REVIEWS FROM THE STAGE NEWSPAPER

John Howe Winter Showcase

 December 2009 by Derek Smith - THE STAGE
Jamie and the First Class are the kind of talented, young band it’s impossible not to like. Breezing through a tight, brief showcase set, they looked sharp, totally confident in their ability to entertain and sounded as tight as drum. The Who’s My Generation was a great final number - the quality of their music doing all the talking, to whatever generation audience.

International Management and Agency Ltd Showcase
 November 2006 by Mark Ritchie - THE STAGE
Enter four men dressed as schoolboys, who gave us everything from Johnny B Goode to The Kaiser Chiefs song I Predict A Riot. The name of the band is Jamie and the First Class and their specially constructed set will have hit the mark with those looking to engage the services of a group of overgrown, fun-loving and musically gifted schoolboys. Very professional and prepared for anything, Jamie and the First Class should find that their journey to West Yorkshire was well worth it.

Showcall Showcase 2006
October 2006 by Mark Ritchie - THE STAGE
Closing out an absorbing afternoon in Bedworth was live band attraction
Jamie And The First Class. We Will Rock You they sang and these guys certainly were well worth sticking around for. As the name suggests there is a scholastic aspect here as all four guys in the band were dressed as schoolboys. Songs from Queen and The Kaiser Chiefs, all played completely live, were belted out by four guys with the image, the musicianship and the punchy approach to pull off the impression of a slightly anarchic and edgy band, who provide such a powerful force on our thankfully still burgeoning live band scene.

Trevor George Entertainments (UK) Optimum Showcase
 December 2005 by Derek Smith - THE STAGE
Having stormed Showcall’s Thursday session just a few weeks ago, it was no surprise that top young band, Jamie & The First Class did likewise here. This manic outfit makes you smile an awful lot and really revives enthusiasm for live music. Here, their normal on-stage antics were a little hampered by lack of space but when ripping through covers from The Clash, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Proclaimers they cut an attractive image and make for great, if raucous, listening.

Showcall Showcase 2005 November 2005 - THE STAGE
There can’t be many better ways to end a showcase session than with a band like Jamie & the First Class, who are a bit like Busted on Red Bull. Complete in school blazers festooned with buttons, these are indeed a class of mayhem-making musical ragamuffins but with the undoubted ability to turn their hand to covers as wide ranging as Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Proclaimers through to Buggles and The Clash. They’re just a great sounding young band who could probably gig every night of the year if they wanted - and they probably do. But that wouldn’t leave them any time for their homework.