One to Watch: Sara Hawley & The Bang Bang Club

10:59am Monday 10th April 2006

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Name? Sara, from Sara Hawley & The Bang Bang Club

Who are you?

A band based just outside Manchester, Ok Macclesfield - there, the secrets out! Four lads and me, the token female, but I keep them in order (or is it the other way around?) How did you get together?

Well I met Ash, the bass player in a Club in Macclesfield and basically bullied him into joining the band. Pete (drums) I have known for a couple of years and Steve is Pete's flatmate, so when we needed a new guitarist, it made perfect sense and saves on the petrol!

We have all been in various bands over the years and we all knew straight away that this one works, both in terms of the new material we are writing and on a personal level, we all got on so well.

The story so far...

While recording The Strokes album Room on Fire' in NY, producer, Gordon Raphael heard Sara's version of the Janis Joplin track, Piece of my Heart, got in touch and has been one of Sara's biggest supporters and producer ever since. Sara's debut EP was recorded when she was 16.

Sara formed her band The Bang Bang Club' (inspired by the group of photographers working in South Africa during the apartheid civil war) later that same year and together they continue to captivate audiences with Sara's punk style and incredible vocals.

In the past few months Sara and the band have had their music played and downloaded almost 1 million times! A recent presence on myspace.com has widened their fan base, not only in the UK and USA but to people all over the world.

The video for Sad and Gone is currently being played in campuses across the States through Ruckus. Independent American & British radio stations and clubs regularly select the bands tracks for their play lists/club nights. The British Tourist Board in America selected Sara and the band as one of the new rising artists to promote the UK to America on their Visit Britain Rocks website and the BBC have selected Sara's video for Sad & Gone' to show on their big screen in Manchester City centre this spring/summer. The band are currently writing and recording their album and playing gigs.

What do you sound like?

A band that's in tune and HOT!

What's on your record player?

The Kooks and the Mighty Boosh If you could play with one band, who would it be and why?

We get asked this a lot and each band member has their favourite, so I guess I'll just say a band that's great live and knows how to party What's been the highlight so far?

Realising that is so much fun doing everything ourselves and not relying on big labels for anything And the most embarrassing moment?

None stand out really, probably every gig has its moments, but that's all part of the fun!

What's your definition of success?

When one person writes in or speaks to us after a gig and says the music really mattered to them. That's it.

What have you got lined up for the future?

Recording the new album, writing more songs, having a laugh, playing more gigs, doing what we all love to do best. Music How long before you can quit the day jobs?

Good question... let's see how well the album sells!

If I was your fairy godmother and could grant you one wish, what would it be?

That we could carry on doing what we are doing now, but with enough money to be able to do it full time, which I guess is kind of the same as the question above. I think that's what any band wants really. Plus an access all areas pass to any big festival and a secret camera.

Sara Hawley and the Bang Bang Club play Easter Anarchy at Number 15, Churchgate, on Saturday April 15. Admission £3, doors open 7.30pm.