Preston band The Juice are playing their first headline show at The Ferret this week.
Performing this Thursday (21 October), The Juice draw influence from The Beatles, ska and punk and are known to play ‘scally rock with a sweet pop sheen’.
Started by two Preston brothers, Joe, 25, on vocals and Jack, 27, on guitar, The Juice later welcomed Ross, 23, on bass and Leachy, 23, on drums, both from Oldham, and Louis, 20, on lead guitar, from Manchester.
As children, the founding members lived in Ashton-on-Ribble before moving to live near Fulwood Barracks.
Jack and Joe started playing acoustic music three years ago, but they always intended to form a full band. The rest of The Juice joined the brothers around 18 months ago, and the group went on to perform on Scott Mills’ show on BBC Radio 5 live.
Jack said: “We were once described as scally rock with a sweet pop sheen, and that’s what we’re running with! It’s hard to describe yourself without sounding a bit pretentious, so we’ll use someone else’s quote.
“Our music is fairly typical of North West guitar bands, but we try to write the best songs we possibly can, not just make a racket.
“If it sounds good on an acoustic guitar, the lads will improve it 99 per cent of the time. Growing up, we were brought up on The Beatles – we’d watch the films on repeat, so they’re a big influence.
“Most of the lads in the band are blessed that their parents and siblings were in bands, so I think the family has had a big influence. That lineage of great North West guitar bands had a huge impact, but the other lads, in particular, have brought other influences in, like ska and punk, which is great.”
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The Juice are currently enjoying Sam Fender and his new album Seventeen Going Under.
Jack said: “Our lead Joe gets told he looks like him a lot, so if it all goes belly up with the original stuff, we could have a career change as a covers band!”
The Juice used to rehearse in Ingol but have since moved the practice sessions to Oldham, where Leachy has a space.
This Thursday’s performance at The Ferret will be the band’s first live music event in Preston. They played their first show as a band in July in Manchester, which sold out, so the lads are keen to repeat their success.
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They will follow the Preston gig with one in Manchester at The Castle Hotel on Friday 5 November.
When asked what their hopes are for the future, Jack said: “Quit the day job! A spot on a small stage at a big festival would be amazing and then world domination immediately afterwards.”
Tickets are £8 online and available here from The Ferret’s website.
To listen to The Juice’s latest single ‘Left to Lose’, visit Soundcloud.
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