Shed Seven leading midweek album charts for Liquid Gold

Almost 30 years after forming, the Sheds landed their first Number One album with A Matter of Time at the start of the year.

And now the York band hope to replicate that success with Liquid Gold.

The album features reworked versions of hits by the Britpop band – Chasing Rainbows, Getting Better, Going For Gold – as well as new song All Roads Lead To You.

Paul Banks and Rick Witter on stage in Museum Gardens for the Sheds' homecoming gig (Image: David Harrison)

Previously released but relatively unknown songs by the group are also back in the spotlight.

The Sheds are up against Bring Me The Horizon, whose new album POST HUMAN: NeX GEn is sitting behind Liquid Gold in the Official Charts midweek.

Liquid Gold by Shed Seven (Image: Supplied)

“It’s a long week ahead, and there are just 600 sales between us and the number two spot,” said Shed Seven guitarist Paul Banks.

He said the band are “absolutely over the moon” to be leading the midweek charts, adding that they have had an “an incredible 30 years, and this year has been nothing short of unforgettable”.

'Without independent venues, there would be no Shed Seven'

Paul praised independent venues for the they have had on the band’s success.

“We've climbed every rung of the ladder in this industry, starting out in independent venues,” he said. “When we look back at the places we played in 1994, it's heartbreaking to see how many have closed their doors.”

To mark this, the Sheds released a limited-edition CD of Liquid Gold with all profits going to the Music Venues Trust – a charity working to protect, secure and improve grassroots music venues.

Shed Seven's Rick Witter on stage during the first of the York band's two homecoming gigs in Museum Gardens (Image: David Harrison) “Independent bands need independent labels, record shops and venues, and we want to give something back,” Paul said, adding: “Without independent venues, there would be no Shed Seven.”

Frontman Rick Witter said: “It’s important for all new up-and-coming young acts to have the opportunity to play venues like these, as it's a crucial part of any artist's journey to get a foothold on the musical path. Long may these venues exist."

In the same year as the Sheds’ first Number One album, the band also played two sold out homecoming shows in front of 8,000 fans in Museum Gardens.

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• Shed Seven rock the Museum Gardens in York 'homecoming' gig

It was the first time that the gardens had staged a major rock gig since the 1970s and 80s, with Roxy Music being perhaps the biggest names to have graced the venue.

“What just happened was absolutely incredible, not just for people who want to come out and see some music but for bars, restaurants and hotels,” Rick said afterwards.

He called for the venue to continue hosting live music, saying: “I just think that should happen every summer in York and you get bands, big bands coming into our lovely city and doing a gig for people and creating all of that money.”