Pump Acoustic Nights Are Back!
Andy Fawthrop
For those weird enough among us to be of an acoustic bent, particularly on the folkie side, the time since the Covid lockdowns has been a bit of a desert. Several local clubs which once thrived before 2020, never actually opened again – Devizes Folk Club, Corsham’s Acoustic Oak, Bradford Folk Club and Trowbridge’s Village Pump being amongst them. Last year the Bradford club finally stuttered into life again, first at the now-closed Swan Hotel, then at other venues, but only as a very low-key weekly sing-around. The proper full fat Open Mic nights and Guest Nights seemed to have disappeared from the local scene completely. Some of this was due to the “retirement” of the previous hosts, and some of it (unfortunately) due to the passing of their once-leading lights.
The venue itself, known as the Village Pump, at the rear of Wadworth’s The Lamb in Trowbridge, and the mothership of the hugely popular Village Pump and Trowbridge Festivals, recently found a new entrepreneur in our good friend and music promoter Kieran J Moore. Kieran has performed wonders in re-opening the venue, in overhauling its sound and lighting infrastructure, and in attracting a whole new range of artists over the past couple of years. Audiences have grown, drawn by the inventive programming, and the support for many local up-and-coming new indie bands.
And now, at last, a light has re-emerged from the gloom for the folkies with the start of The Pump Acoustic Club as a new pop-up venture at the venue. Running every second Friday of the month, the club promises a welcoming night whether you want to come and play or just rock up and listen. The format is pretty similar to the old VP folk club: the first half is dedicated to acoustic-only (unplugged) floor spots, and the second half to a booked guest. For the Open Mic part, you have to sign up in advance (first come, first served via comments on their Facebook page), and you get time to sing two or three songs each. The running order allows for about ten or eleven acts. Then, following the break, and the inevitable raffle, the second half is a 45-60 PA-supported slot dedicated to a booked artist.
Last month, on the first outing for the Club, we were treated to a great set by local duo Lorna and Darren, playing as Fly Yeti Fly. Anyone there would agree it was a great night and a fabulous start to this new venture.
Last night, for August’s booking we had Wings and Whispers, an all-female duo from Bristol. Both classically trained, both admitted to preferring the folkier side of things. Using harp, guitar, whistle and voices, the pair played some fascinating, ethereal music based in folk legends and myths and in the natural world. They wove original compositions together with re-arranged folk classics and covers into a mesmerising set. Superb stuff.
The new Club, set up by Bradford-on-Avon’s Simon Taylor (lately of Water Thieves Trio and Dr. Zebo’s Wheezy Club) and Matt Cook, looks as if it’s hit just the right formula. Both last month’s affair and last night were pretty busy, with most seats taken both upstairs and down. It’s £4 to get in, and £1 for a strip of raffle tickets, so you’re all done and dusted for a great night out for a fiver – what more could you want? Let’s hope that now it’s back, folks will continue to support it and make it into the success it surely deserves to be.
Future gigs, as stated, will be the second Friday of each month. See their Facebook page for individual events, but here’s a preview:
Friday 12th September Andy Skellam
Friday 10th October Lorikeet
Friday 14th November Brian Stone & The Masters Of None
Friday 12th December Dr. Zebo’s Wheezy Club
devizine.com 