Every week we celebrate an individual from the underground music world who is making an outstanding commitment to their local scene.

If you think someone in your local music scene deserves to be King then send us an email to waittunsigned@gmail.com with ‘A Nomination For King' in the subject and we'll see they get treated like musical royalty.

P.S Queens are also very welcome!

Kris Davis

WAITT: Good evenin’ Mr Davis. It is with great pleasure that I can announce that you have been crowned the very first WAITT Unsigned King of this Town! Is there anything you’d like to proclaim to the unsigned world as our first King?

Kris: Why thank you! It is an honour. Yes, please keep an eye out for IKE Production shows as we have a whole lot on the way including Christmas Specials and some fairly big artists as of next year. In addition to that, News of the week would have to be our Nottinghamshire lads Destroy BC being signed to ITG Records, and supporting Chimaira in March 18th at Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms next year!

WAITT: Crikey! That is big news. Now we don’t just crown anyone as King, but as the man behind Macmillan Fest and IKE Productions, there was no one we thought deserved it more. For those out there unfamiliar with what you do, please take a second to fill all the guys and gals in:

Kris: I run with a couple of other lovely chaps Curtis Wakefield and Matt Gascoyne; IKE Productions. We provide as many shows as possible for the local scene where we represent, and aid them with as much promotion by local press and businesses as possible. We aim to put on enjoyable shows for everyone to keep them coming back to see us again.

Macmillan Fest was started up by Curt and I back in 2010 after I had done a previous charity show the year before. As IKE, we wanted to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support and represent local bands and businesses at the same time. This is an ongoing transformation where we aim to raise money for Macmillan, and gain popularity for not only the charity, but for the artists that play for it as well. We have secured a lot of advertisement and press from this, and see this as a benefit to the local scene on a national scale! And will carry on to do so.

WAITT: We’ve recently just gotten over the thrills and spills (and hair losses) of Macmillan Fest 2011, but now all the collections are in how much did you guys manage to raise for charity?

Kris: In the end, £850 which was a bit lower than we were expecting, but considering the scale of the show this year, we hope to do better next year. That and my hair is still waiting to be sold...

WAITT: I also saw your hair trimming antics have landed you on the National Macmillan Charity Fundraising advert. Have you had the pleasure of seeing yourself on TV yet? Was it a bit strange?

Kris: Wait what!? I was on TV? (WAITT: I’ll take that as a yes then!)

WAITT: As we mentioned, aside from Macmillan you run IKE Productions a Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire and now further afield promotion company. How did it all start? You are of course an avid drummer yourself, and played in many bands. What made you turn to gig promotion?

Kris: As I mentioned before we now have myself doing shows in both Nottingham and High Wycombe, Curt in Nottingham and Matt in Derby. It all started from my passion of drumming and playing in bands and not knowing who to go through to have a good show. I put on local shows at the school and went on from there to working at local venues. After that is has just transformed into myself and others providing that service for local bands.

WAITT: As an active promoter in every sense of the word, how can more people help support their local music scenes and help get their artists to the next level?

Kris: Just find inspiration, mine was seeing the big bands out there and thinking how can I get bands that I know and myself to that level or some kind of equivalent? I just added a bit of common sense and asked a few questions. Soon to be put right on track on how to go about things.

WAITT: What is harder being in a band or being a promoter?

Kris: Neither, if you enjoy what you are doing both is rewarding.

WAITT: With 2011 drawing to a close what’s been your favourite IKE Productions show? And what can we expect to see from IKE in 2012?

Kris: My favourite IKE show will always be Macmillan Fest 2011 because of everything that had to be done, there were tears of all sorts. And will be a day in my life I will never forget.

As far as future shows we’ve got a show on the 24th of November at The Maze ran by our lovely Curtis featuring: Sinners Highway, Paper Cape, Crimson Circle, Union Street, The Bystandersand Flaming Fields. On 15th December we’ve got Odessa plus supports and on the 21st of December a massive local Christmas show full of free goodies again like last year. Not quite 2012 I know, but next year will only get bigger!

WAITT: What acts are your hot tips from the local scene for 2012?

Kris: I’d have to say Violet, Illuminatus, Destroyer BC, Saint Raymond, Twikki, Great British Weather, The Exiles, Armed For A Crisis, Bury The Lady Bird, Bonus Beyond, Captain Dangerous, Patchwork Grace, Frozen Affliction and Sinners Highway, Just to name a few...

WAITT: Where can the WAITT Unsigned world follow you and check out the awesome things you’re doing on the unsigned scene?

Kris: At the moment we are just on Facebook, but with plans to get a website up and running soon. Search either IKE Productions or Macmillan Fest.

WAITT: Thanks for spending some time with us Kris, but before you go, what advice would you give to the young musicians out there trying to break into their local scenes today?

Kris: And thank you for getting in touch! My advice would be to keep playing, keep practising and when you do get the opportunity to play live give every ounce of energy you have out on stage!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/IKE-Productions/167245536647259

...see previous kings