Month: Mar 2024

Led Zeppelinโ€™s Cover Thatcher Photographer is the Subject for Wiltshire Museum Exhibit

November was one crazy month for our friend and researcher from the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England, Brian Edwards. Undoubtedly our only friend from the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England!

Brian still found the time to chat with me, despite national media hot on the story and hounding him. I didnโ€™t follow the scoop up with a feature, at the time, as it was all over the national news before Iโ€™d put the kettle on. Something Andy Warhol apparently said about being famous for fifteen minutes, which itโ€™s likely he didnโ€™t, but there you are. Brian certainly was so, more than poor ol’ Lot Long, the thatcher subject of Victorian photographer Ernest Farmer, who subsequently became the both unlikely and unsuspecting cover pin-up for a Led Zeppelin album…probably on minimal wage too!

Since the national sensation has retracted somewhat, the amazing find is being brought back local, as Wiltshire Museum in Devizes opens an exhibition celebrating the work of Ernest Farmer, on April 6th, and running until the 1st September. Itโ€™s going to be an interesting one, as little is known about the photographer, despite being a leading figure in the development of photography as an art form.ย 

A Wiltshire Thatcher โ€“ a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex, will show how Farmer captured the spirit of people, villages and landscapes of Wiltshire and Dorset that were so much of a contrast to his life in London. While Iโ€™m sure there will be some fascinating photographs on display, of course, the kingpin to it all is this world renowned image of the elderly thatcher carrying a large bundle of sticks on his back and still coming up smiling! An iconic 1971 cover for famously featuring no words, Led Zeppelin IV has sold more than 37 million copies worldwide. The framed image in a hint of rural and urban contrasts is understood to have been discovered by Robert Plant in an antique shop near Jimmy Pageโ€™s house in Pangbourne, still its origins were unknown even to the band.

The origin of the central figure has remained a mystery for over half a century; thatโ€™s where our Brian stepped into the story. He recently discovered it in a late Victorian photograph album. His research involved monitoring everyday sources that stimulated public engagement with Wiltshireโ€™s past. While following up on some early photographs of Stonehenge, Brian came across the Victorian photograph Led Zeppelin made familiar over half a century ago, and likely, being a bit of headbanger in his past, nearly spilled his coffee all over it in shock!! (He’s going to love me for saying that bit!)

The exhibit promises some exceptional Victorian photographs from Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset, featured in Ernest Farmerโ€™s photograph album titled โ€˜Reminiscences of a visit to Shaftesbury. Whitsuntide 1892. A present to Auntie from Ernest.โ€™ Thereโ€™s over a hundred architectural views and street scenes together with a few portraits of rural workers.ย 

So, if there’s a feeling you get, when you look to the West, and your spirit is crying for leaving, do check this exhibit out; I will, and no doubt you’ll want me to report my findings. Why not strap a bundle of hazel on my back while you’re at it, and I’ll thatch your roof for you too?!!

Trending…..

Lady Nadeโ€™s New Album, Identity

There’s musical acts which play united on equal pegging, and then there’s those which follow the lead of a virtuoso. Be it guitar, like Hendrix,โ€ฆ

My River, New Single from M3G

Tomorrow, Friday 2nd October, sees a new single from Chippenham indie folk singer-songwriter Meg Hoy, or M3G, and it’s called My Riverโ€ฆ.. If you deemโ€ฆ

Flora Fiora Kicking the Tyres

Chedworth, Gloucestershire; proud village soloist, songwriter and model Flora Fiora is kicking the tyres and smashing windows in with a new single, and itโ€™s aboutโ€ฆ

New Ladies-Only Club Opens In The Market Place.

A ladies-only club, four gloriously eccentric rooms and a barista in a bowler hat: The Dressing House is anything but ordinary. Devizine contributor Charlotte Howardโ€ฆ

3 Daft Monkeys at The Barge on HoneyStreet

Witnessed amazing fireworks for Confetti Battle in Devizes, and I hopped eastwards to that sacred hippy haven in the Pewsey Vale, The Barge at HoneyStreet;โ€ฆ

The Wiltshire Gothic; Deadlight Dance

With howling, coarse baritones Nick Fletcher, the main vocalist of Marlboroughโ€™s gothic duo, Deadlight Dance chants, โ€œhere comes the rain, and I love the rain, here she comes again,โ€ proving two things: one; heโ€™s never been a milkman, and two; theyโ€™ve covered the Cult classic Rain on their upcoming second album, The Wiltshire Gothic, released tomorrow, 29th March 20224. Iโ€™m one step ahead, you are advised to catch upโ€ฆ.

If the time of the Black Death brought about radical advances in music and arts, weโ€™re engulfed in a similar epoch post-lockdown; lone contemplation and plotting is paying off with overwhelming creative output, and Deadlight Dance is a perfect example. Messages exchanged between two members of an ex-St Johnโ€™s Sixth Form late eighties gothic band, Nick, and multi-instrumentalist Tim Emery, was the root, a retrospective passion to return and pay homage to their influences. The result, a reunited touring duet finding a new-wave-gothic gap in the market, and the recording of an astounding debut album, Beyond Reverence last year.

The debut was superb original material top-heavy, nodding to their influences through substantial synths and drum machines; to suggest the Wiltshire Gothic is an addition to the concept is wildly off mark. Live, the pair appeased audiences through covers, with a strengthening acoustic take; think how Gary Jules stripped back Tears for Fearโ€™s Mad World in 2003, add some lutes, youโ€™re close enough to the picture. It was Timโ€™s idea to record them, and Nickโ€™s wish to do so in an Anglo-Saxon church. Tim said, โ€œwe wanted to capture that side of the band. We were moving forward with the sound from the first album, but this was no more or no less valid.โ€

On 28th November 2023 Deadlight Dance played some of their favourite covers acoustically at the 12th century All Saints Church in Alton Priors and with help from filmmaker Haunting the Atom, shot a promotional video. They felt it vital to clarify the church had no heating and averaged 3o; but hey, you are goths, I thought you liked coldness?! โ€œMy initial idea was to involve Nick Beere of Mooncalf Studios,โ€ Tim furthered, โ€œand record them live there, with a view to perhaps releasing them.โ€ Tomorrow you can hearken the result, essentially join them in that church.

The Wiltshire Gothic is a love letter to the songs of Deadlight Danceโ€™s early days playing music, discovering bands, and then ultimately discovering themselves, through music. A love letter you can copy and paste because the effect is a thing of beauty. Three songs each from The Cure and The Cult, two of Joy Division, one being Love Will Tear Us Apart, naturally. Others from Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim, The Mission, The Weeknd, Sisters of Mercy, and lastly, the one alongside love tearing us apart which you need not have been a goth to appreciate, OMDโ€™s Enola Gay. But hey, this is so encapsulating itโ€™s enough to turn Roy Chubby Brown into a goth!!

If I award points for doing what it says on the tin, The Wiltshire Gothic is off the scale. For me, with mandolin, mandocello and bouzouki blessing these covers, subtle bass, and Nickโ€™s evocative and mood-fluctuating vocal range, Iโ€™m taken back to my innocence of youth, and its drive, born of frustration and anxiety for the mysterious direction life might take me. New to the Marlborough area, as a teenager, friends took me exploring the sights they mightโ€™ve taken for granted, off the beaten track. Iโ€™m there again, sharing a bottle of red wine, perched atop West Kennet Long Barrow or the Devilโ€™s Den, gazing into the sunrise. And Robert Plant resonates โ€œoh, dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light,โ€ from a busted-up cassette recorder. The Wiltshire Gothic is this enchanting, the selection of lutes, the pure acoustics ringing out simplicity, breathes the fire of a dragon into authentic, timeless folk.

And there it is, yeah, Deadlight Dance are recapturing the gothic classics of their youth sublimely. In the video Nick stresses the flexibility of goth-rock compared to the confines of archetypal folk, but if these are the songs you took out with you, on your Walkman, even if just to Marlboroughโ€™s Priory Gardens during school lunchbreak, then they are, in essence, your folk. They mayโ€™ve broken the mould, and thatโ€™s good, isnโ€™t it, thatโ€™s what post-punk was all about? And that is what The Wiltshire Gothic not only recaptures, but reimages, divinely. It’s as if Robert Smith sang his songs in an 18th century Wiltshire field, whilst uprooting turnips!

โ€œBecause of the unique instrumentation,โ€ Nick explained, โ€œwe didnโ€™t worry too much about staying too close to the original versions and felt we could be respectful to the original artists in how we interpreted their music. Itโ€™s not a radical shift in direction for us; this has always been part of our sound. I would imagine weโ€™ll follow this up with another dramatic musical tangent.โ€

The Wiltshire Gothic is released via Ray Records on Friday 29th March 2024, streaming everywhere worldwide. Available on Bandcamp. A limited run of physical copies is available from the band. The album is accompanied by a short film of the day that is released on YouTube on release day, we will add the link tomorrow. Deadlight Dance have an album launch on Sunday 14th April at The Blue Boar in Aldbourne from 6pm.

Trending….

JP Oldfieldโ€™s Saltwater Gospel

Devizes favourite southern fried gothic-Delta blues one man band, JP Oldfield has an EP released at the end of the week, Saltwater Gospel. Itโ€™s aโ€ฆ

Jess Chiverโ€™s Sunrise Comparison

Iโ€™ve found myself sympathising about post-punk recently, how they scrambled around in the dark somewhat, taking pot shots at reggae, claiming a โ€œnew wave,โ€ orโ€ฆ

So Excited…. Devizes Musical Theatreโ€™s Sister Act at Dauntsey’s

An exodus of musical lovers and, I’d assume, a healthy handful of friends and family, trekked southwards through winter’s final ambush last night, to enjoy the opening night of a dazzling performance of Sister Act at Dauntsey’sโ€ฆ..

It was presented by the established local amateur dramatics group, Devizes Musical Theatre. I stress my usage of the word amateur in its foremost dictionary definition; the opposite of professional. The second connotation it was in some way inept couldn’t be further from the truth in this case. A common misconception in creative arts, I find, whereby those in it for the love thrust their hearts, soul, and elbow grease into it, more so than a pro going through the motions for their paycheck. The result usually is perhaps something raw, but highly entertaining and enjoyable, and their production certainly was the latter.

The run ends on Saturday (30th March,) at the last count just fourteen tickets remained, so I advise you to be quick, and lucky, to pick some up. It’s a large hall, selling it out proves the grand reputation Devizes Musical Theatre has built locally, this performance hits their pedestal.

With a debatable focus on the singing rather than acting, the benchmark of a good musical, surely, there’s some show-stopping moments. Georgia Watson makes the perfect diva Deloris, and there’s both astounding vocals and comic timing from Louise Peak as Mother Superior and Barry Gibney, who plays the socially awkward police chief Eddie. Particularly noteworthy is Grace Sheridan who plays Sister Mary Robert, in song and conviction of the influence Deloris holds over the convent.

Yet high accolades go out to all the actors, stage directors and team; Adam Sturges, Oli Beech and Simon Hoy as the mobsters, Gareth Lloyd as mafia boss Curtis, Graham Day as Monsignor Oโ€™Hara and the huge backing of those wonderful singing nuns! It is the combination of their motivation and exceptional effort which makes this such a dynamic show, coupled with the elementary notion, Sister Act has universal appeal and is simply fun on a stick!

In critical reflection, the musical concludes somewhat differently from the movie. Without spoilers, the amusing scene where Deloris prays for Godโ€™s forgiveness unto the mobsters holding a gun to her head, causing them to question their ability to shoot her, wrongly perceiving her as a nun, is replaced by a more slapstick finale akin to a Benny Hill chase scene. Yet on further consideration into my rather geeky complaint, I guess this works better on stage, such is the jollification of a musical, often bordering pantomime. And it wraps it up faster, allowing more time for these astute and timeless Motownesque songs. Devizes Musical Theatre use this to their advantage; you certainly get your money’s worth.

Veils off to first time director Emily Holmes, and musical director Naomi Ibbetson for an apt and fantastic show, which will send you off thoroughly entertained, and with a smile.

Trending……

Whatโ€™s on at the Wharf Theatre in October?

OCTOBER at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes arrives with a burst of creativity, variety and irresistible entertainment. This monthโ€™s programme showcases everything that makes the Wharfโ€ฆ

Dinosaurs at Jurassic Hillworth Park!

Images: Jess Worrow Ah, for the connotations of US drive-in movie theaters, now in decline over the pond, but embedded as characteristic romantic americana; theโ€ฆ

I See Orange Pining For Apollo

If spring saw Swindonโ€™s premier rock trio I See Orange breaking new ground on a US tour, autumn brings with it their first full lengthโ€ฆ

Fashion Against Fear: FearFree Fashion Show at the Devizes Condado Lounge

I have, what I like to call, a fortuitous fashion sense, meaning I open the wardrobe and whatever happens to fall out of it, I put on. Much as I’m a vogue window shopper, it doesn’t prevent me from telling you about an important fundraising fashion show happening right here in Devizesโ€ฆ

Yep, Devizes! Devizes fashion, is that even a thing?! It is now and for a worthy cause. Sit back and enjoy your complimentary glass of fizz (or non-alcoholic alternative) as you watch a spring style showcase event live at the Condado Lounge, Devizes on May 2nd, 6-8pm, hosted by the BBCโ€™s Ali Vowles.ย 

The show has been curated by independent boutique, Spirit, and circular fashion pioneers 1st Impressions. Once youโ€™ve viewed the show, youโ€™ll have an opportunity to browse and buy the clothes as well as be in with the chance to win some fabulous prizes in the raffle, including a three course meal for two at The Pig, Bath, a gin tasting experience at Still Sisters, Sustainable candles from Paddywax Candle Bar and gift vouchers for a pampering session at the Beauty Bar, Bath.

You can choose from two ticket options, the gold gets you a free glass of fizz and tasty tapas board for one, whereas the silver just gets you the fizz!

Fashion against Fear is the ultimate night out for fashionistas, supporting FearFree, a charity working to break the cycle of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking across the Southwest. Free-Fear supports over 10,000 adults and children every year to not only keep them safe but help them to rebuild their lives free from fear and abuse. Find out more about FearFree here.

Now, I know, you’d all like me to steal the show in my LBD, all satins and statement sequins, a daring off the shoulder, or mini cowl neckline number perhaps. I know you know I’ve got the legs to pull it off, and I know you know I know, but really, darlings, others have to have their turn in the spotlight. Don’t let the fact Iโ€™ll probably be slouching on the sofa in my Batman onesie stuffing onion rings into my chubby cakehole rather than shaking my little tush on the catwalk put you off! If youโ€™re too sexy for Milan, New York or Japan, vogue Devizes style and raise some cash for a worthy cause; you’re a superstar, yes, that’s what you are, you know it!

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE >

Trending…..

DOCA Awarded National Lottery Grant

Congratulations to Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts, who announced yesterday that they’ve been awarded a substantial National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council Englandโ€ฆ. This isโ€ฆ

For A Lifetime, Luke Gittins

Newlywed, what lengths would you want your partner to go to with their wedding speech and gift? A six track EP of the most beautifullyโ€ฆ

We Were Ready for Some Flocksteady Beats!

By Ben Romain. Images: ยฉAlice Rose Photography Following a stand out long weekend of blues and americana at the Hillbilly Hootenanny, Victoria and I managedโ€ฆ

What to Do? September in Wiltshire

Nearly September, time to sew those name tags onto school uniforms. Still, loads to entertain you throughout the month. Iโ€™ve exhausted our ever-updating event calendar,โ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 27th March – 2nd April 2024

The first Kamikaze moth of the year dive-bombed my face the other morning. Forget blossoming trees and tulips, that’s a milkmanโ€™s sure sign of springโ€ฆbecause we wear a headtorch, you see? Oh, never mind, what do you care?! You just want me to tell you whatโ€™s happening over the eggtastic week in the wilds of Wiltshire; suppose so, if I must! Happy Easter one and all!

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.ย 

Wednesday 27th

Last day to catch Vowvas film screening at Parnella House, Devizes, see poster for details.

Devizes Books Presentsโ€ฆThe Island Continent; A trip through the history and culture of Australia at Wiltshire Museum. From the achievements of early Aboriginal tribes, through visits from European explorers, the inhabitants of the Red Centre and finally to the work of Australian imports to this country, they celebrate all that is great about the Antipodean life and culture. With contributions from Thomas Keneally, Nevil Shute, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Billy Connolly. An evening devised and introduced by Lewis Cowen. 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets, ยฃ6, includes a glass of wine or soft drink and nibbles. Tickets available from Devizes Books cash only please. Or book by phoning 01380 725944 and pay cash on the door.

The regular Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. And Acoustic Jam at the Southgate. 

Opening night of Editorโ€™s Pick of Week, Devizes Musical Theatre brings Sister Act to Daunstyโ€™s School in West Lavington.

Siรขn Dicker: Waltonโ€™s Songbook and Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, both at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Rondo Variety Show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Bethlehem Casuals at The Bell, Bath.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard at The Tree House, Frome.

Thursday 28th

Starting Thursday and running all weekend, Wadworth have open days at the Wadworth Brewery & Tap Shop, Devizes, promising a โ€œWeโ€™ll Meet Again Big Weekend.โ€

Regular PSG Choir workshop at King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.

Stuart Rolfe and Becky Lawrence at The Old Bell, Warminster.

Robert Brown at The Beehive, Swindon. Flo Parker Bombosch & Sienna Wileman at The Tuppenny. And itโ€™s Vic Fest 2024 at the Vic, celebrating its tenth year, music all Easter โ€œBandโ€ Holiday Weekend: eggs opening at 7:30pm with Chasing Dolls, Ritual Divide, Kotonic, Trashed and Falls On Deaf Ears.

Luisa Omielanโ€™s Bitter at Swindon Arts Centre, and The Best Of Queen at the Wyvern.

Friday 29th

Easter Bunny Hunt across Devizes by the Devizes RAF Cadets, all weekend.

People Like Us at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Some reggae and soca with David Brewster at the Bear, Marlborough.

Future Sound of Trowbridge #7 at the Pump, Trowbridge with Nothing Rhymes With Orange, SOAK and Feedback. Junkyard Dogs at The Red Admiral, Trowbridge.

Martyโ€™s Fake Family at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. Regular Music event at the Cause Cafe in Chippenham.

Iain Ballamyโ€™s Fascinada at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. The Boot Hill All Stars at The Three Horseshoes.

Funkkinsteins at The Beehive, Swindon. The Chaos Brothers at The Ashford Road Centre. A Country Night in Nashville at the Wyvern. Vic Fest continues at the Vic, with Truck, Nervendings, Men In Vests, The Belladonna Treatment and Fluff.

Tool Shed: A Tribute to Tool at The Tree House, Frome. General Levy at the Cheese & Grain – amazing, and it doesnโ€™t look sold out yet!

Saturday 30th

Melksham Lions Easter Egg Hunt.

Tom Davis & The Bluebirds at The Southgate, Devizes. Funked Up at the Pelican.

Nick Harperโ€™s Tempus Fugitive tour at St Peterโ€™s, Marlborough. Barrelhouse at The Lamb. And a reggae party with Razah-Hi-Fi at the Royal Oak.

Josh Kumra at the Barge, HoneyStreet.

The Unpredictables at The Bell, Great Cheverell.

Brad Stevens at The Consti Club, Chippenham.

The Lost Trades at The Pump, Trowbridge, sold out Iโ€™m afraid. Be Like Will at the West Wilts Con Club in Trowbridge. Miss Bridy & The Two Notes at Gloucester Road Conservative Club. The Ultimate Retro Disco Party at the Civic.

Be Like Will

The Buttmonkeys at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Mix at St Margaretโ€™s Hall.

The Blue Moon Band at Tuckerโ€™s Inn, Faulkland.

The Jukebox Graduates at The Swiss Chalet, Swindon. SGO at The Beehive. The Chaos Brothers at The Ashford Road Club. Awakening Savannah at The Woodlands Edge.

Marquee Square Heroes at Swindon Arts Centre. Bowie Live at the Wyvern. And Vic Fest at the Vic has Modern Evils, Life In Mono, Bluntnose, Sebastian & Me, Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Colour of Bone.

Reubenโ€™s Daughters at the New Inn, Bath.

Junkyard Dogs at The Sun, Frome. The Wurzels at the Cheese & Grain. Viva Morrissey at The Tree House. 

Junkyard Dogs

Sunday 31st

Scrambled Eggs Easter Hunt at Hillworth Park, Devizes. Illingworth at The Three Crowns. Adam Woodhouse’s Thieves at The Southgate, highly recommended if you like your Americana.

Thieves

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Junkyard Dogs at Calne Liberal Club.

Rob Clamp at The Barge, HoneyStreet.

Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Sunday at Vic Fest, Swindon sees Kid Klumsy, Visceral Noise Department, AnyMinuteNo, Mr Badaxe, Rebel Station, Disruptive Influence, Bear Noir and Dangermind, from 5:30pm.

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

The Authentics at Tuckerโ€™s Inn, Faulkland.

Moonlit Poachers with Jake Puntis at the Long Room in Box.

Carmina 3 at The Bell, Bath, and a Palestine fundraiser with DJs Goodgroove, JayCee, and others, see poster. 

Monday 1st April

Canal & River Trustโ€™s Letโ€™s Walk through Caen Hill & Jubilee Wood. South Western at The Three Crowns, Devizesfrom 3pm-5pm.

Junkyard Dogs at The Red Lion, Lacock.

Tuesday 2nd

Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe presents at Celebration of Stan Getz with Terry Quninney, for Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some technical gubbings to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

And, while weโ€™re on about planning ahead, April is hotting up, believe me, loads of good, good, even gooder stuff and stuff gooder than them! Have a gander at the coming month HERE.ย ย 

I would recommend Andrew Hurst at St Nicholas Church in Bromham Thursday 4th, Brian Poole at Long Street Blues Club Friday 5th, Mick Jogger at Seend Community Hall on Saturday 6th and the John Hackett Band at the Pump, or Cara Dillon at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Following week, you can find And Then There Were None opening at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes Monday 8th, and the Marley Experience on 13th April at Devizes Corn Exchange; unmissable. 

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by FB messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Tell Us About Your Event

Please make sure we’ve not already picked it up and listed it before submitting, it saves me a lot of time; thank you!

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Thank you for your response. โœจ

Big up the Easter weekend, remember Easter is a time for celebrating the coming of spring, the beauty it encompasses, and the bringing of new life to the worldโ€ฆ. by all means cover yourself in melted chocolate and ask your partner to get licking, but unless youโ€™re prepared for all the gubbings bringing a new life into the world personally presents, be sensible and pop a Johnny on it! Filth, I know, but only the headstrong read this far!!

Trending….

Hot Juice Project at The Three Crowns

Whoa! What happened last night at the trusty Three Crowns?! What happened last night at the Three Crowns has clearly happened before, and happens mostโ€ฆ

Ruby Darbyshire: God is Offline

Wiltshire singer-songwriter Ruby Darbyshire, youโ€™re most likely familiar with, unless you joined Devizine family readerโ€™s circle today, has a new song on YouTube, one sheโ€™sโ€ฆ

Large It Norm, in Trowbridge!

Yes, we’ve got to praise Trowbridgeโ€™s Old Town Hall like we should, because Fatboy Slim is going to be right there, but not right now;โ€ฆ

Emergency Alert: Wessex Water Hosepipe Ban!

Surprised your mobile didn’t sound the apocalyptic alarm to notify you about Wessex Water’s hosepipe ban?! Then, you’re a gullible idiot! But being 22,239 votersโ€ฆ

Battle of the Carolines: Historic Lib Dem Win In Marlborough

The Liberal Democratโ€™s are today celebrating a historic election win in the heart of Marlborough, in the first contested Town Council election for thirteen yearsโ€ฆ.

In what was dubbed a “Battle of the Carolines,” the Lib Dem Caroline Sadler triumphed with 62% of the vote in what was once a traditional Conservative heartland.

The result came in at just after 11pm on Thursday night. A delighted Caroline Sadler paid tribute to Caroline Wrench (the Conservative candidate) and thanked all of the election staff before committing herself to work hard for all the people of Marlborough.

David Kinnaird Liberal Democrat candidate for East Wiltshire congratulated Caroline Sadler, and said โ€œwe have to see this result is a stunning win for Liberal values. It is a rejection of the Conservatives and marks the beginning of a political sea change in East Wiltshire.  Roll on the GE.โ€

Congratulations to Caroline, and we wish her all the best in her role.ย 

Devizes Arts Festival Reveal Full Line-Up for 2024

After a larger quantity of social media teasers than previous years, Devizes Arts Festival has today revealed their full line-up for 2024. Better take a peaky sneaky gander at it, keep in their good books, because it looks rather special! Based on previous experience they usually range from pretty awesome to super-duper lights are gonna find me awesomeโ€ฆso here goesโ€ฆโ€ฆ

The festival runs from Friday 31st May to Sunday 16th June, and never fails to bring us a diverse programme of separate events within the arts, music and theatre, but also takes in talks and walks. Some come with a worthy price tag, but thereโ€™s lots of free fringe events also. All it takes is for you to support it.

I donโ€™t know about you, but the first one I got excited about when I heard, was Bristolโ€™s soulful indie-folk singer-songstress Lady Nade, who plays the Corn Exchange on Saturday 1st June. I put this Lady on my must-see list after fondly reviewing her album Willing back in 2021. Iโ€™ve not yet had the opportunity to see her live. Yet it is not for that reason Iโ€™m grateful to the Arts Festival for booking Lady Nade, rather in contemplation of the elevated sentimentality channelled through her Americana-fuelled songs.

I summed up the album at the time, with โ€œwritten during the pandemic, thereโ€™s a secluded ambience echoing through these eleven sublime three-minute plus stories of friendship, love and loneliness lost and found, reflecting the fact it was recorded in multiple studios and engineered by all the musicians in isolation. Yet to hear it will hold you spellbound in a single place, till its conclusion.โ€

If that doesnโ€™t tempt you I donโ€™t know what will! But Lady Nade is not before a high-energy Penzance sea-punk grand opening to the festival, with Golden Gnome award winning Jolly Roger, at the Corn Exchange on Friday 31st May; blistering barnacles, Captain Haddock, that sure sounds like some swashbuckling shenanigans.

History of Market Lavington, anyone? Sunday 2nd has a festival walk, followed by the first two free fringe events, consummate story-teller Adam Alexanderโ€™s Seed Detective at The Peppermill from 2pm, and a solo loop pedal show with Eddy Allen, 7pm at the Cellar Bar.

Likely the best known name on the roster, comedian Lucy Porter comes to Devizes on Thursday 6th June, and Iโ€™m sure youโ€™re all aware of her distinctive, bouncy, feel-good comedy from TV and radio panel shows, and being victorious on Celebrity Mastermind.

Lucy Porter

Prior to this headliner, NHS doctor, journalist, broadcaster, speaker, campaigner and comedian Dr Phil Hammond on Monday 3rd June presents โ€˜How to Fix the NHSโ€™ and โ€˜The Ins and Outs of Pleasureโ€ฆโ€™ Iโ€™ve my own suggestions on the subject, donโ€™t get me started, but maybe add Prime Minister to Philโ€™s already impressive rรฉsumรฉ!

Wiltshire based multiโ€instrumentalist, the Edward Cross Quintet at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 4th June. Liz Grandโ€™s superb, funny, moving, sensitive and informative portrayal of Clementine Churchill, also on Tuesday at the Merchant Suite.

Wednesday 5th June sees English naturalist, ecologist, author and broadcaster Mike Dilger, known as the wildlife reporter on The One Show, doing a talk on One Thousand Shades of Green, his quest to find 1000 different British plants in a calendar year and assess how our flora is faring in modern Britain. Geneticist, author and broadcaster, Adam Rutherford, who frequently appears on science programmes on both radio and TV, also gives an engaging, provocative and informative talk the Arts Festival promises to be unmissable.

Hollie McNish. Image: Kat Gollock

Poet and author Hollie McNish presents her Lobster Tour on Thursday 6th June at the Town Hall; Iโ€™m just chatting about her with the legend who is Kieran J Moore, seems Hollie played Bath Komedia recently, he recommends, and you canโ€™t get a better local recommendation than that. 

The weekend sees a blues, skiffle, calypso and rockabilly mesh, apparently with a sweeping vaudeville twist, which sounds like a beguiling and exhaustive blend I must say!ย Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls are at the Corn Exchange Friday 7th June.

Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls

Londonโ€™s Cable Street Collective headline Saturday, an intriguing one, their sound mixes African-influenced guitars and beats with soulful female vocals, socially conscious lyrics and western melodies, creating an idiosyncratic alt-pop sound thatโ€™s all their own.

Sunday 9th June sees a Festival Walk into the West Woods; Sarsens, Soldiers and Sawpits. Two free fringe events, an Americana band from West Midlands called Rumour, from 2pm at the Three Crowns, and a fresh and lively approach to jazz at St Johnโ€™s Church from 7pm with the Annie Parker Trio.

The final week of the festival sees world-renowned concert pianist, Ida Pellicciolo on Monday 10th June at the Town Hall. Belinda Kirk, world-record holding explorer, researcher and a leading campaigner promoting the benefits of adventure on wellbeing, talks at the Town Hall on Tuesday, along with intrepid Antarctic explorer Tom Creanโ€™s story brought to life in a dramatic and humorous solo performance by Aidan Dooley from Play On Words Theatre Company, at the Wharf Theatre.

Two best-selling Wiltshire-based authors, Kate Webb and Jon Stock, discuss their craft at The Peppermill Hotel on Wednesday 12th June, and thereโ€™s a remarkable intimate solo guitar performance from Martin Simpson at the Corn Exchange.

Duo Tutti, a classically-trained flutist and pianist duo who combine well-known classical tunes with interesting sounds to create a unique concert that is accessible to all, at the Town Hall on Thursday. Terry Quinneyโ€™s Sound Of Blue Note accurately recreates jazz and the aesthetics which defines Blue Note Records, also on Thursday 13th June at the Town Hall.

Friday 14th June thereโ€™s an organ recital at St Johnโ€™s with award-winning organist and conductor Huw Williams, and we have the intriguingly titled Slambovian Circus of Dreams at the Corn Exchange, an electrifying live performance of moody but upbeat alt-roots rock.

The final Saturday of the Arts Festival, 15th June, we have something altogether different, hypnotist Matt Hale presents an 80s Spectacular, where Matt promises to have you partying like itโ€™s 1985, humm, whether you like it or not. Iโ€™m not sure about hypnotists, I might stand at the back!

Matt Hale. Image: DG-Imagery-3

Soulful and electrifying rhythm and blues band The Junco Shakers at the The British Lion on

Sunday 16th June at 2pm, and Clive Oseman and Nick Lovell, creators of Oooh Beehive, the number one spoken word and poetry open-mic night in Swindon, have a Wham! Bam! Poetry Slam 6pm at The Wharf Theatre; two free fringe events polishing off another spectacular Devizes Arts Festival. 

Box Office is now open, details and tickets HERE, hope to see you there!ย 

Trending……

Stray Chords of Salisbury; How Jolyon Dixon was Reunited with Childhood Guitar

Turned around in just a day, a team of guitar โ€œheir huntersโ€ from Macclesfield called The Stray Chord have reunited Salisburyโ€™s musician Jolyon Dixon with his childhood guitar, with a truly fascinating storyโ€ฆ.. Jordan, Sarah, and Damian are a family team behind Stray Chord, whoโ€™ve spent years rescuing lost guitars from auctions, marketplace listings, tradesโ€ฆ

Could We Be Hearing Talk in Code Songs on TV and Films?!

Congratulations are due to Wiltshire’s indie-pop sensation Talk in Code, for sealing a second sync representation agreement, this time with Play Equals Sync, a music licensing company that helps place independent songs and instrumental tracks into television shows, advertisements, films, and video games. Could you be hearing Talk in Code songs on the telebox? Weโ€ฆ

Trowbridgeโ€™s Old Town Hall Introduces Youth Open Mic

Are you a budding musician aged between 13 and 18? Well, I tick neither box, but, as Trowbridgeโ€™s Old Town Hall is to introduce youth open mic sessions, I reckon it’s a brilliant incentiveโ€ฆ. Of course, most open mics have no age restrictions, but you know how it can go sometimes, when there’s an agingโ€ฆ

The Killing Fields of Wiltshire; Sabs Uncover Gamebirds Burned in Bonfires

Andy Burnham has urged shops to stop selling disposable barbecues amid the increase of wildfire risk. Meanwhile, Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs uncover horrific scenes of burnt gamebirds on bonfires at the Stockton Shoot. Why isnโ€™t anyone talking about this? Our sabs investigated this in July, when they were alerted to illegal practises at the Stockton Shootโ€ฆ

Paws Charity Dog Show for Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance and Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust

Calling all dog-lovers, come and join the Paws Charity Dog Show! A fantastic day out for families and four-legged friends…. Paws Charity Dog Show is in aid of Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance and the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust. Held amid the splendid grounds of Rainscombe Park at Oare, near Marlborough, on Sunday, 13th September, fromโ€ฆ

Hillbilly Hootenanny โ€“ not just for Hillbillies!

by Ben Niamor & Victoria Stanley Owing to a hectic life, a slightly belated review and celebration of an amazing weekendโ€ฆ. The Music Baa, run three key events a year, a friend went to the folk one earlier in the year for one evening and gave some feedback that was shared by the team, onโ€ฆ

JAZZ โ€“ Our Local Guide

Andy Fawthrop All That Jazz โ€“ Nice! D-Town certainly punches above its weight when it comes to providing a vibrant and varied music scene.ย  It seems that just about every taste is catered for, whether it be blues/ rock (regular gigs at Long Street Blues Club), covers bands (Three Crowns), indie/ blues/ rock/ prog/ folkโ€ฆ

Something Evil Is Waiting at The Wharf Theatre…

Isoceles Theatre Company Brings a Spine-Chillingย Dr Jekyll & Mr Hydeย to The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, on Saturday 29th August….. Devizes, Wiltshire | Saturday 29 August 2026 | 7.30pm The door is locked. The room is empty. And yet, somewhere in the darkness, something is breathing. On Saturday 29 August 2026, audiences at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, will beโ€ฆ

Devizes Duo Take Dungeons & Dragons Out into the Wilds

by Claire Dunford, Co-Founder and Games Master at Chronicles and Companions Images by Simon Folkard Photography What do you think of when you hear Dungeons & Dragons? For many, it conjures images of cramped living rooms, cluttered tabletop maps, and strange spreadsheets of numbers. But my co-founder Justin Whiting and I set out to completelyโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 20th – 26th March 2024

Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats!

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.…

Ongoing: The Mousetrap at the Wyvern, Swindon runs until Saturday 23rd.

Wednesday 20th

Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.

Daniel Kemish at Chapel Arts, Bath. Tuto Tribe atThe Bell, Bath.

Thursday 21st

Iona Lane and Ella Clayton at the Pump, Trowbridge.

Jim Blair at The Beehive, Swindon. Somerset Velvet & Hatty Taylor at The Tuppenny. 

Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre.

Adam’s Apple Jazz Trio at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Sylvertones at the Old Bell, Warminster.

Desperados (Eagles tribute) at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 22nd

Devizes Ghost Walk with John Girvan. Eddie Martin Trio at The Southgate, Devizes. DJ Stevie MC at the Exchange.

Open Mic at The Barge, HoneyStreet

Damm! at The Bear, Marlborough

Band of Others at The Grapes, Melksham.

Take The Stage at the Neeld, Chippenham.

Eddie Gripper Trio at the Civic, Trowbridge. Wiltshire Rural Music Fundraiser at Emmanuals Yard.

Pussycat & The Dirty at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Furlined at The Beehive, Swindon. Moving Pictures at The Vic.

Ezio at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Rhythm Presents Funkagenda DJs at 23 Bath Street, Frome.

Saturday 23rd

Easter Egg Hunt at All Cannings. Jumble Sale at St Andrew’s Church, Devizes: 10-11am. John Rutterโ€™s Requiem at St Andrewโ€™s Church.ย  Eddie Holgate Trio at the Southgate, Devizes.

Spring Concert at St Mary’s Church, Marlborough. Swipe Right at The Bear, Marlborough.

Peaky Blinders at The Pilot, Melksham. Rockin’ The Joint at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.

The Worried Men at The Talbot, Calne.

Radiation Sickness at The Consti Club, Chippenham. Counterfeit Quo, Status Quo Tribute Band at the Neeld.

Kevin Brownโ€™s Shackdusters at the Pump, Trowbridge.

Moments of Pleasure; the Music of Kate Bush at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

M&W and Underbliss at The Three Horseshoes.

Soul’d Out at Tucker’s Graveyard, Faulkland.

Solarbird at the Duck, Laverstock. Rob Clamp at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Rachael Sage at Chapel Arts, Bath. Paul Footโ€™s Dissolve at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.

A World Music Club at The Beehive, Swindon. Biffy McClyro at The Vic, Swindon.

Lottery Winners at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Revelation Roots at the Tree House.

Sunday 24th

Sunflower Easter Fair at Devizes Corn Exchange: 11-4pm.

Josh Pughโ€™s Existin’ La Vida Loca at Swindon Arts Centre. Jonathan Pie at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Junkyard Dogs at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

The F.O.S. Brothers at The Bell, Bath.

Stevie Wonder tribute The Wonder of Stevie at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 25th

The Great Big Dance Off at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Kevin Figes’ Wallpaper Music at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 26th

Spring Wreath Making at Hillworth Park, Devizes. And, it must be the first time Editorโ€™s Pick of Week is on a Tuesday! The James Oliver Band play Devizes Conservative Club.

Jazz Knightโ€™s Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe Event at The Royal Oak, Swindon, is a celebration of Grant Green with Chris Cobbson. How Sweet It Is at Swindon Arts Centre. 

Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit at the Wyvern.

Sue Harding at The Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

And planning ahead, donโ€™t forget Devizes Musical Theatre brings us Sister Act at Dauntsey’s School from Wednesday 27th until Saturday 30th March. Next week also sees Vic-Fest at the Vic in Swindon, with a huge line-up, People Like Us are at The Three Crowns, Devizes on Friday, while Nothing Rhymes with Orange headline the Pump in Trowbridge, The Lost Trades are there on Saturday. General Levy at Cheese & Grain Friday, The Wurzels on Saturday!

Nearly into April, where I would recommend Andrew Hurst at St Nicholas Church in Bromham Thursday 4th, Brian Poole at Long Street Blues Club Friday 5th, Mick Jogger at Seend Community Hall on Saturday 6th and the John Hackett Band at the Pump, or Cara Dillon at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Following week, you can find And Then There Were None opening at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes Monday 8th, and the Marley Experience on 13th April at Devizes Corn Exchange; unmissable. 

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week!

Trending…….

An Apology to Councillor Wallis

I would like to apologise to Devizes Town Councillor Iain Wallis for incorrect quotes in a spoof article concerning a BBC Wiltshire video we criticisedโ€ฆ

Jurassic Hillworth Park!

You know, there’s umpteen articles, studies, and even a six and half minute YouTube video explaining that Steven Spielberg’s 1993 family sci-fi movie Jurassic Parkโ€ฆ

Jol Rose For Tomorrow

New single from Swindonโ€™s finest Americana singer-songwriter Jol Rose, the kind of artist whoโ€™ll finish a song and leave a jammed pub in such aweโ€ฆ

Donโ€™t Impress Them Much, Online Rants at Glastonbury Line-Up!

Image: Czampal

Iโ€™m laughing, not at the Glasto lineup, but the incalculable comments of negativity it has encouraged in Facebookland. It should be said though, most disapproving remarks appear on shares of the post and not the original, and most of them were posted this morning when most ticketholders are likely at work, funding their forthcoming adventure to Pilton. Now theyโ€™re homebound, online anticipation and positivity has risen above the seething armchair critiquesโ€ฆ…

Then there is this โ€˜old photographs of Wiltshireโ€™ Facebook group I recently joined, where a picture of the Barge at Honey Street was posted today with the caption, โ€œThe Barge at Honey Street, near Pewsey.โ€ Some aging, caps-lock permanently stuck on gammon responded, โ€œIT IS NOT PEWSEY IT IS HONEY STREET!โ€

If caps-lock usually implies angered shouting, and the nearest large village to Honey Street is Pewsey, perhaps it suggests how nonsensically negative and overreactive your average Facebooker has become, and how much it exists for aimlessly irritated and amateur critics to vent their general disgust over first world problems. It says more about them and the tenet of Facebook than the thing theyโ€™re mocking. This much ado about nothing is amusing though, thatโ€™s why I like this particular social media platformโ€ฆ.

Glastonbury Festival released their main lineup poster today, and my gut reaction was similar to the priceless online onslaught of negativity in the comments. Being honest, itโ€™s not inane, itโ€™s not the best lineup weโ€™ve seen, but I restrained myself from passing comment, considering itโ€™s an age test; the older you get the less headliners you should expect to know at an event self-professed to be a festival of โ€œcontemporaryโ€ performing arts. No one online considered it might not be Glastonbury which has the problem!

And secondly, for the simple reason Iโ€™m not going anyway, and havenโ€™t attended for twenty-four years. I wonder how many of those feeding negative comments to the pitchfork assembly are going themselves. I hope and pray itโ€™s not many, for Glastonbury is not the place for decomposing strident and pessimistic cynicsโ€ฆ. like me, for example!

Glastonbury is and will always be an experience, you go to Glastonbury for going to Glastonbury, not whoever happens to be on a stage youโ€™re passing. Yeah, itโ€™s held some massive names in the past, pre-broken Brexit Britain, but does anyone commenting have an inkling how much and how hard it is to organise something on this scale? How much work goes on behind the scenes? Far more than typing your grievance in a text box, rest assured.

I can now count the acts Iโ€™ve heard of on the annual Glastonbury poster on my fingers, even less ones Iโ€™d actually like to see, this lessens with every year Father Time takes from me, itโ€™s an old dog new tricks scenario; Iโ€™m content with shit happens. Most of the names Iโ€™ve heard of are through my daughterโ€™s playlist, with a sprinkling of classics like Cyndi Lauper, to whet the appetite of grumpy old bastards who might yet turn up; itโ€™ll all come off in the wash!

I shouldn’t scratch my Uncle Albert beard and tediously spin a yarn of how I once failed to see the Mad Professor at the dance tent because of my genius navigation past the Pyramid Stage while Pulp was playing. A band who, being I was a โ€˜raverโ€™ and they were โ€˜indieโ€™ I wouldn’t usually beeline, but finding myself unable to gorge further through the masses, was forced to watch them, and forever became a fan through unexpected circumstance. But if I did, it would surely serve a purpose to illustrate a tale of the unexpected. Digest new things, you never know till you try. To moan this act doesn’t suit your whim is to misunderstand the concept of Glastonbury, or festivals in general. You need to open your eyes and ears to new things not just relish in the nostalgic era of your individual youth. But more importantly, the arts and entertainment industry at its knees, need you to do this more than ever before.

Yet, in this ocean of boiling ageist whimpering which is the comment section on Glastonbury’s Facebook lineup post, which one could summarise as a multitude of disgruntled whingers unlikely to even attend, who cannot accept they’re past it and are whinging for the sake of whinging, one gen-zโ€™s unintentionally amusing comment reversed the status quo, by calling the lineup, โ€œa load of old dinosaurs!โ€ (Assuming they meant the acts listed and not the other commenters!) They win the internet today for standing against the grain, still bleating bollocks, but for precisely the opposite reason to everyone else, thus proving if you can’t satisfy everyone, why bother trying with anyone? Who the heck is SZA and how did they get listed above PJ Harvey? I might have to sacrifice a cute furry pet over this atrocity!

Though, in this, you should note the universal appeal Glastonbury promotes and always has. I recall the nineties when attendees foamed from the mouth at the thought Robbie Williams got up there to do his thing; youth today would hail this classic, as they wouldโ€™ve done for Led Zeppelin. Because should a change of tide wipe you out or this upset you, there’s a billion retro festivals, eighties nights, tribute acts, et al, which are more niche, and likely kinder on your wallet too. Maybe take some time to research them rather than jump a bandwagon?

Yep, if Shania Twain is the calibre of Elton John or Springsteen now, a tear will undoubtedly trickle down my wrinkled cheek, but it is not my cheek Glastonbury needs to appease, neither is it the witch hunt of unsatisfied grumpy old keyboard warriors. Key here is the simple notion; Glastonbury is so much more than a main stage and congested campsite. Don’t fuss over mainstream or contemporary things if they’re only going to engulf you in flames of irritation, think of your blood pressure.

No buddy, saunter them there Somerset fields and find the bizarre, outlandish, the upcoming, the amateur, the underground, then, and only then will you understand the true ethos of Glastonbury.

Or simply retire, watch it on the telebox; you can fast forward. With a cardboard cup of Lidl cider, and undercooked hotdog. Stay home where you can take a piss behind the sofa without queuing, and maybe start a blog where, like me, you can hypocritically rant your niggles without spoiling a Facebook post! What have we becomeeeee?!

Trending….

Book Review: Dave McKenna’s Death Wish

It was back in March last year when I last mentioned Devizes author Dave McKenna,ย reviewing his debut, The Killer & The Catalyst. He’s returned withโ€ฆ

My Reflection on the Fate of Carnivals

It’s Saturday morning on the 13th July 1985, and there’s a dilemma brewing in my household I’m indifferent with. I’m twelve, aware I should doโ€ฆ

โ€œRENTโ€ at The Rondo Theatre, Bath, March 13th-16th 2024

Ian Diddams

Written by Jonathan Larson
Presented by Maple Theatre Company

It’s always hard reviewing a show that one has seen multiple times before, performed by differing companies. Itโ€™s also hard reviewing a show that is one of oneโ€™s favourite shows EVAH. And if that wasnโ€™t hard enoughโ€ฆ  Its far too hard to review a show that one has performed in oneself. Itโ€™s wrong to compare โ€“ its unfair and meaninglessโ€ฆ  differing companies, differing directors, differing theatres.  So, ignoring the seven other productions Iโ€™ve seen including the one I bummed around in (quite literally โ€“ if you know you know) โ€ฆ.  Here goes…..


For those that know the story of โ€œRENTโ€ โ€“ you can skip this paragraph. Otherwise, Jonathan Larsonโ€™s story โ€“ a glorious homage to Pucciniโ€™s โ€œLa Bohemeโ€ – revolves around a group of bohemians in the lower east side of New York City and deals with topics such as homelessness, drug addiction, betrayal, and AIDSโ€ฆ as well as love, friendship, recovery, and hope. All wrapped up with a stunning score of often poignant, sometimes funny, always beautiful singing with six-part harmonies. If you want to know more โ€ฆย  duck go go is your friend as ever.

RENT on stage is usually set in a quasi-industrial area โ€“ and Maple Theatre Company donโ€™t buck that trend (I doubt RENT heads would allow it to be honest!). Scaffolding creates multiple levels which are used excellently throughout the show and frames several areas for the action. ON stage props and setting is minimal, but I raise my hat to the wonderful use of moveable music flight cases with wooden tops that represent beds, side tables and THE cafe table (if you know, you know). Quite brilliant also was the use of 40-gallon steel oil drums โ€ฆย  where โ€œdrumsโ€ covers two definitions of that word.ย  Chapeau to Luke Hocket, set designer (who also produced the show) and his set team of Tom Courtier and Milly Hayward.

Directing a show like โ€œRENTโ€ is no easy task (not as hard as reviewing it obviously ๐Ÿ˜‰) as the show is basically โ€œthe sameโ€ whoever does it (as it is so iconic โ€“ maybe after 400 years, like Shakespeare, some aspects will be changed, and we will get a RENT set on a spaceship โ€ฆ)ย  but Dionna Kate-Hargreaves set her own stamp on it in subtly brilliant ways. I mentioned the use of multiple levels already but the piece de resistance of the show is in many ways โ€ฆย  the drumming.ย  (If you know you know).

And speaking of drumming that brings us to the music โ€“ a six-piece band led by MD Kris Nock rocked out the show hidden subtly off stage but in full view (once you know, you know). I wonder if Krisโ€™ toughest task (not as arduous as reviewing obviously) was teaching three actors to hit a large piece of metal in time with two sticks for some considerable time (if you know, you know).


Tech is as ever hidden away where no one can see them up in the attic of the Rondo, and technical director Tom Courtier and his crew slid their sliders and pushed their buttons andย  lit their lights to full effect. (Iโ€™ve got a deep and meaningful understanding of tech). Rule number one in a theatre is never hack off the tech guys โ€“ they have hammers, and saws, and unlimited access to 240v at all times (if you know, you know) so โ€“ GREAT WORK GUYS!!!

Thatโ€™s about it then. Set, Tech, props, direction, music.ย  Yup. Thatโ€™ll do.


Ah.

Yes.ย  That lot that cavorts upon the stage.ย  Nearly forgot them. Starting with cavortingโ€ฆย  choreographer and dance captain Grace Egginton and Grace Shobbrook whipped the cast into a frenzy of whirling limbs when they werenโ€™t singing.ย  And often when they were come to that. It must be said the Rondoโ€™s stage is quiteโ€ฆ.ย  Bijouโ€ฆ particularly when by necessity a good half of it is taken up by aluminium scaffolding poles that donโ€™t bend if you collide with them (if you know, you know) so the tightness of choreography is impressive.

And so โ€“ the cast. Iโ€™ve used the line about โ€œstrutting and fretting his hour upon the stageโ€ before so I wonโ€™t use it again.ย  Ooops.

It takes a dedicated cast to work โ€œRENTโ€ โ€“ it is emotionally draining (if you know, you know), taking its toll on the actorsโ€™ own emotions. And this cast did Jonathan Larson proud. The ensemble – they always get listed last so here they are first cos thatโ€™s important (if you know, you know) so bravo Daisy Wilson, Morgan Hames, Georgi pepper, Steven Hockett, Jasmine Lye, Sophie smith, Milly Haywood, and Sarah Easterbrookโ€ฆย  All of whom also starred in the all-important cameo parts that just make โ€œRENTโ€ simply โ€œworkโ€. Special mention must be made though for Jasmine, who stepped up to play the role of the harassed waiter in the cafรฉ scene due to cast unavailability this evening.ย  Cometh the hour, cometh the Jas!

I suppose that leaves the principals. *sigh*.ย  OK. Wellโ€ฆย  ummm…ย  errrโ€ฆ

Well in all honesty they werenโ€™t good. Nope. Not at all.

THEY WERE BELTING!!!ย  FANTASTIC!!!ย  MAGNIFICENT!!!

and other superlatives.

In no particular orderโ€ฆย  Bryan Houce played Markโ€ฆย  his portrayal got stronger and stronger throughout the performance as the middle-class wannabe with no confidence (thatโ€™s Mark โ€“ not Bryan!). Mimi was played superbly by Grace Egginton who quite rightly as a choreographer played the part of a striptease dancer very well.ย  (Hmmmโ€ฆย  that maybe came out a bit wrong?) ๐Ÿ˜‰Roger Davis, all angst, and anger was quite phenomenal played by Josh Phillips.ย  Absolutely fantastic. Liberty Williams probably stole the show for โ€œmost likely to break a wine glass at forty feetโ€ with her incredible top note harmonising as Joanne, and Naomi Marie as Benny (dรฉjร  vu here โ€“ if you know, you know) as the brooding, mean turncoat-comes-good ex-flatmate.

If I appear to be rushing through these principals, itโ€™s because I could write war and peace about them otherwise. Next up โ€“ in her first ever principal role (which is hard to believe, if not as hard as reviewing of course) playing Maureen was Sarah Askew.ย  Now Sarah is no mean belter of a top noted harmony as well, as befits a rock band vocalist (if you know, you know) but โ€ฆย  well.ย  If you need a top MOO-ERR then Sarah is your girl (if you know, you know).ย  And then we have Davey Evans as Collins. Another wow moment.ย  Collins is a complex character to play especially with the range of emotions demanded of it, and Davey perfected them all. Great voice too. Which leaves last, but of course NEVER leastโ€ฆย  Angel. George Friend. I had the pleasure of speaking with George before and after the show โ€“ he is reprising the role he played in 2017 โ€“ and he claimed (yeah right ๐Ÿ˜‰) he couldnโ€™t believe he could still reach the high notes he needed but they were well reached, another great performance.

So thatโ€™s it. Iโ€™ve reviewed a show thatโ€™s hard to review. A show that for an opening night was quite wonderful. And let us not forget either the debut show for a brand-new Bath based community theatre company.ย  Top job.


โ€œRENTโ€ runs until Saturday 16th March at 1930 each evening with a 1430 matinee on the 16th. Tickets can be bought from
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/bath/rondo-theatre/rent/e-mdxlbz

and I urge you to go.

And โ€“ donโ€™t forget to MOOOO!  (if you know, you know).

You always said how lucky you were that we were all friends. But it was us, baby, who were the lucky ones.

Trending……

Speed Reduction on Caen Hill to 50mph

Be honest now, who likes to bomb it up and down Caen Hill dual carriageway like they’re Lewis Hamilton on a promise? Who thinks onceโ€ฆ

Jamsters Festival at The Southgate

January last year, The Southgate Inn Devizes announced Jamsters, a monthly Friday night platform for loose groupings and associations created at their regular jam sessionsโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th – 19th March 2024

Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, thereโ€™s lots to get through! And I’ve not had time to run off a weekly podcast, though the thought was, cos I like doing them, but ainโ€™t nobody listening to themโ€ฆ. probably must be my jokes putting them off! I can understand that!

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโ€™s jump right into the weekโ€ฆ.

Wednesday 13th

Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.

Runny Snotts Open Mic at the Three Crowns, Chippenham.

Los Gusanos at The Bell, Bath. And running until 16th March, Rent at the Rondo Theatre.

Big Jam Session at The Vic, Swindon. Memory Cinema โ€“ Peter Pan at Swindon Arts Centre.

Junior Voice Festival โ€“ Songs From Our Song Book at the Wyvern.

Thursday 14th

Make your own Easter Egg Masterclass at HollyChocs, Poulshot.

Fantasy Radio live Lounge at the Pelican, Devizes: Jambon Chapeau.

Comedy Loft at The Civic, Trowbridge.

Ruby Darbyshire at The Old Bell, Warminster.

PSG Choir workshop at the King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.

Foregate Brothers at The Beehive, Swindon. Alex Taylor at The Tuppenny. Jeff Woodhouse Medium at Swindon Arts Centre.

Howlinโ€™ Ric & the Rocketeers at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Friday 15th

The What 4โ€™s at The Black Horse, Cherhill.

The Groomโ€™s House Party at The Town Hall, Devizes.

Tom Davis & the Bluebirds at The Barge, HoneyStreet. Trash Panda at the Cooperโ€™s, Pewsey.

The Soul Strutters at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Be Like Will at The White Hart, Atworth.

Richard Wileman & Amy Fry, Phil Mercyโ€™s Blind Convergence at Baristocats, Swindon. Jon Amor Trio at The Beehive. Penfold at The Vic. Cirque โ€“ The Greatest Show at the Wyvern.

Sam Kellyโ€™s Station House at Chapel Arts, Bath. Beatsenders Episode 3 at Nowhere.

Nine Below Zero at The Tree House, Frome. Limehouse Lizzy at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 16th

CUDS; Letโ€™s Clean Up Devizes, on the Green. Wiltshire Air Ambulance Free Valuation Day at The Corn Exchange, Devizes. The Starlight Concert Series with the Full-Tone Orchestra at St Andrews. The Tricks at The Three Crowns. Lightninโ€™ Hobos at the Southgate. Devizes Rugby Club has the ladies v Amesbury, 2nds V Amesbury, screening of Six Nations and Six Oโ€™Clock Circus in the evening.

Charity Event in Aid of Dorthey House at St Nicholas Church, Bromham.

The Blue Moon Band at Woodborough Social Club.

Josh Kumra at The Bear, Marlborough.

Start the Sirens at The Grapes, Melksham.

Beetlehead at the Pump, Trowbridge with Charmtype in support.

The Gesualdo Six: The Wishing Tree at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Asha McCarthy at The Manu Centre. Radiation Sickness at The Three Horseshoes.

The Honky Tonks at Tuckerโ€™s Inn, Faulkland.

Alan West & Friends at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Depeche Mode tribute, Enjoy the Silence at The Vic, Swindon. Tundra at The Woodlands Edge. Cirque โ€“ The Greatest Show at the Wyvern.

Livewire AC/DC at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 17th

Craft Fair at West Lavington Village Hall 10-4pm

March Sighthound Stroll, Devizes: Meeting at the car park right at the top of the road leading to Caen Hill Locks and Cafe. ยฃ3 parking fee applies.

Stones Throw at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Howlinโ€™ Matt at the Southgate, with a cigar box guitar making workshop beforehand.

Pewsey Players at St Johnโ€™s, Pewsey.

Ruby Darbyshire at The Red Lion, Lacock: 12-2pm.

Bob Bowles at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Schmoozenbergs at The Bell, Bath.

Dom Jolyโ€™s Conspiracy Tourist Tour at Swindon Arts Centre.

Monday 18th

Jonah Hitchens at The Bell, Bath

The Mousetrap opens at the Wyvern, Swindon, runs until 23rd March.

Tuesday 19th

Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe, a Celebartion of Nancy Wilson with Victoria Klewin & Adam Stokes Trio at Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon.

Poetika (poetry slam) at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, donate to us if you can, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Trending……

Deadlight Dance New Single & Video

New single from our gothic duo Deadlight Dance, taken from Marchโ€™s album Vox Populiโ€ฆ. Second tune on the album, a ballad to the poisonous evergreenโ€ฆ

Brian on FullTone Festival

Our regular historian and Visiting Research Fellow of The Regional History Centre, UWE Bristol, Brian Edwards takes some time to sketch the FullTone Orchestra aheadโ€ฆ

The Grand Return of CrownFest

The first week into July, and two local festivals of five ticked off! CrownFest went down a hit with those who attended this fantastic reputationโ€ฆ

An Update on our Postcard Criticism

Earlier today I published an opinion piece on the postcard sent by someone at Devizes Town Council to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport,โ€ฆ

The Drum n Bass Huntr/s of Old Devizes Town

In true Royston Vasey style, unfortunately due to time and resources we donโ€™t review international music as we did during lockdown, choosing to focus more on the original concept of local issues and talent, unless of course, we can find any vague link to someone around these parts; thereโ€™s a tenacious one with Beskarโ€™s latest album of uplifting drum n bassโ€ฆ..

Proving the irony in Devizes singer Chrissy Chapmanโ€™s nom-de-plume, One Trick Pony, her stunning vocals feature on two tracks on the album, Liquid with Friends, released at the beginning of the month, and on a number of previous singles produced by Beskar. One of them is an astounding cover of Ella Fitzgeraldโ€™s Fever.

A chance opportunity for Chrissy, working as social media manager for 4NCยฅ //DarkModeโ€™s London headquarters during the pandemic, unveiled a hidden talent producing some spoken words for a Dust tune, which in turn led her to be introduced to Beskar, who since has enhanced many of his tracks with her prowess as a singer-songwriter. Now, under the pseudonym Huntr/s, Chrissy has fast climbed to recognition and popularity in drum and bass circles, though this doesn’t mean youโ€™ll no longer see her acoustically perform on our local circuit too, I hope!

See? As the codger who was there for breakbeats slipping into acid house and creating a UK rave scene inspired equally from dub reggae as the less soulful German tekno, who danced through this progression, when hardcore fragmented into happy and dark, and celebrated what blew from itโ€™s exhaust pipe, the โ€œjungleโ€ of drum n bass, and still coming up dancing, I find it slightly confuddling differentiating between the many subgenres drum n bass has separated into more recently. 

Take it as a senior moment, but Iโ€™m dubious about breakcore or dubstep, feel theyโ€™re heading in a direction Iโ€™m not looking to journey down. For me the split came at the end of the rave honeymoon, 1993. Andy Cโ€™s Origin Unknown caused heated debate, it was dark, directed away from the cheese on toast, carefree vibe of hi-hats and crashing piano breaks we were accustomed to. In just a few subsequent years I was waving A Guy Called Geraldโ€™s Black Secret Technology CD around, but most of my mates waited for Goldieโ€™s Timeless before accepting this new force, โ€œintelligentโ€ drum n bass.

It peaked at LTJ Bukemโ€™s Logical Progression in 96, drum n bass no longer the jungle tumult you heard at raves, rather as the title suggested, hereโ€™s a style for the chill-out, for the after-party. And thatโ€™s where I left it, trundling off to the big beat sound of Jon Carter, The Chemical Brothers and Norman larginโ€™ it. While what Beskar is laying down here is fresh and original, it makes no secret in nodding to its influences, to this peak of drum n bass, and for me, that works a treat.

The opening to Liquid with Friends is much like this, thereโ€™s the sparse drum n bass riffs of Photek, Hype et al, spacey ambient sounds of the Orb, KLF, and some uplifting vocals and piano breaks. Thereโ€™s casual rap like Divine Bashimโ€™s for William Orbit, thereโ€™s a spanning package offered here, flowing sweetly. The result is euphoric and enchanting throughout, but itโ€™s the Huntr/s featured tracks, Home and Running which are the standouts, and Iโ€™m not just saying that, Iโ€™m backing it up with reasoning; because from cheesy hardcore to contemporary house, when any dance music genre breaks for some beautiful female vocals the soul is elevated.

Donna Summer proved that for Giorgio Moroder, Caron Wheeler did it for Soul II Soul in the late eighties, Rozalla took it to the rave, Heather Small did it for Mike Pickering, and a lounge style of house brought to the masses; dance music wouldnโ€™t be what it is totally instrumental. Mickey Finn knew this with Urban Shakedown, and we did, we lived as one family, the vocal only enforced it into us! We were like, โ€œdamn thatโ€™s some powerful shit, weโ€™d better live as one family now, or else!โ€ I never did get any pocket money out of Mickey!

Beskar manages to amalgamate the lot without it becoming overcrowded there. Just as DJ Cam with the trip hop trend, funky jazz loops are allowed in. Thereโ€™s a lot more going on with this album than breaks and beats, but it does this too with bells on. Silent River is one example to this experimental goodness, Inner City Life, the opening to Timeless meets Massive Attack, soulful vocals with layers of chill, and even subtle wailing guitars, akin Quincy Jones adding Slash to Micheal Jackson tunes, Beskar went there too; you magician! 

Iโ€™m taken back and in awe, our own Huntr/sโ€™ contributions here embeds her voice to a history of female vocalists who uplifted the crowd, from Summer to Small, and thatโ€™s a high but deserved accolade for our Devizes girl!  

Trending…….

Mantonfest Magic Multiplies

Mantonfest, the longstanding gem on Marlborough’s event calendar, finalised for another fantastic year last night, with metal-driven mayhem, as the sounds of AC/DC ripped acrossโ€ฆ

George Wilding Feeding His Head

Featured Image: Helen Polarpix As if itโ€™s not hot enough, Aveburyโ€™s finest musical export George Wilding is bounding back with another new single, Feed Yourโ€ฆ

Chloe Hepburnโ€™s Lullaby

New single from Swindon soul diva Chloe Hepburn, under the rebranding CHLร–VER out last week, is worthy of your attention in my honest opinion. Forโ€ฆ

McDonalds Coming to Devizes?!

Okay, it was the April Fools joke I broke the Internet with in 2021, but it’s not the 1st of April todayโ€ฆ.. Bishop’s Cannings Parishโ€ฆ

Conceived on International Womenโ€™s Day and announced on Motherโ€™s Day; Palestinian Children Memorial in Swindon

On International Womenโ€™s Day a group of women from the Swindon community decided to organise a clothes memorial for the over 11,500 Palestinian children killed by Israel since October 7th when 36 Israeli children were killed.…

Theresa, a spokeswoman from the group said “All children are innocent. No mother should have to witness the death of their child. Children in Gaza are now starving to death and their parents can do nothing to stop this slow and painful death. It must be horrific to watch your child wasting away.”

“We are women of different religions and none, from different races and backgrounds, coming together to extend our solidarity and love to the mothers of Gaza. We are mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts, all heartbroken by the loss of life in the Gaza Israel conflict.”

“We realise that it is almost impossible to imagine the scale of child deaths, so our memorial will enable people to see what that looks like and hopefully encourage them to join us in calling for a ceasefire.”

On Saturday 27th April from 10am-4pm the group plan to lay as near to 11,000 sets of childrenโ€™s clothing around the office of Justin Tomlinson MP, who voted against calling for a ceasefire. They want to make it clear that 76% of UK residents want a ceasefire in Gaza. “Weโ€™ve seen demonstrations outside Robert Buckland MPโ€™s office. He didnโ€™t vote at all on the motion calling for a ceasefire. We want to pressurise our political representatives to represent many their residents by calling for a ceasefire.”

“We will leave the memorial in place until the next day to give people the opportunity to see it or add to it. The clothes will all go to charity and not be wasted.”

Over the next seven weeks the group will be collecting clothes and will announce collection points to drop them off. They are looking for venues who are happy to receive clothes and for volunteers to pick up clothes, deliver them to the event on the day and help lay out the clothes.

The spokeswoman said “The clothes will be laid in a line from Justinโ€™s office along the path in front of ASDA and M&S going in the other direction. This is a peaceful and emotive memorial for the lost children which cannot be spun as a โ€˜hate marchโ€™ or organised by โ€˜Islamist extremists. We hope that this will also attract people who donโ€™t want or canโ€™t march but who empathise with the families and friends of these children. We will need lots of people to achieve this, including the tidy up on Sunday 28th April. Perhaps families going shopping will stop by on the day with some clothes and reflect on this terrible loss of life. Everyone is welcome. We will announce collection points soon. Weโ€™d like to thank Swindon Palestine Solidarity for letting us use their social media platforms to share this women led community event.”

For further information on how to get involved please check out our Facebook event on Swindon Palestine Solidarity page https://fb.me/e/gxWlVcdki or look out for local press updates.

Trending…..

Using Fulltone as a Proper Noun

To most, โ€œfullโ€ and โ€œtoneโ€ are two separate words, but around here it’s been a portmanteau and a proper noun since 2019, conveying a uniqueโ€ฆ

Looking Back At Devizes Arts Festival 2026

Featured Image: Gail Foster. Features extracts from reviews by Andy Fawthrop, Ian Diddams and Madelaine Blake. Does it ever stop?! The weekend is upon usโ€ฆ

Seven-Year Old Chloe Sleeping Out for Devizes Homeless

Wowzers! Huge congratulations and a colossal thanks to young Chloe Boyle from Devizes, who is planning to spend the night of April 5th sleeping outside to raise funds for Devizes OpenDoors, a charity supporting people who are homeless or vulnerable. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of Chloeโ€™s amazing fundraising effortsโ€ฆ..

Super proud parents said seven-year old Chloe is โ€œvery much hoping for nice weather,โ€ but you know, April is an unpredictable time to do this, Chloe, wrap up warm! This brave endeavour has already raised an impressive ยฃ312, over the bold target of ยฃ225, the amount needed to fund five nights of emergency accommodation. Find the Just Giving Link HERE if you can help her top it up even further, thank you!

Chloe has been raising money for Devizes OpenDoors since she learnt about the charity in a school lesson. Mum, Julie said, โ€œshe came home saying we had to run a toy stall for them.โ€ Since, she has run stalls, tombolas and raffles, and with lots of local support in Devizes over the last year, donating toys and buying things from her stalls, she raised over ยฃ500 for them.

In 2019 Chloe raised an amazing ยฃ1,600 for Hope for Hasti, a parent-led charity for Hasti, a ten year-old with a rare genetic disease called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. I can’t even count that far, Chole!

Now operating at The Southbroom Centre on Victoria Road, Devizes OpenDoors is a charity to help people in the Devizes Community Area find solutions to homelessness; to offer support to local people when they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and to benefit local individuals in need, including the marginalised and vulnerable.

They provide four cooked meals a week, and with company and hot drinks, there is also the chance of a shower, and support and advice from staff and volunteers. OpenDoors are currently running low on various items in their food stores. You can follow their Facebook page for updates on what items theyโ€™re short of, and you can find drop-off points in Lidl or Morrisons, or arrange to drop off to the centre directly through their website.

โ€œWeโ€™re camping out for OpenDoors,โ€ Chloe explained, โ€œand thatโ€™s who weโ€™re raising money for.โ€ Well done Chloe and good luck, you are a super star fundraiser! Help her raise some money by donating HERE.

Trending……

Milton Jones; Deadpan in Devizes

Mock the Weekโ€™s recurring panellist and Radio 4 comedian Milton Jones stood on the stage of Devizes Corn Exchange on Friday, with the setter, โ€œitโ€™sโ€ฆ

Letโ€™s Go Swimming with Poppy Rose

Two years ago we fondly reviewed Iโ€™m Ready Now, a debut EP from Bathโ€™s Poppy Rose. I praised her unique take, her thoughtful prose andโ€ฆ

Happy Daze; Palooza Baptises House Music at The Exchange, Devizes

Newly formed and locally based collective Palooza hosted their opening night at The Exchange nightclub in Devizes yesterday, offering house music with universal appeal and the ethos of raving days of yore; mind I don’t have an Uncle Albert moment here, โ€œwhen I was in the rave!โ€

Greg Spencer, the kingpin in organising the event, told me he’d be interested to read what I had so say about the do. While a DJ night is a different kettle of fish to reviewing a live band, the kettle or main premise is the same for anything, points scored for doing what it said on the tin. In other words, was it as advertised?

Palooza hyped it to be โ€œthe hottest house event in Devizes. Deep house and soulful grooves, tech melodies to uplifting beats.โ€ The only indifference was it’s the โ€œonlyโ€ house event in Devizes for some considerable time. Other than this trivial, my dancing clogs didn’t stop, so top marks all round for a fantastic treat.

Welcomed, then, for those dance music hunters and an inaugural shindig hoping to blossom, I hope so too. Retrospective glimmers to the heyday of UK rave culture have been successful in larger towns, yet always seem to come with a marginalised hook.

Raver Tots invites parents of toddlers to force their youth culture down the throats of their impressionable offspring, in a bizzare soft play-happy hardcore mesh, and Trowbridge recently saw the Pipe & Slippers Raves, patronisingly focusing on middle-aged ravers by reducing noise levels and ending at a respectable time.

Though both successful, they feel presumptuous and a tad condescending, in my opinion. I never felt the need to embed my nostalgic skulduggery on my kids; they find their own way. And as for the idea of finishing a party at eleven o’clock so foggies can retire to their slippers in some kind of care home fashion is, quite frankly, insultingily ageist and badly researched; ravers danced all night, into the next week if possible. What in the good name of John Digweed gave them the ludicrous Cinderella notion we can’t now cut a rug after midnight?! It’s not done via age concern, rather cashing in on nostalgia.

The reason for being critical of these others is that rave had no uniform or restrictions. It was universal, the loosest era you can dub a youth culture, for it engulfed every preceding one and fused them in one electronic explosion of positivity and joy.

Ravers came from punks, mods, soul boys, travellers, new romantics, rastas, bikers, the lot. No one gave a hoot about your roots, ethnicity, political sway, sexual preference, and especially not your age; we all danced together under the same sun. It was the most unassuming epoch ever.

And, delightfully last night, the ethos matched. Palooza filled โ€œthe Binโ€ with a handful of older ravers proving they still got it, but equally attracted a wide age demographic, interacting without the slightest hint of aggravation. That’s the ticket, that’s precisely the atmosphere old ravers cherish with pride, and one which, evidently, is being passed onto the younger present. We stopped racial tension, drunken nightclub brawls, and football hooliganism; really.

The Exchange in Devizes faces historic self-deprecating banter from locals, infamously dubbing it โ€œthe corny bin.โ€ I beg to differ. The modern Exchange is on a level way above your typical nightclub. By comparison, it’s comfy, congenial, and affordable at both the foyer and bar. It retains the exceptionally simple but functional design of square amphitheatre dance floor, with all seating facing inward to it and the bar stretching across the rear. It makes the perfect spot for a house night of Paloozaโ€™s challenge to recreate the integrity of classic dance music culture. I’m only here to report back that it did, with bells on, oh, and shake ma thang like a Polaroid picture.

The air held a manner of anticipation, and the three DJs delivered. With splinters of classic house samples from Leftfield to Fatboy Slim, the speakers pumped of joyous contemporary beats, bang-on the timeless vibe of house music since its inception. Glow-sticks passed around, smiles and hugs exchanged, no bullshit from tossers, just carefree merriment and united celebration.

Another top point scorer from me was Palooza didn’t try to be something it wasn’t, it didn’t try to cater for all and meld every dance music subgenre into a single night, for that would feel cramped or sycophantic by modern standards. If you attacked it objectively because you wanted abstract minimalist techno or darkstep breakcore, you failed to see the simplicity of a working formula of yore, the enduring practicality of association. Because, while one day viciously throwing down on his box, Jack boldly declared, let there be house, and house music was born, in 1987, when your scrupulous pigeonholed subgenre was an itch in its daddy’s bell-bottoms.

Soz, but a market town like Devizes couldn’t sustain something so codifying as a quasi-amapiano ethereal techno gig; think broader, and dance your trainspotting cares away!

Palooza met that challenge head-on and unruffled. Greg expressed to me that he’s only in it for the love. It now needs the opportunity to grow and harness its ethos. It needs to extend a welcoming hand to those looking for a regular and affordable quality dance music night in Devizes, of which I’m assured it will. And hey presto, ravers young and old will arrive there, Harvey Ross Ball’s smiley face logo will be smiling on our town, and house music willย  be reborn, and for that applause, Palooza gets my top rating; feel the melody that’s in the air and beeline the next date, one and all.

Only Thursday! Jon Amor Trio Special at The Southgate, Devizes with Ian Siegal

Legend has it, as a child Elvis Presley sneaked into gospel churches and juke joints, surely the spark of rock n roll. Given a flux capacitor, that’s one point in time I’d beeline; love to have witnessed what he saw there. But it’s unlikely, Doc Emmett Brown doesn’t give them out freelyโ€ฆ..

So I ponder at the door to the Southgate, this is as close as dammit I’m going to get to a rowdy postwar Mississippi juke joint in 2024 wilds of Wiltshire! You could argue the point, but I believe I’m right; it’s rammed to the rafters in there, and it’s only a Thursday night! If you were there you would accept it’s not open for debate.

Valid reason, homemade blues legend Jon Amor shifted his trioโ€™s monthly residency from the usual Sunday to Thursday to fit the schedule of his guest, and what a dynamite guest it was. Devizes hasnโ€™t seen Ian Siegal since 2022, part of the lockdown supergroup Birdsmens at Long Street Blues Club, with Jon, Dave Doherty, bassist Rob Barry and Jonny Henderson pushing the keys. A most memorable gig for Long Street, either not forgotten by the blues hunters of Devizes, or theyโ€™ll rightfully take Jonโ€™s recommendations as red.

Classic Rock Magazine described Portsmouth-born Ian Siegal as โ€œa national treasure.โ€ He’s picked up thirteen British blues awards, three Mojo blues albums of the year, four European blues awards and three USA nominations. He is, as proved last night, cool on a barefoot Bruce Willis pounding through the glass of the Nakatomi Plaza level, he is the Steve McQueen leaping the anti-tank obstacles on a stolen Nazi Triumph of UK blues!

He came to our humble tavern, and between him and the Jon Amor Trio, sparks flew, pounding blues riffs reverberated, and crowds gyrated in harmony to a free gig youโ€™d happily pay top dollar for. So, if weโ€™ve said a number of times just how unmissable and phenomenal this monthly residency is at the Southgate, which we have, many times and by our many writers, itโ€™s always worth reminding, and because of last nightโ€™s, this is a particularly appropriate time to do so.

There were people on Jonโ€™s Facebook page commenting they were trekking up from Southend-on-Sea for this gig, ergo, we should consider ourselves so lucky to have it on our doorsteps, and thank Jon, Tom and Gerry, along with Debroah, Dave and staff at the Southgate, for maintaining Devizes as a blues town and providing us with talent on this level. It was one of the most memorable and historic nights Iโ€™ve witnessed at that tavern, and thatโ€™s pushing the boat out.

Thereโ€™s dogโ€™s bollocks accolades I could award Ian with, donโ€™t want to flatter the guy, but damn, the vibes from that fella replicate all which makes blues the root of all pop music genres, the growling and screeching Howilnโ€™ Wolf vocals, the nimble guitar picking, the very construction of the blues is in his hands, and he delivers it with a passion and virtuosity of the greats, of Muddy Waters, of BB King; hot dang, that guy can play! 

They did some originals between them, the ground thumped through Jonโ€™s Juggernaut, the heavens opened when Ian lead the Rolling Stones cover You Can’t Always Get What You Want, long hair was swished around, the booze flowed and people came to party united in a sublime vibe of happiness, it really was the kind of scorcher Iโ€™m not sure how Jon and the Gate can top.

Trending……

Manning Lifeboats, In Devizes!

Manning the lifeboats with Devizes Arts Festival in landlocked Devizes last night, and I didnโ€™t even get a sticker. I did shake a tailfeather outโ€ฆ

Devizes; Full of Scummy Mummies!

Guys out on โ€œthe pullโ€ on Thursday in Devizes were cut short. The Scummy Mummies were back in town, and youโ€™ve never heard so manyโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Council Threaten Prosecution Against Wiltshire Music Eventsโ€™ Posters in Devizes

Salisbury-based event organisation Wiltshire Music Events has been ordered to remove posters advertising the Marley Experience gig at the Devizes Corn Exchange on 13th April, by Wiltshire Council, because they were unauthorisedโ€ฆ..

Company director, Eddie Prestidge said, โ€œwe have been told by Wiltshire County Councilย to remove our posters from their present positions around Wiltshire or we will be fined ยฃ250 per poster, per day! When we designed the posters we carefully took into account where we would safely place them, and to make them of a sturdy and waterproof material, so they would be asย  safe as possible. We have monitored them daily in case the weather affected them, but it is with regret that we will have to remove all of our advertising posters by Sunday.โ€

Environmental Enforcement of Wiltshire Council notified the company, stating โ€œthe display of such advertisements does not benefit from exemption or deemed consent under the above the regulations and is therefore unauthorised.โ€ It then threatens the company with liable action should they fail to remove the posters within three working days. โ€œThe Council therefore trusts you will take immediate steps to remove the authorised advertisements, and insure that, neither these or any other unauthorised signs shall be displayed at any location in the control of Wiltshire Council,โ€ going on to explain it will not give the company a warning next time before prosecuting.

It should send out a stark warning to all, if you havenโ€™t permission to display your advertisements it will be considered flyposting, illegal in the UK. UKGov states, โ€œit is illegal to display advertising material such as posters or placards on buildings and street furniture without authorisation. It is not only unsightly but can also cause danger to pedestrians and road users.โ€

But I have to have sympathy for Wiltshire Music Events, an event poster such as the one in question is hardly neon glowing Piccadilly Circus, and no more potentially dangerous to road users than many of our other permitted event signage, from our Arts Festival to DOCA or FullTone, even some brown signs like the one advertising the Old Potato Yard on Andover Road which seriously obscures the view for those turning out of Ostlerโ€™s Yard.

If it all seems a tad harsh, given the town is plastered head to toe with other advertising signage, the rules are the rules, but I wonder if all said signs are situated on the ownerโ€™s own land, or granted permission to be on Council land. And even if they are, should they not still be monitored for being โ€œunsightlyโ€ or dangerous? Mr Prestidge sadly told Devzine that he feels โ€œvictimised.โ€

I consider if this is more โ€œcross my palm with silver,โ€ than monitoring potential unsightliness or danger, and in this, ironically, if the words of Bob Marley, even through a fantastic tribute act to him, might be deemed too reactionary for the delicate situation the Conservative top-heavy county council find themselves in with a forthcoming general election and masses rising against the political ethos they stand by?

It could be; see this is an opinion piece razzled by the notion that both the hospitality and music industry is suffering enough post-lockdown, that it wouldโ€™ve been a kinder resolute for the Council to have waived it this time, with a wrap on the knuckles to say donโ€™t do it again?

However, Wiltshire Music Events promises โ€œthe show will go ahead as planned,โ€ and we will be here to sing it from the highest heights, as loud as we can, not because it appears it’s an event the authorities wish to poo-poo, rather because we need events like this in our town, we want to celebrate events like this coming to our town, and we want to thank all those promoters for sifting through the bureaucratic piffle in order to host them. Plus, Iโ€™ve seen the Marley Experience, and support act Illingworth, and Iโ€™ll let you know now, if you come along youโ€™re in for an unforgettable night of entertainment!

If you have any prominent position in and around Devizes, and would let them display their poster, Eddie states, โ€œperhaps  we can come to some arrangement with a couple of free tickets for this event!โ€ Do get in touch with us, and weโ€™ll gladly pass the message on, or comment in our social media shares of this article, thanks. ๏ฟผ

So, three cheers to Wiltshire Council for giving us an excuse to promote this event again, with a disconcert and quite frankly unjustified angle! As Bob said himself, โ€œwhy’s this fussing and a-fighting? We should really love each other, in peace and harmony, instead, we’re fussing and fighting, and them workin’ iniquity.โ€

I hope to see you on April 13th at the Corn Exchange, Devizes; please do what you can to support live music in our town, share and invite your friends to events, that is the way to get word out.

Tickets HERE.

Trending……

Pride Where Pride is Needed

Pride month finds me wondering if Pride events are actually needed more in our smaller market towns where awareness and acceptance is perhaps lesser thanโ€ฆ

After Ruby, Barrelhouse and RowdeFest 26

Images by Jess Worrow A busy late spring weekend across the county, with major events from Bradford-on-Avon to Swindon, but I’m bringing quality acts Iโ€ฆ

Let’s Clean up Devizes!

You’ve got to love our CUDS, the Clean up Devizes Squad, hardworking volunteers who make the town look tidy and presentable. Here’s your chance to show your gratitude and help out tooโ€ฆ..

In line with Keep Britain Tidy’s Annual GB Spring Clean Campaign, Be a LitterHero, the CUDS have their own  Devizes Town Litter Pick on Saturday 16th March from 10:30-12:30, meeting on the Green.

At last year’s annual litter pick they pledged to fill fifty black bags of litter (3750 litres) but managed seventy-five bags, that’s an amazing 5,625 litres of rubbish off our streets! Well done all.

Given this, 2024 they’re upping their game, pledging seventy-five bags to be filled. With the support of Devizes Town Council all the collected litter will be sent off for recycling.

The litter pick is open to all, and the CUDS would like as many people as possible to help them out. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, parents, grandparents, nephews, nieces, etc. Equipment, bags, and all you need will be provided; all you have to bring is yourself!

There is a Facebook group you can join to find out more, HERE.

Trending……

Chatting with Ruby Darbyshire

There’s the story of one newfound fan who, after her performance, asked Ruby how many copies of her CDs she had, bought the lot andโ€ฆ

Shindig Festival Goes Ahead, with Bob Vylan

After months of speculation, controversy, and local media bias, The Shindig Festival at Malmesbury’s Charton Park has been given the green lightโ€ฆ.. Despite Newsquest floggingโ€ฆ

Wife Cooks Husband in Devizes!

A wife cooked her husband on Thursday evening in Devizes. I watched the whole thing unfold, but would have politely passed off any offering ofโ€ฆ

New Devizes Mayor; Congratulations, Vanessa!

Three short years ago, we first spoke with Vanessa Tanner, campaigning in the Devizes Town Council by-election for Devizes East. In those few minutes, Iโ€ฆ

Should Wiltshire Council Fly the Pride Flag?

Wiltshire Council will discuss granting itself permission to fly the Pride Progress flag outside County Hall and other Wiltshire Council offices during Pride Month. Theโ€ฆ

Ashes of Memory; New Single From M3G

The fifth single coming out from Chippenham singer-songwriter M3g on Friday, Ashes of Memory, and if Iโ€™ve said in the past what separates Meg from the average singer-songwriter is her stark individuality, this one stands out as the perfect paragonโ€ฆ.

Thereโ€™s a choric aura in the undertones of this acoustic dream, evocatively expressed as ever, but perhaps more ambient and succinct than any of Megโ€™s previous winsome outpourings. Itโ€™s rich with poignant and lucid definition, hope in turning a metaphorical new page in her life, and the sorrowful trajectory which succeeds fades into tears, literally.

Itโ€™s one of those three-minute marvels that leaves you breathless and in a dilemma of quite what to do now itโ€™s over. Meg played many local festivals, and has supported the likes of Gaz Brookfield and Amelia Coburn; any musician following her better pray she doesnโ€™t finish on this one!ย 

Find her Spotify page below, follow, or at least return here on Friday to hear it and judge for yourself, I think it’s a beauty!

Trending…..

M3G, De-Anchored

At the end of last year Chippenham singer-songwriter M3G released the single Rooks. I felt it set her bar at a whole new higher level.โ€ฆ

Ready for RowdeFest?

Not long now, for Rowdefest! Which, as the name suggests, is in Rowde, near Devizes, on Saturday 30th May, and is a free, community spiritedโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 28th February- 5th March 2024

Come on spring! Oh well, hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, thereโ€™s lots to get throughโ€ฆ.

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโ€™s jump right into the weekโ€ฆ.

Find a podcast of everything listed, sprinkled with some great local music below. Itโ€™s only a half hour long, trial thing, see how it goes, give it a listen, let me know what you think, especially if youโ€™re the kind of person who cannot be bothered to read this! Music comes from Ruby Darbyshire, Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army, Fly Yeti Fly, Ruzz Guitar with Peter Gage, and the Birdsmens.

Wednesday 6th

Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.

Eldermirth, the elderly daytime comedy show at The Neeld,Chippenham.

Cantaloop at The Bell, Bath.

Swindon Old Town Comedy Club at The Hop Inn with: Alex Kitson. Ross Noble at the Wyvern, Swindon. The Western Players โ€“ Outside Edge at Swindon Arts Centre, running until 9th March.

Thursday 7th

Editor’s Pick of the Week; Jon Amor Trio Special with Ian Siegal at The Southgate, Devizes. Rum & Records at the Muck & Dunder.

PSG Choirs free taster session at King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.

Junkyard Dogs at The Old Bell, Warminster.

Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army at The Beehive, Swindon. Mark Harrison at The Tuppenny. Taylormania at the Wyvern.

North Sea Gas at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Mobius Loop at 23 Bath Street, Frome. Sam Sweeney Band at The Tree House. Paul McKenna: Success For Life at the Cheese & Grain.

Friday 8th

Devizes Ghost Walk: with John Girvan. Cobalt Fire at The Southgate, Devizes. Palooza house night at The Exchange.

Seend Village Get Together at Seend Community Hall.

Frankisoul at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Syncopation Station.

Take the Stage at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Rewind to the 90โ€™s โ€“ Kevin and Perry lookโ€“alikes at Venom Nightclub, Westbury.

Brasher, Eat Your Own Head, & Bad News First at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Junkyard Dogs at The Boathouse.

Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra at Chapel Arts, Bath. The Living Room, Jim Godfrey at the Grapes.

Shepherds Pie at The Vic, Swindon. At-It at The Queenโ€™s Tap. Showaddywaddy at the Wyvern.

Saturday 9th

Wiltshire Climate Alliance’s Green Open Homes event opens and runs until 17th March. It is an opportunity to ask a local resident about an energy saving improvement that theyโ€™ve made, and see if it might work for you. On an event day, people who have made energy saving improvements open up their homes to share their experiences.

Matt & Tom at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Southgate. Matchbox Mutiny at the Moonrakers.

Fly Yeti Fly at Keevil Folk Club.

Pancho & Bear at Woodbrough Social Club.

Static Moves at the Lamb, Marlborough.

Scott Doonican at the Pump, Trowbridge. Martyโ€™s Fake Family at The Greyhound. 

Back to the 80s party night at Spencerโ€™s Club, Melksham. Twice Bitten at The Pilot. 

Phantom Lymb at The Talbot, Calne.

North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra at St Andrewโ€™s in Chippenham. Abba Sensations at the Neeld, Chippenham.

The Saga Louts at the Swiss Chalet, Swindon. Ghost UK with Phantom Droid at The Vic. 

Black Rose at The Woodlandโ€™s Edge. Dear Zoo at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Full Tone Orchestraโ€™s The Queen Symphony at Bath Abbey. Mumma Quiche and LC Hammered at The Bell, Bath.

Baskery at the Tree House, Frome. Mad Dog Mcrea at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 10th- Motherโ€™s Day – donโ€™t forget!!

Kate at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

The Worried Men at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Motherโ€™s Day Jazz concert feat. trumpeter Laura Jurd & WYJO at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Joli Blon at The Bell, Bath

RPA Level Up Present โ€˜Actually I Canโ€™ at Swindon Arts Centre. Dear Zoo at the Wyvern, Swindon

Monday 11th

Chippenham Film Club March feature.

Escher Steps at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 12th

Dom Franks Quartet at Jazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon.

The Spoonful at The Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week, and please listen to the podcast, itโ€™ll be fun, pinky promise!

Our Shellyโ€™s on the Wheels of Steel at the Muck!

Every first Thursday of the month Muck & Dunder owner Shelly Field plans to get behind the wheels of steel and bring us some funky, laid-back, groovy, toe-tapping, head-bopping vibes, starting with this Thursday, 7th March!

From 7 until 9pm, The Muck & Dunder rum bar in Devizes invites you to join them for rum and records, and even bring some vinyl records for Shelly to spin, but you need to sign up on the night with a max of 3 tracks per person. โ€œThink all genres,โ€ theyโ€™ll say theyโ€™ll consider, โ€œbut we donโ€™t want any face-melters or offensive stuffโ€ฆyou get the gist!โ€

Trending…..

Time to Be Thinking About CrownFest 2026

Not just a pretty spiral church, there’s plenty for Bishop’s Cannings to be proud about. Evidence with the personal touch recently defeated a brazen landgrab,โ€ฆ

Vinyl Realm Settles Into New Home

A median haul of vinyl can weigh in, but thereโ€™s no longer a trek down Northgate Street for record collectors and musicians alike. Vinyl Realmโ€ฆ

Radium on Liddington Hill

Swindon-based adrenaline pumping five-piece Liddington Hill released their first EP for three years, and Radium is highly radioactiveโ€ฆ.. For most on the North Wessex Downs,โ€ฆ

Never Changing the Rules With Atari Pilot

Swindonโ€™s sonic indie popsters Atari Pilot are a prolific bunch, and have a new single out called The Rules Never Changeโ€ฆ.

And, they donโ€™t. Thereโ€™s a definite uniformed methodology to Atari Pilot which builds with each new single. Yearning vocals, never without a repetitive chorus to hook you, neatly packaged in retrospective new wave electronica. It may not be as commercially viable as, say, Talk in Code, but itโ€™s irresistibly beguiling and universal to be pop you need to hear. 

Love it! I donโ€™t want these rules to change!

LinkTree

Trending……

Keeping Secrets; New Single from Life in Mono

I do believe I got a taste of this new single when I saw Bristolโ€™s premier symphonic grunge collective, Life in Mono at Bradford Roots, and was held spellboundโ€ฆ..

And Iโ€™m not usually in for Seattle Sound, but Life in Mono are the kind of layer-building specialists who could turn Bjรถrn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid into ripped jeans and flannel shirt-wearing grunge kid crowd surfers! In an Evanescence fashion theyโ€™ll take three minutes to build the ambience then bring the guitars crashing, and the result is sublimely encapsulating.

Filled to the brim with brooding noir drama and sensually immersive grunge, the secret is out, Life in Mono is gorgeously intertwined enchantment, and this is one finely-produced tune which expands to fill the room, as choranaptyxic as the Occamy, for want of a less Pottermaniac analogy!ย 

LinkTree

Trending…..

Serenโ€™s New Single; Worm

Thereโ€™s a cold remote ambience of burrowing doubt in the opening of Westburyโ€™s singer-songwriter Serenโ€™s debut song, in which, as the title suggests, she usesโ€ฆ

The date is set for Imberbus 2026 !

We are pleased to start 2026 by announcing that this year, we are planning to run the Imberbus service on Saturday 15th August 2026 whenโ€ฆ

Don’t Click on Illegal Rave Rage-Bait!

The biggest risk for any media reporting negatively on illegal raves is that, in their youth, their fifty-plus target audience probably attended illegal raves themselves!โ€ฆ

The Makers Exchange; DOCA Call to the Creative

Thimbles on standby, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts are calling all creative craftspeople and makers to their new project, The Makers Exchange. Itโ€™s a new craftโ€ฆ

Harmony Asia Can Do This

Itโ€™s a question Iโ€™ve asked Chippenham singer-songwriter Harmony Asia on each rare occasion I catch her for a chat; if sheโ€™s planning to capture aโ€ฆ

Swindon Palestine Protest at Labour Party Fundraiser

Members of Swindon Palestine Solidarity made themselves heard at the Labour Party fundraising dinner, where Jess Phillips MP was the guest of honour, protesting at the stance taken by the party on the ongoing slaughter in Gaza.….

Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted that Labour should be ashamed of themselves for not standing up against the genocide in Gaza.

Rob Gray said, “itโ€™s unbelievable that the Labour Party who are supposed to be in opposition, have colluded with the Conservatives to thwart a ceasefire in Gaza. Over 30,000 people have been killed by the state of Israel, over 10,000 children. People are dying of starvation in Gaza and our local Labour Party are gorging a three course meal at ยฃ35 a head. What on earth are they thinking? We urge people to join our local marches and the national marches in London when they can. This is truly a matter of life or death for our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”

A couple of people entering the event stopped to talk with the protesters with varying views on the situation in Gaza. Some conversations became very heated.

Swindon Palestine Solidarity states they will continue to protest until there is a permanent ceasefire and Palestine is free from occupation.

Trending……

How it Feels for a Bluebeard!

The first time I heard the name Bluebeard and the Desperate Hours, I presumed their sound might be folk or blues inspired. Judging aโ€ฆ

Extended Lineup for CrownFest

It was back in October when we revealed CrownFest at The Crown in Bishopโ€™s Cannings was returning this summer, and January when we lastโ€ฆ

REVIEW โ€“ Cinelli Brothers ย @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Friday 1st March 2024

Two Great Bands

Andy Fawthrop

This is getting to be a regular thing now.ย  Ian Hopkins puts on a band that Iโ€™ve never heard of, so I trust him and buy a ticket.ย  Then I wander up the hill to the Con Club and find myself in a room thatโ€™s already packed to the rafters, with queues at both bars.ย  Then I have a great night out, and I write a review about what a great band Iโ€™ve just seen.ย  Too good to be true?ย  Nope โ€“ it just seems to work every time, and Iโ€™m not complaining!

Only slight difference this time was that I got two great bands for the price of one.  Support acts come and go, some are good and some are less so.  But last night was one of those really good nights where the support act were really excellent.  You can tell theyโ€™re pretty good and getting through to folks when the idle chatter at the back of the room slowly subsides, and people really start listening.

And so it was last night with first-timers at the club Sons of the Delta.ย  Consisting of Mark Cole ย (vocals, harmonica, guitar and mandolin) and Rick Edwards (guitar & vocals), these guys delivered some real no-nonsense stuff โ€“ a great blend of electric and acoustic blues, featuring both traditional blues plus some originals. ย They were chatty, stripped back, relaxed and completely on top of their performance.ย  It was mostly harmonica-driven, backed by gravelly vocals.ย  Their set seemed all too short and, as Ian said at the end over the enthusiastic applause, hereโ€™s hoping that we get to see these guys again.

And after our starters, we were onto main course and pudding โ€“ two sets from the US-based Cinelli Brothers.ย  The band is a project born out of a common passion for the electric Chicago and Texas blues from the 60s and 70s.ย  Brothers Marco (guitarist and lead singer) and Alessandro (drummer) decided to form an explosive team showcasing original repertoire in the style of Chess, Stax and Motown.ย  Last night on stage they were joined by Tom Julian-Jones on harmonica, guitar and vocals, and by Stephen Giry on bass, guitar and vocals.

This band won the UK Blues Challenge in September 2022, and were ranked number 2 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis USA in January 2023, so they arrived with plenty of pedigree.  And their latest album is only a couple of months out of the packaging, so obviously there was plenty of material from that source.

There was lots of cool, down-tempo, laid-back stuff –  I particularly liked โ€œLast Cigaretteโ€, which they described as their โ€œbig fuck-up songโ€, and โ€œFoolsโ€™ Paradiseโ€.  There was some blues, there was some funk, and there was some Motown.  Most of all though, there was a damn good show, featuring near on two hours of superb musicianship.  The stage banter, and inter-song rapport with the audience, were both good.  They were commanding, they were engaging and, most importantly, they were utterly entertaining.  Full marks from me.

If you get chance to see these guys in the future โ€“ donโ€™t hesitate.  Definitely recommended!

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Friday 5th April 2024                                       Ben Poole Band

Saturday 4th May 2024                                  Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse

Saturday 18th May 2024                               The Dirt Road Band

Saturday 22nd June 2024                              KOSSOFF The Band Plays On

Thursday 10th October 2024 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Heavy Drunk, Watermelon Slim & Leonardo GuilianiFriday

Friday 18th October 2024ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Wishbone Ash (Corn Exchange)

Saturday 9th November 2024                     Ian Siegal Band

Saturday 16th November 2024                   John Otway & The Big Band

Trending…..

Chandra Likely To Go Boom!

Buzzwords, like โ€œturbo,โ€ or โ€œsonicโ€ are cliche, overused trends which gain popularity because they sound impressive, even if they are empty of meaning. I avoidโ€ฆ

Only The Brave Burn The Midnight Oil

Hurrah, at last! Only The Brave is the debut song from Burn The Midnight Oilโ€™s revised lineup; something Iโ€™ve been anticipating since watching them rehearseโ€ฆ