If we’re nearly out of the prolonged gloom of January, note it’s still winter but we’ve climatised and are ready to party. February this year looks positively booming with music events. This weekend alone looks hotter for events than it will probably be climate wise!
Leading us up to the start of the month, Swindon Shuffle’s new wintery thang SwinterFest is covering days all this coming weekend from Thursday and onto the 1st and 2nd; Saturday is at the Castle, Sunday at the Beehive, check the poster for the fantastic lineup. Another amazing fundraiser for Prospect House.
Thursday 3oth Jan
Also in Swindon find Ian Barrett Band with Bare Knuckle Asylum and Tiddles the Hellcat at The Vic. Ignacio Lopez at Swindon Arts Centre, and Jack Dee’s Small World at The Wyvern Theatre.
New Writing Night at The Rondo Theatre, Bath, and Tom Jones’ favourite singer Mim Grey is at Chapel Arts.
Follow Comedy Club at Qudos in Salisbury, Alistair McGowan at Salisbury Playhouse, and Limehouse Lizzy at Salisbury Arts Centre.
Friday 31st Jan
Jamie Hawkins is at The Bridge in Horton. The Tipsy Gypsies are at The Royal Oak in Pewsey.
The Blunders are at the Pump in Trowbridge, with The Lindup Brothers & Hometown Devilry. Morphew School of Dance presents A Wish Come True at the Civic Centre.
As well as SwinterFest, Last Train Smokin’ are at The Beehive, Swindon. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde at Swindon Arts Centre,and Cirque Enchantment at The Wyvern Theatre.
Stable at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Lucy Loves Liquor at the Coach and Horses in Salisbury. Diamond Froggs at Deacons, and Barnstormers Comedy at Salisbury Arts Centre. Salisbury Playhouse has That’ll Be The Day.
Sound of the Sirens at The Tree House in Frome. Dire Streets at The Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 1st
Falls on Deaf Ears at the Southgate in Devizes, and there’s a Long Street Blues Club night at the Cons Club with The John Martin Project. Devizes Scooter Club promises a soul, Motown, ska and reggae DJ night at the Football Club, and Mr M & The Original PJ have a soul night also, at the Bear Hotel. DJ Karl Maggs playing club hits at the Exchange.
Bodge It & Scarper at The Bear, Marlborough, Jam Night at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Three upcoming local DJs, ET Tronic, FLAM and Artoid play a Future Sound of Trowbridge night at The Pump, while Junkyard Dogs are at the host pub, The Lamb. Morphew School of Dance presents A Wish Come True, a matinee at the Trowbridge Civic Centre.
D’ Ska Assassins are at Prestbury Sports Bar in Warminster.
Mustard Allegro at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Colin Hoult: Colin at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
As well as Swinterfest in Swindon, Mojo plays The Swiss Chalet, Still Marillion at The Vic, and Peter Andre stars in The Best Of Frankie Valli at The Wyvern Theatre!
There’s a Winter FiggleFest at Figheldean Village Hall. Jetpack at The Ram, Tidworth.
Wiltshire Creative Comedy Club with Lucy Beaumont at Salisbury Playhouse. Sarum’s Lot at Qudos. Lucas Hardy, Rosie Jay and Rich Butcher at The Avon Brewery Inn Salisbury and Graffiti Classics: The Comedy String Quartet at Salisbury Arts Centre.
Laurence Jones is at The Tree House in Frome, and there’s an Retro Electro at the Cheese & Grain.
Sunday 2nd Feb
Jon Amor Trio with guest Shannon Harris at The Southgate, Devizes.
Everyone Says Hi are Instore at Sound Knowledge in Marlborough, which we previewed.
Super Blue Moon at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Roy Orbison Story at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Sunday Session at The Coach & Horses, Salisbury with Ben Nicholls
Open Mic at George and Dragon, Salisbury.
CSF Pro Wrestling Showdown at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
But of course, you’d know all this if you keep checking into our event calendar! We are not running the weekly roundups any longer due to it being time consuming which basically just repeats what’s been listed already. It was just that this weekend seems to have really opened up for events again, and see this as a gentle reminder to keep checking into Devizine, as the calendar is always updating, as fast as I possibly can add listings!
Do contact us if we’ve missed your event out, and we can list it free for you.
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 on Saturday 10th May 2025 (9.30am to 6pm). And the best part is, it’s free!
Witness over 50 dance groups, including 500 dancers and 120 musicians, featuring Morris dancing and diverse European styles.
Join the whimsical journey of our 10ft tall Jack in the Green and Jill in the Green, visiting 12 town centre venues with bands and fantasy beasts.
You’ll also discover the kid’s zone, artisan market, community hub, pagan arts and crafts.
Groove to a samba band, mummers’ play, Folk Club stage, Wiltshire Music Centre stage at Holy Trinity Church, a great venue with fantastic acoustics, Blues @ The Shoes stage, live pub music with English folk music in The Canal Tavern organised by the regular BoA session players, The Dandy Lion hosting an Appalachian session, French music outside in the sun at Timbrell’s Yard, buskers and more!
A Friday night launch party at the Wiltshire Music Centre is always a great start to the festival. This year it is on Friday 9th May, and they’ve booked the fantastic John Martyn Project.
The full programme is available on the BoA Green Man Festival website: boagreenmanfest.org
The BoA Green Man Festival has something for everyone – so dress up for the day and really get into the swing of things.
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If I’m considering reviewing worldwide music again, why stop with this planet?! Though I’ve reasoned two tenacious links to mention this madcap Scottish interstellar outfit; one, their tour lands them at Frome’s Cheese and Grain on Saturday April 19th, and two, they’re called Henge, and as Wiltshire houses the most famous one of them, that’ll do!
Why am I so keen to mention them? It’s the challenge of summing up something completely unique. It requires a gaping pigeonhole, comical jazzy post-rave space-rock probably best suits; bonkers, in a word. Someone shared a video of them headlining the Shambala Festival and I was abducted, though while I’ve not listened to their previous three albums, we’ll launch off with their forthcoming album Journey to Voltus B, set for release on January 31st, exactly ten years to the day from when the band gave their first live performance on planet Earth.
This is truly out of this world fantastic, and what should’ve been playing at the Cantina in Star Wars. It’s like Scott Joplin came after Eat Static, or Miles Davis was a member of Hawkwind. If Funki Porcini met Altern 8, or Philip K Dick was a guest on Yo Gabba Gabba, it’s the sum of all these parts yet it’s none of them, because it’s alien, pinching Jeff Wayne’s stash for testing purposes and stranding him on an uninhabited Plutoid!
Over seven certifiably insane but glorious tunes you travel to Voltus B with the half-druid mutant electronic spacerockers, the planet of an advanced civilisation with a looming atomic future, and you get to decide their fate!
Side B of the vinyl version of the album has been innovatively cut in ‘parallel groove’ with two tracks, both called Power of the Atom, pressed concentrically to each other on the same side of the record. While one track tells the bleak fate of Voltus B after its inhabitants use their newfound knowledge of atomic power to make weapons, with the planet annihilated in war and entering a nuclear winter; the other tells the story of the planet’s future after the aliens decide to use their scientific discovery to create limitless clean energy through Nuclear Fusion.
But you are supplied with the mission brief enroute. Ascending is the opening tune and first single, which is out now and available on all platforms. It blasts off without waiting for you to lock into position. Then it’s a Slingshot around Mars to get us on our way, a post-punky robotic vocal track with equal pace, which falls dramatically by the third tune as we enter Hypersleep. As it suggests, this is the dreamy ambience of the Orb, and you await for landing, in audio bliss. Descending next, and we’re off again with the crazy uptempo nut-filled jazzy explosion of synths. You’re welcomed to Voltus B like it was a nineties free party, then comes the concluding narrative, like Edward Packard’s Choose Your Own Adventure book series, on acid!
Of the new single, Henge frontman and crew captain, Zpor, explains, “with this new single Ascending we are setting the scene for our latest adventure into space. As we blast off from Earth, it becomes clear that YOU, the listener, are among our crew for this high-stakes voyage, where the fate of an entire planet is literally in your hands.”
This is, without doubt, mind-blowingly progressive, and highly entertaining, especially for stoners, Trekkies and kids of all ages alike, and I tick all those boxes. It’s child-friendly psychedelic vaudeville, the Jetsons meet the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, in Lego.
This new favourite thing made me think about the end of ET, and why Elliot couldn’t go with him, because if music is like this elsewhere in the universe and I was Elliot, I’d have packed glow sticks into my backpack and not looked back at Earth once!
In support of their latest campaign, HENGE are embarking on an extensive run of UK shows planned for 2025. Join the band at the following locations and venues:
The team behind popular all-day music extravaganza, My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, can now reveal that nearly £11,500 was raised for Prospect Hospice following last Summer’s event, bringing the total raised since the festival’s inception to well over £40,000…..
MDBTYD 2024, organised in association with the South Swindon Parish Council, was held at Old Town Bowl on Saturday 20th July 2024 with around 1,000 people joining in the festivities. Devizine sent our Ian along, and this was what he said about it.
This was the fourth year of the increasingly popular local festival, which was organised to raise much needed funds for Prospect Hospice in tribute to Dave Young, the former landlord of The Victoria and 12 Bar, who died in early June 2021 at the Hospice after a hard-fought battle against cancer.
Prospect Hospice, based in Wroughton, provides invaluable care for people across the region and has to raise in excess of 70% of its costs through fundraising through the local community. In 2023 alone Prospect Hospice provided free care for over 2,000 patients. With costs continuing to rise and more people than ever needing their care, fundraising is critical to continue this vital service – they have sadly lost 50% of their capacity for inpatient care due to underfunding within the last two years.
“Prospect Hospice is an organisation that does incredible work, delivering palliative and end of life care to those who need it; work that is only going to become more important in the future. Everything that the hospice does is driven by the people in our community, which I find to be truly inspirational.” – Jeremy Lune, CEO.
The story of local music promoter Dave Young and the support he and his family received from the hospice is reflected in this event through its energy, varied line up of predominantly local bands and array of family friendly entertainment throughout the day, all supported by local sponsors and an army of volunteers. The event is a true community collaboration, much like the hospice itself.
Anna Sprawson, Dave’s widow & event co-organiser has said “Without the support of Prospect Hospice, what was a terrible time for Dave and us, his family was made somewhat more bearable – I could call on Dave’s Prospect nurse, Tina at any time for support & guidance and she remains a close family friend to this day. Hospices are often simply thought of as places where someone goes to die, however it is so much more than that – it allows the family to spend the remaining moments with their loved ones, allowing me to be Dave’s wife again and not only his carer.”
My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival 2024, which had the support of Future Planning as its headline sponsor for the third year running, took place over two stages with 16 acts performing on the Old Town Bandstand acoustic stage as well as the main stage at the Old Town Bowl. Sanjay from Future Planning said “Everyone we work with and speak to knows about the Prospect Hospice and the incredible work they undertake, touching so many lives, it’s a privilege to be able to help such a worthy cause. Each time we interact with someone from Prospect, they are always friendly and helpful. We are always happy to support in any way possible and hope the Prospect Hospice can continue doing their amazing work for many years to come.”.
Other sponsors of MDBTYD Festival 2024 included Holmes Music, The Tuppenny, Lewis Farrant Floor Layer, Funky Corner Radio. Some of the best acts of the local music scene came together to support the event – SN Dubstation, Gaz Brookfield and The Company of Thieves, The Chaos Brothers (one of Dave’s bands) and many more.
Part of the fee paid to South Swindon Parish Council to use the venue has been put aside to help raise money for the continued upkeep of the Old Town Bowl, an eye-catching 1930’s art deco amphitheatre.
After a well-earned break, the organisers of the festival are now planning for MDBTYD 2025, with the date set for Saturday 26th July 2025. For further updates, follow My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival on social media. Facebook. Insta.
Discounted early bird tickets for this year’s event are already on sale via their website –HERE – get them while they’re still hot!
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No aficionado of 1960s and 1970s horror films would have missed seeing “Rosemary’s Baby”, a story of Satanic pregnancy, based on the book by Ira Levin. Shortly after that book’s release, Levin write a stage play “Veronica’s Room” which followed “Rosemary’s Baby” tone of horror with a disturbing, psychological thriller.
The Wharf’s production opens with a furniture draped bedroom, which is soon revealed to be Veronica’s room. The entire play is set in this room which in itself gives off a creepy, dark atmosphere; you can almost smell the mustiness of the dingy, sparsely furnished bedroom. A bed, chaise-longue, table and chairs, wardrobe… and a barred window. Director John Winterton and his team designed and created the set and its ominous undertones, and the tech team produce eery lighting, subtly and extremely effectively fitting for this play. Without providing spoilers it’s however fine to say the costumes required for the story fit the requirements perfectly. And as ever Gill Barnes and the costume team have come up trumps to further set the period and the characterisations.
It’s a short play timewise – two acts comprising eighty minutes in total, plus an interval. But it is far from short with plot twists and turns, and as each new piece of information unfolds, we are drawn into a darker and more sinister world each time. The cast of four work well together to deliver Levin’s increasingly twisted story, with John’s direction keeping the pace exactly right at all times.
Jax Brady plays The Woman, embracing all the mood swings and dialects with ease, the perfect loving partner to The Man played by Gary Robson, whose sombre delivery is befitting of his character’s inner turmoil and glimmers of hope, of his love for The Woman whilst uneasy with their shared knowledge. Abigail Baker plays The Girl around whom the plot centres; at first brazenly flirtatious, then finally broken, desperate and terrified. The Young Man – the object of The Girl’s desires – is played by Cameron Williams who also has challenging characterisation and manages it sublimely.
It would be fair to say that “Veronica’s Room” is also challenging for the audience – it is a horror, and a psychological one at that, preying on one’s mind. Levin’s story is a slow burner to begin with but as Act 2 in particular progresses it becomes a runaway train with hard hitting realisations developing the full horror coming thick and fast. The cast and crew have created a super rendition of Levin’s story that will surely have you checking under your bed when you go to sleep afterwards…
“Veronica’s Room” is performed at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes January 2th to February 1st at 7.30pm each evening.
If I had to be magically turned into a candlestick or a teapot, I believe I’d rather be a teapot than have a wax candle on fire wedged into the top of my head! Fear not, it’s not a worry I’m losing any sleep over, rather the kind of bizarre fleeting notion which popped into my mind when previewing Devizes Musical Theatre’s next production, Beauty & The Beast….
The wardrobe is definitely out of the question, anyway I digress! For if there’s one local amateur theatre collective to make you question the definition of “amateur” it’s Devizes Musical Theatre, in my experience. To pay a king’s ransom for a West End production is to expect, much less assume, you’re in for a treat, but to see the dedication and hours of labour which goes into an amateur production like those of Devizes Musical Theatre, is the surprise element, that the magic isn’t so far from a professional production.
So, get ready, Gaston, for a tale as old as time, as Devizes Musical Theatre’s curtain is rising once again for Beauty and the Beast. It’s running from Wednesday 2nd April – Saturday 5th April 2025, at Dauntsey’s School’s Memorial Hall in West Lavington and tickets are available now at www.devizesmusicaltheatre.co.uk or Devizes Books.
Devizes Musical Theatre’s last sold-out show was Sister Act back in March 2024, of which I reviewed and said “it’s the combination of their motivation and exceptional effort which makes this such a dynamic show, coupled with the elementary notion, Sister Act has universal appeal and is simply fun on a stick!” But no one listens to me, so please note the show was nominated for Best Musical and Best Publicity at the prestigious Rose Bowl Awards.
“Tickets are already flying off the shelves,” we’re informed, so don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of live theatre right here in our community. Whether you laughed with the nuns, hissed at Curtis and his baddies in Sister Act, or you’re a newcomer to the DMT productions, this show is guaranteed to leave you spellbound; be their guests, be their guests, be their guests!
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 for there’s no reason to go back through rewriting it, everything I said stands, except for one section….
At the time I praised Kaya Street for the experimental fusions which seemed to switch from four-beat soul and jazz into offbeat reggae, simultaneously evoking sounds of Africa like soukous. I said, “it’s not the ingredients in Kaya Street’s melting pot which makes it prominently interesting and beguiling, rather the way they stir it, the method in the composition and production.”
Despite taking into account albums like Mo Wax’s 1996 Money Mark’s Keyboard Repair Kit, which used short fragments and splinters of ideas deliberately juxtaposed to create a kind of musical mosaic, I did make a slight criticism about The Soul Sessions, and that was that they were underdeveloped and tended to end abruptly and far too soon. I stated at the time, “If I am to find some niggly, it’s a lack of intro; the songs tend to jerk right in, but I guess it’s because I have the single edits here, and Kaya Street’s impressive lineup is plentiful to convince me they know the formula to extend and polish.”
I am glad to hear that has now been amended and extended versions of the radio edits have been uploaded to Spotify. Each tunenow runs at an average five to seven minutes, and sounds complete. It’s now time to fully ingest the absolute magic of Kaya Street, in which you’re taken in smoother and played out satisfied by more wholesome versions of their interesting and wonderful fusions, and melting pot of influences, and, in turn, the journey is now complete.
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Four years of hard work in the making, and it sure shows, Man Made of Glass, the third album from John and Jolyon, aka Illingworth, is released across streaming platforms this week. If you’ve seen this Salisbury duo performing on the circuit, the unyielding passion they inject into the obligatory classic rock covers set isn’t half of what they put into their own compositions…..
Pardon me if you came here for a respite from the onslaught of inflammatory international headlines and toread a nice music review, Man Made of Glass contains much prose on the tyranny of contemporary politics. As the idiom is defined, this narcissistic disorder of egotistical figureheads is fragile and therefore likely to shatter manifests abstractly, particularly in the title track and single Gaslight, but hey, I think it’s safe to say we know the people it is directed towards.
It’s a floating opening, building in layers, this title track, richly written even if poignantly critical of power corrupting. As ever with Illingworth there’s this breezy air of feelgood rock too, of Foreigner or The Cars, which enriches the sound naturally. Soulless might be the subject, but soulful is the expression; it’s a contrast.
Superior single Gaslight does similar theme-wise, but as powerful as an indie rock anthem, and rolling on a tougher riff than the title track, throughout, it takes the manipulation of its title’s term to the worldly encouragement of avoidance; this “don’t be convinced by propaganda” concept.
Bittersweet is the general ambience Illingworth delivers with here, and that’s no new thing in rock, but they do so with such passion and expertise it polishes the delivery and leaves you feeling alive and stimulated, with nothing bad you could possibly say about their songs. They are rich with honesty over vanity, reflecting on the theme. Gaslight may be the kingpin to the album, the running motif becoming less prominent in the other tracks. Every tune is a beauty though, embracing all stimulating elements of being uplifting, inspiring and catchy, just subtly with differing moods and tempos.
We Don’t Have to Try is a country-rock ballad on an eternal love subject, whereas, Heart To Rule Your Head, is an inspiring “you can get it if you really want” upbeat track.
Another Passion is upbeat too, of if, buts and maybes, whereas New Year is arousingly paced, reflecting on the unification and love perpetrated by the annual occasion. Love conquering over evil becomes the inclusive factor as the album drifts archetypically. This conquering notion to avoid the brainwashing of those seeking power lessens somewhat in favour of identifying affections, yet never fully expires. The finale is not to let it worry you, as the matter will shatter like glass.
While great, if previous Illingworth albums can feel fragmented, like randomly placed collections of their memorable songs you rarely hear enough of when they’re gigging, Man Made of Glass is more rounded, it has an overall concept. Like a classic rock album, the tracks’ narratives combine and flow wonderfully. It’s not a “concept album,” per say, but in the same classic fashion, and that’s a welcomed rare find these days of media overload and the average attention span of a goldfish!
Man Made of Glass is more suited to a vinyl, CD or cassette format, of a time when album composition contained an all-inclusive message, and you sat in the dark listening to it. Just like those albums of yore it feels like something to cherish, a testament to a bleeding heart of sentiment you identify with and get emotionally involved with, rather than simply hearing it while you wash the dishes. But hey, streaming is the mainstay these days, and that’s where you’ll find this treasure buried.
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What is reality? Is it the cold light of everyday activities? Is it the symbiosis of contemporary time and ancient natural forces beyond our ken? Is it the raddled memories of mind altering drugs? Or is it a mixture of all of those combined, as personal perception sways between LSD flashbacks, inexplicable encounters, and simple bullshit?
Next Stage Theatre Company bring Jez Butterworth’s 2009 play “Jerusalem” to The Mission Theatre, Bath, this week. In a thinly disguised setting of Pewsey (Wiltshire), which is named Flintock but where the pubs names are all real pubs, the play centres on the character of Johnny “Rooster” Byron (Richard Chivers) who along with other characters in the play are based on actual Pewsey-ites, some of which still live in Pewsey today.
The story is a twenty-four hour period of Byron’s life, focussed on fair day on St. George’s day, and his interactions with his loyal friend Ginger (Sam Fynn), various hanger-on young people (“rats” as he calls them) Davey (Bryan Mulry), Pea (Sophia Punt), Lee (Jonathan Taft), Tanya (Miranda Webb), the senile Professor (Dave Dunn), somewhat dodgy publican Wesley (Brian Hudd), ex-girlfriend Dawn (Tania Lyons), local council officials intent on evicting him Mrs Fawcett (Tania Lyons) and Mr. Parsons (Andrew Ellison), Byron’s son Marky (Spike Fynn), and the lost teen Phaedra (Dilys Hughes) and her angry dad Troy (Andrew Ellison).
As the course of the day and night unwind, we experience Byron’s warped vision of his world as he tells ridiculously tall and impossible tales interspersed with somewhat surreal anecdotes and harsh truths. We see he is a very flawed character – he is in no way a hero, and very much an anti-hero. His criminal and abusive nature is laid bare, where he despises everyone that surrounds him, even his longest lasting and loyal friend Ginger… with the exception of Marky his son, who he shows genuine affection for (while avoiding any paternal commitment), the Professor and seemingly fifteen year old Phaedra – about whom we are left with a rather disturbing suspicion as to their underlying relationship.
The set is wonderfully portrayed as a clearing in “Roosters Wood”, all ramshackle a mess as you could possibly imagine as an illegal encampment of a broken down caravan’s site surrounded by old garden implements, wood burning stove, boxes and crates, woodland detritus and the remains of Byron’s own drug addled vandalism amongst other assorted accoutrements. Ann Ellison directs the show with an exquisite touch over the banality and failure of Byron’s life – as well as creating the set along with Brian Fisher – and the performance though lasting over three hours rattles along at such a high pace there is never a dull moment. Neat little touches abound – as characters get drawn into Byron’s world, they become coated in straw and woodland detritus, while Byron himself stays clean of these. It is telling that as Lee is to leave Flintock for pastures new far away he is clean of all this woodland connection. Even the Professor ends up covered in straw as his own senile alternative reality merges seamlessly in the renegade aura of the campsite.
Tech is provided by Kris Nuttal, Brian Howe, and Andrew Ellison as they set the scenes of bright morning, sun dappled afternoon and dark and threatening evening. No spoilers here but some cleverly worked backlighting towards the end relieves the audience of unpleasantness while leaving nobody with any doubt as to what is happening. Vanessa Bishop leads costume to perfectly place the setting in the modern day.
Which leads us then back to the actors. A lovely mix of ages as befits the story, all sell their characters believably. I was so drawn in at one stage it was a jolt when I realised that I was watching a work of fiction, and this wasn’t “real” – so kudos to the company for creating a fully immersive environment here. Richard Chivers is quite simply superb as the thoroughly egocentric but dangerous Byron. Sam Fynn is wonderful as his lifelong and lost, almost desperately childlike, sidekick Ginger. The “teens” of Jonathan Taft, Bryan Murphy, Sophia Punt and Miranda Webb believingly display youthful male exuberance and teenage slapper. Dave Dunn portrays the heart tearingly sad bewildered and confused doddery old man. Brian Hudd is cringingly excellent in his portrayal of the seedy and low-level dodgy publican who is really no different to the teens while in his own way abusing them as much as Byron is.
Spike Fynn gets Marky spot on as a conflicted nine year old … “Do I love my dad? Do I like my dad even? Do I trust my dad?”. He sells his character precisely through his physical acting as much as Butterworth’s lines. Tania Lyons and Andrew Ellison double up their parts seamlessly – to the extent that especially for Tania I hadn’t even realised she played two parts until I checked the program after the show! And Dilys Hughes as Phaedra is quite sublime… ethereal, fairy like, other worldly… and even when that dreamy existence comes crashing into real life, she still keeps an entirely child like innocence despite our suspicions that what happened in Byron’s caravan may not be so innocent…
So – back to reality. Or various versions of it. From fairies and elves, tall tales and taller creatures, nature’s ancient powers. Drugs. Dreams. Cognitive breakdown. Youthful inexperience and ignorance. Bullshit. All of these variations feature prominently in Jez Butterworth’s powerful text, culminating in Byron’s final monologue as his life crumbles around him and he calls upon everything in his warped mind to help him as he subconsciously seeks an answer to the big question, which he has already passed the point of rationalising…
What IS reality?
“Jerusalem” by Jez Butterworth is performed by Next Stage Theatre Company at The Mission Theatre, Bath between January 21st to 24th at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Saturday at 2 pm.
Normally I’d be raving about just how good the live music was at The Southgate on Sunday afternoon. And it was indeed brilliant, featuring the amazingly talented bluesman Eddie Martin, with his band The 58s (the year he was born apparently). The band consisted of Tom Gilkes on drums, Jerry Soffe on bass, and the wonderful Patsy Gamble on saxophones. And normally I’d write a long incoherent full review of that gig on its own, but there’s just too much other stuff to tell you about!
The previous day was the first Devizes International Blues Festival. And here’s the low-down.
Nobody could ever say that Long Street Blues Club and its wily leader Ian Hopkins (currently also Lord Mayor of this parish) doesn’t keep on trying to push the boundaries of live music in D-Town, and to present some really top-notch entertainment. Not content with a full programme of events at the mothership venue of The Conservative Club (see below), there was still ambition enough to do something even bigger in terms of both entertainment and venue.
So, in the interests of blowing out the post-Crimbo and New Year cobwebs, I felt it was only fair to reward such bravado with my own presence on Saturday afternoon and evening (yes it was an all-dayer, not just the normal simple gig format of band + support). This was altogether more than that with no less than five, yes five, headliners playing their way through the six hours or so of the two main sessions.
This is (as far as anyone knows) the first indoor Blues Festival Devizes has ever staged (if you don’t count the blues events at the club itself this time last year). Being January, it was cold, damp, and wet outside, so I think everyone was pretty glad to be on the inside! This was definitely not the same as, say, Saddleback of a couple of years ago sitting outside at Devizes Rugby Club in the middle of summer!
The team had attempted to create an intimate blues club in the Ceres Hall, using tables and seating, but with some room for dancing at the front near the stage. It was always going to be a big ask with the high ceilings and the big windows and aircon units much in evidence, but they did a pretty good job, by closing the curtains and excellent use of both main hall and stage lighting. And the reward was a virtually-full room of music-hungry people.
First up the afternoon double-header was harmonica player extraordinaire Giles Robson. Although based in Jersey, and the only UK resident amongst this star-studded otherwise Chicago cast, Giles was entirely at home, having in the past played with all the American greats, and having toured with his own band all over Europe. I think I last caught him a year ago at the Blues Club playing support to another of today’s line-up John Primer. Giles, accompanied by only an acoustic guitarist, served up a portion of (somewhat unusual on the UK scene) acoustic blues. His wailing, crooning, imploring style of playing, together with his laconic inter-song chat style, soon had the audience hushed and listening intently. His last offering, which I’m sure had to be a parody on a whole raft of suggestive blues songs, involved milk in the ice-cream mixer. Don’t ask. Seriously, don’t ask.
After a suitable pause for stage changes and (ahem) refreshments at the bar, it was the turn of Oscar Wilson. Here was the real deal (in my book at least). Although not great in physical stature, and leaning heavily on his customised stick, this guy had a commanding presence and provided some big sounds, with deep gravel vocals right from the outset. Growing up in Chicago, his major influences were Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, and there was plenty of that on show right here. Working with a “house band” that he didn’t know, Oscar soon built a rapport with his musicians, commanding every move with subtle moves of the hand, a flick or a bounce of the stick, or a wry smile to the side.
They were winging it a bit but (honestly) you could hardly see the joins. His set was a real switch from what we’d just heard from Giles’ solo set. It was instantly deeper, faster, and with much more intent. There was more variation, changes in tempo and altogether much more heft. Even with Giles himself joining the band and providing the frills and the infills, the full band sound was much more to my taste. We’d definitely moved up a notch, and the crowd were loving it.
At this point there was a break in proceedings for a couple of hours, and we were tipped out into the D-Town afternoon to find what other pleasures we could discover. I guess the gap had a sound logistical reason behind it, but it felt strange to kind of lose all of the atmosphere that had started to build up. Maybe it was sound checks, but the “house band” was still the same guys upporting the evening performers. So I’m not sure about that one.
Anyhow, after the break and the crowd had reassembled itself once more, the next four and a half hours gave us three cracking performers of the Chicago blues.
First up was Nora Jean Wallace, a Chicago blues singer with Deep Delta roots. A striking figure of a woman, sporting a fine silver wig, Nora Jean delivered a set that was far funkier than what had gone before, almost leaning towards Motown at times. Clearly unwell with a stinking head-cold, she declared “but ah’m gonna give it ma best”, she absolutely delivered on that promise. The singing was strong and high-powered. Only between songs could you see that she was struggling a little, and you had to feel a little sorry for her. Her detailed control of the now-regular “house band” was slightly less tight than Oscar’s had been, but with Giles once again on stage with the harmonica support, the overall sound was terrific.
Toronzo Cannon came up next, sporting a nice line in hats, and a guitar that he used with devastating effect. His song lyrics (and indeed the inter-song patter that introduced them) was witty and truth-telling. His topics included sex, divorce, insurance, his various health issues (again, please don’t ask), his mid-life crisis (pubes turning grey anyone?) and so on. These were all original songs, and topics not normally covered by the mainstream blues, but massively entertaining nevertheless. But it was his blistering and inventive guitar work that impressed more than his impassioned vocals. Like all the artists who preceded him on the bill, he worked hard at engaging the audience, cracking jokes and engaging in plenty of call-and-response numbers. Giles did not join the band on this one occasion, and Toronzo’s sound was all the better for it. I love blues harmonica, but we’d had quite a lot of it already by this stage in proceedings.
Almost finally, it was the turn of John Primer, another one of the kings of Chicago blues. Originally a guitarist in Muddy Waters’ band for many years, he also played with another Chicago legend, Willie Dixon. Here was another of these great performers, having also played in Long Street club about a year ago, which was where I’d last seen him. Compared to Toronzo, John seemed more focused and down to it, a little more serious, with less chat and humour. And still the “house band” were there with him, together with Giles Robson once more. There was more of a feeling of just cracking on with the show now, but never in any kind of hurry. “Ah’m jus’ takin’ ma time”, he declared at one point, which was absolutely how it felt. He also described himself as “an old man, but with young ideas” and then cracked the broadest smile of the evening. He delivered (to my ears at least) superb versions of “Got My Mojo Working” and “Rainy Night In Georgia”. What a great performer.
But there was one final thing still to enjoy when the whole ensemble hauled themselves back on stage for a final encore, sharing vocals and guitar licks. And finally also – huge applause for the “house band” who’d managed to play backing band to four different headliners, staying on stage for over four hours. Unfortunately, I couldn’t catch all their names, but a definite hats off to those guys.
Overall, it was a great day out, packed with some great performances and musical gems. My favourite? – Oscar Wilson was the guy who really nailed it for me, but these things are often a matter of personal taste. All five headliners gave great performances, and difficult to fault any of them. So, well done, once again, to Ian and his team for putting on such a great event in our town. Brilliant.
Future gigs at Long Street Blues Club:
Saturday 1st Feb – the John Martyn project
Friday 21st Feb – Brave Rival (at the Corn Exchange as part of the Lord Mayor’s Dinner)
Friday 14th March – Jimmy Regal & The Royals
Friday 4th April – Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Saturday 12th April – Billy Walton Band
Saturday 3rd May – Alastair Greene
Saturday 17th May – Fullhouse, with special guest Innes Sibun
Developed in Devizes, blossoming in Bristol, as well as a snazzy new website, indie-punk phenomenon Nothing Rhymes with Orange released their next single, and it’s stepping up their spines … apparently!
A narrative of pending infatuation in the hope the feeling is mutual, Stepping Up My Spine is instantly lovable, projecting a more lenient and ubiquitous indie-pop sound than the band’s raw punkier past; a direction they seem to have been progressing towards with each new release.
Image: Gail Foster
I cite many local bands like Talk in Code and Atari Pilot, reflecting a national indie trend to return us to an eighties pop-rock vibe, and this follows suit, but only slightly. It retains the “real instruments” rock ethos they’ve sworn to uphold, there’s no electronica influence, thus maintaining the edge we know them for. Let’s call it a natural progression rather than a desire to follow a trend, not forgoing it’s still stylised to their sound and is bound to appease their maturing fans.
If we’ve keenly watched Nothing Rhymes With Orange and their devoted fanbase evolve and proliferate, this new single reflects and preserves that continuation. And long may it be so!
Keep up the good work, guys! You catch NRWO at SwinterFest next Saturday, at the Castle.
Yet to witness it myself but heard on the grapevine, the blossoming liveliest place to be in Pewsey at the moment, is, apparently the Royal Oak. Wiltshire Music Events, who brought us CrownFest in Bishops Cannings and sold out Devizes Corn Exchange with The Marley Experience, has been at the forefront of furnishing the pub with gigs from the growing wealth of talent on their books. Tempted to drop by and check it out asap, but if all else fails, Saturday July 5th sees them holding a debut mini-festival, which is double-underlined on my personal calendar……
The Oak Festival is an all dayer boasting seven bands, food and outside bar, but it’s the lineup which will really wow. Three, no, thirty yeses from me, to The Marley Experience headlining, being smitten with Bob Marley & The Wailers since day dot and after much deliberation, these guys recreate their music and vibe with such unprecedented precision it’s unmissable.
There’s also a lively Irish folk element to the festival with The Tipsy Gypsies, and Pouges tribute, The Phogues, both I’ve yet to tick off my must-see list, but they also dive into indie with the blues edge of The Leon Daye Band, and our favourite-most indie-pop masters Talk in Code, who need no introduction here neither further praise; forget sliced bread, they’re the most electrifying exciting local act we have.
There’s two acoustic singer-songwriters too, Lucas Hardy who I’ve heard only good things about, and Salisbury’s Rosie Jay, who with her poignant writing and exquisitely unique delivery overnight clocked into our all-time hall of fame here at Devizine!
Later the price goes up but only slightly, to £32.50, which, once you’ve seen The Marley Experience, you’ll realise the ticket stub was worth it just to see them alone, and why I’m all excited about this one!
It could be the best thing to happen in pea island since carnival, since the coronation of Alfred the Great; trust me on this one!!
Devizes welcomed a charming new coffee shop to The Market Place today, called Caffe Vialottie; I thought it best to drop by, poke my nose in…..
Caffe Vialottie takes over the listed number 35, where the cherished Times Square closed its doors for the final time in June 2024. The walls are adorned with some nice artwork, the colour theme altered to a dark green and cream, but the tried and tested layout remains much the same as Times Square. It was met with busy enthusiasm by customers, many I suspect devotees of the previous cafe happy to see it back in action. “Everyone wants to try the new cafe,” manager Chelsie Godden greeted me, between frantically serving customers, “it’s been busy, but nice!”
While Chelsie worked at Times Square previously, the owner was new to the area. He stressed the importance of creating an individual space, adamant copying the mainstream coffee shop chains wasn’t on the agenda here, he said, “I think we’ve got something special here, something nice.”
If the word nice was coincidentally dropped twice, it certainly is that; nothing negative could be said about Caffe Vialottie. It seemed friendly, with a vibe to fit like a glove into Devizes. Yet with coffee being centre stage, tea and a good choice of soft drinks, there’s only toasties and a selection of cakes and Kettle crisps to wash down. It is, primarily, a “light lunch” stop-off point, rather than attempting to be a restaurant, and despite the call not to replicate the major coffee shop chains, unfortunately we do have a lot of similar establishments already in Devizes.
But hey, it does what it says on the tin, hospitably, and is price-matched with the established competitors in town. While personally I’d like to see someone trying something different and off the wall, ideas like tapas and Caribbean themed cafes haven’t been so successful in Devizes recently, as the tried and tested formula of tea, coffee and cake, seems to appease locals more. It is with that notion we wish Caffe Vialottie all the best of luck in these trying times, and hope future days will emulate the success of their opening day. Devizes can never have enough coffee it seems!
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ben Swann and Ian Diddams Self-appointed “Morose” Mark Harrison was once again on totally top form at Komedia last Sunday entertaining…
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 21…
Featured Image Credit: Jamie Carter Special guests Lightning Seeds to Support Forest Live, Forestry England’s summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has announced…
Wiltshire country singer-songwriter Kirsty Clinch released a Christmas song only yesterday, raising funds for the Caenhill Countryside Centre near Devizes, and it’s already racing up…
It was never just the fervent ambience created which made me go tingly with excitement about Melksham’s young indie band Between The Lines’ demo single…
A second track from local anonymous songwriter Joyrobber has mysteriously appeared online, and he’s bitter about not getting his dream job….. If this mysterious dude’s…
It’s not Christmas until the choir sings, and Devizes Chamber Choir intend to do precisely this by announcing their Christmas Concert, as they have done…
Seems odd the perfect combination between Devizes’ only theatre, The Wharf, and one of the longest-running performance group, White Horse Opera hasn’t linked before, but they are set to do so in March with a performance of Jacques Offenbach’s Opéra bouffe, La Belle Hélène…..
Okay, this is not exactly true. Barbara Gompels of the White Horse Opera told us many years ago there was a one night show at the Wharf with the opera’s touring show, but this will be the first main opera held at our wonderful theatre here in Devizes, so I’m not totally fibbing!
La Belle Hélène is a comic opera in three acts parodying the story of Helen of Troy’s elopement with Paris, which evoked the Trojan War. The premiere at Paris’s Théâtre des Variétés in 1864 rekindled Offenbach’s operas with his audience, after six years attempting to emulate his success with the risqué satire of Greek mythology, Orphée aux Enfers.
Having been promised the most beautiful woman in the world by Venus, Paris arrives disguised as a shepherd boy with the aim of cashing in that promise. Helene, currently married to Menelaus, wards off his advances. However, when Paris comes to her while she is sleeping she believes it all to be in her dreams so it must therefore “be all fine.”
Do come and see the fireworks that ensue when Menelaus comes home early and discovers the lovers!
Fully staged and sung in English with an orchestra, tickets are now available, and the show runs from Tuesday 11th until Saturday 15th March.
If Devizes’ celebrated FullTone Festival is to relocate to Whistley Road’s Park Farm for next summer’s extravaganza, what better way to give it the rustic…
This afternoon sees the inaugural grand ceremony of Stone Circle Music Events’ Wiltshire Music Awards taking place at the Devizes Corn Exchange. It’s a sellout…
In association with PF Events, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts introduces a Young Urban Digitals course in video mapping and projection mapping for sixteen to twenty…
by Ian Diddamsimages by Penny Clegg and Shakespeare Live “Antony & Cleopatra” is one of Shakespeare’s four “Roman Plays”, and chronologically is set after “Julius…
A sunny July in 2018 and I’m in Hillworth Park for a Fantasy Radio live session, finally witnessing a Devizes based band I’d been adding the gigs of onto our calendar. With an especial distinctiveness People Like Us complimented Coldplay, nailed as Oasis, and breezed through Crowded House, but it was when they covered Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, and gifted us with their timeless rendition of Mr Blue Sky, sparks flew. It is sad to see them announce today that “People Like Us” is now in past tense. “People Liked Us”, because they sure did….
More appropriately, “People Loved Us,” twas to have observed a typical night in the Three Crowns in Devizes, where, if ecstatic frenzies of table top dancing amidst a crammed beer garden became something of a cliché (which had to be culled for health and safety regulations,) I do declare the originators who evoked such wild party vibes with such an accomplished and respected homegrown sound, was People Like Us; I might be wrong on this, but if so, well, there’s a first for everything!
Okay, I may’ve compared the then four-piece visually to Scooby-Doo’s gang, at the time, then worried afterwards they might take offense to it as they didn’t tend to wear bell-bottoms and cravats, but it was the first time I’d seen a band use a cajon drum, and the effect came across with a decidedly Californian sixties pop panache, though with contemporary cover choices. Yet it will go down in the history of the local music circuit, that People Like Us bucked any deliberations folk may have against cover bands by stamping their unique take on classic pop songs, and thrilled every audience.
Only a couple of years after they formed, they seemed to crop everywhere, from pub gig to fete, and wherever they did they brought the party with them, compulsively. All vocalising harmoniously, People Like Us was made up of prolific keyboardist Nicky Davis, Claire Gilchrist on kick drums, who would depart from the band a year later, Andy “Pip” Phillips on cajón and guitarist Dean Ellicock. Since leaving the band Claire embarked on a solo career, performed with six-piece function band LiveWired, and has created local music promotional Facebook page Bird is the Word. The remaining three, Nicky, Dean and Pip carried on People Like Us, clocking up nine years of service to the local music scene.
But in a shock Facebook announcement today, they said “we’ve decided it’s time to bring People Like Us to a close. We’ve had an incredible time over the last nine years and want to thank each and every one of you who came to a gig, booked us for an event, danced and sang for us and genuinely reminded us how lucky we were to be able to entertain you. It’s been a pretty awesome run for a project that was just meant to be a bit of fun here and there!”
While it certainly has, the group gave the cloud a silver lining, reminding fans Pip is still part of Finley Trusler’s The Unpredictables, and Nicky continues the even longer running band, The Reason, and they’ll no doubt join again for the annual The Female of the Species fundraiser.
If this is buttering up a sad situation, it’s a good and acceptable one, still, we will miss you all as People Like Us, wish you all the best for your existing and future projects, and declare your honourable and thoroughly deserved place in our local music hall of fame, with a big gold framed portrait…..if, erm, I was a portrait artist, which I’m not, and if I attempted it you’d really look like Scooby’s gang then, so maybe it’s best I don’t. I’ll just quote Abba instead, (which is not as rare a thing as you might imagine it to be) and say, “thank you for the music!”
Riot predictor Nick Hodgson formerly of the Kaiser Chiefs has a new band, the charmingly named Everyone Says Hi, and they’re playing an instore at Marlborough’s Sound Knowledge, on Sunday 2nd February….
Everyone Says Hi will play a number of live dates across the UK to celebrate the release of their upcoming self-titled debut album, set for release on 31st January 2025 via Chrysalis Records. The latest single from the record, Lucky Stars, is out now.
The band will embark on a run of UK in-store dates, in cities like London, Lancaster, Hull, Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds and Liverpool. The fact Marlborough appears on this and many other major industry player’s giglists is a testament to the reputation and hard work of Sound Knowledge.
Prior to this, they will perform two newly announced headline shows in support of Independent Venue Week. Frontman Nick Hodgson said of the importance of indie venues, “we’ve just finished a tour of small independent venues in the UK and it really brought into focus for me how precious they are. There are people all over the country working so hard to bring live music to their area and when people turn up and love the gig it really feels like the beginning of something.”
“It’s a cliche to say that without the small venues there would be no arena bands and festival headliners but it’s definitely my experience with Kaiser Chiefs and I’m sure for the other guys in the band that independent venues aren’t just a cute little step along the path, they are the path.”
Nick has long been a songwriter in high demand. Since leaving his teenage band back in 2012, he has co-written for the likes of Dua Lipa, You Me At Six, Duran Duran, George Ezra, and Holly Humberstone, and collaborated on tracks alongside Mark Ronson, Kygo, and Shirley Bassey. Having racked up over 5 million cumulative album sales globally, Nick now focuses on a new challenge. You wouldn’t bet against him.
It’s a floaty album of universal indie; instant like from me! Everyone Says Hi sees Nick adopt the role of lead singer-guitarist, and brings together musicians Pete Denton on bass, Glenn Moule on drums, keyboard player Ben Gordon (ex-members of The Kooks, The Howling Bells, and Liverpool’s The Dead 60s respectively), alongside Leeds based guitarist Tom Dawson. The band’s name is lifted from a David Bowie song of the same title. What you hear across its ten tracks is high-calibre, beautifully sculpted songcraft performed by high-calibre, experienced players. Not so much showing ‘promise’ here, but instantly delivering bonafide ‘big songs’ that belie the band’s status as relative newcomers. The record was produced by Nick at London’s Snap Studios and at his home studio. Pre-order the album here.
Everyone Says Hi is the fruit of a multi-platinum musician deciding to draw a line and start afresh. Back to the same bedroom floor where the first tentative notes were played, holding the same guitar that was played way back when, back to forming a band with trusted friends, and back to booking the sticky basement stages where teeth were first cut. But whilst you can metaphorically wipe the slate clean on most things, you cannot unlearn what you already know. If emotionally driven, arena-ready songs come almost second-nature, you’d be foolish to ignore the gift you’ve been given.
Sound Knowledge said, “we’re delighted to say that Everyone Says Hi will be joining us for one of our first in-stores of 2025. They’ll be playing a stripped back set in the shop itself from 3pm on Sunday 2nd February. Stick a note in with your pre-order to guarantee your place.”Which you can do HERE.
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Media and Ian Diddams Whilst probably best known for his editorship of “Private Eye” magazine and thirty-five years as…
I mean, Devizes own contemporary blues throwback, JP is getting bookings, and rightly so. He’s off to Trowbridge’s Lamb next Saturday for a double-bill with…
Matthew Murphy, or Ranking Junior, son of the late Roger Charlery, aka Ranking Roger vocalist of eighties Two-Tone ska band, The Beat and new wave collective General Public has settled into the shoes of his father and now fronts a reformation of The Beat, which tours extensively. This includes our blossoming scooter rally in Devizes this coming summer….
If there’s two types of scooter rally and scooterist festivals in the UK, the boss events like Skamouth and BSRA nationals, and those locally-based eensy events constituting little more than a beer garden with DJ, showy hairdryers and undercooked hotdogs, Devizes Scooter Club’s annual rally has sat between the opposing levels, aspiring to better the value of municipal rallies. In its fifth year, Devizes Scooter Rally sets a president above them, striving to create the kind of environment more suitable for those mainstream “boss” events, yet retains the communal atmosphere of smaller events; that’s its magnitude; it is a blessing to our town to host it.
It does this by staging an impressive, tried and tested lineup in a hospitable and affordable atmosphere. It’s the Mardi Gras of the club, and members work tirelessly to welcome guests and design the perfect setting. This is not me flattering them, last year I spoke to several guests at the rally, from all over the UK, who stated, (in their own subtle and slightly dribbling way) the reason they love this event is precisely this balance between the electric atmosphere of a local event yet packing the punch of an established larger one…or words to that effect!
Whilst music at the rally has always been first-class, names might not be so recognisable to those outside the scooterist niche. This is set to change, as Birmingham’s The Beat were one of the key bands in the UK ska revival of the late ‘70s and ‘80s, and managed to crossover to the mainstream. You’ll all remember Mirror in the Bathroom, Hands off She’s Mine, and so many others, my personal favourite, Can’t Get Used to Losing You. You’ll all be up dancing, and making that essential Full Stop, I’m sure.
Set for the weekend of 25th-27th July, the rally for 2025 also boasts The return of the Butterfly Collective, Small Faces tribute, Small Fakers, Wardour Street, Cardiff’s The Brew, and DJs of the Soul Pressure sound system, but, thing is, you’ve only a couple of days to get your early bird wristband. Facebook message the Devizes Scooter Club, or call 078088 49965 now!
by Mick Brianimages from Lauren Arena-McCann The playwright Tom Stoppard is probably best known for his work “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”, his absurdist comedy…
You might think it’s a laryngologist’s dream come true, this Lewis Capaldi-led decade’s penchant for the blue-eyed soul singers’ melismatic strain to cause Mick Hucknall…
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 like…
Bob Marley sang “jammin’ ‘til the jam is through,” Jimmy Cricket’s catchphrase was “come’ere, there’s more,” but it looks like The Southgate in Devizes is combining the two. Jamsters is landlord Dave’s new initiative to provide a Friday night platform for loose groupings and associations created at their regular jam sessions each Wednesday….
The inaugural occurrence of this happened in November, with JP Oldfield, Gordon Thompson and Sammi Evans, this Friday, 10th Jan, sees the turns of Ben Borril, Chrissy “Steen” Chapman of Burn the Midnight Oil, Adam Spanswick and George (not the pub dog!) and they kick off at 8pm. We understand this is to become a monthly occasion,and are happy to hear of it!
Wednesdays jam sessions have been in operation for some years now at the Gate, and have become something of a regular convention for local musicians to gather and network. Perhaps more so even than open mic nights, these jam sessions not only provide entertainment, practice, and the chance of making friends and connections, but are also an opportunity for our local musicians to experiment and see who works well together. During its time we’ve seen collaborations and bands formatted from it, such as Pat Ward and Ben Borrill’s Matchbox Mutiny and Tom Harris’ No Alarms And No Devizes.
Now, with a monthly instalment of this Friday night extension of the jam sessions, we hope to see more groupings form and flourish from it. Through all the current hardships of the hospitality industry, The Southgate continue to buck the trend through their dedication to making the pub a friendly, affordable, and welcoming place and, supporting, not the recognisable big names rather upcoming local musicians; the like who’ll mingle with the punters and be glad you came. That’s it’s community feel and that’s it’s grand appeal… I hope to see you down there soon, mine’s a pint of Rosie’s Pig, cheers!!
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The second feature film for director Keith Wilhelm Kopp and writer Laurence Guy, First Christmas enters development, to be produced by Shropshire-based production company, Ask Seek Knock. We sent our Helen to the press screening of their award-winning first film, Translations, here’s what she thought…..
First Christmas is set to be filmed in Shropshire, with a primarily West Midlands based crew. The film is to be associate produced by West Midlands-based Emily DeJesus and Adam Fray. The synopsis, “a widowed man invites his three grown up children and their families for Christmas, in the hope that they stitch their fractured family back together.”
Luke Allen is a renowned young producer with a solid track record of short form productions. He is the writer and executive producer of Something Sketchy, a sketch show pilot, having previously worked as production manager on the heavily anticipated pilot Henry House (starring Peter Purves, Annette Badland and Mark Lewis Jones) and in other production office roles on the upcoming features Bjorn of the Dead (dir. Sara Sugarman, starring Ralph Brown and Amelia Eve) and Reckless (dir. Elliott Montello, starring Scott Adkins & Vinnie Jones). Luke’s short form credits include the drama Weightless Words and the darkly comic Got Your Nose, which recently screened at Raindance Festival.
Luke is set to make his feature film producing debut with First Christmas. He said, “when Keith approached me to produce this, it was an instant yes as I had so much fun working with him for a couple of days on Something Sketchy. Once I read Laurence’s beautiful script, I knew I had made the right decision – it’s an honour to be onboard and I can’t wait to bring this story to life!”
Laurence Guy is an award-winning Screenwriter, who has worked in collaboration with Keith Kopp on several films that have played in festivals around the world, as well as streaming online (SkyTV and Amazon Prime). Laurence’s play, ‘ZORIC’, was longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize in 2022, and his debut feature film ‘Translations’ won best screenplay at the Riverside International Film Festival, before gaining UK distribution in the summer of 2023. Laurence is represented by Steven Russell at Collective Talent.
Laurence stated that, “I’m really excited to be working with ASK on Keith and my second feature, First Christmas. After the success of Translations it felt like a natural step to bring this ensemble comedy drama to life in a way that I know audiences will love. It’s a real actor’s script, with character and heart at the centre of the story, that centres on a family brought together over Christmas after the death of the matriarch of the family.”
Keith Wilhelm Kopp is an award-winning film Director whose works have screened in festivals globally (Encounters FF, Belfast FF and Portland FF) and has had TV broadcast in the UK. His debut feature film Translations has received rave reviews and had a theatrical release in 20 UK cinemas. He is interested in films about redemption, transformation, and family dynamics. Keith is a BAFTA connect member.
Kopp said, “I look forward to bringing First Christmas alive because of the universality of families coming together during the holidays, overcoming their hardships and rediscovering the joy of spending time with people who know the joy and complexity of each other. This film has a lot of humour and humanity and I know there is a wide audience who will really engage with the story. I am especially excited to shoot First Christmas in Shropshire, a location that is wealthy in history and picturesque landscapes.”
First Christmas is currently in development and available for investment and sponsorship conversations. For more information, contact Luke on luke@askseekknock.co.uk
Formerly known as Judas Goat and the Bellwether, the now renamed band have announced the release of their latest single, “Drill Baby Drill” (coming out…
Photograph by 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 biscuits…
What, again?! Another article about Talk in Code?! Haven’t they had enough Devizine-styled publicity?! Are their heads swelling?! Didn’t that crazy toothless editor catch them…
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 in…
Forestry England Nightingale Wood invites dog owners to celebrate Walk Your Dog Month this January…..
Walk Your Dog Month is a great opportunity to build your bond with your four-legged family members. It can be tempting to stay indoors at this time of year, but regular walks are essential for a dog’s physical and mental health. The good news is, they’re pretty good for owners’ health too! So, grab a lead and some poo bags, and read on for Nightingale Wood’s top tips for a brilliant Walk Your Dog Month.
Beat the January blues
With festivities over, January can be a difficult month of cold weather and long nights. Spending time in nature with your best friend by your side is a fantastic way to enjoy natural light and fresh air. Physical activity can increase your energy levels and reduce stress. Even a short walk can clear your mind and lift your mood.
Fun for the whole family
Fun awaits the whole family at Nightingale Wood. Spot wildlife, build dens, and splash in puddles.
Dog-friendly environment
With clearly marked paths and plenty of space to roam, Nightingale Wood is the perfect spot for exploring. Choose from three easy-to-follow walking trails or create your own route from the network of surfaced trails and forest roads. There are so many scents and sounds to explore, your dog will never get tired of returning to the forest.
Build your fitness
Fancy trying something different? Look out around the trails for pieces of fitness equipment which have been installed as part of the Great Western Community Forest project.
Canine community
With fellow dog walkers enjoying the forest, there is always someone to pass the time of day with during a walk. Human connection is one of the NHS’s essential ingredients for positive wellbeing. You never know whose day you might change with a smile – or who might change yours.
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate Walk Your Dog Month at Nightingale Wood. Lace up your shoes and head into the woods for an unforgettable adventure.
Swindon’s annual colossal fundraising event The Shuffle is a testament to local live music, which raises funds for Prospect Hospice. If you’re ever going to…
There was a geographical population imbalance this bank holiday Monday in Devizes which risked the entire town conically sloping into the back of Morrisons; no…
Whilst dispersing highly flammable hydrocarbon gases into the atmosphere is not advisory, Butane Skies is a name increasingly exploding on local circuits. The young and…
All other image usage here was credited on the original articles, to locate sources again would take a long time, so please accept my apologises. If you see an image you own and wish to be credited for it, please ask. Thank you.
Okay so, three days into 2025 and my chicken kiev parped at me. Is this an augury?! A prediction of how this year is going to play out?! Even my dinners will be farting in my general direction? Que sera sera, we’re not looking forwards, we’re looking backwards, at how 2024 passed here at Devizine Towers…..
Start with stats, ‘cos after 2023’s doubling on hits from 2022, we failed to make a similar hike, achieving about 9% less hits than 2023. I’m not going to lose sleep over it, it was a great year, but figure there’s a few reasons for this drop. Firstly, despite a shock general election, I’ve tried to avoid controversy and local political satirical slants as much as possible. Unfortunately it’s often me playing the grumpy old toad which gains attention, but I really wanted to focus more on arts and entertainment news, as that’s our ethos, the spoof and opinion articles are just me, abusing the platform to magisterially backseat drive.
Result, though; we rid ourselves of Tory tyrants, in parliament at least, there’s still work to be done to obliterate the impact and ingrained cluelessness of elitist robbery of the working class and have a fairer system for all. What’s my opinion of Starmer so far? Not impressive, that’s for sure, but by comparison with the circus of thieves which was the last government I think we’re in a better place overall. I’m certainly not going to jump the bandwagon in disparaging him, knowing the alternative is this growing trend for fascism. Though it’s not the shouty sort of fascism of the Third Reich, it’s more ignorance is bliss, pie n chips, pint in hand C3PO gammon nescience. But, enough said about that!
Other reasons for the slight drop in hits could be due to the rising cost, my own fatigue and motivation to head out; I do worry what will become of Devizine with my aging and possible inability to get to gigs and events. A massive thank you must go to our contributors, then. Though submissions can be sporadic, we always need budding writers, especially younger ones to keep what we’ve built here, and report on happenings, because left up to local press we’d be doomed; they seem to favour national clickbait headlines over supporting local arts and entertainment, but likely they deem it is their only way to keep their heads above financial waters. I can’t blame them, but I can have a sly quip or two about it!
It is the accolades we receive from those talented locals which we promote and highlight which keeps me going with Devizine, and I thank them for motivating me. That is therefore where the concentration should be now, not on politics.
Another is top secret, but if you’ve been contemplating that Devizine simply isn’t funny anymore, I’ll reveal my best jokes are being saved for a book I’m near to finishing. I think you’ll like it, it’s absolute filth! And lastly, currently I’m so utterly fed up with social media. It’s all so bloody serious, nothing is taken with a pinch of salt, nothing is carefree or amusing. And if I do publish something on there for fun, the jokes fly over someone’s head, they take it the wrong way, get offended and execute a witch hunt against me. It’s all so petty and obnoxious, akin to road rage, rather than the creative outlet of its potential, and likely, original intention.
If it’s not bombarding me with targeted adverts as a constant reminder I’m getting old, like care homes and life insurance, it’s flooded with utter crap, often using AI to illustrate misinformation and promote the rightwing bias of the owners, attempting to sway the masses; and it works too, that’s why they do it.
As a result I’ve massively reduced my screen time for such wet fart dribbles. I’ll share our articles on our social media platforms, but rarely feel inclined to interact with the gusto I once did. It is a shame, and it means you need to bookmark our wonderful website and check into it generically rather than wait for your social media platform to prompt you. Otherwise, fuck it, I’m doing this for bugger all reason, nearly as less than a few pennies it might yet generate. A fundraiser event may be a necessity now, at least an excuse for a much-needed party to lift my spirits! It is January though, a depressing little bugger, our annual review usually turns into whinge!
January
January I’m usually in hibernation, many are, so previews of events to come are more common as I hide in my hubby hole. Last year we ran ones on The Magic Teapot Gathering, the first line up announcements for My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, N’Faly Kouyaté of the Afro-Celt Sound System coming to Wiltshire Music Centre, and of course, the Bradford Roots Festival of which dragged me out of my cosy pit for! Two previews for new initiatives in Devizes worthy of previewing in January too were Palooza, a house night to happen in March, and Devizes Youth Action Group’s U18 gigs, both at The Exchange.
We announced a Lego Club starting at Devizes Library, and looked at courses in the art of chocolate at HollyChocs. I reviewed The Importance of Being Earnest at the Wharf Theatre. Andy ventured out to Long Street Blues Club, but for me, it seems the year begins with The Bradford Roots Festival, blooming lovely that occasion is, then I go back into winter hiding again!
Bookworm time, and Jan saw a review of Sorrel Pitts’ novel Broken Shadows; undoubtedly the best read we’ve ever reported on. And of course, recorded music reviews came thick and fast during those winter months. Albums from Billy Green 3, Richard Wileman and Daisy Chapman. Singles from Sienna Wileman, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, and Ushti Baba.
In the news, politics was brewing for a general election, we talked to the Melksham-Devizes Primary on where best to place our vote. We also reported on the sewage in the Kennet, and the MP who voted to strip legal duty on water companies to reduce harm caused by storm overflows. Yet regardless of all of this, the highest hitting article of the month by far was about a lost dildo found by dog walkers in Quakers Walk; you can’t make up a golden scoop like that!!
February
Still wintery, we looked into SoupChick’s new art gallery in Shambles, Valentina, celebrated thirty years of the Devizes Writers Group, the Kidical Mass bike ride calling for safer streets in Devizes, the Worton & Marston Brownies needing volunteers, and the Swindon Palestine Solidarity charity dinner. But my personal favourite was Darren and The Chocolate Factory, when I joined a family workshop at HollyChocs!
Other memorable events of Feb cannot be topped after Gaz Brookfield’s Village Hall Tour arrived in West Lavington. Though I also recall with fondness the Errol Linton Band at Long Street Blues Club, The Worried Men at the Pump, and Deadlight Dance at The Southgate. Ian gave us a review of Vince Bell at the Southgate, and Carrie at The Rondo Theatre. And we welcomed a new writer, Florence Lee who reported on Devizes Youth Action Group’s First Club Night.
Music in review came from Cracked Machine, The Lost Trades, The Jon Amor Trio, Jol Rose, and Talk in Code. We previewed The Beat at The Cheese and Grain, the Jesus Jones tour, Devizes Pride, Gaz Brookfield, Mantonfest 2024, The Scribes at The Pump, and that The Marley Experience was coming to Devizes.
March
Politically we had a clue to the change in the tide, with a historic Lib Dem win in Marlborough Town Council, shame the trend didn’t carry onto the GE there. We reported on a Palestinian Children Memorial in Swindon, and a Palestine protest at Labour Party fundraiser. We had a recap on the good work Devizes Clean Up Squad do, and opinionated on Wiltshire Council’s threats of prosecution against Wiltshire Music Events’ posters in Devizes.
I think the hero of the month goes to our bravest 7-year-old, Chloe, who slept out for Devizes OpenDoors. Though Chloe’s feat might yet have been slightly upstaged by our Brian, who discovered Led Zeppelin’s mystery thatcher, became a national hero to prog rock fans, and was the subject of a Wiltshire Museum exhibit.
We previewed FearFree’s fashion show at the Condado Lounge, Devizes Musical Theatre’s Sister Act at Dauntseys, our Shelly on the wheels of steel at the Muck & Dunder, and Devizes Arts Festival. Andy went to Cinelli Brothers at Long Street Blues Club, Ian gave a review of “RENT” at The Rondo Theatre. I had two unforgettable nights out, when Ian Siegal joined the Jon Amor Trio at the Southgate, and the first Palooza got me dancing my socks off for my birthday at The Exchange.
An album from Deadlight Dance and singles from M3G, Atari Pilot, and Life in Mono got covered, and we rediscovered our Chrissy from as yet unformed band Burn The Midnight Oil, providing vocals for drum n bass tracks. Oh yeah, I had a rant at those ranting about the Glastonbury line-up too!
April
April fools, of course, when we headlined “Devizes Road Resurfacing Plan Abolished Due to Dinosaur Fossil in Pothole!” The rest, though, was sadly true. Wiltshire Police Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson lied through his teeth, Amnesty in Salisbury responded to the Rwanda Bill, and Michelle Donelan’s fake magazine campaign leaflet was promoted by drink driving fox hunter Jonathan Seed. Meanwhile, Wiltshire Council continued to gloat about prosecuting fly posters, attacking Adrenaline Stompers in Westbury this time, whilst The Marley Experience concert in Devizes was attacked by some nasty Facebook posts, falsely claiming it was cancelled.
But away from nastiness, Chloe raised £600 for Devizes OpenDoors and we previewed Devizes Lions’ sponsored walk for the homeless charity too. The Peppermill started an open mic. We also previewed Simply The Best; Tina Turner Tribute at the Corn Exchange, The Female of the Species fundraising this time for Rainbow Early Years in Trowbridge, two teenage punks bands appearing at the Pump, Steatopygous & SHOX, a Bradford Roots session special with Bill in the Lowground, Daisy Chapman & Thieves, the Patsy Gamble Jazz Trio in Bromham, White Horse Opera’s Puccini’s “La Boheme” at Lavington School,
Six:Teen Edition, Devizes Music Academy’s first show, Palooza’s second night at The Exchange, and Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival, which I attended and loved!
Reviews also from James and the Cold Gun, Lucky Number Seven, Nobody’s Dad, The Real Cheesemakers at The Pump. Jinder and Mark Harrison at the Queens Head in Box. Barrelhouse at The Southgate. Roughcut Rebels and The Clones at the Three Crowns. Shox & Steatopygous supporting Menthol Lungs at The Pump. The Lost Trades at The Piggy Bank. Six:Teen Edition. “Skylight” at the Rondo Theatre. “The Thrill of Love” and “And Then There Were None” at the Wharf Theatre, and The Marley Experience came to Devizes and everyone loved it regardless of the grandstanding whingers!
May
A month of ups and downs, we previewed Professor Elemental, Madam Misfit and the Real Cheesemakers at The Barge on Honeystreet, Frome Festival, White Horse Opera’s Mathieson Trust fundraiser with Anup Biswas and The Brand New Heavies at the Cheese and Grain. We reviewed music from LilyPetals, Courting Ghosts, Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Poppy Rose.
We talked about Affordable school costs for all, Swindon families uniting in memory of innocent children killed in conflict, and while Vicar Gerry Lynch faced a soaking at Pottenre fete, St James Devizes Vicar Keith Brindle was honoured as a Canon of Salisbury Cathedral! But sad news was to hear Devizes International Street Festival was cancelled, and funding was needed to keep Confetti Battle going ahead. And Tonka Bean was closing too.
Events picked up though, Ben hailed the Beaux Gris Gris gig the best Devizes has ever seen. Meanwhile I was with Illingworth and catching up with George Wilding at the Crown in Bishops Cannings. Andy attended Peter Knight’s Gigspanner at Pound Arts Centre. Ian covered “The Incident Room” at the Rondo Theatre, “Sister Act” at St. Augustine’s, and “The Thrill of Love” at The Wharf Theatre. There was a homecoming gig for Nothing Rhymes With Orange at the Three Crowns, and another one of those nights when I went on a round robin tour of live music in Devizes, at Long Street, The Southgate and Three Crowns. The only time for a spoof article that month was for one headlined “Labour Party Could Change Star Wars Day to ‘Sci-Fi’ Day so to Not Offend Trekkies!”
June
June is about going out! Ben gave us reviews of Jim Blair and the Mojo Makers at The Beehive, Swindon, and Robert Vincent & Ryan Davis PAs at Marlborough’s Sound Knowledge. I caught I See Orange at The Pump with Devizes-own Steatopygous.
Ian checked out “The Collaborators” at the Rondo Theatre, and “Where’s The Cat? Live!” at the Wharf Theatre, and then there was Devizes Arts Festival which we all covered as extensively as possible.
A Junco Shakers at The British Lion, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, The Sound Of Blue Note, Duo Tutti, Martin Simpson, Belinda Kirk, Lucy Porter, Ida Pelliccioli, Adam Rutherford, Edward Cross Quintet, Dr. Phil Hammond, Jolly Roger and The Cable Street Collective all reviewed, mainly by Andy, but a few by myself and Ian too, even had one from the Wharf’s own John Winterton. What a great year for Devizes Arts Festival, my personal favourite? Easy, that was Lady Nade.
All this and I still found time to preview Devizes Scooter Rally, the return of Devizes Youth Action Group gig nights, and FullTone Festival’s youth-supporting extra day. Review music from Talk in Code and Rosie Jay. But if anything kept me busiest, it was interviewing candidates for our MP post, Green Party candidate for Melksham-Devizes Catherine Read, Labour candidate Kerry Postlewhite and Lib Dem candidate Brian Matthew. It was an honour to meet them all, and I enjoyed chatting to them in New Society. Any one of them had the potential to do a more honest job, but there was something about Brian which made me think, hey, that’s the guy for the job; the best thing about it, a majority agreed with me; crazy times!!
July
And so, it came to be. After fourteen tiresome years of Conservative lies and robbery, continuously leaning further into far right extremism, openly promoting hate and dividing the nation, they got thrown out of there, but didn’t take it on the chin! “Michelle Gonelan Makes History,” was one article we published to make fun of the knicker-twisted attitude of those poor losers. Furious Tory supporters took to local Facebook groups, and we made fun of that too, with a headline deliberately in caps-lock, “WOK SNOWFLICKS GIT THERE KICKS ON DEVIZS ISSUES (BIT BETTER) THIS ELEKTION!” And then, even our county council leader wept like a baby over the new government scrapping the Stonehenge Tunnel! Oh, such fun!!
We continued to focus on DOCA’s fundraising efforts, and took a recap visit to Devizes OpenDoors too. But July is festival season, and we were too knee-deep in sunny vibes to worry about the disgruntled minority upset with the election result.
Firstly, it was a shame Devizes Scooter Rally and the Full-Tone Festival had to be one same weekend, such that I attempted to do both but spent most of my time cruising from one to the other, great though they both were. And it was a time when our recommendations came to pass, as Meg was booked for a rather smashing MantonFest, and The Sarah C Ryan band played DOCA’s Picnic in the Park, in which I played compere, in a giraffe onesie! Happy days.
Ian went to My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, in Old Town Gardens, Swindon, and I popped over to check out Minety, and crowned it the best local festival I’ve been to. Other great nights out included Talk in Code & Laissez Faire at The Southgate, Ian reporting on The Rob Lear Band at The Piggy Bank, Calne, “Faith” at the Rondo Theatre, and “Macbeth” at Cleeve House, Seend.
We also previewed the next season at the Wharf Theatre and announced there were only a few remaining tickets for Trowbridge Festival. Events, events, events, that’s what summer is for, not worrying about politics, it all ends with the same poor results. I believe it doesn’t matter who is at number ten, and while it’s probably better to have the last lot gone, we will never recover this financial pothole until we ALL face up to the fact the cost of Brexit has ruined us, and until we accept it and freely discuss without prejudice and arguing, what we can best do to recover from it, instead of blaming the current government for problems rooted in politics long before they won, we will see those comforts the UK have become accustomed to drop from us one by one. The closure of venues, pubs, shops, event organisers, the hardship of creatives, the general disillusionment that a new government can fix it overnight, all paints a very gloomy picture. Therefore, as I said at the beginning, I’m done with politics, and feel Devizine should focus on supporting the arts and entertainment as much as possible.
And that’s the end of the first half of this 2024 review, we’ll see a lack of political matters during the last six months of the year, and a new ethos of positivity in the face of such gloom…..I hope!!
With Dad’s taxi on call in Swindon and a few hours to kill whilst her majesty is at the flicks, it was fortunate local author Sorrel Pitts posted a thank you on Facebook yesterday evening, to all who helped promote her fantastic book, Broken Shadows. Because, as well as Devizine for reviewing it, she also mentioned an intriguing thing called Swindon Story Shed…
Not having heard of this travelling bookshop literacy project before, I thought I’d poke my nose in, being they had a popup bookshop in the Brunel shopping centre and with said hours to kill I’d only otherwise have spent stuffing my face in Greggs!
Swindon Story Shed is a partnership project by Debi and Nick. The latter was running bookshelf errands while Debi managed the shop. A self-confessed bookworm, Debi explained the ethos of the project. Alongside this lovely travelling bookshop with an arts and craft space, the two also hold free creative writing workshops at Swindon’s Central Library, book signings, workshops on immersive storytelling, in which Debi explained they were looking to create a “walk-through” story, and last year they hosted a “BloodShed Crime Fiction Festival,” of which I believe Sorrel took part in, hence the connection.
The ethos was basically anything books, and they had interesting ways of promoting reading and writing for all ages. Support for local authors self-publishing, there were book-related handmade gift items and books Debi pointed out designed for both children and adults with dyslexia or learning disabilities. They even had little cuddly burger toys with a book in its zipped inside; loved that especially!
Whilst there were modern books, self published or by small publishing houses you’d be unlikely to find in commercial bookshops, there were mainstream reads and a few classics. I browsed through a collection of DC Thompson annuals from the 60s to 80s, but Debi told me while they had graphic novels, they didn’t display them here because the wonderful Incredible Comic Book store was opposite, of which I also felt inclined to pop into afterwards.
She spoke so enthusiastically about the Shed, telling me how personal it was to them; she had read every book of the shelves! Debi reviewed books for distributors, and had advise for aspiring authors; imagine, I could have chewed her ears off all day, about books, publishing and local related enterprises, but a young boy came in with his mum, early for a storytime session, and was put immediately to work, creating some bookmarks!
From the Percy Jackson series and anything YA fantasy to Nick’s more artistic reflections in manga and sequential storylines, 3D paper sculptures, and art classes, this is simply an enchanting literacy venture. Driven with such passion, Swindon Story Shed is living proof that literature can be exciting and interactive without the need of tech; this was a place of pen and paper with no sign of a tablet or device, yet with far more universal appeal than the niche of zine culture. It’s just a friendly place for book worms of any age.
The popup bookshop is only at the Brunel until Sunday, but you can find out more about The Swindon Story Shed on their website HERE and Facebook page HERE. There is a Crowdfunder HERE to help Debi and Nick find a permanent base, but Debi was adamant that this wouldn’t lessen the “travelling bookshop,” aspect to the project.
What a nice discovery and first article of the year. And, for the record, I still found time to stuff my face at Greggs; what? Turns out you save money having a side of wedges. Who knew?!!
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