, so it was an obvious first port of call when the Phono closed. The return of Flock was confirmed in the first week of January, but had to wait until April to allow for an uninterrupted run. As it was, the return of Flock was a victim of it's own success, with around 300 people turning up to a venue with only 220 capacity.

2006 - 06 - 24:
Bad Wisdom at the Fleece.
"Bad Wisdom" is a free goth night at a pub on the outskirts of Leeds, featuring up to 8 DJs playing half an hour each of their favourite tracks. Despite the location the night is an unexpected success, and another two Bad Wisdoms are squeezed in before October's changes.


2006 - 07 - 14:
The Sisters Of Murphy play before Friday Flock

2006 - September (?):
One off Black Sheep special at the Adelphi.

2006 - 09 - 08:
Spares play before Friday Flock

2006 - October:
The lease for the Bassment has been bought by one of the old Friday Flock regulars and is now known as the Subculture. From October Friday Flock moves to the new venue but also continues at the Mixing Tin as "Friday Flock Live" - a new regular gig night.

2006 - 10 - 06:
First Friday Flock at the Subculture

2006 - 10 - 08:
Amphetamine Logic launches - a new monthly "trad" night jointly run by Heartland and Sheepish on a Sunday at the Subculture.

2006 - 10 - 13:
First "Friday Flock Live" features Psydoll + Zeitgeist Zero + Schmoof + Cybercide.

2006 - 11 - 10:
FFL: Voices Of Masada + Rome Burns

2006 - December:
The first "Woolstock" is a three day event with eight bands playing live: Inkubus Sukkubus, NFD, Ghost Of Lemora, Zombina & The Skeletones, The Way Of All Flesh, Zeitgeist Zero, Lesbian Bed Death and Rhombus.

2007 - 01 - 12:
Cybercide play live at "Red Shift", a one-off "bleep" night instead of FFL.

2007 - 01 - 14:
The final Amphetamine Logic.

2007 - 01 - 21:
The final Sunday Goth Social.

2007 - 01 - 28:
After a year in the wilderness Black Sheep finally returns, initially for a five week run at the Subculture, although it's very quickly confirmed as ongoing. Black Sheep is back to being every Sunday night and is now free entry. Inevitably this means the end of Amphetamine Logic and the Sunday Goth Social.

2007 - 02 - 09:
FFL: Deviant + DeathBoy + Trauma Pet + Novus
Since the venue changed hands there had been continual problems with both the PA and the door policy. It is planned to end the gig nights in March, however in the end it is mutually agreed that venue will promote the March gig itself. Thus this becomes the final Friday Flock Live.

2007 - 03 - 08:
The first Bank Holiday Special at the Subculture features guest DJs from Batfink, Carpe Noctum and Sin City, plus Rikky from Killing Miranda... it's another exceptionally busy night.

2007 - 05 - 27:
First gig at the Subculture: Uberbyte + Action Directe + Schmoof

2007 - July:
The second Woolstock features another eight bands playing live: Killing Miranda, Skeletal Family, Screaming Banshee Aircrew, Cauda Pavonis, Pro-jekt, Rome Burns, Solemn Novena and Pink Hearse.

2007 - 08 - 05:
The Sisters Of Murphy play their 10th Anniversary gig as part of another joint Heartland weekender. Support comes from Rhombus.

2007 - 09 - 07:
The venue decide to rearrange their current clubnights and Friday Flock is offered second Saturdays of the month, although obviously this necessitates a name change! One of the conditions is that the night is promoted as a more general alternative night and a new name, Transmission, is chosen. As a result this is billed as the "Final Flock", however the name change and redirection (however slight) is not universally welcomed!

2007 - 09 - 23:
Showcase: Zeitgeist Zero + The Way Of All Flesh + Momento Mori
The first "Sheepish Showcase" and the first free sheepish gig since the Bassment days. It's an unprecedentedly busy night and features Momento Mori's debut gig since reforming.

2007 - 10 - 13:
New clubnight Transmission launches with one of the busiest nights since the days of the Phono. The club is preceded by a live performance from a Joy Division tribute act, also called Transmission, organised by the venue.

2007 - 12 - 23:
The Black Sheep Christmas Special features a free gig from Rhombus, jointly organised by the band and venue.

2008 - February/March:
Black Sheep enjoys a run of special guest DJs from the Wendyhouse, Heartland, Carpe Noctum and the Sunday Goth Social.

2008 - May/June:
The third Woolstock is a massive three day affair featuring no less than 13 bands.
Day 1: XP8 + Modulate + UberByte + Action Directe + Novus UK
Day 2: Inkubus Sukkubus + Uninvited Guest + Corrosion + RazorBladeKisses
Day 3: Manuskript + Zeitgeist Zero + Spares + Dyonisis

2008 - 06 - 08:
Lahannya play before Transmission.

2008 - 08 - 07:
Abigail's Mercy + Mourning For Autumn play before Transmission.
It is generally agreed that Transmission isn't as good as Friday Flock and the decision is made to bring Flock back from September. Therefore this is the last Transmission. Ironically it's the busiest of the year and possibly the whole run!

2008 - 09 - 05:
Rome Burns + Violet Vortex play before Friday Flock
Friday Flock returns after a year off with a staggeringly busy night, preceeded by an equally successful gig. Around this time Sheepish boldly ventures onto Facebook for the first time. From now on all gigs will have their own Facebook event.

2008 - 09 - 28
Showcase: Cybercide + Trashcanmann
Apparently now an annual event, the free Showcase night is once again run in conjunction with the Leeds Gothic Society.

2008 - 11 - 07
Screaming Banshee Aircrew + Legion play before Friday Flock

2008 - 12 - 08
Modulate + ESA play before Friday Flock

2009 - 02 - 06
Cybercide + Resist play before Friday Flock

2009 - 03 - 06
Rhombus + Abigail's Mercy play before Friday Flock

2009 - 04 - 03
Zeitgeist Zero + Blind Before Dawn play before Friday Flock

2009 - 05 - 01
Inkubus Sukkubus (acoustic) + Rome Burns (acoustic) play before Friday Flock
Exclusive one-off acoustic sets from Inkubus Sukkubus and Rome Burns.

2009 - 06 - 05
Grooving In Green (ex-Children On Stun) + Legion play before Friday Flock

2009 - 07 - 03
Screaming Banshee Aircrew + Luxury Stranger play before Friday Flock

2009 - 08 - 07
Dyonisis + Violet Vortex play before Friday Flock

2009 - 08 - 30
Black Sheep Bank Holiday Special featuring Uberbyte + Pro-jekt + V2A + Mandro1d

2009 - 09 - 04
The last ever Sisters Of Murphy gig is a riotous affair making the September Flock one of the busiest ever, possibly only beaten by the exclusive Inkies gig earlier in the year.

2009 - 09 - 27
The third annual Sheepish Showcase features Luxury Stranger + Capital X + Legion

2009 - 11 - 06
Cybercide + The Volatile Gentlemen play before Friday Flock

2009 - 12 - 14
Rome Burns + The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing (ex-Creaming Jesus) play before Friday Flock

2010 - 01 - 08
Unusually Flock is on the second Friday of the month to avoid the inevitable NYE hangover. Mandro1d play beforehand.

[Paul]

I found this the other week when I was looking for something on my old hard-drive, I don't actually remember doing it (although it may have been on the old forum) but being bored at work I thought I'd bring it up to date. If nothing else it's useful for me to have all the old gig dates in one place!

There are a few things I'm unsure of though... specifically whether we had support bands on any of there dates:

2004 - 05 - 02
2004 - 08 - 26
2005 - 01 - 23
2005 - 03 - 13

Oh, if there are any other errors please let me know!

[Paul]

As I've clearly got nothing better to do I've updated this as well!

[Paul]

updated again!

[Paul]

updated again!

[akasha]

I've never really read this thread before but now I've read it I feel very very old ... Cheers for that Paul!!

[Mister Vodka]

I can't believe I've been doing this for so long.

[akasha]

Me either but I can still pass for 20-something so that virgin blood must be doing some good