The Barnacles play at Jumpers For Goalposts

Hello Thor are a local independent record label, who when not releasing records, have a penchant for organising eccentric bashes and madcap nights such as, Jumpers For Goalposts - which they claim to be Nottingham’s finest ‘felt-tips n folk night’. I hate to argue but I think it might be Nottingham’s only such hybrid - offering craft and a live band, such uniqueness can only be a great thing with a city brimming with many promoters organising the same old nights.

A craft night with what can only be described as with a rock n roll folk twist, brought out a mixed crowd - a venue full of bohemian artist types, scenesters, vintage girls and geek chic boys and the odd eccentric dad type character propping up the bar. Jumpers for Goalposts is held at the intimate and friendly Alley Café every third Thursday and what’s more it’s free!

The night we attended had a sea shanty theme, with Sheffield’s finest "sea shanty singing nautical but nice combo", The Barnacles. Keeping in line with this theme - the creative competition for the night was to create a fake beard, and then make something truly surprising to hide underneath it! All matter of crafty goodies were provided to make our beards.

Alley Café is a small and intimate venue and seeing their regulars milling around wearing beards made of yellow dusters, cardboard, glitter, pipe cleaners and such whilst supping their organic pints, couldn’t help but make me smile, as I too sat wearing my ginger bearded cardboard creation.

Some of the bearded creations at Jumpers For Goalposts

The Barnacles were probably one of the most bizarre bands I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Busting out dance moves such as the crab and reciting Tennyson poems from a sea salty book, whilst demanding audience participation in singing Irish sea songs about ‘whores’ and sailing the Seven Seas. The five band members were all impressively kitted out in full sea sailing regalia and what they may have lacked in vocal talent they more than made up for in entertainment. Where Hello Thor does discover such bands, I will never know.

Jumpers for Goalposts is a refreshing change from the same old, same old nights. It’s a bizarre, cosy and friendly affair where you get to craft old school style like when you were a young’un, whilst watching bands that you would otherwise may never have discovered.

If it’s a night that doesn’t take itself too seriously that you want, and where live music and sticky back plastic are a match made in heaven - Jumpers for Goalposts is what you’ve been waiting for so don’t delay in getting yourself down to their next night!

Jumpers For Goalposts with The Baranalces took place on Thursday 21 January 2010. Jumpers For Goalposts is the third Thursday of every month at The Alley Cafe. The next night in on Thursday 18 February and will feature Bonsai Projects.

Hello Thor website
The Barnacles of Myspace

The Barnacles LIVE @ Jumpers for Goalposts (Alley Cafe)