THE DAISYCHAIN CONNECTION: Stronger than ever – they’re back in action, Baby!
THE DAISYCHAIN CONNECTION
Stronger than ever – they’re back in action, Baby!
by Stephen Murphy
Formed in 1986 in the depths of Carlisle, The Daisychain Connection became the sound of the city.
With upbeat pop songs that have an edge; think The House Martins, Morrissey & The Cure in a positive mood, they were very much a product of their time. The vibe reflected the infectious, upbeat personality of lead singer Ste Dunn.
With tight, brilliant harmonies and short, sharp guitar riffs, nothing was wasted, endearing them to all who witnessed these lads strutting their stuff. They were on point and very, very good.
The lads who rocked the local scene, the airwaves, and the Big Border telebox are celebrating their 40th anniversary since those early formative years back in ’86. They are playing the Old Fire Station in Carlisle on June 20th, and you’re invited to join in the celebrations!
The original lineup consisted of Pete Mitchell on bass, who is sadly no longer with us; Ian Kirton on lead guitar; Neil Fraser on drums; David Carruthers, who played keys and then bass; and Ste on vocals and rhythm guitar.
Ste said, “The last time we played a proper gig was at the Twisted Wheel in the early nineties. The lineup for this gig is as it was, but without Pete. However, he will be on stage with us in our thoughts and hearts; in fact, this gig will be a testimonial to Pete.”
“The lads who rocked the local scene, the airwaves, and the Big Border telebox are celebrating their 40th anniversary.”
“New to the lineup on the night will be Ste Harkins on second guitar. He’s an early guitar hero of mine, bringing influences from Weller and Costello. I loved his music, how he played and wrote. We will actually be doing one of Ste’s songs on the night.”
The average age of The Daisychain Connection is 50, plus VAT, and to make the night even jollier, Ste Dunn will be celebrating his 50th (plus VAT) birthday that week.
Be sure to save the date and hurry up to buy your tickets, these lads aren’t getting any younger you know, and over half have sold out already.
You cannot buy tickets on the night; you have to buy in advance. Prices for this celebratory feast of happiness cost £12.50, including VAT, NI, PAYE, and corporation tax — an absolute bargain if you ask us.
How many tracks will be played on the night?
“We’ll be doing a 90-minute set, which will include about 21 tracks: all tracks that we sang in the 80s and 90s, originals from TDC, and a couple of covers.”
Or, if Dunno starts yakking in between tracks, probably three songs…
“We are chuffed to have DJ Lovequest, aka Craig Bright, joining us, as he will be doing a set before and after the gig. Expect a jingly-jangly mix of the 80s and 90s as we take you down Memory Lane in a time machine,” said Ste.
Where was the first-ever gig for TDC?
“The very first gig for The Daisychain Connection was in The Front Page on Fisher St, Carlisle.
Support on the night of that first gig?
If you were there and can remember, please let Dunno know, because Dunno said, ‘I dunno; I can’t remember.’”
What can people expect on the night?
“Oh, that’s a good question. I think it’ll be a little step back in time to when The Front Page was in full flow.
“It’ll be a night of reconnecting, bringing people together from across the decades, remembering an era that was pretty epic. I’m expecting to find that same energy filling the room on the night and I can’t wait.
This is a time for the next generation to see how amazing the scene and vibe were back then, and hopefully putting new daisies into the forever growing chain.”
“It’s a one-off,” said Ste. “Like a butterfly appearing that night and then fluttering away into the distance, but at least we saw it up close once again. A time of lettra sets and felt-tip pens, and when the World Wide Web was in a jiffy bag.”
How is the vibe with the tribe when you’re all in the same room after all these years?
“It’s good. What’s very interesting is relearning your old songs and going back into your own head, learning from scratch all over again. It’s almost as if you’re doing a cover. I feel like an actor in a play in my own life,” said Ste.
Highlight of The Daisychain Connection over the years?
“Supporting The Beautiful South.” No hesitation there. “We supported them at The Sands in the early nineties. Also, we had a few spots on Border TV with Eric Wallace, which was great.
We loved him because he would do these brilliant introductions; he once introduced us wearing an alien mask.”
So Close…
“We had a call from Paul Heaton regarding a potential tour with The House Martins. That was about to happen, but The Farm got the job as they’d just been signed by the same label. A real sliding doors moment”
So, Paul, if you’re reading this, the lads are still up for that tour anytime.
Out of all the different bands and projects you have been involved with, where does The Daisychain Connection fit in?
“That’s an absolutely impossible question to answer. The band was huge for me; it was a time when I grew my pop wings, and it was an extremely important time I will treasure forever.”
Tickets for the best gig that the Old Fire Station has ever held and will ever hold are available now, but only to amazing, awesome, cool, brilliant, and incredibly good looking, clever smart people!
The Daisychain Connection – 40th Anniversary Show
Sat 20th June, 2026
www.ofscarlisle.co.uk/event-the-daisychain-connection.html
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