DarkSparks

Picture Without Sound – Single Launch Event – 16 March, The Harley

Adam — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:47:32 +0000

We are delighted to announce the official release of our brand new single, ‘Picture Without Sound’. Recorded at Sheffield’s very own Yellow Arch studios we have found that our new track has been deliciously recorded and mixed by Hawley producer/bass player, Colin Elliot – a big fan of the band.

Releasing this with a bang, we’ve hired The Harley and hand-picked 2 ace Sheffield supporting artists – Kalenko and Flamingo Love Parade. They are both renowned locally for their musicianship and great stage shows. Thats why we got them in!

Entry is £3 and we are giving away free CD copies of the single plus a number of bonus tracks. Cos we are good to you.

Here’s a link to the event on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=353428832564&ref=mf.

Bring your friends, lovers, Mothers and Cousins and dance the night away with us long haired fellows!!!

Two ace write ups on What’s Wrong With The Mainstream

Leigh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:35:29 +0000

What’s Wrong With The Mainstream is a dead good blog so we’re delighted that two of their writers have said dead nice things about us.
On January 19 they posted a link to our free single We Are Just Flies and wrote:

We first came across Dark Sparks when they provided the local support to Good Shoes and Wild Palms at the Leadmill in Sheffield before Christmas. The sparse crowd were treated to a very accomplished set which started, albeit a little timidly, by this song “We are just flies”. The band remind me very much of The Young Knives, with a Noel Fielding-esque front man in Leigh Greenwood. The best song of a darkly-entertaining set was “Picture without sound” which Leigh promised to make available free on their website once they had recorded it early in 2010, so watch this space, Dark Sparks are coming into the light.
http://whatswrongwiththemainstream.blogspot.com/2010/01/we-are-just-flies-dark-sparks.html

Then a couple of weeks later another writer said:

Earlier in the month Schonberg told you about Dark Sparks and picked out We Are Just Flies. For the end of month playlist I thought I’d bring you the other track from the same EP. I’m looking forward to hearing the track Schonberg heard live that we’re told will be available this year.

Musical Exuberance: “An act to look out for!”

Adam — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:25:17 +0000

Great live review of our gig with Bang Bang Eche and Polka Party in London at The Fly in awesome blog site ‘Musical Exuberance’. We seem to be picking up quite a lot of these recently so looking forward to our first live gigs after we’ve recorded Picture Without Sound!

http://musicalexuberance.blogspot.com/2009/11/bang-bang-eche-polka-party-dark-sparks.html

SATURDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2009
Bang Bang Eche, Polka Party, Dark Sparks @ The Fly
A night of impressive drummers.
Opening up was Sheffield’s Dark Sparks. I really enjoyed these guys, really tight with big drums and a great groove that sounded far less emo than expected. Fronted by the vocally strong, synth wielding Leigh Greenwood this was definitely an act to look out for again.
It took me a little while to get into Polka Party but after a few songs (and a few beers) I started to enjoy their raw-ness. Another great drummer, looking effortless through a fairly taxing set.
All the way from New Zealand were the synth-punk Bang! Bang! Eche! and pretty damn cool. Between the killer samples and the ‘fuck you’ demeanor, the whole band rocked out really hard, with barely a moment between tracks. In a few years these guys have had success in the US with their debut EP, and have been playing the festival circuits, so this was an awesome chance to see them in a small venue right up close.
Not a bad venue, nothing flash but better than your average basement.

Great new live videos now online

Adam — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:13:37 +0000

We’ve put up some great new live videos from our recent outings.
First up there’s an amazing live video from our gig at O2 Academy in Sheffield. You can see us playing Last Night Love Died here. Then we’ve got a great video of us in the BBC Radio Sheffield studio playing Confetti Hearts live on air! Click here to see it.

Crying in the Spotlight on Sum The Greater mixtape

Leigh — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 11:05:46 +0000

Don’t you just love mixtapes?
Great news if so as our track Crying in the Spotlight has been included on the latest one from ace new music blog ‘Sum The Greater’.
They say:

“Sheffield’s Dark Sparks are a tough band to put a finger on — they border on indie, alternative radio rock, and even emo. One way or another, they have an appealing sound and will undoubtedly continue to grow in the UK.”

To visit the website and hear their latest top tips click here.

O2 gig aired on BBC Radio Sheff – 17 Dec

Adam — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:46:59 +0000

Tune in to BBC Radio Sheffield tonight between 7 and 10pm to hear highlights from last month’s gig at O2 Academy. The whole show was recorded by the amazing Higher Ryhthm and will be aired on tonight’s equally amazing BBC Raw Talent show with DJ Iain Hodgeson.

You can listen live by going here or you can use the listen again feature to hear us for up to one week after the show was aired. Just go here and play the ‘Raw Talent’ show.

Sheffield Music Scene’s review of us from the night started ‘wow what a band!’ so it’s gotta be worth tuning in – especially if you’ve not seen us live yet…. x

‘Wow what a band!’ says Sheff Music Scene review

Adam — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:09:29 +0000

Absolutely brilliant live review of our gig at O2 Academy in the latest issue of the excellent Sheffield Music Scene mag. Better than Echo and the Bunnymen and Editors they say!
Go to http://sheffieldmusicscene.blogspot.com to read the full article. The gig is reviewed on pages 65-70 and I reckon we were the reviewers favourite band – no mean feat considering the number of ace bands playing that night. Check out the rest of the mag too – it’s a brilliant way to keep up to date on what’s happening music wise in Sheffield.

In the meantime here is a short extract….

SHEFFIELD MUSIC SCENE – issue 13
O2 Academy, Sunday 15th November (BBC Raw Talent)
…Next up Dark Sparks. Wow what a band! Fresh, driven and eager to please our tympanic membranes with mood pop not dissimilar to Editors or Echo and the Bunnymen but, dare I say… better?
Far from being new to the music scene, Leigh Adam, Steve, Simon and Tez have already had substantial airplay on Kerrang Radio and have graced the airwaves in Germany and New York!
Their set at the academy, full of dramatic, dark, flamboyant texture – like rich 90% cocoa chocolate dressed in purple velvet – grabbed your attention and kept it. If you can, check out their acoustic samples, set in what looks like someones living room at www.youtube.com/ilovedarksparks. It will have you hooked.
Their current single We Are Just Flies is already out and available on itunes. Get it, get it, get it and see them at their upcoming London gigs in January…..

Read the full story at http://sheffieldmusicscene.blogspot.com

Pix up on BBC Sheff from O2 gig

Adam — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:59:16 +0000

Some great pictures from our gig at O2 the other week for BBC Radio Sheffield.
Go to the BBC Sheffield & South Yorkshire website here to view.
If you’ve got any photos of us scruffy lot feel free to send them in to us!
x

Few tix left for Good Shoes gig at Leadmill

Adam — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:55:11 +0000

Tickets for our gig with Good Shoes at the Leadmill are selling out really fast, so if you’d like to order any please do email us as soon as possible at darksparks@live.com
They’re a brilliant pop band so we can’t wait to play with them! It’s gonna be such a great show!
The Leadmill have been incredibly kind and we have a handful of exclusive tickets left that get you into the gig and the clubnight for just £3!!! (rather than £8 at the venue)
It’s our last Sheffield gig of the year so hope you can join us.
x

At The Fly tonight with Bang Bang Eche!

Adam — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:33:21 +0000

Just setting off for what should be an amazing gig with the superb Bang Bang Eche and Polka Party.
It’s at The Fly on New Oxford Street, London. Visit the gigs section for Google maps.
Can’t wait! x