More than Just the Music...

So of course most people with an interest in the local music scene will be aware that HippyHaze 2012 is a 'who's who' of the Stoke scene. With forty local bands spanning a variety of genres (yes, we threw country and folk in with indie and heavy rock... sue us!) HippyHaze will be an excellent opportunity to hear some raw talent, meet a bunch of new people and escape from the real world for three whole days. Well, as if that's not enough, we've also thrown together a nice chunk of retail and refreshment stalls in order to make sure that you're never hungry or naked. Unless of course you want to be, and you're in the privacy of your own tent. Or someone else's in a consensual tryst... We digress.

We thought we'd write this quick post in order to let you know about some great local businesses that HippyHaze 2012 will be supporting over the Easter weekend. Let's start with the food, shall we? We know that's what we'll be hunting down all weekend!

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The Hippy Hippy Shake Company Milkshakes...

 

Shameless plug we know, but when The Hippy Hippy Shake Company presents a music festival it would be somewhat bizarre if we weren't serving our delicious beverages throughout the event. Now, we know our shakes are yummy enough as they are what with chocolate bars and sweeties all blended up inside. Plus, we've also got breakfast covered with our refreshing frozen fruit smoothies. However, we've decided to 'mix things up' a bit (did you see what we did there?) So for the first time in Hippy Hippy History, we're making our shakes crazier than ever by pouring one or two cheeky shots into our blenders and seeing what comes out. Our absolute favorites include Terry's Chocolate Orange with Cointreau, Nutella with Bailey's and Strawberry Fields with Smirnoff. Bet you're salivating right now. We'll also be serving paninis, nachos and waffles. AND ice lollies and our signature ice-cream sundaes. Nomnomnom.

Sprinkles and Twinkles Cupcakes

 

You know how The Hippy Hippy Shake Company loves anything that is super-duper sweet? Well, this local cupcake business is right up our alley. Think creamy-thick icing, soft-moist sponge and bright-beautiful colours. Then imagine how happy your belly will be after eating five. What are you waiting for? What's that? You can't wait until HippyHaze for these yummy-scrummy bites of heaven? Never fear, if you head into our Newcastle shop you can get your mitts on a sneak-preview which will definitely have you coming back for more!

Mr Simm's Olde Sweet Shoppe

 

Candy is so much cooler when it's in old-school plastic baggies. We rapidly came to this realization after our first Mr Simm's experience which allowed us to see that vintage sweeties are still as indulgent as they were in our childhoods! Sugar mice, herbal tablets, barley sugar, rhubarb and custards, kop kops, bon bons and more... Our teeth will rot and it will be worth it.  

Food

Burgers, hot dogs, bacon sandwiches, chips and tons more. Head over to the food tent to grab some decent grub!

Donut Van

Speaks for itself :) Covered in sugar. Yes.

Dirty Slut Clothing

 

Let's face it, when we're away from our parents for three days it's highly likely that without the use of clothes washing facilities, we will walk around for days on end with milkshake and ketchup down our shirts if we have a spillage. However, thanks to Dirty Slut Clothing, you will be able to buy an emergency replacement T-shirt within minutes of virtually any stain-causing (wink wink) alcohol-inducing embarrassment. Winner. 

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company Gift-Wares

 

We feel so bad for all of your friends that may not be able to make it that we've chosen a selection of the gift-wares that we sell in our Hanley store so that you can take them a piece of the magic! Isn't that sweet of us :) We'll have hand-bags, incense sticks, essential oils, candles, sun catchers, oil burners and way more cool stuff so make sure you come check us out.

Krafty J's Gift-Wares

 

If you're after cute and unique jewelry then Krafty J's is the stall you want to be hitting up. Brightly-coloured strings with heart-shaped pendents, pretty wall plaques and dream catchers are what this local company is all about so you're definitely going to want to check it out for a couple of HippyHaze souvenirs.

The 'Cigarette Man'

That's right, we've really got you covered on all fronts, to the extent where even if the smokers out there forget or run out of their cigs they have a one-stop-shop for all their smoking needs. Great success.

Band Merch

Heard a great band and want to hear more? Thinking Aaron Mobberly is so talented you want your loser-mate who missed out on tickets to share your passion? Lusting after the lead singer of The Get Alongs and want to listen to him in your bedroom? Well, whilst it's actually against the law to kidnap Shaneth, you might be able to grab a CD or some other band merchandise over in our imaginatively named 'Band Merch' tent. Plus, if you head over to this tent you might actually get to meet some of your local music heroes! 

Joe Gilligan Trust

 

Easter is a time for giving. Whether you're religious or not, there is no better time to support a charity than when you're having the time of your life. So how about buying a T-shirt or wrist-band from the one charity in Stoke-On-Trent which not only improves the lives of young people fighting cancer, but also provides support for young musicians like many of those performing over the weekend? The Joe Gilligan Trust is a charity which has always been close to The Hippy Hippy Shake Company's heart so we'd really love for our festival-goers to mosey on over to the Band Merch tent and get giving! 

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So, what are you waiting for? A lot of time and effort has gone into organizing HippyHaze so that everyone can have a great time without a care in the world!

TICKETS ARE SELLING OUT RAPIDLY NOW. MAKE SURE YOU HEAD INTO MUSIC MANIA OR THE HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE COMPANY IN NEWCASTLE OR HANLEY AND GET YOURS NOW. £14 FOR A DAY PASS INCLUDING ONE NIGHT CAMPING AND JUST £33 FOR A THREE-NIGHT CAMPING TICKET. See you there :)

Love and milkshakes

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company Sits Down With... Aaron Mobberly from Clockwork Owls!

You know how the Hippy Hippy Shake Company likes hitting two birds with one stone? Well, imagine our luck when we realized that on the same night as Jim McShee was playing at The Old Brown Jug, so was the lovely bespectacled Aaron Mobberly from Clockwork Owls. Naturally we leapt at the opportunity to grab a quick interview with him in between sound-checks and despite my concern that I might begin to get a reputation, I dragged him out of the back-door just like I did with Jim, so we could talk in 'private'. Not nearly as naughty as it sounds, we spent the next ten minutes talking about music, college and milkshakes. My kind of conversation...

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It's so very nice to meet you Aaron. I've heard so much about you! Am I right in thinking you're not actually performing with Clockwork Owls tonight?
Yeah, that's right. I'm taking a slight break from Clockwork for a little bit at the moment just to focus more on my acoustic stuff. This is my solo act. But don't worry, we'll be back on form for HippyHaze!

Good. Or else *smiles sweetly yet with what I like to believe is a dangerous looks behind the eyes* So, tell me about Clockwork Owls...
I'm on bass and vocals, we have Jimmy T on guitar, then Josh Morris and he's the drummer. We're alternative rock, with post-punk influences. We love Joy Division for our bass and drums post-punk element. Then Foals have a huge influence on us, and Wild Beasts too. Jim likes Radiohead and anything that's more progressive whilst Josh prefers more punk music.

Big mix. Like a cocktail. Yum. So how did you guys meet?
Me and James met at Newcastle college. I'm studying photography now (which is an expensive hobby...) but I was originally doing music technology which is where I first met Jim and Luke our past band member. Luke's at uni now. Then as for Josh, well, he goes to our college too but we actually met him at a gig here at The Old Brown Jug!

Ahh no way small world! Well I guess the music scene relies heavily on people being sociable, introducing themselves to new people and networking, right?
Yeah definitely. I mean that's how we've got a lot of our gigs really. After college Jim and I used to go around Newcastle, come to The Old Brown Jug and The Full Moon and we used to just talk to people and make new friends. It's all about making friends and knowing people who know people.

Ok, so around about how many gigs have you done together?
With Clockwork Owls we've done about twenty gigs probably. My favorite gig was on the 23rd of December. We supported The Control and the atmosphere was fantastic. It was the fullest gig I've ever played and we even had a small mosh-pit for our music so I was amazed, it was really cool.

Sure you'll probably have a lot of that at HippyHaze too what with all the beer. How do you get along in terms of writing the music?
We all write the songs together. Like I'll come up with a bass-line, then Jimmy and Josh will write to it. Lyrics usually come last and I don't really think about them. I usually write lyrics when I'm tired and I find that my subconscious comes out. Like a stream-of-consciousness rather than a planned out thing.

That's so refreshing! I like that. Now, if you could choose any act that is playing at HippyHaze to collaborate with who would you choose?
Ahh it's funny because some of the acts are already doing that for Stoke Sounds this summer. But apart from those that I'm working with on that, I guess I'd have to say Shane from The Get Alongs. He's like my brother. Oh, and Jo-ee-T. I met him at Mark Askew's gig at The Underground a couple of weeks ago. He's a bit of an icon for the Stoke scene.

Yeah, everyone gets really excited about Jo-ee-T! Anyways, let's wrap this up so you can get on with your folksy-acoustic set shall we? The one thing I really want to know is *drumroll please* what's your favorite Hippy Hippy Shake Milkshake?
*Laughs guiltily* I've had way too many to count... that's why I've got a bit of *gropes at stomach and trails off* Anyway, Ferrero Rocher has to be my favorite.

Mmm, good choice. Well thanks for your time Aaron, break a leg!
Thanks.

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I can honestly say that Aaron's acoustic set was so easy to listen to, I could have listened all day. AND THEN when I got home and did a bit of Clockwork Owls listening on their Myspace page, I was amazed that this was the same guy! The quality of both projects is undoubtedly fantastic, yet they're so different that you can really tell that this is a guy with serious talent and flair for music. Clockwork Owls are officially on my Must See list for HippyHaze this Easter, and I strongly suggest you add them to yours too, especially if you've got a thing for handsome rebellious artists with catchy choruses. The ladies out there are going to adore Not My Face, and if they don't then they're stupid. 'Nuff said. :P

TICKETS ARE SELLING OUT FAST SO MAKE SURE YOU HEAD INTO THE HIPPY HIPPY SHAKE COMPANY IN NEWCASTLE OR HANLEY AND GET YOURS NOW. £14 FOR A DAY PASS INCLUDING ONE NIGHT CAMPING AND JUST £33 FOR A THREE-NIGHT CAMPING TICKET. PLUS IF YOU BUY A 3 NIGHT TICKET, GET ANY REGULAR SHAKE FOR FREE!

Love and milkshakes

The Hippy Hippy Shake Company