YORK gig promoter Joe Coates, the one-man operation otherwise known as Please Please You, is holding a 9th Birthday Party at The Basement, City Screen, on Saturday, August 24, much to his surprise.

“Each summer we’re pretty amazed we’ve survived so long,” says Joe, whose amazement stretches to talking about himself as if he were some other collective “we”.

“It’s tough work as an independent promoter and we genuinely applaud anyone who spends their free time trying to persuade the general public to open their minds and watch some live music.”

Joe, who also holds down a full-time day job, should be far from alone in singing Please Please You’s praises. So What’s On will thank him in advance for a September programme that features the Canadian folk-rock band The Barr Brothers on their debut tour on September 3 and Herman Dune singer David Ivar in his dark new solo alter-ego of Black Yaya on September 5.

Bill Ryder Jones, former guitarist in The Coral, will play a full band show at The Duchess, York, on September 12; Stereolab’s Parisian vocalist, Laetitia Sadier, is booked into The Basement for September 18; and Stephen Lawrie’s incendiary six-piece The Telescopes will at last make their York bow on September 24, introducing next month’s new album, Harm, at The Duchess.

Spreading his wings to Leeds, Joe will present The Wave Pictures at the Brudenell Social Club on September 26. “Probably the best indie-rock’n’roll trio in the country right now, they’re returning with City Forgiveness, their rockin’ new double album for the Moshi Moshi label,” he says.

Before all that September saturation comes the aforementioned 9th Birthday Party with Twin Bee, Royal Blood and U.V. next weekend. “We’ve invited Twin Bee to be our headliners,” says Joe. “They’re a garage outfit with a Japanese vocalist who are heavily influenced by Guided By Voices, and the line-up features musicians who headlined our first Please Please You show in August 2005.

“Adam and Graham Bell not only played that first ever PPY gig, they’ve played many gigs since too in Avenging Force and Ambulance, our favourite guests full stop, both musically and personally. So it’s a very lovely way to celebrate PPY lasting eight whole years. Who would have thought?”

Joe “can’t wait to see their new band”. “Particularly as their singer returns to Japan in September and it’s likely this will be their only trip to York ever. We’ve not heard them yet, but everything else the brothers Bell have done has been great,” he says.

Brighton guitar and drums duo Royal Blood have set the industry talking, reckons Joe. “They’ve only aired one song to date, a Led Zeppelin-infused rock-blues number called Figure It Out, but already everyone expects them to be massive,” he says.

“People keep talking about White Stripes comparisons, which I guess they would, but it’s Zep here for us. There’s a bit of a buzz developing about these guys and this is a good chance to check them out early.”

U.V. have been friends for some time, reveals Joe.

“They’re a new synth and vocals outfit featuring Jonjo Feather and Zandra Klievens from The ABC Club and their mellow precision is hugely impressive,” he says.

Joe also is promising “some birthday things going on”. “Maybe we’ll have some freebies if we pull our fingers out, some friends DJing, and The Basement will be open till midnight,” he says.

Tickets for the 8pm party cost £4 in advance or £5 on the door. You can grab one from The Basement in person or at picturehouses.co.uk

“I’ll be making a couple of big announcements before the year is done,” says Joe.

“And I already have shows with Robyn Hitchcock, American Music Club’s Mark Eitzel & Band, Clem Snide’s Eef Barzelay, John Smith and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci’s Euros Childs due up later in the year. Safe to say our ninth year will be our best yet.”