Sole music: grad band Surge return to film Jeffery-West promo

Indie rock four-piece Surge, whose line-up includes two University graduates, return to Northampton next month when they’ll be putting on a free gig for fans.

Footage from the concert will also be used in a promo video for international footwear company Jeffery-West, who were established in the town 30 years ago and today have shops in London and New York.

Guitarist Alan Jones and bassist Will Smith completed the Popular Music degree course last summer and they will be returning with their bandmates to play the town’s Club 43 venue.

The full set performance from Surge will be bookended by a vinyl DJ set, and enjoyed by over one hundred of their fans.

The collaboration came about via another university connection, when Jeffery-West’s video producer and current student, Theo Charalambous, recommended the group to company founder, Guy West.

Theo said: “It was Guy who envisaged a video of a band performance whose members were all wearing his shoes, and straight away I suggested Surge to him.

“I attended uni with AJ and Will and became good friends with them about a year ago. I’d seen them at the Isle of Wight festival and was confident that their music could represent Jeffery-West’s spirit effectively and professionally.”

Soon after the February 2nd event, Theo’s video will be available online and also sent to every customer on Jeffery-West’s mailing list – which currently amounts to more than 10,000 people.

“This will hopefully give Surge the platform their music deserves,” he added.

The forthcoming video will be the second photography student Theo has made for Jeffery-West.

His first collaboration with the company came about after he approached Guy West to see if he would be interested in a video. Guy agreed, as he saw an opportunity to promote their new ‘Vicious’ shoe style.

With the relevant arrangements made, Theo, along with dancer Meshack Dhue and videographer Dennis ‘Deanabean’ Dean, shot the video outside Jeffery West’s London Piccadilly store.

“I was thrilled to have an opportunity to work with a company as prestigious as Jeffery-West.”

Well-shod: photography student Theo Charalambous (right) along with Meshack Dhue and Dennis Dean.

Following the success of that first video, Jeffery-West offered Theo a job with the company as they began to see his potential as photographer and producer.

“In the campaign with Surge, Dennis and I will be producing. I’ve planned the event and will also be photographing it on the night, whilst Dennis will be shooting the band during the day and on the evening of the event. Meshack will also be there, making sure that everyone is having a good time.

“I’m really looking forward to this collaboration and hopefully it’ll lead to other opportunities in the future.

“And I encourage all those who are partial to a night of ‘decadence, sleaze and excess’ to come and join the party!”

Surge will be playing Club 43, 43A Gold St, Northampton NN1 1RA on February 2nd, 8pm-1am. Free entry/£2 after 10pm