Helen Of Troy... Please Try Harder

Well dear readers, the time has come for Helen Of Troy... to shapeshift yet again as we start our new residency at Underachievers Wednesday Sessions tomorrow night. We've got a cracking line-up for our inaugural event.

First up is the lovely Clare Helen, who combines intricate fretwork and honeyed vocals to tell tear-stained tales of 21st-century life.
www.myspace.com/clarehelen1

After a dose of beautiful acoustica, we'll jump to the other side of the musical spectrum with space-age pop trio Suki And The Science. This three-piece produce ethereal digi-pop guaranteed to get you dancing.
www.myspace.com/sukiandthescience

Before, between and after these live gems, the Helen Of Troy... DJs will be playing their usual selection of lovely lady music, with Grace Jones, Le Tigre, Brazilian Girls, thecocknbullkid and Carly Simon all scheduled for a spin.

We may have our first event ready to rock, but we're still on the look out for bands/musicians/filmmakers and artists to appear at future events. Drop us an email at clubhelenoftroy@googlemail.com if you have any ideas.

We're well excited about our Underachievers collaboration and hope y'all can make it down. The fun starts tomorrow (Weds 11th Feb) at 9pm and goes on til 1.30am, Saki Bar, Rusholme. It's free in, so there's no excuse.

Wednesdays are the new Fridays don't you know!

Helen Of Troy Asks For Help

As you may or may not know, Helen Of Troy Does Countertop Dancing is hosting Underachievers Please Try Harder's fabulous Wednesday Sessions, once a month at Saki Bar, starting on the 11th of February.

Alongside your usual dose of Helen's high-quality lady tunes, we want to feature a selection of local female talent; be it/she a band, solo artist, filmmaker, writer or other. The point of the night is to get as many like-minded people as possible in a room together and give them a chance to do what they do best, so we need your suggestions to make it work.

If you are, or know of, an awesome female artist who you think would be perfect for this all-inclusive night, please leave a comment, Facebook us, or email us at clubhelenoftroy@googlemail.com. We want the night to be as varied as possible, so don't let issues of genre or medium dissuade you from wading in. All comers are welcome - we can't wait to hear your suggestions.

Music Round-Up (4th Of Oct to 16th Oct)

Saturday 4th October – Underachievers All-Day Festival
If you’re looking to do something this weekend that will inform your musical landscape and won’t break the bank in the process (see how we think of you during these times of credit crunch madness), check out this eclectic all-dayer. Featuring live music from the likes of Molly Macleod, Extinguish Her and Vile Vile Creatures, plus guest DJ sets from the guys from Underachievers Please Try Harder, Ladyfest, and yep you guessed it… us.
http://www.myspace.com/underachieverstrying
Details: Rampant Lion, Anson Rd, Manchester
3pm, £4 entry on the door, £3 after 11pm.


Sunday 5th October – Ladyhawke
We’ve said all there is to say on this magnificently-modish popstrel, and now the time has come to don your Patti Smith t-shirts and your Daz-white jeans and watch the lady herself in action. If you need yet another reason to leave the house on a Sunday night (weirdos), how about the fact that hotly-tipped disco queen Little Boots is supporting.
http://www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock
Details: Roadhouse, Newton St, Central Manchester
7.30pm, £7.50 adv (excluding fees).


Friday 10th October – CSS
Last year we broke some kind of unofficial record as the people to have seen CSS the most in one year (not including festivals), but this year has been a somewhat different story - mainly due to the release of their slightly-underwhelming second album. Given the fact that the Bawdy Brazilians haven’t been seen in these parts for some time, it may be worth battling your way down the litter-filled Oxford Road and entering the jam-packed Students’ Union in the hope of a sneaky peak of Lovefoxxx’s newest catsuit!
http://www.myspace.com/canseidesersexy
Details: Academy 2, Oxford Rd, Central Manchester
7.30pm, £12.50 adv (excluding fees).


Friday 10th October -
Helen Of Troy Does Countertop Dancing
Once again we’ll be taking to the decks and spinning a stomping selection of girlie tunes for your very own pleasure. Also this month, we welcome special guest DJ Ben East, who has a freakishly encyclopedic knowledge of music, lady-led and otherwise. Expect to hear the likes of Ladyhawke, M.I.A., CSS, PJ Harvey, Santogold, The Long Blondes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Ting Tings,
Le Tigre and others.
http://www.myspace.com/helenoftroyclub
Details: Charlies, Harter St (off Princess St), Central Manchester
10pm, £4, £3 w/flyer or valid NUS.