An unsigned band who won a competition to support Elbow are facing a race against time – after thieves stole half their equipment.
The Slow Show, from south Manchester, were set to back up the Bury Mercury Prize winners at Manchester Cathedral tomorrow night.
They beat hundreds of bands to secure the much sought-after spot at the religious venue.
But the promising folk rock five-piece are now begging and borrowing thanks to brazen burglars who stole £8,000 worth of kit.
Drummer Chris Hough, 35, was out shopping with his wife when thieves struck at his home on Campbell Avenue in Northern Moor, Wythenshawe.
He explained: "The van was loaded ready for a rehearsal. They broke in, stole the keys and drove off in it. They also stole stuff and brought it to the front of the house. I just can’t believe the nerve of them."
The van contained a customised drum kit with a Paisley pattern, a £480 stick bag, specialist cymbals and a bass guitar amp.
Chris, a drum teacher, said: "It’s taken me more than 20 years to build that collection and the prices they’ll be charging for it are frightening."
But the show must go on – and Chris is confident the band will take their place before Guy Garvey’s men in a one-off show screened and aired live by the BBC.
He said: "Our main aim is to get everything we need because we can’t afford not to be there.
"Somebody has donated us a drum kit and an amp and I’m running around spending a fortune trying to sort everything out. This is our big chance and we’re hoping it will get us a bigger following."
The thieves also took a Nintendo DS belonging to Chis's son Beck, seven, who has cerebral palsy.
Witnesses to the theft, which took place between 6.15pm and 7.15pm on Monday are now being sought.
The van taken was a white Peugeot Expert worth £9,000.
It has the registration number S18 HUF and has the phrase ‘Keep on drumming’ on the side.
Det Insp Lee Price, based at South Manchester Volume Crime Unit, said: "All burglaries are devastating and it is horrible for anyone to find that criminals have been through their personal belongings, but Chris has the added worry that his livelihood – his drum kit – was in the back of the stolen van.
"The concert tomorrow night is a free gig for the people of Manchester at one of the city’s most iconic buildings.
"It’s a brilliant opportunity for The Slow Show to support Elbow at this event and we want to make sure it’s memorable for the right reasons and have this drum kit returned so it can go ahead as planned.
"If you know something about this burglary or where this drum kit is, please contact us."
Anyone with information can phone police on 0161 856 6181 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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Manchester Cathedral has ceased to be a religious institution, the bishops left wing antics have caused him to leave the Christian faith and follow the uncompromising and intolerant faith of socialism. How on earth it is acceptable to turn a consecrated building into a concert venue is beyond me.
Symbols in a drum kit? Cymbals are more usual.
(Ed: Indeed - corrected, apologies)
Surely Elbow will help out...
Thoughtful...
If JC was still alive he'd probably go into sulky 'temple trashing' mode. He'd have to get hold of tickets first though. .
Hope they get the gear back by the way.
£480 for a drum stick bag? That can't be right
Great bit of publicity!!!!!
If you live in Wythenshaw, surely leaving a van full of equipment with a "Keep on drumming" sticker advertising it's use and possible contents is not the best idea anyone has ever had.
As one of Mark Burgess's latest song says: "and I bet you any money if Jesus comes, he's going to need somebody who can play the drums!" And if you haven't heard of Mark Burgess or the Chameleons you don't have the right to comment on music or Manchester. The Bishop rocks! I love Manchester Cathedral even more now I know people like Guy Ignorantico don't go. I'm not what you would call religious but cathedrals are great places to go if you have spirituality and imagination. Qualities some people are clearly unburdened by.
So were the keys left in the van? Doh!
Whenever I hear Elbow on the radio or something promoting them it's always the same song and the same line, you know which one I mean...it is getting to be a bit embarrassing.