In our series Home Scene, Grid City asks music fans to share what they love most about the city’s music culture. This time we check in with musician Charles Harding.
Tell us about the bands you play in.
I play in two bands, currently based out of Fredericton. They are called Cellarghost and Beach Body. Cellarghost is a four piece rock band that focuses on the grittier end of the spectrum. We’re currently in the mixing process of an 11 song album to be released in late fall. Beach Body is a four-piece USB/rock band that puts its focus into balancing out the sounds of an indie band with electronic music. Beach Body is slowly but surely compiling recordings for an upcoming release.
Name one Fredericton band more people should know about but don’t.
Union Suit – definitely an enigmatic, charming and cool act.
Name your favourite recent release by a Fredericton artist.
Dead Girl by sexghost.
If a live music experience could be summed up as a combination of time, place and artist, tell us about one show you’ve seen this year that ranks high on your list.
The best show I saw this year, and probably ever, was Sufjan Stevens live at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine on April 14. That show significantly shifted my direction for all things I do creatively. It was unbelievably beautiful.
Live music culture is an important part of Fredericton’s identity. If you could improve one aspect of the city’s music scene, what would it be?
More communal jam spots/practice spaces. Too many old neighbours hate us now due to the migraines that we gave them. If there was a place that we could safely store our gear and have consistent practices without the risk of noise complaints then so much more could get done.
Looking to the months ahead, what upcoming show is on your radar as a “must see”?
Viet Cong on September 15 is definitely the show I’m most pumped to see in the next little while.
