Meet the 14-year-old Salford musician who played to a sold-out Lads Club crowd
From humble beginnings starting his music journey in Irlams o' th' Height to the iconic Salford Lads Club, a 14-years-old musician is set to become an iconic name in the Greater Manchester music scene
In this week’s newsletter, we speak to a 14-year-old musician who has dreams of becoming the next Salford musician to break out of the city.
The newsletter will also look at the campaign to return the Salford Victoria Theatre back to former glory, Salford City’s exciting FA Cup draw against Manchester City, and the campaign to save Salford’s forgotten waterways.
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"Headlining Salford Lads Club to a sold out crowd... that was amazing"
As children we all have dreams of meeting our heroes, performing on stage, scoring the winning goal or following the footsteps of our idols.
Many of us are left shooting into an empty net in our garden or have to settle for singing in the shower, but at the age of 14, John Denton is living the dream.
The 14-year-old musician has already performed in front of Salford City fans at the Peninsula Stadium in Bucks Bar, as well as the iconic Salford Lads Club, with his former band.
John will be aiming to etch his name into the long list of musical legends from Greater Manchester and with the dream of performing at his beloved Manchester United’s stadium, Old Trafford.
From the age of seven John has had a passion for music, taking influence from bands including Oasis, The Smiths, Stone Roses, and AC/DC. It was this love for music that took him beyond the stages of being an avid listener.
“I properly started playing my guitar at the age of eight, and it was when I started taking playing music seriously and started getting better,” he recalls.
“I would say to anyone do music because you enjoy it - but also learn why you love it before you put the effort in. I think without music in my life it would be very different now.”
And it was his passion for music that was able to get the young man recognised for his hard work and desires to succeed in the music industry - winning the The Salford Foundation Trust Johnny Marr award after he was recognised as a 12-year-old busking in Manchester.
The Smiths guitarist described John as ‘the real deal’ - and the young musicians recalls the enormous impact speaking with Marr had.
“Johnny was my absolute hero - and I am not just saying that because I won the award! He was way before and to receive that off of him was unreal.
“I was so happy to meet him and get the award as it allowed me to skip PE, so that was a bonus…”
But the award hasn’t come without hard work. John’s ambition and desire to succeed belies his young age.
“I have worked really hard, and to get that awarded to me was so great.
“I am writing as much as I can just to keep improving and I just want to make as many songs as I can - I think that what every guitarist wants to do.”
John played his first gig in the former Malaga Drift coffee shop in Eccles at the age 11, but it wasn’t until long until he reached more iconic venues.
“Primary school was pretty boring - but a teaching assistant always used to play guitar with me.
“Her dad was a volunteer at Salford Lads Club and that support from her allowed me to get my first gig there at 12.”
“It was the best experience I ever had on stage was the chance to perform at Salford Lads Club.
“When I was in a band - we used to do gigs all the time. But headlining Salford Lads Club to a sold out crowd - that was amazing."
With GCSEs on the horizon, most would be directing their focus to revision and exam papers, but not this young man as he continues to make further strides in the music industry.
And why would you stop you dream?
John has already been able to have so much success , writing a single called “One To Another” with his former band, which was picked up by the club and Adidas for a kit launch before the single had even been released.
“To be a local lad and the song being used for our local club, was pretty special - hopefully Manchester United call next.”
Salford Victoria Theatre Trust in high spirits after the building fails to sell at auction
The Salford Victoria Theatre Trust are in high spirits after no bids were made towards the historic venue after it was reportedly listed at £700,000.
The lack of bids for the venue meant that the trust can continue to negotiate to maintain the theatre for community use.
The trust has long been in negotiation with the current private owners and want to ensure that theatre can get back to its roots and “restore it to its former glory.” Read more here.
“A tombstone on the canal” – Campaign launched to save Salford’s forgotten waterway
A canal society is campaigning to stop a new development hiding the heritage of Salford’s forgotten canal, memorialised in the song Dirty Old Town.
Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal Society (MBBCS) is campaigning against plans to build 204 apartments that would see an ‘incredible piece of civil engineering’ in Salford buried and ensure that any prospect of the canal being restored are frustrated.
The plans would see the remaining canal towpath buried under vegetation alongside a new apartment block, while a new walkway would be built on the site of the old canal. Read more here.
Stick Man production to be livestreamed to children hospitals this Christmas
The production of the Stick Man is to be live-streamed from the Lowry stage to children’s hospitals across the North West this Christmas.
After the success of previous years, Lowry’s annual hospital live-stream has expanded, and will see the performance broadcasted to hospitals on December 19. Read more here
Salford City face trip to Premier League Champions Manchester City in FA Cup Third Round
Salford City face a trip to the Etihad Stadium after drawing reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Ammies booked their place in the FA Cup third round proper for the first time in their history with a convincing win 2-0 over League two rivals Cheltenham Town on Saturday. Read more here.
What’s On in Salford this week
🎭 Come from Away will take to the Lowry stage - The winner of four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical in London and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical on Broadway. The show will share the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11. Read more here.
🎵A night of ‘Christmas melodies and choral singing’ is promised at the Worsley Concert band Christmas Concert at Eccles’ Victorian ballroom. Read more here
🛍️ Salford Makers Market will run in Salford Quays and will bring together independent artisans, makers and businesses to create brilliant, local community markets, which will run every weekend in the lead to Christmas. Read more here.
💡 Salford Lightwaves is now at Salford Quays this week - and will look to illuminate the waterways. The show will encourage guests to visit Salford Quays and follow the light trail and explore the work of artists from across Europe. Read more here.
Our photo of the week: Eccles Junction, Patricroft 1962
Taken from the high rise flats near St. Mary’s Church in 1963, the image shows a standard LMS 0-6-0T shunting through the Eccles Junction by Patricroft.
The London, Midland and Scottish train is photographed from the view eastward from footbridge at Patricroft station, towards Salford and Manchester. The station is on Green Lane, just north of the junction with Cromwell Road and just east of the Bridgewater Canal.
The junction is situated on the world's first inter-city passenger railway, between Liverpool and Manchester, and is also located close to the world's first commercial canal.
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