It's a kind of magic!

ROB FIDDAMAN this week chats to Jamie Hart, of The Magic Tailgate Band about the legendary 60s groups who influence their sound, the importance of imagery - and why he's on a mission battling against 'Al music slop'

- Sentinel music writer Rob Fiddaman is a label owner, influencer and author.

Hi Jamie, good to catch up with you, it’s been a while! We've been wandering in the desert for a few years...

So, tell us all about your new exciting music project!

It's called Magic Tailgate Band. The official version is we bring songs and stories from the spirit of '65, a place and time beyond the horizon, somewhere close to nowhere, at the edge of the endless desert bloom. The short version is we're a 60s-inspired garage/psychedelic rock band.

You're a local lad. Where are you from originally?

We grew up in Sandbach and gigged around Stoke-on-Trent for years. Growing up, Stoke was the main city for us, lots of gigs and nights out, and we got all our guitars, records and clothes there.

Have you been in any other bands before?

Lots, but you haven't heard of them! (Not because you're not cool enough - because they never went anywhere!)

Who's in the band and are you the singer?

The core of the band is Jamie Hart (vocals) and John Wesley Nicholson (bass), then we have our drummer Jonny and the keys guy Liam. Then there are other dependable musicians we've known for years. It's a way to be able to call in the right people for the right tunes as we go along, guitars, backing vox, whatever.

How did the band come about?