Bigger Than Barry: A not-so-big interview with Bobby Barnes.

Alright so this 'interview' was more a set of questions thrown at Bobby Barnes, (one of the founders of Baz) via Facebook, who then threw a couple of witty answers back at me about a month later! Bon apetite mes amis...

So who runs Bigger than Barry apart from yourself?
The 'Dream Team' consists of Kieran ' The Doctor' McInerney, a potato picking, pissed up immigrant. And one Sam 'Deadcat' Baylis, who is the singer in The Scarlet Harlots.

When and where was the first Bigger than Barry held?
21st December 2006. In the upstairs room of a grotty pub in Brum called The Ben Johnson. Famed for shootings during the 80's gun boom.

And why is the night called 'Bigger than Barry'?
Barry Austin. Worlds Fattest Man. Simple.

Birmingham and Leeds aside, where else does Barry roll?
Barry's Rolls are everywhere! Sheffield and Nottingham are pretty lively, we're planning on hitting Manchester, Bristol & Cardiff in due time.

How would you describe the music played at Barry?
Grimey, Grubby, Gritty, Dutty, Whyney, Hypey, Nicey Niceness. It's hard to put a finger on it, but I think that covers it.

Who does Barry like to play with?
Barry Likes to play with Tomb Crew, Toddla T, Mumdance, Oneman, Martelo, Andy George, Rusko. The new breed, we're all about the same age, so have the same influences, environments growing up and great haircuts. (WAFRO!!!)

Tell me about the Ibiza Invasion...
Ibiza is gonna be sickly, we're taking a couple of DJ's, load of bods, and some dutty tunes and taking over the white isle for 5 days. We've got our own hotel. BARRY TOWERS. And using clubs like Ibiza Rocks. Get ready for that!!!

Any tricks up your sleeve to make Barry even BIGGER in the future?
More tricks than David Blaine in a box. If I was to tell you though I'd get kicked out of your mum's magic circle.

So there you have it; a few words from a very droll kind of fellow indeed. I give you Bobby Barnes - creator, player, joker, ginger...!

Bigger Than Barry!

There’s a big guy breaking through the Yorkshire Border - straight from Birmingham and tearing up Leeds. If anyone asks, he goes by the name of Barry and he’s not the sort of bloke you can miss.

If you’re gagging for something a little bit different and you like your music grimy, then Bigger than Barry is the night you’ve been looking for. You’ll have never heard anyone drop bass like Baz before and he loves to bring some of his mates a long to help him out; Toddla T, Rusko, Drop the Lime and Tomb Crew are just a handful of his mob. The tunes these boys produce are massive so you might want to think carefully about what shoes to wear to this occasion. They’ll get you going mad for it and nobody likes a toe bleed...!

And Barry being a considerate kind of fellow in these financially uncertain times, all drinks at this shindig are dirt cheap. So get a few Jagerbombs down your neck and he’ll have you all hyped up like a kid on Panda Pops! He’ll also have an after party sorted if you’re up for it.

No-one is doing anything quite like this in Leeds at the moment because it’s not just about the music, it’s almost political. Barry’s definitely got a few things to say that you’ll all wanna hear. So put your gladrags on, tell all your mates and get yourself involved. It’s gonna be bigger than your mum’s roast dinners!


*Bigger than Barry, every 2nd Tuesday of the month @ Wire. Doors: 10.30pm - 2am.

Mother Uggers

I have to rant about this somewhere in which my words can reach people other than my friends! May I start with two words: Ugg boots.

Reading a magazine yesterday I stumbled across a page of photos taken of random people in the streets of Leeds. The idea of the page is to capture the 'unique' outfits these people have on and information about where they bought certain items from so that us readers can go purchase them ourselves. Now there were 15 people on this page and 5 of them were wearing Ugg boots. UGG BOOTS. *Shakes head*.

I remember when I was back at school and these boots conquered fashion magazines for a good few months and fair enough, they were something new and exciting for girls to wear. But that was a good 5 years a go... and people are STILL wearing them FAR TOO MUCH! I mean I get it; they're warm for the winter and extemely comfortable. Fair play. But really? Have you seen the state of them? They're not exactly the prettiest footwear on the market and they make your feet look massive. I can't help but feel angered by the amount of girls I see walking around wearing them. On my first day in Leeds I saw a group of girls all wearing a pair and I must admit, it made my blood boil slightly. Whatever happened to originality in this supposed revolutionary era?

There are alternatives to these horrific creations which are also warm and comfy AND they'll add a bit of style to one's outfit. Doctor Martens for example are gonna hit this season with a storm which look cool with just about anything. Yeah OK so they need a little wearing in because they'll give your feet a hard time at first, but give them time and they'll be the best thing to have on as you go about your day. That's what they're all about after all. And what about vintage boots? Nottingham and Leeds are full of amazing little vintage shops with hundreds of unique styles. I have a pair that have lasted me years and they're just as comfy and warm as any other pair of decent boots. Wellies are always cheap and cheerful and they're good for rainy days too!

You see, I believe too many girls have fallen into the Ugg trap because they don't know of any better solutions. It's human nature to copy off each other because as a race we are so afraid to be different. Don't get me wrong; by writing this I am not claiming to be the ultimate fashionista myself! I too make many fashion mistakes. But in the words of Peter Griffin, Ugg boots really grind my gears! If you truly enjoy the image of Uggs then fair enough, your style is your own and I am in no place to dictate about what you should wear. But if it's just warmth and comfort you're after, have a gander at something else; explore fashion! You may suprise yourself.

In the mean time save the Mother Uggers for a trip to Switzerland or something. You know, lots of snow. Then they'll truly serve a purpose in life.

Rant over.