A heaving heavenly hive last night for the inaugural outing of Jim Blair and the Mojo Makersโฆ.
Right out of the gate, the set rock n rolling at full pelt, the pub was packed, an awful lot of people for whom, judging by the love being shown, wouldnโt dream to be anywhere else.
I would of thought to accuse JB of being an old romantic, but he paraphrased it himself.. โmost of my songs are about, love, drinking, or the missus..โ
Real, relatable songs for the masses then!
Jimโs song break banter, often joking and self-deprecating, canโt disguise the brilliance in writing that allows him to talk about the solid basis of the blues matter, but in a way that leaves you having to truly listen to uncover the fact he sometimes talks about lifeโs serious sideโฆ
Take Too Late for Heaven. It mentions in passing itโs about depression and lifeโs turbulence, but the song holds the beautiful lyric โwe have each other, when we canโt see the wood for the trees.โ
Proof heโs Swindonโs soft-centred legend of rousing rock.
Not forgetting the band, an amazing band, as I would expect following a long time appreciation of Jimโs previous band Hip Route, a band of superb quality, and unique style.
The bandโs sound was tight, I may not be familiar with these musicians but heโs found himself a suitably superb collective to form this band, and they will in my view find a wider fanatical following very rapidly wherever they play.
A Cover of Power of Love to finish with the band โpossibly the best love song ever writtenโ says our hero in flaresโฆ well I myself was suddenly dreaming of Walkmans and skateboards, despite only being five I think when it was written!?!
And the pub by then was bouncing.
The impression is set already I imagine but if there is any doubtโฆ fun. Literally, smiling cannot shift the fun.
An amazing band, all of them with an infectious desire to enjoy themselves and have a good time. Brilliant musicians.
I have eagerly awaited this gig. I make no secret, but I think for me to say it was everything I was excited for and moreโฆ
Which for those in the know, or knowing me would appreciate is a glowing recommendation to go see them.
Jimโs no rookie on socials, so go seek them out; sure, there will be some hazy summer evening gigs coming up perfect to get into your new favourite band.
In this town youโre owned.. Well, I was, for a short set in the sun at the superb Sound Knowledge in Marlborough this weekendโฆ.
Not for the first time we were treated to a store pa in the shire by Robert Vincent; some knowing and some new faces to see him this time. Songs about leaving the world better off, errant politicians who fail to hold our world together, life, love and more. Whatever you consider his genre, which might depend on which song you are listening to, this short set was a treat.
Widely regarded as Americana, indeed my live introduction at his last appearance here was, with long standing friend of his, Matt Owens, promoting Bathโs Americana Festival. The new record continues a tradition of welcoming tunes that will soon be familiar to me, as the last record is, owing to its regular place in the soundtrack to my life. Largely positive if reflective songs that can be enjoyed regularly.
His Last record came out during Covid, so he couldnโt tour it. Gladly this record came out last week and his joking about aliens coming down or what other widespread drama must come along with another album release, appear to be unfounded concerns!
We were treated to a mixed set with some old favourites, and he played the wonderful demons from his first solo record last. So if the Americana vibe is your thing check him out, they have copies of his records at Sound Knowledge.
I love this kind of music so I was back Sunday for my second fix, as this weekend was an extra special double header on store pa with the fantastic Ryan Davis nextโฆ
Second of the weekendโฆRyan Davis
Sunday’s treat was Ryan Davis, on the closing days of a Uk/eu tour. Like a poet who channels the American songwriting tradition, but with a twist, an almost otherworldly aura at times from some looping and effects, used to great effect without being over the top.
Looking into the Louisville based Davis, heโs been in several well regarded bands back home, is a big part of his scene with festival and label responsibilities, but less known this side of the pond. With the variety and popularity of Americana in the Uk, this real deal slice of American music will find legs, a distinct voice, great lyrics and even his own artwork on the coverโฆ No wonder he found himself making an appearance at our own local indie record store.
So, Thank you to the wonderful artists for making a beeline for an indie record store, and thank you to Sound Knowledge for making these things happen, offering us these bonus mini-gigs, the opportunity to get our new records and CDs signed, and supporting quality musicians and artists across genres.
I am a big fan who needs to go more, the welcome, and knowledge and especially at these pa events, an amazing connection with new music, and old favourites.
Iโve got a pretty good list and pile of records, music that Sound Knowledge has brought into my life. Thankyou Roger and his amazing team. Until the next timeโฆ
Upcoming InStore events at Sound Knowledge, Marlborough
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunesโฆ
Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season with BBC Big Band, Ute Lemper, Sir Willard White and comedians Chris Addison and Alistair McGowan revealing theirโฆ
Daphneโs Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in theโฆ
Part 1: An Introduction March 1936: newlywed French telecommunications engineer Pierre Schaeffer relocates to Paris from Strasbourg and finds work in radio broadcasting. He embarksโฆ
Yesterday Wiltshire Council published an โupdateโ on the lane closure on Northgate Street in Devizes as the fire which caused it reaches its first anniversary.โฆ
Join the St Johnโs Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th Decemberโฆ
This afternoon I find myself contemplating what the future holds for historical discovery and learning for all ages, fun and educational exhibits and events inโฆ
Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlboroughโs singer-songwriter Gus Whiteโs debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and itโs moreโฆ
July is around the corner, the sun has his hat on, hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
And note we have well over quadruple the amount of events listed than the new and rather expensive looking official council events website for this weekend, and ours has cost you, the taxpayer, only your time in reading this and supporting us. The very idea for it was, coincidentally, put forward by a councillor with a personal grudge on me for some unknown reason. The only reason I could guess why the council does not support us is because we will bring you events which may be unwelcomed by them, such as protests and rallies. All rather silly really, as it is rare for our area to have such happenings anyway, go figure!
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated, so check in later in the week.
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
Wednesday 26th
Devizes Books Presents: A tribute to Brigid Harpham, at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at The Southgate.
Melksham General Election Husting at Spencer Sports & Social Club.
Open Mic at Stallards, Trowbridge.
Richard Herringโs Can I Have My Ball Back? at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Ria Linaโs Riawakening at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Helele at the Bell, Bath.
And of course, Glastonbury opens its gates for all you lucky, lucky people!
Thursday 27th
Wharf Writersโ Group perform Whereโs The Cat live at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. Preview Here.
Open Mic at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.
Sayers & After Knights at The Tuppenny, Swindon.
M4F June Open Mic and Jamming Session at The Rude Giant, Salisbury.
London Calling at The Tree House, Frome.
Friday 28th
Liam Merrigan Band, John E Wright & Josh Oldfield at the Cellar Bar, Bear Hotel, Devizes.
Chippenham Food & Drink Festival begins.
Mother Vulture at the Pump, Trowbridge, with NervEndings and Worlds Best Dad. The Soul Strutters at the Civic.
Dr John Cooper Clarke with special guests at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Lone Sharks and Head Noise at The Three Horseshoes. El Toro at The Boathouse. The Karport Collective at the Seven Stars, Winsley.
Avalon Comedy Network: Aurie Styla, Caitlin Powell, Kieran James Boyd & Dom Hatton-Woods at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Kerrangโd at the Vic, Swindon.
Rock the Totsโ Jungle at Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Saturday 29th
Editorโs Pick of the Week is rather obvious, itโs MantonFest near Marlborough, a wonderful little festival, so kind they let me choose an act to play this year, which is Chippenham folk singer-songwriter M3G. Grab your tickets and I might see you there.
Devizes Pride at Hillworth Park, second Devizes Pride in the park all day. Crammer Watch 2024 Launch Event, at the Crammer, Devizes. Plan of Action at The Three Crowns. The Worried Men at The Southgate.
Poulshot Village Fete. BBQ with the Mangled Wurzels at Erlestoke Golf Club.
The Vox Beatles at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Calne Summer Carnival. 41 Fords at The Talbot, Calne.
The Stories at the Three Crowns, Chippenham. Brave Rival & Sloetrain at the Pewsham. Living Spit: Adolf & Winston at the Neeld.
The Junkyard Dogs launch their new album at The Pump, Trowbridge; (need a review of the album, guys, let me know?)
Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Ragged Union at The Three Horseshoes.The Hot Juice Project at The Boathouse.
Matthew and the Atlas at Pound Arts, Corsham.
REME Museum Extravaganza in Lynham.
Italia Conti at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Tony Scothern at the Packhorse, Larkhill.
The Hengehogs at the Kings, Amesbury.
Dave Howell at the George & Dragon, Salisbury.
Don Giovanni at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Sunday 30th
Seend Fawlty Players presents Thatโs Life at the Seend Community Centre.
Sunflower Events Summer Craft Fair at The Corn Exchange, Devizes. Wilts V-Dub Club Meet at Devizes Market Place. Mr Griff at The Southgate (?)
Open Mic at The Barge, Honeystreet. Music on a Sunday Afternoon with the Little Big Band at St Johns, Pewsey.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
June Open Mic at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
The James Oliver Band at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Coyote Country Band at The Boathouse.
Schtumm presents Sebastain & Me and Kotonic at The Queenโs Head, Box.
Peter & The Wolves at the Bell, Bath.
Open Mic at the Boot Inn, Tisbury.
Everybody Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. The Vipers at the Vic.
Monday 1st July
Lawrence Art Society: Live Art Demonstration, Sketching for Summer at Devizes Conservative Club.
Tuesday 2nd
Open Mic at The Royal Oak, Bath.
Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, 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? Itโs not that we donโt like you, itโs 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 Iโve added it and let me know if not!
Having to unfortunately miss Devizesโ blues extravaganza on Friday, I crossed the borderline on Saturday to get my prescribed dosage of Talk in Codeโฆwith aโฆ
No, I didnโt imagine for a second they would, but upcoming Take the Stage winners, alt-rock emo four-piece, Butane Skies have released their second song,โฆ
Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Ladeโs latest offering of soulful pop. Itโs timelessly cool andโฆ
Words by Ollie MacKenzie. Featured Image by Barbora Mrazkova.ย The creative process can be a winding, long, and often confusing journey. Seeing a project comeโฆ
Whoโs ready for walking in the winter wonderland?! Devizes sets to magically transform into a winter wonderland this Friday when The Winter Festival and Lanternโฆ
One part of Swindon was in perfect harmony last night, and I donโt mean the traffic circumnavigating the Magic Roundabout. Rather The Lost Trades wereโฆ
Being our reporter Flo was unfortunately unable to attend the Devizes Youth Action Group’s second sell-out gig on Friday, I sought to catch up with stars of that show, Steatopygous, who were supporting at The Pump on Saturday tooโฆ
Three birds, one stone. The Pumpโs overdue another praising plug from us, being such the absolutely fantastic venue we’re smitten about. A chance to finally hear Steatopygous for myself, a band Flo’s been raving about, is a second reason to be here tonight. Third is to tick Swindon’s I See Orange off my must-see list; jobs done within an exuberant night, ears still ringing this morning!
You realise the Spanish understandably keep all the best oranges for themselves and send us the tasteless non-perishable ones, right? Try oranges there and they’re the tastiest ever. Well, this is one of those which evidently slipped through the net. Their name pops up as if set in my algorithms, I See Orange at the Vic, at Minety, and so on; now I’ve seen I See Orange, effectively I saw Orange, past tense, but I would see I See Orange again, if this makes any sense?!
Nestled between two Swindon drummer and bassist grunge lads, a strikingly attractive Latino girl confidently thrashes out stylised and euphoric originals in a manner sublimely nodding at punk’s heyday, fused with a thousand post-punk influences. It’s loud, proud, it’s imagining The Sugarcubes played Nirvana style, the Smalltown Tigers aimed a smidgen more metal, but it certainly doesn’t hang around for you to pigeonhole it!
Three minute heroes is their punk traditional ethos, with doll symbolism, a bubble machine and a penchant for bending backwards whilst maintaining remarkable handling of her lead guitar. It was showy, tight and, dammit, I never knew grunge could be so sassy and alluring! I See Orange are ones to watch, lively, original, producing some electric shock recordings and their debut show at The Pump fitted like a glove; I was suitably wowed by their presence and dynamic sound.
Such is it that while most celebrated venues seek the big names past or present, The Pump strives to showcase the next big names, especially when promoted by Sheer. Though my attendances past tend to be established local greats, the smooth folk of The Lost Trades, of Will Lawton, or chap hop Professor Elemental, it was tonight I witnessed the legendary Pump, literally pumping out it’s full potential with the names the youth there will boast to future grandchildren they saw them in their prime. That’s the spirit of this once folk club now small axe, and it stamps Trowbridge on the live music map of the UK with unrivalled gusto.
We’ve passed a short lived era of doubt, when Wadworth flagship the Lamb, which contains The Pump, changed hands. Pleased to hear of a fairytale ending where the new owners welcome its addition and also hosts conventional music nights of its own, largely open mics; phew!
Indeed there’s an air of greater potential at the venue, despite already punching above its weight. Any musician should consider a gig there as a benchmark to their achievement. I know Devizes-own Steatopygous have been building to this point, working hard, and now, since Sheer promoter Kieran asked me for their contact details, and staged them under the Future Sound of Trowbridge banner, here they are again, thrown off any potentially patronisingly and perhaps amateurish connotations of “youth” or “teen band,” they’re here with their own pride and right, and largest fanbase tonight.
Steatopygous are a trio to repel stereotypically passรฉ half-centenarians, who’d likely label them “witches,” being Fishy Rishi and his gang has receded us to medieval, yet it’s precisely these redeeming qualities I salute them for; I’m weird like that, historically! It’s punk in quintessence, and if you’re not offending someone you’re not doing it properly.
Riot grrrl is not only musical subgenre though, more counterculture tenet, an expression of feminist anarchy exposed equally via poetry, political standing and DIY zine culture as well as music, and it was through illustrating those punk-paste zines of the nineties I became aware of the movement and bands like Bikini Kill, encompassing it. Ode to my days of blim-holed Letraset, Pritt-Stick, and stapling your finger to photocopied pages for a return of 10p!
It deals with the anger and frustration of inequality. While considered socially acceptable for male musicians of past eras to express enraged emotions, the suppression of women to do likewise is riot grrrl’s angle, and Steatopygous embody this superbly. Such as it is, after they’ve screamed the house down, all is vented, so a chat with them was hospitable, intelligent, and involved subjects like completing their exams and future hopes.
On stage though, they’re a force, hammering out originals with thoughtful prose and screeching emotion, you cannot prevent them embedding their prose into your soul if you wanted them there, or not! On subjects keyed to the movement, yet contemporary, they shine. A cry to Israeli occupation of Gaza, for example, but their personal favourite shaming laddish behaviour, a quick blast called Little Boy.
If Nothing Rhymes With Orange set a high bar for current Devizes bands, Steatopygous will nuzzle underneath it and come up trumps via their own methods. I hope they don’t change this energy to be commercially viable, as it was a unique fuzzbox frenzied experience to savour and the young audience lapped it up.
Between these two divine outbursts saw perhaps a more archetype nod to punk roots. Hayden Lloyd as a Midlands trio provided a wonderfully delivered moment of sanity for elders present, blessed in the mod blues reminiscent of Paul Weller at his edgiest, and polishing his set with an astute cover of Hendrix’s Foxy Lady; deffo not riot grrrl! His was heaped in retrospection, of The Who and the progressive advances which got us to this stage, and it was done exceptionally well.
Another triple header night of excellent original music from the pride of Trowbridge, worthy of the short journey. The Pump is where it’s at, The Pump showcases what others wouldn’t dare to, and such is the other’s downfall. I saw Orange, that would’ve been enough to warrant an awesome night’s entertainment, Haydon and Steatopygous were bonus balls we’ll see headlining in future I donโt doubt for a second, both their performances last night surely sealed such a deal.
When Flo reported on the first Devizes Youth gig, she thought to interview Steatopygous, you can read it here, whereas I popped out for a damn tasty chicken burger from the stall down the street; it’s my reward for telling local live music aficionados The Pump is your pilgrimage!
Raging expressions of angered feminist teenage anguish this month, perfectly delivered by Steatopygous via their mindblowing debut album Songs of Salome, I hail asโฆ
Itโs nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisburyโs Radio Odstock ย picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oilโฆ
Alas, it’s been a long week since the Devizes Arts Festival called time. It feels a little like when my Dad would take the Christmas decorations down; sure, the lava lamp and toilet roll dolly remained but somehow the rest of the house looked bare and sparse!
Another great year for the annual festival which again saw Devizes sprinkled with a variety of events and the coming, and going of talented outsiders. There’s a feedback form the committee would care for you to helpfully fill, HERE, meanwhile I will reflect on the festival as a whole, after some great reports from myself and our esteemed writers, of which you can click on the titles of to read the full review; awesome what we can do nowadays, isnโt it?!
Far more organised than previous years, at least, we drew a rota we rarely referred back to! I led our team out to battle by covering the opening Friday night’s pirate shenanigans, and topped it off with Saturday’s arrival of Lady Nade, undoubtedly my favourite. Thereafter our roving reporter of insurmountable knowledge and something apparently called basic grammar, Andy Fawthrop would pip me to the post with a non-stop barrage of reviews. He was steadfast at the venues, I was wavering, and Ian, well, Ian was a Slambovian Circus of Dreams. After a gate technical blunder it was great to also have the one and only John Winterton of the Wharf Theatre contribute his professional thoughts on one wharfside gig.
Thanks to everyone for the teamwork. If Andy won on quantity, I excuse myself by reminding people Iโve work commitments while most are tucked up in bed snoring the theme tune to CHIPS. I could argue if there was one negative piece of feedback, it would be that more events at the festival could be organised over weekends, extending the festival perhaps, but rewarding the organisers a well-earned midweek break. Yet, Devizes Arts Festival is not to blame for the extremist early hours of my real labour, so I guess this is a self-inflicted matter; if only I was a popstar instead!
The only other niggly I suspect will come up through feedback is price, it is a sign of the times Iโm afraid. A mountain of work and money goes into this and any other event, something I think people take a smidgen for granted. Weโve seen the demise of events and venues alike over the last few years, and it comes down to undercutting themselves at their box office. Itโs such a shame, and all we can really do is convince people what is worthy of your hard-earned cash, and what is not. Despite a massively erroneous preconception Devizes Arts Festival is akin to a Saga holiday in some form or fashion, I can assure you it is most definitely not, it is a very worthy event, and needs you younglings to support it. Ticket sales this year varied between events, some sold out unexpectedly, others which the committee assumed would be winners suffered slightly; it is not an exact science, this is why your feedback is crucial.
Donโt forget the festival also hosts many free fringe events across town during the period. These are always well attended, hence surmising a fair ticket price is always a benefit to any event. At all fringe events I pause for thought like a vicar on Radio 2, to acknowledge these free gigs is to only partially immerse yourself in Devizes Arts Festival, and you should consider if you enjoyed them, how much more amazing the paid events are, and treat yourself accordingly.
Friday 31st May the shebang pounded off the starting block in a lively punk-pirate fashion. Of Jolly Roger I said it was, โloud and sprightly unpretentious punkish tomfoolery with a pirate theme, yet, at times there was concentrated and thought-provoking narratives in their original material too. Euphoric tunes such as the most poignant Silent Mountain temporarily broke the frenzy, whereas characters like a bloke who props up the bar, conveyed this is a three sheets to the wind partying band to be taken tongue-in-cheek, but, dressed as pirates kinda gave that game away!โ among other things. It was a fiery marine-themed start to the landlocked festival.
Yet I was holding out all expectations for Saturday with Lady Nade, and it did not disappoint. It was my personal favourite and what a way to begin June. I deemed it mesmerising, hailing it, โa breath-taking performance, only Nina Simone between Simon & Garfunkel couldโve equalised.โย ย
The first Sunday there was a festival walk; none of our writers seemed to take the walks up; maybe I should buy them some stout boots, Thermos, and pack them a cheese & pickle sandwich?! Neither Adam Alexanderโs Seed Detective that day, nor Eddy Allenโs Solo Loop Show get coverage from us, for which I apologise. But Andy clocked in on Monday, reviewing Dr. Phil Hammondโs โHow to Fix the NHS.โ which he called โa cracking nightโs entertainment โ informative, interesting, and absolutely hilarious.โ Personally, and without getting too political, I had my own interpretation for a start to fixing the NHS, and that’s to stop voting in self-serving thieving clowns.
But, I digress, because once Andy gets in gear there’s no stopping him. Tuesday he covered its first classical offering The Edward Cross Quintet, a Wiltshire based multiโinstrumentalist with a background in composition and production, โoverall,โ Andy stated, it was โtechnically enjoyable, but emotionally not very engaging.โ Well, I do ask our reviewers to provide an honest opinion, even if Iโm a suck-up!ย
Liz Grandโs Mrs Churchill we missed on Tuesday, Mike Dilgerโs One Thousand Shades of Green as well. Unfortunately we canโt be everywhere, but we try.
Likely the most interesting reviews was from the Wednesday of the first week when baffling geneticist, author and broadcaster Adam Rutherford came to town. Hereโs where Andy shines, as it would have been too intellectual for me to cast such a detailed review on. โInformative and absolutely fascinating,โ Andy called it. โAdam is no comedian, but he does have a light touch, and just like on the radio, he was able to bring science very much to life, to engage his audience, and to leave everyone a little richer in understanding.โ
Hollie McNishโs Lobster Tour sold out, but we didnโt manage to catch this one either. Andy covered probably the widest known name, comedian Lucy Porter on Thursday. I really wanted to do this one, but hey I think Andy deserved a treat. โIt was for the most part, very clean and straight-forward stuff. There was nothing that could be considered โedgyโ, there was nothing political, and there was (amazingly) no swearing,โ said Andy of it; boring!! โAs such, it probably kept most of the audience in their comfort zone for most of the time, but it was no less hilarious for all of that.โ
Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls was missed on the Friday, I did put my gumboots back on for The Cable Street Collective on the Saturday. This was awesome. โFrom the off Iโm reminded of the marabi sound of Hugh Masekela,โ I suggested, โwith the upfront brass of trumpet and saxophone. Yet you couldnโt pigeonhole this with a thousand words, itโs wholly unique. Female fronted by an energetic yogi, she somersaults the high stage projecting a mid-tone vocal range with unrivalled passion, encouraging her audience to follow the leader,โ and they did. Cable Street had the Exchange up dancing.
The end of the first week saw another Festival Walk and a free fringe event in the trusty Three Crowns, Rumour, the latter I did manage! โAmericana trio Rumour from the Black Country, pitched up in the yard with a breezy underlying familiarity to their sound. As the name suggests, covers were Fleetwood Mac top-heavy but delivered beautifully amidst a few other classics and some blended original material. Couldnโt fault them if I tried.โ Annie Parker Trio was also a fringe event, but I went home for tea and bed.
Midweek marvel, Andy was back on the scene Monday 10th June, with classical pianist Ida Pellicciolo. โThe whole performance was both intense and mesmerising, played and presented by a world-class pianist who was clearly absolutely dedicated to her work, and completely on top of her game.ย Entirely justifiably there was sustained applause at the end from a very appreciative audience, provoking not one, but two, short encores, the latter of which was an โimpromptuโ by the more modern Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865 โ 1957).โ
Again on Tuesday, Andy was on it. Belinda Kirkโs The Life-Changing Power of Adventure this time, which although โmuch against my will,โ Andy said โI was actually on the edge of my seat listening to this stuff.ย And I wasnโt alone either โ the rest of the packed audience seemed pretty enraptured too.ย Sheโs an enthusiastic, energetic and very articulate speaker.โ So, wellbeing tips, ask Andy, Iโd only recommend a sausage sandwich.
Due to a misunderstanding, when Ian Diddams arrived on the scene to cover Discovering Antarctica : Heroic tales of Shackleton, Crean and Scott at the Wharf Theatre it wasnโt to be, and so John Winterton stepped in his shoes. โAn evening well spent and testament to the hard work obviously put into the research put into the script and the characterisation of Tom, by Aidan.โย Kate Webb and Jon Stockโs The Darker Side of Wiltshire we missed.
โMartin Simpson is, in the contemporary folk world at least, the equivalent of Royalty, or a National Treasure,โ Andy said, when he came to Devizes on Wednesday, and our man on the scene summed it, in a word, as a โmasterclass.โ
Andy gave us his opinion on A Lunchtime Amuse-Bouche, withDuo Tutti on Thursday, and The Sound of Blue Note too, which he hailed โa bunch of guys who were clearly very comfortable with their material, with their arrangements, and with playing in each otherโs company.ย They sounded absolutely great, tight when they needed to be, but with that wonderful ability to fall back and give space to the many solos and improvisations,โ and requested more jazz for Devizes.
Finally they thought better of it and let Ian in! The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on Friday was something I really should have attended judging by the look of it alone. โHillbilly Pink Floydโ Ian called it, but expanded โtouches on some aspects of their music, but itโs a far wider demographic than simply that. Certainly, their show at the Corn Exchange last night included elements that certainly sounded very Pink Floyd, but psychedelia, prog, Dylan, Seeger, Tull, Led Zep all played their part weaving into and out of their songs.โ
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams @ Devizes Arts Festival 2024
No one was tempted by Huw Williamsโ Organ Recital at St Johnโs Church, or the The Poetry Slam at the Wharf which polished off the festivities. Saturday nightโs hypnotist Matt Hale was unfortunately cancelled, to which remained a marvellous afternoon in the British Lion with skiffle band The Junco Shakers. I was content, it was one of those fringe events which simply worked.
Overall, itโs been a great year for Devizes Arts Festival, with some world class acts and much enjoyment was had by all. Though as far as I know, Devizes has never had a hypnotist, and for all its uniqueness Iโd have thought this gig would be a sell-out. It is unfortunate, due to low ticket sales it was pulled. It proves perhaps an error in judgement, or could imply more advertising would have helped, I really donโt know; I was looking forward to it. Again, all I can say is we need to support arts in town, and Devizes Arts Festival is the king of this. We look forward to another year of which I urge to get onboard for; the thought of losing this gem on our calendar as weโve lost others would be too much to bear.ย
Thanks to our wonderful team for their valid input, especially our part of the furniture, Andy Fawthrop, who summed it up thus, “Another excellent festival in my opinion – well organised and publicised. The range and variety of events, and the many different venues, together with the Free Fringe, made this another good year. Thanks all those involved for all the hard work youย put in to achieve this. Hats off!”
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunesโฆ
Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season with BBC Big Band, Ute Lemper, Sir Willard White and comedians Chris Addison and Alistair McGowan revealing theirโฆ
Daphneโs Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in theโฆ
Part 1: An Introduction March 1936: newlywed French telecommunications engineer Pierre Schaeffer relocates to Paris from Strasbourg and finds work in radio broadcasting. He embarksโฆ
Yesterday Wiltshire Council published an โupdateโ on the lane closure on Northgate Street in Devizes as the fire which caused it reaches its first anniversary.โฆ
Join the St Johnโs Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th Decemberโฆ
This afternoon I find myself contemplating what the future holds for historical discovery and learning for all ages, fun and educational exhibits and events inโฆ
Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlboroughโs singer-songwriter Gus Whiteโs debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and itโs moreโฆ
Hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated, so check in later in the week.
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
Wednesday 19th
Poulshot Green Gathering, with vintage cars and side stalls from 6pm.
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Stonehenge Event at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Ad Hoc Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing at New Farm, Corsham.
The Big Jam Session at the Vic, Swindon.
Running till Saturday, Collaborators at the Rondo Theatre, Bath (reviewed HERE.) Blackberry Wood at the Bell, Bath
Thursday 20th is Summer Solstice
Open Mic at the Crown, Bishopโs Cannings.
Solstice with Alex Roberts & Joe Burke at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Iford Manor Jazz Festival opens.
Get Folked at The Music Baa, Salisbury. Line up: Gaz Brookfield, Wild Willy Barrett’s Roaring Touring, Wilswood Buoys, Aubrey Blakeledge, The Duskers, Joe Burke, and Ribble Jake Puntis.
Lost in Music โ One Night at the Disco at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. No Canon at The Tuppenny, Swindon.
Enid Blyton: Noddy, Big Ears and Lashings of Controversy at The Mission, Bath.
Friday 21st
Devizes Youth Action Group have their second gig night for under 18s at the Corn Exchange. BBC DJs Jess Iszatt, James Threlfall, and Maia Beth help the Muck & Dunder celebrate their third birthday; wishing them a happy birthday from Devizine!
Sam Evans performs a free concert at St Georgeโs Park, Melksham from 7:30pm, but I’d advise you get there as early as you can!
Black Umfolosi, a self- taught acapella singing and traditional dance group specialising in imbube music, gumboot dance and Zulu dance, are at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. 7 Crowns, Prey, & Lucky Number Seven at The Three Horseshoes.
Catherine Bohart: Again, With Feelings at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The Drifters at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Conflict Street Outlaws and Borrowed Time at the Vic, Swindon.
Oye Santana at the Tree House, Frome.
Saturday 22nd
Bromham Carnival
The Big Summer Fete at Furlong Close, Rowde.
Kossoff – The Band Plays on at Long Street Blues Club, Devizes. Chaos Brothers at The Three Crowns. The Leon Daye Band at The Southgate.
Robert Vincentโs Barriers album launch at Sound Knowledge, Marlborough. Humdinger at the Lamb.
Sarum Bikers Solstice Rally at the Woodbridge Inn, North Newnton, Pewsey. Solstice with Alex Roberts & Joe Burke at the Barge on HoneyStreet.
Holy Popes at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Charm of Finches 2024 Tour with support from Mia Kelly at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Swindon Zine Fest 2024 at the central library. Swindon Comic Con at Steam. Clinton Baptiste: Roller Ghoster! at The Wyvern Theatre. Bodies 90s&00โs rock nu-metal club night at the Vic, Swindon
Palooka 5 at the Royal Oak, Bath.
Southern Ruin at the Sun Inn, Frome.
Sunday 23rd
No Alarms No Devizes at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
The Funky MH at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Ryan Davis at the Vic, Swindon. Kentwood Choir 60th Anniversary at The Wyvern Theatre.
Joff Lowson Trio at the Bell, Bath.
Monday 24th
Ryan Davis at the Bell, Bath.
Julian Marley & The Uprising at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Tuesday 25th
Jess Vincent & Katie Whitehouse at The Piggy Bank Micropub, Calne
Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, 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? Itโs not that we donโt like you, itโs 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 Iโve added it and let me know if not!
In thanking everyone who supported this year’s Wiltshire Music Awards, Eddie Prestidge of Stone Circle Music Events revealed his intentions of continuing with the awardsโฆ
Featured Image: Lillie Eiger Frome Festival is launching itsย โ25 for 25โย fundraising campaign with a very special concert featuring three locally based acts:ย Tom Mothย โ best knownโฆ
Iโve got some gorgeous vocal harmonies currently floating into my ears, as The Lost Trades release their first single since the replacement of Tamsin Quinโฆ
Rolling out a Barrelhouse of fun, you can have blues on the run, tomorrow (7th November) when Marlborough’s finest groovy vintage blues virtuosos Barrelhouse releaseโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ben Swann and Ian Diddams Self-appointed โMoroseโ Mark Harrison was once again on totally top form at Komedia last Sunday entertainingโฆ
Wiltshire Council confirmed Blue Badge holders can park freely in council-operated car parks again, following a vote at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday 21โฆ
Featured Image Credit: Jamie Carter Special guests Lightning Seeds to Support Forest Live, Forestry Englandโs summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has announcedโฆ
Wiltshire country singer-songwriter Kirsty Clinch released a Christmas song only yesterday, raising funds for the Caenhill Countryside Centre near Devizes, and itโs already racing upโฆ
It was never just the fervent ambience created which made me go tingly with excitement about Melkshamโs young indie band Between The Linesโ demo singleโฆ
Here comes another slice of tree through my letterbox, I receive two or three per day, all from the Conservatives; I love the overkill of desperation in the morning! This time, apparently, Keir Starmer wants me to vote Lib Dem, yesterday it he wanted me to vote Reform; just what does Keir Starmer want me to do?!
The answer to this cannot be found on a publicity pamphlet from his opposition, and the audacity of the author of it to assume weโre foolish enough to think that it could is an insult to our intelligence, and one damn good reason not to vote Conservative, amidst a kazillion others. No, Iโm having a cuppa again, this time with our Labour candidate Kerry Postlewhite.
It was the chat I was most anxious about, as my belief as working class the Labour Party is the party for me, seems contradictory to modern assumption which sees our poorest voting blue, ignorant to how theyโre shafting them, and this postulation thereโs turmoil in Labour dividing them between the leftwing opinion of Corbyn and the middle-ground of Starmer. I questioned Kerry of the latter, but she denied such matter, assuring me, โI’m not sure the Labour Party is divided. I think it’s quite clear we’re all united behind Keir Starmer, our shadow cabinet and our programme for government. I’ve been a member of the Labour Party for a long time, and I think the sense of unity and the sense of purpose is strong this time because we know what the last fourteen years has meant to ordinary families, to working families, and it is our duty to unite. It isn’t about leaning into the left or right, itโs about leaning into where the British people are and the change they need right now. And I think that’s exactly where we are now.โ
Oh dear, have even I succumbed to the propaganda machine of Tory cronies?!
โI think the results that two general elections showed you, that the programme the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn was offering to ordinary working people then was not the programme they were prepared to support.โ I supposed she was right, even if I thought he was fab and groovy!!
You should note this interview took place before the hustings in Devizes, where the mighty clashed, and Noelโs camcorder flashed! Whilst I salute Noel and the organisers, I favour to chat, and get to know them on an individual basis, therefore while these transcripts are lengthy, theyโre insightful and worth persevering with should you wish to really get an in-depth angle on who youโre voting for. And thereโs the thing, Kerry instantly quashed my anxiety, and her charismatic persona made me feel I was gassing with an old friend.
We spoke casually for longer than the others because Kerry had ordered food to fuel her busy day on the campaign trail, and I waited for her to finish. She had sat downstairs for this, though I requested we move upstairs where it is quieter. Assisting her with her coat and clipboard broke the ice and stood us on an even level I only teetered on with Brian. Though he was professional till the end, and magnified the perfect host with interesting anecdotes, Kerry would do similar once we got down to business, such was skill in her demeanour to switch between expertise and friendliness. Clearly, Labour have not just posted any olโ oddball into the job, to fill a lost cause in this historically Tory haven, and Labour is far from a helpless wounded animal as the opposition may have you believe.
It was something in informal chatting afterwards which really won it for me, wondering why Kerry didnโt bring this up before. We were dismissing this delusional, tarnishing with the same brush idea Gen Z were demonic hooligans, and I mentioned my view on lowering the voting age. Kerry delighted by informing me it was in Labourโs manifesto to lower it to sixteen. While it matters nothing to me personally, being in my fifties, Iโm not such a grumpy old fart to be ignorant giving youth a say on how the country is managed is far fairer than not and sending them off for slave labour camouflaged as National Service.
In our chat with Brian last Tuesday, I said if he could win this it would be as historical as the Battle of Roundway, being the last time the Conservatives lost this seat was to a Liberal in 1923, but if Kerry wins, it would be greater in significance, being no Labour candidate has ever won here. I asked Kerry how she felt about the possibility, giving her multiple choices of extreme optimism, excitement, dread, or something else!
โI guess a mixture,โ Kerry said. โHow amazing would it be. It’s a new constituency, so itโs an opportunity for a fresh start and a new Member of Parliament. It will be an uphill fight, but we’ve been out, talking to people, and one of the things we are hearing repeatedly is people who have always voted Conservative and never done anything else here are not prepared to do it again because of everything that’s happened over the last fourteen years, the last five years in particular, I think.โ
โSo it’s up to us, I guess, to convince them they can place their trust in the Labour Party for the first time in this area, and that we are offering change in a way that is meaningful to them and their lives and their families, and it will be different from everything they’re now turning their backs on, so that is exciting. It’s also quite humbling, because we’re not in a situation where we’re able to take anything for granted. We do have to go out and really win those votes.โ
โThere was a report published yesterday, I think, which we’re talking about on the radio this morning, about general mistrust in politics. I think this is a real opportunity to win back that trust. Itโs going to be a slow process, and people are going to have to see you walk the walk, not just talking the talk. And I think for me, a lot of it is genuinely listening to people and not making assumptions that everybody who lives in the Melksham and Devizes constituency is a Conservative, or thinks in one way, or votes in one way; genuinely listening to them, meeting them where they are and hearing their stories and experiences, and connecting those to politics, policies and the way forward.โ
Kerry talked on a different approach to the current, thankfully, comparable to her ten years in the European Parliament, โwhere people with different political parties and political families, different beliefs must work together to make the best law; there isn’t an inbuilt majority, that’s the nature of the beast. You must find common ground and you have to work together to find the best solution, because it is divided by countries, languages and all sorts of different interests. I think that’s even more important here, in an area that traditionally has supported one party. It’s not about saying you’re different. We’re different. It’s about saying we find common ground and do politics differently.โ
Modernising Westminster, โmaturing it in a progressive way,โ Kerry continued onto, transforming the House of Lords, ridding it of โarchaic barriers, that literally put people on one side of the room and on the other side of the room, and chat to each other. I don’t think that’s how people want politics done. I think they want it done in a grownup mature and cooperative way; the way that we solve problems at work or in life, you know?โ
โWe work together to find solutions and I find that an exciting way of doing things. I’m excited by this, which isn’t a manifesto, this is my personal view. I’m really excited by some of the experiments which have happened with citizens assemblies, so bringing representative groups of people together in communities to find solutions to local problems and talk them out. How are we going to further the agricultural industry in our area, for example, how are we going to make sure this housing development works for us, the community, how are we going to mitigate climate change, and doing such together with representatives of the people is what excites me; a new way, I think, that fits in the never having had a Labour MP here. Itโs how we could be in different scenarios, so let’s use that different scenario to do our politics differently.โ
See? I like Kerry, surely even the most traditional locals cannot deny weโre overdue a change. I asked Kerry how she felt about the Devizes-Melksham Primary, and the strategically voting ideal they promote.
โI think maybe letโs separate the two things. The idea of the Devizes-Melksham Primary, I would always welcome active citizens who want to organise themselves, who want to get involved in local democracy and have a say over local democracy, that’s fantastic. We need more active citizens. So the concept of having an organisation like the Primary I think is laudable. When it comes to strategically voting or tactically voting, I think people must vote in the way that they think is right for them, for their families and for their communities, and that should be the deciding factor.โ
โPersonally, I think thereโs a strong case for looking at our electoral system, so people don’t have to make those decisions about what to do, So that every individual’s vote counts whatever the electoral geography. Because everything that has happened over the last fourteen years, because of the situation that this country is now in where nothing works, literally everything is broken and we have volunteers and communities like this one holding vital services together means it is a once in a generational election, and when it is a once in a generation election, you do have to vote with your head and your heart and put your cross in the box for the person and the party that you think is going to represent you best at Westminster. And play a part in shaping laws so that they work for small towns and rural communities and people here have a have a voice in shaping those laws, and, I think, that’s another reason why Westminster needs modernising. One of the things that I do professionally is work to influence laws, most recently in animal welfare, and it’s an arcane process at Westminster. It’s not transparent.โ
I likened it to the bickering brawl of a school playground. Kerry referred to the pros and cons of having โthe mother of all Parliaments,โ and told me how she volunteered in Zambia for several years, comparing their government to ours for being stuck in the past,ย exampling โthe adversarial set of the building to the chanting at prime ministers questions, to the way in which bill committees work, for example, where only a number of amendments are accepted by the speaker, the committee reflects the proportions of Parliament and it’s therefore the Minister and the bill committee and the Government of the day that decides whether an amendment is accepted or not, goes through or not, to trooping through two lobbies to decide how you vote. I think there are a lot of things that could be done to modernise Parliament to make it more accessible to the electorate, to make it more transparent and more accountable and more fit for purpose.โ
Never say never was the approach of the last Labour candidate Rachelโs hopes of winning here, and Kerry agreed. โI think the thing that really stands out in in this election in this area, is we put our faith and we have always put our faith and our families have always put their faith in the Conservative Party but that has been abused, and we cannot, and will not do that again. I think I must demonstrate that the Labour Party will deliver for areas like this one and deserve those votes. One of the problems with strategic tactical voting issue is that, for me, it almost becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. So if people do that one time, they do it the next time, the next time, and they never then have the opportunity to allow themselves to change and vote for the other.โ
Kerry was born in the North-East of England and moved to Trowbridge at primary school age. She studied in Yorkshire after living just over the border in Somerset, took a job in local government in London and worked in education. She moved to Brussels to work in the European Parliament, then went over to Zambia to volunteer with an NGO, coming back again to Radstock for family needs Kerry and her partner now live near Ross-on-Wye but she has many family connections here. She talked about one of her earliest smelly memories of the Harris Bacon factory in Calne when she spent summer holidays with family there! I ask this question to all because Danny Kruger being hoisted in for the Conservatives never bode well with locals, and him never relocating here doubled it. I think people like to know the MP has local connections, and Kerry said that if she won the seat she would of course move here. But what of local policies? The health centre cropped up again.
Just as with Catherine and Brian, the failing of local health infrastructure, the closing of the hospital in Devizes, and improving the lack of facilities at the new health centre was high on their election pledges. โThere did used to be A&E, and beds for the elderly, but all of that has now gone; you must make a journey to Chippenham, Swindon, or Bath and the time that takes, a difficult bus journey, particularly for older people and the cost too. The fact that if you are then hospitalised, you are a long way away from family and friends. So I think that would have to be a huge priority for me. And I’m quite excited by the fact the Labour Shadow Health Secretary was talking about community-based healthcare, be that physical health or mental healthcare, and I think this is a huge priority for this community, to make sure we have this kind of provision, that itโs more accessible, particularly for the elderly.โ
Prime time to play devilโs advocate in line with the common criticisms of Labour, how do we how do we fund more money for the NHS? โThe Labour Party has been clear that there are no plans to raise taxes for working people and that the money will be found in a range of ways. For our immediate priorities of cutting waiting lists, doubling cancer scanners, a dentistry recovery plan and the return of the family doctor weโre going to make sure that those with the broadest shoulders, non-doms for example, pay. We are going to stabilise and grow the economy to invest in public services. ย So, for example, for Great British Energy, we will put in place a windfall tax on fossil fuel companies whoโve been looking at huge profits whilst our bills have been skyrocketing over the past years, so we can get clean power and lower bills. One of the things we’ve been clear about is that we’re talking about a decade of national renewal; none of these problems are going to be solved overnight because of the situation we’re inheriting, which economically is not great.โ
And education, I asked, which is where our chat will end, but progressed unofficially onto this voting age reduction I mentioned at the start. I put it to Kerry that the education system in the same place as the NHS, it needs an overview, a review.
โI think we need to do both, so we need to make sure that we’re retaining the teachers that we have, but one of the things that we have committed to in our first six steps is to introduce 6,500 new teachers, particularly in those subjects that currently are seeing insufficient numbers of teachers in those STEM subjects, for example, and hopefully the recruitment of those new teachers will help to support those existing teachers who currently are being spread too thinly. I think the other thing that is exciting is our commitment to broaden education the curriculum, so itโs fit for the 21st century, looking at some of those modern skills children need. Look also at the cultural industries, so the cultural industries are a major engine of economic growth in the UK, our curriculum needs to reflect those things.โ
My annoyance flared with the current conservative system whereby schools are being run like businesses and I welcomed such a consultation, hoping to unify and implement a national system of equality in schools. But in this, a change in our methods in general, with Labour, will we be moving away from privatisation?
โWe have committed to a new rail system, so when current franchises expire or if the companies are in breach of contract, we have said that they will now come into a new armโs length public national rail body that will run our rail services in a way that works for passengers and taxpayers
I didnโt want to talk about poo in our rivers, fun as it might be, people were eating their lunch, but while it may be scatological subject of mirth, itโs also a nail in the coffin for Tories. Does this include water companies as well?
โSo for water companies,โ Kerry expressed, โitโs an outrage that they have been able to dump sewage in our waterways and jeopardise health and environment. The figures here are appalling. Under Labour, the situation will be, not paying bonuses to chiefs of water companies where it’s been shown that they have broken their terms and there is pollution going into our waterways. We will also strengthen the regulator and give it real teeth to fight back, on behalf of the public to make sure we clean up our rivers and our waterways.โ
Kerryโs answers were defined by professionalism despite her capability of making you feel she was honest, earnest and pleasant. This doesnโt help my dilemma of where to put my cross, being Brian and Catherine I also liked. But one thing Iโm certain of, a vote for either one of these candidates is a vote well spent. As for the strategic vote against the voting with your heart debate, I think itโs not so important now, because whichever way you decide, in either of these three candidates we will have a fine MP prepared to embrace honest and necessary change.
I thank Kerry for her valuable time to chat with me and wish her all the best in what could be an exciting, interesting and historic election, especially locally.
A second track from local anonymous songwriter Joyrobber has mysteriously appeared online, and heโs bitter about not getting his dream jobโฆ.. If this mysterious dudeโsโฆ
Itโs not Christmas until the choir sings, and Devizes Chamber Choir intend to do precisely this by announcing their Christmas Concert, as they have doneโฆ
If Devizesโ celebrated FullTone Festival is to relocate to Whistley Roadโs Park Farm for next summerโs extravaganza, what better way to give it the rusticโฆ
This afternoon sees the inaugural grand ceremony of Stone Circle Music Eventsโ Wiltshire Music Awards taking place at the Devizes Corn Exchange. Itโs a selloutโฆ
In association with PF Events, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts introduces a Young Urban Digitals course in video mapping and projection mapping for sixteen to twentyโฆ
The concept of historical brutal dictatorships and comedy is not necessarily one that one considers as workable. Yet the likes of โThe Producersโ and โThe Death of Stalinโ show that the right level of satire can over come any qualms that may exist. John Hodgeโs play โCollaboratorsโ continues this trend as an Stoppard-like surreal absurdist comedy about the relationship between real life characters Joseph Stalin and Mikhail Bulgakov, which the Rondo Theatre Company are performing this very week.
John Hodge may be better known for his scriptwriting on โShallow Graveโ and โTrainspottingโ amongst other blockbuster films but here in โCollaboratorsโ he ratchets up the satire and hinges his story on a Machiavellian plan by Stalin toward the dissident playwright Mikhail Bulgakov.
Director Matt Nation has created a demanding โ in effect โ two scene play into a smoothly choreographed storyline, as the simple set of the Bulgakovโs Moscow flat replete with huge Soviet red star also covers the Lubyanka, theatre, rehearsal studio, doctorโs surgery, hospital, kremlin basement & metro, all clarified by Alex Lathamโs subtle lighting changes, The cast smoothly transition between these environments adeptly โ such is the skill of particularly community theatre in representing multiple arenas in a limited space.
Act 1 is pure absurdist comedy. Bulgakov is pressured into writing a play for Stalinโs birthday, that ends up being written by Stalin himself while Bulgakov ends up running the Soviet Union. Its silly, its surreal โ action also happening in Bulgakovโs head at times but just on the end of Act 1 the plot twists darkly.
Act 2 is pure black comedy. Though as the end of the play approaches is not so much comedy as horror as the repercussions of Bulgakovโs well intentioned โdecisionsโ as a proxy for Uncle Joe come clear and those chickens come home to roost. Tragedy would be as good a description as the show reaches its denouement.
Weaving this excellently crafted and delivered tale are the cast of fourteen. Principal characters are unsurprisingly Stalin โ complete with swept back hair and bristling moustache โ played by Andy Fletcher, and Bulgakov played by Jon Thrower. They portray this odd collaboration skilfully and sympathetically, Stalin as an almost genial and friendly Uncle figure, Mikhail as the distrusting and incredulous playwright.
Mikhailโs peer group is comprised of his loving wife Yelena (Lucy Upward) portraying her increasing desperation and concern as to his health, Vassily an aging Czarist (Jonathan Hetreed), Praskovya a history teacher (Verity Neeves) that cannot discuss history before the revolution, and Sergei (Charlie Bevis) who have been billeted in the Bulgakovsโ small flat โ Sergei lives in the cupboard! On this note the cupboard is superbly used as the entry and exit of Mikhailโs dreams/hallucinations and also the secret Kremlin door (!). Charlieโs portrayal of the enthusiastic young Soviet is touchingly naรฏve, and the group rub along despite their clear and evident differences in opinion and approaches to life under Stalin. Completing Mikhailโs peer group are Grigory (Toby Gibbs) a young writer struggling to get his work published due to its anti-Soviet content and his wife Anna (Elisabeth Calvert) reflecting the timesโ oppression.
Bulgakovโs doctor is portrayed amusingly (in all the right ways!) by Tim Hounsome, all overworked, distant and slapdash until treating the elite, while โthe actorsโ are just wonderfully performed by Josie Mae-Ross and Richard Chivers, floating in and out of Mikhailโs dreams as well as acting out the play Bulgakov is โwritingโ โฆ Richardโs homage to Ernst Stavro Blofeld is almost a show stealer in itself.
Last but not least we come to the menace in the play โ the NKVD officers. Vladimir (Tom Turner) is quite brilliant as the jocular yet disquieting secret policeman who becomes more luvvie and obsequious as the play develops. Its unfair to pick out individual parts as โshow stealersโ especially in community theatre, but it would be remiss of me to not to praise one particular performance in this play. Tim Carter plays NKVD policeman number two, Stepan. A silent, brooding presence he delivers the real โ literally unspoken โ menace throughout whilst being at the back of the stage mostly. Its not until the very end that he comes to the fore in his own right, but itโs a special skill to not be heard but be influential in the action and Tim really nails the requirements.
Vladimir’s wife Eva is played with an almost cameo performance by mainstay of the Rondo theatre company, Alana Wright, who manages to stave of the unwanted attentions of Stepan… mostly…
Aside from Alex on lighting, Dylan Jackson provided sound tech and as a team they had a busy time and completed everything to perfection – this is a tech heavy show so huge congratulations to them. Other crew aspects were indeed โcollaboratedโ on (dโya see what I did there? ) by all of the above โ set design and build, stage management (including Toby Skelton), costumes and publicity which was aided and abetted by Lisa Hounsome and Richard Fletcher with photography.
“Collaborators” is a fast paced, thinkers play โ although the allusions to modern day Russia are evident and lie not very far beneath the surface. Some genuine laugh out loud moments, some shocking moments and Stalinโs final words to Bulgakov sum up the regimeโs totalitarian control in a nutshell.
โCollaboratorsโ is showing at the Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath from June 19th to 22nd at 1930 every night.
by Mick Brian Photos by the “Where’s the Cat?” team
Within the walls of Devizes very own Wharf Theatre meets an eclectic group of script writers. And having written scripts and read them to each other, they wondered what to do next. So they recorded themselves performing these short radio-style plays and unleashed them on an unsuspecting world in the form of a podcast series. Having achieved this milestone the group pondered what to do next, and a live show seemed the next obvious step.ย
“Whereโs The Cat? Live!” is a melange of short plays, written and performed as rehearsed readings by the group, with the assistance of a couple of Wharf actors and a very sound man on sound. The plays cover the main facets of life; comedy and tragedy, often both at the same time. Thereโs a trilogy of plays about a trio of friends who find themselves in unusual and inconvenient situations. Thereโs a play about spies, another about therapy, another in a dystopian future where the human race is reduced to two people and some pot snacks. We go to Heaven in one play, a driving test centre in another, and a funeral in another.ย We meet an AI doctor, a fairy tale protagonist, a magician, and a mother and son having a row. Essentially all human life is here, just not necessarily as we know it.
The writers themselves have varying degrees of performance experience. Some are familiar faces upon the Wharfโs boards and their stagecraft shows, whilst others seemed less at ease within the performance space. Whilst it is not necessarily a natural thing for writers to be performers also, the rehearsal process has coaxed the hidden actor out of them and it has been a privilege to watch them develop. The direction has been lead by Ali Warren, and a superb job she has done of it too, bringing these short pieces to life, and the group should be applauded for baring their souls and sharing their art with the public, which is no easy thing to do. The mixture of styles and substance is quite refreshing as one can pretty much guarantee there will be something that will stick with you from the evening.
“Where’s the Cat? Live!” plays for one night only and youโll kick yourself if you miss it.
A leopard doesn’t change its spots, and neither does a British Lion. Watch other Devizes pubs change landlord, decor, attractions, and styles. Watch them close, reopen under new management, and try something else, while the British is steadfast and loyally imperishable. Ask anyone in Devizes their favourite pubs, and they’ll have different answers, then add The British Lion to the list for good measureโฆ.
What better setting for the last day of a most memorable Devizes Arts Festival than their extensive suntrap beer garden?ย
Old timey rhythm and blues blessed the full house, delivered with unique flavour and proficiency from a family Southampton come Birmingham (apparently) quartet, called The Junco Shakers.
These free fringe events provided by the Arts Festival are them at their rawest, letting their hair down and attracting the Devizes bohemians, alongside regular punters and everyone in-between. For this notion and the uniformed venue, the timeless Junco Shakers were a perfect match. I’d consider it skiffle. At least they used a washboard and percussion brushes, though over time, this has become a vague description. It felt bone-shaking blues of yore. At times, an upright double-bass gave it a rockabilly edge. It was jumpy and infectious, immutable enough to not warrant pigeonholing, so I’ll shut up!
With a barbecue sizzling bangers, the sun with his hat on, and just about everyone who’s ever sunk a pint in the British in attendance, it was the epitome of the Devizes spirit. While many here desire a political change and excuse me for getting political, in divertissement, the formula of this free house is unchanging; reliability, and a cracking selection of cask ales and ciders.
For those now with a taste of poison, The Three Crowns had Pat and Ben’s Matchbox Mutiny at 3pm, the Southgate hosting Jon Amorโs favourite guest LeBurn Maddox at 5pm, and the Devizes Arts Festival itself polish off with a free poetry slam at the Wharf Theatre. You can see now why I had bitten off more than I can chew when highlighting what’s happening in Devizes, as for a market town its size, this is just a typical sunny summer Sunday here, and we’re spoiled for choice. Me? I went home for tea and bed; those pintas won’t deliver themselves!
As for the British Lion, it rarely puts music events on, but when it does, the population rise to the occasion, remembering with fondness nights of yore in this award-winning pub, who gave them โBlack Rat Monday,โ the Saturday quiz, and the eminent stalwart landlord Mike Dearing.
We thank the team at Devizes Arts Festival. It’s been another fantastic year, and we look forward to many more.
You know I’m a lady’s man but nestled between chats with Green Party candidate Catherine and our forthcoming one with Kerry of Labour, I’m with the Liberal Democrat candidate for Melksham-Devizes, Brian Mathew. So no flirting this time, straight political chat!
Obviously not as handsome as me, but Brian is one wise gent with a fascinating backstory, and he’s highly likely to be our MP! He can talk for England, but rather than Fishy Rishiโs desperately inane whimpering, everything he said warmed me to the idea of putting my cross in the yellow box. It was intelligent, reflective and held an air of compassion.
Fresh from a previous interview where he expressed their questions were rather standard, he was off waffling policies like a greyhound out of the trap before I even poured the milk into my tea! Imagine his surprise when I interjected, โso, question one; you’re going to win this, right?!โ
โWell, it would be amazing if I did, wouldn’t it? Yeah!โ was his response, perhaps wishing heโd gone on Newsnight instead. I didnโt waiver, continuing with the thought it would be as historical as the Battle of Roundway! Brian believed there was a previous Liberal who won; story checks out, albeit the last time Conservatives lost the original Devizes constituency it was to a Liberal called Eric MacFadyen, in 1923!
Clearly thereโs work to be done, but after a few minutes I was convinced, Brian was the chap to do it, and he added the fact this was a new constituency. โI mean whereas in the past it was one Devizes and the hinterland to the East, now it’s the West, stretching all the way to Box and Colerne,โ he said, โwhich is where I’m butcher councillor, down to Bradford-on-Avon, which is pretty solidly Lib Dem across to Melksham where we’ve won the last five town council elections, and then over to here and the Lavingtons.โ
He discredited my suspicions it was a Tory strategic moving of the goalposts. โThe Boundary Commission are independent, right? So their priority is to get every constituency in the UK to have the same number of people. You know, seventy-odd thousand. So that’s why they’ve done this shift.โ But is Brian happy with it?
โI was to start with. Everyone was up in arms in Box, thinking โwe don’t want to lose where we were.โ In that neck of the woods, of course, they see themselves as part of the Cotswolds, which they are, but now I’ve got selected, I’m rather enjoying this new constituency. In fact, I’ve never had so much fun in an election! Hope I’m allowed to say that?! But seriously, I’ve stood several times before; first in 2010, againstLiam Fox in North Somerset.โ
He continued, โafter that I disappeared and went back to what I do for a living.โ Brian is an engineer, and he told me about running Water Aid in Tanzania, โbut they wanted someone to help with their programme in East Timor, so I went for a year and a half, and it was just delightful.โ
A lengthy yet fascinating story he relayed, about putting in water schemes through the mountains with World Vision, their ongoing political struggles, their brief independence and invasion by Indonesia, and how he returned to see how the project had helped the mountain farmers there. โPeople would walk down into the valley,โ he informed, โit was usually the children and mothers who would do this, and then walk all the back way up carrying water on their heads, which was usually filthy, and they’d end up with kids with diarrhoea and all kinds. We were putting in water supplies through the mountains to reach communities that had never had a tap before. And what was lovely was going back there six months later and talking with one of the farmers.โ
If my intentions of these chats are informal, with a focus on the candidates rather than the national politics you can read anywhere, I hadnโt suspected such an engaging and inspiring background, and it confirmed Brian was altruistic and respectable. Ergo, towards the end of our chat, when I asked him for his thoughts on a ceasefire in Palestine, here was chap who knows oppression and genocide firsthand. As an undergraduate Brian took a year out, to research herb and spice production in Egypt and Israel, the latter he resided in. โA lot of the time I was based on a kibbutz close to Gaza, which was attacked on October the 7th last year. I knew the families and the children that were murdered.โ
Moving onto local affairs, healthcare was at the forefront. Brian is on Wiltshire Council, โalthough we haven’t run Wiltshire Council because we’ve been the minority,โ he expressed, โwe’ve been the opposition, we’ve been the tail that wags the Tory dog. So we we’ve come up with promising ideas; that’s the day job! This morning I was in Colerne, trying to sort out the problems with the surgery. I’ve collected the last of the signatures for the petition and this is to save a surgery up there. The doctors have been getting less and less money, and the costs have been going up and up. So they’re now faced with the horrible prospect of having to close one of their surgeries. But to show how committed they are, they have foregone two monthsโ worth of salary. They’ve not taken the money to keep the surgeries open. Now this is wrong, and this is a big part of the manifesto pledge,helping rural surgeries, and this is a rural area.โ
The facilities in both Melksham and Devizes are hot on every candidateโs agenda. โThe Melksham hospital has been closed. It’s now certainly been turned into houses. In Melksham a hospital is still there, but essentially what it’s become is an outreach place for mental health services for Oxford. Youโve got a rather ridiculous situation where people are turning up at the hospital, sometimes with quite bad injuries and expect them to be treated and they there’s no one to help them. So what I would like to see is an injuries unit.โ Iโm going to throw in the โhow do we fund it curveball!โ
โOur manifesto means new spending around 28 billion on areas, health, education, housing, child poverty, and reversing cuts to the army and aid. So that’s what we want to do. And we said we would raise 28 billion through measures such as reversing the cuts to tax on banks. The banks have benefited the tune of something like 50 billion, right? We’re talking about four billion of that, please. But it’s not everything, taxing oil and gas firms, and that’s really to look at the issue of dealing with the changing way people deal with energy. So it’s a one-off tax on them.โ
Brian also spoke of taxing social media. โSpecifically we’d like to see a mental health expert in every school. Look at the harm that social media does to kids,โ and frequent flyers too, โbasically, to encourage people not to fly so much. And reforming capital gains tax.โ
As with the Greens, eating the rich might force multinational companies to move away, I put to Brian, and thought it was tremendously conservative for me! He used a comparison to post Second World War relationships between employer and employee, and todayโs. โThe differential between them, was something like ten times. You look at the amount bosses are getting paid now and it’s just ridiculous. So you’re talking about thousands of times more than the people at the bottom; you know that’s all wrong. And when you’ve got a situation like that, it’s wrong for society. It’s not healthy. So I don’t have a problem with seeing that.โ
I point out my socialist trait to my daughter, that there’s enough money to go around, it’s the unjust distribution of it. โYeah,โ Brian replied, โabsolutely.โ It was all going so well, then I put my foot in it with the B-word, and my teapot was empty! If we’ve become right and left-wing extremities, Brexit has driven the divide, and perhaps middle-road Liberal unity is whatโs required. โYeah,โ Brian said, โthere’s a lovely phrase which I really like, and that is when will people realise that the leftwing and the right-wing belong to the same bird? We are one society and can’t be divided. We have been divided, and then you mentioned Brexit, and what a horrible thing it was, you know, in terms of the way it’s absolutely driven a knife through the middle of us.โ
Brexit stance surely divides Liberal from Conservative, and while thereโs another far-right option with Reform, Iโd consider dangerous, does Brian think theyโll take a certain number of Conservative voters? โOn the issue of Conservative voters, what we are finding is a general disgust amongst people who traditionally always voted Conservative.โ He highlighted the PPE scandal. โPeople were making hand over fist money within the government. Those things stick in the throat of decent people. And I think because of that, weโre now seeing a lot of Conservatives flipping to us, and they are doing it in the way that a smoker who gives up smoking becomes evangelical about it. It’s wonderful. It’s quite something to see!โ
And Brexit? โWe’re a pro-European party, right? We are Europeans whether we it or not, and that’s a fact. Personally, I think Brexit was a was a mistake, but it’s happened. It created horrible divisions in society, but we must work our way forward. Farmers now are faced with a situation where they can’t export to Europe. our manufacturers can’t export to Europe. Our food processors can’t export to Europe. That is just ridiculous. And at the same time, well, the government has kind of been allowing a lot of stuff from Europe to come through. And now they’re starting to tighten up. On that, we’re not with them. These are our friends, and we should be trading with them.โ
Strategic voting to get the Tories out, we talked on next. Is every goal a goal to Brian, or does he prefer voters to vote with who they support?
โIt’s not good for this country to have them there anymore,โ he said of the ruling party. โBut the only way for that to happen essentially, is for people to pull together in this constituency, that means you’ve got look at the whole of Wiltshire, right? Look where the Wiltshire councillors are. You’ve got three Labour councillors in Salisbury: that’s it. If Labour was so popular across the whole county, you’d find them all over the place, but you only find them in Salisbury, and of course in Swindon, which is in its own borough.โ
Again, the idea of coalition felt alien. โThe problem with coalitions generally, and you can see this right across Europe, is wherever you’ve got a big party and a small party, the small party is the one that gets the blame.โ Dammit, I brought up Nick Clegg, now Iโm never getting the next bus home!
โTotally. And we were destroyed. A lot depends on the amount of influence that we’ll have. If we managed to win enough seats and we form, if you like, the bridge between in the middle, then we might have something called confidence and supply, which means we will vote with the government when we agree with the government. And we will vote against them when we don’t agree. But it would also mean that we wouldn’t have any cabinet ministers. Then you’ve got collective responsibility, and then you end up with horrible battles going on within government. And apparently that’s what happened when we were in bed with the Tories. There were arguments every day.โ
Trying to turn the tide back local, Brian told me about a project he was proud as a councillor to have achieved, called Shared Lives. โItโs adoption for adults,โ he explained, โspecifically for adult social care that could be for retired people, or people with learning difficulties. Adult social care is the one of the biggest things that we all spend our Council tax on. It’s not the roads, it’s not other things, it’s adult social care and indeed, social care for kids as well. That is a massive part of what Wiltshire Council does now. So the idea behind Shared Lives is that a couple of carers can take them into their home, and they get paid by the Council.โ
Although Brian would and could talk politics in laymanโs terms, and had a convincing argument in each case, it was throughout our chat I felt he favoured discussing these varied and often extreme projects and charity-based motions he both supported and actively engaged in. We rapped Universal Credit, how theyโd like to see proportional representation, and how he didnโt think a PCC was needed, though he praised Wilkinson for targeting hair coursing. Housing, well, thatโs another story.
โWhat we’re saying is increasing new homes to 380,000 new homes a year and including in that is 150,000 social homes a year, through new garden cities and community LED developments. We’re talking about banning no fault evictions. Making three-year tenancies a default. And creating a National Register of licenced landlords. So we want to see where people do have a landlord. The landlord doesn’t treat them badly.โ Young people getting on the ladder, right to buy, got us onto Margaret Thatcher, Pandora’s boxers!
Yet it was a surprisingly brief hurdle, Brian saying she โgotโ climate change, and thus I could swiftly move onto this. Brain wrote the motion which got Wiltshire Council to acknowledge the climate emergency. Against the sewage leakage scandal, he acknowledged but also praised Wessex Water for installation of โa massive tank system for example, brought from Maven. So that means that, when you’ve got heavy rainfall, when water is going into the sewer, it’s held in the tank before, and gets processed and then it goes into the river.โ
He was up on environmental issues, had worked with Wilshire Climate Alliance, and even Extinction Rebellion, I even liked his take on education reform. Brian slipped on nothing, I couldโve thrown a banana skin under his loafers, and heโd probably glide around it telling me a story of how he once saved a jungle of monkeys from deforestation!
School trusts need a kick into touch, itโs ludicrous to even call them Trusts, and yet again, Brian had a supportive take on how to solve the issue, but not without mentioning, โwhen I worked in Zimbabwe, I remember visiting a school in the Eastern Highlands that was supported by German Stiftung, which was an Education Foundationโฆ…!!โ I wondered when the last bus home was, but was kind of in awe of the guy, and found his stories relevant and fascinating. Brian has the experience and compassion to walk into an MP role like Heston Blumenthal could a job in McDonalds, itโs just a case of putting your faith in a middle-road party amidst the pandemonium of a divided country and a government corrupt to the core, which people here are still putting up posters for!
That said, Iโm remain in a dilemma, and Iโve got Labourโs hopeful, Kerry Postlewhite to chat with next, which incidentally, Iโve already done, and I really liked her too; Iโm such a suck-up! Still, a consensus of a โwho do we vote forโ Facebook debate on a rare freedom of expression Devizes group, suggested they were all the same โshit.โ I beg to differ, now Iโve had the honour of chatting with them personally. A vote for either Brian, Kerry or Catherine is a vote well spent; deciding on which one is the trickiest part.
by Ian Diddamsimages by Penny Clegg and Shakespeare Live โAntony & Cleopatraโ is one of Shakespeareโs four โRoman Playsโ, and chronologically is set after โJuliusโฆ
Unlike Buck Rogers, who made it to the 25th century six hundred years early, Devizesโ most modest acoustic virtuoso arrives at the 21st just shortโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Media and Ian Diddams Whilst probably best known for his editorship of โPrivate Eyeโ magazine and thirty-five years asโฆ
I mean, Devizes own contemporary blues throwback, JP is getting bookings, and rightly so. He’s off to Trowbridgeโs Lamb next Saturday for a double-bill withโฆ
Way back in the mists of time (August 2022 โ yโknow that REALLY, REALLY hot summer?) I saw the Slambovians play at Cropredy festival. A crowd of 20,000 embraced their version of โHillBilly Pink Floydโ as Wikipedia calls it, so moving forward from 2022, the chance to see them play here in good olโ D-Town was too much to pass up so armed with Phillipa Morganโs pen Devizine took the tough job of watching them play in front of maybe 2% of that number.
To be fair โHillBilly Pink Floydโ ย touches on some aspects of their music, but itโs a far wider demographic than simply that. Certainly, their show at the Corn Exchange last night included elements that certainly sounded very Pink Floyd, but psychedelia, prog, Dylan, Seeger, Tull, Led Zep all played their part weaving into and out of their songs
The Slambovians started a nine gig, eleven day whistle stop tour of the UK last night, having arrived from the Hudson Valley area, NY state, a.k.a. home. They started a tad gingerly, finding their feet but it was soon very apparent that this tight knit, well attuned beat combo was in their groove by their second number, the eponymous โThe Grand Slamboviansโ.ย And the night โ consisting of two one hour sets โ continued in the same vein. Driving rhythms pushed by drummer Matthew Abourezk, with Sharkey McEwan on a mixture of lead guitar and โฆ errrโฆ lead mandolin (brilliantly played Page/Hendrix style) interspersed with calm, beautiful ballads showcasing Tink Lloydโs versatility especially across accordion, cello and flute (Ian Anderson notes especially in โStep out of timeโ) took us on a journey through Slambovia. Joziah Longo immersed us in this utopian landโs philosophies and stories from mischievous fairies, to bees, to days before MTV where radio was king. All underpinned by the sublime bass lines of Bob Torsello.
Joziah alluded to โBoomersโ throughout the show and Bob Torsello aside that certainly describes the age demographic of the band โ and probably much of the audience – some Gen X types slipped through the net somehow, I suppose. Certainly, the underlying feel of their sets was that Boomer era of music โ 60s and 70s, a distinct hippy vibe, with tracks and ethos tied in with nature and simpler times (Beez, Radio,). Joziahโs anecdotes and story telling drew us all in with his homely, gentle delivery. All in all a wonderful night of music delivered by a band on the top of their game, delivered by the ever excellent “Devizes Arts Festival“
โThe Slambovian Circus of Dreamsโ have several dates on tour in the UK right now and I urge you to catch them again, or for a first time this year if you missed last night โ see https://slambovia.com/tour-dates
Swindon indie pop virtuosos Talk in Code released their brand new single, All In, Yesterday, via Regent Street Records. And We. Love. Talk in Code here at Devizine Towers….
Bridging the gap between eighties new wave electronica and nineties indie pop, Talk in Code are producing original timeless anthems. All In is unarguably their finest example to date.
With an upbeat euphoric ambience and a racing chorus to a rousing hook, it hints at Sam Fender but relishes in reminiscence of the memorable pop of A-Ha or Spandau Ballet; one can almost envision a comic book drawing of a distressed Morten Harket, banging his head on a doorframe; ah, school disco era seems like yesterday!
The narrative is one of hope for a rekindled romance, that maturity will warrant it successful this time around. The mood is optimistic, creating an engaging, danceable riff with pulsating rhythms under a shimmering soundscape.
Recorded with Sam Winfield at Studio 91, Newbury (Amber Run, The Amazons, Fickle Friends) The track is the fifth release on Regent Street Records, in partnership with Phoenix Music International and Horus Music. All In continues to ascend Talk in Code to beguiling pop greatness.
Frontman, Chris Stevens said of the single, โthe songโs narrative takes us through a journey of recovery from adversity and mistakes over the sound of a pulsating rhythms and glistening soundscapes enough to want to hit the dancefloor โMr. Brightsideโ style!โ
โWe feel itโs a true statement of our thumping, upbeat anthems weโve become renowned for.โ
Talk in Code have been supported by BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio networks together with achieving editorial streaming playlist placements with Apple Music, Soundcloud and FLO. Live they are a versatile force able to suit a variety of festivals and venues, and they extensively tour. Highlights this summer are Minety Music Festival, Home Farm Fest, Napton Festival, Aston Clinton Beer Festival, Box Rox, and The FullTone Festival.
As the excitement continues to detonate to an exploding point for our very first Stone Circle Music Events Wiltshire Music Awards on 25th October, we areโฆ
When I put together the 4 Juliaโs House compilation albums a few years ago I decided I shouldnโt pick favourites out of the eighty-one songs donated,โฆ
Alright yeah, itโs a play on band names and thereโs only really two reasons to rock on Friday 17th October at Market Lavington Community Hall; Sixโฆ
by Mick Brianimages from Lauren Arena-McCann The playwright Tom Stoppard is probably best known for his work โRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Deadโ, his absurdist comedy basedโฆ
You might think it’s a laryngologist’s dream come true, this Lewis Capaldi-led decade’s penchant for the blue-eyed soul singersโ melismatic strain to cause Mick Hucknall toโฆ
Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday night, and it was time for a little jazz.ย As I often say (apparently) thereโs nothing like sax in the evening….
Terry Quinneyโs Sound Of Blue Note features some of the most prominent jazz musicians in the Southwest whose main aim is to accurately recreate the music and aesthetic that defined the Blue Note Records sound of the 1950s and 1960s.ย Their repertoire features music from Blue Note legends like Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Horace Silver and more, all directly transcribed from the original recordings and performed with all the swinging intensity that is synonymous with the legendary record label.
The band last night consisted of Andy Urquhart (trumpet), Terry Quinney (saxophones), Ben Taylor (double bass), Andy Chapman (drums) and Phil Doyle (piano). And they turned up, fully suited and booted, very much looking the part of what (I imagine) a 50s/ 60s jazz club band ought to look like.
Iโd been hoping that weโd have more of a club atmosphere and aesthetic, with a tables-and-chairs layout, but we had to settle for a more traditional cinema seating arrangement. No matter โ the band and the audience settled right in. Describing themselves at one point as a โBlue Note covers band, or tribute bandโ, the mood and the swing were soon established. I prefer the word โhomageโ myself, but I might then be justifiably accused of being a tad pretentious. No matter. Back to the jazz.
This was a bunch of guys who were clearly very comfortable with their material, with their arrangements, and with playing in each otherโs company. They sounded absolutely great, tight when they needed to be, but with that wonderful ability to fall back and give space to the many solos and improvisations.
I was not personally familiar with much of the material, but fortunately I was accompanied by someone who knew what they were listening to and was able to explain some of the finer points to me. Added to Terry Quinneyโs between-numbers commentary, I picked up more of the background. But it really didnโt matter โ the quintet delivered what, to my ears at least, was a great night of jazz. Through two 50-minute sets, the band held the audience enthralled and entertained. The applause was warm and frequent, and an encore was fully deserved.
I just wish, as Iโve said before, that we had more frequent opportunities to catch some jazz in D-Town on a more regular basis, rather than having to wait for a year for the Arts Festival to book artists of this calibre. Thereโs an opportunity there somewhere!
The Devizes Arts Festival is moving towards its end now, but there are still several events on Friday night and over the weekend, with tickets available, until Sunday 16th June at various venues around the town.ย
Nothing cruel about our George Wilding; with his perfect match and another local legend of local music, Jolyon Dixon, they’re knocking out great singles likeโฆ
Thereโs a new single from Bristol-based Nothing Rhymes With Orange out tomorrow (Saturday 20th September) which takes the band to a whole new level, andโฆ
The Wiltshire Music Awards are delighted to confirm a new headline partnership with Stone Circle Music Events, who will sponsor the Awards for 2025 andโฆ
Following the excitement and success of the first meeting of โYour Partyโ in Swindon, a second meeting has been arranged for 18th September 7.30 -โฆ
It’s been six months since Devizes-based young blues crooner JP Oldfield released his poignant kazoo-blowing debut EP Bouffon. He’s made numerous appearances across the circuitโฆ
Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday afternoon with a lunchtime classical concert in the beautiful surroundings of the Assembly Hall in the Town Hall. Coming on a market day, it was no surprise that town was busy, and plenty of people used the opportunity to make their way to this splendid venue.
Duo Tutti is made up of Ruth Molins (flutes) and Alex Wilson (piano). They are inspired by old and new music, creating sound worlds you might not expect to hear from a flute/ piano duo. Ruth plays a standard flute, alto flute, bass flute and the piccolo, accompanied by Alexโs piano.
Their programme was an interesting and eclectic mix of items, much of it from composers Iโd not heard of before, but no the less enjoyable for that.
We started with the Sonata in F from Anna Amalia of Prussia (1723 -87). This lady I was surprised to discover was the sister of Frederick The Great. This piece in three movements, although simple in sound and structure, was bright, bouncy and just the thing to get started with. There followed three very contrasting pieces from contemporary composers: John Rutterโs Suite Antique (in six short movements), Ruthโs own piece (Fuse for Bass Flute & Piano) and Elena Kats-Cherninโs Elizaโs Aria for Piccolo. Each piece was delivered with freshness and confidence by the duo.
Keeping with the contemporary theme, we moved on to Arthur Butterworthโs Ukko, featuring the alto flute, and a piece that was slightly deeper and fuller, offering a darker, slower and slightly more discordant feeling throughout. Then on to two โminiaturesโ from Constance Warren, the first being slow and thoughtful, and the second very short piece being much livelier.
Finally, slightly back in time to Jules Mouquet (1867 โ 1946) for La Flute De Pan, a work in three short movements. The first piece was sparkling, with many flourishes. And, following the slower, quieter middle passage, the final section moved from a gentle fade-out, to another frothy champagne ending.
Throughout the concert the flutes were always to the fore, carrying the main themes, with the piano playing more of a supportive, sympathetic accompanying role. But the combination worked splendidly, and provided a diverse and entertaining lunchtime concert. Bravo!
The Devizes Arts Festival is moving towards its end now, but there are still several events with tickets available, until Sunday 16th June at various venues around the town. Tickets can be booked at Devizes Books or online at www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk
There’s something to be said for the function duo route with universal appeal, you could be working somewhere hot! Powerhouse vocal harmony duo Reflections areโฆ
Formerly known as Judas Goat and the Bellwether, the now renamed band have announced the release of their latest single, โDrill Baby Drillโ (coming outโฆ
For the first time in a great number of years the Wharf Theatre was host to a show in this yearโs Devizes Arts Festival. Unlike a number of other shows in this yearโs programme, this one was sold out, and quite early on, so did the good people of Devizes have prior knowledge of this show?
Aidan Dooleyโs one-man show about discovering Antarctica from the perspective of Tom Crean are stories of adventures with both Scott and Shackleton, which if my basic recollection of history is anywhere near accurate, would be both a unique and fascinating tale.
On entering the theatre the sounds of the arctic winds were the only noise, and although initially sounding like sea, maybe both, along with the stage littered with all manner of items and clothing you may have needed for an expedition lit with a nighttime rich blue highlighted with a small warm glow, it set the scene for the upcoming tales.
Aidan came onto the stage and with a rich Irish accent introduced us to Tom, and the apparel that any good arctic explorer would have with him at the turn of the last century. With a witty, chatty delivery you very quickly felt like Tom was talking as if either to an assembly of wide-eyed children or to a group of acquaintances in a local bar, sometimes more like one, then moving to the other.
You did, however, feel he was talking to you, telling you his story, letting you into his world of cold and wind. A world where crying with your head down is given away by the steam from your tears, a world where working with too many layers on would make you sweat only for it to freeze should you then stop working and cool down any. For those that went with him we were treated to stories about being left out of the five who would attempt to reach the South Pole because of a cough, a cough that was to prove fortuitous as those who did not go on were sent back along the supply route to the base camp, even if they did go slightly in the wrong way back resulting in a very well described ride on a sled down a hill, quite a steep hill at that.
Aidan totally embodies Tom, so much so that you forget that they are not his stories that he is telling you. Stories that carried you through the hour and a half as if it was only a matter of minutes. I genuinely was lost in the story telling and would not have been surprised if on leaving the theatre we were feet deep in snow and surrounded by penguins.
An evening well spent and testament to the hard work obviously put into the research put into the script and the characterisation of Tom, by Aidan.
Photograph byย Simon Folkard It’s been a rocky road for Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) these last few years, and I didn’t mean the crushed biscuitsโฆ
What, again?! Another article about Talk in Code?! Haven’t they had enough Devizine-styled publicity?! Are their heads swelling?!ย Didn’t that crazy toothless editor catch themโฆ
Valedictorian graduate of Bates College in Maine, and with a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard, neuroscientist Lisa Genova self-published her debut novel, Still Alice inโฆ
Swindon’s annual colossal fundraising event The Shuffle is a testament to local live music, which raises funds for Prospect Hospice. If you’re ever going toโฆ
There was a geographical population imbalance this bank holiday Monday in Devizes which risked the entire town conically sloping into the back of Morrisons; noโฆ
Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued last night, and it was the turn of another big name to grace the stage of the Corn Exchange.
Martin Simpson is, in the contemporary folk world at least, the equivalent of Royalty, or a National Treasure.ย Heโs been performing and recording for over forty years, and Iโve personally had the pleasure of seeing him live in concert and at music festivals several times over the years, so I was very much looking forward to this one.
Martin is the consummate singer/ songwriter. His performances are always filled with remarkable intimate solo guitar playing in the finger-picking style, and each gig is a masterclass. One of the hardest-working people on the folk/ roots circuit, he travels the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, giving audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his playing. Equally at home playing English traditional folk, American folk and blues, or his own compositions, he is consistently named as one of the very finest fingerstyle guitar players in the world.
Nor is he an artist who sits still for very long, averaging a brand new studio album almost every two years. His latest offering โSkydancersโ is his 12th full length solo record since 1992. Recorded in his home town of Sheffield, the album collects new, self-penned originals alongside 18th century broadside ballads and reverent re-workings from the songbooks of (amongst) others, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Woody Guthrie, Nancy Kerr, June Tabor and Craig Johnson.
Last night โSkydancersโ featured heavily, as might have been expected, with several tracks to the fore, narrated laconically with the story behind each one. The early numbers were laid-back, contemplative and without introduction, but then Martin took the audience into his confidence, and talked us through his thinking. There were a couple of political jibes at the state of the current Government, but largely he stuck to the song-writing and the music-making. And with hardly any noticeable shift, we switched from the traditional across to the modern, to Bob Dylanโs โBuckets of Rainโ.
His singing was strong, with the familiar nasal twang, but it was the guitar-playing that really caught the imagination. Even his tuning-up trills, and introductions were little classics. His fondness for tuning and re-tuning (by ear) is legendary in the folk world, but last night it was more disguised as he regaled us with stories relating to the genesis and/ or the content of each song. There were birds such as the hen-harrier (the โskydancerโ), kites, swallows, and buzzards. There were trees and hills. There was the Wessex Ridgeway and Slapton Sands. There were real and legendary historical characters. There were name-drops. It was all fascinating stuff. And then, after what had only seemed to be twenty minutes, more than twice that time had actually passed, and we were into the interval, where The Mighty Simpson Marketing Machine swung into action. (This just meant Martin himself selling CDs in the foyer and chatting to fans, but it sounds good).
The second half brought more of the same, but with perhaps more of an Appalachian, Americana feel to several numbers. We had covers from Jackson C. Frank and Leon Rosselson, Anne Briggs. We had re-worked traditional songs, including an Easter carol, and we had more self-penned material. Again, the audience was rapt, and there was never any doubt that there would be huge applause and an encore.
Another absolutely sparkling night of world-class entertainment. Another hit for the Arts Festival.
Whilst dispersing highly flammable hydrocarbon gases into the atmosphere is not advisory, Butane Skies is a name increasingly exploding on local circuits. The young andโฆ
The excitement and hope generated by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana announcing a new political party has reached Swindonโฆ.. A broad range of people haveโฆ
If I was bowled over backwards by Rubyโs teaser single last week, its title, Crowned Lightbringer, now also belongs to this five-track EP, released today,โฆ
Devizes Scooter Club put their braces together and their boots on their feet, for a moonstomping win of the Best Turned-Out Club at the 25th Isle of Wight Lambretta Day. Congratulations also goes to member Gary Chivers for winning best Lambretta tooโฆ.
There’s colossal pride and respect in Devizes Scooter Club, which transforms into motivation in staging their events, and none more grand than the Devizes Scooter Rally, set for 26th-28th July this year at Lower Park Farm; backed by the shack of a soul boss, most turnin’, stormin’ sound o’soul!
To presume a scooter rally is akin to a caravan club, where enthusiasts saunter a field gawking at each other’s hairdryers all day, endlessly waffling about cylinder head nuts, is partially true; your atypical rally could be only this, sprinkled with warm lager and a DJ if you’re lucky. But in just its 4th year Devizes Scooter Rally is not this niche, it’s family-orientated fun for anyone with so much as a passing interest in scooters, enveloping retrospectiveย mod, soul and skinhead cultures.ย
This thing, I swear, borders festival proportions and ethos, with camping and showers, a busy bar, food, vintage clothes and parts side stalls, and boasts six tried and tested live music acts. And the music doesn’t stop while a band sets up; you’re treated to Terry Hendrick’s Soul Pressure sound system, undoubtedly the UKโs finest Northern soul, boss reggae and ska DJ. Terry showed me a picture once of him hanging out with the late Toots Hibbert, and it didn’t feel too much like gloating!!
We’re lucky to have this on our doorstep, last year I chatted with a young lone mod who rode up from Crediton, and traditionalย skinheads from Manchester. It’s all bringing money to our area, but more importantly it’s a brilliant weekend.
There’s a mixture on the lineup, All That Soul we’ve not seen since a Scooter Club gig of yore, the most entertaining homage to the Motown sound. Similarly with The Dectonics. The Butterfly Collective debuted the rally last year with an engaging set of mod classics and undetectable originals. There’s a wildcard Slade tribute, and Goldsteppers and Skamageddon are new to me, but the latter speaks for itself!
The vital element to this unique and soul-fuelled weekend of boss reggae vibes, talc on the dancefloor and scooter ride-outs is its affordable price tag:
A weekend wristband is ยฃ30.00 includingย camping. Friday and Saturday all-day passes are ยฃ15.00, to camp add ยฃ5. Saturday Day only (10am – 5pm ) is ยฃ5. Accompanied children under 18 go free.
Reason for mentioning it at all is, if you’re thinking, “hey, that might be something I’d enjoy but fear it might be a bit insular and I’d be going home early, crying into my Ed Sheeran CD,”, you won’t be if you give it a try! You’ll find those scooter lot are a frivolous and friendly bunch who not only know how to party, but will welcome you to join them!
So, work it up one time, work it two time, shack it, back it! Devizes Scooter Rally is on, baby love, my baby love! I need you, oh, how I need you, but all you do is treat me bad, break my heart and leave me sad! Don’t Throw your love away, get a wristband HERE.
Image: John Kisch Legendary songwriter and original Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell has announced a run of UK dates this November, accompanied by special guests Theโฆ
Atmospherically anthemic and reinforced with that infectious rhythmic groove weโve come to love Talk in Code for, More Than Friends is chockfull of it, andโฆ
by Mick Brian With Sandcastles Productions marking its debut production with Charlie McGuireโs original play Glass House, the cast and crew behind this production are clearlyโฆ
Wiltshire Music announces a new season for Autumn Winter: and the first under the new leadership of Daniel Clark, Artistic Director and Sarah Robertson, Executiveโฆ
If youโve seen Jess Self performing at the Wharf Theatre, singing at the FullTone Festival or elsewhere Iโm certain youโll agree with us; Jess hasโฆ
It’s been a wonderful summer’s weekend, in which I endeavoured to at least poke my nose into the fabulous FullTone Festival, despite being invited toโฆ
Over the coming weeks I’m having cuppas with candidates of the Melksham-Devizes constituency crazy enough to indulge my political ignorance and endure my inane waffling; it’s funnier this way! First under my spotlight is Catherine Read, standing for the Greensโฆ.
Bulked with other scoops the night before I was short of time to put in any research. Luckily Krishnan grilled Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay on Channel 4, which inspired! Steadfast in New Society I planned to be ruthless like Krishnan, but it turned out Catherine is such a friendly person I couldn’t bring myself to! At one point I whimpered I was playing Devilโs advocate, to which she replied, โoh, was you? I thought it was a perfectly reasonable question!โ
Not the guts to be Paxman, I love the Greens, with their radically leftwing ideas and knitted jerseys, but fear their popularity is dwindled, not only by the misconception they’re a one trick pony, but also by those who, whilst accepting the importance of climate change, or not, might not sway so far left: truckloads of โem around โere!
Thereโs an angle I must ask in line with the Melksham-Devizes Primaryโs strategic voting idea, if Catherine understood the dilemma some feel a vote for a party lesser in popularity like the Greens is dividing the votes against Conservatives.
โI can understand why people might worry and why they might want to get the Conservatives out,โ Catherine told me. โBut from all polls across the country, we’re thinking itโs going to be a Labour government. I know here we’re a very conservative county, and even if Michelle Donelan did get in, she’s not in power. She’s just going to be a backbench MP with no influence at all. So what’s important is we get the votes to put pressure on who’s next in, to say, look, a lot of people voted Green because they are concerned about the environment, and that will send a message to the Labour government then as well.โ
Story checks out nationally, according to the MRP the Greens are predicted to keep seats in Brighton, and Bristol Central, with 50% of the vote, and it shows Greens coming second in 46 Labour seats, which puts them in position to apply pressure on Labour. But this is not a Labour safe seat by any stretch of the imagination.
โI also think if you look at the percentage vote for the Greens it isn’t that high, where is that really going to make a difference? So I’m saying to everyone, vote for whichever party represents your values, because, you know the Conservatives aren’t going to be in, so this is your opportunity. And I would also ask; why vote for a different party which you don’t really like or want, and by doing that there is money attached to votes? I’m not sure whether a lot of people are aware of this. It’s called short money. What happens is it’s given to the opposition parties, and the amount they get is dependent on the amount of votes they get. Being optimistic here, if we get four Green MPs, we get money to help them through their parliamentary staff and produce policies. But that’s dependent on the amount of votes they get, so I would appeal to any Green voters not to give your vote and your money to a different party that you don’t agree with and try to support the Green Party.โ
Catherine explained they were hopeful for at least four MPs in Parliament, mentioning Bristol and Brighton, but alsoย Waveney Valley and one in Herefordshire. โI’m certainย Waveney Valleyis between Greens and Conservative; theyโre like us over there. It’s rural, and very farming,โ she clarified. โI think what’s driving it is protecting the local environment and nature, and farming as well. The Greens stand up for farming.โ Catherine continued to tell me about local butterfly camps and tree and hedge planting projects on Morgan’s Hill. โIt’s great; you meet people out there and they’re not necessarily from the Green Party, just people who are concerned about their environment.โ
And while inevitably the conversation will turn to national politics, I prioritise local issues and getting to know the candidates on a personal level.
Catherine has lived in Bromham for over twenty-five years and worked at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. Her only political background is parish council level, but hey, Liz Truss read philosophy, politics and economics at Merton College, Oxford, was the president of the Oxford University Liberal Democrats, and look how that panned out!
I take people at face-value, itโs not the party nor the policies, itโs the expression of excitement when Catherine told me about submitting her nomination papers the day before, โand our Chippenham candidatesโ going today,โ she furthered. โWe cover three or four constituencies, and then there’s the other two of the South, West and Salisbury. I believe they’re putting up candidates across Wiltshire. It was the Green Party’s ambition, to stand candidates everywhere.โ
Surely such excitement transfers to motivation, to perform an honest job? Though, I asked what I will ask them all; โin a sentence, why should we vote for you?โ
โI care about people, and I want to make people’s life better, basically. And I would put, climate change is what drives me to be in this position now.โ Caring about people? A politician?! Now thatโs a looney leftie concept beyond our fathoming around these sewage infested backwaters where weโd sooner just vote for the โcircus of thievesโ with a blue rosette (enter winking emoji!) Yet the answer felt sincere, as everything Catherine said did. So we talked about her association with climate groups like Sustainable Devizes and Wiltshire Climate Alliance.
โThey aren’t political at all, but Iโm a member of them personally. They are great, they raise awareness and do good things. It’s good to be involved in your community to try and make it better, more sustainable,โ Catherine said, enticing us to rap about the Sustainability Fair and pedestrianisation of the Market Place, Catherine said, โit doesnโt have to be a carpark, we can do something great with the space; that was the idea behind the fair.โ Leading me to waffle about the boater band Devilโs Doorstep who played, but it allowed us to roll the chat into cycling and public transport, as they came up from the canal on bicycles, somehow carrying their recycled washtub bass!
Obviously, Catherine, a keen cyclist herself, was keen to see environmental improvements such as a better public transport system, cycle lanes, et al, but she also talked on enhancements at Green Laneโs Health Centre. โI’m passionate about the NHS. Devizes had the hospital, that hospital was lovely, and convenient, so you didn’t have to travel too far, and I think everybody misses that. So they put in a replacement, the health centre. It’s an environmentally friendly building. It doesn’t have a lot of things that a hospital has. It doesn’t have A&E or any wards. You can’t do a walk in service. We don’t think it’s offering as much to people that it could. Because if you need minor injuries, you go to Chippenham. I think people like community hospitals, but we don’t have a good transport system. It’s not easy for people to get to these places. I think you need to bring it into the communities.โ
This is not going the callous way I planned so I told a story about a neighbour of a customer of mine who, one spring morning when the temperature had dropped, suggested with a shiver it was cold, and jested, โso much for all that bloody global warming rubbish!โ Itโs alarming, his thinking being just because itโs colder today in his village, a pinprick on the world map, climate change is a hoax, not forgoing we donโt refer to it as global warming anymore, itโs climate change! Itโs not such an uncommon jest, but my point was, if Greens want in, least be able to persuade government on environmental issues, how do we go about convincing people with this mentality, how do we get this guy onboard with a leftist philosophy heโs not going to warm to?
โSo they think what’s in it for him?โ Catherine asked, talking environmental and social justice in one. โObviously we want to reduce global heating or cooling because it’s overheating the planet. We want to reduce carbon, so maybe we put solar panels, insulate homes, because it reduces the amount of carbon energy they’re using. But that has a knock-on benefit for them, because they’re saving money, you know, they’re literally getting free electricity when the sun shines. If you insulate it, they’re going to get warmer homes as well.โ
โIt is strange,โ Catherine replied to my rant about doughnuts who think itโs a hoax. โBut when I’m trying to make things better anyway, so if somebody believes it was made-up, we’re only trying to make their life better. We’re trying to reduce the pollution and we’re trying to keep their homes, homes warm. Theyโre going to benefit from that. You know, we want to increase public transport too, and make it cheap.โ
The Green Party are due to release their manifesto on the 14th of June, and like other partyโs promises, it will bait the question how we will pay for these initiatives, the ones of the Greens being radical, like a national wage. With higher taxes? It seems the Greens think itโs all about eat the rich.
โA universal basic income, so everybody gets a set amount every year,โ Catherine confirmed, โcan help with poverty, because everyone’s getting an income, young people don’t even get the minimum wage. These things they will help everybody who’s really struggling now, and what they’re saying is,tax the wealthiest people. We’re not talking middle-class, we’re talking the top 1%, if that, you know, so it’s not going to affect us. This tax is just coming from those that can really afford it.โ
Iโm with this, thereโs enough money to go around, itโs the unjust distribution of it, especially when it comes to taxes and the misuse of public spending. But common immediate reaction to the Green Party is they’re just going to whack our taxes up, and how do you convince folk otherwise?
โWe’re not whacking up tax, we put tax on the richest people.โ Catherine reaffirmed. โThe reason we don’t seem to get services that work is, where does all that money go? That’s a question to be asked. We’ve paid our taxes. And like you say, the tax burden is the highest. But where has it all gone? And I think we’ve seen an example of why.โ Catherine went onto example the PPE contract scandal during the pandemic. โIt seems to me they don’t have any balances, any value for money, and we have the scandals with Lady Michelle Mone, and you know that I was quite upset and angry about all that, because that was our money. That should have gone into NHS services and protecting us, and it was an excuse to literally give away our money. It’s just not being put back into our public services. It’s being put into different things, and I think that’s the problem. I think that’s what needs to be addressed.โ
And thatโs where we are. While environmental issues should so obviously be top priority, though rarely are in other manifestos and folk’s day-to-day minds, and I vow never to be that spanner calling it all a hoax just because itโs a bit chilly today, Iโm willing to consider the Greens and love what they say, but my fear their other policies are either vague or too radical for the majority will affect my vote being lost from the beloved ethos of getting the Tories out.
Lovely as our chat was, and interesting, it hasnโt helped my dilemma of what box to put my cross, itโs just reaffirmed my affection for the Green Party, and my prayers the others standing will have an eye on environmental issues too rather than just perfidious piffle; Lib Demโs Brian Matthew is up next, weโll see what he has to say on it!
The key, I think, is a coalition with Greens, to put the cat among the pigeons. But in the past election I found every time I mention coalitions to prospective MPs of yellow and red, they pull the expression of looking into the eyes of Medusa! Catherine though seemed keen on the idea, or at least to work with other parties. โI think they would work with the government on topics that we agreed we had common ground on.โ Catherine said. โBut I don’t think they would commit to supporting everything that the Labour government say, because obviously there’s differences. So I think where there’s overlap, yes, they probably would. But I can’t speak for the National Party, that’s just my opinion. Iโm fairly new to politics. I think working with your community is what it’s about. I don’t think it’s about bashing heads all the time; it’s about just doing the best.โ
It was a lovely chat, and I am thankful to Catherine Reed for her time; sheโs an inspirational person, and as she said, if youโve faith in the Greens, which you should, consider not giving your vote to someone you donโt fully agree with.
Following a lively few days of entertaining and varied events over this last weekend, weโre now into Devizes Arts Festivalโs second week.ย
I decided to trundle along to the Cheese Hall earlier this afternoon to find out what Belinda Kirk might have to say for herself.ย Stuff about being adventurous, Iโd heard.ย I settled down into my seat and awaited a comfortable afternoon chat.ย But an hour later things had changed somewhat.
Belinda Kirk is a world-record holding explorer, researcher and a leading campaigner promoting the benefits of โadventureโ on wellbeing. Sheโs written the best-selling, award-nominated, book โAdventure Mind: Transform Your Wellbeing By Choosing Challengeโ. Sheโs led dozens of international expeditions, numerous youth development challenges, and pioneered inclusive adventures for people with disabilities. She established the Explorers Connect organisation and website in order to spread the word about the life-changing impact of adventure. Sheโs encouraged over 30,000 ordinary people to engage in transformational outdoor challenges. And most recently sheโs faced her greatest challenge: to continue to live adventurously since becoming a parent.
Belinda spoke for about 45 minutes before hosting a Q&A session. In her talk she emphasised that she was not just talking about โbeing in Natureโ (the benefits of which are now well documented), but about engaging with the world in a much more vigorous way by taking up personal and/ or team challenges. She was talking jungles, deserts, remote places, open seas, and I was just beginning to feel slightly uncomfortable.
Outlining how participating in the Duke of Edinburghโs Award Scheme as a sixteen year-old had been a complete sliding doors moment for her, she described how she got the bug to get โout thereโ. Over the next few years she joined, and later led, several expeditions, worked for five or six years with that Big Softie Bear Grylls, worked as a diver for a year, and took part in a row-round-Britain challenge. I was fully awake by now and starting to feel how exceptionally lazy Iโve been all my life.
She discovered how impactful it was to undertake both large and small adventures. She saw with her own eyes time and time again how people of all ages found these challenges to be, literally, life-changing. And it was then that she began to research the psychology of what was actually going on here. She described in great detail a major expedition sheโd led to cross Nicaragua coast-to-coast with a group of severely disabled youngsters, including (incredibly to me) climbing to the summit of an active volcano. And there were many other examples and stories too. Much against my will, I was actually on the edge of my seat listening to this stuff. And I wasnโt alone either โ the rest of the packed audience seemed pretty enraptured too. Sheโs an enthusiastic, energetic and very articulate speaker.
Belinda spoke of moving from your โcomfort zoneโ to your โstretch zoneโ and heading towards your โpanic zoneโ. It sounded like jargon, but it wasnโt โ I was definitely on the same page by now. Pushing yourself has many benefits in enriching your life โ giving yourself new skills and confidence, finding out what youโre really capable of, and (crucially) having some fun. Iโm having some of that!
She finished with a lively Q&A session, before signing copies of her book โAdventure Mind: Transform Your Wellbeing By Choosing Challengeโ. But I couldnโt wait around for that โ I needed to get outside into my โstretch zoneโ to swim the K&A Canal, sort out the problems in The Crammer, and single-handedly remove all the traffic-lights across D-Town. Then I might sit down with a well-deserved cup of tea and a biscuit.
A solidly entertaining afternoon, and another absolute gem from DAF.
The Devizes Arts Festival continues until Sunday 16th June at various venues around the town.ย Tickets can be booked at Devizes Books or online at www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk
Devizes annual orchestral festival, FullTone got underway yesterday afternoon with a showcase of local talent from Devizes Music Academy,ย and finalised Friday night with theirโฆ
A feast of Salisbury musicians have recorded the single Edge of Reason, a powerful tribute to the irreplaceable ThomโฏBelk, a champion of Salisburyโs music sceneโฆ
Devizes Food & Drink Festival launched their 2025 programme of events today. Running from Saturday 20th to the 28th September, the Box Office opens onlineโฆ
With your standard festivals two-to-a-penny, some consisting of not much more than a bloke with a guitar in a pub selling undercooked and overpriced hotdogs,โฆ
Contemplated headlining this โClash of the Titans,โ but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes canโฆ
Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Cafรฉ will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since its openingโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Sandcastle Productions A very new addition to Bath based theatre companies, Sandcastles Productions brings their self penned piece of theatre toโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Next Stage Theatre Company and Mike Stevens Florian Zeller is a contemporary French playwright and screenwriter, who received criticalโฆ
And, following a lively few days of varied events over this last weekend, weโre now into Devizes Arts Festivalโs second week.ย And at last it was time for some serious classical music, and we were certainly treated to something special when Ida Pelliccioli played the Leslie Taylor Memorial Concert in the Assembly Room last night.ย Once again the setting of the beautiful Assembly Hall perfectly matched the style and the quality of the entertainment.ย Indeed this very room was constructed in the very early years of the 19th century, immediately after the deaths of three of the nightโs composers.
Ida Pelliccioli is a world-renowned concert pianist who has performed throughout Europe, Canada and South Africa. She was born in Italy and studied in Nice and Paris and, since 2021, she has taught at the Paris Conservatoire.
Her selected programme last night, which was accompanied by extensive notes and a short introduction, was inspired by the forgotten music of โthe Spanish Scarlattiโ, composer Manuel Blasco de Nebra.ย
We began with three short sonatas by the Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685 โ 1757).ย The first and third of which were at a sparkling, lively tempo, whilst the second was slower and calmer.ย However all three were played by Ida with plenty of gusto and attack.ย All of them were very short, and this part of the programme was completed in only ten minutes.
The next section featured two fantasias by the Austrian Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 โ 1791).ย These two pieces seemed (to me at least) to possess a little more depth and substance.ย And again we had the contrast between the dramatic and exciting first piece, set against the more romantic and portentous second piece.
There then followed two pieces by a Spanish composer Iโd not previously heard of โ Manuel Blasco de Nebra (1750 โ 1784), whom Ida described as โthe Spanish Scarlattiโ and very much a composer that time seems to have forgotten.ย These two sonatas were each in two movements: an adagio, followed by a more lively allegro.ย I found them interesting and entertaining, but not as good as what had gone before.
And finally we came to another Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797 โ 1828).ย Ida played his Drei Klavierstucke (three piano pieces) and, again, we had the structure of one piece that was thoughtful, melancholy, plangent and poignant sandwiched in between two pieces that were far more lively and exuberant.
The whole performance was both intense and mesmerising, played and presented by a world-class pianist who was clearly absolutely dedicated to her work, and completely on top of her game.ย Entirely justifiably there was sustained applause at the end from a very appreciative audience, provoking not one, but two, short encores, the latter of which was an โimpromptuโ by the more modern Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865 โ 1957).
Another fabulous night at the Arts Festival, and thanks (yet again) to DAF for bringing such top-notch entertainment to our little town.ย I only wish we had a lot more opportunities in D-Town to hear such wonderful classical music, played by a world-class musician.
The Devizes Arts Festival continues until Sunday 16th June at various venues around the town.ย
Rude to walk into an event sporting another event wristband but the welcome was friendly as ever at the Three Crowns in Devizes. It’s mid-afternoon,โฆ
If youโve popped into Wiltshire Music Centre recently; for a concert, workshop, screening orย even a meeting, you might have noticedโฏchanges in the foyer: recorded music,โฆ
Photo credit: David Leigh Dodd Pioneers of the indie-rock sound which would lead us into the nineties, Transvision Vamp lead singer Wendy James has announcedโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Luke Ashley Tame of Acadia Creative Around 2 million women are victims of violence perpetrated by men every year, thatโs 3,000โฆ
Family run premier auctioneers of antiques and collector’s items, Henry Aldridge and Son announced a move into The Old Town Hall on Wine Street, Devizes;โฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Ian Diddams and Shakespeare Live Is it post watershed? Then I shall beginโฆ The etymology of the word โNothingโ is quiteโฆ โฆ
Amidst another packed summer weekend’s schedule laid that lovable large village Pewseyโs turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if itโsโฆ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated, so check in later in the week.
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
Devizes Arts Festival got off to a great start, it continues through the week, individual events are listed as normal below.
Wednesday 12th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Two Devizes Arts Festival events, Kate Webb and Jon Stock โ The Darker Side of Wiltshire at the Peppermill, and Martin Simpson at the Corn Exchange.
Lunchtime Recital: Meg Morley (Piano) at Pound Arts, Corsham.
In The Night Garden Live at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Memory Cinema, for those with dementia, is showing Annie Get Your Gun at Swindon Arts Centre.
The Archive of Dread Revisited at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Solana at the Bell, Bath.
Wheatus plays the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Thursday 13th
Duo Tutti at the Town Hall, and The Sound of Blue Note, also at the Town Hall, make up Devizes Arts Festival for Thursday. John Lawson’s Circus opens on the Green, Devizes and runs until 16th June.
In The Night Garden Live at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Ma Polaineโs Great Decline at The Tuppenny, Swindon.
Jonny & The Baptists presents the Happiness Index and Ten Thankless Years at Rondo Theatre, Bath.
An Evening With Harry Redknapp at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 14th
Chocolate Truffle Masterclass at HolyChocs in Poulshot.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at Devizes Arts Festival in the Corn Exchange. Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes.
Tom Davis & The Bluebirds at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
The Carrivick Sisters at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. BuckFest over the weekend at The Three Horseshoes, Friday with Kitchen Lover,, Mimi & the Miseries and Bucky Rage.The Karport Collective at The Seven Stars, Winsley.
Jacob & Drinkwater: 10th Anniversary Tour at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The Carpenters Story at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. An Evening of Mediumship with Psychic Medium Nikki Kitt at Swindon Arts Centre. Oasish & The Stereotonics at the Vic, Swindon.
Jonny & The Baptists presents the Happiness Index and Ten Thankless Years at Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Toyah & Robert at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 15th
Summer Fayre at Bishops Cannings School from 12-4pm.
Huw Williams โ St Johnโs Church Organ Recital at St Johnโs Church Devizes, part of Devizes Arts Festival. Bone Chapel at The Southgate. 6 Oโclock Circus at The Three Crowns.
Pianist Tony James with a lineup you can see the poster below, at Market Lavington Community Hall for a Mathieson Music Trust 30th Anniversary.
The Parade Festival, at the Parade Cinema, Marlborough, with The Vooz and Zoots headlining. Room 101 at the Lamb, Marlborough.
Cacti & Succulent Show at Melksham Assembly Hall
Daliso Chaponda: Feed This Black Man Again at the Neeld, Chippenham. NWSO Summer Concert 2024 at St. Andrewโs Church. Grease and Dirty Dancing tribute night at the Pewsham.
Trowbridge Midsummer Festival at Trowbridge Town Park. Free this one, with the incredible Frankisoul on at 8pm! Dead Zebras and Diversion at the Pump. A roller-disco at the Civic.
Bath Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. BuckFest at The Three Horseshoes continues with Bucky Rage, Bully Bones & The Pressure.
VRรฏ at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Shepton Mallet Prison Charity Abseil.
Holding Back The Years at Swindon Arts Centre. Judas Rising at the Queenโs Tap. Shepherdโs Pie at the Vic, Swindon. Thereโs a Wanborough Beer Festival too.
Neuroheadz Festival 2024 at Brokenborough opens.
The Vintage Bazaar at the Cheese & Grain, Frome is followed by The Blockheads.
Sunday 16th
Matchbox Mutiny at The Three Crowns, Devizes from 3pm. LeBurn Maddox & Friends at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm. The Junco Shakers at The British Lion at 2pm, a FREE Devizes Arts Festival fringe, and a The Poetry Slam from 6pm at the Wharf Theatre is another free fringe event which sadly closes the arts festival for another year.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
Perfectly Frank, Frank Sinatra tribute at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
BuckFest continues at The Three Horseshoes.
Western Players โ Dead Reckoning opens at Swindon Arts Centre, running until 26th June. Kavus Torabi at the Vic, Swindon
Hodmadoddery at the Bell, Bath.
Monday 17th
Devizes Election Hustlings at Devizes School, see poster.
Troy Redfern is at The Tree House, Frome.
Tuesday 18th
Jon Pearson at Crazy Bird Comedy Club in The Piggy Bank Micropub in Calne.
Lost Songs of Scilly: Piers Lewin & John Patrick Elliott at Pound Arts, Corsham.
QOW Trio for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon.
Saskia Maxwell & Sam Sweeney at the Bell, Bath
And thatโs all weโve got for now; fill your boots! Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Summer Solstice next Thursday 20h June, and thereโs lots to do over the rest of the month, HERE>
Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, 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? Itโs not that we donโt like you, itโs 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 Iโve added it and let me know if not!
Britpop icons Supergrass will headline Frome Festival as a fundraising event for grassroots community action group โPeople for Packsaddleโ who are fighting to save aโฆ
Another Triumph for WHO Andy Fawthrop Following the excellent recent production of La Belle Helene at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre back in March (see here), Whiteโฆ
Five Have An Out-of-town Experience You canโt always get that live music experience you crave by simply staying within the walls of D-Town.ย Sometimes, andโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Charlotte Emily Shakespeare wrote several plays that were termed in the late nineteenth century โProblem Playsโ. These wereโฆ
Once Devizes folk had their fill of vintage cars and side stalls at the popular annual Lions on Green family event, and the sun took a nosedive behind clouds, many refreshed themselves at the Three Crowns, where Devizes Arts Festival held one of their many free fringe eventsโฆ.
Americana trio Rumour from the Black Country, pitched up in the yard with a breezy underlying familiarity to their sound. As the name suggests, covers were Fleetwood Mac top-heavy but delivered beautifully amidst a few other classics and some blended original material. Couldn’t fault them if I tried.
There was a drifting river blues subtly in their sound, fused with the easy side of rock classics; a perfect fit for a Sunday afternoon in the universally popular tavern. We love a bit of rock classics just as we much as we love The Three Crowns and the Arts Festival. Just, y’know, got a lot a love to go round!
Another inviting and social event for The Arts Festival, continuing through next week; grab some tickets.
Seven-piece sui generis ensemble The Cable Street Collective were everything I expected them to be last night at The Corn Exchange; another impressive booking for the middle weekend of Devizes Arts Festivalโฆ..
Hailing from the Shadwell area of East London as the name suggests, if Cable Street is remembered for violent clashes between fascist Blackshirts and the multicultural populous, now reduced to lobbing milkshakes, multiculturalism also plays a major part of the band’s influences despite them being largely Caucasian.
From the off I’m reminded of the marabi sound of Hugh Masekela, with the upfront brass of trumpet and saxophone. Yet you couldn’t pigeonhole this with a thousand words, it’s wholly unique. Female fronted by an energetic yogi, she somersaults the high stage projecting a mid-tone vocal range with unrivalled passion, encouraging her audience to follow the leader.
In delivery and posture I likened her to Bristol’s Mr Tea and the Minions, a band the guitarist said they knew when I harassed him afterwards, and you may recall from a Street Festival of yore. Although Mr Tea borrows extensively fromย Balkan ska to create carny-folk, the Cable Street Collective favour African rhythms to dress their overall pop festival soulful sound; such is the interesting melting pot of the contemporary UK festival circuit.
With subtle nods to North African fusion, from Congolese rhumba to soukous, to the more prominent dance music of South Africa ascended from township jive, you cannot go wrong if you desire to get your audience on their feet. And that’s just what happened in the Exchange, they broke a, likely, tougher audience than those at a festival like Boomtown, younger and aching to dance to an alarm clock! An hour before the finale the majority caved into the irresistible urge to dance perpetrated on a Kevin Bacon cuttinโ Footloose level.
This appeased the band no end, as the atmosphere switched, the collective raised the bar, breaking occasionally to lower the tempo for poignancy, it maintained its influences of West African artists likeย Zeke Manyika and Thomas Mapfumo. By doing as they did, it mellowed into something decidedly transatlantic steppers reggae; up my street and knocking loudly on my door. It was a notification there was a concentrated if light narrative in their original dance rhythms.
They never waived from their ethos of delivering an all original set, by slipping in a cheesy cover or ten. Surprisingly then, they made no attempt to wave merch in our faces. For their resilience in what’s a band’s bread and butter these days, I’ll drop their BandCamp link below, because if you were there or should you otherwise take heed of my words, The Cable Street Collective are uniquely sublime and beguiling, and this was a fantastic night full of energy and passion.
Think, if The Brand New Heavies were inspired by a safari, then asked to compose a theme tune for a Shambala Festival promotional film, you get an impression of how quirky and distinctively original they are. This said, their grand finale felt like their magnum opus, an engaging tune called the Wolf, and it was riddled with the familiar brass riff of Paul Simon’s Call Me Al. The guitarist I managed to catch for a quick word expressed a group devotion to their parentsโ copies of Graceland, hence the influence, which in turn made me feel old; parents? I brought that album!
For the record I digress, fact is unlike much of the album, the Call Me Al brass riff is entirely synthesised. In comparison tothe Cable Street Collective, where nothing is synthetic save perhaps a spacey moment or two backing track to create ambience, this Collective are cool as cucumbers, bongo bonkers poptastic, and engagingly original. I loved it!
Today Devizes Arts Festival has two free events. Rumour will be at the Three Crowns, from 2pm – 4pm. And the Annie Parker Trio at St John’s Church, from 7pm – 8:30pm. It continues through the week, check out the programme HERE, and treat yourself, it’s been a fantastic year so far.
Together in Electric Dreamsโฆ. at The Corn Exchange Fashionably late for Devizes Arts Festival, I’d like to thank Andy and Ian for informative coverage ofโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Play on Words Theatre, and Devizes Arts Festival Who was paying attention in history at school when they coveredโฆ
Poulshot’s Award-winning chocolate studio Hollychocs is proud to launch a heartfelt charity campaign in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK, with a charming chocolateโฆ
Events with diversity, be they ethnic, cultural, or life choices, must be welcomed, encouraged and viewed positively as assets offering variety in our local calendarโฆ
As if the FullTone Festival isnโt exciting enough for Devizes, the Town Council has allowed them an extra day, on the Friday 26th Julyโฆ..
Seeing as everything should be set up and ready to roll for Saturday morning, it seemed a shame not to make use of this iconic stage and tech, so an extension to the festival has been added, with live music from 6pm, and it supports local youth talent.
Six: Teen Edition by Devizes Music Academy
Though FullTone stresses it does all depend on advance ticket sales, for both events. Tickets for the Friday on its own are ยฃ20, or ยฃ10 for under 18. If you buy your festival tickets together with the Friday you will receive a discount code for 20%, if you have already bought tickets for The Fulltone Festival, email jemma@fto.org.uk who will send you the code. The cut off date for this additional Friday is the 30th June, so make sure youโve booked it by then.
Fulltone Festival 2023 Day Two
You should note, this fifth year of the Fulltone Music Festival will be the last one in its current form. Iโve personally had this contemplation for a while; as the FullTone Orchestra branches out, playing the cities and big towns, as it has been, surely itโs inevitable that the magic will rub-off with audiences further afield and theyโll come to Devizes for the festival if there are to be ones in the future; fingers, toes crossed. Spending their cash here on hotels, restaurants and shops is a great thing for the town, and reason enough to support it.
Talk in Code
But if my humble reasoning, and two days already sussed with guests like opera legend Carly Paoli, We Will Rock You star Kerry Ellis and Ricardo Afonso, indie popsters Talk in Code, a Beatles tribute and more orchestral concerts than Anthony can shake his shaky baton at, isnโt enough to entice you, note the Friday has local punker heroes Nothing Rhymes With Orange from 7pm, followed by Devizes Music Academyโs inaugural showcase Six: Teen Edition, replayed from sell-out dates at the Corn Exchange back in April.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange
Iโm told the historical Gen Z party play performance, of which you can read about HERE, will have the same young cast as last time, Ruby Phipps, Amelie Smith, Jess Self, Kelsey Husband, Mia Jepson and Lisa Grime. Alongside Southampton Youth Orchestra opening the festival on the Sunday, we love that FullTone are giving young people a massive platform to perform at this, what could sadly be, the final Fulltone as it currently stands.
Six: Teen Edition by Devizes Music Academy
Obviously I think they should give me the last encore of the Sunday so I can perform my interpretation of Nessun Dorma in the style of Luciano Pavarotti, as I regularly do in the shower. But as its competence and calibre is largely debatable, usually by my kids trying to study in the next room and the neighbourโs howling dog, I will understand if they decline the offer. Imagine, if you will, as I can see it now, me on that colossal stageโฆ.. โTramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All’alba vincerรฒ, vincerรฒ, vincerรฒ!โ Then, mic-drop, bath towel drop, whatever you think the ticket price is worthโฆ..maybe, or no, perhaps just leave it to the professionals and keep this exclusively as a shower performance? It will, after all, be an amazing weekend without it, really!
Swindon Palestine Solidarity continues to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for aid to be allowed to enter Gazaโฆ.. Their three recent roadside signโฆ
I want Devizine to be primarily about arts and entertainment, but Iโm often pathetically persuaded by bickering political factions to pass opinion on local politicsโฆ
Photo credit: ยฉ Rondo Theatre Company / Jazz Hazelwood A gender-queered production of William Shakespeareโs classic play, โThe Taming of the Shrewโ, will be performedโฆ
The first full album by Wiltshireโs finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. Itโs calledโฆ
Bradford-on-Avon Town Councilโs annual festival, aptly titled The Bradford on Avon Live Music Festival is back this weekend, championing local talent with an eclectic line-upโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Performing Sondheim isnโt the simplest of tasks. Or, rather, singing Sondheim isnโt the simplest of tasks. With his dissonantโฆ
And finally it was time to see the girl weโve all been seeing on the poster for the past few months!ย
Last night Devizes Arts Festival presented its comedy big-hitter, the radio and TV star Lucy Porter.ย And D-Town responded with another packed audience.
Lucy Porter is a stand-up comedian, and a regular face and voice on TV and radio panel shows. She loves a good quiz show, appearing on a Pointless Celebrity Special with Ed Byrne and being victorious on Celebrity Mastermind. Sheโs also appeared in QI, Live at the Apollo, Room 101 and heard on BBC Radio 4โs News Quiz.
She handled the start of the first half last night by telling us (perhaps unwisely) that sheโd never been to D-Town before, and therefore felt justified in playing back to us some of the research sheโd managed to dig up. This was fairly gentle, if predictable, shtick โ poking fun at our โposhโ neighbours in Marlborough, relating the Moonrakers story, and throwing in various remarks about the K&A canal, the Caen Hill Flight and something she referred to as the โcanoe marathonโ. It was amusing, but not really hitting the target. Once she put her notes down and started to extemporise a little more, the audience thawed considerably, and the evening began to improve. Her key task here was to warm the audience up for her chosen support act, and to flag the themes sheโd be covering in the second half.
So it was time to welcome Sharon Wanjohi to the stage. Sheโs an up and coming stand-up comedian with a varied act ranging from shock to absurd comedy, and has already appeared at a number of festivals and on TV. Sheโs clearly still learning her craft, but last night she managed to win over an audience that was slightly nervous of someone they werenโt expecting.
Her self-deprecating style, covering themes of personal awakening, both spiritual and sexual, gradually began to hit home. Asking if there were any black people in the audience, indeed whether being black was even legal in D-Town, began to bring the laughs. And her interaction with a certain audience member about being lesbian was truly hilarious. Her set was slightly rambling and disconnected, funny but not hilarious. But there was no doubting the great reception she received in response to her warm, and sometimes personal, story-telling, and her relaxed easy-going style. Iโd definitely file her under the โone to watchโ category.
And then, finally, after a very long interval, we finally had the star of the show. Wearing a changed top (โsparkly on top, comfy belowโ as she put it), we were treated to a master-class in gentle, apparently rambling associative comedy. Picking up on the obvious demographic of the audience, she homed in on one audience member who was clearly younger than the rest, and making great show of โexplainingโ some of the gags and references (just in case no-one got the point). She also picked up with Sharon Wanjohiโs interlocutor from the first half, a tactic that worked extremely well.
She hit some obvious targets for a Radio 4 audience โ the menopause, the male mid-life crisis, the desire to retire, increasing health issues. But she played these well, riffing on her hypochondriac relationship with her GP Margaret (the cancerous spot thast turned out to be Nutella), about doing R2 singalongs with the guys painting her house, and on her thoughts about the โdevelopmentโ of Paul Hollywood. There was a wonderful pastiche of The Sound Of Music and, right at the end, a great punchline about paint involving the chorus of โRelaxโ. There were plenty of anecdotes relating to her own general laziness, her long-standing drinking pals, and her tendency to be impulsive. Her story of just โwinging itโ on a mistaken appearance with Melvyn Bragg was superb.
It was, for the most part, very clean and straight-forward stuff. There was nothing that could be considered โedgyโ, there was nothing political, and there was (amazingly) no swearing. As such, it probably kept most of the audience in their comfort zone for most of the time, but it was no less hilarious for all of that.
Overall, it was a good nightโs entertainment, although I expect thereโll be a LOT of people waking up on Friday morning realising that they now knew what a Gold Star Lesbian is. Go figure!
The phenomenally talented Ruby Darbyshire is performing at Silverwood School in Rowde on 27th June. Ruby has kindly offered to support Silverwood Schoolโs open evening…..โฆ
Adam Woodhouse, Rory Coleman-Smith, Jo Deacon and Matt Hughes, aka Thieves, the wonderful local folk vocal harmony quartet of uplifting bluegrass into country-blues has aโฆ
This summer David is returning with a brand-new show “Historyโs Missing Chapters”, a show made to uncover why, throughout history, some people and events haveโฆ
Under the new management, live music will be making a triumphant return to The Boathouse in Bradford-on-Avon and that Cracking Pair, Claire and Chloe ofโฆ
Always a happy place, our traditional record shop Vinyl Realm in Northgate Street Devizes is back in the game of hosting some live music afternoons.โฆ
One of Wiltshireโs Best by Andy Fawthrop Looking for something to do next weekend? One of Wiltshireโs biggest festivals is happening just up the roadโฆ
Today Devizes Arts Festival presentation took on a more serious and talkative tone with another marquee signing taking to the stage.ย And it was another good audience with plenty of trade at the bar and at the merch desk.
Adam Rutherford is a geneticist, author and broadcaster who frequently appears on science programmes on both radio and TV. He presents Radio 4โs flagship programme Start the Week and was the host of Inside Science for eight years. His popular series The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry has been on air for a decade. Heโs written extensively on race, genetics, evolution and trust in science. As an honorary senior research associate at University College London, he teaches courses on genetics and communication. ย A self-confessed โscience nerdโ heโs a Professor of Evolutionary Genetics.
Itโs a long time since I last attended a formal lecture, with a full Powerpoint deck to get through, but thatโs what we got. Taking station behind a pulpit-like lectern, Adam quickly went into professor mode and quickly taught us all a LOT about genetics, DNA, descent and the various trees of life. It sounds slightly dry and boring, but it was very far from that, as he casually dropped in one amazing fact after another, along with amusing anecdotes, and debunked many myths about the whole business of human evolution and descent.
We were fed some lovely gobbets along the way, such as: itโs believed that 97% of all species that have ever existed on Earth are now extinct, that 2% of the DNA of all modern humans is Neanderthal and that Danny Dyer is not alone in being able to claim direct descent from Edward III, since the mathematical probability of anyone/ everyone being descended from that same monarch is 100%.
We learned that thereโs a lot that we donโt know. Ignorance begets (misplaced) confidence, and confidence begets a lot of (incorrect) speculation and theorising. โPopular scienceโ has a lot to answer for, including the use of inappropriate comparisons, metaphors and illustrations. Thereโs no such thing as genetic โprogressโ (in the sense of improvement), only continuing change. Using a series of โtreesโ (tree of life, tree of human life, the family tree of Charles II of Spain, the tree of Charlemagne and the Who Do You Think You Are? tree), Adam progressively illustrated how many of our ideas and assumptions are often some way from the truth or scientific evidence.
There was plenty of amusement too. The more complex theories and illustrations were summarised as โclusterfucksโ. The act of sexual congress became โa gene flow eventโ. And multi-generational in-breeding was โsub-optimalโ.
The takeaways from all this were that this whole genetics and human descent issue is a lot more complex than we think it is, that racism and eugenics are concepts that defy any logic or evidence you apply to them, and that mathematics can teach us a lot about whatโs really happening. We learned about the โisopointโ, where the entire population at a certain point/ date is the ancestor of the entire population of today.
It was half time and, boy, did everybody need a drink to think about all that lot. It must have been inspiring, as the book-signing desk was overwhelmed with willing customers, and the second half (which consisted of a prolonged Q&A session) was fully engaged by fascinated punters.
Adam fielded a range of questions, despite some mic problems, including those on DNA Testing kits (largely a waste of time and money, and a rip-off monetisation of the worldโs most valuable datafile), Artificial Intelligence (useful for data mining), and our African origins (weโre all African and 100% similar at the DNA level).
Like I said earlier, it sounds dry. But it really wasnโt. Despite the serious subject matter, it was informative and absolutely fascinating. Adam is no comedian, but he does have a light touch, and just like on the radio, he was able to bring science very much to life, to engage his audience, and to leave everyone a little richer in understanding. His passionate dismissal of racism and eugenics owes little to morality or emotion (although I was sure that was there too), but to simple cold-hearted scientific data, evidence and analysis. That gets my vote every single time.
Another great night at the Arts Festival, and thanks (once again) to DAF for having the vision to bring these types of entertainment to our little town.
The Devizes Arts Festival continues until Sunday 16th June at various venues around the town.ย Tickets can be booked at Devizes Books or online at www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk
If weโve had a keen eye on Swindonโs Sienna Wilemanโs natural progression as an upcoming singer-songwriter since being introduced to her self-penned songs via herโฆ
One of Salisburyโs most celebrated acoustic folk-rock singer-songwriters Lucas Hardy teams up with the Wiltshire cityโs upcoming talent who’s name is on everyoneโs lips, Rosieโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages byย Chris Watkins Media One could argue that Anne Frank is possibly the most well-known civilian of the WW2 years, and certainly ofโฆ
Trowbridge singer-songwriter and one third of The Lost Trades, Phil Cooper has actually been doing more than playing solitaire, heโs released a new solo albumโฆ
The first gig and club night by Devizes Youth Action Group exclusively for secondary school aged youth in Devizes back in February was hugely successful, so theyโre doing it again, on Friday 21st June at the Corn Exchangeโฆ..
In conjunction with St James Church, the Devizes Youth Action Group has organised this event for youth, run by youth and created by youth. The first time our youth reporter Florence was on the scene, which you can read again HERE, and you should, because the same bands SHOX, Enguun, Steatopygous are playing, with a DJ set by Flam. The bar will be non-alcoholic, ticket prices kept affordable at ยฃ4 online.ย
If Flo can’t make it this time, I might dust off my Chinos and gate-crash it!!
Today Devizes Arts Festival wheeled out its first classical offering, and chose a particularly fine room in which to showcase this young composer/ musician and his all-female quintet.ย Iโve often said how much I admire the Assembly Room in the Town Hall, and I think itโs a perfect fit for this type of concert.
Edward Cross is a Wiltshire based multiโinstrumentalist with a background in composition and production. He studied at Goldsmiths University and has performed in notable venues including Bath Abbey. His dynamic quintet comprised double bass, cello, viola, violin, and trombone, and this ensemble was completed by Edward himself on (mostly) piano and (occasionally) clarinet.
We were treated, over the course of an hour, to several short pieces of neo-classical exploration. Most of these were subtle, quiet, meandering pieces. The mood was suppressed and under-stated. Most, but not all, were composed by Edward himself. His interactions with the audience consisted mostly of the introductions to each piece, but with only the very minimum of explanation.
The playing was technically good by all the six musicians, but I was longing for them to play something a little more upbeat. The programme seemed a little flat to me, only using a very limited palette of tempo and texture. I craved a little more variation, a little more volume. I felt that the quintet were rather under-used, and was left wondering what they might be capable of if given a little more freedom.
Overall โtechnically enjoyable, but emotionally not very engaging. It felt like driving a powerful car, but without ever getting up into the higher gears. Just my opinion of course โ the audience clearly enjoyed the session, but I was left wanting rather more. Which just goes to prove that you canโt please all of the people all of the time!
More information on Edward, and access to his music, is available at www.edwardcross.co.uk/
The Devizes Arts Festival continues until Sunday 16th June at various venues around the town.ย
An effervescent musical, full of promising young talent Written by: Melissa Loveday Images by: Gail Foster After the success of SIX last year, Devizes Musicโฆ
A photo is circulating on X of Calne’s Reform UK candidate Violette Simpson, which for some reason doesn’t appear on her election campaign….I wonder why?โฆ
Big congratulations to Devizes DJ Greg Spencer this week, the creator of Palooza house nights at The Exchange nightclub, for he made the prestigious billโฆ
Melksham & Devizes Conservatives released a statement on the 7th April explaining an internal audit revealed one of their candidates was โnot qualified by residenceโฆ
Last month we were pleased to announce our involvement with the new Wiltshire Music Awards in conjunction with Wiltshire Events UK, details of which areโฆ
And there was me thinking nothing good comes out of a Monday! Today local bistro Soupchick, popular in the Devizesโ Shambles opened their second branch,โฆ
Hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week. Donโt forget your sunscreen and a nice party umbrella!
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated, so check in later in the week.
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
Devizes Arts Festival got off to a great start, it continues through the week, individual events are listed as normal below.
Wednesday 5th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Mike Dilger โ One Thousand Shades of Green and An Evening with Adam Rutherford, both at Devizes Arts Festival.
Ignas Maknickas at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Big Monthly Jam at The Vic, Swindon.
Dot, the Faun and the Elfin Child at Rondo Theatre, Bath. SKANKt at the Bell.
Thursday 6th
80th anniversary of D-Day, there will be lighting of beacons across the county. One on Marlborough Common, another one Roundway Hill Devizes.
Rum & Records at the Muck & Dundar, Devizes. Hollie McNish โ The Lobster Tour and Lucy Porter at Devizes Arts Festival. Fantasy Radio will be at the Pelican for a live lounge, featuring Andrew Hurst.
Death is a Girl, Ritual Divide & The Belladonna Treatment at the Vic, Swindon. Splat The Rat at The Tuppenny.
Friday 7th
RNLI Lifeboats Event, Polperro Fishermenโs Choir at The Assembly Rooms, Devizes Town Hall. Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls at Devizes Arts Festival.
Open Mic at The Barge on HoneyStreet.
Textiles and Stitch around Marlborough are in Lockeridge, see poster below.
CarmenCo: A Pocket Opera at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Ant Trouble at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Rotten Aces at the Queenโs Tap, Swindon. Bring me the Horizon Party at the Vic.
Meltdown by Tom Hardman (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, Bath. The Collected Grimms Tales by Tim Supple and Carol Ann Duffy (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, Bath. Letโs Unpack That at the Rondo Theatre.
Tangled Roots Folk Festival, Radford Farm, Somerset.
Skinny Lister at The Tree House, Frome. The Buzzcocks at the Cheese & Grain. Not Fragile at The Sun.
Saturday 8th
Cable Street Collective at Devizes Arts Festival, Corn Exchange 8pm. The Unpredictables at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Tom Davies & The Bluebirds at The Southgate. Braeside Summer Extravaganza โ Devizes, free entry, for fun activities, delicious food, live music, artisan market and more.
The Monkey Dolls at The Lamb, Marlborough. RNLI Concert at St Peterโs Church.
Parker, Youngest of 3 and Butane Skies at the Pump in Trowbridge. Donโt forget, Youngest of 3 drummer Flo is also a regular contributor to Devizine, reporting on the youth scene, so please show them some support if you can! Sounds of Seattle at the Civic.
Bradford-on-Avon Food & Drink Festival. Fist Full of Rage at The Three Horseshoes.
Magic & Marvels at Swindon Arts Centre. Rockabilly Rumble at The Queenโs Tap, Swindon.
Masa at The Tuppenny. The Chaos Brothers at The Vic.
Catherine Bohartโs Again, With Feelings, at Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Little Pickles Market followed by Paul Jones & Dave Kelly at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Sunday 9th
Lions on the Green at Devizes Green. Tamsin Quinn & Vince Bell at The Southgate, from 5pm. Devizes Arts Festival Walk : Sarsens, Soldiers and Sawpits, and two free fringe events, Rumour at the Three Crowns at 2pm, and Annie Parker Trio at St John’s Church at 7pm.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
Matt Bragg & Seb Cooper at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Destination: Old Hag by Bridget Hardy, Penny Rossano and Samantha Houston (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, Bath. The Saint Melonians at the Bell, Bath.
Monday 10th
Ida Pelliccioli at Devizes Arts Festival.
Rock The Tots: Jungle at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The University of Bath Minerva Lecture Series at The Mission, Bath. Scott Lavene at the Bell, Bath (we love Scott here at Devizine, go see this, and if you do, please write back to tell us about it.)
Tuesday 11th
Devizes Arts Festival: Belinda Kirk and The Life-Changing Power of Adventure. And Discovering Antarctica : Heroic tales of Shackleton, Crean and Scott ~ Play on Words Theatre.
Peter Jones & Tom Berge Trio for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon.
And thatโs all weโve got for now; fill your boots! Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Do check ahead with our every-changing events diary. Isnโt it high time you snapped up some tickets for the Devizes Arts Festival?
Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, 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? Itโs not that we donโt like you, itโs 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 Iโve added it and let me know if not!
Stuffed my dinner, scanned the brief, headlonged out the door, forgot about the road diversion into the Market Place, made a u-turn, arrived at Wiltshireโฆ
It was a fantastically successful opening night for Devizes Musical Theatre at Dauntseyโs School for their latest show, Disneyโs Beauty and the Beast, and Iโฆ
Renowned Devizes auctioneers and valuers, Henry Aldridge and Son announced today they are relocating their auction rooms to The Old Emporium, a Grade II listedโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ann Ellison. What can possibly be better than watching a performance of โBlood Brothersโ by Willy Russell? Watching TWO performances ofโฆ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Have you had โthe visitโ yet? Your local councillor house-calling hand-in-hand with Conservative candidate Michelle Donelan? I have. At least it broke up my busy day with lighthearted banter! You know, by publishing their adventures in pestering on Facebook, they’re verging on breaking electoral rules, right?
Despite my pacifism means my assault would only have been verbal, I had to get the better half to face the candidate who cost the taxpayer ยฃ34,000 for her personal court case whilst using her position to insure her partner and their father profited from the pandemic, because I couldn’t be trusted, holding an electric hedge trimmer and all!
The leaflet was refused with an expression of surprise. It was surprising all round, in fact. I was surprised at the audacity to shamelessly parade the streets begging for votes; canvassing they call it, desperation I call it!
They were surprised upon my reply to their comment that it was โa nice day for it,โ which was, โyes, when you get back perhaps you could pay back some of the money you stole!โ Michelle’s expression was one of sucking a lemon, as she hurried to harass the next-door neighbour instead, without much fortune. And I, in turn, was surprised the backup was our own councillor who I like and trusted. But, if they come to your house begging for votes in this way, they are possibly breaking electoral rules, when such ventures are published, as they have been on Michelle Donelanโs own Facebook page. (It’s all cool, I was booted off her page for appealing against genocide, ages ago!)
On โprohibition of political publicity,โ a Government Act 1986, which you can view for yourself at Legislation.gov.uk, it states โ(1)A local authority shall not publish[F1, or arrange for the publication of,] any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party.โ
Yet, here they are, doing it. โReelsโ are the deal, short videos to you or me, and Michelle has smattered her Facebook page with Wiltshire Conservative Councillor and Conservative Town Councillor endorsements. It doesn’t matter how many emojis you use to make it feel fun, this is still published matter, it is undemocratic and it borders on breaking electoral law.
Those who we know of who rallied the cause, at least those reels currently active online are Cllr Maria Hoult, Devizes South Town Councillor, Cllr Laura Mayes Wiltshire Councillor for Bromham & Rowde, Cllr Jack Oatley Wiltshire Councillor for Melksham Forest, Cllr Brian Burchfield of Colerne, Cllr Johnny Kidney Wiltshire Councillor for Winsley & Westwood, and Cllr Nick Holder for Bowerhill.
UPDATE: Our sources though have been informed by a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police, and after a thorough investigation with senior people in the electoral commission they have found “no wrongdoing.” This is because it was not published on a Wiltshire Council platform. The conclusion of their investigation is that we must apologise for our mistake when stating it was unlawful, and we have edited this out with fairness. Still, to us the internal ethics of attempting to influence the electorate is unfair on opposition parties.
It seems they are so confident they will not be exposed by local media for flaunting electoral law in this way, they will brazenly publish such material unashamedly. We will be chatting to the candidates for alternative options over the coming weeks, so you can make your own mind up without the persuasion of “your local councillors,” so stay tuned!
Oh, and the hedge looks great now, thanks for asking; just shaved a little off the top and sides!
by Ian Diddamsimages by Josie Mae Ross and Richard Fletcher John Hodge is well known for his screenwriting of โShallow Graveโ, โThe Beachโ, โA Lifeโฆ
One of Swindon’s premier grunge pop-punkers, The Belladonna Treatment released their debut single, Bits of Elation, with London-based SODEH Records earlier this month. I spokeโฆ
A second single from Swindon Diva Chloe Hepburn, Situationships was released this week. With a deep rolling bassline, finger-click rhythm and silky soulful vocals, thisโฆ
I’m delighted to announce Devizine will be actively assisting to organise a new county-wide music awards administration, in conjunction with Wiltshire Music Events UK. Theโฆ
Can You Find The Wiltshire Potholes From The Moon Craters?! Now, at Devizine Towers we are far too mature and sensible to mock Wiltshire Councilโsโฆ
Review by Pip Aldridge Last week, I had the privilege of seeing the Fulltone Orchestra perform at the beautiful Tewkesbury Abbey beneath the Peace Dovesโฆ
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Devizes Arts Festival has already got off to a storming start over this last weekend, with performances on Friday from Jolly Roger, Saturday from Lady Nade, and on Sunday from Adam Alexander and Eddy Allen. Some of these weโve already reviewed here.
So now itโs rolled round to Monday, and itโs time to head out into the first mid-week dates, with a whole variety of stuff to choose from.ย Last night, and first up of the spoken word big hitters, it was the turn of Dr. Phil Hammond at The Corn Exchange.
I wasnโt sure if was a comment on the current difficulty of getting a GP appointment, but Dr. Philโs waiting room was pretty full, with people eagerly awaiting a consultation with the famous doctor.
Phil is an NHS doctor, journalist, broadcaster, speaker, campaigner and comedian. He currently works at the Bath RUH in a specialist NHS team for young people with long Covid. Born in the NHS (a slogan emblazoned on his t-shirt, and frequently referenced throughput the set), and brought up in Australia (the Ozzie twang was unmistakeable), he worked in general practice for over twenty years, and has also worked in sexual health. A familiar voice on BBC Radio 4, he has also presented five series of โTrust Me, Iโm a Doctorโ on BBC2, encouraging patients to be more involved, assertive and questioning. And finally (a major feather in his cap in my book) heโs also Private Eyeโs medical correspondent, where he broke the story of the Bristol heart scandal in 1992.
Philโs โsurgeryโ consisted of two sets – โHow To Fix The NHSโโ and โThe Ins And Outs Of Pleasureโ.
The first half consisted of both commentary on the NHS, and Dr. Philโs ideas on how it might be improved.ย Using both his own and patient-generated ideas, the best of which was โforce all MPs and Health Service professionals receive all their treatment in the worst-performing hospitalsโ, and plenty of enthusiastic audience participation, he addressed current issues in a positive light.ย His key messages were โprevention rather than cureโ (more investment needed upstream) and our individual responsibility for personal health.ย His model, and mnemonic for the night was (of all things) CLANGERS, which provides daily prompts on healthy behaviour.ย I might be making it sound a little dry, but it was very far from it.ย He often had the audience in stitches (is this allowed? โ Ed. Ed’s note; any passing tumbleweeds are your own responsibility, Andy!), with his โhierarchy of cricketing euphemismsโ for death (โtaken the short walk to the pavilionโ), and a gob-smacking tale of โeuthanasia by cling-filmโ.ย
The delivery was fast, yet calm, with a take-no-prisoners attitude. He was self-deprecating, often admitting to his own mistakes (predicting that Covid would cause less deaths than people falling down the stairs) and failures (pronouncing a patient to be dead, who subsequently turned out to be very much alive). There were plenty of anecdotes from his times as a trainee and a junior whilst at Medical School, quite enough to shock the bejesus out of the audience.
If anything, the second half was even better. Having posted a trigger warning that it would be quite a bit more graphic and near the bone, it did not disappoint. โThe Ins and Outs of Pleasureโ did what it said on the tin, and addressed issues of sex, orgasms, masturbation and self-pleasuring. The language was fruity and devoid of euphemism, and soon had the audience squirming with embarrassed nervous laughter. Being a consummate professional performer, the doctor correctly โread the roomโ and sensing that he was perhaps pushing a Monday night audience in D-Town a little too far, very subtly applied the brakes to some of the tougher stuff. Side-stepping his material via some more personal history, we were soon transitioned into the slightly safer territory of โconsensual cannibalismโ, the value of having a dog for good mental self-pleasuring, and the joy of โfuck-it Fridaysโ. But there was still plenty of time on the side for useful medical advice on the use of cock-rings (get the ones with handles), and things not to put into human orifices.
The general prescription issued last night was for taking control of, and responsibility for, your own mental and physical health. And my personal takeaway arrived almost at the end of the setโ โlaughter is the best medicine – unless you have syphilis, in which case penicillin is a better betโ. Priceless.
A cracking nightโs entertainment โ informative, interesting, and absolutely hilarious. Another great choice by DAF to bring such performing talent to our town.
If many space-rock acts have more band member changes than most other musicians change their socks, Hawkwind are the exemplar of the tendency. Thereโฆ
The second single from Georgeโs sessions with Jolyon Dixon is out today, Isnโt She Lonely. With the vaudeville ambience of Queenโs later material andโฆ
A new music festival is coming to Devizes this July. Organisers of the long-running Marlborough based festival MantonFest are shifting west across the downsโฆ
All images: ยฉ๏ธ JS Terry Photography An awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding musical talent within the city, aptly titled The 2024 Salisbury Musicโฆ
If the opening Friday evening of Devizes Arts Festival was amazing for lively pirate-punk craziness, Saturday night was too for precisely opposite reasons. Bristol’s soulstress Americana virtuoso, Lady Nade arrived, and in a word, was mesmerisingโฆ
I’ve put her ladyship on the highest pedestal since reviewing her lockdown album Willing, longing to see her perform. With a firm handshake she thanked me for the review at the interval, and I was truly honoured. Yet the grand venue was rather scarce on audience; you should take heed that I don’t do flattery for flattery’s sake, I’m aware it was a busy weekend for events, but you missed the single most mind-blowingly sublime gig in town I’ve witnessed in Devizes for a long time.
A few minutes late due to the unreliable bus service, at least one thing was reliable, the divine sound blessing the Corn Exchange, as Lady Nade stood in the middle of an archetypal country vocal and guitar harmony trio. I felt an immediate emotion rush through me, imagining I was witness to Nina Simone performing in her heyday, of the southern state persuasion of gospel artists like Ray Charles to record country, fuse Appalachian folk into jazz, and open the melting pot of pop.
Like a tour guide to her psyche, Lady Nade narrated her life story and innermost thoughts when inspiration struck. Her reasons for writing her pending songs gave clarity to the narrative, yet is often conveyed with wry banter. She referenced her influences too, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald, jokingly snapping at one chap getting up for a drink, just as Nina commanded. Through all the subject’s solemnity, from the state of today’s music industry to dealing with grief, splices of stand-up comedy were thrown in. Whatever the angle, whatever the art, though, they conveyed it astutely and professionally.
Even with all these perfectly delivered elements combined, none are more impressive than Lady Nade’s sublime vocal range, the expression and conviction of her own words, and the accompanying harmonies. The rarity of contralto, to border mezzo-soprano, and countertenor; hey, I’m no expert on such technicalities but the depth rewards them my โin a wordโ evaluation of mesmerising.
Dealing with the passing of her caring grandparents, to thoughts of mental well-being were the most touching. The audience took away a little part of Lady Nade and related them to their own stories, and that is the mark of genius. This communal experience came to a summit at the finale, when she unplugged her acoustic guitar and sauntered through the audience singing. As her songs flowed through me, I closed my eyes and saw my father, smiling back at me, forever grateful to anyone with the power to evoke such reverie through song.
Lesser emotional moments were equally as entertaining. Critical of the mechanics and monopolising of streaming music, the trio covered Gillian Welch’s Everything is Free, and the opening song to the second half was decidedly upbeat soul, akin to The Jackson’s I Want You Back. Yet the concentration overall was dulcet, euphonious and soulful vocal harmony, original yet reminiscent of the gospel-country fusion of yore, naturally spliced with Bristolian banter!
There is an unusual angle to Lady Nade’s creativity, she associates her songs with food, focussing a recipe relating to each song. If that sounds a tad bonkers, perhaps, but in this performance, like all her reasoning, the back story provides the logic!
It was a breath-taking performance, only Nina Simone between Simon & Garfunkel could’ve equalised. Signing in this year’s Devizes Arts Festival beautifully, in which there’s a fortnight of greatness yet to come. There’s two fringe events today, Sunday, seed detective Adam Alexander at the Peppermill, and loop guru Eddie Allen at the Bear for 7pm.
I know and accept the struggle is real, all promoters are at risk when putting food on the table is priority, but if you can, don’t overlook our brilliant Arts Festival this year, check out the programme and treat yourself, else we seriously face losing this opportunity in future, alongside others.
As it was, last night I had time to drop into the Southgate, to hear for the first time Salisbury’s The Duskers, an extremely proficient five-piece twisted folk roots ensemble, and they were euphoric in their fashion of elongated mellow-driven compositions. I could, and would have otherwise been there from the start.
Meanwhile: The Duskers at the Southgate
The pub circuit in Devizes is second-to-none for a local town this size, live music thrives here freely, yet while I know this is all awesome, organisers of annual events like the Arts Festival will bring superiority in sound, professionalism and variety of acts to our town our trusty pubs couldn’t. Last night with Lady Nade proves this, but unfortunately such greatness costs to stage, ergo we back ticketed events with equal gusto as those free pub gigs. I believe there’s room for all, but only if we support the ones funding themselves through tickets too.
Devizes Arts Festival looks to be a cracker this year. I’m still in awe of Lady Nade this morning, but there’s lots more to come!
Monsieur, with these Exchange Comedy night you are really spoiling us, for usually comedy in Devizes is just what we make ourselves; laughing at visitorsโฆ
A drone operated by Wiltshire Hunt Sabs was attacked by a second drone, twice, while surveying The Beaufort Hunt, after it recorded them illegally huntingโฆ
Without sounding like a stuck record, itโs the same unfortunate news for Devizes Street Festival as it was last year; Arts Council England has notโฆ
Bussing into Devizes Saturday evening, a gaggle (I believe is the appropriate collective noun) of twenty-something girls from Bath already on-board, disembark at The Marketโฆ
With a rolling hook in the chorus, piano riff over acoustic guitar and a heartfelt narrative, hereโs a promising debut single from Salisburyโs young singer-songwriter Rosie Jay out today. Iโm getting Kirsty MacColl vibes here, and if you think thatโs a pretty high accolade, youโll just have to have a listen and decide for yourself!
โWho are you trying to convinceโ folktronica break-up song, ironic Against All Odds in theme, earnestly expressed. Rosie has the confident and steadfast vocal range, with accompanying angelic backing to make this work, and it does with cherries on. It was recorded at Jolyon Dixonโs home studio, if you know Jolyon you know I need say no more.
โฆ.but I will, because I have a tendency to waffle, but for all the right reasons, this is a beautiful song. I believe weโre on the verge of discovering another talented local musician here, and I think thereโs something greater to come too; we look forward to hearing more, Rosie, this is a winner from me!ย
Once the demonic entity Spring-Heeled Jack entered folklore it became subject to many books and plays, diluting the once real threat of this Victorian bogeymanโฆ
Devizes singer-songwriter Jamie Hawkins, famed for poignant narrative in his songs and one-third Lost Trade, has always had a passion for filmmaking; Teeth is theโฆ
There are only a few tickets left for this yearโs Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, an important fundraiser for DOCAโฆ.. This year DOCA has teamedโฆ
A sublime evening of electronic elegance was had at Bathโs humble Rondo Theatre last night, where Cephidโs album, Sparks in The Darkness, was played outโฆ
Land ahoy me hearties! Devizes Corn Exchange was boarded last night by Cornish punk pirates Jolly Roger, for a frivolous and swashbuckling opening to Devizes Arts Festival; the face that launched a thousand ships was witness to itโฆ.
That’s me, if it wasn’t obvious, landlubbers, the face! For although it’s Devizine assemble, to bring you coverage of the forthcoming fortnight of music, comedy, talks and walks, for this splice of the mainbrace you lucky lot have got the toothless editor to shiver yer timbers. And blow me down, those buccaneers battened down the hatches and gave us a cheerful chantey carousel, at least, I liked it!
Under the ethos of what being a pirate in the 21st century means, Jolly Roger is precisely as claimed on the tin, and in that,ย the balance between the punk element and shanties of yore will always be a debatable matter. I’d imagine a few elders in the audience favoured them leaning on folk, and a ragged old sailor spinning yarns under gentler rhythms. Yet while themes included pirate subjects and phrases, including Davy Jonesโ locker, et al, and they practise audience participation diligently, Jolly Roger are contemporary, and punkish shenanigans offsets the balance. That’s the method I’d savour, and in this it was never clichรฉ.
It was loud and sprightly unpretentious punkish tomfoolery with a pirate theme, yet, at times there was concentrated and thought-provoking narratives in their original material too. Euphoric tunes such as the most poignant Silent Mountain temporarily broke the frenzy, whereas characters like a bloke who props up the bar, conveyed this is a three sheets to the wind partying band to be taken tongue-in-cheek, but, dressed as pirates kinda gave that game away!
It’s not experimenting, rather pounding classic ground akin to Ferocious Dog, joyfully and professionally. For if Adam Ant broke the bitter reality hook of punk by incorporating fun subjects like pirates, native Americans or anything else he read about in Look-In, and folk blended a regional sound we affectionately dub scrumpy and western, here’s a dandy, and fun-filled fusion worthy of your attention. Think the Pouges-lite with a pasty and tricorne, for while there were a few expletives, it was hospitable enough to cater for open minded children of the festival.
Yet, it was a show perhaps best suited for a rowdy corner pub in a Cornish back lane, where the scent of salt air melds with that of wet dog hair carpet; such is our Arts Festival’s penchant for presenting us diversity, noteworthy when scanning the forthcoming programme. There’s something for everyone, it just needs everyone to take heed of this notion and throw away any preconceptions you may have about this wonderful occasion in Devizes. For instance, tonight Lady Nade arrives, an international act hailing from Bristol, who if you haven’t heard before, take it from me, her songwriting skills and soulful expression sublimely blesses Americana in something wholly unique and unmissable. So, tickets are on the door, don’t miss it!
As forJolly Roger, well it was a superb performance and a grand opening for Devizes Arts Festival. Onlookers gazed at this fiery swashbuckling gang as their infectious jigs ordered them to break rank and jiggle. The band tour extensively across the UK festival circuit, do look out for them, with a telescope in the crow’s nest if necessary! These pirates of Penzance were a fire in the hole, excellently entertaining, me hearties!
I caught up with an excited Jonathan Hunter, leader of Devizes Town Councilโs independent party The Guardians, and local loyal youth worker Steve Dewar toโฆ
Experience the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, a vibrant, family-friendly community gathering featuring traditional dance, music, song, and folklore throughout the town centre onโฆ
If Iโm considering reviewing worldwide music again, why stop with this planet?! Though Iโve reasoned two tenacious links to mention this madcap Scottish interstellar outfit;โฆ
The team behind popular all-day music extravaganza, My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, can now reveal that nearly ยฃ11,500 was raised for Prospect Hospiceโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Jeni Meade No aficionado of 1960s and 1970s horror films would have missed seeing โRosemaryโs Babyโ, a story of Satanic pregnancy,โฆ
In November last year I was mightily impressed with Bristol soul-reggae producer Kaya Street, and reviewed their EP The Soul Sessions, read it here forโฆ
devizine.com 