Here’s a Devizes foodie top secret I’m about to spill the chickpeas about; Anya of that delicious kitchen in the Shambles, Soupchick is launching a falafel stall a little bit closer to the main Shambles’ gate, by the community fridge; twist my arm why don’t you!
Inspired by Peter Vaughn’s popular falafel stand at The Bistro, a past divine smelling regular feature at Devizes carnival, Falafel Out Loud will open on carnival day this coming Saturday. Thereafter, over September, it will open on Mondays. “We don’t really have a falafel stall in town,” Anya explained, “although I don’t think there’ll be a demand for it everyday, but once a week if everybody knows it’ll be here on a Monday, they can come.”
Well, they do now. Thanks for the scoop, Anya, I only popped in for a bowl of soup! And in that here’s the thing, it was just a bowl of tomato soup with fennel and chilli, served with a seeded roll; how does she make tomato soup with fennel and chilli so absolutely scrumptious I had to check my surroundings, see if I could get away with licking my bowl?!
Given this, I’m only imagining what heavenly delights her falafels will offer. Because me, right, I love a cholesterol-hugging cheeseburger as much as the next carnivore, but those little Middle Eastern herby balls of spiced chickpeas are tasty enough to turn Colonel Sanders into a vegan, and I swear by them at big festivals like Glasto where I wouldn’t trust the meat vendors. So, I might catch you down there, and we’ll become fanatical falafel friends?!
Bank holiday done and dusted, hope you had a good one whatever you did. But Wiltshire shows no signs of letting up on great things to do moving into September; here’s a roundup of events this coming week…..
Not comprehensive, more will be added to our event calendar as we move through the week, so check in on it from time to time.
Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.
Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.
Wednesday 30th:
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Devizes Salsa at West Lavington Village Hall; new members welcome!
The Deadnotes play the Pump in Trowbridge with The Sunnies and Lindup Brothers
Thursday 31st:
There’s an Open Mic at The Crown, Aldbourne.
Happy Kingsley plays The Neeld Bar in Chippenham from 8pm.
End of the Road Festival in Salisbury opens, running until Sunday.
VirginMarys & Lucky Number Seven play The Vic, Swindon.
Friday 1st:
There’s an Open Mic at the Barge on Honey Street.
Too Complicated at The Wellington, Marlborough.
Let’s Rock this Country with Shania & Friends at Melksham Assembly Hall.
The Pump in Trowbridge begins its series of Future Sound of Trowbridge gigs, with Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Feedback and Paradigm.
Queen 2 at the Neeld Hall, Chippenham, The Blue Moon Band at The Old Lane.
41 Fords at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
2 Sick Monkeys at The Castle, Swindon,Blind River Scare at The Beehive, State of the Quo at The Vic, and the Deprivation Festival at Underground, formerly Level III.
Phil Beer’s 2023 Solo Tour at Chapel Arts, Bath.
The Scribes play The Winchester Gate in Salisbury.
Ion Maiden at The Tree House, Frome, with Aynsley Lister at the Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 2nd:
Devizes RFC V Thornbury at Devizes Rugby Club.
And, of course, it’s Devizes Carnival: The parade departs from the Green at 5:45pm, with an environmental theme.
Julien Biddulph’s trio, Work Experience debut at the The Southgate, there’s karaoke at The Three Crowns, and a Carnival Disco Party at the Pelican.
Swindon’s Apache Cats make their debut at The Bell in Great Cheverall.
Over The Lamb in Marlborough we see the second Famous Hangover Sessions, with a great lineup, Royal Soul from 12pm, George Wilding from 1pm, Jimmy Morre at 2:30, Jolie & the Souls at 4pm, Rivera Arcade at 5:30, Nothing Rhymes With Orange at 7pm, Mick O’Toole from 10pm.
Trash Panda plays Great Bedwyn Cricket Club.
And it’s Pewsey Pride at The Coopers, with The Reason and, of course, Miss Luscious Lips!
The celebrated homemade festival, Party on the Drive 3 is in Chippenham, and Yanni’s Old Skool Reggae Night at The Neeld.
Be Like Will play Southwick Sports & Social Club, Shot By Both Sides at Stallards in Trowbridge, and From Jovi are live at Trowbridge RFC, with The Sunnies as special guests.
Swindon’s second annual Paint Fest will be happening across the town centre. Blitz Kids with Head Noise and Thee Acid Tonguea offer a night of new wave and synth, psychedelic punk at The Vic.
Hatepenny at The
Dire Streets tribute at Chapel Arts, Bath.
41 Fords are at The Sun in Frome, Sex Pistols Exposé at the Tree House.
Sunday 3rd:
Gunina Lane Saxophone Quartet with The Pewsey Players, Take Five and Pewsey Winds at St Mary’s Bishops Cannings.
The White Horse Vehicle Show, Westbury.
Old Town Street Foods Festival, in Swindon, with Absolva and Furyhead offering some melodic metal at the Vic.
Monday 4th:
I got nothing, yet, keep an eye on the calendar!
Tuesday 5th:
Curious Kids at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
That’s all folks, but it’s early days for September, and there is lots more to come!! I’m telling you, next Saturday you are seriously spoiled for choice, you lucky, lucky, people!
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It may be a wrap for another successful Full-Tone Festival in Devizes this bank holiday weekend, but talking to conductor Anthony Brown, seems like it’s full steam ahead for next year, with a few changes. With such a busy weekend in general, the one possibility I believe we can leak is it may not be on the same date, other than this you’ll have to wait to see!
And it was a busy weekend, alas I didn’t get the full-on Full-Tone experience I should’ve done and looking through Gail Foster’s awesome snaps today I see what I missed, including the wonderful Becky Lawrence who we absolutely love here at Devizine Towers. Fortunately, we do have some coverage, as our equally wonderful writer Helen Edwards dropped in on the Saturday, and then I made haste for the Green on Sunday, as soon as I washed the dishes, as is my part of the bargain with the very patient and understanding Mrs Devizine……
Day one at the festival was fantastic. When I arrived the magnificent Full-Tone Orchestra was in full swing with Jemma Brown (one of the key organisers of the festival) at the microphone – and what an incredible voice she has!
The vibes were chilled, and family focused, the food and drink options were varied and reasonably priced and the tunes were banging. Perhaps that’s the wrong word for the earlier afternoon classical proms and TV & movie music but by the end of the evening the dance anthems were pumping out. The crowd in front of the huge Glastonbury-esque stage was thronging, glow sticks in hand with face glitter and fairy-light flower headbands adorned. Those festival goers not dancing were sat in their camping chairs chilling with mates or queuing for food, all bopping their heads to the music. All except those of school age. They were hanging with their friends, the older ones walking laps around the site enjoying the freedom and festival atmosphere.
I left before the end and saw that the entertainment and enjoyment on The Green had spread past the impenetrable, black sheeted fencing. There were many set up on the opposite side of the road with their blankets laid and tents erected enjoying the music from afar.
I got talking to people in the food and drinks queues to ask their thoughts about Devizes’ only two-day bank holiday festival. I spoke to a couple who live locally and, also, a few who had travelled from neighbouring Calne, Trowbridge and Westbury to attend. Here’s a few of their comments:
‘I don’t enjoy the bigger festivals; there’s too many people and I feel overwhelmed. This is my second year here. It’s got such a safe atmosphere and amazing and varied music’.
‘It’s brilliant! I can’t wait to get to the front and dance!’
‘It’s such a welcoming festival, everyone’s so friendly.’
The sound engineers got the balance spot on; the orchestra was majestic throughout, yet the singers’ voices were clear (and brilliant). If you’ve never heard a 50-piece orchestra playing modern music from the movies and TV through to dance anthems, then you’ve got to get to get yourself a ticket to Full-Tone’s next festival.
The people who put their efforts and passion into its success have given Devizes an annual festival to be proud of. It’s become an event that brings our community together, gives a phenomenal orchestral experience and makes the ‘what to do over bank holiday’ decision even harder!
The sound is unforgettable, the vibes are perfectly chilled and it’s a great value for money weekend.
Day two of the Full-Tone Festival here in Devizes, and I’m afraid they’ve got me rocking up this time around, the big bad editor to cast my beady eye on matters; it’s Sunday and I’m grouchy, God dammit!
Allow me thus, to summarise the magic with a story, as I annoyingly tend to do (what? It’s an age thing, you don’t gotta read it!) An anecdote which sees me front and centre absorbing those overwhelming acoustics, bumping into a friend Georgie Devon, who was looking stunning in black dress and glitter, causing me to wonder if she was up there singing on that magnificent stage, and I was right, she was, but I had no idea she could sing!
For Chris, Snedds, Titch and Jambo, aka the southwest’s champion indie-pop band, Talk in Code, they’ve arrived semi-fresh from the Victorious festival in Southsea, they’re no stranger to a stage, and naturally, they rocked it. For a smidgen over half-hour, they stole the stage, wowing an audience perhaps unaccustomed to festivals, least hoping for classic singalong covers, with their irresistible originals. Talk in Code don’t do covers, they’re an originals band, but both their catchy songs and energetic stage presence holds said audience spellbound, as if they got what they wanted. What I’m suggesting is you might well be induced into some John Hughes eighties soundtrack, for Talk in Code rinse in the retrospective charm of the era so much I find I liken them to bands like Simple Minds, rather than something contemporary.
Apt then, for them to be placed prior to a set by the orchestra and guest singers of eighties classic pop, which was both “rad” and “wicked,” in the eighties slang meanings of the words! Unlike you lucky lot, I had to work this morning, and had Heart’s Alone, perpetually looped in my head, a particularly adroitly performed cover amidst the many wonderful renditions of a very best of Now, That’s why I Call Music compilation; utterly brilliant, Full-Tone. I loved that song, and all the big-haired soft rock chicks; how would Heart get me alone? Well, they only had to ask!
Back to knowing those Talk in Code guys to seal my overall angle on this piece. It was a no-brainer their set would be this electric, but for the occasional and amateur singers, such as Georgie, the opportunity to deliver a song here on this now iconic stage for the town, amidst a full orchestra, is golden, not to mention the cherry on the cake as to why Full-Tone is so Devizes, and so magical.
Even when star in the making, Jess Self, gets up there, the thrill on her face says what I’m trying to convey, and this young star is accustomed to the stage. The ensemble of these musicians and performers is a monumental occasion for our humble market town. For those not from Devizes, or who hasn’t been to a Full-Tone, imagine, if you will, The Proms, mix it with Pete Tong’s Heritage Orchestra, add a spice of community festival, and stir in a pot of village fete.
Then some keyboard warrior goes on Facebook clutching at straws to find any minor issues to whinge about the event. “The least the orchestra could have done was to prevent the rain and stop the traffic,” I joked with chief organiser Jemma Brown, as the rant included the grass was wet and there was noise from the road!
The Full-Tone Orchestra can musically pull a rabbit from a hat, but they’re not gods! Just a collection of talented individuals, a majority of which are local, and the coming together on this scale, the logistics in organising it, the opportunities it provides, the attention to detail, from first aid to side stalls and from portaloos to one man standing conducting a variety packed programme for a full weekend is bonkers amazeballs, and to nitpick unavoidable paltry I can only imagine is based on pathetic jealousy.
“Here’s a man who needs his bed!” I guesstimated to conductor Anthony Brown as he approached to greet me. I had one question for him, as we stood next to this impressive stage surrounded by a mass of crowds clearly enjoying themselves without an inkling or care of online rants. The stage has become iconic, the event has become ingrained in just a few short years in our town’s culture, as I predicted after the inaugural one. The million-dollar question for him; where do you take this next?
Anthony elucidated it would continue annually but was keen to express there would be some changes. Yet what is important right now, Full-Tone this year was an extension of its previous success rate, it was spectacular on a level apt for a mass audience to enjoy and was a cherry on top of the cake already baked through previous years.
Unlike DOCA events it gets no arts grant, so it must put a price on it, and as we said prior, comparatively it’s reasonable. It is what it is, and I’m not going to suggest it’s everyone’s cuppa, even, but plonk yourself in the middle of it, witness those having fun or stand in awe of the talent and the acoustics they breath into it, and you cannot put a justified complaint in, impossible! Full-Tone works, and Full-Tone is enjoyed by the masses, masses which wouldn’t usually consider an orchestral occasion or festival, for this it is magical, and as Anthony hinted, here to stay; wonderful.
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Imagine, it’s only just eight pm on the opening day of Honey-Fest at the legendary Barge on HoneyStreet, and the haystack-filled marquee is already positively pumping, largely due to the energetic hoedown of Bristol’s Mr Tea and the Minions……
Too tempting not to, a double whammy with Devizes’ homemade upcoming marvels, Nothing Rhymes With Orange opening, I made a pit stop at HoneyStreet to black my nose and didn’t really want to leave!
I was intrigued as to where the £125 weekend ticket stub would go in comparison to an atypical weekend at the Barge, which, face it, is usually a mini festival itself! Though there’s no colossal stage erected, the sizable marquee makes for an apt music area, as in past events. Though this weekend there’s extra concentration angled at creating an appealing non-stop lineup for the entire weekend and as the ticket includes camping too, it is justifiable. Though, day tickets available on the gate are priced at a far more reasonable tenner; given these factors Honey-Fest is a must for the hedonistic alternative, and you will be guaranteed an amazing bank holiday weekend. It didn’t take more than half-hour for me to acknowledge this!
The Barge ends up being the spiritual home of anyone who passes through, a magic which holds in the air surrounding it. Though, if it has been this way for decades, what Lenny and his team have created recently, is the kind of environment we, as regular attendees since the nineties, would have wished it to be like back then. Ergo, Honey-Fest is a win-win, a festival within a campsite and wharf surrounded pub, which already hails the spirit of counter-culture festivals of yore, anyway!
And I couldn’t suggest a more apt act than the astoundingly fantastic Mr Tea & The Minions, I told them on Facebook they’d love the Barge, a no-brainer indeed. A headline act, I’d say, but scheduled early to fit their agenda, it was back to Bristol then onto a festival in Kent, followed by a trip to Guernsey for another.
They first came to my attention seeking out alternative forms of ska when doing a regular slot on Boot Boy Radio, an internet station designed to appease Two-Tone diehards. A desire to expand the agenda of the show from simply being retrospective led to me discovering South American ska, and Balkan. The latter so crazy and energetic, a mix of ska’s offbeat and oompah and brassy Truba, and their folk. It is a recipe certain to rub off internationally. I became aware of Bristol’s burgeoning scene, bands like the Smerins Anti-Social Club and Carny Villains and was already aware of the Scrumpy & Western folk flavour of The Boot Hill All Stars, et al. Aside the name Mr Tea & The Minions amused me, their sound was an instant love, for while others blend the influences of west country folk and Balkan ska, most adapt swing into the melting pot, or just fly off the handle of carefree loops of instrumental nuttiness. Here is a band composing structured songs with narrative within those confounds, most definably ska-folk, often amusingly but always with purpose, while still maintaining the infectious high-energy tomfoolery. I soon hurried off a review of their album Mutiny in 2019.
Over the moon when Loz booked them for Devizes Street Festival last year, I roamed the Market Square excitedly ordering everyone to watch them, and they did, and they agreed, if I remember rightly! Gladdened they came out with the title track to Mutiny at HoneyFest and done a sublime rendition of Junkyard Lovesong from the album, but greater pleased to hear some new songs, like their latest single Twitchy Feet, and a swinging self-stylised finale cover of The Bloodhound Gang’s Bad Touch, which simply rained fun. Here is the liveliest, friendliest six-piece family band with the structure and proficiency to command any age to a dancefloor I know of locally; what an amazing start to Honey-Fest, leaving me pondering, if this is an intro, what was yet to come.
Though none of this occurred before young singer-songwriter Marley begun musical proceedings at 4pm, which unfortunately I was still polishing off some beans on toast at home for, and followed by our favourite Devizes band, the utterly awesome Nothing Rhymes with Orange, which, since missing their stint on Fantasy Radio on Thursday, was what I was making a beeline Pewsey direction for. In fact, last time I did catch them it was also here at The Barge, an intended and worthwhile detour homebound from MantonFest.
That time though they were wedged in the corner of the bar and raising its roof. Here in the marquee the sound mechanics would be greater, yet they would need to overcome the niggly issue Elijah was Lost-Voice Guy for the evening! Though they prevailed, the charismatic frontman persisted, and Sam Briggs filled in too, as unperturbed they produced their collection of beguiling indie-rock originals, including their latest creation, Cats Eyes, and wowed the audience young and old, varying degrees of hippies, tipi glampers, passing druids, the odd stilt walker and every other charming and fun oddity who will pass by you at the Barge, making it such the magic place it is!
But the showstopper was a demanded encore just when Elijah’s voice had all but given up, he asked the audience if anyone knew the words to Sex on Fire, to which a random volunteer affirmed, and Elijah asked she come on stage to assist. And she did, and it was as advertised, on fire. But more importantly, it signifies how this upcoming band are fast becoming accustomed to the spotlight, breaking the fourth wall and dragging the crowds into their banter. Something they could always do in their comfort zone of a loyal fanbase, but to rock up to a varied audience like the Barge, isn’t so simple. Their performance was in short, the essence of a blossoming phenonium.
But of course, this was all but the very beginnings of HoneyFest, and if so, the whole shebang will wow you. Hats off to the team at the Barge, not just for staging this particular extravaganza, but for the many wonderful memories there and how they’ve maintained this spirit, supported our local live music circuit and created this divine pocket of resistance from the surrounding cliquey conventional area. There’s food wagon, there’s a toy and clothes swap tent, there’s magical art displays, and crazy street theatre type crazies, but as I said, it may not be as hugely altered from the standard ethos of a weekend camping at the Barge as it could be, but it’s welcoming, it’s as wonderful as the Barge has ever been, and if it isn’t broken……
To conclude my findings, look, we’re overloaded with things to do this bank holiday, I know, it’s gone bonkers, but if you’ve no plans for tonight, this place could have your name all over it, and if not, here’s hoping there’s more annual HoneyFests. Failing any of those, of course, any weekend at The Barge is a blessing and whole heap of fun; forever recommended with festival jester’s hats on and bells on.
Words by Ollie MacKenzie. Featured Image by Barbora Mrazkova. The creative process can be a winding, long, and often confusing journey. Seeing a project come…
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Yeah I know, those Nothing Rhymes With Orange lads were pepping up the Crown in Devizes for a Fantasy Radio live lounge last night, and we’re devoted to singing their praises, but over in Chippenham young folk singer-songwriter Meg was doing an intimate set in the Neeld bar, and since my daughter Jess did a fantastic interview with her a few months ago, I was eager to cross Meg off my never-ending must-see live list….
Glad I did, Meg was everything I’d expected and a tad more. Self-penned marvels of whimsical contrasts, between abstract prose of youthful dreams and harsher realities, make for a mostly melancholicus muse, thoughtful and delivered so utterly beautifully it encapsulates you like every good folk singer should, but Meg most definitely does, and Meg most definitely is only at the beginnings of a fascinating journey and one I suspect she’ll document diary-like in song.
Bags of potential here, for her audience to mature with her words, as Potterheads have with Rowling’s, in which Meg is often quizzically humble, as if asking her audience the kind of questions your teenage self might’ve pondered alone on a ruffled duvet. It causes it to connote honesty, opening her innermost thoughts and desires to you, and the result is spellbinding. So much so, there’s times you assume the song has ended and she’s breaking the fourth wall with customary annotations, but Meg will smile a special smile, and continue the piece, and it’s touching in a unique manner; I’ve never seen another blur the lines between song and chat as well as this.
Yet the most engaging element is the passion in which she performs. In Jess’s interview, Meg was keen to express the connection between her music and her autism, suggesting it was part of her, so she didn’t think she would have one without the other. It equates to a channelled joyful passion, which unavoidably rubs off to her audience.
Look out for Meg, regularly support act at Trowbridge’s Pump and a keen open mic participant at The Old Road Tavern’s.
Good to hear The Scribes are back with a new single, Focus
Ah, now the hook on this is immediately snappy, with that repetitive ghostly dope beat, The Scribes demanding you Focus, and like any good boom bap, the lyrics take too much untwining to define appropriately, but I know what I like. I’m trying to stay focussed, guys, straight up, but this captivating loop pounds your head, and the effect of this method lyrically the Scribes play off from each other is mesmerising….
The single is from long-awaited The Scribes X Vice Beats – The Totem Trilogy Part 2 EP, the first part of which we reviewed here back in 2020, and since we’ve been on a journey to find anyone half as good as the Scribes on the UK hip hop scene, but only so far come up with the ensemble who happened to have worked with the Scribes! This time around they’ve turned my attention onto smooth and dynamic, in a Rodney P manner, London-based rapper Donnie Numeric, who fits like a glove into this troop.
They rocked Devizes last November at the Muck & Dundar, they’re coming to Salisbury’s Winchester Gate soon, where they’re welcomed regulars, and the launch of this single sees them party at The Exchange in Bristol, the night this nugget drops; Friday 25th August. If I link the video to Focus below, you won’t be able to preview it until tomorrow when it goes live, that’s where I’m the lucky one, but honestly, the wait is worth it. The video was filmed by Lloyd Ashman Media, and it functions as a visual cue to the skill of this tongue-twisting talented trio, and makes you shiver somewhat at how this rolls.
With a progressive disc of annihilating hip hop this fresh, it is easy to see how The Scribes have been centre of attention recently, as Exposure Music Awards Best UK Urban Act, and the EatMusic Radio Awards Best Live Act too. They’ve provided original music for BBC and Channel 4 television, and are featured regularly on both national and local radio and media including BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio 1 Introducing and BBC Radio 6 Music. But through all this, there’s no pretentiousness when you meet them, no chip on a shoulder stereotypical of the scene, just fete perusal of where they’re heading, added with a healthy slice of banter. The Scribes are the real McCoy, and this is just another shining example of why.
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Even if you were once on our local music circuit but you’ve escaped the wilds of Wiltshire, you are always welcome here! It was lovely to hear from Sally Dobson last week, as she dropped us a message to show off her new project Foxbaroque, and the EP stemmed from it, Calamity Jane……
Once a stalwart acoustic soloist of our local circuit, staying in Pewsey at the time, Sally gave us a broad gothic angle, yet always with a cheery outlook personally. Foxbaroque continues in the vein of her previous solo songs under the alias Salamander, and of that as the electronica goth duo Strange Tales. In fact, one of the three tunes, No Wrong, is already on our last 4 Julia’s House compilation, which you can grab here; wow, told you we had exclusives!
Sally, bottom right, at Saddleback’s Battle of the Bands in 2018. With John Edwards, George Wilding, Claire, Mike Barham, Jordan Whatley, Jack Moore, Tamsin Quin, and Jamie R Hawkins.
Calamity Jane flows expressively, like Kate Bush meets Siouxsie Sioux, and it’s produced by Curtis Simmons, released through Satellite Kid Records, with drum and percussion from Romain Delettre. Twelve minutes well spent, Foxbaroque is a unique sound swirling of post-punk progression, ardent hooks and expressive and sincere.
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Another wonderful nugget of lonely contemplation from the chillaxed Britpop kahuna, Paul Lappin, formerly of Swindon now residing in the South of France. Unfortunately You makes for our song of the week, and you’ll be drawn into its five minutes of drifting prose and beautiful composition, of that I’m certain.
Paul Lappin
A man of many talents. I love the personal touch of designing your own cover too, in which Paul’s watercolour and pen work has nearly equalled his artistic skill in music. And it goes so well to accommodate the mood of the tune, which is melancholic bliss.
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Righty-ho then, this week’s rodeo roundup of all the lovely fings to Scooby-Doo across Wiltshire’s rolling landscape is rather like when you went on holiday as a nipper and your folks bought you your chosen comic’s summer special… a bumper edition!
Okay, millennials and gen z, you’ll need Google to make any sense of that. The rest of us greying lot will remember spilling Ready Brec on their oversized Beano, Dandy or Nutty summer special while listening to the rain hammering onto a caravan roof, but everyone knows with the bank holiday looming, there’s a lot to get through, so here goes……
Oh, one quick thing while I remember, as these roundup posts are getting more popular, (we had over 10K hits for last week’s) you can see from below it’s too much to stick on a Facebook post, so we do it this way because those not on Facebook can also see what’s happening, but more importantly, this list is published early in the week for ticketed events, events which come to our attention, like those smaller pub gigs which pop up on Facebook or Twitter(if we can still call it that) during the week will NOT be listed here, but they will be on the updating event calendar HERE. So, DON’T take this preview piece as comprehensive, DO check the calendar later in the week.
Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.
Also The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham has a street art inspired exhibit, Reviewed HERE.
Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.
Wednesday 23rd:
The regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon kick off their weekend earliest, with “summer of love” festivities, there’s spoken word and The Cleverly Brothers tonight.
Joe Pasquale’s The New Normal: 40 Years Of Cack comes to The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Fromage en Feu at The Bell, Bath, Iago Banet, The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar at Chapel Arts.
Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are at the Tree House, Frome.
Thursday 24th:
Nothing Rhymes With Orange are part of a Fantasy Radio Live Lounge at The Crown, Devizes, with poetic interludes by Gail Foster. You can cheat and listen to it on Fantasy, or come down the pub!
The Undercover Hippy at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
James Kirby’s The Honest Man Tour at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Mr Love & Justice at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Ghosts of this Town Album Launch Party at The Vic, Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Friday 25th:
Emergency Awareness Training! Wiltshire Air Ambulance at Hillworth Park, Devizes, but also the chance for the kids, and parents of course to meet Bluey from 12-2pm.
Yeah, I’ve no idea who Bluey is, but I know these guys will rock, Plan of Action at The Three Crowns, Devizes, and these guys will skank, Blondie & Ska at The Pelican, and well, we just love People Like Us who are at the Condado Lounge; spoiled rotten for choice I’d say, Devizes!
Honey-Fest over at the Barge on Honey-Street starts, and what a great lineup there; Mr Tea and the Minions! Further afield, it’s the Reading Festival.
Radiation Sickness at The Consti Club, Chippenham.
Riff Raff Aurora at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon. West of England Youth Orchestra at the Wiltshire Music Centre.
Jurassic Earth at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
And music in Swindon is coming up roses: Stop Stop & Studded Rose at The Vic, Black Rose at the New Inn, Stratton, and Sonic Alert at The Queen’s Tap.
‘Shadowing Hank’ Justin Daish’s tribute to Hank Marvin & The Shadows is at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Dr Beetroot heads another glamping live music sesh at the Baa, near Salisbury.
Saturday 26th:
Continuing on Sunday, it’s time again for the FullTone Festival on the Green in Devizes; yay! And if you’re not going to this, or fancy popping out for a stroll, the fantastic Ruzz Guitar Trio play The Southgate.
Humdinger plays The Coopers, Pewsey.
Forest Fest at The Foresters Arms, Melksham has Manhattan Nights, This Way Up, and Marty’s Fake Family, kicking off at noon.
Cooper’s Creek are at The Wheatsheaf, Calne. Zero Hour at The Wiltshire Yeoman, Trowbridge.
Bradford-on-Avon have Castlefest at the Castle, and the fun continues at the Three Horseshoes with cabaret and circus acts. Ocean Blue, a relaxing duo of sax-based pop classics, jazz, blues, Boassa nova, and funk at the Boathouse.
In Swindon, 12 Bars Later at the Wroughton Club, Comedy at the Bowl at the Old Town Bowl, Apache Cats at The Queens Tap. The Little Mermaid at The Wyvern Theatre.
Sunday 27th:
Jim Blair at The Southgate, Devizes, while FullTone continues on the Green. The Potterne CC Festival is on, there’s a bus to the village from the town centre.
Talbot-Fest at the Talbot in Calne, see poster.
Start the Sirens play The Grapes, Melksham.
A happy 16th anniversary to the Open Mic night at the Old Road Tavern in Chippenham. This one kicks off at 7pm.
Starry Eyes, a charitable trust based in Trowbridge, which provides an opportunity for people of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds to get involved in music, has a Disney Day at Studley Green, Trowbridge. Tickets will be available on the door with a range of activities and entertainment available.
The Summer of Love festival comes to a Reggae Reggae Sunday finale, with Troy Ellis with Hail Jamaica at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
It’s Sazz at the New Inn, Stratton, Swindon, 21st Century ABBA & Elton at the Old Town Bowl.
The Original Mike Hoddinott Blues Allstars at The Bell, Bath.
And The Hammervilles’ Bank Holiday Beach Party at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Monday 28th:
Unmissable should the headline read; Well Hung Heart at The Southgate, Devizes. But there’s more, The Reason plays The Three Crowns, and The British Lion holds its Black Rat Monday, with a BBQ and the amazing Be Like Will.
Box Rocks at the Queen’s Head in Box, is the fundraising smasher of bank holiday Monday, previewed HERE, fantastic lineup yet again!
Another outdoor all-dayer at the Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, see poster.
Kid Hyena at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 29th:
Bank holiday over, back to work! I chant this because I’ve forgotten what a bank holiday is; no rest for the wicked (and I mean wicked in eighties ironic slang, cos I’m of that era. Nowadays they say “sick,” what’s wrong with them?!)
But there’s still Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon with Swing From Paris, and Rob Clamp plays The Bell, Bath.
And we’re not slowing down when we delve into September, you know? The Deadnotes play the Pump, Trowbridge with The Sunnies in support on Wednesday 30th, The End of the Road Festival kicks off in Salisbury the day after that.
Into September, there’s lots to look forward to from the off, The Future Sound of Trowbridge series starts with Nothing Rhymes With Orange at The Pump on Friday the 1st, with our wonderful new writer Florence Lee’s band Paradigm in support.
Then there’s Devizes Carnival, Pewsey Pride, Swindon Paint Fest, the infamous Party on the Drive 3 in Chippenham, Hillworth Park Proms in Devizes, Burbage Beer Festival, a Sci Fi Day at The REME Museum, Calne, Chloe Jordan and Pete Lamb’s Heartbeats at the Corn Exchange Devizes for an Air Ambulance fundraiser, the new season of Long Street Blues Club begins, boss reggae with the arrive of Ya Freshness at Devizes Scooter Club, Nothing Rhymes with Orange play the Exchange, Pewsey carnival, The Wharf Theatre’s Di, Vi and Rose, Swindon Shuffle, Devizes Food & Drink Festival, and so much more to come!
I mean, Devizes own contemporary blues throwback, JP is getting bookings, and rightly so. He’s off to Trowbridge’s Lamb next Saturday for a double-bill with…
by Mick Brianimages from Lauren Arena-McCann The playwright Tom Stoppard is probably best known for his work “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”, his absurdist comedy…
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Since sending out our last Imberbus email earlier this week, we have had several new subscribers to our mailing list, partly due to some advance press coverage yesterday. We therefore thought that we would send the email out again for their benefit and also share with you the answers to a few of the questions […]
Yeah, the title of Dylan’s debut album, Cruel to be Kind could be an insight into how we conduct our reviews, but being as I missed him yet again when he came to the Southgate, I should really be kind to be kind, asides, there’s nothing in this album to be cruel about….
My excuse was festival season, I was invited to The Devizes Scooter Rally the weekend his name was chalked upon the Gate’s blackboard. Looking for a skinhead friend of mine there proved impossible amidst a sea of skinheads! Without this turning pythonesque, dwelling on Dylan’s fantastic beard, the likes of which I’d have spotted him straight away with, should he have been there, allow me this brief Arthur Twosheds Jackson moment, and we’ll digress onto his music!
While listening I’m contemplating his very name suggests he comes from a musical family, or fans of the Magic Roundabout at the very least. It could be duly noted Dylan these days may well be a name given by parents with no clue to the legendary folk singer, a Dylan the age of Dylan Smith would suggest otherwise. This I haven’t asked him about, I’m making an assumption here, because this album is so eclectic, yet from whichever angle a track off it comes at you, it’s proficiently delivered with the seemingly ease to justify the notion Dylan Smith was born for this.
The title track opens this fifteen track musical marathon. It’s the nice, smooth and breezy folk-rock I was expecting, it’s Tom Petty, vocally, and with a similar hook. However the one time I did meet Dylan, which was when he was backing Becky Lawrence on guitar at the Female of the Species annual fundraiser in Seend, and I asked him to summarise his sound, he was rather generalised and heterogeneous about pigeonholing it. The intro of the second tune, Play the Game, was unexpected, until I recalled that conversation. I mean, through to its conclusion it holds a strong wailing guitar riff, but it kicks in as if I’m about to listen to Orbital, or some other nineties downtempo slice of electronica. It is at this conjunction you accept Cruel to be Kind is going to be a ride through musical influences.
Dylan with Becky Lawrence at the Female of the Species Halloween Party in Seend!
Then, we’re back into rock citing Nashville country by the third tune, with a drifting sound and a reminiscing theme. If you were a nipper in 1983, as is its title, you’ll nod, and perhaps think the witty cultural references are wicked (in the eighties ironic slang usage of the term!) younger listeners may need Google, but I’d predict the effect remains the same; this tune celebrates the diversity Of Dylan’s work, and his ability to apply ruminative narrative.
By now you’re immersed in Dylan’s world, and willing to accept whatever he deems appropriate to throw at you. Check You Out, is quirky and the tad saucy of ZZ Top in content, followed by a beautiful ballad, or two, but we’re only halfway through and anything could happen. Memory Lane again focuses on retrospective reminiscences, with a bouncy acoustic number, I’m awash thinking of classic influences, yeah, Dylan and Cash, but the experimental side of the Beatles and Beach Boys too, and this one finishes on a whistle akin to Otis sitting on the dock of the bay.
In conclusion to citing influences, a Nils Lofgren of Trowbridge, and as a guitar teacher too I guess Dylan needs to be diverse, perhaps, but there’s so much going on here, stop the press; nine tunes in and Living Fantasy is funky electronica pop! Then whoa, bluegrass supersedes, and we’re back in Dylan’s comfort zone, this Tom Petty folk-rock rings throughout, but there’s no accounting where he’ll go next. A man after my own heart, I feel, as I couldn’t do desert island discs, couldn’t bear to reduce myself to a few genres, let alone a few albums!
But there’s thoughtful prose, genius writing, and adroit guitar work throughout this musical melting pot, even if Dylan can’t decide on moderating to a subgenre; his style is unique and detectable from whatever pigeonhole you care to plonk a particular tune into. The album drifts along in similar fashion to the close, it’s beguiling, yet as there’s a lot of it, you begin to take Dylan’s talent for granted, until it’s over. There is a pocket of variation when Lucie Reyonds vocals on a song called Something to Share. Now, if this one doesn’t standalone to prove the wealth of Dylan’s virtuosity in composure and writing, nothing will.
It’s wonderfully enchanting, as is the album, an interestingly diverse treasure you’ll return to and discover more to, like gags in an Airplane movie! Now who’s taking us back to 1983, and if we could, Dylan, just return to your fantastic beard for a moment?!
For more info on Dylan Smith and to buy the album, see Dylan’s Website HERE
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If I said these four words, in this order: open, mic, cellar, and bar, lots of Devizes folk will be evoked with fond reminiscences of Alan Jones and Richard Ben’s regular sessions down in the basement of the Bear Hotel. Many local musicians cut their teeth there, else if already established, rung out their labour of love, and that, in a nutshell is what open mic nights are all about….
But with the event being kaput, I get asked time over, here at Devizine, if I know of any still operating. So last night I popped along to see Nick Beere of Marlborough’s Mooncalf Studios, hosting one at the Bell in Great Cheverell, and off the back of it thought today we could talk about it, and present a more general piece on local open mics; double-whammy.
“I don’t know why I got started doing it,” Nick tells me, as he sets up for the next act. Far from karaoke, Nick is tweaking technical bobs, engineering the sound and advising newcomers, to make them both comfortable and sound professional. There’s a communal feel about open mic nights without pretence. Vince Bell is there, no stranger to an open mic, explaining their importance as a bridge from practising and playing to your friends and family, to getting out gigging. Indeed, there’s an unplanned duo playing tonight, Lisa the singer, and though it’s a nervous start for them, the applause received sent them brewing with deserved confidence.
While you can take it as red Vince delivered his sublime acoustic goodness, he’s here with Devizes singer-songwriter Sorrel Pits, coming across as one of those artists to make excuses, prior to pulling off some beautiful songs adroitly self-penned with meaningful prose.
Guitarist Steve Nicholls and bassist Troy Orourke are also present, uncertain about the future of their band Alfred’s Tower since the singer left, but accompanied on cajon they produced some wonderful instrumental pieces. They asked me if I knew of any singers in need of a band, so if you’re on the hunt get in touch with us and I’ll hook you up. And within this here’s another notable point about open mics, they’re convention-like for networking, a social get-together of like minded talent, and new connections will undoubtedly be made at them.
The Bell at Great Cheverell makes for a hospitable village free house, catering for diners more so, yet often hosting live music; those Truzzy Boys being a particular favourite. No one seemed bothered by being treated to a selection of songs after their meals. Nick runs the open mic here on the second Tuesday of the month, the first Monday of the month he does similar at the perhaps more apt Lamb in Marlborough, and the third Thursday at the Horseshoe in Minal.
To get involved with open mics, a quick Facebook search is all you need to do to get the ball rolling. Though there’s lots of said groups inactive though, especially post-lockdown. I’ll stick a few groups and pages which we’ve discovered and are currently running at the bottom of this piece. For if you want to break into the local scene, open mic could well be your route.
Other local open mics worthy of your perusal are Tom Harris’s at the Barge on HoneyStreet. The next one being 22nd September. Join HERE for updates.
In Devizes I only know of one, The Exchange nightclub runs. The next one is Thursday 7th September, and thereafter the first Thursday of each month. HERE is the group you need to join. Though another similar thang, even more communal than open mics are acoustic jams, a particularly popular one being each Wednesday at The Southgate.
Stallards in Trowbridge have open mics on the last Thursday of each month. This group is HERE.
The Old Road Tavern in Chippenham has regular open mics on the last Sunday of the month. Group is HERE. Next evening is Sunday Aug 27th, 7pm to 10.30pm, their 16th anniversary. Chippenham FM’s Brian Reid has been running it since 2014. “We regularly get thirty-forty people each month,” he told us.
Another crucial point Brian made was the Old Road’s is open to poetry and comedy too, as others are likewise. “We have a space which I am proud to say is welcoming and attentive and supportive of newcomers,” he explained, “and a lot of experienced participants come too.”
In Bath Connor McLeod has a regular Monday evening at Belushis, and there’s a general open mic group for Bath, HERE.
Delaney’s in Wantage have open mics the first Thursday of the month, next up also 7th September.
For Open Mics across Wiltshire, HERE, and For Open Mics throughout the Southwest, HERE. Have mic will travel!
And if I missed your favourite one, let us know, and we’ll add, provided you don’t expect me to sing personally, as there’s a government health warning on that!
Formerly known as Judas Goat and the Bellwether, the now renamed band have announced the release of their latest single, “Drill Baby Drill” (coming out…
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Ah, I reckon we’ve had Ruzz and the Revue up here for song of the week more than once before, but here’s a decidedly syncopated five-accent hambone rhythm of Bo Diddley beat the like you’ve never heard him play before….at least I’ve not! Must be their recent US tour rubbing off, all that playing in the desert malarkey!
Hailing from LA, The Mike Eldred trio consists of Mike on guitar and vocals, Chris Smith on bass and drummer Brian Fahey. Casting a spell alright!
Find Ruzz doing his birthday show at the Cheese & Grain, Frome on 10th February, but if you can’t wait that long, how’s about The Southgate, Devizes, where the Ruzz Guitar Trio will be there to entertain you on the big bank holibobs, Saturday 26th August….yes, that is a fortnight away!
Swindon’s annual colossal fundraising event The Shuffle is a testament to local live music, which raises funds for Prospect Hospice. If you’re ever going to…
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The team behind Swindon’s popular all-day music extravaganza, My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, have revealed that nearly £9,000 has been raised for Prospect Hospice following this year’s event…..
MDBTYD 2023, organised in association with South Swindon Parish Council, was held at The Old Town Bowl on Saturday 2nd July with around 800 people braving the rain throughout the day. This was the third year of the festival, which was organised to raise much needed funds for Prospect Hospice in tribute to Dave Young, the former landlord of The Victoria and 12 Bar who died in early June 2021 at the hospice after a hard-fought battle against cancer.
Prospect Hospice, based in Wroughton, provides palliative and end of life care for people across the region and has to raise the majority of its costs through fundraising. Sheryl Crouch, Head of Income at the hospice said: “My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad is a real celebration of our community and an event that Prospect Hospice is proud to be a part of.The story of local music promoter Dave Young and the support he and his family received from the hospice is reflected in this event through its energy, varied line up of bands and array of entertainment throughout the day, all supported by many local sponsors and volunteers. The event is a true community collaboration, much like the hospice.”
“The event has raised an amazing £30,000 so far and this will be used by the hospice to ensure other local people like Dave can benefit from outstanding care at the end of their lives. We want to thank everyone involved in making the day happen, and all those who attend, for their ongoing support and ensuring we can be there to support further families that need us.”
“The date is already set for next year and we can’t wait to be part of it.”
My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival 2023, which had the support of Future Planning as its headline sponsor for the second year running, took place over two stages with 16 acts performing on the Old Town Bandstand acoustic stage and the main stage in the Old Town Bowl.
Some of the best acts of the local music scene came together to support the event, including Kova Me Badd, Imperial Leisure and The Real Cheesemakers. The festival also collaborated with Swindon Paint Fest who hosted an area of creativity which included live painting from six fantastic local artists, with the resulting artworks to be auctioned off in the near future.
Co-organiser Ed Dyer said: “I’ve got to say that yet again we have been blown away by the support Swindon showed to our one-day festival. Sadly, the sunshine of the previous years evaded us but the atmosphere was still terrific with people dancing in the rain and leaving with massive smiles on their faces. The precise figure is to be confirmed but we couldn’t be more pleased that we are going to be able to donate almost £9000 to Prospect.”
Sponsors of MDBTYD Festival 2023 also included Anytime Fitness, Imagine Cruising, Leightons Opticians, and Lewis Farrant Floor Layer. Part of the fee paid to South Swindon Parish Council to use the venue has been put aside to help raise money for the upkeep of the Old Town Bowl.
After a well earned break, the organisers of the festival are now planning for MDBTYD 2024, with the date set for Saturday 20th July 2024. For further updates follow My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival on social media. Early tickets for next year’s event are on sale via the website mydadsbiggerthanyourdad.co.uk
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There will be twelve weekly episodes, each a short play written and performed by members of the group. In this inaugural episode by John Osborn, a man is looking to redeem his birthday present of a time travel voucher. Warning – contains strong language. You can find it on Apple Podcasts HERE.
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Last week I predicted summer 23 had finally arrived, now, well, it doesn’t look smashing now, does it?! Ah, here’s what we’ve found this coming week to do in wonderful Wiltshire…..
Usual gubbing, all the info and ticket links are on our jam packed event calendar, HERE, and you can plan ahead too. Any updates after today will also be put on there, so do check in later in the week too, as this is not exhaustive or comprehensive, or other such long words like that!
Do pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.
Also The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham has a street art inspired exhibit, Reviewed HERE.
Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.
Wednesday 16th:
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Devizes Salsa Class in West Lavington.
Mango Factory, Latin flavoured grooviness from double-drama-vocalist party patrol, arrive at The Bell, Bath.
Johnny Marr is at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
For kids on school hols, Pound arts has a Sketch and Doodle session, but Lego Animation workshops at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon have now sold out, though Sing Your Head Off still has places.
Thursday 17th:
Tom Speight is Instore at Sound Knowledge in Marlborough.
There’s the Summer Youth Project at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, with The Wizard Of Oz.
Showstoppers at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, and Australia’s most admired and versatile songwriters and instrumentalists, Liz Stringer is at Chapel Arts in Bath.
Friday 18th:
Devizes and Marlbroough are playing swappies, Marlborough-based Trash Panda will make a Devizes debut at The Three Crowns, and Ben Borrill and Pat Ward now known as Matchbox Mutiny, play the Wellington in Marlborough!
There’s Jazz at the Cafe in Trowbridge Civic Hall listed on the calendar, but I’ve drawn a blank link to this, so check ahead with the Civic Hall.
‘The Chas and Dave Story’ featuring Rockney at Chapel Arts, Bath
Fantastic Marillion tribute, Marquee Square Heroes play The Vic, Swindon.
And for a camping trip, consider The Baa in Combe Bisset near Salisbury, which has live music weekend with Captain Accident & the Disasters headlining; I must check this place out!
The Jake Leg Jug Band appear for one night only at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, Mark Smallman play The Southgate.
Sausage and Cider Day at The Brewery Inn, Seend, where those Junkyard Dogs will be.
Absolutely Elton at the Consti Club, Chippenham.
It’s the MidLife Krisis Summer Family Event at Supermarine, Swindon; best of luck with this one, guys, I know how hard you’ve all worked towards it. Meanwhile, Down & Dirty play The Vic, Rio at the Woodland Edge, and Michael Jackson tributeJay Styles at the New Inn, Stratton.
Calf2Cow presents Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky & Other Nonsense, at Pound Arts in Corsham.
Be Like Will are playing a free BBQ at True Story, unit 7 of the Curtis Centre in Westbury.
The songbook of Marvin Gaye starring Nate Simpson, at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Meatloaf tribute, Maet Live & The Never Neverland Express at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Sunday 20th:
The Jon Amor Trio welcomes Bennett Holland to the unmissable monthly residency at The Southgate, Devizes.
The Convulsions at the Bell, Bath.
There’s also the Mid-Somerset Show 2023.
Monday 21st:
I got nought as of yet, other than 6 1 6 1, wunder-drummer Matt Brown’s new band debut at the Bell, Bath. But you know, early days, stuff might change as the week goes on, this is why you have to keep one eye on our updating Event Calendar!
Tuesday 22nd:
Pete Canter Quartet play Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon.
And that’s that, folks! Of course, the county is gearing up for a bank holiday next weekend, so next week’s rodeo roundup will be jam packed, but really, you wanna start planning now.
Even Wednesday leading up to it is solid, with not only the acoustic jam at The Southgate, but Bristol gipsies Fromage en Feu at the Bath Bell, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse playing the Tree House, Frome, and Iago Banet, Galician king of acoustic guitar at Chapel Arts. Oh, and Joe Pasquale at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon!
And the week goes on like this, the weekend is exploding! Friday, Bluey visits Hillworth Park, Plan of Action visits The Three Crowns, Blondie & Ska visit The Pelican, People Like Us do the Condado Lounge, and that’s just Devizes!
HoneyFest kicks off at The Barge on Honey-Street, not forgetting the Reading Festival, and a host of other great gigs and events. Saturday sees the magical Fulltone Festival in Devizes, where Ruzz Guitar Trio also returns to The Southgate.
CastleFest at The Castle in Bradford-on-Avon, and into Sunday with Potterne Festival, TalbotFest in Calne, and too many gigs to list. Bank holiday Monday sees Black Rat Monday at the British Lion in Devizes but also, Well Hung Heart at The Southgate and The Reason at The Three Crowns; options, people, too many to choose from!! And I was thinking about popping over to Box for Box Rocks at the Queens Head, Dammit, someone clone me, at least six times!
And then it’s into September, back to school and the Pump’s Future Sound of Trowbridge, a series of gigs supporting upcoming local bands and musicians, Swindon Shuffle, and a new season for Long Street Blues Club.
Until then, hold your horses, and I hope to see you out and about! Have a great week!
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by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Next Stage Theatre Company and Mike Stevens Florian Zeller is a contemporary French playwright and screenwriter, who received…
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So, the Boundary Commission for England’s final recommendations for new Parliamentary constituencies, which carves the Devizes constituency into three unequal parts, was submitted to the House of Commons for their perusal in June, and it’s time for MPs to scramble for the safest seats, which Westminster dubs “the chicken run.” But what, at great taxpayer’s cost, will these changes really mean for us?
Not much to be honest, other than confusion as to who your MP is. And as a majority in the Devizes area will come under the newly formed Devizes-Melksham constituency, which Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan wants her claws in, less chauvinistic attitudes and using parliamentary persuasion to indoctrinate antiquated evangelist beliefs, perhaps. Though looking into Donelan’s backstory, she’s hardly an advocate for equality, not the personification of Amnesty International, unfortunately.
But if ol’ Danny K signed his own death warrant by segregating and offending half the population of his constituency according to gender, time is a healer. Here comes the Tory girls; it stands that our existing constituency is the safest Conservative seat in the area, and they’ll fight tooth and nail for the shards of it.
It makes sense with depleting support for the Tories nationally, that constituencies like Devizes will split to shoulder neighbouring constituencies which might possibly be lost to the opposition otherwise. Donelan’s Chippenham constituency would lose Bradford-on-Avon and Melksham, gaining the thinner ice of Royal Wootton Bassett and Calne, so it makes sense to jump ship.
Hence why Michelle is keen to abandon Chippenham and defect to Devizes-Melksham. This Westminster parlance, or “chicken run” is no new thing. The phrase was coined in the years leading up to New Labour’s 1997 landslide, when several Conservative MPs, fearing a tricky contest on home soil fled for greener pastures.
Question is, what’s Michelle Donelan like as an MP? Well, although a Christian too, her online persona doesn’t preach like our Danny K, rather is filled with feelgood shares of constituents raising funds for worthy charities; as if the corruption of the current government she supports hasn’t been kingpin as to why we need such charities and now is the time for us all to dig deeper and fundraise, because we’re all so affluent, aren’t we?!
Online Donelan comes across as hard working and responsive to pleas from her constituents, but against her hardlined Conservative voting record this feels like a facade, and with a previous career in media marketing she would be of a professional standard to sell ice to Eskimos.
Currently serving as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, she’s also had her mitts in the Johnson government as Minister of State for Higher and Further Education, but under Truss bunked off after less than 36 hours in her new role, resigning, writing Johnson had, “put us in an impossible position.” No shit, Sherlock, you certainly took the long route around to unearth this revelation of subterfuge!
Michelle is no stranger to debunking after a devastating loss. In her first, the 2010 general election, the safe Labour seat of Wentworth and Dearne in South Yorkshire, she took only 17.6%, to Labour MP John Healey’s 50.6%, shoved her tail between her legs and headed for the gold-paved streets of Chippenham!
Hardly Amazonian demigoddess Princess Diana of Themyscira here to save us from, erm, though Wonder Woman had no arch-nemesis, Cheetah was a popular supervillain, so let’s call Danny K it, for the purpose of this analogy! Donelan’s voting record (TheyWorkForYou) doesn’t convey the people-person connoted passionately on her Facebook page, sadly.
This shows a militant xenophobic, homophobic Brexiteer, always voting against a right to remain for EU nationals already living in the UK, against more EU integration, against UK membership of the EU, and consistently voting for military action against ISIL, and against investigations into the Iraq war.
It shows Michelle as utterly reprehensible on asylum seekers, and mistrusts the more general population, consistently voting for requiring the mass retention of information about communications.
A general running theme through her voting record reveals the common Conservative thread of giving large corporations a leg-up and down-treading the working class, voting for increasing the rate of VAT, reducing capital gains tax, and for restricting regulation of trade union activity. She voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits, and against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
Selling off the NHS to the highest bidder is something she also appears passionate about, and voted against allowing the terminally ill to be given assistance to end their life; Michelle likes to see you squirm in pain from beginning till the very end.
Hardly the people-person she makes out locally, voting against equal gay rights, and against laws to promote equality and human rights. You try to find me media coverage of Chippenham’s first openly gay mayor Declan Baseley’s MP observing the etiquette of welcoming a new mayor to the position, I challenge you!
And, fracking hell, don’t even get me started on her appalling stance on environmental issues, we may as well abandon the planet now, as she will with Chippenham!
But, why, why all this hostile ethos to the important matters, besides making sure businesses profit? Okay, what if I told you Michelle Donelan’s partner is Tom Turner, Commercial Head of Stronghold Global, exposed by the Good Law Project for involvement in the PPE procurement scandal? Does it ring any alarms? Or, his father Benjamin Turner, who has also landed lucrative Government PPE deals, as director at Toffeln Ltd, a shoe-making firm which landed a £1.1m contract from the DHSC in April 2020 to suddenly supply visors despite no previous experience. Ah, no conflict of interest there, nothing to see here, move along and accept your hopeful new MP, Devizes.
What the hell, Devizine, she’s wearing a blue rosette?! Sigh; it’s like talking to a brick wall. You’d vote for a 4×4 plinth of plywood scrawled with Satanic worshipping slogans if it was wearing one of those; the very reason she’s coming our way. What would it take to change the minds of a majority, to think away from their traditional blind voting agenda? Because a government whose incompetence drastically increased deaths during a pandemic and partied while you watched granny snuff it on video call doesn’t seem to have had any impact at all.
By Ian DiddamsImages by Luke Ashley Tame of Acadia Creative Around 2 million women are victims of violence perpetrated by men every year, that’s 3,000…
Family run premier auctioneers of antiques and collector’s items, Henry Aldridge and Son announced a move into The Old Town Hall on Wine Street, Devizes;…
Amidst another packed summer weekend’s schedule laid that lovable large village Pewsey’s turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if it’s…
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Another Triumph for WHO Andy Fawthrop Following the excellent recent production of La Belle Helene at Devizes’ Wharf Theatre back in March (see here), White…
If I’ve spent some days now, highlighting a wealth of local talented teenagers, forming new bands, and creating a blossoming scene, this isn’t one of those days. And if I’ve reviewed musical releases breaking new ground, this isn’t it either. This is about the Junkyard Dogs, a popular Trowbridge based blues band who kindly posted their CD, Off The Leash, through my letterbox…..
It’s nice to receive something other than bills from Pat, and I’m mature enough to recall a day pre-spotty-fly and Deezer-not-a-geezer, when all music for reviewing was sent via this antiquated method; it’s nice to have something to hold too, something physical. And if I convey ageism I’m hypocritically in the same boat, but on the grounds they’ve a self-penned song titled Too Fat, too Old, Too Bald, I’d imagine and pray they don’t mind; old enough to know better, too old to care, they are Junkyard Dogs, after all.
For I was wondering, when they announced they had an album coming out if they’d polished their pub circuit act and glossed it with a studio makeover, and I furthered it with intrigue but also with concern that this route may not have had the same dynamic blast of their live show. Which is justified, it can and has happened to others.
But it hasn’t here, they’ve rightfully opted to give us a disc recorded live, at The Mason Arms in Warminster last year, only mastered at Sonic Temple, and this simply works, as I don’t believe it’s the kind of groundbreaking CD to be rushing off the HMV shelves, rather the kind of keepsake you pick up after being blown away by a stupendous show, and can happily take a little piece of it back home with you; a secret treasure.
So, if you do catch these guys live, do also beg them for this CD, it has a cover parodying Tarintino film Reservoir Dogs, despite this being a blessing on the ear rather than the slicing of one as seen in the film, and you will love it!
I trust myself to divulge this fact, as many readers are Devizes based, and Devizes is a blues town, I’ve mentioned before what I call the Mel Bush Effect. But personally, I love it because I love my blues rooted, and though the Dogs are electrically amplified their style is deeply rooted too; harmonicas aplenty.
The opening song proving my point, the 1955 prototypical rocker Flip, Flop and Fly, Big Joe Turner’s similar follow-up arrangement to Shake, Rattle and Roll, a tune covered by Bill Haley which essentially spurred a musical revolution, but quintessentially was originally deemed jump blues.
And I favour that term above the later coined rhythm and blues, as it defines it, it encourages a jump rather than melancholic contemplation of delta blues, and it makes for a massive percent of the Dog’s set, it’s lively, it’s carefree, it’s songs about long-legged women, ambiguous usage of the term jelly roll, and flying by the seat of one’s pants; I rest my case.
Off the Leash is the kind of truckload of fun which could instantly turn a reading room into a juke joint! This said, there’s a fair quantity of this on our circuit, I accept the point, but few do it with the gusto, proficiency and authenticity of Junkyard Dogs.
Mostly self-penned nuggets of blissful blues, other covers include Dale Hawkins’ Susie Q, definably from the golden age of rockabilly, and Robert Parker’s rhythm and blues signature Barefootin’, but the most adroit is the finale of the gospel classic Jesus on the Mainline, originally recorded by Rev. Gatemouth Moore, but covered extensively by the likes of Ry Cooper and Fairport Convention. The tune features Cindy Wilson on vocal harmonies with Jonboy, Craig and Danny, and it highlights a certain diversity in Americana the Dogs will stretch too, making a poignant finale.
But for the most part, this CD is about letting the good times roll, and for this it works a treat. Who, who, who, whoever lets these dogs out, need walkies themselves, to go see them live, this album only stands a testament to why.
Five Have An Out-of-town Experience You can’t always get that live music experience you crave by simply staying within the walls of D-Town. Sometimes, and…
By Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Charlotte Emily Shakespeare wrote several plays that were termed in the late nineteenth century “Problem Plays”. These were…
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Poulshot’s Award-winning chocolate studio Hollychocs is proud to launch a heartfelt charity campaign in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK, with a charming chocolate…
Events with diversity, be they ethnic, cultural, or life choices, must be welcomed, encouraged and viewed positively as assets offering variety in our local calendar…
It’s the second exhibition at Chippenham pop artist Si Griffiths’s Forbidden Carnival gallery, and if the previous was an overall of the curiosities of alternative art we can expect to see there, this has a more specific theme of street art and graffiti….
It’s been a long rocky road for graffiti to be accepted by the art world, and while in the UK Banksy’s popularity has swayed opinion, the legalities of the practice hinders the gap from walls to gallery, as much as renowned street artists are celebrated. Yet graffiti has a solid history, from slogans on ancient civilisations to the competitive nature of New York gangland borders blossoming into wild-style typographic designs at the dawn of hip hop culture. Such was the vying essence of an emerging scene which took dadaism to the next level, questioning where art should be rather than what art is, artistic flare took the movement away from typography to complex “burners,” or depictions influenced by pop art and underground comix artists such as Vaughn Bode.
Still, Si seemed a tad scuppered when I met with him, with attempts to engage local street artists to contribute. An underlying fear of identification and cred may well be the cogitate pattern, though while their concerns are understandable, Si wants to encourage and work with street artists, as it functioned party to Swindon’s inaugural Paint Fest last year. For it’s the very model for the alternative ethos The Forbidden Carnival is about; quirky, unorthodox and counter-culture. For this much, the exhibit fits like a glove, though it is largely works by Si’s circle of artist associates inspired by the street art movement.
For a taste of something different this exhibit is still worth your while, there’s some amazing pieces on show here. Artists Rae Melody, Sarah Christie and of course Si himself contribute some zany compositions in their own style, some of which are printed, some of which are hand-painted onto skateboards for purchase. Not for me, with no sense of balance, but I would undoubtedly have the coolest board around!
One particularly interesting artist on display here is Dave E See, aka Guts, with the freaky surreal comix style you could scan forever and still miss something, there’s clear influences from S Clay Wilson, Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin, to Dr Adolf Steg and Jamie Smart, yet with a defined and distinctive graffiti-fashioned line they’re likely the artist who most fits the bill for this particular show, if it wasn’t, perhaps, for Jimmer Willmott.
Beyond the Streets has Jimmer’s name all over it, bristol-based artist who borders street and gallery, and goes the extra mile to mischievously perpetuate his work into unsuspecting places. Here’s the artist’s answer to Simon Brodkin, who hilariously defaces Tony Blair’s face on the cover of his autobiography and slips on a primely located window display at his local waterstones. An artist who depicts American cops with donuts-for-heads and hidden messages in alphabetti spaghetti, and front-of-centre of this exhibit there’s an example of Jimmer’s sully men-at-work signs, which he often puts back into society.
In my opinion Jimmer’s work is precisely the kick in the backside the art establishment needs to note street art’s value and place as a contemporary movement. It leaps off from the groundwork of Banky with mirth and comical impishness. Putting such works which espouses the outdoor tenet of street art in a gallery is a bold move for a city gallery, to have this in Chippenham is simply exciting and enthrallingly different.
The Forbidden Carnival is open to view over weekends from 10am to 3pm, or you can request a private view by contacting the studio. Beyond the Streets runs until 27th August, but Si has plans for more thrilling exhibits in the future, including a Halloween themed one, which I hope to tell you more about nearer the time. For now, go check this out…..
I want Devizine to be primarily about arts and entertainment, but I’m often pathetically persuaded by bickering political factions to pass opinion on local politics…
Don’t hold your breath, but is … .is…is that summer…. coming? Ah, here’s what we’ve found this coming week to do in wonderful Wiltshire…..
Usual gubbing, all the info and ticket links are on our jam packed event calendar, HERE, and you can plan ahead too. Any updates after today will also be put on there, so do check in later in the week too, as this is not exhaustive or comprehensive, or other such long words like that!
Do pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed here.
Also The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham has a street art inspired exhibit, I hope to pay a visit and report back tomorrow.
And there’s the Cepen Park Emoji Trail for Dorothy House, see the poster.
Wednesday 9th:
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Lots for youngsters at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Fidgety Feet Dance & Drama, and two sessions of Fly Like a Bird for 5-7yrs, and then from 8-10yrs.
Thursday 10th:
Little Piccolos Summer Workshop and Beautiful Bunting at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Lego workshop, Bricking It at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Sarum Live Open Mic & Jam, at the Duck Inn, Laverstock, Salisbury.
Friday 11th:
The Roughcut Rebels at The Old Lane, Chippenham.
The Radio Makers & Deadlight Dance at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
More crafts and kid’s stuff at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon; Celebrate the Sun, and again, two aged sessions for a Frozen Dance Party, with a screening of Frozen 2!
Road Trip at The Vic in Swindon, Swipe Right at the Queen’s Tap.
Outdoor Cinema Night – Dirty Dancing at Warminster School.
Stofest – 2nd attempt! at South Newton & Wishford Village Hall near Salisbury.
Who’s Next tribute at the Tree House, Frome. Live music at The Baa, see below…
Saturday 12th
Seend Fete on the Green, by the Lye.
Melksham Assembly Hall get all Lego, see the poster.
Duane Conn & The Connections at The Southgate, Devizes, Down The Hatch at the Three Crowns.
Pants at the Lamb, Marlborough, Second Hand Band at The Three Tuns, Great Bedwyn
Top Of The Pops Band at The Consti Club, Chippenham.
Happy 20th birthday to Venom at Club Ice, celebrating with a birthday bash at Westbury.
41 Fords are at The Royal Oak, Corsham.
Frenzy at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon.
Editor’s pick of the week is Swindon & Wiltshire Pride at Regents Circus, all rainbow blessings to you!
Elsewhere in Swindon, Homer is at The Swiss Chalet, Retro Electro at The Vic, Barrelhouse at Queen’s Tap, and The Vipers at the New Inn in Stratton.
Illingworth plays The Avon Brewery, Salisbury.
Rosie Merritt is live at The Queen Charlotte, Andover.
Rat Race at the Cheese & Grain, Frome; ska!
Sunday 13th:
All About The Music have their first Record Fair at Devizes Conservative Club, 10am-4pm.
Be Like Will are at The Farmhouse Inn in Southwick, Trowbridge.
Mike Hoddinott Trio at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Ortonesque at the Old Town Bowl, Swindon.
Monday 14th:
Lego Animation Workshop at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Tuesday 15th:
Another Lego Animation Workshop at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Alex Goodyear Trio presents the Music of Oscar Peterson at the regular Jazz Knights, at The Royal Oak, Swindon.
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury, have their regular poetry evening, Poetika 114 – Pirates and Mermaids.
And that’s your lot, for now, do check into our event calendar as between picking my nose and bum, I might yet update… what? No one reads this far anyway, do they?! This is a checkpoint, see who’s still awake! Good reason for it though, it’s when we look at future stuff to be doing, and thinking about booking…….
Like Liz Stringer at Chapel Arts, Bath on Thursday and a Tom Speight Instore at Sound Knowledge Marlborough.
Next weekend is Devizes DOCA Colour Rush & Confetti Battle, followed by The Jake Leg Jug Band at The Wharf Theatre. Sausage and Cider Day at The Brewery Inn, Seend. Sunday find the monthly Jon Amor residency at the Southgate, Devizes, yay!
And raver-families, check out The MidLife Krisis Summer Family Event at Supermarine, Swindon!
Further into the month, of course we have another one of those bank holiday things; FullTone in Devizes, Potterne Beer Festival, Box Rocks, Talbot-Fest in Calne, Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Southgate, Devizes, Cooper’s Creek at The Wheatsheaf, Calne, 12 Bars Later at the Wroughton Club, Swindon, and so so much more will be coming in, I promise you! We might yet have a summer after all!
Then, beginning September we see the Pump feature the Future Sounds of Trowbridge, a series of gigs for upcoming bands, which I’m going to have to tell you about in a separate post, as I’m too excited and need a wee…..groundbreaking journalism, accept no less; have a great week!!
Looking back over the years of Devizine, I’ve engaged myself with more ‘loco’ undertakings than I care to count, things I wouldn’t have otherwise considered attempting; all part of the fun. More often than not I come away thinking it was alright, but seldom follow it up with a burning desire to continue, it’s sadly onto the next story. Today though was incendio; I’m enthralled by a trip to the Muck & Dundar to meet the Devizes Salsa Group, only kidding myself to assume I’ll be sitting there taking notes…..
Fantasy Radio DJ Michael Linford twisted my arm to give it a try, still naturally I was apprehensive, sauntering in. Though I love to dance, it’s best defined freestyle dad-dancing, and I’ve never taken so much as a single instructed step. Not forgoing, whenever I see those salsa dancing champs at any Latino styled Devizes Arts Festival events my two left feet plod feels upstaged; I just nod in awe; wowzers, they look so cool, as I shamefully retreat from the dancefloor! Though when I left today I can hardly profess to being Jim Carrey’s The Mask, I certainly had a lot of fun!
Upon expressing my initial anxiety to Karen, who runs the group, she reassured me, “we want everyone to come and have fun, we don’t want it to be strictly for people who can do all the moves, it’s not about that, we do a bit of freestyle, but it’s mostly about new people to come and give it a go.”
Now, if you know me you’ll hazard a fair guess I tried to hinge myself to the rum bar, but was hoisted front and centre from the off, next to instructor Phil, who makes it look childsplay, and me like Mr Blobby on a bender, yet took us all through the basic steps timed perfectly, and more importantly, gradually! Up here for thinking, down there for dancing, pal; lo and behold I was side-to-side, backstepping, occasionally doing it to the rhythm too!
Am I here to promote the group, are they desperate for new members? While there was no indication of flailing appeal, the group could do with a few more masculine dancers; can I say men, without getting in trouble with the PC brigade?! Sometimes the ‘masculine dancers’ need to take two partners to compensate, (if that’s not an incentive enough, guys.) I should stress having a partner is something, but you’ll be equally welcome not having one.
As a whole, an ensemble gathered to chat, but they’re bustling, and eager to break out some moves on the floor. Unlike a more formal dance workshop, salsa is not ballet, only subtly ballroom related, the structure is paced to suit all ages and experience, and the ethos is to enjoy yourself… which I did, thank you, thoroughly!
Karen tells me it’s been running for seven years, “but it was a different group, I wasn’t running it then. We started up again, after lockdown, in Market Lavington.” The group meets on Wednesdays at the Old School on Church Street in Market Lavington, today at the Muck & Dundar was a drop-in session for newcomers to get a taster. On a previous taster session such as this they broke out of the Muck and swamped the Brittox with an improv Fame moment of dancing in the street, a video of which captured the attention of Devizes Facebook users.
While there’s no membership fees, it usually costs a fiver to cover hall hire costs. Karen was keen for me to note her involvement was purely for the love of it, “I just want the world to throw off their cares and dance,” she expressed; yeah, me too but you do with it style, Karen, I usually just bob up and down like a buoy in a stormy sea!
Men versus multitasking argument away, getting to grips with the basics wasn’t so simple, and when I thought I clinched it, it was but a warm-up! Encouragement was plentiful, though, with no pretence, the members made me feel so very welcome; I didn’t step on any of their feet! Karen underlined the importance of it being a social group, and it certainly was this.
Salsa is this though, cool fun. An American coined blanket term for all Latino style dances, so we danced mambo, pachanga, and rumba, at least I think we did! “We cover all basic salsa,” Karen explained, “LA salsa, and there will be Bachata, which we all love because it slows it right down, so, you know, we can’t keep it going all night, and then, towards the end we go into full flight and all hell lets loose, going into merengue, and even reggaetón.”
Bachata is typified by a slow, sensual beat, similar to Cuban bolero, which meant my two left feet could keep up while concentrating on the choreography, just; it was the changes which threw my sieve-for-a-brain, but something about old dogs and new tricks, I enjoyed learning something new today, and it’s Sunday! Yet as described, the pace picked up a bit as the session progressed; while freestyling, to a degree, least it wasn’t so regimental to keep to the steps, and never did I fear I’d be told off Lydia Grant style (Google her, whippersnappers!) the exuberance gave flavour to the overall enjoyment of it all. Reggaetón I can improvise!
And dammit, it was fun, and addictively engaging, on watching Phil, Karen and other senior members go for it, all of whom were so helpful and non-judgemental, I felt if I could perfect this enough, you know, to get over those initial first steps, the enjoyment would be multiplied, friendships here will be made, even if I never make it to Patrick Swayze level, least I’ve had the time of my life-ish!
If you fancy being the next salsero or salsera of Devizes, here’s a link to the Facebook Group with all the info on it. Might even see you there, though, not wishing to put you off the idea, you don’t have to dance with me! Oh, those poor Devizes Salsa Group dancers, they’ll be wearing steel toe-caps if they know I’m coming back!!
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Introducing the rising star of the south west music scene – The Fulltone Orchestra. This dynamic ensemble comprises a rotation of over 90 exceptionally talented musicians from across the region, led by fantastic musical director, Anthony Brown. Their performances are nothing short of extraordinary, defying genres and taking audiences on a captivating musical journey …… okay, you got me, it’s a copy and paste job direct from the press release. Chief organiser Jemma Brown tells me, “feel free to change any of that. It’s proper job PR malarkey!” She knows me too well…..
I will, thank you Jemma, would have anyway! So, it’s me rapping now, hiya, you alright? Yeah, it’s nearly time for Devizes’ own Fulltone Festival, on the August bank holibob, of which I had this to say about the inaugural one, “in the history of events in Devizes, the magnitude of what The Full-Tone Orchestra achieved yesterday will forever be imprinted.”
But…what’s that you say? Bit pricey innit?
Not forgoing the fact no one is stopping you from distantly spectating in a deck chair on the Little Green like being at a Pink concert where she’s at Wembley Stadium and you’re seated somewhere near Harrow, with footballs flying dangerously overhead and forever wondering how absolutely astoundingly awesome the acoustics would sound within the epicentre of that magnificent stage, your statement is merely justifiable, it weighs in at forty-five pound coins. You know, you could always go to one concert of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, say Sir Simon Rattle’s Mahler Symphony No 9 at £72 a pop, for two and a half hours; working out at £28.80 per hour.
Or perhaps The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody at theLighthouse in Poole, setting you back a similar price but for only two hours; £24 an hour. Most affordable option is Bowood’s Ibiza party next July, five and half hours with one set by an orchestra and the rest DJs. That’ll damage you just £48; about £8.72 per hour.
Putting FullTone into this perspective, if you attend the whole weekend you’ll get approximately seventeen hours, which works out at £2.65 an hour; you wouldn’t even get car parking in London or Bournemouth for that, for crying out loud into an Aldi budget-range sickbag!!!
Look, I’m going to shut up and finish off with the press release. I’ve said my piece, welcome to the real world, okay? It’s entirely up to you, I’m no press office consultant, just the milkman with no reason to tell fibs, other than perhaps to his wife! All I know is it’s a fantastic weekend right here in D-town, bringing in other local acts as well as the orchestra; the kind of event of which, when you attend, you’ll understand why it costs so much to stage, and where every penny has been spent.
What follows from here is the official news! Attendees can revel in the orchestra’s own captivating performances, featuring an array of genres, including Proms, iconic Movie and TV themes, massive dance anthems reminiscent of the Bowood sets, a nostalgic afternoon of West End Musical Theatre hits, and a throwback to the 80s with two hours of classic hits from the shoulder pad era! But that’s not all! The festival also features special guest sets from awesome artists like funk, house, and Latin dance music group – The House Iguanas, the New Orleans-inspired brass band – The Brass Junkies, the beloved local legends Pete Lamb and The Heartbeats, and the soulful opera and West End sound singers – The Four Sopranos.
The Sunday lineup promises to be equally exceptional, with performances from the vibrant 60 voices of The Big Sound Choir, the formidable big band – 41º, and the truly brilliant Talk in Code….. Oh, oh, can I rudely interrupt one last time, pretty please?! You know we love Talk in Code, and not because they stingley got me a beanie hat from their own merch stall at my birthday bash at the Three Crowns, like I’m their walking advertising billboard, or something, but because we love ‘em, love their tunes, and when they took me to the seaside to be a roadie for the day and I did nothing more than drink the bar dry of cider, smile at female punters telling them I was “with the band,” and watch them carry their own stuff in!!
Talk in Code
Attendees from previous festivals describe the event as “amazing that we have this on our doorstep and that it’s so well priced! I genuinely look forward to this every year!”
Experience the magic of live music from a massive orchestra, get up close to a whole host of musical instruments, amidst an iconic outdoor setting in the centre of Devizes, as the performances begin at 1pm and carry on into the evening. There will be an array of food and drink stalls, and attendees also have the option to bring a picnic for a leisurely and enjoyable day.
Tickets for The Fulltone Music Festival are now available for purchase at fto.org.uk. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in an unforgettable musical extravaganza!
And that’s that box ticked off! I mean they have sent me a mahoosive setlist, but you don’t need spoilers, do you? After all, I might catch you there, but I must say, it’s a wonderful weekend.
This summer David is returning with a brand-new show “History’s Missing Chapters”, a show made to uncover why, throughout history, some people and events have…
Under the new management, live music will be making a triumphant return to The Boathouse in Bradford-on-Avon and that Cracking Pair, Claire and Chloe of…
If we’ve had a keen eye on Swindon’s Sienna Wileman’s natural progression as an upcoming singer-songwriter since being introduced to her self-penned songs via her…
One of Salisbury’s most celebrated acoustic folk-rock singer-songwriters Lucas Hardy teams up with the Wiltshire city’s upcoming talent who’s name is on everyone’s lips, Rosie…
William the Conqueror might not be a band known by everyone, but quite simply should be. With Ruarri Joseph on vocals and guitar, Naomi Holmes on bass and vocals and Harry Harding on drums and vocals, their heavenly harmonies, beautiful music and captivating performance quite literally conquered all expectations the audience walked in with….
Their newly released album ‘Excuse Me Whilst I Vanish’ was mixed by Barney Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Stereophonics, Sam Fender) and recorded on vintage equipment to create a sound unlike other Indie Rock artists. Their idiomatic approach to music is refreshing to your ears, especially when being played in the beautiful venue of St Peters’ Church in Marlborough.
It is obvious to see that all band members are and have been friends for a very long time by the ease in their music and performance, but it also clear to see the individual influence on certain songs and performances. With influence coming from all over the music industry, their albums take on a sound unlike others. Mixing blues, folk, punk and groove music hints to artists like Saint Etienne or Joe Bonamassa. Personally, I think the vocals sounds like a slow Antony Kiedis song.
Thanks to Sound Knowledge, I was lucky enough to be able to interview these talented musicians. Read below:
‘A combination of being supremely confident and stupid. Sort of what I was like as a child – so it just to represent that youthful confidence with also youthful idiocy. I was very brave calling us William the Conqueror, but very stupid as well.’
How and why did you come together as a band?
‘That was quite a natural thing that happened. We were all in Cornwall at the same time. We sort of met each other on the Cornish music scene many years ago and started playing together. It was all quite natural. Kind of accidental. Started playing together and then it just became a band – It is the best way.’
How do you go about writing you music and do you have any tips?
‘Just always have a pen in your hand; you don’t know when some idea might come to you. Late at night generally, on my own with nobody interrupting me. Tired and about to go to bed and suddenly an idea will come and I will stay up for the night. Though, they are usually finished in a soundcheck.’
Where does your inspiration come from?
‘All over. No one place. We are like a Frankenstein band. Naomi’s comes from a kind of disco, groove background. Harry more like funk and soul, mine some blues and folk. We try to chuck it all in and see what happens.’
How did each of you get into music?
‘Just listening. I have always just loved it since I was small. You just react to music and have a love for it. It just takes you over and consumes you and before you know it, you are doing this.’
‘I don’t ever remember thinking ‘right I am going to become a musician.’ If you are passionate about it, it just happens.’
If you could play with one band or artist who would it be?
‘Tom Waits – I would love to play with Tom Waits.’
‘I would like to just be friends with a lot of people. I am not sure I would love to play with them as it would be a bit terrifying. Being around that process would be very interesting, you would learn so much. But I would just sit behind them and worry the whole time.’
One for the drummers: What drum sticks do you use? [Editor’s note: essential question from our wonderful new writer, Florence is drummer for local upcoming band Paradigm – so please, shower their insta with follows!]
‘Well, I use 7a’s, because they are lighter and you can then play light. I like 5a’s because they are a bit more like explosion sounds. I don’t ever use nilon tips, I only use wooden tips because I prefer the sound. Anything I like the feel of really. I use Vic Firth a lot. Tonight I used Vater’s.’
Thank you very much Sound Knowledge to let me meet these incredible artists,
Florence.
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A drifting retrospection of sonic electronica new wave from Swindon’s purveyors of cool, Atari Pilot, is out today. A single with a Peter Pan fashioned postulation anyone within their target audience would surely identify with, despite the title sounds a bit too mathematical!
If 4x /22 equals 88 back in class, rather this tune refers to the immature wishes of a forty something supposing they’re going on twenty-two; in your dreams, pal! But in most middle age dreams, I’d imagine.
Going by the song that’d pitch me at the mental age of early thirties and I can shrug, mentally I’d wish younger still, but not so much that I’d be back at school, no, thank you. About twenty-five would suit me, please, Atari Pilot, make it so. Failing that, just continue prodding my time travelling reverie with your catchy tunes!
Even if I’d consequently be but a Sega Megadrive gamer at that era, with a blue mohican, collecting golden rings with gusto, rather than an Atari pilot per-say, it’s still a nice thought to plant in my mind, and done nicely with a beguiling grower of a track.
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Who recalls schooldays when you had a relief teacher, and well, they were a bit naff, didn’t have a scooby-doo what was what, and generally allowed you to stare aimlessly out of the window, or fill your rough book with doodles?! This is not the case with our Southgate, who, due to the cancellation of the Chaz Thorogood Trio this coming Saturday, have the one and only Chloe Jordan chalked up on their gig-board…..
Now, word of warning for anyone attending unaware of Chloe, hold onto your glass, because I do whenever Chloe sings for fear of being in such awe it’ll slip out my hands! For this soprano singer usually reserved for opera and classics at the likes of the Town Hall or Corn Exchange promises to perform covers on piano, the like of “Pink, Taylor, Alicia, Adele to more cheesy ABBA and Elton,” in which she confesses is a “new genre of music for me.” Though it’s unlikely, if Chloe was to perform a tune from trash metal anarchists Slipknot, it would still sound angelic!!
So yes, something of a different night at the Southgate expected, but of an outstanding quality, and making it impossible to say our trusty watering hole of reliable live music doesn’t give us diversity in its music program. I mean, quality too, obviously, look out for bank holiday Monday when homegrown axeman Robin Davey brings his Californian legends Well Hung Heart to the red carpet, and note also his old pal Jon Amor’s monthly residency is pushed forward to the Sunday 20th August this month. Jon invites Sheffield keyboardist Bennett Holland, who I’m hoping comes complete with hammon organ.
The wonderful Strange Folk on the 12th of this month is another guaranteed winner, and not forgetting the Lightning Hobos on the 26th, continues to make the Southgate the toppermost place to catch free live music in Devizes.
However, should Chloe inspire you, which you only need attend for such to happen, also pay attention to 9th of September when she performs at the Corn Exchange with Pete Lamb’s Heartbeats in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Options though, as the Long Street Blues Club opens its new season on the same night with the Ian Parker Band, and Devizes Scooter Club has Bristol’s finest ska export Ya Freshness & the Big Boss Band at the Cavalier. Spoiled for choice, Devizes, you lucky lot, but this Saturday, do check out Chloe at the Gate, an extraordinary change of plan!! And this is why I Love you, Devizes!!!
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Bristol-based The Radio Makers have laboured over their forthcoming album Lucky Stars (Got My Radio) for four years, and it shows; you’ll find out for yourself how that toil has paid off on its release next Monday, 7th August……
Though decidedly new wave throughout, Lucky Stars begins as if we’re retracing steps from punk to the new wave era. Reverberating vibes of post-punk the album kicks rock straight out at you; Edible Hearts is borderline punk, but the followup, Echoes immediately signifies that change to the new wave movement. We’ve gone from something which wouldn’t look out of place on an eighties Joel Schumacher or Tim Burton soundtrack, to something perhaps more for John Hughes, in just two tunes. Going on this alone, I’m slouching back in my chair in anticipation for a substantial slice of retrospective goodness, and I got it.
Then, Jo-Jo slows the tempo, with subtle hints of goth drone, we’re progressing through the era, with black eyeliner and a bottle of Chinazo, because that’s the only booze the woman we asked outside the off licence would buy for us! Now, if you’ve been there, outcast youth of 88, attired for the Batcave, all is not lost to Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift; Song For Rainy Afternoons perhaps belts out the best hook so far, but by halfway through we’re still plodding on a steady goth tempo. Girl Who Looks Like You surely confirms gothic dominance, sitting comfy somewhere between Killing Joke and Bauhaus. Stands to reason, Lucky Stars is produced by Steve Evansson who has worked with Siouxsie Sioux.
Recorded at EAM and NAM studios in Wiltshire, the Radio Makers describe their album as “songs about love, life and people,” which fits like a glove into the kind of subject matter of the common prose of the genre. By subject, even if ironic, I’m a Poseur chants back into that Bowie glam punk, particularly noticeable on this wonderful bridge and slam back in, if there’s going to be a sing-a-long on this grower, it’s this.
And then the title track comes across as being in the period all these new waves bands realised they needed some more Chinazo and had to aim for chart success. Never could they have dolloped the toilet doings of modern day pop, at the time, but as The Cure developed into the near-acceptable face of goth-rock, this turn in the album suggests to me that it has not been overlooked either. It’s no bad “selling out” type thing, in fact it bought the subgenre crashing a tsunami over the defensible face of new romanticism slush of a mainstream 1986, and for those who may have listened to Duran Duran, were now turning to Joy Division and Sisters of Mercy.
Course, you’ll be totally engulfed by the eighth tune to concern yourself with pigeonholing; I only do it in a best attempt to define a sound, so you’ll have some idea of what you’re getting. Though I often felt like a window-shopper in this general genre, at the time, The Radio Makers is one of those bands which makes you realise the worth of the depths of a epoch, and wish, if you could travel back in time, you’d be leatherman draped in velvet, with fishnet stockings and black painted fingernails! Talk About You, is a perfect example, a drifting ballad finale of precision and skill, and it polishes this moreish album adroitly.
A nimble and captivating pilgrimage to an era of yore, with compelling freshness; well played, indeed.
It will be available on CD and 12” vinyl (from The Radio Makers’ BandCamp page) and on all digital platforms. A mini launch tour takes them to Le Pub, Newport – Friday 4th August, Hen and Chicken, Bedminster, Bristol for the official album launch party on Saturday 5th August, with Deadlight Dance in support. Then at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon on Friday 11th August, Bristol HMV, Saturday 12th.
They play Box Rocks Festival at The Queens Head, Box on Monday 28th August, previewed here. Party in the Park, Filton, Bristol on Saturday 16th September, and appear at Bath HMV, on Saturday 23rd September.
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