New Kids on the
Block!
Sweet Storm blows them
away at Silsden!
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THERE IS A NEW NAME on the scene, Sweet Storm, comprising five girls singing Gospel and Soul. Sweet Storm came into being quite by accident, late on the Saturday night at the 1998 Ironbridge Festival. We just began to sing and for some reason the harmonies just fell into place, and everyone there said how good it sounded. Then Mark Pugh (Nola’s Dad) said “Why don’t you get some songs together for the band competition at the Yorkshire Dales Festival?” . We thought about it but didn’t really think we’d make it on stage. But much to our surprise we did, and it was absolutely nerve wracking. And we loved ever minute of it! The Down County Boys were doing the sound at the Conwy Festival and very kindly showed us how to sing into the mics together on stage for the first time ever. Three of us had never even held a mic! There was no audience apart from some friends and family who were there to give a bit of moral support, but it just made me much more nervous!
Our next hurdle was at the Yorkshire Dales Festival, in front of an audience. We sang and practised solidly for the full day beforehand, with Carmen breathing down our necks every few minutes. “Don’t stop, this is the only chance you’re going to get. You have got to get it right!” We didn’t really like her cracking the whip quite so much, however we are glad she did. We found that when we were nervous the worst thing was actually getting on the stage and then getting past the first line correctly. But once past that we were sailing. For some reason in Yorkshire it all just fell into place - don’t ask me why, it just worked. Hearing the reaction from the audience was amazing for our confidence - it gave us the guts to carry on. I know we were only on stage for about ten minutes, but to us it was a really big achievement. It has definitely given us the incentive to learn more material and go for it next year. Who’s in the band? Clover Turner (age 19) sings most of the lead parts with such a loud voice she doesn’t really need a mic. A qualified child minder, she helps to run the local play group and works part time at a hotel. Debbi Koskie, from another talented family, sings and plays double bass. At college doing A Levels and the quiet one in the group; definitely one of the Sweet Ones, like Nola. Nola Pugh is the baby of the bunch at just 15 years young and plays the violin. Nola has to be split from Debbi while on stage because of laughing fits. Obviously she gets her talents from her parents who were, and may be again, two thirds of Hired Hands. Aged 18, Katty Greenan, like Clover, is a qualified Child minder She and Clover have been best friends since schooldays. They make a great double act and are the Storm of the group. Clover’s elder sister Holly Turner is oldest of the five at 21. Though at Salford University doing a Degree in Television and Radio, she works part time in a hotel. Holly is the one who shouts at the other members when they're not. paying attention. Debbie and Nola are the master minds behind our harmonies.
And the outcome at Yorkshire? Well, we won the Best
Upstarts! Jane on Thunder won it last year and look how good they are now.
A man who had a bar in Leeds heard us and booked us to sing on the Sunday
night after the Silsden Festival and as a result we did our first gig, even
though we knew only four songs! So who knows? Interest has been expressed
by the organisers of Edale and Ironbridge...
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