Collector's Corner: Nick Allport

In this new edition of Collector's Corner we talk to Nick Allport, concert promoter and founder of UK indie labels Che and Club AC30. Living in Portugal for 5 years now, he's been busy bringing great live acts to the west region of Portugal with Cartaxo Sessions, but he exceeded himself with this year's Reverence festival (a heavy psych smorgasbord featuring bands like Hawkwind, The Black Angels or Electric Wizard) which takes place in September in the village of Valada. On this interview, Nick recollects his crazy days in the mid-to-late 80s UK indie scene and comes clean about sound level abuse on the countryside.
What led you to become interested in music and records?
I guess from an early age my mum used to play music around the house. She was a big Beatles fan and had all the albums up to Sergeant Pepper, she loved Dylan too, and later on Kate Bush and Abba. I got a radio when I was 10, and used to listen to stuff at night in bed. But it was listening to John Peel when I was a bit older that I started hearing bands that I became obsessed with when I was older, Jesus & Mary Chain, Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen, Bad Seeds, that sort of thing.

What made you transit from being a music lover to a record label owner/concert promoter? Was it chance or a will to share your favourite music with the world?
I think it was more about wanting to be involved in some way. I couldn't play any instruments, although it did try to learn guitar for a while, but I was hopeless. So I started off doing a fanzine with a friend, we used to have these flexidiscs with them sometimes, and eventually the fanzine sort of faded away and then it became a proper record label when we met The Telescopes and started working with them. Promoting shows didn't come until much later. My brother did some shows when he was at college in Salisbury, Manic Street Preachers was one of them actually. And when we started Club AC30 in 2003 the main purpose was to promote live shows in London.

Do you still get a chill down your spine when you listen to an exciting new band? Do you feel the urge of trying to sign them?
I think I get that more from seeing a band live rather than listening to a record. I remember seeing Whipping Boy for the first time, this would have been 1989 I guess, at the Falcon in Camden. They were absolutely incredible. I don't listen to music all the time because I find it can be quite emotionally draining, I have to be in the mood. But now I live in the country, when everyone's out I can open the doors and really blast it out across the vineyards. That always feels good...

Which is the band you're most proud of having signed to one of your labels?
I don't think anything will beat those first couple of years of The Telescopes, going from tiny rooms in pubs to main stage at Reading Festival. That was a crazy time. There were some really dodgy moments, a lot of audience violence with them for some reason. They supported Primal Scream at ULU one time, it was a particularly difficult show, people spitting and throwing stuff, lots of drugs around. Some of the records we did on Che were really great as well, the first Disco Inferno album is amazing, although the band will deny that.

Format of choice: vinyl or CD?
Vinyl, without a doubt! I do own a lot of CD's actually, but I don't really play them much these days. I have a 1974 National Panasonic record player that a friend sold me, sounds really nice, so I play my records on that.

What is the most important album of your life?
I think the album that probably changed my life was Treasure by Cocteau Twins. I'd never heard anything like that, and it totally immersed me in alternative noisy music. But I guess the most important album was probably Psychocandy. I was obsessed with Jesus & Mary Chain in the mid 80's. I can't even listen to that these days...

What was the last record that amazed you?
In recent times, two records come to mind. Titans by Black Bombaim, which is an incredibly brave record to release these days. Four track double album, all tracks between 10 and 20 minutes long, basically instrumental, absolutely amazing record. And then Dead Magick by Dead Skeletons, when I first heard Dead Mantra I was hooked, those guys are really out on the edge, and there's something really evil about the sound they make. They played one of their first shows at CCC in Cartaxo, we had nearly 200 people, one of the best shows I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of shows.

What is the one record that you don't have and you're most looking for?
There's not really anything in particular, but I am trying to accumulate good condition copies of the Hawkwind early albums. I have some of the reissues, but it's not quite the same as having the originals.

Tell me an interesting story about buying records, either because of the purchase process itself, or for the importance (commercial or emotional) of the records in question.
For me what I really love is when a record is created by a band or a label and you can see the love. I remember buying Land Beyond the Sun 7" by Flying Saucer Attack at Sister Ray in Berwick Street, hand written numbers (I had #13), and stamped with cut up potatoes. There's been numerous times when I've sat on my own, or with a group of people, numbering sleeves, putting records in bags. We did this single with a band called Tindersticks on Che in 1992, a 10" single called Marbles, and all of us sat around their dining table folding and stamping, putting these beautful records together. We sold 2500 of that record before we gave up making them, it makes me a bit sad because that couldn’t happen these days.


Check out Nick Allport's Club AC30 artists and releases, and make sure you buy your ticket to Reverence Valada (it's cheaper until the end of the day)!

Have you enjoyed this article? Then take a look at the previous editions of Collector's Corner with Paulo Coelho and Rui Miguel Abreu.

Next week's Live Music suggestions: 1st to 5th July

July starts next week and the effects of the summer break are becoming noticeable, as the live music offer begins to wane. Even so, there are still plenty of reasons to go out at night and enjoy a show! Take a look:

1/7, Tuesday
Extreme [hard rock/pop]
Armazém F (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:00 - € 24.00
Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio & Rodrigo Pinheiro [jazz/experimental]
Goethe Institut (near Campo Mártires da Pátria) -> location of the venue
19:00 - € 5.00

2/7, Wednesday
Dead Neck + A Life To Take + Same Old Chords + Treehouse [hardcore/punk/metal]
Fantasma (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:30 - € 5.00
Weisse Wände [jazz/improv/spoken word]
Goethe Institut (near Campo Mártires da Pátria) -> location of the venue
19:00 - € 5.00
Guardian Alien + Equations [psych/hardcore/experimental]
Galeria Zé dos Bois (in Bairro Alto) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 8.00

3/7, Thursday
Umberto Petrin [jazz/solo piano]
Goethe Institut (near Campo Mártires da Pátria) -> location of the venue
19:00 - € 5.00
Murdering Tripping Blues [indie/rock n' roll]
Sabotage Club (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 5.00
"EDP Cool Jazz" w/ Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club [cuban son/world]
Marquês de Pombal Palace garden [Oeiras] -> location of the venue
22:30 - from € 25.00 to € 50.00

4/7, Friday
Tó Trips + Bubacar Djabaté [world/solo guitar]
Galeria Zé dos Bois (in Bairro Alto) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 8.00
"EDP Cool Jazz" w/ Earth, Wind & Fire Experience + Da Chick [funk/soul/indie]
Marquês de Pombal Palace garden [Oeiras] -> location of the venue
21:30 - from € 25.00 to € 45.00

5/7, Saturday
"O Exílio no Minho" w/ Sallim + Vaiapraia + Izzy Bunny [indie/singer-songwriter/experimental]
Casa dos Amigos do Minho (near Intendente) -> location of the venue
18:00 - € 3.00
Francisco Pais Lotus Project [vocal jazz/pop]
Martim Moniz -> location of the venue
17:00 - free admission

Next week's Live Music suggestions: 23rd to 28th June

The official start of Summer is coming our way, though the Sun has been greeting us for some time now. Anyways, it's as good a reason as any to celebrate - take a look at our live music selection and party on!

23/6, Monday
João Lencastre & Vojtech Prochazka & Demian Cabaud [jazz/improv/experimental]
Culturgest (near Campo Pequeno) -> location of the venue
21:30 - € 5.00
Stick to Your Guns + Backflip + Brace Yourself + Dear Watson [hardcore/alt.rock]
República da Música (near Alvalade) -> location of the venue
20:00 - € 10.00 presale / € 12.00 at the door

25/6, Wednesday
Brass Wires Orchestra [indie/folk/pop]
Armazém F (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - € 9.99 (tickets for sale on FNAC stores only, together with the new CD)
Comeback Kid + Shape + Same Old Chords [punk/hardcore]
MusicBox (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
20:30 - € 15.00

26/6, Thursday
The Youth [indie/rock]
Garagem da Graça (near Graça) -> location of the venue
22:30 - € 2.00
Bombino [world/blues/rock]
Largo do Intendente (near Intendente) -> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
White Haus [indie/electronica]
MusicBox (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - € 6.00 / € 10.00 including new CD

27/6, Friday
Moullinex [indie/rock/electronica]
Centro Cultural de Belém -> location of the venue
21:00 - from € 11.00 to € 13.50
"74.14" w/ Henrique Feist + Lúcia Moniz + FF + Vanessa + Rui Andrade + Diana Monteiro [pop/rock]
Coliseu dos Recreios (near Rossio) -> location of the venue
21:30 - from € 12.00 to € 30.00 (also on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th)
Kazimoto + Jupiter & Okwess International [world/electronica/african folk]
Largo do Intendente (near Intendente) -> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
Marafona [folk/jazz]
Teatro do Bairro (in Bairro Alto) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 5.00
Filipe Melo & Bruno Santos & Benny Golson [jazz]
Teatro Tivoli (on Av. Liberdade) -> location of the venue
21:30 - from € 8.00 to € 15.00

28/6, Saturday
Ash is a Robot + Trono de Sangre + EMMA [post-hardcore/alt.rock/post-rock]
Fantasma (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
23:00 - € 5.00
Ricardo Gordo [fado/metal]
FNAC Chiado (near Baixa-Chiado)-> location of the venue
17:00 - free admission
General D [hip hop/world]
Largo do Intendente (near Intendente) -> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
Victoire Oberkampf + M-Pex [singer-songwriter/fado/electronica]
RDA 69 (near Anjos)-> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
Veecious V [hip hop/R&B/electronica]
Santiago Alquimista (near Castelo de São Jorge) -> location of the venue
23:00 - € 10.00
Subway Riders + The Dirty Coal Train [rock n'roll]
Galeria Zé dos Bois (in Bairro Alto) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 6.00
Punk Sinatra [punk/rock]
Sabotage Club (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - € 5.00

Next week's Live Music suggestions: 15th to 21st June

After the beginning of the World Cup fever and the end of Saint Anthony's madness, here comes another beautiful sunny week in Lisbon! We have a lot of great live music for you, with special attention to next Thursday, when the Cais do Sodré area will be flooded by FREE live events! Take a look:

15/6, Sunday
Clark [indie/pop/post-punk]
FNAC Colombo (near Colégio Militar/Luz) -> location of the venue
18:00 - free admission
União das Tribos [rock/funk/pop]
FNAC Vasco da Gama (near Oriente / Parque das Nações) -> location of the venue
17:00 - free admission
Miley Cyrus [pop]
Meo Arena (near Oriente / Parque das Nações) -> location of the venue
20:00 - from € 40.00 to € 65.00

16/6, Monday
Memória de Peixe + (tba) [indie/pop/post-rock]
MusicBox (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:30 - € 5.00
Caspian + Lehnen + Katabatic [atmospheric metal/post-rock]
RCA Club (near Alvalade)-> location of the venue
20:30 - € 14.00

18/6, Wednesday
Gary War [electronica/psych/experimental]
Lounge (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - free admission
Rodrigo Amado Wire Quartet [free jazz/experimental]
Galeria Zé dos Bois (in Bairro Alto) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 6.00

19/6, Thursday
Yvan Volochine + Krodelabestiole [noise/experimental]
Bartô - Chapitô (near Castelo de São Jorge) -> location of the venue
22:30
"NOS em Palco":
- Dealema + Capicua + 5-30 [hip hop/rock]
Central Station (near Ribeira / Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:00 - free admission
- Voxels [electronica/dance]
Bica elevator (near Bica / Bairro Alto) -> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
- Chibazqui + Tape Junk + Minta & The Brook Trout [indie/folk/rock/singer-songwriter]
ETIC (near Santos / Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:30 - free admission
- Stereossauro + Octa Push [electronica/hip hop/dance]
Europa (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - free admission
- Red Trio [contemporary jazz]
Boavista 73 gallery (near Santos) -> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
- You Can't Win, Charlie Brown + Best Youth [indie/post-rock/electronica/pop]
Largo de São Paulo (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:00 - free admission
- Stereoboy + Ermo [indie/electronica]
Lounge (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
- D'Alva + Mirror People + Sequin [indie/rock/electronica/pop]
MusicBox (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - free admission
- Márcia + Time for T + Little Friend [indie/singer-songwriter]
Pensão Amor (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:30 - free admission
- António Zambujo & Amigos (Ana Moura, Luísa Sobral, Miguel Araújo e Rancho de Cantadores da Aldeia Nova de São Bento) [fado/pop]
Praça do Município (near Terreiro do Paço / Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:30 - free admission
- Matilha + Duquesa + Nicotine's Orchestra [indie/alt.rock]
Sabotage Club (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:00 - free admission
- Rosemary Baby + Pedro Puppe + Ciclo Preparatório [indie/pop/rock]
Tokyo (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:30 - free admission
- Francis Dale + Pedro Lucas + Ana Cláudia [indie/singer-songwriter/soul]
Velha Senhora (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
21:30 - free admission

20/6, Friday
Maria Gadú [pop/MPB]
Coliseu dos Recreios (near Rossio) -> location of the venue
21:00 - from € 20.00 to € 60.00
DJ Shadow [hip hop/experimental]
Lux (near Santa Apolónia) -> location of the venue
24:00 - € 15.00
Quest: Luís Fernandes & Joana Gama [neo-classical/electronica/experimental]
Teatro Municipal Maria Matos (near Roma) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 12.00

21/6, Saturday
Big Sir [indie/electronica/pop/trip-hop]
Casa Independente (near Intendente) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 10.00
Puto Português [angolan semba/world]
Coliseu dos Recreios (near Rossio) -> location of the venue
21:30 - € 25.00
Real Combo Lisbonense [MPB/vocal jazz/pop]
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (near Praça de Espanha) -> location of the venue
21:30 - € 15.00
Avartan [neo-classical/world/pop]
Museu do Oriente (near Alcântara) -> location of the venue
21:30 - € 8.00
Architects + More Than A Thousand + Close Your Eyes + The Year + Martyr Defiled [post-hardcore/metalcore]
República da Música (near Alvalade) -> location of the venue
23:00 - € 24.00
Cubasón [cuban son/world]
Teatro Rápido (near Chiado) -> location of the venue
23:00 - € 7.50

Next week's Live Music suggestions: 8th to 14th June

Hello again, music lovers! Don't be scared by the clouds on Lisbon skies, they won't be here for long. You would be better preparing yourselves for another week filled with great live music (with a special treat on the weekend for all you 80's fans out there)!

8/6, Sunday
Hugo Torres [pop]
FNAC Vasco da Gama (near Oriente / Parque das Nações) -> location of the venue
17:00 - free admission
Cochaise + O Cão da Morte [indie/alt.rock]
Jardim da Estrela (near Estrela) -> location of the venue
18:00 - free admission

9/6, Monday
OliveTreeDance [world/dance]
FNAC Chiado (near Baixa-Chiado)-> location of the venue
19:00 - free admission
Lifafa [electronica/ambient/bollywood]
Lounge (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - free admission
Marta Ren [funk/soul]
MusicBox (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - € 8.00
Filipe Felizardo + João Dória [solo guitar/folk/noise/experimental]
Galeria Zé dos Bois (in Bairro Alto) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 6.00
Lone Lisbonairs + A Big Church of Fire [blues/rock n' roll]
Sabotage Club (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - € 5.00

10/6, Tuesday
Clark [indie/pop/post-punk]
FNAC Chiado (near Baixa-Chiado)-> location of the venue
19:00 - free admission

11/6, Wednesday
The Bourbons [hard rock/alt.rock]
Cineclube de Telheiras (near Telheiras) -> location of the venue
21:30 - € 4,00
Vinicio Capossela [canzone/pop]
Teatro Tivoli (on Av. Liberdade) -> location of the venue
21:30 - from € 15.00 to € 25.00

12/6, Thursday
Lura [Cape Verde folk/world/pop]
Centro Cultural de Belém -> location of the venue
21:00 - from € 12.00 to € 30.00
Uaninauei [alt.rock]
FNAC Vasco da Gama (near Oriente / Parque das Nações) -> location of the venue
18:30 - free admission
Red Bull's "O Santo Vertical" w/ Capitão Fausto + Blaya + Sensible Soccers + The Discotexas Band [indie/alt.rock/electronica/dance]
Largo do Intendente (near Intendente) -> location of the venue
19:00 - free admission
Nuno Guedes Campos 4teto [contemporary jazz]
Sociedade de Instrução Guilherme Cossoul (near Santos) -> location of the venue
22:00 - € 5.00

13/6, Friday
"ERP Remember Cascais" w/ Kim Wilde + Rick Astley + Lena d'Água & Rock'n'Roll Station [pop/rock]
Hipódromo Manuel Possolo [Cascais] -> location of the venue
21:00 - € 30.00

14/6, Saturday
"ERP Remember Cascais" w/ Billy Ocean + Bananarama + Barry White Show [pop/rock/soul]
Hipódromo Manuel Possolo [Cascais] -> location of the venue
21:00 - € 30.00
"Musicbox Heineken Series" w/ Jon Hopkins + Jibóia + Bangkok Snobiety + Dupplo [electronica/dance]
MusicBox (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
24:00 - € 14.00
"Groovie Records Birthday Party" w/ Autoramas + The Skeptics + Thee O.B.'s [rock n' roll/psych rock]
Sabotage Club (near Cais do Sodré) -> location of the venue
22:30 - € 5.00
Pedro Balse & World Chill Band [pop/world/chillout]
Teatro Rápido (near Chiado) -> location of the venue
23:00 - € 5.00