Month: Sep 2023

Watching the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge or Avebury: How to Prepare

The Winter Solstice at either Stonehenge or Avebury remains one of the most awaited Pagan celebrations of the year, with thousands of visitors gathering to mark the longest night of the year. Attendance levels have risen at Stonehenge since the lifting of restrictions, allowing participants to once again commune with one another and get up close and personal with the sacred stones that have stood their ground for around 5,000 years. Observing the solstices is a deeply traditional practice to mark the passage of time, and one that farmers and ancient dwellers relied on heavily for harvesting and livelihood. Today, the Winter Solstice is celebrated as a day of renewal – and reconnecting with nature and the self…..

During this festive time, members of New Age tribes like the Pagans, Druids, and Wiccans, as well as onlookers, make their respective journeys to the site well before dawn breaks. A massive horn is sounded to mark the beginning of the ceremony, after which numerous rituals take place – be it chanting, singing, or other activities – before everyone watches the sun rise perfectly in between the stones to signify a new year ahead.

Now, unlike the Summer Solstice celebration, where traditional Druid attire may call for a flowing white robe, the weather conditions during the Winter Solstice are naturally very different. To adequately prepare for one of the most magical nights of the year – and to ensure you stay warm and comfortable throughout – it’s important to pack the right gear and come properly bundled up for the festivities.

Warm clothes for the cold

Because the Winter Solstice typically occurs on the 21st or 22nd of December, you can expect temperatures to fall in the 0°C to 7°C range, which means warm clothes are an absolute must. Aside from thick outerwear, opt for multiple layers of heat-trapping fabric, such as polyester and merino wool. Wearing several thin layers of clothing instead of a few thick layers may help keep you warmer – the air trapped within each layer will insulate heat better and keep it around your body. Don’t forget a scarf and headwear to top things off. Additionally, there are around eight to fifteen rainy days in the month of December, which means you’ll want to pack adequate rain protection.

Sunglasses for sun protection

This celebration is all about witnessing the magnificent sun, so one would be remiss not to pack some sun protection, especially for your eyes. Part of the celebration involves looking directly at the sun as it rises and sets over the famous stones, and that can pose a risk to eye health. Even if it is cloudy, it doesn’t mean the sun’s rays can’t still cause some damage. A pair of polarised sunglasses are ideal if you want to see the sun rise and set without fear of damaging your eyes. These glasses can block glare from the sun, which can also lead to improved clarity and contrast while offering 100% UVA and UVB protection against the sun’s rays. The Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Classic features acetate frames, which won’t absorb cold, unlike their metal counterparts, so even if it is bright and still bitterly cold as it can be in the middle of winter, you’ll still be comfortable. Also, during winter celebrations, a handy pair of sunglasses can protect your eyes from harsh, cold winds, so keep them on to minimise eye irritation and ensure your vision is clear for taking that picture-perfect sunrise shot.

Shoes to trudge through mud

Given the rainy season, the grass around Stonehenge can get muddy if it’s rained the night before. A durable pair of wellies will keep your feet snug and protected. The original Muck Boot Forager has foldable rubber, meaning you can adjust it to three different heights depending on weather conditions. The memory foam insole will keep you comfortable, and the outsole provides traction that will keep you from slipping and tripping as you explore the site and touch the stones.

When you’re well-dressed and well-prepared, especially for such a momentous occasion, you can avoid weather-related discomfort, keep from catching a nasty cold, and truly focus on celebrating with those around you. If anything, the thing that will keep you warmest during the Winter Solstice is the company.

Trending….

Ha! Let’s Laugh at Hunt Supporters!

Christmas has come early for foxes and normal humans with any slither of compassion remaining, as the government announced the righteous move to ban trail…

The Future Smiths: Inspiring Entrepreneurs and Igniting Innovation in Swindon & Wiltshire

The Future Smiths, a new community-driven organisation set up to advance entrepreneurship and innovation, is proud to announce an exciting initiative aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners in our region….

“Future Forge” Business Growth Programme – January 9th to March 6th

The Future Smiths are inviting applications for their highly anticipated “Future Forge” business growth programme, which will run from January 9th 2024 to March 6th 2024. This comprehensive programme is designed to offer entrepreneurs and small business owners, offering them the tools, knowledge, and connections to unlock their full potential.

Duncan Robinson and Simone Ward-Baptiste, Co-Founders of The Future Smiths, bring a wealth of expertise to the programme. Their leadership ensures that those one the programme will receive mentorship and insights from individuals who have been at the forefront of innovation and business development in the region.

“As entrepreneurs ourselves, we understand the challenges and opportunities that come with building and scaling a business,” said Simone Ward-Baptiste, Co-Founder of The Future Smiths. “We are dedicated to supporting local businesses and creating an ecosystem where collaboration and innovation thrive.”

The Future Forge programme is tailored for startups, early-stage businesses, small business owners, and ambitious individuals eager to make a significant impact in their respective industries. Participants can expect a comprehensive curriculum covering essential topics such as brand strategy, marketing, and financial management, providing them with actionable insights and practical tools.

“At The Future Smiths, we believe in the power of community, collaboration, and innovation,” said Duncan: “The Future Forge programme reflects our commitment to providing entrepreneurs in the area with the resources they need to thrive.”

To learn more about The Future Smiths, register for networking events, and apply for the “Future Forge” programme, visit www.thefuturesmiths.co.uk/ .Limited spaces are available, so interested individuals are encouraged to apply early.

Trending…..

Rooks; New Single From M3G

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward “E”) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes…

Burning the Midday Oil at The Muck

Highest season of goodwill praises must go to Chrissy Chapman today, who raised over £500 (at the last count) for His Grace Children’s Centre in…

For Now, Anyway; Gus White’s Debut Album

Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlborough’s singer-songwriter Gus White’s debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and it’s more…

The Big Sleep Out In aid of Devizes Opendoors

Join Devizes Opendoors for The Big Sleep Out 2023 and raise funds to help homeless and vulnerable adults here in Devizes get the support they need…..

You’ll experience a small taste of the difficulties homeless people have to deal with including freezing cold, vulnerability and the difficulty of carrying on your day with little sleep. And of course, you’ll be raising money for a great cause.

Here’s all the ways you can get involved:

Join The Big Sleep Out – Friday 13 October 7.30pm to 7.30am – Follow this registration link

Sleep out at St James’ Church in Devizes. There will be some hot food and drinks, and you’ll need to provide your own warm clothing and sleeping bags. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Raise money by asking friends and family to sponsor your Big Sleep Out.

Organise your own Big Sleep Out – Follow this registration link

Why not plan your own Big Sleep Out at work, at school or at home in the garden?  They’ll give you a handy ‘how to’ guide and you can raise funds by asking everyone to sponsor your Big Sleep Out.

Pay to stay in bed – Follow this registration link

Want to support Devizes Opendoors but can’t sleep out? Don’t worry – you can donate to ‘stay in bed’ instead! Simply head to their website to make a donation.

Whatever you choose to do, every penny you raise will go to Devizes Opendoors services providing hot meals and showers, clothing, food and support for the most vulnerable adults in our community.

Trending……

One Of Us; New Single From Lady Nade

Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Lade’s latest offering of soulful pop. It’s timelessly cool…

Winter Festival/Christmas/Whatever!

This is why I love you, my readers, see?! At the beginning of the week I put out an article highlighting DOCA’s Winter Festival,…

Epic Fail, Devizes Burglar Steals Doormat!

Okay so, we’ve had the cat burglar, now we’ve got the mat burglar! In a Facebook post to make you wonder if you’ve travelled back in time to April 1st, Devizes Police reported an appeal for identification of a man who attempted a burglary in the early hours of August 27th at Lower Wharf. His surprised looking mug was caught on door-cam, best guess causing him to flee without gaining entry to the property. But not wanting to go home empty-handed, the guy made off with just the doormat!

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote reference number 54230090420, and though we shouldn’t joke about the incident, being burglary is no laughing matter, and our sympathies go out to the persons affected, the end result of this story is too tempting not to. Unless, of course, the burglar is Aladdin and this was his getaway vehicle, I can’t see the logic in taking the doormat, only out of spite for the homeowner having a camera to deter him, perhaps.

All morning I’ve been trying to put myself in his clown shoes to understand why I would think in that circumstance, “ah-ha a doormat, I’m having that!” But fear, a town with a Wilkos no longer, this was bound to happen at some point. Are doormats now a sought-after item on the black market? Has anyone approached you to ask you if you want to buy a doormat recently?!

But most concerning of all is the way of the world today, seemingly living by social media trends; could this entice copycat, or copymat, even crimes? Should we do more to protect our doormats? They are, after all, loyal servants to our dirty boots, and should yours go mysteriously missing, would it cause you great upset? The mind boggles, least mine does!

Devizes Parish Wins Prestigious Award for Future Plans

The parish of St John with St Mary in Devizes has won a prestigious award for its plans for St Mary’s Church on New Park Street in the town.…

Last Friday, the town centre parish won the Innovation prize at the annual awards of the Diocesan Advisory Committee for Salisbury, the church body which examines and approves proposed changes to churches in most of Wiltshire and Dorset.

Nigel Carter of St Mary’s Devizes Trust said, “We were delighted to win the top prize for ‘Innovation’ for our plans to revitalise St Mary’s, making it fit for a wide range of community and artistic uses for decades to come while remaining a place of worship.”

The Rev’d Gerry Lynch, Curate of St John with St Mary, Devizes said, “Credit for the proposals for the future St Mary’s of winning an award is shared between many people who have put their time, energy, and imagination into ensuring this spectacular Grade I listed building is a blessing for the people of Devizes for generations to come. Both the parish and the St Mary’s Devizes Trust have played an enormous part.”

“Churchgoers and non-churchgoers from a wide range of interests, over many years, have worked so hard and all it’s a pity that all of them couldn’t have come down to Salisbury to receive the award together, as all of them deserved it.”

left-to-right: Nigel Carter, St Mary’s Devizes Trust; the Rt Rev’d Andrew Rumsey, Bishop of Ramsbury; the Rev’d Gerry Lynch, St John with St Mary, Devizes.

Devizine would like to congratulate everyone who has worked so hard on this ambitious and exciting project, and we look forward to a time when the work is complete and a programme of events is on the horizon. Nigel expressed, “we have a formidable fundraising task – similar to that associated with the Assize Courts – so maybe five years before completion.”

Swindon’s MECA Defends its Right to Promote Racism

A sad state of affairs in which it is equal in measure that the campaign against Swindon venue MECA hosting known far right extremist and racist celebrity Katie Hopkins will have a diverse effect in actually promoting the event, the reactions to the outcry highlights how deep and ingrained the issue of racism is locally. I put this to campaigner Kate Linnegar of the group Swindon Stand Up to Racism, who replied, “a risk I considered, but if it raises awareness, the people who go to it are probably lost to our beliefs already.”

Evidently, one Facebook commenter lambasts, “really shows who the snowflakes are,” yet equally, it shows who the gammons are too, as another writes, “without freedom of speech – we wouldn’t know who the idiots are.”

And freedom of speech is a phrase being knocked about quite a bit over this controversy, the only issue with it is the wonky interpretation of the term by those in support of racism. If we’re talking leftwing, rightwing here, historically it’s the latter determined to stifle freedom of speech, something George Orwell warned us about. I would challenge anyone to find me a liberal or leftwinger which denounces freedom of speech, but sorry, being allowed to incite prejudice and hate is NOT freedom of speech, not even in the same ballpark, neither is it legal.

Amnesty International states “in certain circumstances free speech and freedom of expression can be restricted. Governments have an obligation to prohibit hate speech and incitement. These are dangerous. Restrictions can also be justified if they protect specific public interest or the rights and reputations of others.”

Furthermore, you’d like to think it should be in everyone’s moral standing not to incite hate, as is the golden rule from Luke 6:31, to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” But hey, if “freedom of speech” is all fine and dandy with you guys, it would be acceptable for me to suggest you are wrong, Katie Hopkins is not a comedian, rightwing extremists do not do jokes, they are the fucking joke. She’s an egregious xenophobic, homophobic and fascist hag, but I didn’t say this, I only suggested if I wanted to, according to your philosophy of the issue, it would be inoffensive and acceptable. 

But Swindon MECA seem adamant a vociferous racist homophobe, who incites hatred at every available opportunity and has been banned from several countries such as South Africa for doing so, will not be tempted to voice such bollocks at this event. They told us, “as a venue, whilst we do not agree with or condone many of the statements Katie has made in the past, we firmly believe that everyone has the right to a place on our stage. The event in question is not a hate rally as it is being portrayed by some. It is a comedy show, reviews of which state that Katie pokes more fun at herself than anything else and we do not have concerns that the event will be anything other than the comedy show that has been promised.” 

Reviews direct from her PR agent, ahem, if I said in reference to this statement, MECA hasn’t got the balls to stand up for the decency and equality it claims to uphold against the idea it’s going to make some serious wonga from this and stick two fingers up to the cultural diversity of the town it’s located in, but I purposely slip on a banana skin whilst saying it, MECA would, in effect, honour my right to do so, as it’s comedy, and provide me my place on its stage? Remind me to ask them!

They unbelievably continue thus, “To limit those able to perform here because they may have opposing views and opinions to us would do a great disservice to the community. In the past we have played host to many controversial figures and comedians without issue and, as a venue, are not willing to play into the harmful cancel culture of recent years.” Cancel culture, I give you. They. Said. This. Shite! A random muse generated by the far right as an excuse to incite prejudges at will and get away with it. There’s no such thing as cancel culture, you fucking knobjockey grand national winners, the only thing cancelled is the braincells of anyone using the utter piffle!

It is nothing to do with limiting “opposing views and opinions;” does it look to you from this article that I am what you call a “snowflake,” or in any manner opposing the usage of freedom of expression when I try so desperately hard to get this through the concrete breeze blocks you call your cranium?! It’s about stopping the spread of unjustified hatred due to prejudges, like the colour of one’s skin, their gender orientation, weight, if they happen to need glasses, choose not to eat meat, or whatever pathetic and inane slurs this washed up, hateful, cobblestone slag posts on her dire, wank-stained Twitter account! 

Ah, evidently, two can play that game, you go waste your hard-earned dollar on this complete bollocks when there’s a hundred better events at a hundred other local venues who seem to have a better moralistic standing. We are boycotting this glorified bingo hall, clearly with an agenda supporting racism is not something we will entertain here. Naturally, you are welcome to your opinion, but this is not “cancel culture,” you shinest spanner in the toolbox, it is common fucking sense in what is supposed to be a caring and compassionate country, slowly being overrun by dickwarts of the highest calibre.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 27th September-3rd October 2023

Summer is done and dusted, you’ve got to lower yourself onto the toilet seat that little bit steadier, as we move into autumn. Still, the silver lining is there’s always lots to do locally; here’s what we’ve found coming up this week….

Not comprehensive, as I tell you each time, more will be added to our event calendar as we move through the week and they come to our attention, so check in on it from time to time. If you don’t let us know about your event you cannot expect it to be here, drop us a line and guarantee it’s listed here, it costs nothing.

Please, if you can donate a little something to keep us going, do, that’s all I ask. We need to fund this, and any extra will be put into hosting events, something we would like to do more of but without financial support it makes it impossible. Any donations will be kindly accepted, you will get special attention, and we thank you. For info on how, see HERE.  

Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE, this ends on October 1st.

Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.

Clown Soup exhibit by Si Griffiths at the Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham. 

Devizes Food & Drink Festival is up and running, until 1st October.

Wednesday 27th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Subject A at The Bell, Bath.

ZambaLando at “Moose Hall” Old Town, Swindon, Lunchtime Recital at The Wyvern Theatre, with Ed Byrne’s Tragedy Plus Time in the evening.

Thursday 28th

Devizes Film Club Presents Lunana at The Wharf Theatre, and there’s a Murder Mystery Dinner at The Corn Exchange.

Marlborough Literature Festival opens, running until 1st October.

The Unravelling Wilburys at Melksham Assembly Hall.

The Last Baguette’s Playtime! at Pound Arts in Corsham, with the The Jackie Oates Trio in the evening.

Zambalando plays Savernake Street Hall, Swindon, Guy Tortora at The Tuppenny, Cooper Creek at The Beehive. Big Drink, One Man Boycott, Liddington Hill and the Starkers at The Vic. Magic Of Motown at The Wyvern Theatre, and the Phoenix Players – ‘I Thought I Heard A Rustling’ at Swindon Arts Centre, running until Saturday 30th.

Ed Byrne’s Tragedy Plus Time goes to the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 29th

The Unpredictables are at The Churchill Arms in West Lavington.

Autumn Beer Festival at The Bell, Lacock.

Open Mic at Marlborough Town FC. El Toro at The Bear, Marlborough.

Sice Boo from The Boo Radleys’ ‘The Secret of Happiness’ at The Pump in Trowbridge.

Martin Kemp’s Back to the 80s at The Civic.

There’s a 24 hour Danceathon at Cumberwell Park Golf Club in Bradford-on-Avon, for the Fearless charity.

The Unravelling Wilburys at The Athenæum, Warminster.

Diverse Disco, a party for disabled and learning difficulties, at The Tree, Swindon. The Britpop Band at the Vic, The Heretic Order and The Self Titled at Swindon Underground (formerly Level III,) Devizes Road Oktoberfest at the Tuppeny in Swindon continues all weekend. Echo at the Queen’s Tap. Tea & Tour of the Spotlight Room at Wyvern Theatre, followed by Babatunde Aleshe’s Babahood.

LGBTQ+ poetry night, Hear my Voice at Rondo Theatre, Bath, The Alter Eagles at Chapel Arts. 

The Tom Petty Legacy at the Tree House, Frome, with Graham Parker & the Goldtops at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 30th

Leburn Maddox at The Southgate, Devizes, Illingworth at The Three Crowns, Strange Folk at The Lamb.

There’s also a grand lineup at The Crown, Bishops Cannings, with music from 4pm, Steve Morano Band, Talk in Code and Purple Fish. they’ve a fire-dancer between the acts, BBQ and pizza, free entry, splendid pub, twist my arm, why don’t you?!

There’s the Hillbillies at the Barge on HoneyStreet, and The Monkey Dolls at The Lamb, Marlborough.The Monkey Dolls @ The Lamb, Marlboroug

Josh Kumra @ The Bear, Marlborough

Pete Lamb’s Heartbeats play an Alzheimer’s Support fundraiser at The Spencers Club in Melksham. Seriously Collins at The Melksham Assembly Hall.

Truckstop Honeymoon at the Pump in Trowbridge, with Swingletree in support, The Jon Amor Trio at The Red Admiral, Hilperton. Scout Killers at the Civic and Be Like Will at The Greyhound.

Ultimate Meatloaf at The Consti Club, Chippenham.

Six O’clock Circus at Calne Liberal Club.

Sarah-Louise Young: The Silent Treatment at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Lone Sharks at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. And a Bradford Roots Sessions evening at the Wiltshire Music Centre, with Concrete Prairie, Courting Ghosts, and Fly Yeti Fly, proper job, ed’s pick of the week that one right there be, oo-argh!

The Spooky Kids and Korn Again at The Vic, Swindon, Tundra at The Woodlands Edge, And Solo at North Swindon Club, Click at The New Inn, Hush at The Queens Tap, and Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare – Much Ado About Nothing at The Wyvern Theatre.

Celebrate Zappa : Treacherous Cretins at The Tree House, Frome, Motörheadache at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 1st

Monthly residency for the Jon Amor Trio at The Southgate, Devizes, with guest Ruth Hammond.

Fireman Sam is at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and Victorius at Underground.

Interstate Express at The Bell, Bath.

Monday 2nd

Ope

Billy Billingham MBE – Always A Little Further at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

Orfic at The Bell, Bath

Tuesday 3rd

Calne Music & Arts Festival starts with the Nonpareil, a Local Photography Group Exhibition. It runs across the festival until 28th October, at the Heritage Centre, Calne. Open 10:00 – 16:00 Tuesdays to Saturdays (closed Sundays & Mondays) Visit the Heritage Centre to see the exhibition of photography by “Nonpareil”, a small group of very experienced local photographers. It includes Award Winning Images from their Exhibitions and Salons that have been exhibited around the country. The festival lineup is in full on our event calendar.

100 Years of Silents: Our Hospitality (1923) with live musical score, at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Queenz – The Show With Balls! at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, with 

The Haunting at  Swindon Arts Centre.

That’s all folks, but there are lots more to come!! Let the sunshine…..but do check in on our event calendar too, as updates will be on there, not here, this is just a guide. Have a great week whatever you do do!

And hey, we’re doing a monthly podcast again now; a bit of fun and some great local music on there, please take a listen…. at your own risk!

Devizes Food & Drink Festival’s Starter; The Market

The sun certainly shone on Devizes yesterday as the Devizes Food & Drink Festival kicked off with its celebrated free foodie market in, aptly, the Market Place……

You should take note it’s not the be-all-and-end-all of the festival, only the starter. The Devizes Food & Drinks Festival combines twenty-four separate events over nine days, ending on 1st October. There’s a packed programme from a teddy bear’s picnic at Hillworth Park to Saxon Forager Craig Brooks introducing Viking and Anglo Saxon age cuisine, but for many, the market is the icing on the cake.

The finale is also popular, a free World Food Day, where for a 50p taster you can explore worldwide cuisines created by local residents with their roots from various countries. This takes place at the Corn Exchange on Sunday 1st October from 12:30.  

Now, not wanting to criticise the amazing efforts and hard work which goes into the event, as it is fantastic to wander the square and smell the lovely food being prepared, browse some great local produce stalls, and enjoy taking a break at the Wadworth bar with some live music, but I confess, nothing particularly lurched out at me demanding me to eat it! Perhaps I’ve become accustomed to the annual affair, or perhaps I was in a grump, but in previous years there were a selection of interestingly different stalls, of Baos, street ravioli, or a grill selling burgers of kangaroo, ostrich, crocodile and various other unusual slices of dead animal, which sadly seems to lessen with each year that passes.

I tip my hat to the Rutts Lane Cider stall, The Goat Farmer, and the Cosy Gyros also in attendance, and salute there’s many welcomed returning participants, from Tray Cake to that strange silver van which although the cooking is hidden from view, does magically produce a tasty burger. There was a Japanese noodle stall, paella and churros, but these are all things we’ve seen at previous year’s markets, or else other town events.

The only one to sell it to me was a Caribbean preserves stall selling banana jam, which surprised me, otherwise I shrug at food stuff I can buy from regular places in town already and cheaper too. This conclusion ended with me fulfilling my promise to bring something home for the family, but popping over to Savannah Sweets in the Shambles, to bag a gurt lush variety of goodies for a similar price to three negligible packets of fudge on one of the stalls. Now I know it costs to independently create and market your own produce, and I’m even willing to accept the fudge on the stall might’ve tasted superior, but in this economic car-crash era, there has to unfortunately be a budget. Dammit if even a hotdog would set me back seven quid; am I at Wembley?!

I reflected on this samey feel last year, considered virtually copying and pasting the article and changing the dates, but I kept it positive, as I really want to convey a positive review as much as possible, and for what it was, especially if you’ve not been to a previous year’s before, as I said, it is great, don’t wish to sound like I’m taking it for granted, just think some creative input and souring of something usual and new is an angle fading annually.

In last year’s report I said, “if last year I winged “Frome’s eclectic-influenced folk four-piece, The Decades made for the perfect entertainment, but again, they were the same band which played there in 2019,” they were there again this time too,” they were even there again this time! The Decades are great, and apt for the occasion, but working an entire day is hard on them, and they regularly need to take breaks, where the Market Place is left void of entertainment. I know and accept the focus is on food and drink, being the Food & Drink Festival and all, but offering some different musical acts would be an easy change to make.

I also bore witness to bored kids being dragged unwillingly around. Once they’ve had an ice cream, erm; perhaps workshop tables could be introduced, build your own pizza, decorate a gingerbread man, or dare I suggest a Bugsy Malone fashioned custard pie fight? That’d certainly liven it up a bit!

Grumpus Maximus rant over, concubines can spoon feed me grapes and fan me down, and I will say, The Devizes Food & Drink Festival market will always be a regular must-do on our event calendar, is always worthwhile attending, though I believe some further thought is needed to prevent it becoming monotonous to regular annual attendees.

Trending…..

Snow White Delight: Panto at The Wharf

Treated to a sneaky dress rehearsal of this year’s pantomime at Devizes’ one and only Wharf Theatre last night, if forced to sum it up in a word, the word would be “delightful…..” With Ian…

Steatopygous Album Marks Pinnacle for Sketchbook Records

Raging expressions of angered feminist teenage anguish this month, perfectly delivered by Steatopygous via their mindblowing debut album Songs of Salome, I hail as the pinnacle of Sketchbook Records to date. But it’s only been…

Cheerio Wilko; Wiltshire’s PCC is Shown the Door!

The only good to have come from Wiltshire having a Police Crime Commissioner was proof The Conservatives used their power to reward their elite bum chums and family with overpaid, high power and often completely…

Sarah C Ryan Band’s Radio Silence

If you need a reason to understand why I was so excited about The Sarah C Ryan Band coming to RowdeFest back in May, you wasn’t there!! And if you wasn’t, well, I’m not going…

Chatting With Burn The Midnight Oil

It’s nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisbury’s Radio Odstock  picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oil and they gained air time, but the interview was published short…

Swindon Rocks for Children In Need

Saturday 4th November

Underground, 73 Commercial Road, Swindon, SN1 5NX

Swindon’s biggest indie pop Talk In Code are working alongside Underground, based on Commercial Road in Swindon, our local live music venue to run a “Swindon Rocks for Children In Need” live music charity event on Saturday 4th November.  

With four local bands on the bill (Talk In Code, Kotonic, Mirrored Faces and The Dirty Smooth) this promises to be a fantastic celebration of the best original music from Swindon and a fabulous charity fundraiser for Children In Need.

Talk in Code at the Fulltone Festival. Image Gail Foster

Tickets are just £7.00 from https://www.seetickets.com/tour/swindon-rocks-for-children-in-need and everyone will receive a free raffle ticket on entry for our big Children In Need raffle with some amazing prizes from Swindon Town FC, Swindon Wildcats, STEAM Museum Swindon and many local businesses who have pledged their support. Local businesses who wish to donate a raffle prize may contact lindsey@talkincode.co.uk  

Save the date! Saturday 4th November and get your tickets now to support Children In Need and Swindon’s local original music scene!

Song of The Week: Meg

Quick one from me today, you’ll be happy to hear! Song of the week comes from Meg, dreamily expressing her romantic thoughts, hidden from the rain; how apt for today!

Okay, we’ve mentioned Meg quite a bit recently, she got song of the week for the last single, saw her perform at the Neeld, and my daughter interviewed her prior, see here; I believe it’s thoroughly deserved, have a listen and decide for yourself….

Link Tree

Devizine Podcast Sept 23

Pinky promise or idol threat? I’ll let you decide, but the aim is to produce a monthly podcast after prototypes at the end of last year failed due to my procrastinating agenda. Here’s the first one, an hour of great locally sourced music, unfortunately in bad company!

Tuneage of the highest quality, and thankfully not too much of me waffling and cursing, from Horses Of The Gods, Deadlight Dance, Will Lawton, Concrete Prairie, Canute’s Plastic Army, Chris TT, SGO, 41 Fords, Devil’s Doorbell, Liddington Hill, Wilding, Subject A, Carny Villains, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Viduals, Atari Pilot, Talk in Code…. enjoy, or at least try!

Who Are The Eskimo Nebula, Appearing at The Muck?

Okay, clever clogs among us I’m sure will tell me the Eskimo Nebula is a bipolar double-shell planetary nebula, 6,500 light-years away which is surrounded by gas making it resemble a person’s head surrounded by a parka hood, hence its name. I knew that already and didn’t need you to tell me, or Wikipedia, honest, but I’m talking closer to home; the Bristol dub duo due to skank up Devizes on the 11th November. Quit the astronomical smalltalk, pass me a piña colada, there’s a good chap, we’re off to The Muck!

Yo, gotta love the Muck & Dunder, it’s like being on a Caribbean holiday right here in Devizes. I kinda fell out of there scanning the Brittox sulking, oh, it was just a dream, I’m not maxing relaxing on Mullins Bay. But more to the point, they bring us diversity to our music scene, and I don’t mean a dance troupe. We’ve seen the likes of The Allergies, The Scribes, and Gardna, we’ve bore witness to sporadic salsa street dancing outbreaks, but, it’s a rum bar, we need reggae.

This one, I believe, is down to our resident Vernon Kay and all-around good guy skateboarder, James Threlfall, who likely won’t speak to me for weeks after that quip(!) as he’s featured Eskimo Nebula on his BBC Introducing in the West show, and for the record I love Vernon, it was a compliment. Thank you, James, Stuart and Shelly, for bringing them to the Muck, because I hadn’t heard of them, thought I was a nilly know-it–all about reggae, took one listen online and was like, that’s up my street knocking loudly on my door.


Their agents, Diplomats of Sound, describe them thus: “Eskimo Nebula are a husband and wife electronic duo, taking influence from Jamaican and UK sound system culture. Their music is a blend of hard hitting dub, high spirited reggae and powerful bass, all brought together by their own joyfully uplifting and recognisable sound. Multi-instrumentalists Adjua and Dean Forrest, who together fronted eight piece reggae outfit Backbeat Soundsystem on Easy Star Records, have joined forces to pursue their passion for electronic production. Their show is a live/electronic hybrid performance, where you can expect a dynamic fusion of synthesisers, dub sirens, huge bass, live instruments, killer vocals and trippy effects.”

“Revered for having a captivating stage presence and for connecting with the audience on a deep level, Esikmo Nebula will leave you inspired, empowered and energised. With continuous support from BBC DJ’s including reggae legend David Rodigan on BBC 1Xtra, this exciting new project is speedily on the rise and their live show is not to be missed!”

Nuff said, if it’s good enough for good ol’ Rodigan, it’s good enough for me, and as for the rest of you, I’ll drop some YouTube and links below to convince you to join me, tickets are a brown one, get ’em HERE.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 20th -26th September 2023

With the last minute heatwave looking as if it’s packing its bags, we move into autumn still with lots to do locally, the silver lining of the clouds above…..  

Not comprehensive, as I tell you each time, more will be added to our event calendar as we move through the week and they come to our attention, so check in on it from time to time. If you don’t let us know about your event you cannot expect it to be here, drop us a line and guarantee it’s listed here, it costs nothing.

Please, if you can donate a little something to keep us going, do, that’s all I ask. We need to fund this, and any extra will be put into hosting events, something we would like to do more of but without financial support it makes it impossible. Any donations will be kindly accepted, you will get special attention, and we thank you. For info on how, see HERE.  

Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.

Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour. 

New exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival, Chippenham, Si Griffiths obsession with clowns…..

Wednesday 20th:

Ah, the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre, for those suffering dementia and their carers, what a wonderful idea, this sessions they’re screening Labyrinth (U.) Absolutely Dragulous at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Women Who Give No F*cks at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, while Azhaar & Global Wave at The Bell.

Thursday 21st:

Superfirends play the Pump, Trowbridge with Beetlehead in support.

Andalusian guitarist/composer Juan Martín at Chapel Arts in Bath, while Fiona ALen’s On the Run is at the Rondo Theatre.

Pete Firman’s TrikTok st Swindon Arts Centre, and running Thursday to Friday at The Wyvern Theatre, Splash Test Dummies.

Friday 22nd:

That time again for the Marlborough Mop Fair.

Funked Up play The Pelican, Devizes.

Talk in Code appears at The Three Horseshoes Bradford-on-Avon, with Nothing Rhymes With Orange in support.

Richard Durrant at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Ex-Wishbone Ash’s Martin Turner is at Chapel Arts, Bath , an Evening With Martin Stephenson at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Peter & The Test Tube Babies at The Vic, Swindon with Slagerij. Ska’D For Life at the North Swindon Club, To Sleep at Swindon Arts Centre.

Lump play The George & Dragon, Salisbury.

Crazy Arm are at the Tree House, Frome, with Jo Whiley’s 90s Anthems at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 23rd:

Marlborough Mop Fair again. And an Open Mic at the Parade Cinema from 6-8pm

Heddington Scarecrow Trail: continues Sunday too!

St John’s Charity Michealmas Fair at Devizes Corn Exchange, and the Devizes Food & Drink Festival begins, running until 1st October.

The Hoodoos at The Southgate, Devizes.

Junkyard Dogs at the Cock Inn, Warminster.

Hell Death Fury at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon

CarmenCo at Langford Parish Hall, and Owen Spafford & Louis Campbell at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Diversify at The Vic, Swindon, Operation 77 at The Woodland’s Edge, Take It Easy – The American Classic Rock Show at Swindon Arts Centre.

The Radio Makers have an inStore at HMV Bath.

Slagerij headlines a ska-punk fest at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Strange Folk at The Sun Inn, Frome, Cats In Space at the Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 24th:

Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Melksham Ladies RFC V Devizes Ladies RFC at Melksham Rugby Club.

Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Junkyard Dogs at Stallards, Trowbridge.

James Hollingworth at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Dr Zebo’s Wheezy Club at The Bell, Bath.

The Replays at North Swindon Club.

CSF Pro Wrestling: Showdown at The Cheese & Grain, Frome. 

Monday 25th:

Rock The Tots: Food, Glorious Food at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Electio, a new play from local playwright Peter Hynds at The Vic, Swindon. Supreme Queen at The Wyvern Theatre, continues on Tuesday.

The Malbec Orquesta at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 26th:

Quentin Collins & Tom Berge Trio at Jazz Knights, The Royal Oak, Swindon while Jen Brister’s The Optimist is at The Wyvern Theatre.

Ian Perry at The Bell, Bath.

That’s all folks, but there are lots more to come!! Let the sunshine…..but do check in on our event calendar too, as updates will be on there, not here, this is just a guide. Have a great week whatever you do do!

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The Lost Trades Float on New Single

I’ve got some gorgeous vocal harmonies currently floating into my ears, as The Lost Trades release their first single since the replacement of Tamsin Quin…

Song of the Week: Canute’s Plastic Army

Swindon Celtic folk at it’s finest, Anish Harrison and Neil Mercer smash it again, this one is sublime, it’s called Wild, no spoilers, just listen, immerse yourself, and perhaps buy it for a quid, you can’t even get a chocolate bar for that these days!

Canute’s Plastic Army played Swindon Shuffle last night, too early for me to to get down there, so this single makes up for it. Got to catch them live as soon as feasibly possible, stick it on my never-ending must-do list for me, there’s a good chap.

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Devizes Chamber Choir Christmas Concert

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Steatopygous go Septic

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The Wurzels To Play At FullTone 2026!

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DOCA’s Young Urban Digitals

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Jol Rose’s Ragged Stories

There’s albums I’ll go in blind and either be pleasantly surprised, or not. Then there’s ones which I know I’m going to love before the…

Beyond Reverence: Deadlight Dance’s Debut Album

According to the confines of youth cultures of yore, I shouldn’t like Marlborough-based duo Deadlight Dance’s debut album, Beyond Reverence, as while attempts to fit into my new surroundings of Marlborough meant my teenage musical tastes meandered in a rock direction, I drew the line at “goth,” but on matured and eclectic reflection, still don’t like this, I love it……

Released on Friday (15th September 2023) the sublime Beyond Reverence will be digitally available via Ray Records. You can download it via Bandcamp, stream from all platforms, and a special small run of limited-edition CDs will be available through the band; I suggest you take one of these options, it goes way beyond my expectations.

The two-and-a-half-minute sombre bassline peregrination overture to the opening track, Nice Things sets mood and pace, and I’m knee-deep in retrospective melancholy, the desired effect I’d imagine. Contemplating growing up in suburban Essex, a friend of my elder brother, so cool attired in the look of the new romantic, all frilly shirt sleeves, black eyeliner, all Adam Ant, whereas I? Standard hand-me-downs! He gave my brother a new wave electronica mix tape I adored. Echoing the pop of the era, ergo, I was unaware though already accustomed, to a degree, just later washed away with the carefree and whimsical hip hop and electro fashion, pre-acts jumping the incensed bandwagon post Grandmaster Melle Mel’s The Message.

To reaccept the dejected goth element of new wave electronica would take puberty, frustration at the bling and gun direction hip hop was heading and attempts to acclimatise to the west country rural village I found myself dumped in. Solace in the wild romantic fantasy of soft metal and general rock like Springsteen I discovered, but those “goth” pupils of St Johns would require a radical shift to modify myself to. One of those St John’s pupils was Tim Emery, one half of the Deadlight Dance duo, something we can laugh about now, but then, I wasn’t ready for the plunge, no matter how newfound schoolfriends supplied me with Sisters of Mercy and The Fields of the Nephilim tapes. I ventured as far as the Cure, but only to improve my chances of getting off with girls; it failed miserably, but that’s another story for another time!

The origins of Deadlight Dance stem back to 1989, the year I left St Johns, when Tim formed a short-lived Sixth Form goth band with Nick Fletcher. Friends for the best part of thirty-five years, the two periodically worked on music together. Born from lockdown, Deadlight Dance is a project to merge their favoured retrospective bands, The Cult and The Mission, with contemporary acts like Bragolin, Actors, Twin Tribes and Molchat Doma.

Story goes, during an initial jam Tim “finally convinced Nick to sing,” a turnaround from the original collective idea to source guest singers. But it’s in Nick’s deep growling vocals and the elegant synths of the second tune, Innocent Beginnings, and up-tempo haunting Infectious where I get these reflections of the roots of gothic, the ominous, Bowie-esque component of new wave electronica, particularly of Joy Division, and herein lies my reasoning for taking to Beyond Reverence, even if I’m not about to dye what’s left of my hair black anytime soon!

At eleven tracks strong the album is epic, evolved from an original intention to record an EP, another crisp and proficient achievement for Nick Beere’s Mooncalf Studios. While the sound is retrospective themes are of contemporary social conscience, Innocent Beginnings comments on the environment, the following, Dark Circles about autism. Though the single Missives from the Sisters sticks to true goth prose, a classic tale of misogyny set in the time of witchcraft, and being “goth” it levels on this topic appropriately, and duly sullen. Though there’s a lot here which suggests you need not be in the niche, it has wider appeal than I imagined it might.

There’s an interesting instrumental interlude, Samuri Sunrise, which reprises a Sunset at the finale, with four tunes between them, two unorthodox cover choices. A quirky interpretation of Lou Reed’s I’m Waiting for my Man I get, but the latter I was far from suspecting, a sorrowing rendition of Heartbreak Hotel you must hear for yourself!

Deadlight Dance are picking up radio play, and while usually they go out with pre-recorded synths and drum tracks, they equally operate acoustically on mandocellos and mandolins. If you came to my birthday bash early enough to find me semi-sober, you’ll have seen them, they’re opening the Saturday shift at the Beehive at Swindon Shuffle this weekend, alongside Concrete Prairie, the Lonely Road Band, Atari Pilot and Liddington Hill. Thursday 21st sees them at Nick Beere’s open mic at the Mildenhall Horseshoe, and Saturday 23rd they support Ghost Dance at Bath’s coolest record shop Chapter 22. They are delighted to be included on the bill of the legendary All that is Divine VI Festival in London in 2024, and with big plans I’m left with no doubt this album will push this the maximum.

Beyond Reverence is up for pre-order on Bandcamp, released tomorrow 15th September 2023. Find Deadlight Dance’s Website HERE, and on Facebook & Instagram. Find your inner goth and cheer them up a bit with this nice present, I enjoyed it so much I’m going to see if my lace trim gothic corset still fits and try it with this spikey rivet leather neck collar; somebody draw me a pentagram pronto!  

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Deadlight Dance New Single: Gloss

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Things to Do During Halloween Half Term

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Di, Viv & Rose – Wharf Theatre, September 11th to 16th

By Ian Diddams

Three women meet at university in 1983. Mixed backgrounds, sexual preferences, dreams. From early reticence, to friendship, to love. Sharing despair, hope, loss. Love conquers all.…..

The play opens with a simple set, three cleverly used telephones – pre mobile days as an era. Early scenes are short, sharp, frenetic, reflecting youth and urgency, energy and the simplicity of student life. As the play progresses the scenes become longer, less frenetic (though losing no natural pace and rhythm) again reflecting the increased complexities of life. We share with the three their aspirations, of career, promiscuity, love. These provide clashes, arguments, disagreements as each character struggles to comprehend another’s chosen path. There are surprises on the way – some happy, some … life changing, some tragic. This is a gently poignant, bitter-sweet comedy .. a few genuine laugh out loud moments, many internal amusements…  and several gut wrenching, even tear inducing scenes.


The audience on Tuesday night was healthy – fairly full, but just four men. Whilst this play deals with female friendships and where men are peripheral unseen but discussed characters, some bad, some good, sometimes amusing, this is far from being “chick lit on stage” or especially not an anti-men piece.  It’s a cracking portrayal of human interaction and of life’s rich pattern. It deserves a more mixed audience.

Three mesmeric performances – Di (Georgia Watson), Viv (Claire Warren) and Rose (Tempeste Day), woven together by superb direction (Alison Warren), based around a simple set (Wharf Technical crew 😊 ). Another example of excellent community theatre. On our doorstep here in Devizes. If you are still picturing local theatre as wooden performances and lumpen ensemble with stilted line delivery – come and change your perception. Grab one of the few tickets left, get to the wharf this week, and catch one of the remaining performances.

“Di, Viv & Rose” is playing until September 16th, at 19:30 each night.
Tickets from the Devizes Hub, online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-wharf-theatre/di-viv-rose/e-bdxezq  or call ; 0333 666 3366 .

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A Heroic Homecoming: Nothing Rhymes With Orange Live From The Exchange, Devizes.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange on stage for their headline slot. Four lads local to the Wiltshire area have been letting their presence be known of late. With the indie music scene of the region needing fresh artists, Nothing Rhymes With Orange have really begun to seize their opportunity.  An abundance of live shows as well […]

A Heroic Homecoming: Nothing Rhymes With Orange Live From The Exchange, Devizes.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th – 19th September 2023

With the last minute heatwave looking as if it MIGHT be packing its bags, we move into autumn still with lots to do locally, the silver lining of the clouds above…..  

Not comprehensive, as I tell you each time, more will be added to our event calendar as we move through the week and they come to our attention, so check in on it from time to time. If you don’t let us know about your event you cannot expect it to be here, drop us a line and guarantee it’s listed here, it costs nothing.

Please, if you can donate a little something to keep us going, do, that’s all I ask. We need to fund this, and any extra will be put into hosting events, something we would like to do more of but without financial support it makes it impossible. Any donations will be kindly accepted, you will get special attention, and we thank you. For info on how, see HERE.  

Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.

Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour. 

Di & Viv & Rose opens at the Wharf Theatre in Devizes on Monday, and continues until Saturday 16th.  

Abigail’s Party continues at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon until Wednesday 13th.

Wednesday 13th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes, bring an instrument, voice, or just do as I do, just sit back, perhaps joke about playing the triangle, and enjoy the musicians doing their stuff!

Rosalie Cunningham comes to Chapel Arts, Bath, we’ve seen Rosie at MantonFest, groovy, psychedelic rock n roll, loved it! The Bobby Kennedy Experience at the Rondo Theatre, and 

Dusk Art Rhythm Quartet at The Bell, both in Bath too.

Thursday 14th

Melksham Music & Drama presents Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Melksham Assembly Hall, opening Thursday, running till Saturday.

Editor’s Pick of Week made easy this time, Swindon Shuffle not only raises funds for Prospect Hospice, it’s free, and a virtual cathedral of our local live music circuit. In the words of the great Zaphod Beeblebrox, “everyone who’s anyone is going to be there,” albeit he was referring to Millways the restaurant at the end of the universe, we’re only on about Swindon, still, it fits! feat your eyes on the poster below, enough said….

Running across the various pubs over the entire weekend, kicking off on Thursday, I’m not going to list them all, because here’s the poster and that says it all.

Elsewhere in Swindon, The Story of Guitar Heroes  at The Wyvern Theatre, and Andrew Bird’s Taken Seriously at Swindon Arts Centre.

The Annie Keating Band at Chapel Arts, Bath, plus support from Steady Habits. Markus Birdman’s Platinum at the Rondo Theatre.

Friday 15th

Seend branch of the Royal British Legion hosts the Pop Pickers at the Seend Community Hall.

The Future Sound of Trowbridge series sees a third instalment at The Pump, with Rae and Foxymoron supporting The Sunnies.

Rockabilly Rumble at North Swindon Club, John Kearns’ The Varnishing Days at Swindon Arts Centre, The Ultimate Boyband Party Show at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and the Shuffle continues throughout the weekend.

Aretha & the Soul Sisters with Lisa Grand & the Jezebel Sextet at Chapel Arts, Bath, Will Collier’s Chet Baker Project at the Rondo Theatre.

Peter Doherty plays the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Saturday 16th

Devizes Heritage Day, leaflets are available from participating venues and also Devizes Books, and Wiltshire Museum. Devizes RFC V Chosen Former Pupils at  Devizes Rugby Club.

Dr Zebo’s Wheezy Club at The Southgate, Devizes.

Live Music and Family Funday for Wiltshire Mind’s 30th Anniversary at The Pilot, Melksham,  and a Psychic & Crystal Fayre at Melksham Scout Hut, 10am-4pm.

Heritage Open Day: Hidden on the High Street  at the Neeld, Chippenham, and a new exhibit by Si Griffths at the Forbidden Carnival, see poster.

Sour Apple plays Kings Arms, Hilperton. Matt Owens and Courting Ghosts at The Pump in Trowbridge.

Train to Skaville are at Swindon Underground, formerly Level III, Simplicity at The Woodland’s Edge, 80s Mania at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, And Solo at the North Swindon Club, and of course the Shuffle continues throughout the weekend.

Roving Crows at Chapel Arts, Malone Sibun unplugged at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.

These Wicked Rivers at the Tree House, Frome.

Sunday 17th

Eddie Martin plays a Sunday session at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Ruzz Guitar Blues Revue at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon from 3pm.

Warminster Heritage Open Day at the Athenaeum

Emerald Storm at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, Ska Katz @at North Swindon Club.

The Glad Rags at The Bell, Bath.

Monday 18th

That’ll Be The Day at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Lewis Barfoot at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 19th

Psychic Sally at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and Jazz Knights has Roger Beaujolais & Tom Berge Trio at The Royal Oak.

That’s all folks, but there are lots more to come!! Let the sunshine…..but do check in on our event calendar too, as updates will be on there, not here, this is just a guide. Have a great week whatever you do do!

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REVIEW – Ian Parker Band @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes – Saturday 9th September 2023

In The Heat Of The Night

Andy Fawthrop

It must be that time of the year.  Summer is going out in a blaze of heated glory, and Autumn is about to come calling.  We’ve already had the last Bank Holiday of the year and, apart from the ankle-biters being back at school, last night was also time for the annual singalong frenzy of The Last Night of The Proms.  After this you know it’s all downhill to the clocks going back, Halloween, Bonfire Night, and The Big C.  But no point getting miserable and all teary-eyed just yet.  Before we get to the fake-Dickensian marketing exercise that forces the first mince-pies to hit the supermarket shelves, we’ve got plenty to look forward to in D-Town’s music scene.

And last night was just typical with competing gigs at The Cavalier, The Corn Exchange, and The Southgate to choose from.  Or there was always Twilight Cinema in Hillworth Park.  But I couldn’t find my Ray-Bans, so I decided that the best way to start things off was at the Con Club, with the new Autumn/ Winter season of concerts lined up by Ian Hopkins and his team at Long Street Blues Club.  First guest of the new season was the Ian Parker Band.

It was hot and sweaty in there, but that just suited the music.  A goodly crowd had ignored the various other blandishments on offer, including England’s opening game in the rugby World Cup, and turned out to welcome two great guests back to the club. 

First up was support from local boy Joe Hicks. He’ll be touring with his band in November and December in the UK & Germany, but for tonight it was just the man, his guitar, and a few pedals.  Last time I saw Joe was here in the club just before Covid and I remember enjoying his performance.  Since then, he and his songs have matured.  Introducing self-penned songs from his debut album of last year “The Best I Could Do At The Time”, Joe produced an engaging and accomplished performance.  The songs, delivered with understated guitar, and his tell-tale falsetto voice, were mesmerizingly good.  The inter-song chat, self-deprecating humour and snatches of audience participation easily won people over.  Joe is well above yer average troubadour, and definitely worth checking out.

Then we were onto two helpings of the four-piece Ian Parker band.  Ian is a 20-year blues band veteran and has played as a session musician with much of UK’s blues royalty.  His sets contained mostly self-penned material, leavened with just the right amount of covers.  Leading from the front on guitar and vocals, we launched straight into Muddy Waters’ Hoochie Coochie Man, then settled down into a bluesy groove.  Again, there was great inter-song chat, the clear connection with the club, and with the enthusiastic audience.

The guitar work was clean, sparkling and inventive, with the band behind him providing just the right platform for his inspired and meandering solos.  We were in blues territory, but there was plenty of wandering off into something more inventive and reflective.  There were nods to BB King (Help The Poor), Willie Dixon (Weak Brain, Narrow Mind) and a really stunning reworking of Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower.  Cue huge applause, a great finish, and a well-deserved encore.

So, the new season is up and running, with some great talent lined up to play (see the club’s website).  Tickets available online, at Devizes Books and at all the usual outlets.  Do yourself a favour and get along to some of these gigs.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Saturday 7th October 2023                          Billy Walton Band

Friday 13th October 2023                            Blood Brothers – Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia band

Friday 3rd November 2023                           Susan Santos & Alastair Greene

Saturday 18th November 2023                  Russ Ballard Band

Friday 24th November 2023                        Chicago Blues Trio

Saturday 16th December 2023                   Fullhouse play Franki

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Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time

SYNDICATED INTERVIEW

By Jason Barlow Images: Roslyn Gaunt

Is there no end to the man’s talents? A staple of revered panel show Mock the Week, Ed Byrne has also sledded down the side of a volcano for Dara and Ed’s Great Big Adventure, upstaged Martin Sheen and Robert Downey Jr on The Graham Norton Show, and demonstrated his driving skills on Top Gear and The World’s Most Dangerous Road. He’s also proven himself to be quiz show dynamite on the likes of The Chase: Celebrity Special, The Hit List, Pointless Celebrities and All-Star Family Fortunes. Never agree to attend a pub quiz with Ed Byrne. You will lose.

But for all his dalliances with the world of television light entertainment, Ed remains at heart one of the world’s truly great stand-up comedians. He has honed his craft for a remarkable 30 years now, garnering a hatful of awards and a constant, borderline bewildering stream of five-star reviews along the way. Whisper it, but it’s tempting in 2023 to take story-telling skills and a wit as sublime as Ed’s for granted. However, while he prepares to take his 14th show, Tragedy Plus Time, to the Edinburgh Fringe and onwards for a comprehensive UK tour, audiences need to ready themselves because Ed Byrne is heading into highly emotional new territory.

“It’s something of a departure, and I’m slightly worried about that,” he concedes. “I’ve never really had the desire to write a show that had an overly serious element to it. I got a lot of five-star reviews on the last show [2019’s If I’m Honest], but some four-star ones that opined, ‘well it’s funny, but that’s all it is…’ As if that’s not enough these days. Frankly, just being funny is a furrow I’ve been happy to occupy. But this new show features some heart-wrenching, soul-bearing stuff.”

That much is indisputable. For Tragedy Plus Time, Ed bravely ventures into the world of grief and loss, a decision prompted by the passing of his younger brother Paul, aged just 44, in February 2022. Comedy that takes death as its cue is not unprecedented, but it’s a path that takes considerable creative courage to explore.  

“I was in two minds about whether to do a show of this nature,” Ed explains. “Then I decided this was the subject I was going to tackle but I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. But once I started down that road, that was it… Then my main worry was, how funny is it going to be and is it going to work?”

These were legitimate concerns. Of course, there’s funny and there’s funny. In Tragedy Plus Time, Ed consistently delivers the latter while expertly locating the poignancy that sits at the intersection of sadness and loss. This isn’t gallows humour; this is something else altogether.

“The first time I performed it,” he continues, “it lasted more than an hour. That surprised me, but it was too long, so I had to decide whether to cut funny jokes or material that’s meaningful. That kind of decision was new to me, and what’s really annoying is that the one person I would have asked for advice on that is the guy the show’s about. It’s like when you get dumped by someone and you’re heartbroken. The one person you’d usually want to talk to about it is the very person who dumped you.

Says Ed, “I’ve spoken to people who worked with Paul, who was a comedy director, and they’ve said that his thing was, ‘you can be as emotional as you like and as serious as you like, but there has to be a joke’. So the idea of saying something purely for the emotional gut punch was off the table.”

Nor is Tragedy Plus Time unrelenting by any means. The genius of it is that it takes the most difficult of subject matter and encourages the audience to laugh in its face in a way they would otherwise simply never do. Ed has also deliberately eschewed a linear narrative structure in favour of an approach that mirrors the unpredictable nature of grief itself.

“Obviously I don’t want the whole thing to be an onslaught,” he says. “That’s partly because of the digressions, and that’s why they’re there. But they also illustrate how grief works in that you can still have a good time, you can still be happy, you can still have a laugh about other things and be frivolous. But grief is always there waiting for you when you’re done with being silly.

Image: Roslyn Gaunt

“The show does elicit a very pure emotional response in the audience. There’s something about the fact that when somebody dies, everyone else carries on like nothing’s happened. Because nothing has happened to them. So there’s an anger in grief, too… how can everyone else carry on as though nothing has happened?”

Ed candidly admits that mining his family’s bereavement for comedic effect would challenge his performing skills – and emotional bandwidth – in a unique way. Is this a nightly catharsis for the Irish comedian? To an extent, yes.  

“Death is universal. We will all lose someone. So the best thing to do is laugh at it,” he says. “Although I was aware, when I was first writing and performing this new show, that there was a danger I might, you know, lose it onstage. I did a work-in-progress at the Museum of Comedy and there was an audible crack in my voice. On the third performance I did actually cry on stage, and I’m sure for anyone who was there [assumes a very theatrical voice] ‘it was a very powerful experience’. But I don’t want it to be the sort of thing where I rip my heart out and stamp on it for the audience’s delectation. I’ve been able to throttle back my emotions and keep them in check.”  

What of the origins of the concept that comedy is Tragedy Plus Time? It’s widely credited to American writer, humourist and quote machine Mark Twain, as many of these things are. Having researched it, Ed says there’s no conclusive proof that he coined it. Twain’s contribution to the arts might have benefitted from an audio/visual dimension, if such a thing had existed in the 1880s, but it’s something Ed has avoided. Until now.

“There are WhatsApp messages from Paul that I wanted to share and I could have just read them out. But that wouldn’t have the same resonance, and you have to see them to fully appreciate the context. Then there’s a video of a weird guy who produces celebrity obituaries…to be honest, I’m still tinkering with the audio/visual aspect, so there may well be more of that in the show. It’s a supplementary element, though, it’s not integral. I don’t want anyone to worry unduly about the introduction of technology to the proceedings.”

Tragedy Plus Time isn’t Ed Byrne deconstructing comedy or going meta. That’s not what he does. Nonetheless, this is a satisfyingly left-field move from one of the undeniable masters of comedy. It is as moving as it is funny, and vice versa.

“Is it OK to talk about this stuff? I’d say this. Every night hundreds of people who didn’t know who Paul Byrne was will leave the theatre knowing who Paul Byrne was. I’m happy with that, and I think I give a good account of him on stage. I wouldn’t say he’s up there with me every night, but he’s there every time I think about the show, and I’ve got to make sure I do right by him. I briefly entertained a notion of writing a one-man play, with me sitting and talking to him towards the end of his life. But you know, I’m a stand-up comic. It’s what I do. I said to the audience in one of the early previews, ‘yes, it is sad. But don’t worry because the show is funny. Because believe it or not, I’m actually quite good at this.’”

Ed Byrne is touring nationwide. For more information, please visit http://edbyrne.com/

Ed Byrne is at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon on 27th September and The Cheese & Grain in Frome on the 28th September.

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A Busy Week For Lunch Box Buddy!

It was great to bump into Lunch Box Buddy in Devizes today. Last week was hectic for him; first BBC Wiltshire stopped by his stand…

Wither; Debut Single From Butane Skies

Whilst dispersing highly flammable hydrocarbon gases into the atmosphere is not advisory,  Butane Skies is a name increasingly exploding on local circuits. The young and…

Song of the Week: Meg

Chippenham’s folk singer-songwriter Meg gets our early song of the week this week, and The Cycle is only her debut single….

I’ve spoken twice to Meg, and she expressed her excitement at going to the studio, both times! This builds in layers and composition, again as in her live performances, there’s some empyrean prose, delivered with a certain unique charm. It’s great Meg, we love it here.

To find out more about Meg, check out our interview with her, and a later live review at the Neeld.

Link to streaming sites HERE

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FullTone Festival 2026: A New Home

It’s been a wonderful summer’s weekend, in which I endeavoured to at least poke my nose into the fabulous FullTone Festival, despite being invited to…

Atari Pilot are Waiting for the Summer

Kempston joystick! There’s a new single from Swindon’s sonic indie-rock blasters Atari Pilot, and it seems they’re waiting for the summer to fall. Hint, guys, it’s usually, particularly this year, when the kids go back to school….

I’m not wrong, though, am I? Never without that euphoric retrospective tinge, Atari Pilot I liken to Talk in Code, for swinging indie poptastic hooks and unrivalled energy, yet with undertones of sonic soundscapes akin to post-rave dance music, of the Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk et al.

This one certainly doesn’t skip on it,though its theme reminds me of Don Henly, and is equally as passionately delivered. From Jerry Keller to Taylor Swift, summer may be a common topic, but winter songs only hark on about….whoa there, don’t even say the C-word until late November, I thank you! And anyhoo, all the seasons are given a mention in this breezy pay-what-you-like track, save spring. What have you got against spring, Atari Pilot? Don’t make me get all Zebedee on you, I happen to like spring!

Check this out, before it pisses down! Catch them at the Beehive at Swindon Shuffle!

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Devizes Dilemma: FullTone or Scooter Rally?!

Contemplated headlining this “Clash of the Titans,” but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes can…

Goodbye to The Beanery but Hollychocs Lives On

Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Café will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since its opening…

Don’t Give Up Now, Ruby Darbyshire

As discoveries of young local talent never seem to wane here at Devizine, here’s one with a difference, we’ve not featured yet; you may have seen Ruby Darbyshire busking a showstopper with bagpipes, but it’s far from the limits of this girl’s mind-blowing talent….

Her live studio recording is a four track EP, acoustic folk originals, titled Don’t Give Up Now, We’re Nearly There, and it’s something you simply MUST listen to, I order you to! My benchmark for a great writer is imagining myself at the same age merely attempting to scribe something on par, the conclusion being the profoundness and emotive expression of Ruby here crosses the winning line while I’m not even off the starting block, and me, with bagpipes, don’t even contemplate it!

Using a comfort blanket as a metaphor, a pensive ditty called Insomnia opens, the title explaining the lucid theme, first person prose reflection on growing up and fatigue. The EP ends with the struggle for self-control customarily portrayed as the devil on one shoulder, angel on the other, but perhaps questioning her impulsive behaviour moreso. Devil Doesn’t Want This leaves you aching for more, it’s edgy and darker than the two relationship subjects between them.

Pandora is perhaps the deepest dimensionally, a personification of the Pandora’s Box idiom, Ruby nails the process of a labyrinthine of issues once pursued generates greater problems, and it’s conveyed sublimely. Don’t Want to Hear You Cry is less abstract, but equal in emotive, matured outpouring. In summary of the whole EP, it’s a beautiful thing, sublime. 

Echoes of Opportunity Knocks winner and Paul McCartney’s first venture into production, Mary Hopkins in her delivery, Ruby bears all the hallmarks of a classic female folk singer, of Holly Near, vocally, of Joni Mitchell in calibre and of Dar Williams in emotive outpouring, akin locally to the rapturous Daisy Chapman.

Often seen busking or at open mics with her dad, Brian, it’s clear Ruby’s music evolved from a musical family at a tender age, a prodigy flourished, to hear the results is blissful. Gig dates can be found on her website, here. She’s at the George in Lacock on Wednesday evening (6th Sept.)

Ruby supports Amelia Coburn at the Pump on Saturday 14th October, with Meg, she writes to tell me she “just heard yesterday that I’m on stage at the Bradford Roots Festival in January,” and goes onto explain Tim Burgess from the Charlatans, organiser of the Kendal Calling festival asked to return next year, donating her a day’s recording at the Cheese and Grain, with musicians and Freddie Cowan from the Vaccines as producer. Full-gone conclusion, in my opinion, Ruby’s music will grow into a phenomenon, and you need to hear it blossoming.

Trending now…

Park Farm; Mantonfest Came to Devizes!

The first Park Farm Festival happened Saturday, it was fabulouso, and in some way Mantonfest came to Devizes; conveniently for me as I had to…

Ann Liu Cannon’s Clever Rabbits

Ann Liu Cannon is the Marlborough success story I hadn’t heard of until yesterday; thanks to local promoter and frontman of the Vooz, Lee Mathews…

Live in Pewsey, at the First Oak-Fest

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…

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 6th – 12th September 2023

Schools are back, summer has finally arrived, here’s what we’ve got 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 6th.

The regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Ruby Darbyshire at The George, Lacock.

ShakShak at The Bell, Bath.

Thursday 7th.

Priscilla, Queen of the Disaster at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Robyn Hitchcock at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

InAir and Kotonic at The Vic, Swindon.

Gavin Osborn is at The Tuppenny, Swindon with Meg in support.

The Serial Killer Next Door with Emma Kenny at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Friday 8th.

Burbage & Easton Royal Cricket Club has a beer and cider festival  with Kova Me Bad and The Zoots.

Goatfest opens at Goatacre, Calne.

Lewis Poole plays the Pump in Trowbridge with Start The Sirens and Work Experince.

Peloton at The Vic, Swindon.

The Wonder of Stevie at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

The Tannahill Weavers at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Grace Petrie’s Butch Ado About Nothing is at the Rondo Theatre, Bath

Shindiggers have a Shimmy Discotheque at Club Lomah, Bath.

Lou Cox’s celebrated Having A Baby – The Sh!t They Don’t Tell You In Books comes to the Frome Memorial Theatre.

The Sunbirds are at the Tree House, Frome.

Saturday 9th:

Trowbridge RFC V Devizes RFC at Trowbridge Rugby Club

King Alfred’s Tower Charity Abseil for SOS Africa is taking place on the 9th, 10th 16th & 17th September.

Bit hot for cosplay, but there’s a Sci Fi Day at The REME Museum, Lyneham.

There’s a Twilight Cinema at Hillworth Park, Devizes, screening Top Gun Maverick.

Autumn Fabric Pumpkin Making Workshop at the St John’s Parish Rooms, Devizes.

Grizzly Rhys plays The Southgate, Devizes.

Chloe Jordan and Pete Lamb’s Heartbeats play a Wiltshire Air Ambulance fundraiser at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.

Long Street Blues Club, Devizes opens for a new season with The Ian Parker Band.

Bristol’s boss reggae and ska legend Ya Freshness & The Big Boss Band are at Devizes Scooter Club in the Cavalier.

The Boot Hill All Stars are at The Barge on HoneyStreet, with Whistling Treason.

Barrelhouse play The Lamb, Marlborough.

Mantonfest 2023

Saili Katebe at the Yelde Hall, Chippenham.

Bobbi’s Academy Of Dance – Dance First Think After at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Salisbury RFC have their Beggar’s Bash.

The Unravelling Wilburys play Chapel Arts, Bath.

Frome 80s Festival at the Cheese & Grain.

Lifesigns are at The Tree House, Frome.

Sunday 10th.

Hillworth Park Proms with Devizes Town Band at Hillworth Park, Devizes.

The Jon Amor residency at the Southgate, Devizes from 5pm, guest this month is Adam Phillips. 

Nothing Rhymes With Orange plays at The Exchange nightclub, with Stoneface and Ignotis in support.

Pewsey Carnival Week begins, running until 17th.

Daisy Chapman, with Carrie Martin and the Gordon Wood Band at Schtumm, Queen’s Head, Box.

Old Baby Mackerel at The Bell, Bath.

Swindon Recital Series at Swindon Arts Centre.

Bridget Christie’s Who Am I? at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Monday 11th:

Di, Viv & Rose opens at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, running until the 16th.

Wiltshire Motorcycle Rally at Salisbury Rugby Club.

Abigail’s Party opens at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, running until the 16th.

Von Wildenhaus at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 12th

Kosta Burgess at The Bell, Bath.

Libor Smolds & Daniel Newberry Quartet at Jazz Knights, The Royal Oak, Swindon.

That’s all folks, but it’s early days for September, and there is lots more to come!! Let the sunshine…..but do check in on our event calendar too, as updates will be on there, not here, this is just a guide.

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IDLES’ at Block Party

With their only UK shows of the year quickly approaching, the 1st and 2nd August will see IDLES’ and music festival Block Party take over…

Some Work Experience At The Southgate!

Not as the title might suggest….

Since I peaked too soon over the bank holiday, coupled with working it, yeah, I sadly missed Monday’s entertainment at our trusty Southgate. Deborah plonked a cheap-as-chips scrumpy on the bar for me, to cure my Southgate withdrawal symptoms, and rubbed salt into the wound by telling Well Hung Heart was her “gig of the year.” Never would’ve guessed!

Across Devizes pubs sought to cater for the dregs of carnival-goers with discos and karaoke, no other thought live music might be an idea, and on those justified grounds attending the Southgate was a no-brainer.

I assumed the Gate might bring in something more generalised, but punk was promised from a Chippenham trio called Work Experience, (who I’d yet to witness,) and punk we got. Though playing to a majority regular who was around for the punk era, mixed verbal reviews came across, because the contemporary pop-punk pigeonhole is a far cry from its roots, and I get that, time moves on, but they were proficient, beguiling and more importantly, loud!



They bought an entourage to lower the age demographic, which is (wink) no bad thing! Though it is The Southgate, and you’re guaranteed a great atmosphere even if Sir Patrick Stewart was reciting War & Peace.

While the band name is new, it’s a reformation of JCJ, brainchild of frontman Julien Biddulph, alongside him, drummer Theo Lender-Swain and bassist Charlie Gibbons. They’ve recently supported Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Lucky Number Seven in two sold-out shows at The Pump, and that’s all I got on them, but never doubt Kieran of Sheer’s word on such matters.

Julien came across well-mannered and passionate about his craft, but behind the instruments, they belted out some refined and (what sounded like) intelligent originals with the hook in perfectly coordinated steady riffs. Yet as common to the genre, the rather subdued vocals could’ve been notched up a bit, nothing a good technician couldn’t solve. It’s the Gate dammit, and we like it rawer than Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and there’s a joke in there to boot; don’t make me spell it out!

They sprinkled the set with some covers, too, few of which I knew, but if Stacey’s Mom is the Wonderwall of pop punk, they delivered it without cliché, and it never fails to amuse.

Okay, so holding onto the bar at the end badly preaching history on Don Lett’s Roxy was at least done subtly to someone of equal age and I didn’t embarrass myself by thickly layering my Uncle Albert moment on the band. You’d be fooling yourself, hoping for a Clash cover, for Blink 182 is an equal classic to this generation, and I’m fine with that, honest, guv.

One surprise was Work Experience stripping back for a fantastic acoustic Tom Petty cover. Yeah, Free Falling, doesn’t matter who covers it, always will love it. And this point leads me neatly onto the support who simply introduced himself to me as Jonah, unnecessarily twisted my arm with a pink shot like a mini McDonald’s shake, as he blessed the Gate with some thought-provoking self-penned acoustic magic.


Honestly, sweet liquors don’t sit on the palate well while drowning oneself in scrumpy, but it was only in the absence of tequila, we did what we did! Nevertheless, like the shot, Work Experience was a gamble for a carnival night, and it paid off in my opinion.

You can catch them this Friday at The Pump with Start the Sirens supporting Lewis Poole, but full praises to the Southgate, as ever, felt so good to be back after venturing the summer festivities. They played a wildcard, introduced and hosted an enthralling, young upcoming band, and aside from being the friendliest boozer in town, I support that notion and their dedication… me? I’m vegging out for the rest of the day!

Song of the Week: Becky Lawrence

Song of the week, on a Saturday, yeah I know, but this one’s just been released yesterday, and I’m a little behind, and opening myself up for a Bart Simpson styled joke with that, I‘m fully aware, thank you!

Becky Lawrence, asking you not to come at her with your bad vibes, which I rarely have any anyway, and there’s nothing to project bad vibes about this, this tune is immediately lovable, crying out to be song of the week….

Becky at Full-Tone Festival Image: Gail Foster

Contemporary Americana with a kick, self-defined as “swamp-sassy-country,” Bad Vibes produced by Honey B. McKenna comes with guitar assistance from Jordan, and is a nugget of beguiling wonderful with a hook, undoubtedly the best yet from this emerging local artist.

Those in Devizes might’ve seen her play it at Full-Tone last weekend, James has spun the tune on BBC Music Introducing in the West; it’s a hit with us too!

LinkTree

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20’s Plenty Says Devizes Town Councillors

Let’s face facts, they’re not referring to their average age here, are they?! Today’s topic is belting through town like a headless chicken escaping Colonel Sanders. I’ll give credit where it’s due, Gazelle and Herod’s whippersnapper reporter Justin reported the proposal for speed limit reduction from 30 to 20mph in Devizes town centre. And what I’m going to say might shock you, but I’m with the town council on this one……

The crucial article stated Wiltshire Council proposals to create 20mph zones from the A360 from Northgate Street to Long Street, via The Market Place and St John’s Street, as well as other roads in and around the town centre.

It goes on, “the scheme has been supported by members of the town council during consultation, with councillors “pushing for a reduction” for some time,” and quoted Devizes Guardian, Cllr Jonathan Hunter, who believes the change would, “have a positive impact on both road safety and air quality in the town centre.”

Yet, it’s the comment section, yeah, where keyboard warriors usually fire off blanks from their spud-guns, where we find questionable responses. Mostly piffle, as you could imagine, but some raise an eyebrow, so rather than they go unchallenged, I thought I’d point them at Cllr Jonathan Hunter directly.

The only one bang on the money goes under the handle ‘Miker G,’ who, if memory serves me righty had an excruciating 1986 chart-topper with DJ Sven, rapping over Madonna’s Holiday. He gives it, “I’d love to know how to get through Devizes going as fast as 20mph;” Showstopper! Nice one Mike, for no matter how you ring-reng-a-dong for a holiday, you’ll probably only get as far as Ocean City on New Park Street! The others left their sense of humour behind, let’s concentrate on them.

Award for the most ill-informed goes to ‘Synical Sam,’ without getting cynical I’m presuming he means cynical, and he called out Jonathan as a liar, twice in the same sentence! “Tell the truth Cllr,” he suggested, “it is a cash cow, we all know it so tell the truth.”

Using caps lock I think I can handle this one lone. Jonathan is a TOWN COUNCILLOR, and the TOWN COUNCIL do NOT get revenue from speeding fines, silly sausage! “I have zero connection with Wilshire Council,” Jonathan confirmed, “I’m not involved in any of the actual decision making. It’s just the fact we’re applauding it. We’re a local group, saying we’d like to see this in more areas. The fact people are thinking Wiltshire Council are gonna suddenly put cameras on to try and get revenue is just an absolute ridiculous myth!”

Even if, as I did waffle on the idea, using St Edith’s Marsh’s 30mph as a shiny example where they love to sit masticating on onion bhajis, the police can rock up on the day of the changes and hand out tickets like nightclub owners hand out flyers, Devizes Town Council won’t get so much as a bite of their samosa. Jonathan dismissed it promptly. “The police would have to comment on that, that’s not a council affair.” Though it opened a Pandora’s box on the way he envisioned those who accidently went over the speed reductions should be handled. “Anybody can make a mistake and we should have a tolerant society; we shouldn’t have a forensic kind of measurement of everything we do.”

It’s the environmental issue we need dwell, the only rational point in the comments. Ingeniously named ‘Newsfan’ typed, “for my layman’s, unscientific mind, please tell me how air quality is improved by vehicles crawling through at 20mph. Especially as this will more than likely mean being in at least 3rd gear if not lower. I’m sorry but the pedestrian is not King no matter how much you penalise the motorists or quote ‘green improvements’.”

This made me ponder if there was any truth in this, though Miker G might rap it matters not, getting up to 20mph in Devizes town centre is a dream. In response ‘Jimmy Hilly’ took from an extensive study by TFL, “20mph zones do not appear to worsen air quality and they dramatically reduce road danger. They also support a shift to walking and cycling, generate less traffic noise and reduce community severance.”

Jonathan dismissed it too, and we’ve fact-checked what he says with Sustainable Devizes. “I think there’s a lot of people, you know, sat somewhere on a keyboard with some made-up kind of human knowledge about whatever, without any facts, and you know, it’s life isn’t it? Life is full of lots of different views. The scientific facts for drivers of internal combustion engine powered vehicles are the more you press that accelerator the more fuel you will burn, the more emissions that you will create, obviously. The more environmentally friendly the vehicle is, as in its CO2 emissions are lower the less impact that will have, but even going from 30 to 20 is significant. When you multiply that by X amount of thousands of cars going through Devizes or wherever it happens to be……”

“We’ve a constrained traffic situation and not helped by the fact if you want to go to Salisbury or Andover or Swindon, you’ve gotta go through Devizes. It’s a mediaeval town and 21st century traffic, but if, and this is the point I made in The Gazette, if everything is in sync, if everything is going to 30, it doesn’t make any difference if everything’s going to 20. Because you’re in sync it will have an impact, and obviously on safety as well.”

Twenty, thirty, forty, makes no odds, you will always have spanners who ignore it, but if it makes the average moralistic motorist slow it can be no bad thing. Once the twenty limit is normalised, as it already is across many other towns and villages locally, you won’t contemplate it, as was the backlash against drink driving rules or seatbelts in the eighties; watch this video, redneck! How bizarre in reflection, and if boy racers complain about a meagre ten-mph reduction after some time, your argument will seem as absurd.

Twenty is plenty, get used to it, and climate change denialists, you should want to slow down; too fast on a disc-shaped planet and you’ll drive straight over the edge… do us all a favour!!

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Clock Radio Turf Out The Maniacs

The first full album by Wiltshire’s finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. It’s called…