Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 16th – 22nd August 2023

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!

Saturday 19th:

Devizes gets colourful, yes, it’s DOCA’s Colour Rush & Confetti Battle!

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!