Icelandic pop sensations Bellatrix will kick off a new Shandyland season next week.

The showcase for new music has switched from its previous venue at the New Beehive in Westgate, Bradford, to Bradford University's Colours Bar.

And the first of five dates which have been lined up is on Thursday when Bellatrix will be supported by Bristol-based Crashland and Bradford four-piece Nursery.

Shandyland promoter Joe Fabian said: "Now that we're at the university, we're getting some decent bands thrown at us. We're having a break after April but we hope to carry on in September and get some touring bands back to Bradford. That's the aim."

Bellatrix, originally formed by four 16-year-old girls in 1992, are now a five-piece.

They have enjoyed success in their native Iceland but it is only in the last year that they have started to make an impact in the UK, with Radio 1 DJs Jo Whiley and Steve Lamacq both giving them plenty of airtime.

Bellatrix will be plugging their forthcoming single The Girl With The Sparkling Eyes, which is due out on February 14.

The main support slot on Thursday is by Crashland, who are making waves with Standard Love Affair, their debut EP proper for Independiente, the record label which is also behind the success of chart-toppers Travis and Bradford band Ooberman.

Vocalist and guitarist Alex Troup said: "The highs and lows of life is what Crashland are all about - emotions rather than notions, real situations enhanced and embellished for the songs."

Nursery have also been added to the bill in line with Shandyland's policy of giving Bradford bands support slots with signed groups.

The group, who features Innis Stiles on vocals, Isaac Goldman on guitar, Matt Fortune on drums and Dominic Sheard on bass, had the track She's So from their latest demo CD played by Lamacq when he chose Nursery as his Unsigned Band of the Week.

The second Shandyland gig of 2000 will feature York-based Percy, who feature former Housemartins drummer Hugh Whitaker and have been creating a stir with their new single Donny Rednecks.

They will be at the university on February 17, supported by Bradford bands Albeit and Idiotbox. Irish outfit JJ72s will be supported by Bradford group Indiqa on March 2, with Marciano also on the bill, and there will also be dates on March 16 and March 30.

Joe said: "Donny Rednecks is a fantastic song. I love how they do their songs. They're full of character.

"It's about a line dancing event at a working men's club in Doncaster but it all goes wrong and everyone starts fighting. It starts off all soft like a line dancing song but then all the chords go wrong."

Tickets to Shandyland are £3 on the door or in advance from the university, Rocks Off in Bradford or Jumbo in Leeds.

Simon Ashberry

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.