LO-FI rockers Element are riding high after clinching a tape distribution deal in America.

And the noisy Pendle group found Comic Relief was a double-edged sword for them last week - charity events saw them taking over the mics on a radio station but later losing a gig at a top Manchester venue.

The band's music deal with American distributors Delores Restaurants should see tapes of their single Dogland in shops across the United States.

The seeds of the deal were sown when the Pendle noise wizards started exchanging tapes with 17-year-old American musician Sean Padilla after he visited their Internet site and e-mailed them.

Sean, who writes his own songs under the band name The Cocker Spaniels, already had a deal with the US firm and helped swing it for Element.

Closer to home this week, the band found themselves taking over the reins of a radio show in Lancaster to relieve a tired presenter.

Radio Lancashire Breakthrough show presenter Guy Shahar was attempting to beat Radio One DJ Simon Mayo's record-breaking Comic Relief 37 hour broadcast with a 42-hour show.

Element were brought into the studio at Lancaster University's Bailrig FM to showcase a few tunes but ended up helping the tired radio star by taking over the microphone and keeping the show running.

Lead singer Jay Stansfield told Pulse: "Guy was doing really well but he had been up all night and it seemed to us he was getting tired and a little bit delirious. He was encouraging us to do a lot of the talking to help him through and keep the show flowing." But Comic Relief events meant the band missed out on a show at Manchester Roadhouse last Friday night.

Bassist Warren Smith works at the Thatch and Thistle pub in Barrowford, and the night's charity events meant he had to work. The band had to pull out of the Roadhouse gig to the disgust of the venue's management.

Jay said: "The Roadhouse people were pretty upset about it. But there was no getting out of it for Warren and it was a charity event after all.

"It's only the second time we've pulled out of a gig in five years and this was a one-off with a worthy cause.

"It's a shame but I couldn't see what the fuss was about."

Double dose of grunge

TWO bands who just can't stop teaming up are set to play a double headed grunge night this week.

Uncowboy and Necessary Elvis, two of the major players in a new East Lancashire compilation album and tour project, are getting together for a show at the Carlton Hotel in Burnley on Friday.

The two acts, both part of Mviroment, an exciting new collaboration of Burnley and Pendle bands, have another common tie. Necessary Elvis frontman JP Keenan's brother Lee drums with Uncowboy.

Uncowboy, fronted by former Syndicate frontman Damian Manville, have finally settled on their name after a series of gigs under the guise of Flud.

Despite the close connections within the groups, Uncowboy look like remaining in East Lancashire this summer as Necessary Elvis prepare to export their sound to the sun-drenched beaches and clubs around Florida.

Damian said the mini tour was offered to both bands but due to prior holiday commitments of bass player Danny Kelly, they were unable to take up the brilliant offer. Despite their disappointment, Uncowboy are still upbeat and are looking forward to a busy summer schedule.

The gig at the Carlton is free with Uncowboy opening proceedings around 9pm.

Inn soul

NORTHERN Soul and Motown sounds come to the Comfort Friendly Inn, Burnley, tonight, as the successful Burnley Soul Night tries a bigger venue than its usual haunt at the town's cricket club.

Ginger Taylor, Terry "Motown" Davies, Andre and Roman are set to take to the turntables for the event which runs between 8.30pm and 1am.

Rosa in the Gardeners

INDIE group Sub Rosa team up with high-flying punks Boredom for an East Lancashire show this week.

The Darwen-based band, formed a year ago from the ashes of local band Coral, are set to join the Blackburn punks for a show at the New Gardeners Social Club, Darwen, on Thursday. Also on the bill are the originally-titled Alan Is Bad.

Sub Rosa's line-up consists of singer Craig Shorrock, guitarist Phil Parker, bassist Martin Taylor, Russell Fradd on drums and Jill Casson on keyboards.

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