Wirral rockers The Clan playing rare local gig at The Ridger in Newton this week

Feb 6 2013 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

HOMEGROWN rockers The Clan are coming home this week – six months after their last Wirral appearance.

The band, who released a Slade-inspired festive single at Christmas, have been busy gigging up and down the country with their brand of feel-good rock ‘n’ roll.

They will be back in Wirral on Friday (February 9) to play at The Ridger in Newton.

The Clan originally formed in 2010 to play songs from guitarist Craig McDonald’s solo album, but later became a band in their own right.

Craig, from Saughall Massie, said: “We are often being asked when we are going to play locally but the simple fact of the matter is that we are so busy elsewhere that arranging a local slot is difficult.

“We would love to play more often for the people of Wirral and show them what we can do, but somehow it

hasn’t transpired.

“So we’re taking this opportunity of showing what the other venues are missing.”

The band – Craig plus Wallasey’s Jim Coucher on drums and bass player Steve Farquhar – now have over 300 gigs under their belts including two festival appearances at Cambridge Rock.

Craig said: “It’s nothing new that a band is less well known in its locality than the rest of the country, so we don’t get too hung up about it.

“Wherever we play whether it may be in West Kirby or Warwick we actually care about putting on a show, raising spirits and just hope that everyone goes home happy.”

The Clan play classic rock covers and some of their own material, influenced by the bands they grew up with like T.Rex, Slade and The Sweet.

As a follow up to their Christmas single, they are planning to release a series of new songs to refresh their set. The band are booked into Liverpool’s prestigious Parr Street Studios next month to start recording the new material.

l See The Clan at The Ridger, China Farm Lane, from 9pm.

Visit www.clan-rock.com