Spartan Rock Band

Back @ The Travellers Rest

2010-02-28T09:21:00.003Z

Welcome Back, John and Karen
It was great to be asked to play at the Travellers Rest again, and being asked to play for John and Karen was the icing on the cake.The have been a big part of the Spartan Army since our very first year, and offered us the chance to play for them following their return to The Travellers Rest.It's great to have them back ,putting music back on the map in Burnopfield.
we also got a chance to use our new , more portable backdrop last night and it saved us so much time, that we could relax a bit more before playing.
We had a great night and would like to say welcome back John and Karen, here's to many more

The Star and The Fellsider

2010-02-07T10:00:00.002Z

Just a few words about the last two gigs that we have played, We were at the Star on Jan 31st and had another great afternoon of Rock, we were joined on stage for a few songs by a Mystery guest saxophone player and this brought some new 'vibes' to Chance, Dancing in the Moonlight and Alright Now.We had a great time and the Hamster managed to make it on time to the gig after finishing work at 3pm to be onstage at 4pm, his little legs must have been working hard that day....
The 6th saw us at the Fellsider for a return visit, Phil was sporting a new mike stand, but Kev was not so lucky as he had to do the gig topless( well his mike stand had no top)and even after a search of nearly half an hour he still could not find it.
We met some great people at both of these gigs and would also like to thank the managers and all the staff and customers at both gigs for all the support.

Come on Kev.......

2010-01-03T10:45:00.002Z

Get a Grip..
Market Tavern Dec 31st......
You all know the score you get the car to with in 10 feet of the venue, then loose all grip to the tyres and start to roll back at a very fast speed.Then the trailer jack-knifes and you are left stuck fast wedged into a bank of snow,and that's before you even start playing.
Thanks to the all the customers who helped us take the gear into the Tavern ( up a slippery bank of ice) and after that heart stopping moment it's was a welcome break for Kev to be on solid ground but it was quite fun hearing him swear as we flew backwards down the road..
We had a Fantastic time as usual at the Market Tavern and being invited to play at New Year's Eve was a big thing for us as we love the atmosphere in this place and always feel at home at this great venue.

Spartan would like to say a big
'Thank you to everyone who has supported us in 2009,
and hope to see you all soon in 2010'

Testing..Testing....1..2..3

2009-11-08T09:44:00.003Z

Alive...Alive...Alive
Spartan back after a brief 4 week absence, and we were at the Black Bull last nite.As you can tell from the above photo we had a bit of trouble with Kev's microphone on the night.We had just started our second song and we hit with a barrage of white noise from the dodgy mic,after a quick 'hamster' intervention and some Gaffa tape, we tried again.
These problems do occur during live gigs, and you never know when these minor things will rear their ugly little heads.But we did not let this hamper the evening and we had a ball( as usual)
We would just like to say thanks for all the support and the kind words over the last 4 weeks, as Kev had been struck down with a mystery illness that caused him to loose his voice, and last night was a very trying time for Kev.But anyone who did n't know this would not have noticed any difference from his usual standard of 110%
Well done Kev, you really did us proud.....again

Poor Kev......

2009-10-31T09:46:00.002Z

Spartan Singer struck down...
All of us at Spartan Central would like to wish Kev a speedy recovery, not to go into any detail, but he has had a very severe chest infection with caused the loss of his voice.Spartan always try to fulfill every commitment to bookings but Kev was so ill that he lost his voice and was advised to take a complete break from any singing and some talking by his doctor.
I'm sure you will join Gazza, Mick and Phil in wishing him a very speedy recovery
Get Well Soon, Kev.....

Rose and Crown

2009-10-18T10:03:00.002+01:00

Back with a Bang
After a brief rest Spartan are back on the road, this was our first gig after our rest period, and we could have not wanted to play anywhere else.The Rose and Crown in Winlaton made us feel so welcome and very much at home.
We had to wait for the match to end before bringing in all the gear and tried to get set up, but after a couple of weeks off you do forget some of the strangest things ?
Spartan would like to thank Karen who's local knowledge was a real blessing due to Kev forgetting his supply of bottled water, she ran off to the local shops to bring some back for him ( and some Hob-nobs too ).
We had a great nite at the Rose and Crown and for those of you who did n't get to the gig you missed three new songs, two of which we had only learnt a week ago, needless to say they will be appearing in the set at future gigs.
We cannot thank the management and staff at the Rose and Crown enough, you made us feel so welcome and it was a pleasure to be able to play for you during your week long anniversary celebrations,and we will see you again soon.

Saturday's Alright for...... Bite - ing

2009-09-27T10:05:00.003+01:00

Life is never easy , and gigging is just as difficult..sometimes.
During our welcome return to one of the bands fave pubs The Market Tavern we had a bit of a technical fault with our new smoke machine.We tried to sort out the problem but realised that we had a break in the remote cable , which meant we could n't get it to work...
So in stepped the Spartan Multi tool ( in the form of Kev)who disappeared with the control and returned 2 minutes later after chomping through the cable and re-connecting the offending wires and to our surprise it worked perfectly...till the end of the gig.
We had another great night at the Tavern , and we are really looking forward to celebrating the New Year at the Tavern this coming December 31st.

Thanks once again for another great night...

Wot a great afternoon

2009-09-21T08:46:00.002+01:00

Trying to play a gig in Newcastle during the great north run ,was going to be a bit more difficult than usual.Transport was a big issue and parking was to be the second one.
After a few alteration to our travel plans we managed to get to the Star and prepare for an afternoon of rock.And for all the early birds who were in the venue they got to hear a very rough version of a new song we are dabbling with.
We love to play at the Star and would like to say a big Thank-you to all the staff, DJ Chris, and all the customers and a special thanks you to all the attenders from the Monday Night Rock Show( especially Lil Crystal, at her first Spartan gig)
We had yet another great afternoon at the Star, and cannot wait to be back there.......

Chambers Rock Night

2009-09-14T09:37:00.002+01:00

Mick 'The Stick' goes Solo
Even getting to gigs is now becoming an event in it's own right.Mick tried his hand at a solo project on Friday, everyone else had turned up to Chambers except for Mick, who casually strolled into the venue and told us he had been waiting up the road outside a different pub ready to bring his gear in.Well needless to say after a quick relocation we started setting up , and all of us in the same pub, Chambers in Morpeth.
As it was our first time in Chambers we did not know what to expect ?
It was one of the best nights we have had , the atmosphere was great, Baz ( D.J.) made us feel so welcome, and the staff and the customers were truly fantastic. Spartan would just like to thank Baz, Brian and all the staff for their hospitality and we hope to see you all again soon( hint,hint)

Harperley Music Festival

2009-09-11T09:06:00.002+01:00

The Grand Total
I just received this email and felt we had to share the news with you all.......

'I just wanted to thank you all for performing at the Harperley Music Festival in aid of Cancer Research UK. Everyone really enjoyed it, we have had a lot of positive feedback.

Because it went so well we are already thinking about holding another one next year, I hope we can count on your support.

Thanks to you we raised in excess of £3000 for Cancer Research. We did n’t expect to raise such a large amount so we are all delighted with the amount and how well the event went despite the rain and mud.

Thanks again.

All the best

Bill Burgess'

Cancer Research ( Stanley )

Make a stand.........for ROCK...

2009-08-31T07:27:00.004+01:00

The gig @ the Fat Ox was one of the best we have ever done, the crowd were Fantastic, the atmosphere was intoxicating and we had an absolute blast from start to Finnish.Kev and The Hamster even dared to try something new, which saw a furry spartan bassist raised onto Kev's shoulders and paraded around the venue for all to see, but...
The night was not free from a major incident...after all the gear was loaded Kev set off in search of pizza ( a treat for a job well done)driving through Whitley Bay he caught sight of a bonny blue light in his mirror.
'What seems to be the problem officer..' said Kev, and the reply was to send a shiver down his spine 'nothing much, unless you call all your gear falling out of your trailer' were the words that hit him.Kev ran to the back of the trailer to find the back door open and the huge bag that contained all the lighting and microphone stands hanging out of the back.After a brief explanation to the police and a few apologies the gear was re-loaded and Kev now with a severe loss of appetite headed for home ,before anything else happened.
After a very quick sleep we were heading to the Three Tuns to support another local charity, and the bad luck just kept coming, Phil's guitar decided that Sunday was it's day of rest and it took him about 15 minutes to resolve it.But even this could not stop us from playing ( a slightly shorter set) but a set never the less.
All in all it was a weekend we will all remember we met some great people , saw some great bands and had a laugh at our own expense...a great weekend.

Are you the band ?

2009-08-23T20:00:00.002+01:00

A recent change in management
at the travellers rest, and the previous tenant had taken away the booking diary for the pub.So on arrival we were asked if we were the band for the evening, which was a new experience for us.
We made ourselves feel at home and started to set up, and we were ready to rock just after 9....ish.During the first set the Spartan Army was attacked by a 'Gia-normous' vampire Moth ( reports from Jo,Margaret & Karen )but it did not dare attack wor Kev, they only thing to attack Kev was a swift blow from Phil's guitar on his back which gave Kev a bit of a shock, but did improve the sound on the night.
We tried a couple for different songs on Saturday and thought we would a bit of a mix of new and old to get the party started.
Spartan would like to report that the Travellers Rest is still a great pub and we would like to thank the new management, and wish them every success with a great music venue.
Hope to see you again real soon...

A Grand Day Out.........

2009-08-16T09:47:00.002+01:00

A Twist of fate..
Fate is a very strange thing, due to the closure of the Bebside we were to have no gig this weekend, and then we had a call from the Grand Hotel who asked us to play as they had a vacant slot.
We are very pleased to report that we had a Fantastic night at the Grand, we were made to feel so welcome and while setting the gear up the place started to fill up steadily. Next thing you know it was time to do our stuff, a really receptive crowd got us in the mood from the off and we had an absolute blast ripping through the first set.
After a few alterations to our lights ( cheers ) we assaulted the second set which seemed to be over as soon as it had started, and after a couple of encores it was time to pack up and head for home.
We would just like to thank Lachlan , and also everyone who came to see us at the Grand .

Lights, Camera.........SPARTAN

2009-07-27T09:47:00.004+01:00

The Fat Ox
saw the launch of the all new spartan backdrop and lights, Kev and Garry have been trying out some new lights to bring a new edge to the Spartan gigs, and create a more 'rock' atmosphere.The Fat Ox was to be the test, and we are happy to report that they were a huge success.
The night was not free from minor troubles though, as after unpacking the drum kit Mick realised that he was a drum short.
So thanks to Greame of the Alley Cats for the lend of a tom-tom, we managed to get sorted in time and started the set.Kev dropped a few newer tunes into the set to keep us on our toes and everyone crossed their finger during 'Wayward Son' By Kansas as this was only it's second live performance.
We had a great night at the Fat Ox and were pleased to say the place was packed to the gills. Only a few weeks to go and we will be back there again at the end of August.

2009-07-21T10:16:00.001+01:00

Cancer Research 2009

2009-07-19T10:01:00.004+01:00

Like being at Glastonbury.....
Rain nearly stopped it all before it had even started, but in true British fashion the guys at Cancer Research were not going down without a fight.The bands started from 5pm with Axis, followed by Special Needz ( cheers to Scott for the lend of the gear).Then Free & Company took to the stage, after a quick set up it was time to be SPARTAN-ISED.
We had decided to go for an 'Old School' set with some good old tunes to keep the rain off, we opened with 'Tie ya mother down' and in true festival mode the crowd went wild the songs came thick and fast after that White Room, Black Night and By the way made an appearance.
The time just went and before we knew where we were it was last song time, the now Traditional 'Where's ya mamma Gone' sing along was dropped in as a segway to our last number Down to the Doctors( which we thought was to be our last) but we could not leave without at least one encore so we ended with Wishing Well.
The highlight of the gig was watching Mick climb on the back of the drum kit, only to be met by Phil climbing up the front of it which resulted a strange guitar/drumstick playing end to our set.
Spartan would like to thanks the following people for all their help on the day Bill & Jean and the Cancer Research road crew, Barry ( & the sound guys ) for making us sound great, Axsis, Special Needz, Free & Company and Floyd 2, & the Spartan Army out in full force who all played their part in raising money for such a great , under funded cause.

For a full review of the day see the link from the Cancer Research website>

The Spartan Weekender....

2009-06-29T08:12:00.002+01:00

Two amazing gigs

Friday saw our first visit to the Wardley Legion for their Rock Nite, after a bit of a delay in getting all the gear to the gig, we managed to set up and start om time.We did n't realise that it would be so hot that night, but we still managed to get into our groove and have a great night @ the Legion
We would like to thank Mad-Dog and all the crew at the Wardley Legion for making our first visit a great one, the lads were very entertained by your amazing heed-banging during Radar Love and the crutch dance was an inspiration to us all, we will see you in October to do it all again.

Saturday saw us at the Old Tannery we were wondering if the weather would put off alot of people but glad to say it did n't.We altered the set a wee bit and put in some tracks that have not see the light of day for about 6 months.As usual the Tannery made us feel right at home and the night just flew, no sooner had we started and it was time to pack up , where did the time go ?
Thanks to Gaz and all the staff at the Tannery & everyone who came out to see us over the two nights as we had a Fantastic time, and a 'Big' pat on the back to Kev for pushing out all the stops at both gigs a true professional.

The Spartan Weekender....

2009-06-08T08:28:00.002+01:00

Two gigs over the weekend,Friday saw us at the Wheatsheaf in Benton which was by all accounts a bit quieter than expected, but needless to say the crowd that was there still made us feel at home.Sunday saw the lads at one of their favorite gigs which was at the Star in Newcastle, for an afternoon of rock classics.
Phil's wah-wah managed to steal the show at the star again, by whistling during Fire and Water,but this did not damage the atmosphere in the Star which continued to rock well into the early evening.
We managed to catch up with some familiar faces over the weekend, and made some new ones too, Gazza would like to thank Everyone from the Monday night rock show that came to meet up with him and his alter ego (The Hamster of Doom) 'it was great to put faces to names,finally'.Even though we had a few minor problems( moving drum kits,whistling pedals and having to feed the parking meter at the star every hour)this did not attract from the fun we had over the weekend.

Cancer Research Charity Walk 2009

2009-06-06T10:16:00.003+01:00

Kev our singer and Andrew ( The Fifth Spartan ) have just completed a sponsored walk for Cancer Research Stanley.'We have always supported this charity since the band was formed' said Kev 'and will continue to do so'.The lads managed to Finnish the walk in record time and also found time to cram in an ice cream.
Garry (Spartan's Bassist) would like to thank Andrew for stepping in to his shoes as he could not attend the event this year due to holidays.The lads will also be performing at the Harpley Music Festival in July, to help raise support and funds for this amazing charity( follow the Cancer Research link on the front page of the spartan website)

An Ode to 'NIKHS'

2009-06-01T08:13:00.007+01:00

We travelled down to Nikhs
For our gig on Saturday night
It's a venue that we love to play
With live music in it's sights

Kev was wearing his new Spartan cap
Mick's drumming was a blur
The Hamster's bass was back in place
He'd even brushed his fur

But something diffrent ,appeared that night
That had n't been seen before
Phil in shorts, with his knees on display
That had them shouting for more

It's always great to play @ NIKHS
it's the only place to be
Putting ROCK back on the North East map
For everyone to see.........

Spartan - Normal service now resumed

2009-05-25T09:41:00.002+01:00

Live @ The Phoenix
Kev and the lads welcomed Gazza ( The Hamster of Doom) back to the Spartan fold on Saturday, after his return from Las Vegas.Gazza and Margaret had only returned to the uk on Friday night so the gig on Saturday was the first time the band had seen each other since they left for the holidays, and even with a couple of weeks off they managed to continue where they had left off.
We stuck to an all classic set ( so Gazza had a fighting chance ) as the jet-lag kicked in during the 4Th song of the first set, but in true Hamster fashion he managed to keep it together till the end of the gig.But there was a casualty as Margaret ( Mrs Hamster ) was caught out by the dreaded jet-lag and had a much needed snooze during one of the quieter numbers of the night.
We would like to say a great big Happy Birthday to Christine one of the devout Spartan Army, and thanks for celebrating your '21st' with us ( but we use that term loosely).
Thanks to everyone who came out to see Spartan back to Full Power, and Thanks to Kev for letting the Hamsters away early after the gig so they could catch up on their much needed sleep.

The Market Tavern...Bedlington

2009-05-04T08:54:00.002+01:00

Well it make a lovely change.....
to be able to report that we had a ' Normal ' night at the Market Tavern.We managed to remember everything that we neglected to pack for our Hexham gig, and we also managed to arrive at the venue without incident.But did all this new found good luck put us into a false sense of security.... No it did n't.
As you will see from the photos below we had another great nite at the Tavern and it still remains one of our favorite places to play.
Have a look at the slideshow below for edited highlights.

2009-05-04T08:53:00.001+01:00

The 'HEXHAM' Curse ............

2009-04-19T11:09:00.003+01:00

Can anything else go wrong ? ......Whoops....spoke to soon...
It was nearly our first cancelled gig last night ? 'why' well I'll tell you...
Just after leaving for the venue Kev had another major problem with our trailer, one of the wheels locked up and he had to remove it and return home to re-pack all the gear into his car instead.Just what you don't want on a Saturday night,but after a quick re-pack and a small delay he arrived safe and sound at about 8.20pm and we were due on for 9.30pm.A quick set up and having to re-route the monitor system ( due to a missing splitter box ) we dived into our first set , and tried to forget all about the curse...
But one good thing came out of last night as Spartan's adopted 5Th member made his debut on the drums, Andrew ( Jo's young son ) made his first public appearance last night as he joined us on stage to play on Ain't no love by Whitesnake.The four of us were totally taken back by him and would like to say a huge Well done to ANDREW ( a video of his escapades will be posted on this site real soon )
We had a fantastic night at The Tannery, thanks to the Spartan Army Hexham brigade for all the support and cheers to John ( da boss for the night ) for making us feel so welcome, we'll see you all in June ... Andrew ( the 5Th Spartan ) and Jo ( the proud Mum...)

Spartan at the Star

2009-04-12T08:07:00.002+01:00

Give a little Whistle......
Well last night, wot can we say, We had a fantastic night but not without incident.
We breezed through the first set 'it felt like we had been on stage for only minutes' but suddenly we were on the last song and closed the first set with our Bon Jovi/Stray Cats tune and then it was time for a quick drinky or two.The Hamster said 'It was great to see some faces from his good old drinkin days in the room and also a quick mention to all from Tiffanys Rocks( the only way to spend a Monday Night).
About three songs into the second set we noticed a whistle seeping through the bands pa, and after a few minutes 'The Hamster' managed to track down the culprit, it was Phil's wah-wah pedal.After a quick re-route of said pedal we were back on track ( told him not to get his battery from the £1 shop)but you know what guitarists are like....
Spartan would just like to thanks everyone who came to the Star, it was a great night and one that Mr Phil wont get chance to forget for a while, cos we won't let him........
'Is n't it your round Phil.......

Spartan @ The Moorhouse

2009-04-05T09:10:00.002+01:00

Does not seem like a year, since our last visit
But it must be, and what a great reception we had last night.After setting up all our stuff we blasted into the sound check our old standard of 'Wishing Well' just to check the levels.And then as usual it was time to decide which of our songs would make the set for the night.After a heated debate the set was ready, Kev was a bit tired from his early start, a trip to the lakes ( then off to the gig ) but this did not hamper his performance, and he gave 200% as he always does.
The Moorhouse was one of our very first gigs all those years back in 2007, so the pub has a very big place in our heart as they were willing to give us a go on spec.So it was a great pleasure to be asked back to play here again, and we would like to thank all the staff and customers who came out last night to see us again.
We hope to see you all very soon.....

Hazelrigg Rocks

2009-03-30T20:44:00.002+01:00

Been a Long time since we rock 'n' rolled
Well about 5 months since our last gig at Hazelrigg Victory Club, and we are pleased to report, we had a fantastic night again.We love to be able to play on a stage (as it makes a big change )and this club has one of the best ones.It really make you play better, as you can look out over the whole room at once and see if everyone is having a good time.We were given a very warm reception on arrival and half way through the second set , we noticed the bar staff drumming along( to Radar Love) with their drinking straw drum sticks, in perfect time might i add.
We would like to Thank everyone who came,and thanks for sticking with us during our small technical fault ( Don't buy your batteries from the pound shop....well not for a gig anyway)
We hope to see you all later on in the year .........Keep Rockin @ Hazelrigg

Whitley Bay ROCKS..........

2009-03-22T10:16:00.002Z

Not bad for a 2 year old ?
Last night saw our 2ND Anniversary as a band , and wot a way to celebrate.We did n't get into the gig till a wee bit later than usual, due to the Newcastle match having a 5.30 kick off, but after a quick set up we were ready to rock.It's hard to believe we have only been doing this for 2 years as SPARTAN, but as the old saying goes 'time flies when your having fun', and as a mature 2 year old we can safely say we still has a much fun now as we did when all this started.
People sometimes say History repeats itself and last night was no exception, 2 years to the day 'The Mighty Mick - The Stick' managed to repeat history by splitting his Bass Drum skin ....Again, he has only ever done this twice and both times were at the Fat Ox.
We would just like to thank everyone who came to see us last night, the place was jumping and we had such a Great night.. we wish we could do it all over again and again an again.

Sunday nite, i'll miss church ?

2009-03-17T14:26:00.002Z

A Sunday night gig ?
It makes a nice change to be gigging on a Sunday, and we were at the Borough, Sunderland on Sunday.We all remembered our first gig there and had forgotten how restrictive the space was to set up in.
But it was a Great Nite, really good crowd and we all had a Blast, even 'The Hamster' who managed to kill a glass with the power of the bass( he'd only been able to do that with the sub woofer before) so it gave him a bit of a shock.We remembered that we did n't need to bring the backdrop and so it was a quick-ish set up and take down.Hope Mick managed to get the shoe prints off his drum heads ready for the next gig ( only glad the lass was n't wearing high heels) ...and if that does n't make any sense then you had to be there........
Thanks to all the Bar Staff and customers at the Borough... we had a great nite...

Bedlington Rokkz..........

2009-03-08T08:36:00.002Z

'No Pressure'......please
'Well i'm never going to try to use new gear at a gig again',Said Garry after trying to get the bands new wireless mikes to work.But to no avail so we had to use our tried but tested old ones instead.After this 'little' technical problem, we managed to get sorted and ready to Rock in one of the bands favorite venues.
Garry was using his newest toy last night an old Westone Super Headless bass ( soon to be a new classic ), and must say it gave him a new lease of life, he was spotted lying on top of the sub-woofer whilst playing.Well not to be upstaged both him and Kev clambered onto the subwoofer during one of the last numbers ( they said it was so the people at the back could see them? )
We were just getting settled in and we were on to our last song, a few encores later and we were packing up again ( it's the bit we all hate....With a Passion..)
We had a Fantastic night and can't wait to play there again soon...and Thanks for all the kind words.

SPARTAN-POWER

2009-02-24T08:01:00.003Z

Life is full of Surprises
And the Old Tannery, gave us a new one on Saturday.Ploughing through the set we had just finished the second song then...Without any warning we lost all the power to the P.A.( for a while we thought it was going to be an all acoustic set, but after a few minutes we managed to re-instate the power to all of the effected units and continued with the set without any more upsets.
Well we do have our moments ??? and loosing all the power was a new one on us, but we managed to get back into the flow of the night and ,turned around what could have been a disaster into another night of Spartan Classics.
All the lads would like to thank Gaz and all the customers at the Tannery for a great nite
SPARTAN POWER .......is back to stay

Like a Proud Dad

2009-02-15T10:48:00.003Z

Kev was all smiles
As he drove up to the Travellers Rest, with the New Spartan Trailer in tow.Pleased as punch did n't describe the smile on his face, 'You can hold a dance in it, if you want' Kev said.So a much easier lug into the gig,was to be our reward.
After an easy set up we started the first set, and went for our new 'All Classic' set , lots of every one's favorite tunes backed into the first 45 minutes.The Hamster with his new toy ventured behind the bar for a quick half, shame he can't pull a decent pint though !!!.
A brief 15 minutes off and we blasted into set number 2 , and what do you know , it's had ended our night at the Travellers Rest ( the night just went ).Many Thanks to Karen and John, you do a great job and always make us feel so welcome, Kev says 'Cheers for the new light-bulb'.
We will be back real soon, @ the Travellers Rest , and hope to see you all then......

A Warm Welcome @ The Fellsider

2009-02-08T10:34:00.002Z

A new Venue .. for us
Well even though it's coming up to the bands second year of gigs , we still get the jitters at a new venue.But the Fellsider made us feel so welcome you would have thought we were the resident band and not a first timer to this amazing venue.
We would like to thank Sarah, all the staff and the customers at the Fellsider, 'You really made our night, something to remember' said Kev.We decided to go for an all out Classic line up of tunes to get everyone in the mood, and to chase away the thoughts of the cold night outside,and we are glad to say it worked a treat.
It's not very often that you get to play 5 encores but last night was one of the best nights we have had,and we hope to be asked back later in the year, for SPARTAN II ( The Sequel ).

Thanks for a really Great Nite ...........

The Fellsider Rocks.........

Oh we do like to be inside the Bebside.......

2009-01-31T16:25:00.003Z

Another welcome return to a Great venue
We had a fantastic night,after a record set up time of 45 minutes,and a new set up for our trusty old lights we braved the elements ( it was very cold in there ) and took to the stage.It was great to see so many of the SPARTAN Army visible at the Bebside, and as per usual you did us proud.
Big thanks to Phil's new hat, cos he would n't have been able to play otherwise( Phil rekkons he's trying to grow his hair again, we think it's a bit late , but you never know ?)
We will have to wait and see if it makes an appearance at the next gig.

( the hair ...not the hat !!!)

SPARTAN ROCK THE TOON.....

2009-01-26T09:30:00.002Z

Good to be back at the Star
As it is always a great night,fantastic people and a wonderful atmosphere.
We nearly had to cancel the gig due to transport problems so a 'BIG' vote of thanks to Arnie for the use of his van, if it had n't been for him Kev would have had to bring the gear on the bus.
As this was the FIRST Spartan gig of the year we wanted to make it a good one,and the Star is the place to do it,The lads would like to thank everyone who came out to see us as you made it a Brilliant night, Spartan march onto Blyth for our next gig on the 30th of January at the Bebside.

A perfect way to end a year of SPARTAN

2009-01-02T08:27:00.002Z

New Years Eve at the Fat Ox.
What can we say except it has been a fantastic year for the band,and we aimed to celebrate it in style and we did.The Fat Ox was our very first gig as SPARTAN way back in 2007, and it was great to be asked to play on New Years Eve.After a tiny set back with our backdrop stands ( hope we manage to fix them)we were ready to Rock the night away,we tried to keep an easy paced first set with some 'old' classics to get the place into the mood.
And after a little break Kev emerged in full 'JOKER' face paint ready for the second set.We launched into the second set with some of the bands favorite songs,we still find it hard to change our second set as it is so well paced.But sadly at 11.55 our set had come to a close with just enough time to listen to Big Ben's chimes at midnight.We would like to say a 'BIG' thank-you to everyone who came to see us, you made the night so special, the perfect end to 2008 and the perfect start to 2009.

SPARTAN - CHRISTMAS PARTY 2008

2008-12-21T10:38:00.002Z

All i want for Christmas is ...........
Another gig like last night,this must have been one of the best nights so far, the atmosphere was electric and the spirits were high.
We arrived at the Travellers Rest at our usual time and started to set up, Once we were all done we hurried into the plush changing rooms (marked 'MENS') to get into our alter egos.

Kev emerged as BATMAN, Gazza was Jon-Bon-Spartan,Mick crept out as 'the psycho drummer of burnopfield' and Phil was no more Mr Nice Guy - Alice Cooper.
After the initial laughs from us all standing in front of the biggest mirror we could find, we jumped on stage to start the Christmas Party in true SPARTAN-STYLE.It was a Fantastic night, we feel very honoured to have so many friends able to come out and play.
We would like to say a special 'Thank You' to Karen and John and all the staff at the Travellers Rest who always make us feel so welcome, we all agree that you make the venue a great place to play.On the subject of thanks, we would like to take the time to say a BigThank you to everyone who has attended our gigs and To the SPARTAN-ARMY who make us feels so proud with their support.

A Wheel-e Good Night

2008-12-07T13:13:00.003Z

We nearly did n't even get there...
Our trip to Hexham to play the Old Tannery was nearly the first cancelled gig of the year, this was due to the trailer that carries all of our gear decided it wanted a night off.Just outside out Hexham the main bearing on the trailer sheared and sent one of the wheels off in a different direction, luckily no one was hurt.Thanks to Mick who happened to be passing, the gear was re-arranged into the two cars and we managed to get to the venue a little later than planned.
Meanwhile at the venue ( Garry and Phil ) were sitting in a nice warm pub wondering where everyone was,and then the rest of Spartan turned up and told us the tale of their horrible journey.We thanked our lucky stars that no-one was injured as it could have been very serious indeed if it had happened a few minutes earlier when Kev was on the motorway, travelling at speed.
As a true professional Kev just unloaded the gear from the car and we started to set up ready for the gig.Although the pub was a little quieter, we still had a fantastic night and did not try to think about the incident that had preceded.Thanks to everyone who came out to see us on such a cold night, we hope we raised the temperature as we had a Great night....eventually.

But the SHOW must go on....

The Market Tavern - November 29th

2008-12-02T19:22:00.003Z

A Welcome Return
to such a Great venue, and we were glad to see so many of 'THE ARMY' in attendance, you all made a great nite very special indeed.W e love to play at The Market Tavern because you always manage to make us feel so welcome and we would like to Raise a Glass to you all.
We tried to bring you something new to our set of covers, and hope you all enjoyed the revised first and second sets( they seemed to go down well ??)
Well you managed to bring a warm glow to all of us, even though it was a very cold night indeed.

By 'Royal Appointment'

2008-11-26T07:37:00.007Z

Alive in Blyth
I must apologise about the late posting of our latest blog but I've have been a bit busy as my mum suffered a bad fall while shopping and i have been helping out at home.But I have a few minutes to spare so this will be small but perfectly formed.
We had a great night at the Royal Tavern on Saturday, shame about the cold weather, cos it's hard to smoke ya tab outside in sub-zero conditions.As you can see from the above photo we have been working on a new t-shirt design (cheers Chris)and Kev wanted to see what the design would look like on us !.Well back to the gig after the initial set-up we tried our new first set and it seemed to work ( but we all found it a bit harder than our old first set).But we seemed to settle down alright and stormed through the second set like no-one's business.Kev would like to thank the young drunk bloke that kept him so entertained during 'Saturday's alright for fighting' Kev was watching him trying to pick up his mobile phone off the floor for so long that he did n't realise that we had started into the chorus of the song, but he was fun to watch( He He ) We would like to thank all that came to see us and we hope to be back at the royal tavern sometime next year.

Did you See - um @ Seaham

2008-11-17T07:56:00.002Z

Waiting for the football to end before we could set up seemed to take ages and put us back a little bit, to get sorted for a 9pm kick off.But in true SPARTAN style we managed it.
Kev decided to go for a 'traditional' set as this was a new venue and it was a good idea put into practice.After our usual 15 minute break we were back on, the place was jumping to the sounds of Led Zepp, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and after a few encores the night had come to an end.

We had a great night @ the Harbour View Hotel and hope to be asked back sometime Next Year....

SPARTAN rock The Ox, Whitley BAY

2008-11-10T19:32:00.002Z

WHAT A FANTASTIC NIGHT
We cannot stress enough, how much of a night we had on Saturday, but we must thank everyone who came out to see us, and witness our new opening set.We had only tried our new songs a week before and were a bit apprehensive in case they did not work.
Our set started with Wayward Son by Kansas, and it was a great opener, we reinstated some Thin Lizzy back into the set Jaibreak,Still in Love with you and then ended the first set with Learning to Fly by The Foo Fighters.
Gazza( Bass ) A.K.A. ' The Hamster of Doom ' tried a new look for the second set as his trusty cap was replaced by a stetson until the last 2 song then he was spotted in a multi Coloured wig ( cheers Ian C ) just to prove a point, Although we all thought it was a bet that he had lost.
We had a Fantastic night, Great crowd, and the atmosphere was Electric and so intoxicating that we did not want to stop playing, but time wait for no man.W cannot wait to get
BACK @ THE FAT OX

Hazelrigg Club

2008-10-26T13:52:00.004Z

So who forgot the Camera ??
Not going to mention any names but he knows who he is.Apart from that there are no pictures from the gig,I'll try to tell you what you missed ( if you were n't there ).As you may or may not know 'The Stick','The Wedge' and the 'Hamster' have a very bad sense of direction, and could be found heading to the Hazelrigg Club without a 'clue' where it was.Needless to say we managed to find it ( looking down streets in the dark) in the hope of seeing it, and we got there in the end.

After finding a huge puddle to park in we got the gear into the venue and managed to set up without anyone falling on anything ( this week ,anyway ),and we were ready 'To Rock'.Time just flew and before we could blink we were on the second encore,We had a Fantastic night and would like to thank everyone who came to see us and hope you liked the improvised set we tried ( put in some real gems from the old days in there )

We hope to be back there sometime next year.....

SPARTAN - CHRISTMAS PARTY

2008-10-15T07:59:00.001+01:00

Spartan - The Jolly Miller October 11th

2008-10-15T07:50:00.002+01:00

We were sorry to hear..
We were sorry to hear that the Jolly Miller had decided to stop putting on bands, but due to dwindling numbers attending they had been forced to make this decision.We always loved to play this place and even though it was only a second time there it will remail a great venue to us.

Thanks to Mick and Tracey for the email regarding the gig, and it was great to see you again we hope see you at the Christmas Party in Burnopfield on December 20th, and thanks to all the staff at the Jolly Miller and a big thanks to Lee for putting us on in the first place.

The Phoenix 4th October

2008-10-09T08:50:00.002+01:00

Sorry about the late posting

Have been having a bit of trouble with the Internet, so the posting is a bit later than usual.We had a Great night at the Phoenix, it was good to be back there and although we had a few technical problems we managed to get through the sets without too many problems.I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to see us it was nice to be able to put some faces to names from the 'Ginger Gits Forum' and it was great to see Stef and Carl doing the SPARTAN thing.I'd also like to say a big Spartan Thank you to Margaret and Jo who even with too much beer managed a fantastic job with the video that you can find on this website.

Spartan Rock the BEBSIDE

2008-09-29T09:44:00.004+01:00

Back to the Bebside

We were playing the Bebside due to the Gatecrashers having to cancel with an injury ( best wishes and a speedy recovery to the Gatecrashers) and could not refuse such an offer at one of our favorite venues.This was our first gig for about 2 weeks and we tried to change the set a little to make it more dynamic.

We were totally taken back by the reception that we recieved and would like to thank everyone who came to see us,we had a great night and hope to be back @ the Bebside very,

'Thanks for a Great Night '

The Old Tannery - Hexham 6/09/08

2008-09-07T08:35:00.004+01:00

We Nearly Did n't Get There At All ?

Due to the Weather
It took us a while to get to Hexham due to the roads being under water but we were n't gonna give up that easy.We had a Fantastic night at the Tannery and would like to thank all those wonderful people who managed to make it to see us, we know how hard it must have been venture out last night.Because of the rain the lads felt it was only right that they pulled out all the stops and gave their performance 110%, we had one of the best nights ever and look for ward to coming back to this great venue.The only draw back to last night was the long diverted journey home as most of the roads were closed and he had to go home in a very in-direct route but all managed to get to where we were going.

Spartan in Delaval

2008-08-26T18:30:00.005+01:00

Want a great way to spend a bank holiday.....

Although there had been no real publicity for the gig, the turn out was Fantastic, and it was a real thrill for us to be able to play for such a cracking bunch of people you made us feel so welcome.
We were totally taken by surprise and had no idea that it would prove to be one of our best yet.

Little did we know what was about to happen on this bank holiday but we were not expecting 6 encores,a great atmosphere, good crack, and FOOD, no one could ask for anything more could they ?.

Spartan go into' MELTDOWN '

2008-08-25T06:34:00.008+01:00

We prayed for good weather.......and were not disappointed.We all had a great time at the Meltdown Festival and it make a big difference playing outdoor and in the sun.Kev was his usual self and after being there for all of 2 minutes had joined the queue of little kids to have his face painted ( shame we don't know any Kiss songs ).We would like to thank everyone who came to the Bebside and hope they raised loads of cash for such a good cause.

Martha's Vineyard - Hebburn 16th August

2008-08-18T16:57:00.003+01:00

Well i did n't get lost
Managed to get to the venue without incident this week, and we would like to that Ian and all the staff for making us feel very welcome, as this was our first time at Martha's Vineyard.Had a great night a smashing venue to play and loads of space for us to set up in too,played a mixed set to try and give you all a taste of what we do and by all accounts it went down well.
Hope to be asked back there next year

Northumberland Hussar - August 9th

2008-08-11T18:29:00.002+01:00

Another New Venue
For us and the hope that we go down well is always in the back of your mind, but you can't help wanting to impress everyone who has turned up to see you.We really like this venue as it was a bit of a challenge to set up and thanks to 'AL' from 'On the Level' for giving us some advice and help on the matter.Garry turned up straight from work still in work clothes ( not very Rock 'n' Roll ) but after the gear was set up he changed into his spartan gear, ready for the off.Had a bit of a later start to enable the venue to get in some more customers, and had to wake Garry up just before the first set (Sleepy Head).All in all we had a fantastic night and it was great to be able to meet and chat to you all between sets,and we hope to be asked back to play here soon, as it was a great night.

The Wheatsheaf,Benton August 1st

2008-08-02T12:02:00.002+01:00

There was a strong chance we would have to cancel but.....

With just 2 days notice Kev's old music buddy and the reason Kev joined Spartan in the first place Graeme stepped up to the plate to drum for us.Mick our drummer had been struck down with a severe ear infection and had lost his hearing making it near impossible for him to be able to play.Graeme kindly stepped in and helped us out( catch Graeme with his band 'The Alleycats'),as previously mentioned he only had 2 days notice and played a blinder or else the gig would have been cancelled.
We would like to thank Graeme not just for his drumming skills on the night but he has always been a major influence in our band and has given his time and help on numerous occasions without a second thought.The gig was a great success and we would like to thank Mick( from the Wheatsheaf ) for all his help on the night,hope to be able to come back with the full SPARTAN Experience soon.

The Market Tavern 26th July

2008-07-27T23:38:00.007+01:00

Garry was completely right after our third song in when he said 'It was good to be HOME' the sentiment that was shared by all in SPARTAN, this is one of our favorite places to play and it just gets better each time we do it. We played the Market Tavern as one of our first gigs and we have never looked back since,the atmosphere is always fantastic and the welcome is second to none. We spotted some familiar faces in the crowd there on Saturday and must apologise if we did n't get a chance to speak to you all but you did keep us on stage for a total of four encores ( you tinkers).

We had an absolute ROCKIN time at the Tavern need to say a BIG 'Thank You' to all the loyal Spartan Army ( Bedlington Brigade )for their support and on a personal note Garry would like to tip his cap to Tony ( The Legend )for all of his kind words and Kris from (www.black-road.co.uk)for his continued support of all things Spartan.

Travellers Rest, Burnopfield 19th July

2008-07-21T09:07:00.002+01:00

Home turf,well for 3 of us anyway

The band would like to thank John and Karen at the Travellers Rest for making us feel so at home and for the hospitality they showed us on Saturday, we had a great night at a great venue.As three of us are local to the area it was a great night and we were able to see some familiar faces in the crowd spurring us on.
For those of you who could not make it you missed some new material in the second set( not gonna say too much ) and a slightly revised first set.Thanks to all of you who came out to see us, we need to support a venue like this as they are trying to get music back on the map and are doing it at their own expense.
so KEEP MUSIC LIVE'N'LOUD AT THE TRAV'S.

The Jolly Miller 5th April

2008-07-06T20:42:00.004+01:00

WE DID N'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BUT...
Playing a new venue is always an adventure, and last night was no exception.Garry and Phil managed to get lost on the way to the venue and thanks to some helpful people they managed to get there after all the gear was inside ( well planned Phil )
We were made most welcome at the Jolly Miller and would like to say a big thank you to Lee and all the staff and customers who made last night for us.

Tried a new song in the set last night which was 'Vertigo' by U2 which went down very well for a first outing,we had a great night and can't wait to see you all back there in October for
SPARTAN II.......THE RETURN TO THE JOLLY MILLER

Nikhs Bar 21/06/08

2008-06-22T10:27:00.003+01:00

A welcome return to this venue for us

It's always great to go back to a venue you have played before, and Nikhs is one of the best to be asked to come back to,although the rain had a bad effect on numbers it did nothing to dampen the reception that we recieved.We set up our gear slightly diffrent this time and it improved the sound by 100% ( thanks to Dave - HiFi Stud )for the information, and thanks to Andy for all his work on the night.
We tried to keep the set to an 'all classic's' one for the gig as that's what got us on there in the first place,It seemed like we had only been playing for 10 mins but the first set was over and done in a crack. We would like to say a big 'Thank You' to Nikki and Rob for always making us feel so welcome and hat's off to Rob for getting through the night with an extremly bad back ( told him not to lift his wallet by himself ).As per usual we had a Fantastic night and can't wait to be able to get back there soon.

Keep on Rokkin

The Travellers Rest 24th May

2008-05-26T19:25:00.003+01:00

Wot a welcome return to this venue
Can't remember the last time we have played there but we love this place,although we must have bigger gear as we thought it was bigger last time we played.The new management made us feel so welcome,It's a great feeling you get when both the staff and the band are up for a
ROCKING GOOD TIME
Kev lost his bet and had to change his shirt at half time ( claiming it was too restrictive) for his 'Guns',I must take the time to say it was one of the best performances he has ever done, his vocals were so good he even had us cheering for him.We at least tried to stick to the set this week, but as usual someone decided to put a surprise or two (Naughty Kev).
Gazza had his usual stroll about and ended up behind the bar but could n't managed to pull a pint while playing,needless to say we had a Great night and can't stress enough the reasons for supporting a venue that is trying to put music back on the map.We would like to raise a glass or 3 to this place, We Loved every minute.

Supporting Powerage May 17th

2008-05-18T14:26:00.006+01:00

WE FOLLOWED THE HIGHWAY TO HELL
but we did n't get lost and managed to arrive at Crook Football Club in good time on Saturday for our support slot with POWERAGE.It was great to meet up with Mick as we have communicated on the web a few times but had never met up in person.We would like to thank all the lads in Powerage for the use of the gear, we Had a great time and if you ever need us again just say the word,thanks to all the staff at the venue and a Big heads up to Graham for asking us to play and to 'the captain' for the sound.
I'd never been able to catch Powerage before and must admit they were FANTASTICI really enjoyed what I saw, but had to be up early on Sunday so was n't able to catch your full set,maybe next time.
We had a great night,Rokked our little socks off and met some great people,cheers for all the feedback about the band.We really had a great night and have the utmost respect to everyone who came along,Don't forget we are playing at Crook on August 16Th when SPARTAN return for our first Headline night at the club.
Hope to see you all then.

Thanks to The Captain and Mrs Rock for the photo's

The Trimmers Arms 10th May

2008-05-11T07:20:00.002+01:00

It was our First time in South Shields
But we hope it won't be our last, we had another great night at a venue we had never played before.The set up was a bit strange but after a few teething problems ( Mr Phil and the monitor cable???)we managed to get a decent sound.Another revised set last night with some old additions to it,to keep us on the ball(Aye Mr Kev) and keep the regulars happy.Our Bass player was struck with a migraine after the second song but managed to keep it together and play through the night( if you were wondering about him wearing shades)as it's not usual for him.Met some really nice people and was great to finally meet Smoulty (thanks for the advice and feedback with regard to the sound etc).All in all a great night at a great venue ,hope we are invited back there soon.
Short but sweet as Kev and I are getting ready for our 11 mile charity walk this morning and he's forgotten the snake bite kit( Keep telling him it's not half a lager and half a cider we need)See the details of our adventure on the main site later,when me blisters go down.

The Star Inn 04/05/08

2008-05-04T14:26:00.002+01:00

Was it really that hot in there on Saturday?

Can't tell you how much fun we had at the Star, it's always a great place to be able to play and last night was no exception.We hate having to leave you after only 3 encores but Gazza had to get to bed ( yes he does need all the beauty sleep he can muster). Kev's performance last night was one of his best yet, he does the 'hardest' job out of all of us and he was really on his game.For everyone who attended you were witness to a couple of set changes to this gig with the inclusion of 'Can't get Enough' and 'Chance' and wee bit of Purple's 'Black Night' thrown in to the mix.Kev was giving us a pep talk before we went on and said 'I've changed the set slightly' but all of his hard work was to no avail as we changed it on the hoof anyway,you have to play what feels right ? and every gig is different. Needless to say no matter what songs are in or out we always give it are all and last night was one of the best we have ever had the pleasure to be able to play. In the words of Ozzy 'We Love You all'

The Fat Ox ,Whitley Bay, April 26th

2008-04-27T07:44:00.003+01:00

Kev said 'I really enjoy playing at the Fat Ox, and last night was the icing on the cake It's one of Kev's favorite places to play as it's where it all started for him and will always be in his top ten of venues.After a rousing round of applause for the sound check we 'KNEW' what was to come,and we were n't disappointed.The venue is one of the best established in Whitley and has a good reputation for live acts, so we took to the stage and tried our luck with our new first set.Towards the end of the set we have a little bit of trouble with a feedback issue but managed to get it under control for the second set,We are always trying to change the set around for all you hardened 'SPARTANS' who take the time to come and see us and hope that the changes to the set are we received, by adding some older material that we have not played for a while.

Blasting into the second set with a bit of 'classic' Led Zep we were off and running into 'Rock and Roll' featuring the very talented Mick showing off a new drum solo (which took us by surprise to say the least).No sooner had we started the set and it was suddenly the last song of the night(where does the time go)but we ended the night with our Bon-Stray-Cat-Jovi song because you we so noisy and would n't let us off the stage.We had a great night and on a personal note would like to say a big 'Hello' to all Ginger-Gits that I managed to meet up with during the half time break (will speak to you online soon).Well counting down the days till November 8Th when we are Back at the OX

The Royal Tavern 19th April

2008-04-21T15:37:00.002+01:00

For all of you that were there you were privy to a few new songs in the set.We opened up with Vertigo a classic U2 number which was is first airing to an audience,won't give too much away you'll have to come and hear for yourself.
We managed to set up in a quicker time that usual and had time to relax a bit longer than we usually do.But time does not stand still for anyone? and before we knew any better the first set was over and Kev was helping with the charity raffle in aid of Macmillan Cancer Trust that the venue had arranged(Phil was mighty depressed that he did n't win the jelly beans)
Blasting into the second set the place went mad,always have a great night at the Royal Tavern and would like to say a big 'Thanks' to all the staff and customers who made the night a Great One.

Golden Lion - 12th April

2008-04-13T10:10:00.003+01:00

Let em loose on the Moors!!!

After an exciting,fun packed journey of playing spot the sheep,we arrived at the Golden Lion in the SPARTAN-MOBeel.Kev was a bit worried that we could get up them thar hills and live to tell the tale.And we did n't even stop for a comedy photo of us chasing sheep down the road while pulling up our pants.
After we set up and sound checked we had to cobble together a set lst as 'someone' had lost the ones we usually use ( mention No Names ).So the set was a little different than usual,Shock,Horror no under the bridge and that's one of me Fav's,never mind.We all though 'Mad Mick' was going to cut his drum solo shorter but as per usual he kept on drumming like the energizer bunny during the end of 'Rock and Roll'.
How come when you are driving somewhere it takes ages to get there,and when you are driving back it takes less time??
Does anyone know the answer to that?
Played a blinder of a set,including the customary game of how many feet can we get on the bass drum?,and the inclusion of the new 'ooohhhh' harmony vocals during the middle of 'Radar Love' and Kev playing his heart out on his tambourine,without tuning it up first.Must make sure we mike it up for the next gig and maybe add some delay,and a bit of overdrive to give him less of a Salvation Army sound and more Spartan Army sound.
Great gig, can't wait to get back there soon.

Cancer Research Charity Rock Nite 5th April

2008-04-07T17:27:00.006+01:00

SPARTAN
Had a great nite,many thanks to all that came and braved the 'orrible weather and made a difference to someone.The night was opened by Arsenal of Freedom a newish name to me but one to remember,the played a fantastic set and their frontman was the drummer(different I'm sure you will agree).
Next to entertain was us played a condensed 1 hour set,featuring some of our favorite songs and had a real Great time in doing so.The Hamster (Gazza) was the first to run off into the crowd and scare people who thought they could hide from him.Was n't long before Kev did the same and the two of us were 'forced' to dance with the crowd before getting back on stage to safety.Wot a brill nite we had and the icing on the cake was seeing Mick and Phil dancing the night away to the tunes of Classic Quo provided by headliners On the Level, they really rokked the place to it's knees.Spartan would like to thank Al from On the Level for doing a sterling job with the sound as usual (owe you a beer I think )
Rough number at the moment say we raised over £300 for a worthy cause shame we could n't add a couple of zero's to that but maybe next time.

Bebside 29/03/08

2008-03-30T10:13:00.003+01:00

OH What a Night !!!!!
The Bebside was on Top form last night,we all had a great time there when we played last,but last night was Fantastic.We were so taken back by the reception that we got,We would like to thank you all for making it one of the Best gigs Kev was on top form and from the off we all knew we were gonna be working our little socks off ( he's a hard task master you know ).Kicking off with 'tush' the place started jumping and I don't think it stopped until we had loaded all the gear away in the early hours.Wot's the deal with this clock's going forward cos' it killed us last night,But who cares ???
Gazza and Mick had been scaling new heights last night (have a closer look at the photo's)Spotted Phil 'the wedge' doing his trademark 'Flamingo Stance' during one of his solo's and Kev never mentioned Hob-Nobs during the whole set( a REAL FIRST ).We would just like to say 'thanks' to you all who made last night such a great night for us and we had a absolute blast and hope to do it all again Real Soon.

Crook Town Football Club 23/03/08

2008-03-23T21:46:00.003Z

Wot a Warm Welcome
Our first time at this venue and the first time we have been able to play with the brilliant Skinflint and fantastic Sticky Fingers.Was a dream of a gig and we only hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did.The lads would just like to say what an amazing venue and thanks to everyone for your ongoing support and commitment.What a great bunch of folks that came to see us and a great big CHEERS to all who stopped to talk to us after our set.Was so nice to be able to put faces to names,You know who you all are!!!!
We hope that you will all be back to see us there on August 16th,we can't wait to get back there.Many thanks to Sticky Fingers for the use of their gear and to Skinflint,we had a blast hope this is the start of many such events at this Venue.

Birthday Bash - LIVE VIDEO

2008-03-18T08:08:00.002Z

Birthday Bash - The Market Tavern 15/03/08

2008-03-16T09:48:00.006Z

Well we were totally taken by surprise last night, we had no idea that The Market Tavern and all of our Spartan Friends would go to so much trouble.The Market Tavern had always had a special place in our hearts as you have always made us feel so welcome every time but last night was just FANTASTIC.

As we entered the pub we all noticed the happy 1st birthday banners on the walls and the card and badges that we were given to wear with pride.The let battle commence after the end of the first set the lights stayed down and we were presented with a Birthday Cake,this was really unexpected and took us all by surprise,Would just like to say a Big 'Thanks' to the management, staff and all the loyal Spartans who have made this first year so special we can't thank you enough.It was really good to catch up with you at half time and ave a chat,we were chatting so much that we did n't get back on till a bit later that usual but made up for it as we could n't cut the set short (You would n't let us anyway).Words will never be able to convey what we were all thinking but let's just say The Market Tavern is one of the friendliest places that we could ever wish to play and we can't wait to be back there as soon as we can.

Many Thanks from

Gazza , Kev , Mick & Phil

The Station Whitley Bay 8th March

2008-03-10T18:54:00.002Z

Beware the Ides of March,wot a load of cobblers.Had a great reception from all the customers and the staff at the station.We had such a blast,and would very much like to get back there real soon.Would like to thank you all for the turn out on Saturday you really make us feel proud,proud that what we are doing if being accepted and that you all enjoy the gig as much as we do.We all hope that you can make it to the Market Tavern on the 15Th March to help us celebrate our first year as SPARTAN,hope to see you there!!!!!!

PHOENIX 23/2/08

2008-02-27T16:40:00.002Z

Well I don't want to keep repeating myself so i'll have to try a diffrent slant on things, many thanks to who can to see us on Saturday,Big thanks to everyone on the management/Bar Staff for your help.We have fond memories of playing The Phoenix as it was one of the first gigs we played last year,and we were taken back by the amount of people who made it a Great Nite.Would like to take the time to thank everyone who came over to talk to us,I know it's alot easier to just put on your coat and leave after the band has ended the set so it means alot when you make the effort to speak to us,we do listen and try to take onboard any suggestions that you think may improve your SPARTAN experience.

SPARTAN - WILL BE BACK THERE ON OCTOBER 4TH

Many Thanks

Nikhs Bar

2008-02-18T22:05:00.001Z

Photobucket Album

Nikhs Bar 16/02/08

2008-02-18T17:17:00.003Z

Well wot a great venue for bands to play, All the lads in Spartan would like to thank Nikki, Rob ,Scott and all the staff for making us feel so welcome.As it was our first visit to this venue we didn't know what to expect,we had heard so many good things from other bands and needless to say THEY ARE ALL TRUE.You made us feel so welcome from stepping out of the van to leaving and we can't wait for our retun on June 21st.When we arrived we were met by Nikki,who showed us where to set up and we had no sooner returned to the van we were met by Rob who helped us lug all the gear up those imposing stairs.Big heads up to Rob for the input on the sound and we hope that the tweeks we did hit the mark(always said we needed a bigger P.A. but purse strings are tight at the moment).If you get the chance to visit Nikhs at anytime you are in for a great night,with people who really care about the music and the overall experience.

Keep them tunes Rockin - Scott

Will see you all on the 21st of June when SPARTAN the Invasion phaze II is set for a

ROKKIN RETURN

Cheers

The Moorhouse feb 2nd

2008-02-04T16:20:00.000Z

Well it had been a while since we have played there but we would just like to thank everyone who braved the cold weather to be there.As usual Lesley and all the staff at the Moorhouse made us feel very welcome and we had another great night,but you could have all sung a bit louder(maybe next time eh?).Thanks for all the support,we could not do any of this without you.

As you may have noticed we were showing off the new t-shirt design we have had done and they seem to be very popular ( buy one today ),we are now selling the merchandise as a gig pack for anyone who's interested which includes a t-shirt,cd & badge (subject to availibility)
Great to see you all and hope to see you there again very soon.

The Star Inn 19/01/08

2008-01-20T08:15:00.000Z

Well who's a noisy bunch then,wot a night ,we were all blown away from the reception we got and would like to take a minute to say Thanks to all who came to see us.We thought we were gonna have a late start as we could not even get into the Star when we arrived but needles to say we managed it.Big heads up to the SPARTAN ARMY who were out in force again( Thanks ).We tried those new songs again last night and were amazed at the reception they got.Mick(drums) was up to his usual tricks he manages to get that drum solo longer each time and we had to pull him off his kit at the end of the night as he would have kept going if he could.Can't wait to get back to The Star in May and hope you can all come again to see us , your all invited.
Thanks to all the staff for making it a great nite and WE will see you soon,

Gazza , Mick ,Kev & Phil (SPARTAN)

All New gig/venue review for 2008

2008-01-02T19:59:00.000Z

We are planning to use this feature to tell you all about the most recent gig and any strange events that occured before ,during or after the event.

Welcome to The New Spartan Blog Section

2008-01-02T19:55:00.000Z

We are trying to find something New for 2008 and the Webmaster has been looking for something new to play with so hope you will all enjoy this new feature.