Luton Music blog talks to a man who deserves a heart of gold for his services to children... by bringing them Metal!
In this Luton music profile we take a closer look at Mr David Brady who is one third of the D.T.A promotions agency. Dave has been bringing some of the best top hardcore and metal bands to Luton.The likes of H20, Gallows, Ghost Frequency & St Albans own Enter Shakari have all played D.T.A shows in the past, and Dave is still bringing music to the kids as many of the 14 & 15 year olds cram into the basement of student's union most weekends. He jokingly points out he deserves a heart of gold award, “I mean seriously if it wasn’t for D.T.A most of these kids would be drinking cheap cider in the park. Instead there going crazy for some cool bands.”
Music was a big part of Dave’s life early on, and kindly remembers his mum singing Irish rebel songs and listening to his dad’s blues records as a kid. Dave came to Luton in 2000 to study at the university. “Luton has changed so much when I first came here there was no ‘scene’ not even a pub playing live music.” Dave became frustrated with the lack of music venues in the town, and got together with friends Tom Jackson & Andy O’Hara D.T.A was formed. Initially through contacts D.T.A started to put on shows at the students union, with the first show headlined by Enter Shakari. “It’s pretty cool to say that we gave Enter Shakiri one of there first headline slots” smirks Dave as I sit down with him before the recent This is Hell show at the student union, Dave seems pretty tired rightly so as he explains he travelled back and forth to Brighton to pick and drop off various bands.
But up in the secluded offices of the student union he offers me some insight into the precise and inner workings of the company. “We basically put on bands that we think are cool and that people will come too importantly.” A simple ethos then and one that recently has been working quite well, the last show D.T.A out on sold out and Dave was expecting a big crowd tonight. “This should pull in the kids from St Albans, Harpenden even Bedford hopefully, it should be quality.” That’s the important thing with D.T.A music, it’s not just Luton it’s the surrounding areas that matter especially St Albans, who have a booming hardcore scene thanks to D.T.A favourites Your Demise. “St Albans Hardcore is big; I would say most of our shows have a few St Albans kids milling about you get to recognise faces.”
Such faces have built up D.T.A to where they are now, one of the most high profile hardcore promo agencies in the South-East. They rely on the constant stream of 14 & 15 year olds who make up the majority of the faces at the shows, and I personally know many people who all hang out together off the back off meeting at the student union and going to gigs when they where younger. “It’s pretty good to see when it’s going well just groups of people getting together and listening to music, But when it’s bad it’s horrible when like 30 people have turned up in a venue that holds 300 not cool.” Admits Dave, but all of which has been a learning curve for the early days at D.T.A. who admits now D.T.A has struck a good balance, “attendance is pretty good for bigger acts I am just frustrated when people complain how shit Luton music is and don’t even turn up to big shows on their door.”
It seems that you cannot please all of the people all of the time, and increasingly Dave is getting pestered via text to come down stairs and lug some equipment about the union. “Oh forget that we’ll finish up here first!” Proclaims Dave who’s upbeat persona is infectious just like his passion for Luton Music, “Well we are putting on a all dayer soon just with Luton bands just to say thanks, lately we have been pushing touring American bands hard, and it’s always been about local talent for us so this show will be great.” And so it ends the recording stops and the serious talk begins as we walk down into the venue and talk about his first memories of Luton “It’s just full of chicken shops, it’s crazy Luton must have the highest chicken shop per square mile ratio in the world! But Roosters is the best by a mile, the others are awful.”
So I leave Dave as he chats away to the bands in the union, and out onto a dreary Friday evening in Luton town. But at least i am comforted as I realise it isn’t all bleak in this satellite town, D.T.A along with a host of other characters are slowly putting Luton on the map show by show.
Visit D.T.A's Website Here! It's full of cool dates for your musical Diary Next up is Dividing the Line on May 2nd @ The students union enjoy there Scremo-ness with the defiant "Hear my words"
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