New single out today from Swindon-based gothic-folk duo, Canuteโs Plastic Army, and itโs three yeses from meโฆCan one person give three yeses? Iโm way past caringโฆ.
If youโve loved the previous single Wild, like me, or caught them gigging, usually in Swindon (but they did grace us with their presence at the Southgate in the spring,) Hollow Children of Men is a seven-minute chronicle from Anish Harrison & Neil Mercer, chock full of enchanting wisps and ethereal acoustic moods. It rises and falls, itโs epic, and if itโs not a magnum opus, I want to be there when they release such a song.
Itโs the kind of song which takes you on a journey, through darkened woods, in mist, and leaves you spellbound, unable to leave the forest it drifted you intoโฆ. And if that all sounds like whimsical wordplay for the sake of flattery, take a listen for yourself why don’t you?!
A brand new festival will be coming to the South West countryside in 2025, from a husband and wife team with years of experience across some of the UKโs best-loved festivals…..
Homestead is the culmination of a decade of dreaming for Will and Jess Lardner, a Bristol based couple who have been running and working across many of the countryโs most revered and groundbreaking festivals. Having honed their crafts creating incredible experiences for others, they are now launching their own creation and taking everything they have learned to create the perfect balance of hedonism, escapism and relaxation.
Combining music, food, comedy and luxury camping, Homestead will be an intimate weekend, exclusively for those over 25, allowing attendees a rare opportunity to get away from it all and take time for themselves down in the beautiful West Country. For those that want to let their hair down, there will be an impressive lineup of artists to dance the weekend away, whilst those wanting to reconnect with themselves can attend mind-broadening talks and wholesome workshops. Food will play a central role in Homestead, with a roster of respected chefs offering up delicious creations that will make you feel truly looked after with every bite. Comedy will be a late night, rowdy affair with some of the UKโs best comedians coming along for the ride.
Speaking about Homestead, founder Will said, โWe are creating something for those of us who are growing tired of the suffocating crowds and the homogenised festival landscape. Homestead will deliver a highly curated programme of music, food and comedy with the added bonus of something not usually associated with a festivalโฆ great service and an intimate crowd. We donโt want to say too much for now, but we can promise Homestead will be full of personal touches and amazing experiences!โ
John Rostron the CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) had this to say, โItโs wonderful to see the green shoots of a new festival emerging, offering some hope for new energy and new audiences after one of the toughest periods for independent festivals that weโve ever known. There’s an enormous appetite for festivals in the UK and what drives that demand is the refreshing of ideas, new innovations, and the constant joy in creativity that festivals like Homestead offer to everyone.โย
Pre-registration for Homestead is now open, with more information being revealed over the coming months. To be the first in the know, sign up www.homesteadfestival.co.uk
by Ian Diddamsimages by Gail Foster ‘Devizes & Beyond’ is a collection of original poems in traditional forms and digital photography, inspired by life inโฆ
Some four years since his last release under his own name, Lavingtonโs electronica composer Moray McDonald presents a soundtrack; the music he wrote and producedโฆ
Can we please draw a red line under Pewsey’s Moonrakers St George’s Cross facade fiasco now Wiltshire Council has u-turned on a proposal forcing landlordโฆ
If options for urbanites seeking experiential or themed dining experiences are boundless, theyโre lesser so in our rural backwaters. Yet, weโve returned from a deliciousโฆ
Thereโs a cold remote ambience of burrowing doubt in the opening of Westburyโs singer-songwriter Serenโs debut song, in which, as the title suggests, she usesโฆ
The biggest risk for any media reporting negatively on illegal raves is that, in their youth, their fifty-plus target audience probably attended illegal raves themselves!โฆ
Second impressive single from young Salisbury singer-songwriter Rosie Jay is released today. Sing Another Love Song; a sound of the summerโฆ..
Her debut breakup track I Don’t Give a Damn, had an interesting hook, this has too, but is far more optimistic, and eternally beguiling. It is, technically, the better of the two, revealing a potential for eminence in its confident and outstanding delivery.ย
If it hints of connotations the infatuation of the theme is one-sided on the part of the author, itโs open-ended for interpretation; maybe the love interest simply doesnโt share their passion for a good love song?! Thatโs their issue!
For thatโs what this is, breezy and cool, acoustic and pop-folky, with the perfect flowery scent of Kirsty MacColl in both theme, musically and vocally. Such is the magic of local producer Jolyon Dixon, to filter the inner superlative of an upcoming artist and nurture it to the forefront. And in such youโll hear a similarity with Rosie to his duo Illingworth with John Smith, should youโve caught them on our live music circuit. Then again, the whole gypsy-esque vibe, there’s hints of Irish, and I’m awarding the Corrs as another comparison; as with MacColl, these are high accolades indeed!
Here this now, itโll brighten up your day. Yet, gorgeous as this song is, with the blossoming potential it displays, I believe itโll be rudimentary in a short period of time, and the best of Rosie Jay is yet to come. You need to be here to hear it when it does.
Devizes Music Academy is set to bring joy, energy and a whole lot of sparkle to the stage with its latest musical theatre production,ย Sister Actย laterโฆ
Thimbles on standby, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts are calling all creative craftspeople and makers to their new project, The Makers Exchange. Itโs a new craftโฆ
Whether you’ve a bizarre inclination to meet the Addams Family in the flesh and figure this might be your closest opportunity, you couldn’t think ofโฆ
Itโs a question Iโve asked Chippenham singer-songwriter Harmony Asia on each rare occasion I catch her for a chat; if sheโs planning to capture aโฆ
David slew Goliath with a sling and a stone. Bishop’s Cannings Parish Council used evidence, against a group of Devizes Town councillorsโ more circumstantial landโฆ
We love Devizes, we love food, and we love drink too! What’s not to like when the Devizes Food & Drink Festival launch, (or could we say lunch?!) their program of events for this year?!
HollyChocs
The Festival runs from 21st-29th September, in which during that time you could be tasting tucker from Italy to Ukraine, the latter from Soup-Chick, take your dog for a meal, or your teddy bear, lunch in a old mill, explore the realm of gastronomy with Professor Charles Spence, taste the delights our local chocolatier Holly, try hot dishes in the safety of the fire station (!!), sample what the folk who built Stonehenge had for dinner, and the usual unusual meals in various locations and lots more besides!
SoupChick
On the eve of the festival, Saturday 21st September, the free Street Food & Artisan Market, in the Market Place from 10am โ 4pm, with music by Strungout Ukuleles. And the festival finishes (or should I say fishes?…no, I’ve clearly taken the joke too far now, and must punish myself with an ice cream) with the World Food event at the Corn Exchange on Sunday 29th from 12:30pm. This is the other freebie event where you can enjoy tasters of the flavours of the world for less than ยฃ1 per portion . The festival promises foods from Austria to Zimbabwe, exploring real home cooking from local residents who have far flung roots.
I’ve personally never attended this grand finale World Food gig, yet, and get told off by foodie Dora every year for it! I will try extra this time, Dora, honest!
Plus, of course, I will add them all to our event calendar next update, I just need a fish finger sandwich first, all food chat has given me an appetite.
Retrieved footage from a stolen drone of the Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs reveals the Beaufont Hunt making a fox kill earlier this month, and itโs undeniableโฆ
Just who is Theodore Thump? A wise pet rabbit? The mysterious sixth Beach Boy? This album newly released from Shedric, Swindon soloist and groovist ofโฆ
Buzzwords, like โturbo,โ or โsonicโ are cliche, overused trends which gain popularity because they sound impressive, even if they are empty of meaning. I avoidโฆ
Itโs always nice to hear when an inaugural local event is successful, especially one as unique and original as Marlborough School of Languagesโ annual Fiesta.โฆ
Right here, right now in Devizes, Palooza spawned and has become the fast-growing house music event brand in Wiltshire. They’ve beenย invited backย to perform atย Fatboy Slimโsโฆ
Here’s a prime example as to why I could never be a councillor…..
Cotswold District Council will vote on changing the name of Cotswold Water Park to Cotswold Lakes because visitors turn up expecting water slides, being the term is usually used for water theme parks.
How two dimensional is that thinking? Imagine having to sit through meetings with people so utterly boring that’s the best solution they could come up with, when the potential here is staring them in the face. A million people visit the water park annually, many of them willing to pay for access to a water theme park they mistakenly thought that it wasโฆhello? Earth to Cotswold District Councilโฆ.
Instead, they’ll probably spend thousands on graphic design and signage changes, when all they’ve gotta do to keep the name is install some bloody water slides, and get rich very quickly!
Matthew Millet, development officer at the Trust, said the name was “never fit for purpose” and that it is “about time” a new name was found to reflect what the lakes really offer. Now, that’s thinking outside the box; someone wiped the cobwebs from the cogs of their minds!
“Fun” must have a different definition for those councillors to mine. You could section off a tiny area of the lakes, you could give the people what they want, what they thought they were turning up in their armbands and Speedos for, or you could just carry on as you were, hoping a carp will take the bait!
Tory tears welled at County Hall this week, when Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council threw his teddies from his pram over the Government’s motion to cancel the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project, while The Stonehenge Alliance welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to cancel the ยฃ2.5bn scheme as a โlow value, unaffordable commitment.โ
Clewer whimpered, โWe are extremely dismayed and disappointed at the Government’s decision to cancel the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project. These improvements are needed now to ease traffic congestion on the A303 and reduce traffic in our communities, and also ensure economic growth in Wiltshire, unlocking jobs and investment in the wider south-west region.โ
The Stonehenge Alliance alongside supporter-organisations such as Ancient Sacred Landscape Network, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth, Rescue, the British Archaeological Trust, and Transport Action Network, believe the road should have been binned in 2020 when it was recommended for refusal, after a six month examination, for the damage it would cause to the World Heritage Site. The Examination Report, written by five planning inspectors, who presided over a six month examination, recommended that the application be refused.
Yet Cllr Richard Clewer continued, โIt has taken many years of lobbying and working closely with partners, including National Highways, to bring this major infrastructure project to Wiltshire, and so it is a huge blow to get to the stage when construction is ready to begin, only to have this taken away from us at this late hour,โ despite it seems these studies and a refusal from the High Court, the Conservative government at the time simply ignored them and continued to award contracts to construction companies regardless. So when the WC leader states, โThere has already been ยฃ160m spent on this project, and cancelling it now wastes that huge investment,โ who’s fault is that?! If I didn’t get planning permission to build a shed in my garden but paid a bloke to carry out the work anyway, I would bear the cost for my misjudgement, surely? It’s called acting responsibly!
John Adams, chair of the Stonehenge Alliance said, โThis is a vindication of all the work of so many people over so many years from supporters around the world. National Highwaysโ misguided project was called out for what it was: low value and unaffordable. It was also highly damaging. Now that it has been scrapped, we need to move on. As soon as the budget is there, we need to ensure, as a priority, that local traffic is better managed and rail access to the South West improved.โ
Tom Holland, historian and president of the Stonehenge Alliance, expressed his enthusiasm for the cancellation. โThis is wonderful news,โ he said. โThis entire monstrous project, a proposal to drive a gash of concrete and tarmac through our most sacred prehistoric landscape, should never have got off the drawing board. That cancelling it will also save ยฃ2.5bn is obviously an additional perk.โ
The councillor proposed the โmonstrous project to drive a gash of concrete and tarmac through our most sacred prehistoric landscape,โ would โreturn the Stonehenge landscape to something like its original setting.โ
He’s certainly done his homework, young Dick, because it’s a lesser known fact the ancient Britons built a gurt concrete motorway tunnel underneath Stonehenge, and it even had a Little Chef. The Egyptians built a flyover over the Pyramid of Giza too, to ease 4th dynasty congestion in Cairo. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was just a multi-storey car park decorated with a few hanging baskets, and the Mohawks made a giant plug to plug up Niagara Falls, so their canoes could cross the sea five minutes quicker!
Its original setting is impossible to recreate now, unless you’re Dr Who, and itโs as close as it ever will be, with the mounting campaign to wreck it, which the councillor is promoting and cannot see the hypocrisy in his outburst! But to further the gibberish, Clewer finished this sentence with the unbelievable, โand allow local communities greater access to the ancient stones and the surrounding World Heritage Site.โ Greater access, really? I beg to differ, itโs been fine for five thousand years, now, all of a sudden, it feels like they want to hide it, unless you cross their palms with silver; typical Tory all round.
Theyโve already rerouted traffic on the upper road, so you cannot access it unless you cough up ยฃ37 for a ticket, and should the tunnel have been constructed youโd never know it was there at all. The next generation of locals would be like Tess of the d’Urbervilles, despite living close theyโd be oblivious to its existence.
Face it, his last paragraph was simply a smokescreen, when really the focus of his whinge was more about reducing โrat-running in our communities, to reduce journey times to the wider south-west, to boost economic growth in Wiltshire, and to unlock jobs and investment across the region.โ
It mayโve eased congestion, but destruction of the environment to do so would have been certain. We risked losing our World Heritage Site, its status as such, the appeal to tourism, the capital this brings to the county, and its historical and sacred connotations, and letโs face it, for nothing more than to get Gareth and Diane from Shrewton to Andover five minutes earlier. And that’s the real truth about this vanity project, a complete disregard for our environment and the financial benefits obtained from it to small businesses relying on tourism, simply so colossal building contracts can be backhanded to Conservative donor bum chums.
There never was a thought given to the elephant in the room, that the area is littered with undiscovered sites of archaeological importance, which once discovered by digging there, potentially wrecking, would halt the process and massively increase the cost of the project, spiralling it billions over budget. It would have been a horrorshow for future generations to frown upon us and ask โwhat the hell were they thinking?โ
The Stonehenge Alliance explains the original budget of ยฃ1.7bn is from around 2017 and is clearly out of date. In an answer to Danny Kruger MPโs Parliamentary question on the 12th March 2024, which admits that even in 2018, the construction cost was estimated to be ยฃ1.9bn with maintenance costs of ยฃ8m a year. With construction inflation being so high since then, it is likely that the combined total cost of the scheme is over ยฃ2.5bn and thatโs before it runs into any difficulties tunnelling in phosphatic chalk.
Regardless of the facts, Cllr Richard Clewer concluded, โWe will remain committed to this project and will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to try to bring this project back to Wiltshire.โ
But who is the proverbial โWeโ here? The Wiltshire Council press release suggests all the councillors are behind Mr Clewer on this one. Rather I favoured to ask our shiny new MP, Brian Mathew, also on Wiltshire Council, a penny for his thoughts, not that I gave him a penny, but still he replied, โI have been against the Stonehenge Tunnel since I first heard about it in around 2009. I was the only Councillor to speak out against it in 2017 when I was first elected to Wiltshire Council.โ
When Rachel Reeves outlined her proposals to Parliament, she said Labour would not go ahead with the A303 Stonehenge scheme, but she didnโt say it was cancelled. However, in the published policy paper the scheme is listed as cancelled, therefore Clewer’s claims to remain committed to a project definitely cancelled is wasting time in office and even more taxpayer’s money; they failed to fix the existing roads from defects the size of moon craters for years, let alone engineer a project as technical as this!
It surely then serves as an example of how this immature response to the results of the general election in many of our Conservatives remaining in positions of power is simply going to hinder progress, and it’s time, now the deed is done in parliament, to eradicate this Conservative ethos which values the financial gain of multinational companies over that of smaller businesses and the aesthetics of our communities, across the board, once and for all.
Much less, we suffer from hairbrained vanity building schemes such as this, destroying our heritage, wildlife and tourist attractions just for the sake of easing congestion without the need for the drastic environmental measures necessary to be sustainable. It’s time to improve public transport in Wiltshire, so Gareth and Diane can get from Shrewton to Andover by choo-choo train. Get with the program, silly boy!
Weโre into August already; Christmas before you know it, so you better get outside and taste the sun while it lastsโฆ.
Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week, provided the Earth isn’t hit by a meteoriteโฆ.a meaty feast pizza-orite, maybe, that’s okay, and the kind of cataclysmic event I dream about…โฆ
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so check in later in the week too!
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August.
Wednesday 31st
Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
Big Jam Session at the Vic, Swindon.
Loonaloop at the Bell, Bath.
Thursday 1st
School Holiday Pirate Boat Trip on the Kenavon, sailing at 10.30 and 13.30 from Devizes Wharf, for a Treasure Hunting adventure on the Kennet & Avon Canal.
Sparkly Singers at Lansdowne Hall, Derry Hill.
Tell Your Story โ Theatre Acting and Directing workshop at Central Methodist Church, Chippenham.
Aldbourne Music Festival starts, running over the weekend.
Fraser Anderson with Bex Baxter & John Parker (Trio) at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Wickham Festival begins.
Valley Fest at Chew Valley also opens.
Friday 2nd
Professor Elemental & Madam Misfit at the Barge, Honeystreet, with the Real Cheesemakers in support. Not everyday we get Chap Hop here, so Editor’s Pick of the Week!
Humdinger at The Bear, Marlborough.
People Like Us at The Brunel Launch Party, Chippenham.
Music For Miniatures have an Under the Sea Tour at Marden House, Calne.
Talk in Code at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon with Ruby Darbyshire.
โSpirit of the Bluesโ with Julia Titus, Mike Denham & Steve Graham at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Cydonia Knights at The Vic, Swindon. Tiger Split Outfit & Jim Blair at the Beehive.
Connor Selby at The Tree House, Frome. Coda โ Led Zeppelin Tribute at the Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 3rd
Curious Kids: the Circus at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
Barrelhouse at The Southgate, Devizes. Maurice Menghini has a reggae night at the Bear Hotel.
Stripped at The Lamb, Marlborough.
Rave Against the Machine at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Seven Wonders: The Spirit of Fleetwood Mac at Melksham Assembly Hall.
People Like Us at Calne Liberal Club.
Summer Party in the Park at Island Park, Chippenham.
The Buttmonkies at West Wilts Cons Club, Trowbridge.
Ooh Beehive at the Beehive, Swindon. Talk in Code at the Castle.
Westbury Cider & Beer Festival at Fullingbridge Farm.
The Blunders at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Dung Beatles at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Flea and Collectables Market at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Wrecking Ball โ A Nashville Experience in the evening.
Sunday 4th
Ruzz Guitar at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.
Mark Green Blues Band at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
At It at The Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon, free from 1pm.
Monday 5th
The Pop-Up Youth Cafe will be on the Green in Devizes from Monday until Friday 9th.
Princess Dance Party (2-4 Years) and Barbie Dance Party (4-9 Years) at Wiltshire Music Centre Bradford-on-Avon.
Tuesday 6th
Trio Paradis Cafe Concert: Scenes of Childhood at St Andrews, Chippenham.
Music for Miniatures presents The Owl and The Pussycat (3-7 Years) at Wiltshire Music Centre Bradford-on-Avon.
Rod Kelly Trio for Jazz Knights, at the Royal Oak, Swindon.
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!
Featured Image: Helen Polaxpix What has Devizesโ greatest millennial musical export, England rugby player Jodie Ounsley’s ghost writer, some scummy mummies, a professor of biology atโฆ
Hurrah, at last! Only The Brave is the debut song from Burn The Midnight Oilโs revised lineup; something Iโve been anticipating since watching them rehearseโฆ
Four Dauntsey’s Sixth-Formers have been awarded travel scholarships, and plan to cycle all the way from their school to Bonn in Germany, shortly after completingโฆ
Leading Wiltshire digital entrepreneur Natalie Luckham, AI Educator and founder of award-winning Wiltshire social media consultancy Naturally Social is hosting a free โIntroduction to AIโโฆ
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts key into the town’s majority demographic for its first annual event of the year, mature couples, with an affection for samplingโฆ
If it’s been a fantastic weekend on Devizes Green with the orchestral Full-Tone Festival, further out of town scooterists, mods, skins and anyone else with a penchant for the merger of such retrospective subcultures gathered for an equally thrilling event, Devizes Scooter Rally 2024, backed by the shack of a soul boss, most turnin’, stormin’, sound o’soulโฆ.
You’ll have to excuse parts omitted and see this as an overall piece, because in trying to juggle both events there were times I was going between them, times I stopped home for my chips, and times when I generally slouched on the sofa contemplating getting my arse in gear! But what I did catch at Devizes Scooter Club’s most prestigious annual do, was off the scale brilliant; I expected no less based on their past rallies.
It might also be a smidgen inequitable on Full-Tone that I spent more time at the Rally. It’s walking distance from home, not having a scooter myself, and such is my right to satisfy what’s more my cuppa; the dirty down jollity of working class revelry! Note, then, despite eclectic tastes required to do this blog, my first music love will forever be ska and consequently reggae; it’s the offbeat, see? It’s that little jump, mek ya wanna skank up da riddim, not forgoing the heavy basslines or class brass. Unfortunately, itโs something we’re rarely blessed with here, so when it is in my neighbourhood, anything and everything else must get put on the backburner.
And moreover, when we do get ska or reggae around these backwaters, it’s not usually of the quality we’ll see today at the Rally. And there lies my reason for savouring the opportunity against an orchestral happening elsewhere in town, fantastic as it was. The epiphany came with the finale of the Saturday, when London’s Goldsteppers stepped up to the challenge and truly blew me off my little dancing feet.
Band changeovers were quicker than the queue at the bar, which is no fault of the exceptionally hard-working bar staff, rather the given after navigating winding B-roads on a hairdryer on wheels, the punters camp up, and drink, they drink a lot!
After an electric set by Southampton’s Butterfly Collective, who had already raised the level with a varied melting pot of Kinks to Happy Mondays, and finishing on a reggae classic, I arrived back in the tent to be sublimely slotted into my comfort zone by these Gold-stepping Bobby Dazzlers. The beautiful sound of ska, seemingly attentive to original ska and rock steady, an often overlooked linkage between ska and reggae despite being the most creative period in Jamaican recording history, rather than the commonplace Two-Tone cover bands.
Alton Ellis, early Wailers songs and other cherry-picked rarities were given the Goldsteppers makeover, and it was something to behold. I could say this was the best ska band I’ve seen, but I’ve seen Desmond Dekker, Jimmy Cliff et al, so I think they’ll understand and be satisfied when I say this was the perfect and best homage to that golden era of reggae Iโve witnessed for many a year.
Staying true to the original compositions and delivered with an unmatched tightness, so accomplished were Goldsteppers, their own originals didn’t sound out of place, and were welcomed by the frenzied crowd. The archetypal Pressure Drop from The Maytals, the classics came brassy and bassy, with astute attention to detail, passion and pitched with perfect banter. And while we’re talking brass is class, it should be noted the enthusiastic frontman, who introduced himself to me as Sam, unless I misheard, also blew saxophone with incredible clout; legend! Dammit, if they even, for humorous effect, ska’d up a cover of Wham’s Edge of Heaven and made it sound like Justin Hinds & The Dominoes recorded it in 1964!
But what Goldsteppers did for reggae greats, headliners on the Friday, All That Soul, did for The Motown and Stax years. I’ve seen this show before, The Scooter Club booked them for a gig some years ago, this time only furthered my conviction that there’s no better homage to sixties classic soul in the UK, currently, than All That Soul. They were divine, on vocals, timing and showmanship, creating a sensation impossible not to savour in awe. Are we on Soul Train in 1969 right now?! No, still in a field near Devizes!
You could say this would suit a function, like a wedding, and many function bands attempt classic soul covers, varying in quality; it only depends on the level of your alcohol intoxication in how enjoyable they are! But not with All That Soul; you could go stone cold sober and come up dancing, because thereโs nothing commonplace about them, neither clichรฉ; it’s a billion levels up from the best function band you could possibly book with any amount of generosity from your bank manager!
I only caught the end of the Decatonicsโ set, but they sounded bloody awesome too, guess I was caught chatting to all those friendly faces on arrival. Because Devizes Scooter Rally is so communal, so hospitable it borders on one big happy family occasion.
Aside from bringing financial gain to Devizes as scooterists putt-putt off on ride-outs and to explore town, itโs an asset to our locality through being a well-organised and respected event. Our blossoming Scooter Rally is an attraction midway between your average scooter rally, which can often be no more than a local cover band and a bloke flogging hotdogs while enthusiasts chat shop, and an over commercialised large scale and renowned rally which borders festival proportions and consequently losses its edge and appeal.
So, while thereโs space to grow this event, itโs perfect the way it currently is, and damn, itโs one amazingly unforgettable weekend for locals with only a passing interest, as much as it is for all the national aficionados who gathered on the site with the winks of knowledge that theyโve discovered a secret rally on top of its prime right now.
Devizes Scooter Rally is set to rev into 2025 already, set on the 25th-27th July. Same time, same place next year then? You betcha life, from me, and you really need to experience it too, with me, on the dancefloor, with your boots and braces! We got three million miles to reach the moon, So let’s start getting happy now….
The Wiltshire Music Awards 2026 entered an exciting new era when Stone Circle Music Events announced was as official sponsor and organiser. Backed by theirโฆ
by Ian Diddams images by Chris Watkins media โChicagoโ is a stand out example of the musical theatre genre โ great songs, great characters, greatโฆ
After much deliberation, Devizine is to pull out of any further organisation of the Wiltshire Music Awardsโฆ.. It has not been an easy decision, andโฆ
It seems Shrove Tuesday celebrations in Devizes have fallen as flat as aโฆ.well, you get the gagโฆ Traditionally organised by Age Concern Wiltshire, and oftenโฆ
The mighty mighty Minety Music Festival announced The Bluetones as their Sunday headliner at their Eames Laurie Main Stage, and The Dub Pistols on theโฆ
The celebrated Shindig Festival at Malmesbury’s Charton Park announced their headline act for May bank holiday 2026, and being that it’s Bob Vylan, it isโฆ
Chief organiser of the Full-Tone Festival, Jemma Brown has always been high on my list of local folk of admiration, but went a notch higher Sunday upon delivering a sly quip on stage, in retaliation to a lone keyboard warrior inanely slating the festival on Facebook, while the majority of locals, and visitors from afar, basked in the sunshine and glory of what was the ultimate, (and possibly final of this kind,) showcase of our fantastic homegrown Full-Tone Orchestra, their momentous accomplishment, and all the gorgeous gubbings which went with it!
I was sunbathing on a Muck & Dunder deckchair at the time, enjoying one of their Piรฑa Coladas, the like only they seem to know how to create this side of the Atlantic Ocean, and a hearty chuckle impulsively launched from my cake hole. Oh my, the audacity of the ranting warrior caused a desire in me to march that silly sausage down to the breath-taking stage, allowing them to observe, even if momentarily, a sixty-piece orchestra harmoniously labouring sublimely, while a local youth sings their heart out at the most memorable, prestigious, and significant opportunity of their lives so far, to the tears of joy from their mum in the audience, overwhelmed with pride, and the smiles from those enjoying it, then ask this ranting nobody to confirm their complaint was not driven solely by selfish jealousy!
A neighbour of mine has a tendency to rev his motorbike in his garden. I cannot fathom why he needs to do this, neither appreciate the noise, but to ramble on about it on social media isn’t going to achieve anything but further verbal conflict. All I know is when you’re within the range of that stage, the divine acoustics immerse you, and even if it’s not your cuppa, you cannot deny the magnitude of the moment, just one weekend of it was all that was ever asked, the musical might of something you rarely get in Devizes, or anywhere for that matter.
Then, you turn away at your own free will, and note though it may have appeared so, you are not trapped in the Royal Albert Hall, you’re still on the familiar Green in Devizes, and deckchairs surrounds you like a day in a park, teetering with locals, spellbound and appreciating said moment. That is the magic of the Full-Tone Festival; go grab yourself a G&T or a Rowdy Cow ice cream, maybe get your face painted, return whenever you feel like it. It’s neither a sitting concert because of the freedom to come and go, nor a day in the park, because there’s a mahoosive and effective seamless programme of wonderful and varied music waving across the site; it is unique, iconic, and symbolic of everything great about Devizes.
All comes at a price, though, is another I hear plenty. Comparatively not so. Look around you, it’s over the pound mark for a Crunchie bar in a petrol station, and your average festival or a two-hour pop star’s gig will triple the price tag of Full-Tone’s three day extravaganza, if not more. You can only reasonably complain if your ears and eyes are shut.
Look! Look at that extravagant stage, wonder how many lines the technicians are juggling, watch the procession of musicians coming and going from the stage akin to the precision and order of an antโs nest, though in pretty frocks! Consider every sidestall and those relentlessly working to serve you, the security, the first aid, the unison of everything coming together as it did, is both costly and executed with such professionalism I cannot fault it neither reason why anyone else would complain; it would be insanity to do so. Even conductor Anthony Brown waving his baton around for two solid days is enough to sympathise with any repetitive strain injury heโs likely to have developed!
Though I must say again, it was a shame it clashed with the Devizes Scooter Rally, an event also dear to my heart. In such, there were large chunks of both I missed in a desperate attempt to attend the two. I missed the Friday night, when Jemmaโs Devizes Dance Academy replayed their musical Six, accompanied by the fantastic Ruby Darbyshire and Devizes indie popsters Nothing Rhymes With Orange, but console myself safe in the knowledge based on past experience, this would be a guaranteed chicken dinner.
There were so many elements I sadly missed. I know our prodigy Jess Self knocked it out of the Green with Annieโs Tomorrow, but I was made up by catching Six performers Ruby Phipps and Lisa Grimeโs sublime solos during the James Bond theme section. Amidst the pro singers, these local youths held their own, and walked nervously but magnificently through it like it was butter on hot toast. There was the jazz big band on Sunday to make up for missing a Beatles tribute duo, and again, Talk in Code I know wouldโve smashed it.
Thereโs simply too much to put every detail into words, but as an overall assessment based on what I witnessed or was gutted to be told how great what I missed was, The Full-Tone Festival again was a spectacular community event on a scale Devizes arguably hasnโt seen since the Boto-X, and the Green looked once again as full as the first paid Full-Tone Festival was three years ago. It will be a shame to see the Green fallow next year, but we look forward to the prospect of it returning in whatever different shape it’ll be.
Notwithstanding the financial gain from visitors to the town and local businesses this attracts, alone for itโs sheer capacity for not only providing a showcase for the orchestra, which will again venture out to the cities to perform at their prestigious venues, and attract the big names within the theatrical, classical and opera to grace our town, but also for showcasing upcoming local talent, Full-Tone receives no complaint from me, (the headline was just a sneaky clickbait trap, ha-ha!) Neither could I justify writing a single negative word about it. If I had to, it would be that we cannot do it bimonthly!
It was, as it has been each time, a fantastic event, and is loved by so many. Look again at dancers dancing, somehow, to the Chariots of Fire theme, kids in fairy wings, the old fellow napping in a deck chair with a bucket hat over his faceโฆlook and take heed of everyone, enjoying themselves โฆ.my hat would come off to everyone involved, if it didnโt risk a sunburned bald patch!
Oh, go on then, everyone involved deserves a factor 50 sunblock, because you shine so bright!
See, Iโm done and dusted with whinging; yep, that satirical rant column from many years ago, that I ask Jemma if she remembers, upon my request for more ammo, how she replied, rather I could highlight the positive things happening in town, and how that ended up with me meeting them at a rehearsal for a newly formed orchestra in Rowde school hall? Not that Iโm blaming anyone for Devizine, I’ll take that rap(!!), more so thinking, wow, how far Full-Tone has come from that acorn, and how I’ve followed that inspirational progression.
Fantabulous and all and every synonym Microsoft Word will match it with, but whatโs more to say? Please, if inclined, add your own thoughts to my waffle on the social media shares and Iโll transform them onto the bottom here. Help me create a fuller overview, tell me why you think Full-Tone Festival will be seriously missed from our event calendar next year and what you enjoyed about this one, thank you, and thank you Full-Tone and everyone who helped make this such a memorable occasion.
Drizzly Sundayโฆagain. Iโve just finished designing the poster, so allow me to reveal the lineup for Rowdefest this coming May, might cheer us up aโฆ
It could be bigger than Diggers! See what I did there? Okay, you youngsters might need Google, but while you’re researching Chippenham’s hedonistic past, aโฆ
There’s no sophomore slump for Monkey Bizzle; prolific in their art, these rural chav-choppers return with a second album, Agricultural Appropriation, only five years andโฆ
Featured Image:@jenimeadephotography Just another rainy Saturday afternoon in Devizes, whereby I watched a profound fellow dramatically sacrifice himself to the devil, then popped to Morrisonsโฆ
I dropped into the new(ish) home of Devizes Opendoors today to meet Mitch, poke my nose in, chat about the work they do and how they need more volunteers. Based at the Southbroom Centre on Victoria Road now, itโs a huge improvement from the last time I visited them at the St Johnโs Parish Room some years agoโฆ
Supporting anyone with homelessness, in sheltered accommodation, or dealing with vulnerability issues, Opendoors is as the name suggests, open for drop-ins and providing cooked meals and food bank vouchers, offering a laundry and showers, and helpful advice when dealing with support agencies. It is, in short, an invaluable asset to anyone who falls upon challenging times in our town. And face it, no one knows whatโs around the next corner, it could happen to any of us.
Whenever I spark up a conversation with someone that I see in town who appears to be on the road, I ask them if theyโre aware of the facility, and I guess through word-of-mouth, all seem to know of it. Mitch spoke positively about changes to government policies regarding homelessness, such as the proactive Homelessness Reduction Act, and Trowbridgeโs mental health, drug and alcohol support service Turning Point. Angie added how they provided breakfast before they got the bus to Turning Point, โcos theyโre nice like that!
And thatโs what we need to focus on, the local, day-to-day aspect of Opendoors, and quash preconceptions if you were to volunteer, youโd be slaving away in a Victorian workhouse or dingy inner-city soup kitchen. The team were finishing up when I rocked up, Thursday the session runs from 11am-1pm, same on a Monday, and Wednesday itโs open for breakfast at 9.30am, running until 11:30. Friday is an afternoon session from 1-3pm, a roast dinner I believe. The cook was busy cleaning the kitchen, others gathered to collapse the tables down because the centre is hired out, and a kidโs karate club is tonight.
Everyone mucked in, and I sensed a real community spirit about the place. Mitch suggested very rarely was their aggravation with users of the facilities. As youโd imagine, most are too appreciative of it to bring any grievance with them, despite the understandable frustration of their individual situations. In fact, one fellow strode in too late, but they accommodated him, nonetheless, chatted with him, and gave him a bag of food to take away, he was grateful and passive; we are not beyond Thunderdome, just beyond the bridge by the sports club!
Support accommodation is the most common situation in Devizes, and a recently opened Wiltshire Council seven-bedroom property, though this is for those with priority needs, like disabilities or children. Mitch estimated only three people are currently sleeping rough here, โbut a lot of the people we support are either sofa surfing, or boaters.โ The latter can vasty range in needs, some were โsimply living a tin can,โ whereas others were self-sufficient yet came in to use the showers. While everyone is an individual case, all needs are catered for and welcomed here without discrimination; the centre refer to them as โguests.โ Itโs this, which despite any presumptions you may have, makes it congenial, seemingly a happy place. Thereโs even nice sofas and a bookcase, I couldโve made myself quite at home!
Opendoors operates with around fifty to sixty volunteers, there are many varied roles you could help with, managing food or the clothes bank, helping guests with problems, cooking or serving meals. Mitch stressed the flexibility of both the roles available, and the rota, which she draws up weekly on a spreadsheet. You would be free to decide what shifts you can do, and the minimum, Mitch said, was an hour a month, which is dandy for the busiest of us to accommodate into our schedule, surely?
Guided tour was brief but effective, showers, then an office where guests can get online, and further on, a room where dried or tinned food bags are prepared, working in coordination with the Devizes Food Bank, and a surplus of donated goods from Morrisons and Marks & Spencer. So, a guest at Opendoors can expect four meals a week, and a food bag on Thursdays, as well as use of the facilities, access to warm clothes and donated food. Iโd imagine the kettle is always on, and thereโs other factors I admit I didnโt consider, things like toiletries.
A typical shift operates with a team of six. They run with two cooks, level two trained, and Mitch suggested they could put anyone interested on the necessary courses, which included things like first aid too, and there was scope for progressing with a scheme called โbefriending,โ individual case support training. They usually have a receptionist, someone to coordinate the provisions, and someone floating between needed tasks. With holidays and illnesses, Mitch explained how sadly they were forced to close some sessions, and a lack of volunteers meant the teams were feeling pushed to take on more than they wanted to. She felt sorrowful about the situation and often has to step in herself.
โFour sessions a week,โ Mitch emphasised, โbut people are more than welcome to do one a week, one a month, whatever theyโre comfortable with.โ She continued to say she was sure there were people willing to help but might not know about them.
Thatโs why I was there, to let people know about it, encourage people to help in any way they can. Because Iโve been that sofa-surfer, Iโve camped in the forest, slept on the wheelarch of a van. And, you know, you can raise funds and even self-awareness doing a big sleep out, and thatโs all good, but remain safe in the knowledge youโll be returning home as soon as itโs done. You cannot fully extract from this the daily psychological disinclination and stress of being unsettled, wondering where the next meal is coming from, and the humiliation for some, of having to endure this with no silver lining in sight.
Opendoors is invaluable. Like many similar organisations across the world, it offers local folk in need, valuable help and advice, and of course, food, clothes, and hope of shelter, those simple things we all need, and often take for granted. I was honoured to meet up with them once more, to see their new premises and how the organisation has progressed, and I remain grateful and astounded by the challenging work put into it from volunteers, staff and trustees. And hope some reading this will say, you know what, Worrow is right for once in his silly life, I can spare some time to help!
Stone Circle Music Events announced today that all proceeds of CrownFest will be donated to Wiltshire Hope & Harmonyโs Dementia Choir. CrownFest is an all-dayโฆ
If Devizes Scooter Rally has already established its base at Whistley Roadโs Park Farm and Full-Tone are moving to these new pastures, last year theโฆ
Dubiously biased and ruled with an iron fist, the mighty admin of the once popular Devizes Facebook group, Devizes Issues, is using the iconic Greatโฆ
Autumn, finish your ice lolly, as we need to to start thinking about it! Our wonderful, one and only, theatre in Devizes is currently โdark,โ for maintenance, installation of new equipment and stage enhancement. But thereโs a new season coming soon, and tickets for a variety of performances beyond panto and into 2025 are up for grabsโฆ
The theatrical term โgone darkโ indicates the venue is closed to the public. No lights mean no show. Historically, when theatres go dark one is left lit light at the centre of the stage. Itโs known as the โGhost Light,โ believed to guide spirits and ghosts around the building.
Wharf Theatre
While it may be a fire safety hazard too far for us today, candles were used in times gone by, and this may explain why many theatre’s often burned down in the Shakespearean era. Iโm not a fountain of knowledge, I pinched it from the Wharf Theatreโs Facebook post! But we canโt have ghosts snapping up all the tickets for themselves, so hereโs the lowdown on performances theyโve got lined up for us from August.
Sat 10th August: sees Rabbit Rabbit, a tribute to those cockney sparrows, Chas & Dave. Performed by the renowned trio, Triple Cream with their fantastic musicianship & witty banter, this show will have you smiling from ear to ear!
Mon 2nd – Sat 7th September: Abigail Newton directs British playwright Alan Bennettโs Talking Heads. Three dramatic monologues taken from the BBC TV series from 1988.
Thur 12th September: Devizes Film Club screens joyful British comedy Scrapper.
Fri 20th September: Relive Hancock’s Half Hour with award-winning theatre company, Hambledon Productionsโ recreations of three, โlostโ episodes from the original television series. Missing from the BBC archives, this UK Tour will mark the very first time these hilarious scripts have been brought to life since their original broadcast.
Sat 28th September: Jazz Britannia. Britain’s best New Orleans jazz combo Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics take you on a musical journey through the birth of British Jazz.ย
Mon 21st – Sat 26th October: Nic Proud adapts and directs Shakespeareโs Pericles, Prince of Tyre. A man on an endless voyage of peril, with romance and killing.
Sat 2nd Nov: Murder: Just What The Dr Ordered. From Isosceles Theatre Company who brought us a sold-out performance of The Man Who Left The Titanic last year. Set in Edinburgh, between 1827 and 1828, science and murder cling together in a dance of death.
7th Nov: Devizes Film Club screens Aki Kaurismรคkiโs Fallen Leaves, a Finnish film about a romance between a supermarket girl and a metalworker against a backdrop of economic disparity and war in Ukraine. Winner of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize.
Thu 28th Nov – Sat 7th Dec: Panto Time! This year the Wharf Theatre presents Hansel & Gretel. Karen Ellis & Jessica Bone take direction roles for the gingerbread house traditional pantomime. Alway popular, book this asap.
Mon 27th Jan – Sat 1st Feb: Veronica’s Room. John Winterton directs the first Wharf production of 2025, a chilling mystery thriller by the author of Rosemaryโs Baby, exploring the thin line between fantasy and reality, madness and murder.
Tickets now on General Release HERE. Please note that Devizes Library is closed until 24 July which includes the Community Hub Box Office. Support our lovely local theatre.
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so check in later in the week too!
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
Marlborough Open Studios is running until 28th July.
Wednesday 24th
Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
James Mortonโs Groove Den at the Bell, Bath. Edinburgh Previews at The Rondo Theatre, Sophie Duker & Garrett Millerick.
Thursday 25th
Womad opens its gates, for some very lucky people!
Open Mic at the Crown, Aldbourne.
Free Music in the Foyer of the Neeld, Chippenham from 7:30pm with Meg, and Kane Pollastrone
Mark Thomasโs Gaffa Tapes at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Loonaloop at The Beehive, Swindon.
Edinburgh Previews at The Rondo Theatre, Bath, Chloe Petts & Katie Norris. The Peter Gill Live Rock โnโ Roll Big Band at Chapel Arts.
Childrenโs author Michael Rosen is at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 26th
The Unpredictables at The Raven, Poulshot.
Kenavon Venture Music Night at Devizes Wharf. Guided Tour of the Lost Pubs of Devizes with John Griven. Devizes Scooter Rally opens for the weekend. Full Tone Festival: Six on the Green with NRWO & Ruby Darbyshire, Fulltone opens officially on Saturday.
Glamarama at The Crown, Aldbourne.
Trowbridge Festival opens. Be Like Will at The Red Admiral, Trowbridge.
The Bookshop Band at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Nin UK, Korn Again and the Spouky Kids at The Vic, Swindon. Prime Youth Theatreโs Grimm Tales at Swindon Arts Centre opens and runs until 27th July. The Ultimate Classic Rock Show at the Wyvern Theatre. KillerTones at The Moonrakers, Swindon.
Death is a Girl at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Little(ish) Women at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Dan Whitehouse โ A Night Of Glass at Chapel Arts.
Heathen Apostles at the Tree House, Frome.
Flocksteady Live at The Baa, Salisbury, with Captain Accident & the Disasters headlining.
Saturday 27th
FullTone Festival continues in Devizes. Devizes Scooter Rally continues in Devizes. The Roughcut Rebels at The Three Crowns.
Trowbridge Festival continues.
Calne Bike Meet.
The Hardcore Troubadours at The Crown, Aldbourne.
The Red Bstrds, Hometown Devilry & Dee Dee at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Peacock at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Modern Evils at The Vic, Swindon.
41 Fords at The Seven Stars, Winsley. The Fortunate Sons at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Edinburgh Previews at The Rondo Theatre, Bath: Sara Barron & Jonny Pelham. Mark Thomas: Gaffa Tapes at The Rondo Theatre. Matt Joe Gow at Chapel Arts.
Heathen Apostles at the Tree House, Frome.
Bristol Comic & Gaming Con
Sunday 28th
Guided Tour: Heritage Walk of Devizes with John Griven. Red Sun at The Southgate, Devizes.
Potterne Festival
Owl Fest: Wiltshire Blues & Soul Club, Lacock.
Chippenham Morris Dancers at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Summer Festival Brunch at Civic, Trowbridge.
Barton Street Regulators at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Simon Kempston & Jake Puntis at Schtuum in the Queenโs Head, Box.
The Dom Dilemma at the Bell, Bath.
4 of Hearts at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon 1pm. Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
The Mayor of Salisburyโs Birthday Bash at Salisbury Market Place.
Monday 29th
Family Workshop: Victorian Portrait Photography brought to life! at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
Tuesday 30th
Summer African Jazz Session at Jazz Knights, Royal Oak, Swindon.
Chris Murphy & Barney Kenny at the Bell, 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!
Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4ยฐC eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiff drinkโฆ
Christmas has come early for foxes and normal humans with any slither of compassion remaining, as the government announced the righteous move to ban trail hunts.โฆ
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 tunes onโฆ
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 their classicalโฆ
Daphneโs Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in the sphereโฆ
Highest season of goodwill praises must go to Chrissy Chapman today, who raised over ยฃ500 (at the last count) for His Grace Childrenโs Centre in Uganda,โฆ
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Gallivanting through festival season omits crucial visits to my local watering hole; I’ve missed it sooo much, and now feel thoroughly refreshedโฆ with a hint of hangover!
With Ian dispatched on the 49 to My Dadโs Festival in Swindon, and a double-whammy of FullTone and Scooter Rally pending next weekend, leaves me a free Saturday to enjoy a cider or five down my favourestmost tavern The Southgate.
They’ve ciders leftover from Beer Festival for three quid a pint, my favourite poison, and being my favourestmost indie popsters Talk In Code are doing their thang there, it’s a no-brainer; favourites all round.
Hardly been an age since giving Chris, Snedds, Titch, and Jambo some deserved attention on Devizine, being Minety was only a fortnight ago, but they’re a band I never tire of seeing. Plus I was interested to see how this would play out, being while the Gate is renowned for hosting original acts such as Talk in Code will insist on doing, there’s a common epoch to appease the blues aficionados of Devizes, else provide quirky alternatives like folk or jazz. Talk in Code is decidedly matured pop with indie roots, using subtle backing tracks to create ambience, so I worried the unusual fit might fail to create a sensation. I stand corrected and should never have doubted.
Such is their ability and universal appeal, to slot as neatly into something like FullTone and another such different shape like The Southgate. With two forty-five minute sets, a longer shift than usual, Talk in Code decided to warm the crowd by dipping into their more indie-rock back catalogue, and deliver the newer songs of a more eighties pop rock vibe towards the finale. Arguably, this could’ve been reversed as an audience younger than the Southgate regulars attended to begin with,ย to even out later. On the other hand the later songs infuses the party and rouses the crowd better, so by the beginning of the second half any concerns I might have had were quashed, and Talk in Code brought the house down with a jumping frenzy from a more diverse demographic than usual in the pub.
Such humbling merriment is, after all, what the Southgate vibe has always been about, and achieves as a standard; one damn fine reason among others why it’s my favourite pub.
It’s a world apart from standing on a stage with the audience at some distance away, to cram yourself into the Gate’s legendary alcove and literally have an audience so close to kiss you! It can be daunting, it might expose tricks you can hide on stage, but when played right, it’s the communal relationship creating an atmosphere you cannot attain with an audience standing twenty feet away from the stage. Talk in Code are utterly flexible on this. They need not adapt to suit the surrounding, but rather, what they deliver guarantees to work on any level of location and set.
And the sum of it all did produce another memorable gig at the trusty Southgate. Kicked off with an impressive support set by Bristol indie-rock trio Laissez Faire, a new one to me who could’ve easily taken a headline slot, and regularly does elsewhere. With a harder rock edge than Talk in Code, they had an acute sense of balance in bringing frenzied bridges and even-paced melodies. Their original compositions taking a hint of grunge, were confidently delivered and adroit, with attention to wider appeal than simply thrashing something out, I detected equally proportioned nods to the punker side of eighties mod rock as well, which is always a win for me.
Yet another top night’s entertainment for free, that you’d gladly buy a ticket for, at the dependable Southgate; they never fail to please. Laissez Faire, an introduction to a name to keep a keen eye on, followed by a band we’ve tracked the progress of for many years, and with a building mass of followers dubbed Talkers, on a local level at the very least, provide such a universal sound it’s impossible to ignore their success. Talk in Code by name, but there’s no cryptic mystery as to why they’re one of the very best bands on the circuit.
Next weekend (26th-28th July) is a biggie in our humble town, there’s the FullTone Festival on the Green, and Devizes Scooter Club revs up for their fourth Scooter Rally too. Which one is for you? Are they so obviously such vastly different events, your mind is made up already, or is it a dilemma of which to attend?
We cannot ignore the elephant in the room; do I think it’s a shame there’s a date clash on two of our best events in Devizes this summer? Yes, of course I do, but that’s the way the cookie crumbled, and here I intend in the order of fairness, to reason on both the differences and similarities between them, such that they attract different crowds.
Though both events differ, both also attract people into town therefore are financial assets, and most importantly whichever you attend you’re guaranteed a great time.
Me? I’m covering both, the idea is, at best, to hover between them, it could fail. I’m not ruling that out, but I’m too spontaneous for silly things like planning! Besides, I continually toil with what makes large events such as these good, you know? What are the perimeters on my scorecard when they differ so? It’s not as easy as you may think!
A recent subsidiary of this thought process came via the Minety Music Festival a few weekends ago. I liked that, liked it a lot. It was a level above the โaverageโ festival we hold here. Though neither the Rally nor FullTone can be described as average by any stretch of the imagination. Both punching above their weight and both are possibly the best time you’re likely to get in Devizes, until such a time Disney builds a theme park at Hopton!ย
Fulltone Festival 2023 Image Gail Foster
The premise was that Minety provided three stages and so many other things going on between them. I raced from stage to stage hoping to take in as much as possible, but to see it all was impossible.
I once argued that while FullTone is a monumentally awesome event, it didn’t meet my criteria of being a festival as such, on account it is a single stage hosted by the orchestra though allowing a few other acts in between. It was surely defined better as a conglomerate of concerts. I come from the Glasto school of thought, whereby a festival is multiple elements coming together in one big mesh. But, that’s a pedestal.
I’ve changed my mind on this, as FullTone have extended the ethos of different acts over the years, plus the orchestra and all its elements is a country mile above a set group like a rock band gig. Plus again, it seems these days putting a man with a guitar under a gazebo and flogging undercooked hotdogs constitutes a โfestival,โ and thus I must go along with that even if unwillingly!
You only need to look at the development of FullTone’s program over the past years to know this isn’t a true reflection. Look at the surprise Friday night add-on where Six will be re-enacted and popular youth acts like NRWO and Ruby Darbyshire play. And besides, the upside of the single stage format means you don’t miss any of what you’ve laid down your dollar for, and believe me, you’ll love Ruby, or Talk in Code equally as much as Kerry and Ricardo pulling out a Queen set, or dancing the night away to eighties reconstructions by a full orchestra; that diversity is something you’ll not find elsewhere, in Devizes if not internationally.
Fulltone Festival 2023 Image Gail Foster
Similarly the Scooter Rally is a single stage, but the class acts booked will see something of a rarity in town. You don’t find live reggae or ska acts on the pub circuit here, it’s costly. And being all the acts are tried and tested; All That Soul, for one example, will provide the ultimate tribute to the Motown sound on a level high above others locally, as they did at a Scooter Club night of yore. Overall The Rally is a godsend on our event calendar. Making it a given that both these events, while different, share success because they book the very best entertainers within their separate niches.
It can be the little touches which maketh the occasion. The Scooter Rally providing free transportation to and from the site to Devizes is something other event organisers should take heed of.
Both examples of the assurance quality acts is not something which has been skipped on, serves as mahoosive pros to the single stage format, because you’ll not want to miss any of it trudging from stage to stage. It’s an opinion, rather like a GCSE RE question; there’s no wrong answer.
Last weekend I was in the green room tent at Picnic in the Park, and it’s there which changed my mind on this opinion-based query. I met festival maker Sam, who looked exhausted, dropping off fire extinguishers at various locations, and I pointed out the fact that rarely do organisers get the opportunity to enjoy the event like a punter as there’s always something to be lugged around, moved, and catered for.ย
I had a taste of this when volunteering for a Street Festival of yore, constantly running wheelie bins to and fro like a videogame character, while being asked the bleeding obvious by attendees!
Fulltone Festival 2023 Image: Gail Foster
At Picnic in the Park I also spoke to Simon the sound engineer, chatting about the last Scooter Rally he expressed the work involved in accommodating a ska band compared to the average four-piece rock band. There were so many more lines to collate, what with the usual brass section. This made me ponder the technical requirements of a full orchestra at FullTone, and singers and, crickey, I can’t imagine what else!
The reason I involve myself in events is partially because I’m in communication with the organisers and if they need a hand I’m willing to muck in. The second reason is to understand exactly what, and how much goes into organising such events we promote on Devizine, so I can sympathise with the hard work they do to provide us with such grand entertainment.
So I find myself evaluating between all parts; the punter, the organisers and the acts, trying to find middle ground. Sometimes bands get frustrated with organisers, and visa versa, sometimes punters get annoyed if not everything is perfect, but the reasons for any frustration at events is because bringing all the elements together, ensuring every loop has been tied, and every regulation is accounted for, is a mammoth process taking incalculable hours, intricate planning, and manpower, which punters simply don’t take into consideration at the box office.
True, cost is paramount to the punter, now more than ever. You look at the price and think, what am I getting for my money? I agree, I do this too, it’s only natural. But more and more, as I witness the inner workings of such large events, what efforts are put into them, mostly behind the scenes, or often taken for granted, it never ceases to amaze me, especially being for all their efforts organisers rarely get to sit back and enjoy the day as a punter would.
For example, take FullTone‘s stage. Its shape has become iconic in Devizes. The acoustics are absolutely incredible and unlike any other outdoor event locally. The cost of this, the construction and the managing of it, to bring you an experience you’ll remember forever, is worthy of the ticket price alone, and we’ve not accounted for the numerous site jobs, from the erection of the fence, securing the event to insuring food and bar stalls are rightfully placed, and so much more.
Take the campsite at the Scooter Rally as another example, you’ve got revellers drinking, vehicles moving to and fro, punters enjoying themselves, and everything they’ll not consider has to be considered by organisers, fire safety, first aid, and again, so much more. It’s a headache for the most hardened skinhead!
Conclusion, there’s more than meets the eye in arranging any event or working them, none more than these big ones, and that’s why they cost. You either meet such a cost or lose the opportunity, and then what? Are we reduced to living on Facebook?!
I also accept the idea, as you are a paying customer that it is your right to override such considerations, but hey, as a customer you’ll be the first to complain if things don’t go precisely to plan! I know I will; jump to it, organisers, do my bidding!!
The bottom line is, though for slightly different reasons, both the Scooter Rally and FullTone Festival will be amazing events, among the very best Devizes has to offer, and whichever you choose, the weekend looks set to be a cracker.
Know that FullTone will be the last for a while, and if it does return it pledges to be something quite different. Know also, that, The Rally is highly enjoyable, a hospitable and solely unique event around these backwaters. It doesn’t even adopt the tagline festival, but compares to one in considering it’s way above your average scooter rally. You’ve got seven quality live acts over the two days, most other rallies struggle to provide one cheapest ska or Britpop cover band on their circuit.
But I’m not asking you to stand and stare, or shed a tear for the plight of the organisers, for they do it for the love of it, and if they didn’t they wouldn’t. All I’m saying is, the colossal labour, the attention to detail which goes into staging these occasions should be considered when deciding if you’re going, to either, or if you’re going to stay in with a bag of Lidl cheesy puffs, watching reruns of Come Dine with Me on the telebox, or another annoying show where other people, somewhere else, are enjoying themselves!
You don’t need to concern yourself in what’s in someone you don’t know, or never likely to knowโs knicker draw, when you could be skanking up the Whistley Road like you’re Suggs on a day out in Camden, or lounging in your deckchair on the Green, immersed in the unmatchable acoustics of the FullTone Orchestra, like you’re King Charles in the royal box at The Albert Hall!
Fulltone Festival 2023 Image: Gail Foster
Furthermore, while this particular article concentrates on events within the castle on the dividing line, further options are available to you outside that boundary. Trowbridge Festival, Potterne Festival and even a little occasion called Womad are also set on the same weekend. May this also suit to assure you we report such impartially, and as a labour of love rather than for financial gain. Therefore there is no just reason for us to be dishonest or biassed. Organisers and artists we may oblige, but the priority in retaining said honesty is aimed foremost towards the sake of the customers. Ergo, whilst we’re respectful of all the hard work which goes into event management, we might not condone our analysis of it to be deliberately or unfairly critical, we more simply won’t report on it, we will tell you, the customer, fairly, however, if it rocks our world and would also rock yours.
And now you know where we stand, I hope you can take heed when I repeat myself, which while I accept is a symptom of middle-age, it stands affirmed whatever event we’ve mentioned you should choose to attend, based on previous year’s experience, it comes guaranteed you’ll have a fantastic time!
Phew, I’m glad I’ve got that off my chest. Now, pass me my tie-dye t-shirt and festival jester’s hat, and let’s party!
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
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
Following the announcement earlier this year about the cancellation of the Devizes International Street Festival due the loss of Arts Council funding, DOCA has been working hard to enable the remaining core community events to go ahead without charging an attendance fee.
The Arts Council funding covered all events and not just the Street Festival, but by cutting out the more costly and time consuming event, theyโve been able to push ahead with Picnic in the Park, Carnival and Confetti Battle with the Colour Rush using a combination of reserves and local fundraising.
Having just completed a very successful and well received Picnic in the Park on Sunday, at which the attendees were happy to donate a suggested ticket price of ยฃ5 if they could, DOCA are looking ahead to the much loved Devizes Carnival on 31st August. A crowd-funder has been set up to raise the funds necessary for the operational costs such as barrier hire and first aid, as well as the workshops to support participation. This crowd-funder is nearing the end of its run and they desperately need individuals and business to help them hit the target and take it over the finish line in the next few days.
DOCA have committed to running this yearโs Carnival, so if they donโt receive the funding from this public crowdfunder, they will need to cover it all from their reserves. As a charity, this would leave them at risk, as they would not be able to continue fundraising and planning for future events such as the Winter Festival, should the main source of income fall through again.
Production Director Annabel Lake said, โWe are doing everything we can to ensure Devizes Carnival doesnโt follow in the sad footsteps of so many other carnivals around the country that have had to cancel in recent years. Having experienced how much Carnival means to the people of Devizes, and the efforts put in by schools and groups across town who have come together to help build it back up again post Covid, it would be a real shame to lose this wonderful traditional event in our town, which dates back well over 100 years. Just think, if each of the 3,000 spectators could afford a ยฃ3 donation then weโd be able to cover all the costs โ
The other big challenge being faced is finding enough volunteers to help on the day so if anyone is able to help marshall the event, or canโt afford to contribute money but would still like to support it, please get in touch with DOCA (info@docadevizes.org.uk)… unless of course you want to take part in the parade – itโs easier than ever now whether you are a individual, family, group or even a local business. The theme this year is Home is Where the Heart Is, so it would be great to see local businesses represented in that vision of โHomeโ as they are such a key part of our town.
The Carnival Crowd-Funder will close on Monday 22nd July. The Carnival parade will take place on Saturday 31st August.ย
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
Raging expressions of angered feminist teenage anguish this month, perfectly delivered by Steatopygous via their mindblowing debut album Songs of Salome, I hail as theโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so!
Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so check in later in the week too!
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August.
Marlborough Open Studios is running until 28th July.
Wednesday 17th
Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre screening Kind Hearts And Coronets. Big Jam session at the Vic, Swindon.
Fromage en Feu at the Bell, Bath
Thursday 18th
Amadeus Orchestra at Wilthsire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
National Theater Live: Present Laughter (Encore Screening) at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. Chicago Blues Brothers at the Wyvern Theatre.
Lonely Tourist at The Tuppenny. Larkham & Hall at The Beehive. Preacher Son & Sons of Liberty at The Vic.
Back to Moo Moo at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Friday 19th
Event by Babois Eats the Lizard at the Dog & Fox, Bradford-on-Avon.
Avalon Comedy Network: Michael Odewale, Grace Mulvey, Sahib Singh & Luke Honnoraty at Pound Arts, Corsham.
I Know the End at Swindon Arts Centre, repeats Saturday. 4ft Fingers & Slagerij at The Vic, Swindon.
Upton Blues Festival opens.
Saturday 20th
New Moon โ A Psychic and Spiritual Fayre at Devizes Corn Exchange from 11-4pm. The Roughcut Rebels at The Three Crowns. Talk in Code at The Southgate.
Market Lavington Vintage Meet Family Fun Weekend
Living Among… Reflections on Solitude and Nature: An evening of classical and folk music for violin and voice, with new work from composer Dylan Fixmer, also guest on piano and guitar at St Peter’s, Marlborough. Glamarma at the Bear. Rom 101 at The Lamb.
Reggae at the Pelican, Froxfield with Razah I-Fi.
Classic Ibiza at Bowood House
Glenn Darren & The Krewkats at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.
Cider, Reggae & Rum Festival in Trowbridge.
Ultimate Floyd – Pink Floyd Tribute Show at The Neeld, Chippenham.
The Thomas Sladden Quartet at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Malin Lewis Trio at Pound Arts, Corsham.
SGO at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon from 1pm. Rammied at The Vic. World Music Club at The Beehive. There’s a rally for Plastine at Faringdon Road Park. Julie Scott’s Academy Of Dance – Let Us Entertain You Again at the Wyvern Theatre.
But, Editorโs Pick of the Week is in Swindon this week, itโs My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival for Prospect House at the Old Town Bowl; Ian despatched to find out more and report back!
Carpenters Tribute โ Rainy Days, Mondays & Good Old Dreams at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Frome Record Fair at the Cheese & Grain. The Guns N Roses Experience afterwards.
Sunday 21st
Fantasy Radio is at Hillworth Park, Devizes with Andrew Hurst from 2pm-5pm. Jerry Crozier-Cole Trio at The Southgate, Devizes 5pm. Apparently, thereโs a Family Fun Day at Avon Road Park, Devizes; Deadlight Dance are playing but Iโve heard nothing more about it. Sunday Sounds at the Muck & Dunder, free entry.
GM Dance Academyโs Summer Showcase at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Schtumm X-tra Presents Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague at The Queens Head, Box.
Kirris Riviere & Delta du Bruit at the Bell, Bath.
Jol Rose & Rachel Birkin at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon 1pm. Embrace All Festival, Swindon. Emma Doupe at The Vic. JHS Dance – Seasons Of Dance at the Wyvern Theatre.
Frome Childrenโs Festival at the Cheese & Grain.
Monday 22nd
Wonder Gigs: Seasons at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Kevin Dempsey at the Bell, Bath.
Later with Frome College at the Cheese & Grain.
Tuesday 23rd
Rob Lear Band at The Piggy Bank, Calne.
Karen Sharpe Quartet at Jazz Knights, Royal Oak, Swindon.
Week one of Devizes Tennis Clubโs Summer Tennis Camp begins.
And thatโs your lot, for now!
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!
Itโs nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisburyโs Radio Odstock ย picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oil andโฆ
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
A perfect sunny(ish) Sunday at Hillworth Park in Devizes, if not to overcome one’s fear of public speaking while dressed in a giraffe onesie and fantabulous tie, but most definitely for a picnic, for the kids to play, and for a fantastic treat from DOCAโฆ
With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival due to Arts Council funding cuts, DOCA pulled out all the stops for a fantastic and most memorable Picnic in the Park this year.
Slightly deceiving name, Picnic in the Park, if you didn’t know. For while there’s picnicking and yes, it’s in the park, there’s plentiful side stalls, a bar and enough entertainment to deem it a mini festival, of sorts. Mayor Ian Hopkins opened the event, hilarious street circus artist Able Mable filled the gaps between the bands perfectly with her own brand of clowning and superb audience participation. She was the very definition of entertainment.
Kai Carterโs Old Time Hustle made for an amazing kick off. Beguiling guitar, trombone and fiddle, foot-stomping magic moments as suggested on the tin, finding time for some facts about pigeons and to delightfully deliver long lost covers, particularly those of Virginia’s country legend Patsy Cline. They made tradition look cool, very cool.
Second act was equally as lovely and skilled. From Manchester, Good Habits created the most divine sound, and wonderfully full and bassy, considering it was just a cellist and an accordion duo. Particularly adroit was their Kate Bush cover, but then, their original compositions held equivalent poignancy. They’re the kind of duo who could fit into any festival and simmer an audience in awe.
Delighted to have some input, the third and final act was my personal choice. Local family collective, The Sarah C Ryan Band were perfect for this kind of communal event, they’re unique and original, smooth and cool. It’s a paced, universal sound, reflecting masterful pop-rock classics like Kate Bush, Genesisย and Fleetwood Mac, yet distinctive. Rarely have they played Devizes, so I was hopeful you’d take heed, as their performance was as memorable as the day was in general.
I caught Sarah and the band last week playing the fantastic Minety, which while I thought was awesome, I believe they played even better here at Hillworth. Perhaps being the headliner here renewed their confidence, perhaps it was Simon at the control tower showing off his new kit, or rather, I favour it was more about the flavour of the glorious day.
DOCA’s ability to bring the best out of Devizes, even at their more simpler events is something to behold with pride. For yep, indeedy, the entertainment was first class, the organisation dedicated, the vibe was positively gleaming, someone threw me a Penguin biscuit (thank you!) but above them all is the sum of their parts, monumental in what can be achieved by pulling resources together.
It may not have been the England football team’s night, (who could’ve predicted it?!) but it certainly was DOCA’s day in Hillworth. Just thought you should know, in case you’re thinking I shouldn’t review an event I was involved in. You should note I only helped them drink their tea and ate all the brownies which were supposed to be for the musicians! It’s the real festival makers, those kindly volunteers who really make DOCA what it is, so the last thanks goes to them as we head towards carnival on the 31st August with renewed sense of anticipation.
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
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
The 50th Anniversary of the now legendary Village Pump Festival, which was brought back to the UK festival circuit in 2018 by director Nicholas Reed, are down to their last 100 tickets; be as quick as a quick thing being quickโฆ.
Driven by the uk festival exclusive for the debut duo performance from long time British folk legends Maddy โSteeleye Spanโ Prior, who graced Trowbridge’s Village Pump venue in the early 70s, prior to any fame and fortune and jon โbellowheadโ boden. This incredible partnership gets its first live performance at a venue that kick-started their early careers in what is such a significant moment in the festivalโs history.
Also on the line up are the fast becoming deeply respected The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, in what is surely a festival headline debut! The Barnsley trio offer up their usual wit and humour, but with recent new addition Jamie Roberts, brother of the wonderful Katheryn Robertโs who will also be performing with her duo with her partner Sean Lakeman.
Itโs a true folkers line up, which includes โGilmore-Robertsโ, โSykes-martinโ, โStonegallowsโ and festival stalwart โKeith Christmasโ. Ceilidh from โSpill the Whiskeyโ, and some world music from the Bath-based klezmer band โNinotchkaโ and โRSVP Bhangraโ.
Unmissable highlights recommended by us at Devizine, and to interfere with an otherwise fine press release with our own opinion, (as we care to do!) would include Gaz Brookfield, Mr Tea & The Minions, Concrete Prairie, Be Like Will, Billy in the Lowground, Fly Yeti Fly, Devilโs Doorbell, The Lost Trades, Thieves, and of course, Ruby Darbyshire and Nothing Rhymes With Orange; this is stellar line-up of tried and tested local talent alongside the headliners.ย ย
Unlike other festivals, Trowbridge offers free camping with their weekend tickets. This offers unrivalled value for money and set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, basking in the shadow of Westbury White Horse.
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
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
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so!ย ย
Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so check in later in the week too!
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
The Frome Festival is underway, and ends on 14th July. Cheltenham Music Festival also, ending on 13th July.
Marlborough Open Studios is running until 28th July.
Wednesday 10th
Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
Three Choir Showcase Concert at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, featuring BCG Choir, PSG Choir and the Horizons Choir. Jam at the Boathouse.
A Lunchtime Recital with flautist Klio Blonz at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Cheritang at the Bell, Bath. The Dreamer Live at The Rondo Theatre.
Scott Mickelson at The Beehive, Swindon. Chocolate Theatre presents The Full Monty at Swindon Arts Centre. Infant Voice Festival at the Wyvern Theatre.
Paul Masonโs The Bob Morris Lecture at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
2000Trees festival opens near Cheltenham.
Thursday 11th
James B Partridge Presents: School Assembly Bangers at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Fly Yeti Fly at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Erin Bardwell & Friends at The Castle.
Richard Herringโs Can I Have My Ball Back at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 12th
โSteve Davisโ and โKavos Torabiโ at the Barge Inn Honeystreet.
Marlborough Festival opens and runs all weekend. Comedy Night at the Town Hall. El Toro at The Bear, Marlborough. Luke Gittins with Ash Smith at The Green Dragon.
Double Bill at Pound Arts, Corsham with Ben de la Cour & Holysseus Fly.
Black Charade & Fell Out Boy at The Vic, Swindon. Funkinsteins at The Beehive. Viggo Venn at the Wyvern Theatre.
One Chord Wonders at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon. Future Plan and Lindup Brothers at the Three Horseshoes.
Faith at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Peatbog Faeries at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. An Dannsa Dub at the Tree House.
Saturday 13th
Devizes Beer & Cider Festival. Humdinger at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Thomas Atlas at The Southgate, Devizes.
Josh Kumra and Mica at the Bear, Marlborough. On Remand at the Crown.
Reading Dub Club at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Everything Changes at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Adrenaline Stompers Festival at Club Venom in Westbury.
Characters Stage Schoolโs Annie at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Innes Sibun Trio at The Boathouse.
John Hegley: An American in Luton at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Bar Tape at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. The Spirit & Sound of Steely Dan โ Nearly Dan in concert at Chapel Arts. Salt Beef Reuben & Friends at the Bell, Bath.
Hooch at Royal Oak, Bishopstone. Phantom Droid, Thrakian and Hora at The Vic, Swindon.
Miss Kelโs Academy Of Dance: Stars And Stripes at the Wyvern Theatre.
Flash Harry at the Corner House, Frome. Gary Davies Sound of the 80s at the Cheese & Grain.
And Somerset Kaya Reggae Festival at Caryford.
Sunday 14th
Editorโs Pick of the Week is Picnic in the Park at Hillworth Park, Devizes from 12-5pm; hope to see you there! Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective at The Southgate, Devizes straight afterwards.
Wiltshire Young Musicians Summer Festival from 1.30pm at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Tom Cornnell at The Boathouse. Luna Barge at the Three Horseshoes.
Jon Amor Trio at the Bell, Bath.
Richard Wileman & Amy Fry at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon from 1pm. Kitty Langan Studio โ Schoolโs Out at the Wyvern Theatre.
Frome Symphony at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
The Godney Gathering in Somerset opens.
Monday 15th
B D Lenz at the Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 16th
Alex Vietch Quartet at Jazz Knights in the Royal Oak, Swindon.
Ben de la Cour at the Bell, Bath.
And thatโs your lot, for now!
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!
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
As the excitement continues to detonate to an exploding point for our very first Stone Circle Music Events Wiltshire Music Awards on 25th October, weโฆ
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 comedyโฆ
Broke my Minety Music Festival cherry, and it was gurt lush! When it comes to live music and festivals, I initially set a high bar. My first concert was Springsteen in โ87, and aside from traveller’s free parties, my first festival was Glastonbury. These days hedonism is reduced to finding smaller local festivals to savour, enjoy a pint or four; I’m done with tired feet trudging acres of tents, and what’s more, paying a king’s ransom for a multitude of elements I’m unlikely to witness because it’s all going off simultaneously; my eyes were kaleidoscopic anyway.
Though I miss those heady days, finding middle ground is tricky. The disambiguation of โfestivalโ today is such a pub putting a man with a guitar under a gazebo and flogging undercooked hotdogs off a barbecue constitutes a festival, apparently. No, I need at least a taste of the heyday; monumental fun yet diverse, hassle-free adequate attractions without the notion I’m being taken for a mug. If my want was an ice cream, sure I’ve found some single scoop cones of vanilla, some even plop a flake into it, but this weekend I found the ultimate brownie, millionaire rocky road sundae; everything I want and expect from a festival, topped in caramel and sprinkled with Space Dust, close by, and easy to access in a tall glass. It’s called Minety Music Festival, near Malmesbury, and they’re so amicable they even supply those long-handled spoons to dip right into the chocolate sauce at the bottom; meaning, it was good to the end.
The intention was only a taster, pop down on the Sunday, check it out, report my findings, but I got a scrumptious bellyful from this alone. Minety is undoubtedly the best all-rounder local festival I’ve seen, period. It’s unfortunate the previous years I’ve advertised this on our event calendar and thought, now there’s a thing, but I hadn’t plunged in. It all now seems so foolish to have passed it off. Nearly all the bands we love and promote on Devizine have graced a stage here. Of them those lovely indie popsters Talk In Code bunged me on their guestlist, and it’s hardly Timbuktu, rather a twenty-five minute drive away; arm twisted, it’s now for me to justify my reasons for telling you how bloody fantastic Minety is, but it is.
Starter for ten, everything is bound around the edges of one gigantic field, you cannot get lost in a maze of tents. Between three stages everything you could possibly want from a festival is there. Kids are spoiled, something often overlooked at others; climbing wall, circus workshop, arts/crafts tents, storytelling, inflatables, face painting, arty kidz, and a cosy tent called the Tree House with an abundance of instruments to try; I swear bands were formed in there. Youths tended to dance or chill at a wonderfully decorated DJ venue, hosted by an eclectic online radio station, the Incapable Staircase, me too; Peter Pan, me, y’know!
I chose to dine there, takeaway Thai curry from a stall with a restaurant in Purton, on cushions thrown outside, next to a bathtub once filled with free waffles, now just furry pillows. Which brings me to my next reasoning; value for money. Food options were incalculable, any street food you fancy, but Minety also supplied a cafรฉ flogging beans on toast for a pound fifty, or burgers for three quid, and pints at the bar were ยฃ4.50, cheaper than some pubs. There was never the archetypal downer you were open to being ripped off, leaving enough in your pocket to consider browsing the great festival stalls of gifts, cakes, or clothes.
Everything has its place at Minety, it’s their seventh year, subtracting those we don’t mention. They know what they’re doing, and the attention to detail was immaculate, equating to a tremendous vibe of positivity. The mammoth task of organising something on this scale was putty in their hands, and I salute them for this and the given concept of booking a handful of averagely known names for headliners and leaving the rest to supporting local acts; this is my third and final reasoning to why Minety is fantastic, and that should be plentiful to tempt you.
Ergo, our loveable poptastic indie darlings Talk in Code, who absolutely and definitely knocked it out of the farm, by the way, preceded a gorgeous set from reunited nineties giants Sleeper, who I favoured over the grand finale of Irish rock band Ash, but others might argue this and quite rightly so, as both rocked. And this was just Sunday, other nights The Feeling headlined, with Elles Bailey and The Chase.
But Minety is also smooth around the edges, as you wander tent to tent. There were a few must-sees for me, Swindon’s grunge newcomers I See Orange were awesome as predicted, in a tent hosted by Chippenham’s Kandu Arts, and The Sarah C Ryan Band were equal, euphorically cool at the Minety stage. Then there’s the discovery element, whereby a number of bands have now come to my attention, none more so than Arkansaw Jukebox, who play singalong pop classics from Spice Girls to Queen, albeit in a bluegrass fashion, and when it’s time to cover a country classic, Country Roads takes on a ska offbeat to make Toots blush! This tenet of jollification brought the tent down.
Others noteworthy were Hooch, blasting some danceable covers, reimagining the Faithless classic, a youthful semi-gothic four-piece called Pavilion, and nineties Seattle grunge-inspired The Rain City Project, with astute Pearl Jam and Nirvana covers. With the range on offer as vast as acts booked, and hurtling between them as fast as my ageing legs will take me, it’d need an essay length review to cover all, and you’ll be bored shitless before I reach my epic conclusion; festivals are a โyou had to be thereโ thing, apologies to those I may’ve missed mentioning.
But if that popular shirtless tattooed entertainer Jimmy Moore covering the theme to Spongebob, Spice Girls on banjos, stripy stilt walk jugglers with bowler hats, or more upcoming young bands than you’d catch at a college talent show won’t satisfy you, or just this idea of wandering few steps to get from drum n bass at the aforementioned Staircase, to some middle-agers, Chippenham’s Free Spirits, in the Kadu Arts tent enjoy an enjoyable recital of Dire Straits doing the walk of life, and a conglomerate of kindly North Wilts and South Gloucestershire freakshow punters out to revel isn’t enough to rock your boat, you need to downsize your vessel, skipper, because Minety’s boot fits me; a blindingly stupendous do. I’m tempted, if not feel it compulsory to dust off my dome tent and do the whole shebang next year, even if it finishes me off for good!
Busy on the festival circuit Talk in Code are regulars here. Though they expressed a history of unpreventable technical mishaps, this year they were third from top billing, full of zest and gave the sublime show we love them for. The crowd were pumping along with their engaging and original poptastic stage show, โTalkersโ or not, a presence improving with every appearance, and proving them far more than musical fluffers for the following headliners. But as the story goes, I didnโt witness a single band at Minety which would make me look the other way.
In conclusion, if before Minety I held a dilemma of what’s best between coughing up dollar for multiple elements you’re unlikely to catch because they’re spread over multiple arenas miles apart, or a cheaper single stage plan whereby you get to see everything, if you wanted to or not, Minety is the middle ground. Centred in a single field, and averagely sized, it’s no trouble to saunter stage to stage, and being scheduled at different quarter of an hour timings, convenient should you have a change of heart. This, tripled with a buzzing aura, plentiful attractions, and a program delivered with clear intention of entertaining, and motivated by a desire to include local or upcoming acts, is cherries on the sundae, and for it Minety Music Festival is well worthy of your attention. If you only do one festival annually, Minety would make the perfect choice.
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 to issue a health and safety warning, but to Swindon’s Brandon Clarke, aka Weather, it appears to be a natural and phenomenal giftโฆ.. This short and to the point newโฆ
Oh yeah, invite me to a place with a bar, throw some of the best blues this side of New Orleans at me and then hope Iโll articulate some words about it next morning, why don’t you?! It’s okay readers, it’s become standard protocol for me, I’ve got thisโฆwith help from Ben and Vicky! …Hereโฆ
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 it’s child’s play….. You’re So Cruel is out today and is a prime example. It’s an upbeat two minute blast of feelgood indie-pop, seemingly unfazed by the cruelty of theโฆ
None too convenient when you need a wee down the alley where Wilkos was, but handy in other ways; all-seeing eye Noel has spotted something on his CCTV which is worth its weight in gold to anyone who dares to drive through Devizes. Northgate Street is apparently now open to one-way traffic like months ofโฆ
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, and it has got me thinking back to their Devizes rootsโฆ..ย You know, I really cannot remember how this thing started, if they contacted me or if I found them. Itโฆ
We are creatures of habit here in old Devizes. We’ll stand in the Market Place wearing a vacant expression, wondering where we can bag ourselves a good kebab in town now the Kebab House is sadly no longer. I urge you to think Sidmouth Street, think The Oliveโฆ. Yeah, I get you. Save the longstandingโฆ
Oh Danny Boy, oh, Danny Boy, they loved your boyish Eton looks so, but when ye was voted in, an all democracy wasnโt quite dying, if itโs now dead, as dead it well may be, ye’ll come and find the place where it was lying, and kneel and say an ave there for me aโฆ
Milkman hours with grandkids visiting it was inevitable a five hour day shift was all I was physically able to put into this year’s Swindon Shuffle. Apologies, but it was plenty to tell they knocked it out of the park again this yearโฆ.. They don’t even need a park. Just a selection of Old Town’sโฆ
The Wiltshire Music Awards are delighted to confirm a new headline partnership with Stone Circle Music Events, who will sponsor the Awards for 2025 and into 2026. As part of this agreement, the event will be rebranded as: Stone Circle Music Events โ Wiltshire Music Awards. This collaboration reflects Stone Circle Music Eventsโ ongoing commitmentโฆ
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 – 9.30pm at Broadgreen Community Centre….. Almost double the expected amount of people attended the first meeting. There was so much to discuss and the organisers ensured that everyone had anโฆ
With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Park next Sunday (14th July) for DOCAโs Picnic in the Park; now more now ever DOCA needs our support, and this promises to be the best and most fun way to do it!
Truly a community and family event, yes it’s a picnic, in a park, as the title suggests but thereโs oh, so much more to it; bring your own picnic, Hillworth supplies the park, DOCA provides the sparkle, as I trust youโll already know this and have allotted it into your busy schedules. Although thereโs an important note we must say:
Due to losing the Arts Council funding for 2024, DOCA will be asking for donations on the gate to cover the cost of this event. This is entirely voluntary, but any contribution you can make no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated.ย ย
If you cannot attend but would like to donate to DOCA, find a Crowdfunding link HERE
Expect fairground rides for kids, stalls, delicious crepes from La Bonne Crรชpe and drinks from Freddyโs Double Deuce Bar. Plus the usual fab offering of drinks, snacks and ice creams from the Hillworth Park Cafe.
Good Habits, one of the most exciting indie-folk duos to come out of the UK, will be there. Cellist and singer Bonnie and percussionist Pete on accordion and synths have received international critical acclaim with performances at Glastonbury and WOMAD, tours throughout Europe and Australasia, and a Top 40 album. The pair mix revved-up virtuosity and harmony with vivid storytelling, drawing on their diverse musical tastes and weaving them into an action-packed narrative of genre-bending goodness.
Banjo, mandolin and fiddle trio, Kai Carterโs Old Time Hustle will do as they say on their tin, timeless frenzied folk shenanigans to make you forget munching on the Penguin biscuits your mum packed in a lunchbox and come jig with us!ย ย
Iโm delighted to announce the final band suggestion is via us. Although The Sarah C Ryan Band are locally based, rarely have they played Devizes, (I believe the Southgate in 2022) so we need to give them our warmest of welcomes. I think theyโre perfect for this, smooth, cool original pop-rock, and theyโve played extensively across our festival circuit; Iโm hoping to catch them later today at Minety!
Thereโs a minor detail Iโm delighted about at this yearโs Picnic in the Park, but itโs all top secret, so youโll just have to come along to find out what it is! But I can tell you, top street cabaret act Able Mable will be there too, vibrant, technically skilled charisma which nerve fails to entertain.
In a continuous bid to reduce waste, DOCA have partnered with Devizes Town Council, and Picnic in the Park will pilot reusable pint and half pint cups, aiming for drinks to be disposable-free across the whole event. Please be sure to return your cup as instructed on the day; DOCA thank you for supporting their efforts to make positive changes to the environmental impact, and in turn, we thank them for all they do to keep events sustainable.
Everything winds down around 5pm, making it the perfect Sunday in Devizes, but if youโre in need to carry the party on, around the same time, the wonderful Essex Americana group Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective will be just around the corner, at The Southgate; and they come highly recommended by us.
Hope to see you all, with no excuses, at Hillworth Park a week today; yay for DOCA, please support them and all the wonderful work they do for our town.
Last political rant from me for a while, given all that happened today, pinky promise!
Hitler shot himself, then, as requested, he was doused in petrol, thrown into a bunker and burned. And I find that hilarious, because he was a mass murderous bastard. Though a coward’s way out, at least he had the sense to know he would one day be held accountable.
In this final political rant from me, hopefully for some time, on the day in which we thoroughly congratulate Lib Dem Brian Mathew for deservedly winning the Melksham-Devizes constituency in the general election, I find myself mostly concerned about the Conservative candidate Michelle Donelan’s reaction as the results are read, caught on camera today; bit weird!
She seemed to appear stumbling backwards slightly, as if in disbelief, and then pulling a disgusted and shocked expression, as if sucking a lemon! Ah, it was funny too, though a tad worrying. โWhen you’re chewing on life’s gristle, Don’t grumble, give a whistle ….โ
Although historically the result was unusual, given Conservatives have held this seat for a hundred years, surely there must have been a tiny seed of doubt clouding judgement in her mind that she might not walk it?
I’d never dare to insult the intelligence of anyone who has made it this far up the political spectrum, for it takes guts and brains, but the higher the monkey climbsโฆ.
One must surely have an inkling, given the absolute corruption the party she has supported and condoned has perpetrated? The lies to the Crown and public, the perpetual cheating, scandalising, the thieving and selfish disregard to public spending, all coupled with continuous inane attempts to cover it all up by censoring media, playing the blame game and bucking responsibility like the country was a school playground. You’d have thought, anyway, though whether or not she played her part in this too, for even if her own business dealings are debatably suspicious, her involvement and allegiance with the national party is accountable.
It’s as if the group Conservative brain cell mistook the job description. Oh, the government is about serving the public, not robbing it; who knew?!
So I put myself in her shoes, undoubtedly the most expensive shoes I’ve ever worn, and I think, sure I’d be gutted, but the other candidates, Catherine, Kerry and Malcom all come up smiling, taking it like an adult. Why is Michelle’s reaction so different? I believe the answer to this also explains the very reason for the shock result.
The answer, I think, is in assumption, for it is said to be the mother of all fuck-ups. To assume any seat is a safe seat, therefore you can do and say whatever the heck you like shows aย naivety brought about by an ingrained ignorance to public opinion. For if you weren’t shadowed by an inability to know when you’ve overstepped boundaries, surely you’d not pull such an expression of shock, rather an “oops” shrug of acceptance?!
To loosen all the screws on the seat, then wonder why it collapsed is sheer idiocy. An idiocy we’ve seen in the majority today. Conservative MPs so absolutely certain of their success shows just how out of touch they are, and being out of touch with the public makes you incapable of making a decent and honest job of it; quite important that!
So, we congrat all those MPs who slayed the beasts, the ringmasters of this circus of thieves, in their constituencies nationwide, and send our heartfelt condolences to those few who didn’t. It is not about right, central, or left sway winning or losing. It’s about what’s best for the majority of people in this country. It’s for all those deaths, thousands preventable if the government took heed to the WHO and locked down when advised. But they didn’t, not after two money-making sports events in which delegates from China were invited, and they could devise methods of profiteering from lockdown.
It’s for those who’ve suffered from fourteen years of government neglect, for what they’ve done is inexcusable, and surely they must know this? No one could be this nieve, I don’t buy this act of disbelief unless they’re really the clowns they perform as?
From the simplicity of busting a tyre on an dilapidated road, or watching sewage running through a river, to those injured, lying on the pavement for hours waiting for an ambulance due to underfunding the health service. It’s for those children too, who went hungry, or were psychologically scarred by lockdown while they held wild cocaine orgies at number ten. It’s for those who swallowed their pride and were reduced to begging with the ever-growing necessity of food banks and shelter charities while they subsidised their own luxurious lunch in Parliament and laughed in our faces.
It’s for all those who today stood up against these injustices, not to suggest Labour will make a good job of it, or not, but to say, at least someone else has been given the opportunity to try, because unfortunately the modern Conservative party has displayed such a selfish attitudeย towards it, what comes around goes around, and it serves them bloody well right!
Though, when I look at it, perhaps they didn’t want to win, because they’ve taken enough money from us to support their friends and families for generations to come? Why, then, did Michelle look so utterly distraught? Most politicians I’ve met genuinely do what they do because they want to make the country a better place. Is this not true of the Tory ones?
Therefore I find it a total mind maze, a complete misunderstanding as to the Conservative mind, if they really think what they’ve done, the actions they’ve taken and country they’ve held to ransom was in any way beneficial for the people who live here. Maybe, that’s my misunderstanding of their philosophy, or maybe it’s their sheer ignorance, the mind boggles but is thankful it’s finally over, until a new generation forgets all this and history, as it does, repeats.
So, cheer up, Michelle, and here’s a little song I dedicate to youโฆ.
Need to keep informed and updated on the general election and its effect locally? Don’t bother with national media sources, everything you need to vomit over is available on the Devizes Issues (but better) Facebook page; use it if you dare, or your fake profile is Charles Bronson.
It’s all happening over there, I tell you, wok snowflicks gitting whipped for the luff of Nigel Firage, all in a style akin to Full Metal Jacketโฆ.
Yeah, we’ve made a few perfectly justified satirical stabs at other local Facebook groups in the past, one in particular which governs towards Conservative bias with an iron fist and billboard sized victim card, only to be bitter and tetchy by the end of this week no doubt! This one is equally as nauseous and poisonous, but for entirely the opposite reasons; censorship is something other people, somewhere else do. All in the name of fairness, you understand? Any publicity is good publicity, after all; yeah, okay I’ll buy that for a dollar. I take it all back, you were right all along Mr Wallish, they need to be controlled, dammit!
Devizes Issue (but better) by name, perhaps. It’s an uncensored masquerade ball of bitchery which makes watching the EastEnders omnibus on diazepam seem like a good idea. At least it displays our true colours. Although colour isn’t a subject you should bring up there.
Without the power-tripping control of the Devizes lord executioner of decorum, Heir Wallish, their ejection from his Tory-only claptrap gang being the sole reason folk joined this group in the first place, if all hell doesn’t break loose on a daily basis there, and someone dares to post something unbiased, or about an actual issue in Devizes, they’ll be witch-hunted until they submit to licking all the racism off Nigel Farage’s ring, and I don’t mean the one on his finger.
Post something sensible and relevant to the group’s title and it won’t receive any attention anyway, so you might as well share a malicious lying meme about Diane Abbott, you cheeky Nazi you.
Hitler would’ve loved it, he gets name dropped more than anyone who would know where Devizes is. Some seem to love Hitler there, and desire to resurrect him to kiss his feet, others, not so much, but whatever your opinion on the impending rise of fascism in town, a rise which will only happen if fake profiles also get a vote, the entertainment value is in the debate, which while English culture is encouraged, a primary school level of basic English grammar isn’t necessary.
You can post anonymously, many do, slagging off anyone who posts anonymously, without fear of accusations of hypocrisy, not one without a laughing emoji anyway, and they don’t count because everyone knows you can slander anyone there and provided you add a laughing emoji it was all unintentionally offensive and just good, olโ banter. Take it lying down like a good sport, so you can be kicked in the head again; even a laughing emoji is treated with contempt, because they’re laughing at you, not with you.
Alternatively you could dare to use your own name to get a wonky opinion or just traditional fairness off your manly chest rug, should you wish to receive idol death threats through your messenger by a shirtless tattooed knob jockey, ignorant to the extreme notion screen captures can be emailed to the police.
But post anonymously through fear of retribution and you’ll be hunted down like a fox on boxing day. They’ll find you and feed you to keyboard warrior bloodhounds and flat earth theorists. Either way, show your opinion, true colours, or just what you had for lunch, and you’ll be doomed, especially if vegans swapped your gammon steak for a nut roast.
It would be a potential hunting ground for lawyers if they could bear the perpetual scrolling of nastiness and vanity, hypocrisy, and idiocy….oh, but they’re lawyers! Admin there either couldn’t give a finger nor fudge so long as you’re racist, sexist, homophobic and hateful about Gary Lineker. It’s all fair game, that or they’re Lord Lucan.
Even our right honourable MP Michelle Donenought, at least for today, had a pop at someone bloody well asking for it on there the other day, confirming her dedication to public service. No, she really did, calling out a loony leftieโs rant as liable, without a smidgen of hypocrisy. Bless, she doesn’t realise normal folk have to pay court costs or out of court settlements from their own pocket.
It really scrapes the bottom of the barrel, a true example of how hurtful people of Devizes can be when behind a phone screen. See them shopping for spam and potato waffles in Morrisons, and they’d probably be pleasant to your face; yeah, it is a nice day, though, isn’t it?
Admin there should treat their users to those squashy sumo wrestling suits and lay down a gauntlet in a Mad Max Thunderdome style; two go in, one comes out, and it’ll probably be a local racist plumber who posts frequently, just to psychologically scar someone for kicks. Be thankful Louis Armstrong is not a member, or we’d never have his timeless recording of Wonderful World.
Who knows what our town will look like tomorrow, Disneyland on dope, or changed in some way, perhaps? It’s deep in the imagination of dreamers to wonder if we’ll ever see a change from a hundred years of Tory regime, but it is for Lib Dem Brian Mathew which the strategic vote goes to, and I’m okay with that, met him, great bloke and perfectly capable of making this constituency better, couldn’t make it any worse; only biker Malc can do that, with his genius plan to prevent an environmental disaster, by ignoring it. Yeah, that’ll work. Climate change is a bully, ignore it, and it’ll go away.
Though we should fear the polling cards of the affluent silent majority here, who blindly vote for the blue rosette even if it was pinned to Voldemort, for they don’t partake in the Devizes Issues, but better, or worse, or even the Devizes Issues (same as) which is due out soon; none of them are vindictive enough!
We should fear them more than that of the retaliation of crying blackshirts, angered by their own ignorance and their own AI images; the popularity of Reform on the group was only apparent because the three of them used so many fake profiles, and the march down Sidmouth Street might well have more cups of Costa coffee than that of the Battle of Cable Street, but it will be so insignificant you won’t read about it on Wikipedia, only on the Devizes Issues (but better!)
Go there, fill your boots with a taste of a poison paradise, I’m addicted to Devizes Issues, but better, but don’t you know that it’s toxic, Britney?!
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so check in later in the week too!
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
Shakespeare Liveโs Macbeth at Seend Cleeve House until 6th July; review here.
Wednesday 3rd
Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
Christ Church Primary School Summer Show at their neighbouring Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon.
Encore Screening of National Theatre Liveโs Nye at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The Big Jam Session at the Vic, Swindon. Mal Webb & Kylie at The Beehive. Wilkes Academy at the Wyvern Theatre until the 5th July.
Gusto Gusto at the Bell, Bath.
Thursday 4th
Rum & Records at the Muck & Dunder in Devizes.
3 Daft Monkeys at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Minety Music Festival Warm-up Gig.
Chris Murphey & Barney Kenny at The Tuppenny, Swindon. John Hegley: An American In Luton at Swindon Arts Centre. Broadtown Brewery Quiz Night.
The Weeping Willows at Chapel Arts, Bath with support from Tomorrow Bird.
Friday 5th
Save Our Ships at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Start The Sirens and Everyone Lies.
Chippenham
Minety Music Festival opens, running throughout the weekend. Iโve not been before, so Iโm planning to pop along on Sunday with Talk in Code and will report my findings back to you! But its continued support of local music makes this Editorโs Pick of the Week!
Katey Brooks at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Not Warriors & Soak at The Vic, Swindon. Texas Tick Fever at The Beehive.
The Electric Shakes, Mikey Ball & the Company at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
All roads lead to Frome, they say, as if thereโs not enough happening there, Frome Festival begins today, and runs till 14th July. Therefore, find The Back Wood Redeemers and Dry White Bones at The Corner-House. The Raggedy Men at The Sun. Alberta Cross at The Tree House.
The Music Baa near Salisbury; pub-campsite combo Iโve yet to try, have ‘In D’Field’ mini festival, withDr. Beatroot, Noah’s House, Band High, Shelf Remedy, Gambling Hearts, Love is Enough, Acrustic Badgers, Felix Darlow, The Passenger Club, The Courgettes, The New Group, and Alex Morgan Wardrop.
Saturday 6th
Cocktails and Canapรฉs at Silverwood School, Rowde. All proceeds to the Silverwood School Charity Trust to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
West Lavington Village Fete and Dog Show. Blondie & Ska at The Green Dragon in Market Lavington.
Devizes Swap Shop at Pamela House. The Bratton Silver Band at the Wharf Theatre. Devizes Chamber Choir presents Showtime at the Musicals at St Andrewโs on Long Street. Illingworth at The Three Crowns. Strange Folk at The Southgate. Back To The 90s Night at The Bear Hotel.
Across the county, Marlborough Open Studios begins today, and runs throughout July, until the 28th.
Rush Hour at the Bear, Marlborough. The famous hangover sessions at the Lamb.
People Like Us at Melksham Cons Club.
Uncle Jack at Chippenham Consti Club.
Robinson Stone at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Cheese & Chilli Festival in Swindon. Street Lights at the Wyvern Theatre. Hair Supply at The Vic.
Cheltenham Music Festival opens too, running until 13th July.
The Authentics at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Desafinados at the Bell, Bath.
Cara Dillonโs โComing Homeโ book talk at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Sunday 7th
Will Edmunds stands in for Jon Amor at The Southgate, Devizes at 5pm, but Tom and Jerry of the Trio will be there too, with guest John Baggott.
Open Mic at Red Lion, Lacock.
Open Mic at The Lamb, Trowbridge.
Courting Ghosts at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Inspire Warminster.
Mr Love & Justice at Richard Jefferies Museum in Swindon from 1pm. Ooh Beehive! Poetry slam at The Beehive, and Gideon Liddiard Photographyโs Music- An Intimate View exhibit opens at The Beehive too. Lisa Doscher at The Tuppenny.
Leonie Evans at the Bell, Bath.
Raghu Dixit at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Monday 8th
Rock The Tots Seaside session at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Jim Gallagher & Friends at the Bell, Bath. Carsick are at Komedia with Nothing Rhymes With Orange.
Swinging at the Cotton Club at the Cheese & Grain.
Tuesday 9th
Exhibition on Screen โ John Singer Sargent: Fashion & Swagger at Pound Arts, Corsham.
BD Lenz Trio for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon.
Old Time Sailors at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
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!
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
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
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
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With the danceable penultimate act attracting a packed crowd, I observed a young teenager, who, on spotting a disregarded beer bottle, picked it up and disposed of it properly. I’m at Mantonfest, the gem on Marlborough’s annual event calendar. I’m not surprised, having been a few times now, it has always been this pleasant and respectable; this year I reasoned whyโฆ.
Kids these days, huh? Reacting appropriately, averting a potential trip hazard, I ask you?! Elsewhere, a younger girl is on her dad’s shoulders, pumping her arms in the air while the Queen tribute reenacts classics way beyond her years, and her dad bounces underneath; it’ll be one of countless priceless family memories to savour here today, just like Heidi of Barrelhouse giving out inflatable guitars, mics and more randomly, crocodiles!
For at Mantonfest’s very opening, parents are driven to joyful tears, as thirteen year-old Megan Mills from St John’s School swaps guitar for keys and confidently delivers an outstanding if short set, filled equally with talent and expression.
If, in past years I’ve pondered the wide age demographic at Mantonfest, Mills, the aspiring health and safety officer, the girl piggybacking her dad, the toddler clutching his inflatable croc, are examples as to why. It’s the festival’s fifteenth birthday, families have grown up with this, ergo, Mantonfest is an institution, they return habitually and hold it in such high esteem, even at teenage they respect this congenial ethos. It creates a matchless experience to justify me hailing Mantonfest as the friendliest festival you’re ever likely to attend.
It’s tradition which warrants the return of favoured acts, such as Madness-Bad Manners and overall Two-Tone act, Badness, back by popular demand. They blew the roof off last year, although they mimicked their show, they came up shining, and skanking again.
Similarly, the model set from Barrelhouse will never go grey. They are to Mantonfest what R2D2 is to Star Wars, appearing time over and never failing to delight with their perfectly pumped hoedown of vintage blues. To see Barrelhouse live is cake, to see them at MantonFest is the icing on that cake. Yep, there’s many repeating features at Mantonfests, but if it’s not broken โฆ.
I’m standing with Chippenham’s wonderful folk singer-songwriterMeg, complimenting Mills for a likeness to her own expressive vocal range. Meg’s on next, which shouldn’t really be as the section is supposed to showcase talent from the town’s comprehensive, but as one band cancelled I was called for a suggestion and couldn’t imagine anyone more apt and deserved. At 17 now Meg has developed a name for herself, hard working her idiosyncratic style to play Chippenhamโs Pride, Folk Festival and expanding to Minety and Trowbridgeโs Pump. On her first of three gigs this weekend, she excitedly tells me how it went supporting Jools Holland. Such are local circuit barriers though, Meg’s not so widely known here, so even a short set is good to help her to venture eastwards, and they sure made her welcome.
Sublimely delivering three tunes of her own wares, Meg set the bar high for Rory & Tom, who followed by providing popular covers in a friendly and lively fashion. Elton-like pianist Sammy Till-Vattier polished off the youth section. Saw him last year, he’s the upcoming name to watch on the Marlborough circuit. His poignant crafted originals are emotionally poured out, he literally sweats solo talent, as his final piece verged on Serge Gainsbourg level, and in his language too; je l’ai aimรฉ!
This opening section to Mantonfest debuted last year shouldn’t be viewed as a filler or talent contest, rather a taster of what’s to come for the family event.
Just like other neighbouring towns, Marlborough youths show dedication and talent. It fills one with confidence that music is safe in Gen Z hands, but more importantly is Mantonfest’s drive to showcase them. There’s no bolt-on gazebo miles away from the event’s main brace, they’re on the same stage which Toyah once graced.
There’s a part of me, though, which wishes the hordes who came for the finale crowd-pleasing tribute acts could’ve supported the local talent at the start, but I know, cookie crumbles this way.
Tributes were the order of the evening, but nestled between the St John’s section and them, the tradition of family continues. Josie Mackenzie is no stranger here, she pulled a blinder last year guest singing with The James Oliver Band. Taking front and centre this time with swing-style rockabilly-blues her new band the Radiotones wonderfully reintroduced fifties-early sixties classics in an Etta James fashion. Particularly stand-out was Ray Charlesโ, Hallelujah, I Love Her So.
Then, Olโ Man Witcomb And The Bergamots; wow! In different guises, especially one called Skedaddle, Witcomb family members have regularly played the festival as they live in the village, albeit a slot so early I missed them before. Took this with a pinch of salt, then, assuming this being a village custom, I wasn’t expecting greatness; my biggest surprise this year.
The old man referenced in the name is Chris Witcomb, bassist, wife Jane sings, boy, does Jane sing, and three sons back them on lead acoustic and electric guitars, and drums, like a Manton Carter Family!
If this ensemble was โformed for a bit of funโ as stated I’m truly in awe; they were as uniformed as any professional classic rock band, and handled some unusual and technically challenging covers, particularly poignant was Genesisโ Land of Confusion.
Aside from their model set they even carried onstage banter with ease, apologising for performing Making Plans for Nigel for its possible election connotations! It was a gorgeous performance they really should take on the road, sitting somewhere between The Pretenders and Fleetwood Mac.
Between acts Fruci Fit Personal Training of Marlborough and Devizes gave a loud and proud exercise class, then, The Fab Four took the stage. Working through the Beatles discography with lighthearted panache, they’re another back by popular demand, and are a thoroughly entertaining tribute. Barrelhouse followed as evening set in, enough said. Coupled with the perfect weather, it was looking to be a most memorable Mantonfest.
A further three tributes to take us to the cumulation. Firstly, Forever Elton was enjoyable if technically mediocre. Badness did it again, stealing the show with upbeat Two-Tone re-enactments in newspaper suits but idiosyncratically making tributes stand-alone. The northern working-class banter is at invaluable comical proportions, but their musical proficiency too makes it a class homage. It’s a wonder how Queen tribute The Bohemians will top it, but surprisingly, according to my love of ska, and the fact Queen tributes are two to a penny, I think they did.
Tricky to perfect but a common choice to attribute, Queen is a national pride. To do this badly would be an epic fail. I’ve always thought this, ending up surprised with the results of previous Queen tributes I’ve bore witness to, but The Bohemians were undoubtedly the best. It was a show stopping finale, a sublime imitation of probably the finest rock band ever, if not, certainly the most popular. Throughout their performance I was equally held in awe at the precision and attention to detail, and simply enjoying the moment, as those rock classics were delivered with such skill and gusto.
Yet it is not only the excellence of all the acts which makes Mantonfest Mantonfest, rather the lesser ingredients, the beautiful setting, the simplicity of the arrangement and its dedication to hold dear its self-made traditions. But most importantly, and likely the sum of all other parts, it’s this trouble-free tenant akin to a Caribbean holiday (with rum punch,) which has seen a generation grow and be proud and respectable of this wonderful annual occasion.ย
For me, it’s equally about Mills, Sammy et al, as it is for a tribute act knocking it out of Treacle Brolly, but I feel it is too for the many here who enjoy this gem year after year. Another Mantonfest ticked off, another astounding and memorable year, it never fails to impress me.
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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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!
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 overpricedโฆ
Contemplated headlining this โClash of the Titans,โ but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizesโฆ
Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Cafรฉ will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since itsโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Sandcastle Productions A very new addition to Bath based theatre companies, Sandcastles Productions brings their self penned piece of theatreโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Next Stage Theatre Company and Mike Stevens Florian Zeller is a contemporary French playwright and screenwriter, who receivedโฆ
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!”
by Ian Diddamsimages by Gail Foster ‘Devizes & Beyond’ is a collection of original poems in traditional forms and digital photography, inspired by life inโฆ
Some four years since his last release under his own name, Lavingtonโs electronica composer Moray McDonald presents a soundtrack; the music he wrote and producedโฆ
Can we please draw a red line under Pewsey’s Moonrakers St George’s Cross facade fiasco now Wiltshire Council has u-turned on a proposal forcing landlordโฆ
If options for urbanites seeking experiential or themed dining experiences are boundless, theyโre lesser so in our rural backwaters. Yet, weโve returned from a deliciousโฆ
Thereโs a cold remote ambience of burrowing doubt in the opening of Westburyโs singer-songwriter Serenโs debut song, in which, as the title suggests, she usesโฆ
The biggest risk for any media reporting negatively on illegal raves is that, in their youth, their fifty-plus target audience probably attended illegal raves themselves!โฆ
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!
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
Photo credit: ยฉ Rondo Theatre Company / Jazz Hazelwood A gender-queered production of William Shakespeareโs classic play, โThe Taming of the Shrewโ, will be performed atโฆ
The first full album by Wiltshireโs finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. Itโs called Turfinโโฆ
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-up ofโฆ
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
If many space-rock acts have more band member changes than most other musicians change their socks, Hawkwind are the exemplar of the tendency. There mightโฆ
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
The second single from Georgeโs sessions with Jolyon Dixon is out today, Isnโt She Lonely. With the vaudeville ambience of Queenโs later material and sprinklesโฆ
A new music festival is coming to Devizes this July. Organisers of the long-running Marlborough based festival MantonFest are shifting west across the downs andโฆ
All images: ยฉ๏ธ JS Terry Photography An awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding musical talent within the city, aptly titled The 2024 Salisbury Music Awards,โฆ
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
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!
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
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
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.
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
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
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!
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
Another Stunning Week-End For Live Music Andy Fawthrop Normally Iโd be raving about just how good the live music was at The Southgate on Sundayย afternoon.โฆ
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 itโsโฆ
Seems odd the perfect combination between Devizesโ only theatre, The Wharf, and one of the longest-running performance group, White Horse Opera hasnโt linked before, butโฆ
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!
Featured Image Credit: Stewart Baxter Riot predictor Nick Hodgson formerly of the Kaiser Chiefs has a new band, the charmingly named Everyone Says Hi, andโฆ
Bob Marley sang โjamminโ โtil the jam is through,โ Jimmy Cricketโs catchphrase was โcomeโere, thereโs more,โ but it looks like The Southgate in Devizes isโฆ
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, Askโฆ
Image credit: Forestry England/Crown copyright. Forestry England Nightingale Wood invites dog owners to celebrate Walk Your Dog Month this January….. Walk Your Dog Month isโฆ
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
Salisbury acoustic singer-songwriter Rosie Jay released her debut EP today, taking its title from her first single from June this year, I Donโt Give aโฆ
I’m loving this new tune! Swindon’s upcoming reggae singer/DJ Silver-Star has teamed up with the legendary General Levy for a drum n bass golden nuggetโฆ
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
Somewhere just outside Westbury a sizable barn hosted the most memorable new year’s eve raves in the mid-nineties, but Iโd never have imagined then, thatโฆ
A Scooby snack-sized pinch punch, first day of the month came from Minety Music Festival this morning upon announcing their headliner for 2025, The Funโฆ
by Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Infrogmation Tennessee Williamsโ quasi autobiographical drama โA Streetcar Named Desireโ was first performed in 1947 as the worldโฆ
Purveyors of perfect motion, house music promoters Palooza return to The Exchange in Devizes on Friday 20th December, for its grand finale of the yearโฆ..โฆ
Okay, so, Iโm aย little behind, recently opting to perfect my couch potato posture and consider hibernation, meaning Iโve not yet mentioned Kirsty Clinchโs newโฆ
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!
With Black Friday just a few weeks away, Wiltshire based Blackmore Computers Ltd, is encouraging people to think pre-loved if theyโre planning on buying laptopsโฆ
If rural West Country had a penchant for trance in the happy daze of the mid-nineties, heady nights of fluorescent-clad crusties with eyes like flyingโฆ
Congratulations to Rosalind Ambler and Paul Snook from Devizes Writers Group… At the National Community Radio Awards held in Cardiff on 16th November Together!, theโฆ
Two of the county’s top retrospective cover bands meet for a double-bill of action in Market Lavington This Saturday. Calneโs indie rock five-piece Six Oโclockโฆ
Again we find ourselves congratulating and thanking young Chloe Boyle for fantastic fundraising efforts for Devizes homeless charity OpenDoorsโฆ. With friends and family she spentโฆ
Images: Chris Watkins Media It was lovely to spend Sunday afternoon at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre, to see how this yearโs pantomime Hansel & Gretel, isโฆ
Sheffieldโs DIY punk queer emo five-piece, Slash Fiction will be at the Pump in Trowbridge on Wednesday 20th November as part of their nationwide tour.โฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Playing Up Theatre Company When is a mousetrap not a mousetrap? When itโs written by Tom StoppardโฆIf you have seen โTheโฆ
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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!
Wiltshire Music Centre is delighted to announce the new appointments ofย Danielย Clark as Artistic Director, andย Sarahย Robertson as Executive Director.ย Danielย andย Sarahย join Wiltshire Music Centre in a new co-leadershipโฆ
By Mick Brianphotos by Chris Watkins Media Disney aficionados will need no introduction to โThe Little Mermaid,โ Disneyโs 1989 film about mermaids falling in loveโฆ
Remember, remember, weโre moving into November; leaves, loads of โem! Being as we are no longer doing weekly roundups, hereโs some highlights of events inโฆ
The simple answer is yes, very concerned. Following the publication of an article in Melksham Newsโs last issue questioning the councilโs public notice policy, Wiltshireโฆ
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.
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts announced their upcoming project, YEA Devizes today. Made possible by a grant from National Grid Electricity Transmissionโs Community Grant Programme,โฆ
Alberta Cross, along with the up-and-coming local bands Something Moves and BroccoliBoy, will perform at a charity gig on Saturday 30th November at 23โฆ
Our very own illustrious orchestra, The Fulltone Orchestra, are staging live performances of Enyaโs 1988 breakthrough album, Watermark in Basingstoke, Bath and Cheltenham laterโฆ
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!
Forget the feud between Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, this is England’s West Country rivals The Skimmity Hitchers and Monkey Bizzle in a vicious rapโฆ
Itโs been a fantastic summer for Wiltshireโs indie-pop favourites Talk in Code. I think Iโve caught them live at least four times, and only onceโฆ
I was chatting to Josh Oldfield last week, a Devizes singer-songwriter I believe weโll be hearing a lot more of. Though this interview was pendingโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Josie Mae-Ross Noel Coward is probably best known for โBlithe Spiritโ but he in fact wrote sixty-five stage plays over aโฆ
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
Comedy in Devizes is a rare thing, unless you count visitors turning right at the Shaneโs Castle junction, reading opinions on the Devizes Issues (butโฆ
Seems like an age since I last visited Bradford-on-Avonโs wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre, though Iโve been listing their vast range of events on our calendar.โฆ
Wiltshire Music Events UK has hosted tons of memorable events locally, from CrownFest and The Marley Experience at Devizes Corn Exchange, to more everyday gigsโฆ
The “Business Fit For Future” programme has launched with startups across Wiltshire seizing the opportunity to participate in free online business planning workshops. This initiativeโฆ
Featured Photo: Forestry England/Crown copyright Planned timber harvesting is set to begin at popular walking destination, West Woods, from the end of September until Marchโฆ
Despite the population of Devizes throwing confetti and paint at each other in their most celebrated annual ritual, I believe I picked the right weekendโฆ
The newly drafted forest plan for West Woods and Collingbourne is open for public consultation until Monday 7 October. The plan outlines how each woodland willโฆ
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!
If there’s been welcomed stand-ins for the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency at the Southgate in Devizes recently, Ruzz Evans and Eddie Martin, Jon โtheโฆ
Supporters of local live music know, least they should do by now, that Swindon is the place to head this following weekend, 12th-15th September, becauseโฆ
Devizes-own indie-pop-punk youth sensation Nothing Rhymes With Orange smashed the Exchange on Friday as a farewell to their local fanbase. They pursue a music courseโฆ
Reports of another road traffic accident at the notorious Black Dog Crossroads near Lavington today coincides with Wiltshire Councillor for the Lavington constituency, Dominic Munsโฆ
One of many young indie bands which impressed me at Bradford Roots Festival, and proof thereโs more than the name suggests at The Wiltshire Music Centreโs winter convention of local music, Bristol-based LilyPetals released their debut EP this weekโฆ.
Firing on all cylinders, thereโs five three minute heroes and one slightly longer tune on this impressive introduction to an equally-gendered and equally promising four-piece. Contemporary themes imploded by two fierce opening tracks, Currently Unavailable and, particularly, We Want More, arch a punk flavour of punkโs heyday; and I like that a lot! Thereโs wailing guitars, echoing chorus lines, and emotion pouring out.
If weโre talking emotion though, the tempo lessens for the third tune, Thatโs What You Said to Me, proving LilyPetals is no one trick pony. Itโs a rolling ballad, with a euphoric element akin to a rock classic. If this tune will raise your eyebrow, note, Playwright reverbs with passion and fire, thereโs almost shards of glam rock meeting gothic in there too. But LilyPetals have mastered the hook, leading to a bridge via a finger click, is clever and beguiling stuff.
The four minute tune is the penultimate one, and it just drives from the intro. Break Your Mind is perhaps a magnum opus to date for this band, though I highly suspect from the concentrated and tight compositions of all these tunes, weโre going to be moving onto even better stuff from them in the near future. In principle then, this is encouraging, and it feels like punk is saved for a new generation in their indie passion. This is to Bowling For Soup what Reef is to The Rolling Stones, but the potential for improvement is gapping in their hands; the canvas here is ripped and ready to rock!
It finishes with Spaceman, mate, check this out, the hook is a sinker, it has all the elements of a classic, and, as weโve seen with bands like The Radio Makers, punk rock can evoke modern generations, and punk can live on through them. LilyPetals, arguably ironic namesake, yet the fervour is at a blossoming point, and this is a great and lengthy EP, verging on an album, and album worthy of your perusal.ย ย
For that certain some-Karen who drove through town last weekend, jumped on social media to waffle off the clichรฉ rant โnothing happens in Devizes,โ butโฆ
Trowbridge-Devizes finest musical export for a decade or two, acoustic folk vocal harmony trio, The Lost Trades, step out for a nationwide tour this September.โฆ
The Fulltone Orchestra has confirmed today that their annual festival will take place on The Green in Devizes from 25th โ 27th July 2025โฆ. โItโsโฆ
Chandra, Hindu God of the Moon, with his own NASA X-ray observatory named after him, and also frontman of a self-named friendly Bristol-based four-piece pop-punkโฆ
Paul’s self-made cover to his latest single, Some Days depicts a fellow sitting under a tree pondering life, while an autumn zephyr blows leaves aroundโฆ
Itโs when you hear those American addresses, like house number 21,456 Park Avenue, you realise Long Street in Devizes is a long street only comparableโฆ
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West Wilts and Somerset folk-rock collective Courting Ghosts are about to release their debut album, Falling my Friend in Juneโฆ..
If the name Courting Ghosts conveys something twisted and gothic, the band name may be a smidgen deceiving to their style.Subjective though, what’s in a name; if I was courting a ghost Iโd imagine sheโd be the scariest, like The Lady in White, mysteriously motionless with unkempt hair over her face; creepy stuff like that. Whereas if Lindisfarne were courting a ghost itโd likely be Casper!
Iโm thinking thereโs more Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze shenanigans going on here than either The lady in White or the friendly ghost, because, whilst Lindisfarne can be rather quirky seventies, yet are undeniably an accolade to UK folk-rock, Courting Ghost’s Falling my Friend is earnest and steadfast, feelgood folk integrity; no messing about. The narrative is amorous and the ambience refreshingly strolling along the sunny side of the street. Your pottery is going to be smooth listening to this at the wheel, Demi!
Iโm getting more the romanticism of Springsteen, the breeze of Tom Petty, and the drift of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Still, the Americana component is subtle at best, in sound the balance tips largely on the UK folk scene, particularly of their roots in the West Country. So let’s lob in the honesty of Hothouse Flowers too, for good measure. It’s a gentle flow rather than all twangy banjos and knee-slapping, for sure.
Frontman and guitarist Chris Hoar and Marcel Rose on acoustic guitar hail from Trowbridge, and they make the original duo. The five-piece was formed a little under two years ago by networking via open mics. Dave Turner on keys and backing vocals from Frome, bassist Andy Maggs from Bath. Drummer Tim Watts, while skiving off the photoshoot, provides the Devizes connection. Combined it’s a force of professionalism.ย Additions to the line-up includes Holly Carter, a marvel on the peddle steel, and a rather splendid guest vocalist who will be revealed shortly!
Courting Ghosts are not trying to bedazzle you with daring experimentation or cryptic wordplay, itโs an elementary formula. This is walking back to your festival tent after a mellowed afternoon music. Itโs unassuming, tranquil. Itโs dew on the grass precipitating under a spring sunrise.ย
They kick it off with the luxuriate title track, nine others succeed and follow suit. Every Time, the third song in, raises the bar with a particularly beguiling hook. Following this Close my Eyes ups the sentimental notch a level. A ballad with delicate keys, vocally harmonised to perfection with the fantastic Lorna, one half of the duo Fly Yeti Fly.
Sheโs Alright, some eight tunes along this beautiful journey is as uptempo as it gets, at least it rolls on the strings. Itโs an unspecified ode to that one person who will always cheer you up. Sentiments abound is a running theme, as it cools to a close with an air of feelgood ambience.
If you catch them gigging, the CD will be available to buy in June, I suggest you treat yourself and your drive home through our rolling downs will be complemented with an apt soundtrack. Courting Ghosts are going to drop a track per month on Spotify starting from the end of May, with the whole album becoming available for streaming planned for September or October. Keep up-to-date on this album by checking the bandโs socials, Facebook.Instagram.ย
Impressive, in a word, is the Lawrence Art Societyโs annual exhibition at Devizes Town Hall this year, in both quality and quantity; you’ll be amazedโฆ
Following on from last monthโs email, this is a final reminder that yearโs Imberbus service will be running this coming Saturday โ 17th August 2024.โฆ
Hereโs our bitesize look at whatโs happening in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ. Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go thereโฆ
by Ben Niamor A first outing on Saturday to Sound Knowledge for Devizes favourite Elles Bailey, whose latest album dropped Friday, and this mini tourโฆ
Tickets are limited and selling fast for a staged reading of Oscar Wildeโs most renowned comedy masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, performed in theโฆ
People from the Swindon community flocked to protect their town and itโs residents, in anticipation of the rumoured far right anti-immigration march through their townโฆ
We’ve been chatting with the Community Organiser and Campaigns Manager of Devizes and District Foodbank, Alex Montegriffo, about an important free community conversation on Monday 3rd June, on the subject of the rising costs of school uniform……
A local campaign group of parents, guardians and carers in and around Devizes has been speaking to schools about how to make sure their uniform is affordable over the past year, and their campaign has now branched out to include support for a Wiltshire Council strategy that schools can join to make all aspects of the school day affordable. ย
The original campaign arose during the height of the Cost of Living Crisis in 2022 when the impact of school uniform cost was discussed in Devizes and surrounding areas. In 2020, The Childrenโs Society found that the average annual cost at state-maintained schools per child was ยฃ337 at secondary schools, and ยฃ315 at primary schools. Families in Devizes reported spending between ยฃ200 and ยฃ300 a year on all items of clothing and footwear needed for school.
Research shows that these costs can cause families to struggle with other essentials, such as food or bills, or can even contribute to debt if money has to be borrowed to buy school uniform. This affects families both in and out of work. For example, one person involved in the campaign had to borrow money from a family member to afford uniform, and another had to take a Universal Credit advance which they then paid back. This is especially the case where there are multiple items of logoed uniform that can only be bought from a specialist supplier, as these tend to be more expensive.
In response to research revealing the high cost of school uniform in the UK, the UK Government passed a law in 2021 stating that schools need to consider affordability when setting uniform policies. Locally, the campaigns team engaged with schools on the topic of affordable school uniform and invited schools to sign an Affordable Uniform Pledge. Local schools were able to work with parents and guardians to make changes to their school uniform to increase affordability to the benefit of every family. The campaign also received media coverage.
After speaking to Wiltshire Council about affordable uniform and the impact it has on families, the Council launched their Affordable Schools Strategy in September 2023. This is much wider than uniform, as it covers topics such as accessible school trips and activities, the provision of free school meals, and making changes towards affordability to benefit both schools and families. These come under the headings of Resourcing the School Day, Enrichment and Opportunities, Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, and Securing Positive Partnership. Schools can join the strategy each year, and will get accredited as they take steps toward affordability. They receive resources, handbooks, case studies and networking opportunities. One of the resources is the Affordable Uniform Pledge, and there is a section on affordable school uniform.
As part of the final phase of the campaign around school costs, any family in and around Devizes can add their support to this strategy, and engage with their school to encourage them to become a member in the next launch on 26th September 2024. This strategy benefits all families, and engagement can be made by families working with schools in person or in writing to encourage them to sign up, with guidance.
To learn more, please come along to a free community conversation from 6:30-7:30pm on Monday 3rd June at the St James Centre, Devizes, SN10 1LR. This phase of the campaign is being organised by Alex, the Community Organiser and Campaigns Manager at Devizes and District Foodbank. Tea, coffee and a wide range of snacks will be provided, and please let Alex know if youโre thinking of attending by email, phone call, text or WhatsApp: T: 07483 377346E: alex@devizesanddistrict.foodbank.org.uk
New single out today from Swindon-based gothic-folk duo, Canuteโs Plastic Army, and itโs three yeses from meโฆCan one person give three yeses? Iโm way pastโฆ
Second impressive single from young Salisbury singer-songwriter Rosie Jay is released today. Sing Another Love Song; a sound of the summerโฆ.. Her debut breakup trackโฆ
Tory tears welled at County Hall this week, when Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council threw his teddies from his pram over the Government’sโฆ
Weโre into August already; Christmas before you know it, so you better get outside and taste the sun while it lastsโฆ. Hereโs what weโve foundโฆ
If it’s been a fantastic weekend on Devizes Green with the orchestral Full-Tone Festival, further out of town scooterists, mods, skins and anyone else withโฆ
Hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week, heading in June, just like Terry!
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 29th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Lunchtime Recital: Charlotte Spruit at Pound Arts, Corsham. Followed by Chris Wood.
Les Misรฉrables โ School Edition at the Athenรฆum, Warminster.
Tim Arnold โ Super Connected at Chapel Arts, Bath. Edinburgh Previews, Pierre Novellie & Nic Sampson at The Rondo Theatre. Stone Cold Hustle at the Bell, Bath.
Toby Lee at Swindon Arts Centre. Seven Drunken Nights at The Wyvern Theatre.
Thursday 30th
Royal Bath & West Show opens.
Vintage Nostalgia Festival at Stockton Park opens.
Jam Night at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Invisible Creature Club, and Avalon Comedy Network: Glenn Moore, Eleanor Tiernan, Ben Pope & Farah Sharp at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Gary Stewart at Chapel Arts. SparkFest continues with A Midsummer Nightโs Dream at the Mission.
Letโs Swim, Get Swimming & Seneca at The Vic, Swindon. Steve Ferbrache at The Tuppenny. The Diana Ross Story at The Wyvern Theatre.
Friday 31st
A Cider & Mead Festival opens for the weekend at the Barge on HoneyStreet.
And so does the Devizes Arts Festival! Running from 31st May to 16th June, weโre looking at a busy month ahead with lots of entertaining events. The fun starts with Jolly Roger at the Corn Exchange. Trash Panda are at the Three Crowns.
All Floyd The Division Bell at Melksham Assembly Hall. Muuttley & Wet Franc play King George Park.
Gemโs Pirate Party at the Civic, Trowbridge. The Exact Opposite, Ignotis and Bottle of Dog at the Pump, Trowbridge. Martyโs Fake Family at The Red Admiral.
Bradford-on-Avon Music Festival all weekend in the park and various locations. Sad Dad Club at The Three Horseshoes. Manhattan Nights at The Boathouse. Bach Week: Quartetto di Cremona The Art of Fugue at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Blue Badge Bunch, and Ria Lina: Riawakening at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Untamed Burlesque at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Retro Electro at The Vic, Swindon. One Chord Wonders at The Queenโs Tap. Johannes Radebe 2024 โ House of Jojo at The Wyvern Theatre.
Subgiant Weekender at The Baa, Salisbury.
Zion Train at the Tree House, Frome. Charlie Simpson from Busted DJโs at the Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 1st
Rowde Summer Festival.
Potterne Fete.
Top Secret: The Magic of Science at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. Devizes Arts Festival has Lady Nade at the Corn Exchange, Edโs pick of the week! The Duskers at The Southgate.
Shambles Festival at King George V Park, Melksham.
Elcot Festival at Marlborough Town FC.
Open Mic at the Lamb, Trowbridge. The Future Sound of Trowbridge 10 at The Pump. NOASIS at the Civic.
Dennis Rollinsโ Funky Funk at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Day two of the Bradford Music Festival, with an amazing lineup there.
Fraser Anderson Trio at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Diversity at the Vic, Swindon. The Beatles by Candlelight at The Wyvern Theatre.The Naughties at the Queenโs Tap.
John Bramwell & The Full Harmonic Trio at Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Lucas Hardy at The Kings Arms, Amesbury.
Sunday 2nd
Devizes Arts Festival has a Festival Walk: From Romans to Kangaroos. Adam Alexander โ Seed Detective FREE FRINGE at the Peppermill. Eddy Allen โ Solo Loop Show FREE FRINGE at the Cellar Bar. Jon Amor Trio with guest Tony Remy at The Southgate, Devizes.
Open mic at the Bell, Great Cheverell.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
A Strange New Space at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Louise Parker at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Speaking of Witch by Jack Lambert (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, Bath.
Tom Davis: Underdog at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Darren Hunt at the Queenโs Tap.
Monday 3rd
Thereโs a Food Bank movement to affordable school costs meeting in Devizes, see poster.
Dr. Phil Hammond โ โHow to Fix the NHSโ and โThe Ins and Outs of Pleasureโ at the Corn Exchange, part of Devizes Arts Festival.
Memory Cafรฉ at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Tuesday 4th
Edward Cross Quintet at The Town Hall, part of Devizes Arts Festival. Mrs Churchill : My life with Winston ~ Liz Grand at the Corn Exchange.
Six The Musical opens at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, running until the 8th June.
Open Mic at The Royal Oak, Bath. The Valentine Letters by Steve Darlow (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, 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.
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!
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.โฆ
Gallivanting through festival season omits crucial visits to my local watering hole; I’ve missed it sooo much, and now feel thoroughly refreshedโฆ with a hintโฆ
Featured Image by Simon Folkard Following the announcement earlier this year about the cancellation of the Devizes International Street Festival due the loss of Artsโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this comingโฆ
The 50th Anniversary of the now legendary Village Pump Festival, which was brought back to the UK festival circuit in 2018 by director Nicholas Reed,โฆ
Friday evening in the liveliest of Devizes pubs, The Three Crowns, with Devizes best upcoming band, Nothing Rhymes With Orange pulling a two hour set out of the hat like a magician pulls a rabbit out of theirs. Surely a perfect match and an unmissable occasion; but, ah, shoot, did I do a cidered-up speech? Thereโs vague recollections of it this morning. Please accept my apologies!!
Something of a homecoming for the boys, with recent gigs at Bristolโs Louisiana, Bathโs Komedia, and the Gunners in London, and forthcoming dates ranging from the New Forest Rag-City Festival to Trowbridge Festival, only returning here for FullTone. Theyโre getting the bookings, gig bunnies of Devizes know why.
Changing from Saturdayโs usual live music slot for the Three Crowns to a Friday mayโve reduced footfall a smidgen, but just as my arm was twisted, many sought the rare opportunity to see how theyโre fairing in the fame, for free. Their devoted Gen Z fan base front and centre, millennial regulars taking up the support trench and anyone older in reserve, save for a few breaking rank, illustrating to those younger how it was done in their day; it was a mixed bunch but plentiful and hospitable, there only to enjoy themselves, and you know NRWO will deliver this.
The date change was to fit in an audition gig on Saturday for the Pilton Stage, a subsidiary of Glastonbury Festival, of which we wish them the very best of luck. In fact, I did wish them such while they were tuning, whereupon frontman Elijah Easton acknowledged precautions to preserve his voice for tomorrowโs big day, and I looked doubtful at him replying, โyeah, right, thatโs not going to happen, is it?!โ This contest today is one tough cookie, crossing fingers and toes may not be enough, but come what may, as I believe I said in my slobbering speech, this hometown loves and supports these lads, ergo, they wouldnโt halfheartedly perform to them least anyone.
Because, and hereโs the deal breaker; with over a year on a pedestal, this youthful quartet of indie-punk-pop still revels in the spotlight and this jubilant enthusiasm reflects onto an audience and reverberates throughout. It makes for a positive atmosphere, a benchmark for a memorable gig. And that is exactly what happened last night at the Three Crowns, a pub usually encouraging acts to perform covers but neednโt for this gig, as the passion these boys deliver has their fans here singing back their originals to them as if they were classic covers. Especially when the Greggs steak bake falls apart.
It was a glorious occasion, the tremendous night I never doubted. Nothing Rhymes With Orange open a two-hour set, time was on their hands to play through every single theyโve produced to date, maybe try some new ones, and covers made the remainder. Blink 182, Kings of Leon, and particularly Arctic Monkeys got the Orange makeover, and there were some especially interesting smooth ambient breaks teetering on prog-rock. Yet it is rare even with a two hour set, for these boys to lower the bpm; itโs uptempo yet paced, but nonchalant rather than all out fury, therefore of universal appeal.
A telltale sign of said passion for their labour came at the finale, when the band didnโt want it to end anymore than the fans screaming for more. It was lead guitarist Fin Anderson-Farquhar who looked at me as I tried to fanboy my way to the microphone, that they had run out of songs to play. Therefore it was up the band to, tongue-in-cheek, knock up the archetypal Oasis cover.
I donโt know what I needed to say so desperately, but I felt I needed to say something about wishing them the best of luck for todayโs audition, to rouse the crowd and let them hear how the local fans support them, because they thoroughly deserve it in my book. Then, probably due to fatigue at an exhausting show of epic proportions, they idiotically left me alone on the microphone!! It was there where I thought Iโd convey my compassion to local blues heroes the Hoax over thirty years ago, because I believe that was a Devizes phenomenon then, and we are witnessing the next right now.
Elijah, Fin, bassist Sam Briggs, drummer Lui Venables, are tighter as a band than ever before, as they journey to college together, they take with them a comradeship, and they take a shared passion for their music, and it is something which continues to improve; last night proved that on their hometurf, superbly.
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so!ย ย Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this comingโฆ
With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Park nextโฆ
Need to keep informed and updated on the general election and its effect locally? Don’t bother with national media sources, everything you need to vomitโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.โฆ
With the danceable penultimate act attracting a packed crowd, I observed a young teenager, who, on spotting a disregarded beer bottle, picked it up andโฆ
By Mick BrianPhotos by cast and arenaphotography William Shakespeareโs tragedy, inspired by real life eleventh century Scottish kings, is well known by anybody thatโs doneโฆ
In recognition of his selfless ministry and leadership of St James Church, where the community and residents are at the core of everything, birthday boy Keith Brindle was honoured on Thursday as a Canon of Salisbury Cathedral, double whammy! I caught up with Keith to find out why, what it means for St James, and to unexpectedly throw down a gauntlet for a backgammon tournamentโฆ.
Iโve been prewarned of Keithโs bashfulness by Councillor Jonathan Hunter, who told me, โIn typical Keith style he has bestowed this honour on the church as opposed to himself.โ As a team were tiding the church after a toddler group, Keith excused himself, and we trundled to the courtyard of this landmark church, and amidst the headstones of yore with the Crammer as a backdrop. I asked Keith about the honour and what it signifies for him and Saint James. The volunteers tiding would not be left out of his musings though.
โSo it’s a kind of honour, thing, that the Church of England do,โ the modest vicar explained. โA recognition of the work thatโฆ I mean, they say it’s for me, but actually in reality it’s for the church. We’ve got lots of volunteers. Thereโs a team of people involved in everything we do. So even though I’m the one that gets this, you know, acknowledgement and the Canon of the cathedral, itโs very much all the different things that the church does, and all the volunteers, a huge number of people.โ
Referring to the toddler club, he continued, โall are volunteers and we’ve had about thirty families in there, and it’s one of the things that we do. So it’s that kind of thing. It’s about being a church involved in talking about, Christianity and faith. Talking about what it means to live as a follower of Jesus and being out there in the community, doing things like the youth action groups gig night, you know, and everything in between.โ
One significant element which St James earned this honour for, was its welcoming of Ukraine families, but between the church and the St James Centre, thereโs too much going on to cover in detail. Keith was keen to tell me about the Centre, across the road from the Church.
โThis used to be the Saint James’s School,โ he clarified, โwhich was owned by the diocese and for years and rented out to Wiltshire Council who used to do a lot of youth work out of there. And then it was empty.โ Unable to gain permission to sell and renovate into flats, St James bought it from the diocese, โand we’ve turned it into our community centre,โ Keith delightfully expressed. โItโs the focus of a lot of the youth work that we do, the Food Bank operate out of there, and our old parish is where OpenDoors operates out of, our CAP debt centre, the Money Debt Centre that supports people and helps them out of out of out of trouble financially. Citizens Advice operate out there too.โ
My attention was recently drawn to the fact they had showers, aimed at boaters or rough sleepers unable to bathe.
โYeah,โ Keith said, โall those sorts of things, the honour of being a cannon, it’s recognising all that sort of stuff. We have a shower Tuesday, a fully accessible shower downstairs on the ground floor, and we’ve got waterways, chaplains that operate along the Kennet & Avon, pastorally just checking in and supporting people. But it’s not just that, it’s an opportunity to meet up with other people.โ
We spoke about the importance of community hubs, post lockdown; larger towns have great facilities, St James is ours.
โSt James’s Church has always been a church, it’s part of its DNA, to get out there and be in the community. I’ve been here eight years and we’ve built on, getting the St James Centre has really, really helped. You know, we were involved in getting the COVID support grouped together quickly. And that was like, three-hundred volunteers registered over a weekend before the first lockdown. And when the first lockdown came, Devizes was ready to go because of that. And that actually came from my son. That was Joseph’s idea. He said, why don’t we do something. And he set up the processes, the WhatsApp group, and how people could register. And then there’s loads of other people like at the town council; Simon Fisher is brilliant. St James has been really good at working with other partners and other people.โ
Keith reeled off nearly every organisation doing good in Devizes, and St Jamesโ connection to them, and through all this we can see why the honour was worthy. We spoke of DOCA, Sustainable Devizes, and he foretold of a second youth gig at the Corn Exchange after the success of the last one. โWe’re gonna have the whole of the downstairs this time. But, I think we’ll fill it. I mean, the first one sold out and that was good thing. We had so many young people say, oh, this is what Devizes needs.โ
But what more will the honour of being a canon of Salisbury Cathedral mean for St James, what more can they possibly do to help in the community which they are not already doing so?!
โIt’s a recognition of what Saint James has done,โ Keith said, โan opportunity to see what the Cathedral has and how the Cathedral operates, and they do magnificent work in the community in Salisbury. Theyโre a massive tourist attraction, but they also try and do loads of outreach stuff to connect different kinds of groups. The kinds of groups that you wouldn’t always expect to relate to the Cathedral.โ
โThe nice thing about Devizes is there’s a lot of good people that want to see people flourish, but at the same time what you don’t see are levels of poverty and levels of isolation. We saw that a lot during COVID. Isolation still exists, and weโve groups that come together to support that. So, we have a games night on the Thursday. It’s not a massive number of people, but for those that come itโs absolutely brilliant and great fun.โ It was at this point, we found our mutual love of backgammon, and I laid my cards on the table. It serves to illustrate what a charismatic and approachable chap Keith is, and now I understand why heโs been so aptly honoured.
โMy leadership of the church in doing what the church does but I do feel very much like a small part of it. This is what God’s love looks like, in real practical terms, there’s a group of this church that have been making meals for years before I came here. They’ll make homemade meals, stick them in the freezer and then and then distribute them to people. Like if you’ve just had a baby, they’ll go around and dump a load of really nice homemade meals, just so that you can cope. And theyโve been doing that for years, you know, quietly getting on with it. So, it’s in recognition for my leadership but it’s for the community.โ
Well done to all St James. Keith’s support and practical help for marginalised communities in Devizes have inspired many people and continue to do the outstanding work they do; what a guy, still I reckon I could take him at backgammon!
by Ian Diddamsphotos by Richard Fletcher & Lisa Hounsome The concept of historical brutal dictatorships and comedy is not necessarily one that one considers asโฆ
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,โฆ
Itโs going to be all strawberries and cheese baps in pith helmets swinging in trouserland bedlam, with chap-hop shenanigans galore at the Barge on Honeystreet when Brightonโs whimsical rapper Professor Elemental arrives at the legendary mooring, campsite, and crop circle centre of the world, on Friday 2nd August; expect unpretentious hip hop, expect silly costumes, expect nonsensical rhymesโฆ.
Ah, we love that bobby-dazzler, whoโs colourful suits alone are worth the ticket price. But alongside his crazy capers arrives a new one on me, the chic Madam Misfit, who could only be described as the dame of UK comedy hip hop, a mesh of retrospective gamer, burlesque beauty and jazz queen of any hullabaloo. If chap hop is a thing, so too must there be, erm, flap hop, is it, maybe, I dunno?!
The pair are joined by Calneโs heavy comical heathens, The Real Cheesemakers. Obsessed with Swindonโs magic roundabout, tortoises and skulls of doom, theyโre a man down so will be scattering acoustic vibes into their loud and proud chants. Look, the comic poster is inciting enough to make Jack Kirby quiver; need I waffle on, darlings?ย
Cool, Man Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday night, and it was time for a little jazz.ย As I often say (apparently)โฆ
A Lunchtime Amuse-Bouche by Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday afternoon with a lunchtime classical concert in the beautiful surroundings of theโฆ
Masterclass by Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued last night, and it was the turn of another big name to grace the stage ofโฆ
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;โฆ
World Class Piano by Andy Fawthrop And, following a lively few days of varied events over this last weekend, weโre now into Devizes Arts Festivalโsโฆ
Itโs going to be a wet weekend whatever the weather for Wiltshire rector Gerry Lynch – as heโs volunteered for a soaking at the Potterne village fete on Saturday June 1st…..
It will be the first church fete for Gerry since he was inducted in January as the new Rector of the Wellsprings Benefice, which covers the parishes of Potterne, Poulshot, Seend, Worton and Bulkington, and he is hoping to make a splash as the star of the Soak The Vicar sideshow.
Gerry is aiming to raise funds for the community and the villageโs St. Maryโs Church by inviting fete-goers to throw wet sponges at him at the afternoon event and heโs putting a brave face on his โbaptismโ.
โIโm game for a bit of ritual humiliation as itโs all in aid of a good cause,โ said Gerry, for whom the weathermen are forecasting a warm day with sunny intervals.
Potterne feteโs wet sponge sideshow will be childโs play. Image: Jill Newton.
Organisers have made the wet sponge stall double-sided so that children can have fun soaking their dads while Gerry takes a break to be towelled down.
โYou can soak the vicar, soak your dad or soak your husband and we think that last option may be popular with a lot of wives,โ said a fete spokesman.
The fete, at Little Mill Field, Mill Road, Potterne [SN10 5ND], will run from 1pm to 4pm and will also feature the popular plastic duck races in the adjoining stream, a dog show, barbecue, licensed bar, tea and cakes, a bottle tombola, a luxury food hamper draw and a variety of other stalls, games and sideshows.
Potterne Rector the Rev. Gerry Lynch prepares to get drenched at the village fete. Image: Jill Newton.
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 forโฆ
As if the FullTone Festival isnโt exciting enough for Devizes, the Town Council has allowed them an extra day, on the Friday 26th Julyโฆ.. Seeingโฆ
Andy Fawthrop Itโs All In The Genes Today Devizes Arts Festival presentation took on a more serious and talkative tone with another marquee signing takingโฆ
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,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 listedโฆ
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 busyโฆ
Hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week, with a bank holiday in the mix!
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.
Ongoing: Bath International Music Festival: 17th – 26th May
Wednesday 22nd
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
The Wizard of Oz at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-onAvon.
Starting a run until the 25th May, I Love You Because at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. The Barefoot Bandit at the Bell, Bath. And the Mission Theatre begins SparkFest with two shows, The Sofa and Dead End.
Big Jam Sessions at The Vic, Swindon. Irish House Party at Swindon Arts Centre.
Thursday 23rd
Runny Snotts Acoustic Sessions at The Neeld, Chippenham.
Nick Helmโs Super Fun Good Time Show at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Here Come the Crows at The Vic, Swindon. Luke Combs at The Wyvern Theatre. Confessions Of Sweeney Todd at Swindon Arts Centre.
SparkFestโs Independent Digital Screenings at The Mission, Bath.
And the last Shindig Festival opens at Dillington Park, have a great time if youโre going to that.
Friday 24th
Chippenham Folk Festival opens and runs until 27th May.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange at Devizes Street Festival
Nothing Rhymes With Orange are back on their home turf, playing The Three Crowns, Devizes, which we make Edโs pick of the week. Full on Fridays at the Exchange in with resident DJ Stevie Mc in the mix.
Shilts & Friends at the Civic, Trowbridge.
Jessica Fostekewโs Mettle at Pound Arts, Corsham.
CapโN Rustyโs Skiffle City Rockers at The New Inn, Amesbury.
Hatepenny at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Call The Shots at The Boathouse.Bach Week: at Wiltshire Music Centre, with Quartetto di Cremona The Art of Fugue.
Biggles Sound System is at St James Wine Vaults, Bath. Fleetwood Mad at Chapel Arts. MacPlebs is the SparkFest show at The Mission.
Tyrants at The Vic, Swindon. Nick Helmโs Super Fun Good Time Show at Swindon Arts Centre. Rock It at The Queenโs Tap. And thereโs a Beer and Cider Festival at Swindon & Cricklade Railway.
Be Like Will at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.
Carsick are at The Tree House, Frome.
Cursus Festival opens in Dorset.
Saturday 25th
Chris Free at The Southgate, Devizes. Sam Briggs joins Stevie MC in the mix at the Exchange.
CapโN Rustyโs Skiffle City Rockers at the Crown, Bishops Cannings.
Mick Jogger and The Stones Experience at Edington Charity Ball at the Three Daggers.
Family Fun Day at Spencerโs Club Melksham from 11am-4pm.
80s Disco at the Talbot, Calne.
Lonely Road Band at Gloucester Road Cons Club, Trowbridge.
Molly Chambers at Hawkeridge Village Hall near Westbury.
The Reason at Prestbury Sports Club, Warminster.
D-State at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.
aKa Dance: A Real Fiction at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Larkhall at Kington Langley Village Hall.
Steve Backshall begins a few dates at Longleat running until 2nd June.
Biaritz at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Chris Moyles 90s Hangover Festival at Swindon Town FC Rockabilly Rumble at the Vic. The BeatRoutes at The Queenโs Tap. Sonic Alert at Woodlands Edge. Daliso Chaponda โ Feed This Black Man Again at Swindon Arts Centre. Daniel OโReilly: Out Of Character at The Wyvern Theatre.
The Ciderhouse Rebellion at Chapel Arts, Bath. SparkFest at The Mission has Stage Fright, CYCLOPS: More Than Meets The Eye, and The Chipping Norton Incident.
Love Saves the Day at Bristol.
Jeremy Healy at The Cheese & Grain, Frome. The Hammervilles at the Tree House.
Sunday 26th
Muddy Manninen & Pasty Gabble at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm. People Like Us at The Three Crowns.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
Pete Lane and the Sailing Stones at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Luke Philbrick & the Solid Gone Skiffle Invasion at the Bell, Bath. Bath Fringe Festival shows The Demeter by Lewis Cook at The Mission.
Could Be Real Tribute Festival at Swindon Town FC. Lonely Road Band at the Richard Jefferies Museum, free entry. Mrs Smith โ See Me! at Swindon Arts Centre. Punt and Dennis at The Wyvern Theatre.
Bank Holiday Monday 27th
The Popup Youth Cafe will be on the Green in Devizes from 2-4pm. Funked Up at The Three Crowns, Devizes.
Tom Odell โBlack Fridayโ at The Memorial Hall, Marlborough, check ahead I think this may be cancelled.
Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
Wonder Gigs: Sky at Pound Arts, Corsham, followed by John Robbโs Do You Believe in the Power of Rock n Roll.
Bruton Packhorse Fair.
Car Show at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.
Big Chimney Barn Dance at the Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 28th
Half Term Reduction Linocut Workshop at Hannah Cantellow Studio, Devizes.
Exhibition on Screen โ Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matis at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Pop Princesses at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Fleur Stevenson Quartet at Jazz Knights in 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 ever-changing events diary. Isnโt it high time you snapped up some tickets for the Devizes Arts Festival at the end of the month running into June?
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!
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 soulstressโฆ
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-songwriterโฆ
Land ahoy me hearties! Devizes Corn Exchange was boarded last night by Cornish punk pirates Jolly Roger, for a frivolous and swashbuckling opening to Devizesโฆ
Images used with kind permission of Pacific Curd Photography West Wilts and Somerset folk-rock collective Courting Ghosts are about to release their debut album, Fallingโฆ
We’ve been chatting with the Community Organiser and Campaigns Manager of Devizes and District Foodbank, Alex Montegriffo, about an important free community conversation on Mondayโฆ
By Ian DiddamsPhotos by Gail Foster In 1971 Ken Russell enchanted film audiences with โThe Devilsโ, which incorporated nuns in the story โ somewhat controversially.โฆ
Friday evening in the liveliest of Devizes pubs, The Three Crowns, with Devizes best upcoming band, Nothing Rhymes With Orange pulling a two hour setโฆ
Buses, huh? Last time I strolled to the dual carriageway to catch one it was four minutes early and didnโt hang around for listless fogies with an appetite for entertainment. I glumly watched it blur past from fifty yards down the lane. This time I hotfooted it, my ageing heart pushed to its limits, and the delayed bus left me standing there for fifteen minutes! Once in Devizes, although far from Broadway, options for quality music and drink still overpowers those of neighbouring market towns; something we should be proud ofโฆ.ย ย
Post vegan market and a craft fair at the Corn Exchange, as evening sets in The Pelican prepares for its beloved karaoke, a couple of hobos strum a ditty by the fountain, and the amazingly talented Adam Woodhouse arrives at The Three Crowns. Yet I must bypass such significant options, itโs over to Long Street Blues Club, because when Ruby Darbyshire is in town, thereโs no compromise from me.
I give a nod to Joe Hicks, likely the best support act Iโve witnessed at Long Street to date, yet at seventeen-years old, Ruby Darbyshire, I believe mayโve topped it. Her first time at the legendary club, she practised two blues songs to play them, one by Beth Orton, another more classic, although by subject her own composition Insomnia could be perceived as blues, and her overwhelming vocals blessed the club with these and a sprinkling of popular covers.
Thereโs a double-whammy of congratulations to organisers of Long Street, councillor Ian Hopkins who this week became Mayor, and his now wife, Liz, for their marriage in the same week. We wish them many happy years together. But dilemma dawns for me; though keen to hear a group composed of legends Horace Panter, Steve Walwyn and Ted Duggan, by name alone itโs fair to suggest accolades as standard, whereas itโs the first time Swindonโs gypsy-folk Canuteโs Plastic Army are in town. Theyโre down our trusty Southgate, and since hearing a handful of their most impressive singles, and our ethos of supporting local acts, I must depart the club with haste.
Much as I would love to pretend this was all part of careful planning, it wasnโt! Believing our fantastic regular reviewer and part of the furniture at Long Street, Andy Fawthrop was still on his holibobs, I endeavoured to stay as long as possible in order to give fair praise to The Dirt Road Band, when all the time he was hiding behind me! So, it gives us an opportunity to merge our words and be comprehensive about a typically great Saturday night in Devizes.
After Ruby did her thing, which never fails to leave me suspended in awe, I stayed for two songs from The Dirt Road Band. Ruby rinsed beautiful versions of Joni Mitchellโs Big Yellow Taxi, and Princeโs Nothing Compares 2U, as regulars in her set, yet again, itโs in jazz renditions such as Erroll Garnerโs Misty and Nina Simoneโs Feeling Good, where her sublime vocal range is let loose, is something to behold, and the very reason Iโm here at the club. Crowds flock this shy prodigy during the interval with congratulations, clearly itโs not just me who thinks this.ย
The Dirt Road Band came on all guns blazing, in an impressive electric blues-rock fashion. I favour my blues rootsy, though tip my hat for their aptness to the Clubโs favoured mode. Here below, is Andyโs take on them; I salute plus thank him for his expert thoughts, as ever.ย
A recently-formed modern (super-)group, consisting of gig stalwarts Horace Panter (The Specials) on guitar and vocals, Steve Walwyn (DR. Feelgood) on bass, and Ted Duggan (Badfinger) on drums, these guys had all been around the block a few times. They knew how to play, how to drive a set-list and how to work the audience.
They took a couple of numbers to really get going, but once they hit their groove there was nothing stopping them. Playing a single ninety-minute set they ripped through both original material and a few great covers. It was rock, it was blues, it was boogie-woogie, and they shifted these styles around with seemingly no effort.
Keeping the audience to a chit-chat to a minimum, they frequently segued from one number to another. There were some great riffs on the new songs, and there was a definite Feelgood vibe going on at times. It was no-nonsense, professional stuff, highly enjoyable. A cheering, standing ovation was rewarded with Get Your Kicks on Route 66. By comparison to Beaux Gris Grisโ near three-hour performance the other week, ninety minutes felt very short, but it was quality not quantity that was on offer here. Good gig, good value. Definitely a band worth checking out.
Eyes back on me, then; thanks Andy! Without cloning technology I missed this, hot footing it again, this time to the Southgate. Dirt Road Band originally asked to play here, landlady Deborah thought theyโd be better suited to Long Street, and so we are blessed with the presence of Canuteโs Plastic Army, I understand itโs their inaugural visit tour trusty answer to a Devizesโ O2, though the guitarist plays also with welcomed regulars SโGO.
Based upon both the Army part of their name, and the strength of a few singles Iโve heard from them, such as the incredible Wild, I was first surprised to see they were but a duo! Nevertheless, through Anish Harrisonโs intense and consuming vocals and the intricate guitarwork of Neil Mercer, they build layers through loop pedals and sheer expertise, to produce the euphoric gothic folk one would expect a full band to have produced.
There were a few technical hiccups with the PA, yet through warts and all, the duo gifted us with an inspiring, beautifully accomplished and unique sound. Whimsically gliding like fairies in mist, ringing out choral from just one voice, or bittersweet, they were reciting influences in subject from folklore and mythical prehistory in breathtaking splendour. I changed my mind, they are indeed an army, armed with allegory and an elated passion to deliver it.
Itโs Anglo-Saxon, or Celtic Pagan, reverberations of times of yore, wrapped punk and pirate-like. At times I likened them to Strange Folk, at others The Horses of the Gods, but mostly it was individual expression, and thatโs the icing on their cake worthy of our perusal.
And thatโs a wrap with dirty roads, a plastic army, and a gemstone. Through unforgettable acoustic goodness to an exclusive gothic folk duo, via a legendary supergroup of blues, you have to award Devizes, weโre still punching above our weight when it comes to valid options for a great night of live music, and, sadly, I didnโt even get the opportunity to head over to The Three Crowns for Adam; cloning technology, see? Get to it scientists, now!
In recognition of his selfless ministry and leadership of St James Church, where the community and residents are at the core of everything, birthday boyโฆ
Itโs going to be all strawberries and cheese baps in pith helmets swinging in trouserland bedlam, with chap-hop shenanigans galore at the Barge on Honeystreetโฆ
ย Abrilli, sole Director and owner of Tonka Bean Cafe Bar in Devizes announced today, due to โsignificant changes in personal and financial circumstances due toโฆ
Firstly, to clear up any confusion, as I know I was, a little, and I also accept it doesnโt take much these days, Devizesโ finest musical export since The Hoax, Nothing Rhymes With Orange will play a homecoming gig at The Three Crowns on the Friday 24th June, and not as previously advertised on the Saturdayโฆ.
Reason being is symbolic of the monumental progress this young band is making nationally; on the Saturday theyโre at the third heat of this yearโs Pilton Stage party in Glastonbury, the winners of which will go on to share the stage with a major headliner in front of 8,000 people on Worthy Farm in September, thatโs all!
Here at Devizine Towers weโve got all fingers and toes crossed for the guys, itโs a tough cookie, but we look forward to catching up with them on Friday. If you need confirmation of my claims of their blossoming progress, check out the latest single, Cats Eyes, which they launched today, and you will realise Iโm not making this up; shits got real.
If eyes are a window to the soul, and cats are sly, this bountifully bodacious banger is the wild romantic ride of Born to Run, with an nonchalant and stylised ring of youth. The narrative is elementary though noteworthy, the post-festival blues of confusing mental bedlam over a fleeting romance, and coming to terms with it all when homebound; itโs convincing, I get the inkling theyโve been there.
Yet itโs the professionalism of a lively style defined here which impresses, having watched these Devizes lads progress from the levels of fun yet amateur punky knockouts like Chow For Now. And itโs all contained within a relatively short space of time whereby each single is a moonwalk to initiating a universal style.
If the early singles like Chow and Manipulation fuelled a local fanbase of peers, Cats Eyes will play the same part in enthusing the big kahunas of the music industry, and if not, I want an inquiry as to why not. These songs theyโll undoubtedly look back on as stepping stones, yet while thereโs a modification to a growing professional trend which sounds to me retrospective eighties indie-pop, the like I hail bands like Talk in Code for reverbating, their rawer punker influences arenโt completely saturated here. It doesnโt feel like selling out, it feels like a natural progression to a permeating and accomplished sound, which will equally not disappoint fans but amass newer ones too.
If weโve always been impressed with Nothing Rhymes With Orangeโs insatiable ability to energetically harmonise, itโs evident here in abundance too. Theyโve mastered the hook, and taking it to a bridge, they detonate the pop formula with indie goodness, something which only gets better each time; Catโs Eyes makes another positive leap forward.
The band have been consistently gigging across the South West at festivals and niche music venues since they met in a secondary school, and have been championed by many local radio stations including BBC Introducing who have featured two of their tracks. With a summer tour announced they’ll be playing a range of headline and support gigs right across Wiltshire and on to Hampshire, Bristol, Reading and London.
But while itโs great to see them heading out, you know when they arrive back in Devizes, the party is on, and fans will be chanting their lyrics back to them; the highest accolade aside a blinding review from me, naturally!!
White Horse Opera members, Soprano Barbara Gompels, Mezzo Soprano Paula Boyagis, Tenor Carlos Alonso together with pianist Tony James join forces with international cellist Anupโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Chris Watkins Ruth Ellis was hanged aged 28 years old, by Albert Pierrepoint the official executioner in the UK, at Hollowayโฆ
A group of local women and their families are gathering together to lay a huge installation of childrenโs clothes outside the office of Justin Tomlinsonโฆ
Iโll never forget local photographer Gail Foster some years ago, pulling down her camera from a shot, turning to me with an expression of joy, telling me this was โmy favourite day in Devizes.โ And last year, I was so overwhelmed as I got on stage to introduce the bands, to see smiling faces crammed the entire Market Place and bottlenecked through the Little Brittox, I understood how much the festival meant to us all and how it brings us all together for one weekendโฆ.ย
It rings home for us all, DOCAโs International Street Festival was that one time when the people of this town could gather freely, and it has been loved by us all, and now Iโm nearly driven to tears to have to put that in the past tense. Sadly, it looks like that date will pass us by this year, as due to loss of financial support from the Arts Council of England, this year, the festival has been cancelled.
DOCA have said, โit is with sadness that we announce the cancellation of the International Street Festival 2024 due to loss of funding from the Arts Council. For over twenty years the DOCA team have worked hard to secure funding from the Arts Council England in order to run our extensive programme of community events and keep them free for everyone to enjoy. As a result of the change in the funding landscape nationwide, we will be looking for more local support to enable our other events to go ahead.โ
โThe loss of the International Street Festival as part of Devizesโ free cultural event calendar is very upsetting, but here at DOCA we hope that by removing the largest and most expensive event to deliver, we can concentrate time and resources on making Picnic in the Park, Carnival, Confetti Battle and Colour Rush go ahead, whilst also looking ahead to secure funding for the Winter Festival.โ
โAlongside the ACE funding, we have always been very grateful for the community support we receive from our Festival Makers, local businesses, and beyond. We will soon launch new ways for you to support these events – keep an eye on our social media and website over the next few weeks to see how you can help either financially or with your time.โ
My personal gut reaction is one of great annoyance and sadness, knowing how hard everyone worked to stage this colossal event for Devizes. The Arts Council has obviously been cut by the government, and I genuinely fear life in general in this country is being ground down to the commercial level of a third world state where nothing is given with heart.
Entertainment is going the same way as sport has for the past decade, only those who can afford to have fun will have fun. Staging free community-driven events like this will be confined to history books; they donโt want you to enjoy life unless you pay, even for a day; work, eat, sleep, repeat.
Yet we seem to have the cash to construct a completely unnecessary and destructive tunnel under Stonehenge, we still find the money for Royal celebrations and a subsidised restaurant in Westminster, to hoist an old oil rig into Weston and put a waterfall on it for a temporary art installation, and we still find the cash to bail out politicians like Michelle Donelan for her slanderous personal Tweets. But we havenโt got the money to feed children during a pandemic, we havenโt got money for state education, healthcare, so we certainly havenโt got the money for a party in a small town; use your head, and show them at the polling booths, it is the only way now, please.
Sigh, I know, I know, Iโm tetchy and a huff. At least the rest of DOCAโs Summer Programme will proceed as planned, but for now, this is blow to the town. You could always express your concerns directly to the supposed Arts Council HERE.
From the 5th to the 14th July 2024, Frome Festival plans to up the game of this wonderful and lively town with a bumper programme for allโฆ..ย
In over sixty-one venues across Frome and surrounding villages, Frome Festival is gearing up for its biggest ever programme, with 250 events taking place over 10 days. This yearโs theme celebrates 60 years of Roald Dahlโs โCharlie & the Chocolate Factoryโ, featuring artwork by illustrator Sholto Walker depicting Willy Wonka striding down the streets of Frome. To celebrate this theme, five Golden Tickets will be hidden at various Festival events with winners receiving a scrumdiddlyumptious spending spree at Fromeโs local chocolatier and cafรฉ, Choc et al.
The community arts festival has been a popular fixture in the town since 2001 and aims to offer something for everyone, young and old, including different types of music, theatre, comedy, spoken word, art, dance, film, workshops, childrenโs events, and food or drink experiences. Expect a dash of Fromeโs signature quirkiness!
Children can enjoy bouldering workshops, comic art masterclasses, science exploration of pondlife, theatre productions, a Willy Wonka Rave, outdoor shows and so much more.
And Frome Festival is teaming up with the popular Frome Independent Market on Sunday 7th July, taking over their entertainment stages with music, street theatre, and dance.
Sir Willard White
Headliners for 2024 include internationally acclaimed bass-baritone, Sir Willard White, Jenny Eclair, Richard Herring, Paul Mason, Old Time Sailors, Swinging at the Cotton Club, Alberta Cross, Raghu Dixit, Peatbog Faeries. Alongside one of Fromeโs favourite free events, the Festival Food Feast, returning for a celebration of amazing international street food, live music and entertainment. Sponsored by local Frome company Lilleyโs Cider.
Other highlights include hilarious stand-up comic Jenny Eclair at the Merlin Theatre, the first woman to win the coveted Perrier Award at Edinburgh Festival in 1995 and hasnโt stopped banging on about it since. Indiaโs biggest cultural & musical export, Raghu Dixit is returning to the Cheese & Grain for the Frome Festival after his triumphant debut last year.
Jenny Eclair
The spectacular Swinging at the Cotton Club is a visual and musical feast paying homage to legends such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie with breathtaking dance routines. In the atmospheric setting of Holy Trinity Church, renowned organ virtuoso David Bednall will provide an improvised soundtrack to the classic 1922 horror movie, Nosferatu.
Thereโs raucous Old Time Sailors, former economics editor of Newsnight and Channel 4 and a regular Guardian contributor, Paul Mason presenting this yearโs Bob Morris Lecture, a keynote speech that is an annual highlight of the Festival programme. Legendary stand-up comic Richard Herring presents his brand-new tour show where he talks bollocks about his recent experience with testicular cancer, at the Cheese & Grain, and Scottish trailblazers Peatbog Faeries also appear at the big Cheese, with a glorious mixture of traditional sounds and dance-floor grooves creating a hypnotic sound that no-one can resist dancing to.
BROCHURES detailing all events are available to pick up from the Cheese & Grain, local libraries, information points and many other locations across Frome and the surrounding area. An online version of the brochure is available here.
by Ian Diddamsimages from Mark Harrison Facebook Last summer I was lucky enough to see Mark Harrison play at the โTangled Rootsโ festival over Radstockโฆ
In what appears to be a deliberate attempt to smear the campaign of opposition candidate for Wiltshire Police Crime Commissioner, independent Mike Rees, it seemsโฆ
ย Abrilli, sole Director and owner of Tonka Bean Cafe Bar in Devizes announced today, due to โsignificant changes in personal and financial circumstances due to unfortunately slow and inconsistent trade over the past few months,โ the cafe is to closeโฆ.
Tonka Bean will cease trading and close its doors on Sunday 26th May 2024. Abrilli thanked her customers and supporters, and said, โI have loved every minute of bringing my Caribbean flavour and vibes to Devizes, our second home, and who knows maybe now was just not the right time.โย
Just a month short of a year ago I dropped in to see Abrilliโs newly opened Tonka Bean, and publishing the news was one of our highest hitting articles of 2023. There was an air of optimism in the meeting, the idea of bringing Devizes something unique, and huge support for the cafe-bar was felt. It is very sad to hear it will go, I guess in this current economic climate this is a gloomy sign of the times.
Abrilli invites all to join them over the next fortnight, for great coffee and drinks, as they clear their stock. Regular opening hours apply. We wish her and the staff at Tonka Bean all the best for the future.
If we spoke only last month about Wiltshire Councilโs threats to prosecute Wiltshire Music Events over posters advertising a Bob Marley tribute event in Devizes,โฆ
By Florence Lee Images by Kiesha Films โThey promised hardcore shenanigans which never fall below 180 bpmโ SHOX: After seeing Shox in February I wasโฆ
Girls, girls, girls, we love them here at Devizine, especially our esteemed all-female local supergroup The Female of the Species. 2024 will be their ninthโฆ
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.
The Thrill of Love is currently running at the Wharf Theatre until Saturday, hereโs a review.
Wednesday 15th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Patsy Gamble Jazz Trio at St Nicholas Church in Bromham, preview here.
Jonathan Leibovitz at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Mohamed Errebbaa at the Bell, Bath
Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre, for those suffering with dementia and their carers, screening The Lavender Hill Mob (U). Latin funk jazz with Starlings at Jazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon.
Thursday 16th
Royal Wootton Bassett Carnival & Fun Fair starts and finishes at the weekend.
Courting Ghosts at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Rusty Goatโs Poetry All-Stars at Twigs Community Gardens. Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. Pete Allenโs Jazz Band at Swindon Arts Centre. Antiques and a Little Bit of Nonsense at The Wyvern Theatre.
Friday 17th
Full On Fridays at the Exchange, Devizes, with DJ Stevie MC.
Medium Nikki Kitt is at Melksham Assembly Hall .
Mosquito at the Aldbourne Social Club.
Pat Sharp Party Night at the Civic, Trowbridge.
Ion Maiden at The Vic, Swindon. Simplicity at the Queenโs Tap. Ashley Blaker at Swindon Arts Centre. Julian Clary โ A Fistful Of Clary at The Wyvern Theatre.
Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Karport Collective at The Boathouse.
Bath International Music Festival begins today, running until 26th May. Bootleg Bee Gees at Chapel Arts. Daliso Chapondaโs Feed this Black Man Again at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Dutty Moonshine DJ Set at The Tree House, Frome.
The Chilled Out Motorhome and Camper Weekender in Cirencester opens.
Saturday 18th
Devizes Vegan Market at The Market Place from 10am-3pm. Mynt Image Craft Fair in the Corn Exchange. The Dirt Road Band at Long Street Blues Club. Canuteโs Plastic Army at The Southgate, Edโs pick of the week this one. Adam Woodhouse at The Three Crowns. Caztro is in the mix at the Exchange.
White Horse Soapbox Derby in Westbury.
Mosaic Dogs at The Lamb, Trowbridge.
Talk in Code at The Kings Arms, Amesbury.
Rachel Newton at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Black Wendy at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Vocal Works Gospel Choir โ live at 21 at the Wiltshire Music Centre.
Shelf is at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, with a kids version, then teenage men version. Roxy Magic at Chapel Arts.
The Bowie Experience at The Vic, Swindon. Awakening Savannah at The Queenโs Tap.
The Soul Strutters at the Woodlands Edge. Drew Bryant at the New Inn. The Blackheart Orchestra at Swindon Arts Centre. eMotion Dance Competition at The Wyvern Theatre.
Frome Memorial Theatre Open Day followed by Jive Talkinโ. John Lydon is at the Cheese & Grain. ZZ Toppd at the Tree House.
Sunday 19th
The Hoodoos at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
Shot by Both Sides at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Eddie Martin at the Bell, Bath.
Lee Hurst โ Sweet Sorted Lovely at Swindon Arts Centre.
The Frome International Climate Film Festival at the Cheese & Grain.
Monday 20th
Tony Remy, James Morton & Anders Olinder at the Bell, Bath.
Steeleye Span at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Tuesday 21st
Letโs Walk โ Caen Hill & Jubilee Wood
Crazy Bird Comedy Night at The Piggy Bank Micropub, Calne.
Gareth Williams Trio for Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon.
Ash Mandrake & Jenny Bliss 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.
Shindig Festival at Dillington Park begins next week, the last Shindig festival, have a good one from me.Also find upcoming Chippenham Folk Festival 24th-27th May. Love Saves the Day in Bristol. Beer and Cider Festival at Swindon & Cricklade Railway. Cursus Festival 2024 Dorset. Chris Moyles 90s Hangover Festival at Swindon Town FC.
In Devizes Nothing Rhymes With Orange makes a homecoming at The Three Crowns on Friday 24th. And isnโt it high time you snapped up some tickets for the Devizes Arts Festival at the end of the month running into June?
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!
Two teen Devizes punker bands appear on Trowbridgeโs Pump triple-bill this Saturday, as the search for the Future of Trowbridge reaches its eighth instalment; unsureโฆ
There will be some foot-tapping folky goodness at the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon on Friday. This year’s Bradford Roots Festival may be aโฆ
After an inaugural midweek gig with local legend Andrew Hurst this month, it seems Bromham’s St Nicholas Church could be the unexpected new rural musicโฆ
Spring has sprung! There were two snails on my milk-float this morning, opening โdoing it,โ without shame; absolute filth! โฆ. I should have filmed itโฆ
By Mick Brian.Images by Chris Watkins Media Mention the name of the author โAgatha Christieโ and most people will immediately think of her two mainโฆ
Not being able to hold a note myself, I tip my hat to any musician in a band. Yet thereโs something so much more valiant, rudimentary, and intrinsically honest about the solo singer-songwriter, the personal touch of an acoustic performer; as the title of her debut album suggests, Poppy Rose has thisโฆ..
The key to a good singer-songwriter lies in the proximity of thoughts between the artist and their audience, and how they relate. If done well, the listener feels they know a little something about the singer. Iโve never met Poppy. I came across her music via a Facebook chat. But Iโve come away after one sitting of her new album, Iโm Ready Now, thinking that I know her, and thatโs the goal rather than the benchmark of an amazing acoustic singer-songwriterโฆ..
The album opens with No In Between, elucidating Poppy doesnโt do moderation, she is an all-or-nothing girl, and weโre off, getting to know the innermost thoughts of this twenty-five-year-old creative soul from Bath.ย
Itโs thoughtfully played out prose, with intelligent metaphors which build throughout the ten tracks, but more importantly, itโs dreamily unique and divinely expressed. The metaphors of the intimacy in the second tune are rinsed in personal observations, the third tune, more dejected in romantic theme; Fool is her first single released from the album. If these are characters in her narrative they appear to bear her own crosses and devotions equally, either this or Poppy can write classic fiction akin to Jane Austen!
Similar to what Chippenhamโs Meg is putting out in both content and delivery, itโs first-hand folk, idiosyncratic reflection, and we love what Meg is putting out, itโs impossible not too, in my honest opinion. The confusion, trickery and learning of it within the game of love never wanes with age, but thereโs something coming of age in Poppyโs subjects, perhaps none more so than The Wrong One, which even states her naivety in the words. If youโre not young (like me!) you still relate, because you lived it, and survived to tell the tale, though, Poppy tells it expressively in haunting songs, and itโs something to behold.
Poppy poses in Resolution Records in Bath, looking deservedly chuffed! You can find limited edition gold glitter cassettes of “I’m Ready Now” in there!
Five tunes in and weโve swapped guitar for piano, complimenting her heart-clenching and soulful vocals better may be debatable, either instrument works, but piano always rewards it a more europic ambience, as the songs tend to sit in the more dejected moods of Poppy. Seven songs in now, Fragile suggests this honesty, the title track following this lifts the pessimism.โฆslightly, but whatever the mood, Poppy sets it sublimely and evocatively.
If โbody shamingโ is a Gen Z construct, it is so only by modern terminology. If you think mocking people for their body shape or size is a new thing youโll be sadly mistaken. But it is something highlighted as harassment far less abstract and taboo nowadays, and dealing with such bullying inspires Poppyโs penultimate song on Iโm Ready Now. I Love my Body is a poignant reflection of wellbeing, a calling to anyone suffering misgivings about themselves physically. Whilst still a solitary deliberation, this track is perhaps the standout as it contains a universal message.
What surprises me most is Spotify has this tune, I Love my Body, listed as a previous single, dated 2019. I know Iโm not so good at maths, but if this places Poppy aged twenty when she wrote this, she is truly a prodigy. As I said at the beginning, I donโt know Poppy, but to express such a sentiment and deliver it so profoundly as a message to others at any young age, is nothing short of magical.
So to not leave us downhearted, Poppyโs final tune, Joy, is brimful of romantic optimism, including a geographical reference akin to Springsteenโs The River. This album is homemade lemonade, moreish, yet in recording oneโs thoughts so young I believe, and hope weโre only skimming the surface of what is to come from this skilled wordsmith and performer. Have a listen, see what you think, because I’m blown away!
Wiltshire Councilโs ambitious plans to resurface all the roads in Devizes before the next ice age have been cancelled because rare dinosaur fossils have beenโฆ
November was one crazy month for our friend and researcher from the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England, Brian Edwards.โฆ
From carnival to the Winter Festival, DOCA stages so many great events in Devizes, most of them for free, but the most unique is the Confetti Battle. This year itโs coupled again with the Colour Rush, on Saturday 14th September. TicketSource are offering ยฃ1,000 to help fund a winning community event, all you have to do is click on this link, and vote for DOCAโฆ.
Devizes Confetti Battle has been happening since 1955, it is free to attend but not free to put on. People of all ages come and participate in a mock battle, throwing tons of confetti at each other, leading to a firework finale. It’s a lot of fun!
There are a lot of costs that come with this event. The cost of road closures and the big clean up afterwards. DOCA would use the money to help buy confetti supplies. It’s hard to get the event funded as it isn’t a traditional art or heritage event so this award would be a great help.
So, please click on this LINK to vote for them, it will take you seconds and costs nothing, ta!
With howling, coarse baritones Nick Fletcher, the main vocalist of Marlboroughโs gothic duo, Deadlight Dance chants, โhere comes the rain, and I love the rain,โฆ
An exodus of musical lovers and, I’d assume, a healthy handful of friends and family, trekked southwards through winter’s final ambush last night, to enjoyโฆ
The first Kamikaze moth of the year dive-bombed my face the other morning. Forget blossoming trees and tulips, that’s a milkmanโs sure sign of springโฆbecauseโฆ
The Liberal Democratโs are today celebrating a historic election win in the heart of Marlborough, in the first contested Town Council election for thirteen yearsโฆ.โฆ
After a larger quantity of social media teasers than previous years, Devizes Arts Festival has today revealed their full line-up for 2024. Better take aโฆ
Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats! Everything listed here is on our event calendar; goโฆ
Image: Czampal Iโm laughing, not at the Glasto lineup, but the incalculable comments of negativity it has encouraged in Facebookland. It should be said though,โฆ
Ian Diddams Written by Jonathan LarsonPresented by Maple Theatre Company It’s always hard reviewing a show that one has seen multiple times before, performed byโฆ
White Horse Opera members, Soprano Barbara Gompels, Mezzo Soprano Paula Boyagis, Tenor Carlos Alonso together with pianist Tony James join forces with international cellist Anup Biswasย for a special musical concert to raise money for the Mathieson Trust in Kolkata India which celebrates itsย 30thย Anniversary…
The evening will take place on 15thย June at Market Lavington Community Hall starting at 6pm with a home cooked Indian meal followed by a range of musical delights from opera to songs from the shows.
The Mathieson Music Trust โ The Mathieson Mission School was established in 1994, by Maestro Anup Kumar Biswas, it is a registered charity and was set up in memory of his guru, Father Theodore Mathieson, an Anglican priest from England. Father Mathieson of the Oxford Mission dedicated his entire life to the poor children of Bengal. After Mathiesonโs death in 1994, Mr Biswas became his torchbearer, aiming to emulate his work and morals by helping children from the poorest families.
Mr Biswas wanted to give the opportunities he received through Father Mathiesonโs generosity, to other children coming from impoverished backgrounds like his own. For 30 years, Mr Biswas has singlehandedly fundraised globally for the trust through concerts, classes, workshops, and other such events. Some key performances were in the presence of the late Queen Elizabeth II of England and King Charles III; the venues Mr Biswas has performed in range from the Royal Albert Hall (UK), The Carnegie Hall (USA), Commonwealth Institute (UK) and the Bayreuth Opera House (Germany) to name a few. The funds raised from these events have paid for the construction of the school buildings and their maintenance, resources, and teaching of the children.ย
White Horse Opera warmly invite you to join them in celebrating the anniversary of The Mathieson Music Trust and all its accomplishments in the last 30 years .
Donations will be gratefully accepted on the night but tickets are needed for numbers for catering purposes, they are available fromย Devizes Books. For more information on White Horse Opera, Here.
In true Royston Vasey style, unfortunately due to time and resources we donโt review international music as we did during lockdown, choosing to focus moreโฆ
On International Womenโs Day a group of women from the Swindon community decided to organise a clothes memorial for the over 11,500 Palestinian children killedโฆ
Wowzers! Huge congratulations and a colossal thanks to young Chloe Boyle from Devizes, who is planning to spend the night of April 5th sleeping outsideโฆ
Newly formed and locally based collective Palooza hosted their opening night at The Exchange nightclub in Devizes yesterday, offering house music with universal appeal andโฆ
Salisbury-based event organisation Wiltshire Music Events has been ordered to remove posters advertising the Marley Experience gig at the Devizes Corn Exchange on 13th April,โฆ
The fifth single coming out from Chippenham singer-songwriter M3g on Friday, Ashes of Memory, and if Iโve said in the past what separates Meg fromโฆ
Itโs beginning to look a lot more like spring now; you are officially cleared to go outside! Hereโs what weโve found to do outside, 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 with even more things to do than listed here, 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.ย
Wednesday 8th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes
Trowbridge Job Fair.
Nick Helmโs Super Fun Good Time Show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. O. Love & The Affair at the Bell, Bath. Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0 at Komedia.
Big Jam Session at The Vic, Swindon. And the Swindon Festival Of Literature opens with Anne-Marie OโDwyer at Swindon Arts Centre, and Jessica Fostekew: Mettle.
Thursday 9th
Devizes Film Club at the Wharf Theatre, screening The Quiet Girl.
Comedy Loft 9 at the Civic, Trowbridge.
Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The TigerFace Show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Hayseed Dixie and The Zipheads at Komedia.
Butcombe Festival Of Laughs At The White Hart, Wroughton. Coopers Creek at The Beehive, Swindon. Swindon Festival Of Literature: Elizabeth Oldfield and Mark Rutterford at Swindon Arts Centre, followed by The Metamorphosis at Swindon Arts Centre.
Friday 10th
People Like Us at The Condado Lounge, Devizes. Palooza are back at the Exchange nightclub, great night of house music, great vibe, last time.
The Future Sound of Trowbridge #9 at The Pump, with FLAM and Artoid. TrowFest at Trowbridge RFC.
Miss Kill at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
Counterโs Creek at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Warming up for the Green Man Festival on Saturday, I Smell Burning at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Full Motley at The Boathouse. Lindisfarne at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Benji Kirkpatrick at Chapel Arts, Bath. My Secret Sister at The Rondo Theatre. Craig Charles Funk & Soul House Party at Komedia.
Jordan Red, Webb and Boss Cass at The Vic, Swindon. Peloton at the Queenโs Tap.
Swindon Festival Of Literature at Swindon Arts Centre โhas Marcus Du Sautoy, Hilary Bradt, and Felice Hardy.
New Purple Celebration โ The Music of Prince at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Gary Stringer of Reef at The Tree House.
Saturday 11th
The Stert Country House Collectables and Car Boot Sale in aid of Cancer Research at Stert near Devizes. Kirris Riviere & The Delta Du Bruit at The Southgate.
Five Lanes Summer Fete in Worton. The Unpredictables at Potterne Social Club.
The Famous Hangover Sessions atThe New Lamb Inn, Marlborough. Open Mic at The Barge on HoneyStreet.
Martyโs Fake Family at Gloucester Road Club, Trowbridge. Rural France, Ravetank, Clock Radio and Fela Dekota all at The Pump.
The Fureys at The Neeld, Chippenham.
Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, Preview HERE. Also find Strange Folk at The Three Horseshoes. Be Like Will at The Boathouse.
Westbury Food & Drink Festival
โThe Mystery Guest Tour Featuring Lady Nade, Daisy Chute, and Izzue Yardley at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Talk in Code at The Castle, Swindon with KGB and The Racket. Here Comes the Crows at the Queenโs Tap. Rush Hour at the Woodlands Edge. Faux Fighters at The Vic. Swindon Festival Of Literature at Swindon Arts Centre has Tony Hawks and a Flash Fiction Slam!
A rally for Palestine in Bath. Sherlockโs Excellent Adventure at The Rondo Theatre. Ma Bessie and her Pigfoot Band at Chapel Arts.
Kings of Lyon and The UK-Strokes at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Sunday 12th
Devizes Lions Sponsored Walk. Jack Grace at The Southgate, from 5pm.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
Melksham Record Fair at Melksham Assembly Hall.
The Ultimate Commitments and Blues Brothers Experience at The Neeld, Chippenham.
Mustard Allegro at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Cantamus Chamber Choir Chichester Psalms at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Schtumm presents AQABA at The Queenโs Head in Box. Mambo Jambo at the Bell, Bath.
Legacy at The Kings Arms, Old Town, Swindon. Swindon Festival Of Literature has a Children & Families Day at Swindon Arts Centre, and the Festival Finale.
Tellison at The Tree House, Frome.
Monday 13th
The Thrill of Love opens at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. Preview HERE. It runs until 18th May.
Rock The Tots: Movies at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Jack Grace at the Bell, Bath.
Teenage Sequence at The Tree House, Frome.
Tuesday 14th
The Black Feathers at The Piggy Bank Micropub, Calne.
Pale Blue Eyes at the Tree House, Frome.
And thatโs all weโve got for now. Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Snap up tickets time: we recommend on Wednesday 15th, the Patsy Gamble Jazz Trio in Bromham, preview HERE. Jonathan Leibovitz at Wiltshire Music Centre.
And the weekend sees Bath International Music Festival begin, The Chilled Out Motorhome and Camper Weekender in Cirencester, Devizes Vegan Market at The Market Place, Dirt Road Band at Long Street Blues Club, with Ruby Darbyshire in support, and Canuteโs Plastic Army are at The Southgate. White Horse Soapbox Derby, Westbury and Talk in Code make their debut at The Kings Arms, Amesbury. John Lydon, yes, John Lydon is at the Cheese & Grain, and thereโs lots more on our event calendar to boot!
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!
Have a good week, and don’t forget, the Devizes Arts Festival box office is open and waiting for you!
Swindonโs sonic indie popsters Atari Pilot are a prolific bunch, and have a new single out called The Rules Never Changeโฆ. And, they donโt. Thereโsโฆ
Members of Swindon Palestine Solidarity made themselves heard at the Labour Party fundraising dinner, where Jess Phillips MP was the guest of honour, protesting atโฆ
Swindon indie popsters Talk in Code return tomorrow (1st March) with a new single, Something Of Nothing โฆ..hold tight to your Deely-Boppers, things are aboutโฆ
Think early nineties dance-indie crossover and the Madchester circuit might understandably spring to mind. Yet Pop Will Eat Itself were Brunmies, The Shamen were Scots,โฆ
I trouble procrastinating upon being gifted a previously released CD from an artist for review, unfortunately they land on the backburner, prioritising upcoming news items.โฆ
Ian Diddams Regular readers of Devizine may be well accustomed to hearing the name โVince Bellโ. For those less frequent readers or those that haveโฆ
Bit Wintery, innit? Calendars are going forward, weather is going backwards! Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold ontoโฆ
A triumphant album release party last night for one of the hottest, rapidly growing talents in the blues/rock scene; Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypseโฆ..
Guitarist supreme Robin Davey hails from the shire, and was once in The Hoax, a genre-defining UK blues band with Jon Amor, one of the guests we witnessed absolutely blow the roof of the Corn Exchange last night.. so, no stranger to our town. Louisiana-born powerhouse Greta Valenti, also married to Robin, brings the most incredible energy and voice to this band.
They always handpick the most amazing musicians; with this lineup of Sam on keys, Tom on drums joined by additional keys from the incredible Emma Johnson, a horny brass section (as introduced!) and two more local musicians, Jon Amor and Ruzz Evans, bringing some more incredible sounds of their own to the proceedings.
No surprise thereโs an intuitive connection with the band, always playing with the most incredible musicians, these guys are among the most professional outfits you could ever hope to see. Whether raising the roof, running straight out onto stage with Whatโs my Name? a fan favourite anthem, and getting all singing within the first song, or winding down the tempo to captivate the audience with the soul quenching Bungalow Paradise, whether itโs the Queen herself or the musicians doing the talking, they have new and old fans alike eating out of their hands.
New material like Mama Cray, written from Gretaโs childhood family memories including accordion accompaniment from Sam to sound like the true Cajun singalong anthem it isโฆ
Or from previous records like Thrill Me, a track that has the previously indoctrinated singing at the top of the voice and in silent deference to the whims of Robinโs guitar inside one song!
Donโt take my word for it, friends have taken to social media today having experienced their first full band stage show spreading superlatives stating โabsolute classโ , โ AMAZING!โ These are from seasoned gig-goers having experienced something much more powerful than anyone could generally expect from a town gig.
The Corn Exchange was filled with over three hundred people, from the seasoned music addict (one notable and passionate couple Pat & Maria marking this gig a milestone of 50 Beaux Gris Gris gigs!) to first timersโฆ Many of them have declared an instant connection, this was nearly double the crowd of the previous outing in the Corn Exchange, some two years ago, which shows the growth of the band and the desire of potential fans to connect with such a talented ensemble.
The new album, Hot Nostalgia Radio, has an even wider spectrum of material and influences than ever before, and is very much more radio friendly , and even more accessible without genre pigeonholing.
The incredible thing being this is nothing to do with record labels, etc, as is sadly all too common, it’s a drive from a band who are truly independent, to widen their appeal, to explore more ideas from their own life stories, and above all have a ball!
I confess to being of the opinion this band are truly amongst the best live bands anywhere right now, they have a fanatical following, which can only grow.
No matter what you think your bag is rock and roll, blues, whatever give this band a few minutes, if you like something you hear go seek out their records, or better yet feel the force of a gigโฆ truly the same quality runs through everything they do.
Totally incredible performance, and for me I am proud that our town showed them so much love, we are blessed with incredible venues like the Southgate, Long Street Blues Club, etc, that are so well respected in the wider music community, that Devizes can punch so massively above its weight bringing these opportunities to our door.
I think I can safely speak for the vast majority of that hall last night in thanking the promoters, the band and their incredible team, and of course their guests for one of the very best gigs of my life, right here in my hometown! For many thatโs something appreciated as being truly amazing to get involved with. Hot Nostalgia Radio by Beaux Gris Gris is out now, search any platform you care to mention and go hit them up; letโs keep them touring and do this again soon!
Hey, teacher! Leave those sausage rolls alone. Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, there beโฆ
West-side in the Lavingtons last night, tumbleweeds could’ve blown along the High Street as an army of highway operatives rode into the village with heavyโฆ
Featured image by LoraDore After an impressive forty-five years of Guiding in Worton, through Brownies, Guides, Young Leadership, and as the Unit Leader there forโฆ
Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, letโs lots to get throughโฆ.. Everything listed here isโฆ
This Saturday sees Bristol’s Hip Hop phenonium, The Scribes bringing their Boombox show to The Pump, Trowbridge, and will be the group’s only performance inโฆ
Must confess, Iโm envious of the good folk of Bishops Cannings, perched here on a bench in an idyllic beer garden with spring sunshine setting, and shadowed by the striking spire church, where tasty, generously portioned yet comparatively priced bar food is served to punters awaiting some live music arranged by Wiltshire Music Eventsโฆ.
Jazzy and Gary, landlords of The Crown at Bishops Cannings give me a warm welcome. Considering the contrast to our now bolted village pub, where staff would barely raise an eyebrow from gazing at Eastenders on the big screen to serve you; to debate whether our pubโs closure is a sad sign of the times, opens a Pandora’s box into what landlords did to prevent it.
Here at the Crown they’re catering for all, with smiles throughout. It’s a wonderful village hub; the kettle is on if you favour a cuppa, young children wander over with their dad from the campers in the adjacent field, the atmosphere is chilled, hospitable, and nothing seems problematic. Regulars join only a sprinkling of gig seekers in a modest heated marquee. I’m here primarily for Avebury phenomenon George Wilding, on shore leave from entertaining cruisers. Illingworth as headline is a bounteous bonus ball.
I’m fully aware, amidst many choicest options being Beltane, back in Devizes tonight is the night electric blues aficionados raise the roof of the Corn Exchange, but our best writers are on the case. Though he messaged me last Sunday, I missed the prodigal son of our live circuitโs unexpected return to the Southgate, so catching up with George was overdue.
A learned, matured version of his former self told me of his travels, the ins, outs, ups and downs of performing on cruise ships; he has flourished in skill without pretension, but with the same heart. In turn I explained my pride in not only featuring upcoming young acts, but youths like our Flo reporting on their own circuit. George smiled his approval, expressing how he was once one. And at the dawn of Devizine, when it would be a regular thing to publish reviews on that generation, musicians like Tamsin Quin, Jordan Whatley, Mike Barham, and many others, all blossomed into amazing acts, and George’s were among the best received.
I first met him at Saddleback’s Battle of the Bands in 2018, which he won, but insisted he’d only accept the prize of playing the festival if the others had a chance to too. It’s this gracious benignancy which he greeted me with, and which, coupled with exceptional talent for singing and guitar, always made George stand out. Unpretentious is his show still, nurtured talent, yet the same simplicity of man and guitar is gold. He needs no setlist, nothing is prearranged. He considers himself no better than his audience, and engages with them as if they are lifelong besties. What songs will he cover? Itโs interactive, you decide, but whatever is chosen you know George will pull it off, charm and entertain the audience with equal gusto.
Optimistic of the weather, he kicks off with The Kinksโ in the Summertime, runs it into the Jamโs Town Called Malice, but is already asking for input. I sat closer, to take a snap or two, and heโs tongue-in-cheek pulled Madnessโs Baggy Trousers out of nowhere! George will tackle anything, yes, he cooked a fine American Pie, awakened me to the greatness of The Fratellisโ Whistle For The Choir, and we were back onto the Kinks with a backstory of Lola. Yet, Iโd not recommend anyone taking on Otis Redding, or Freddie, but he does, spins it with convincing originality, making it his own, and delivers with such proficient expression, its joy to absorb, and memorable of so many great occasions to see him perform again.
The clues were all there, but Iโm not Poirot; now that I see them for the first time on the same bill itโs obvious, John, frontman of the Illingworth duo is Georgeโs uncle. Though I cannot recall the first time I saw Illingworth play, through seeing them umpteen times since, it was much later than discovering George, and wasnโt until later on John told me who his nephew was. Family connection clicked into place, seemingly, because equal to Georgeโs talent, I never tire of watching Illingworth perform.
John and the curiously talented Jolyn Dixonโs repertoire is more structured than Georgeโs, all sing-along, taking in country rock classics and floating from prog-rock to new wave covers. Still they raise any roof with Pink Floyd, Beatles, to The Cure adaptations, nestle some fine originals, and come up for air with John Denverโs Country Roads. Their show is one to suddenly arise from your seat and dance, without consideration as to how they obtain such a sound with just the two of them, a few guitars and cajon; they do what would take a full band, and what every pub landlord hosting live music really wants, a highly entertained and satisfied crowd.
The memorable night settles in Bishops Cannings; Iโm sorry if I promised to freewheel between gigs, but the rare combination of George and Illingworth, the wonderful pub and great atmosphere had me grounded there. It doesnโt matter if Wiltshire Music Events are presentingย large scale events, such as last monthโs Marley Experience tribute in Devizes, or simply a free pub gig, thereโs a professionalism, in sound and talent-spotting, which will guarantee a good gig. The fact the big chief Eddie is keen to trek up to stage events here we should consider ourselves very lucky; maybe it’s the spire church of BC which makes this Salisbury bunch feel at home?!
As part of the global Kidical Mass movement, this event combined a family-friendly cycle ride with aย protest, calling for safe streets for everyone. The rideโฆ
On Saturday, people from across Swindon came to Swindon Palestine Solidarityโs charity dinner to raise funds for Medical Aid Palestine and raise awareness of theโฆ
To international acclaim on the folk circuit, weโve loved to follow the progress of the Lost Trades since day dot, when Phil Cooper enthusiastically toldโฆ
Gigspanner are in the middle of their UK Spring Tour 2024, and the Pound in Corsham has becomeย one of their regular stopping points….
I last saw them here in November 2022, but I also caught themย several times over the last twelve months at other venues and festivals around the country. ย And ย plenty of musical water has flowed under the bridge during that time. ย Apart from forays with theirย GBB (Gigspanner Big Band) format, which includes the Edgelarks duo of Philip Henry and Hannahย Martin, and the wonderful Saltlines tour, Peter Knight has been fully occupied with a wide range ofย solo and duo side projects with other artists. ย The man never seems to stop working.
But, last night, we were back in the old familiar and original trio format. Gigspanner, if you werenโt already aware, is the full-time musical project of ex-Steeleye Spanโs violin genius, Peter Knight. Having gradually become slightly exasperated with the repetitive nature of Steeleyeโs musical repertoire, despite the occasional new album, Peter left in order to pursue his own musical interests. His trio, which includes guitar and technical wizard Roger Flack, and percussionist Sacha Trochet, can now only be described as being at the very top of their game. The trio format gives the three musicians the time and the space to explore the themes in their music more deeply, to extemporise with flowing solos, and to make even the regular material sound fresh every time they deliver it.
Last night was no exception. I was perched right at the front, almost on the stage itself, in front of more than a hundred fans, and it was more than obvious that there has developed between these three guys a deep personal harmony, and an almost telepathic musical understanding. Their two sets were based deep, deep in the heart of the most traditional of folk music standards, and yet developed and explored in a way that took you a very long way indeed from the โoriginalsโ. Thereโs an almost jazz-like feel to the way the three guys take these songs and tunes, and move them along into an almost completely different genre.
We had the folkie-based classics of their repertoire like โShe Moved Through The Fairโ, โThe Bows of Londonโ, โThe Bonnie Birdieโ and (as a grand and sweeping finale) โThe King Of The Fairiesโ, but leavened and interleaved with other old favourites such as โSeagullโ, โThe Butterflyโ, the spell-binding โSharp Goes Walkaboutโ and the stunning party-piece of โLouisiana Flackโ.
The latter has to be seen to be believed: whilst Peter plays the basic tune on his violin, Roger simultaneously plays a fast staccato rhythm on the frets of the same instrument using drumsticks. The two guys have to absolutely trust each other in terms of timing and movement in order to carry out this difficult trick, and their joint concentration, staring into each otherโs eyes as they knock out the rapid tune, is really something to behold. Iโve seen them do this a dozen times or more over the years, but it never ceases to capture the imagination, and (as always) elicited a huge cheer from the audience as they finished it. Itโs a breath-holding moment, and watching them carry it off from just a few metres away was even more amazing.
Peter interspersed the tunes with his usual laconic, comical style, talking to the audience as if they were old friends. And I guess a lot of them were. There was a lot of love in the room, and just the same warmth later as the three guys manned the merch table and chatted away to the fans.
Theyโre a band, and a grouping of superb individual musicians, who are continuing to explore the boundaries of their music, developing even standard numbers in their repertoire with every new performance. They never seem to stand still, and they never seem to stop working. Theyโve reached a stage now where Iโd say that they are very difficult to categorise or to pigeon-hole. Their musical interpretations continue to evolve, and long may it be so. If youโve never seen or heard them, Iโd urge you to rectify that omission as soon as possible.
Absolutely top night of entertainment.
Their future gigs are listed on www.gigspanner.com/. Next chance to catch them locally, in the Saltlines format, would be in Marlborough on 30th May. Definitely worth the trip up the A4 Iโd say.
And, finally, just a word about Corshamโsย The Pound Arts Centre. ย Itโs a small, but beautifully-formedย venue with a complete programme of events across drama, film, music, comedy, childrenโs activities,ย art exhibitions, workshops, and classes. ย It also has an excellent cafรฉ & bar just off the foyer. ย Look onย their website for future music artists and online ticket information.
A third instalment of space rock swirls and cosmic heavy duty guitar riffs was unleashed in January from our homegrown purveyors of psychedelia, Cracked Machine.โฆ
Feeel the melody that’s in the (Devizes) air! If the nineties house clubbing revival is whatโs happening elsewhere around the nation, we have to admit,โฆ
Hey you, Feb already, hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshireโฆโฆ Everything listed here is on our event calendar; goโฆ
Perhaps best known as the frontman of Afro Celt Sound System, the Belgium-based artist N’Faly Kouyatรฉ will be hitting the road for nine intimate showsโฆ
The Importance of Being Earnest is rather like a newfound interest in jazz, you must โunlearnโ the four-beat pop you’re accustomed to, to fully appreciateโฆ
If the Labour Party wins this next general election,they could change the name of Star Wars Day to โSci-Fiโ Day so as not to offend Trekkies. Although they’ve not said they would or made any mention of it at all, it’s just the kind of woke idiocy you’d expect from them...
It’s high time the Jedi and Sith of this country stand united and use the force against Starfleet; coming into OUR Star Wars universe in their D-class escape pods, getting put up in five-star Holodecks, and now demanding we change OUR traditions of May 4thโฆ..
May 4th is, and always has been a sacred day for Star Wars fans worldwide, and thus it should remain so. We will not stand for spotty Star Trek geeks, with their pointy ears and phasers set to spoil OUR fun.
So, remember, when you tuck into your roasted Ewok, and Porgs in blankets this afternoon, how Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, and many others of the rebel alliance perished on Scarif. Spare a prayer for Obi-Wan Kenobi, who sacrificed himself so we can live without fear of the Empire.
The cancel culture of our dark side values and traditions must be stopped too, for the sake of the New Order, and Kylo Ren should see to it himself that Keir Starmer is put before Sheev Palpatine for a ruddy good Force lightning strike, boldly going where no man has gone before; right up his Trekkie-obsessed bottom. Let’s see Diane Abbott, in her sixties knee-high boots, tricorder and miniskirt beam him out of that one!
In a reading from the Jedi scriptures, Yoda told of the moment Obi-Wan was reunited with Anakin as Darth Vader, and I believe there’s an important message here to not allow ourselves to succumb to the Starfleet Federation of woke liberals, and that includes allowing Trekkies to interfere with our faith. Do not forget how Jean-Luc Picard was assimilated by the Borgg. It is highly likely Keir Starmer was too, though as of yet, this has not been proven:
โAnd, was it so, that the evil Lord Vader unto said to Obi-Wan โWe meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you I was but the learner, but now I am the master.โ And thus it was, Obi-Wan Kenobi replied did, โOnly a master of evil, Darth.โ Begun which, it was, commenced a mighty lightsaber battle, whence did Vader taunt Obi-Wan, and said unto him, โyour powers are weak, old man.โ
At this point twas, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi defences did he lowered, and said unto Vader, โyou can’t win, Darth. If you strike me down I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.โ And was it so, Obi-Wan right so he was, whence he transformed into that bloke from Trainspotting, and Disney did commission a TV series in his name.โ Master Yoda, 4 ABY.
We could argue Obi-Wan Kenobi looked a lot like Jeremy Corbyn, and like him, he openly fibbed about not remembering he owned the two droids R2D2 and C3PO, so he is not to be trusted, but if we let Sci-Fi Day happen things could be far worse. Imagine, if that filthy perv, Will Riker got his hands on OUR Princess Leia in her gold bikini; OUR childhood wet dreams would be forever ruined. Imagine if that wet blanket Wesley Crusher was allowed to roam the Star Wars universe freely. He’d probably reintroduce Jar Jar Binks, then what would happen? We’d never see the fourth season of The Mandalorian without Vulcan logic as what to do with baby Yoda, that’s what! Spock would constantly refer to him as Grogu, and that would just confuse my timeline, simples.
A group of local women and their families are gathering together to lay a huge installation of childrenโs clothes outside the office of Justin Tomlinson MP this month.…
The peaceful installation, which will be open to the public on Saturday 11th May, aims to visualise the catastrophic extent of the killing in Gaza, with a particular focus on the innocent children whoโve lost their lives. Each item of clothing will represent one of the precious lives of all the children killed since October 7th in the Israel-Gaza conflict – now over 15,500 Palestinian children and 36 Israeli children.
The organisers, made up mostly of women, are from many different races, religions and backgrounds, unified in their heartbreak of the loss of life in the Gaza-Israel conflict. They are calling on other compassionate locals to come and take part in what they hope to be a hugely impactful event.
Theresa, a spokeswoman from the group said, โWe realise that it is almost impossible to visualise the number of child deaths in this conflict, so this memorial is about helping people get to grips with the scale of what is going on.ย We also want to make it clear to Justin Tomlinson – who previously voted against a ceasefire – that just like 76%* of UK residents (*YouGov.co.uk), the vast majority of his constituents are calling for a meaningful ceasefire in Gaza and we need him to represent our voices.โ
The installation will be placed outside Tomlinsonโs North Swindon office at the Orbital Shopping Centre from 10am-10pm, ending with a candlelit vigil, on Saturday 11th May with full permission from the Orbital Management Team and with all clothes being donated to charity after the event.
Theresa continues, โThis will be a peaceful, family-friendly memorial and we hope that our community will come and support us. We will need lots of people to achieve this, including the tidy up on Sunday 12th May. Everyone is welcome, so please do come along with any unwanted childrenโs clothing to add to the installation, or simply stop by and join us in a moment of reflection and solidarity.โ
For further information on how to get involved or to volunteer, please check out the Facebook event on Swindon Palestine Solidarity page or email clothesmemorial@icloud.comย
Hey frozen duckling, hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshireโฆโฆ Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go thereโฆ
Devizes-based chocolate engineer Holly Garner, 2023 Chocolate Champion for the Southwest, has launched her new chocolate classes for the first half of 2024โฆโฆ From learningโฆ
Tuesday before Christmas Iโm in New Society. I gazed across to a table by the window, recalling an optimistic response from local Labour candidate Rachaelโฆ
Debuting in 1990, The Brand New Heavies may not be so new any longer, but they’re still heavy, funky acid jazz pioneers and they’re on tour in November to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of their groundbreaking 1994 album Brother Sister, including The Cheese & Grain in Frome on Saturday November 30thโฆ.
Propelled by the classic singles โDream On Dreamer,” Maria Muldaur’s โMidnight At The Oasisโ and โBack To Love,” the record achieved huge success (a #4 chart position, over a million sales and a BRIT nomination) as they cemented their position as the pioneers of Acid Jazz.
Still sounding as fresh and timeless as it did back then, The Brand New Heavies celebrate the albumโs 30th anniversary with the announcement of the โBrother Sister 30โ tour.
Featuring original members Andrew Levy and Simon Bartholomew with the phenomenal vocalist Angela Ricci, the tour will see The Brand New Heavies perform โBrother Sisterโ in full alongside other hits and fan favourites from their storied history with a complete live band.
The band said, โWe canโt believe that Brother Sister is going to be 30 years young! What better way to celebrate than coming to see us play the album in its entirety as well as all our hits.โ
Tickets for the shows go on sale HERE from 10am this Friday, May 3rd. They play the Cheese and Grain in Frome on Saturday, November 30th. This saves me finding another vague local reason to mention it along the lines of Midnight At The Oasis was about a swimming pool in Swindon, which is obviously untrue, the leisure centre was always closed by midnight!
This was the first time Iโd heard about the Pump, and realised it did not refer to the popular local festival. I was familiar with James and the Cold Gun from a support run they did with Therapy a few years back. And I was planning to go and see them at the Fleece a few weeks ago when we had a few days away in Bristol, but the gig was sold out….
The Pump, part of the grounds to The Lamb public house, on outward appearances appears to be not much more than an old stable building next to the pub. Being a former member of Melksham covers band El Niรฑo a number of years back, I could recollect playing at the Greyhound just up the road. However, inside is a different story. Two floors, the upstairs has old cinema seating, capacity is seventy. The venue is fitted out for gigs, with sound and lighting facilities, thanks to lottery funding. A nice intimate, quirky venue with musical instruments and stable paraphernalia adorning the walls, as well as โthe pumpโ. If youโre tall like me there are a few places to exercise caution due to low ceilings! Most of the beams have been painted with blackboard paint so that visiting bands can chalk their name up on there.
I quickly set about trying to engage my friends to join me at this event and I managed to get a group of five of us to make the trip from the Vale of Pewsey over to the big lights of Trowvegas! The fact that for the princely sum of ยฃ11 each, we actually got to watch four bands, sealed the deal.
So first of all we headed to the Lamb to get some drinks as there is no room to have a bar in the Pump.
Unfortunately we missed a lot of the set by the Real Cheesemakers because we were outside but could tell from what we could hear that the audience inside were being treated to some top music. When we finally ventured in and got our wristbands we were taken aback by the witty and clever lyrical content of the Real Cheesemakers songs. As the set finished we were disappointed that we hadnโt caught more.
Next up was the young but very talented Nobodyโs Dad, playing a lively and grungy Pixie-esque set, not to be missed if you get the chance to watch them live. The two lads and two lasses worked really well together and there were great harmonies from the ladies throughout the set.
The hard hitting post punk duo Lucky Number Seven were up next. Just drums, guitar and a big sound from their backing tracks/samples. Weโd seen these before at the Underground in Swindon and they did not disappoint with their charged and effervescent set.
As we hear Kate Bush piped over the PA, my mate looks over and says to me thatโs her song, โJames and the Cold Gun;โ time for the main event. The band walked in exuding rockstar. The experience gained since the last time I saw them drips out of every pore, having extensively toured the U.K., two runs in the US including the SXSW (South by SouthWest) festival as well as a support slot for Guns n Roses at Hyde Park and some interesting studio time in the home of grunge.
A lively set with plenty of audience interaction followed covering all of James and the Cold Guns repertoire. With bangers such as Chewing Glass (a personal favourite,) She Moves, dedicated to bassist Gaby, and the recently released Sting in the Tail as well as a new song. Their hard hitting, pacey alternative heavy rock with hints Queens of the Stone Age amongst many other influences was just what the crowd wanted.
The end of the set saw the front men encourage the crowd to form a mosh pit, which members of the band joined in with as well as hugs and handshakes for the audience members that were wearing their bandโs merch, reciting lyrics word for word or actively involved in the mosh pit.
All in all a thoroughly good night and we would love to do it all over again!
Fashionably late for the party, apologies, the fellow Iโm not sure if he minds me calling โthe Mike Oldfield of Swindon,โ though itโs meant asโฆ
Bristolโs fine purveyors of idiosyncratic folk-raving, Ushti Baba, who if youโre in Devizes you might recall played Street Festival in 2022, have a new singleโฆ..โฆ
With an album review in the pipeline for Dad which includes vocals from Sienna, our Swindon princess of melancholic poignancy has a new single, Timeslipsโฆ..โฆ
Our favourite loud Brit-popping local Geordie and gang are back with a second album. Theyโre calling it Gazelles, after the previously released single opener Endlessโฆ
Beltane, May Day, or just plain bank holiday Monday; whatever you whatchamacallit, itโs the first day of May, and there’s lots to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week. Hereโs what weโve foundโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.
White horse Arts Art Exhibition at Pamela House, Devizes, runs until 5th May.
Wednesday 1st May
Don’t forget to check our weekly recurring events page as well as the calendar, where youโll find the regular Devizes Salsa club at The Old School in Market Lavington every Wednesday.
The regular acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Wiltshire Music Centre has a screening of Carmen by the Royal Opera.
The Incident Room opens at The Rondo Theatre, Bath, runs until 4th May. Beyond Baka at the Bell, Bath. Champion Darts at Komedia.
Swindon Gilbert & Sullivan Society Presents Ruddigore at Swindon Arts Centre.
Thursday 2nd
Fashion Against Fear: FearFree Fashion Show at the Condado Lounge, Devizes. Preview here. Rum & Records at the Muck & Dunder.
Annie Dressner at Chapel Arts, Bath. Willie J Healey at Komedia, and Origins 360 Bakey.
The Bug Club at The Tree House, Frome. Jake Bugg at the Cheese & Grain.
Friday 3rd
Midnight Hour at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Mark Colton is at the Pelican.
Josh Kumra at The Barge on Honey Street.
Open Mic at The Parade Cinema, Marlborough.
Annie Dressner is at The Pump, Trowbridge, with Thieves and Ed Blunt.
Plan of Action at the Grapes, Melksham.
Gigspanner at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Jon Amor Trio at The Beehive, Swindon. ZZ Toppd at The Vic.
Marvin Muonekรฉ Quartet at Mount Pleasant Social Club, Bradford-on-Avon. Jacqui Dankworth Trio at Wiltshire Music Centre. Cantaloop at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Somewhere Over England at Chapel Arts, Bath, with support from The Mamils. A Fame event at Komedia.
Sir Ian Botham at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
And itโs festival time! The Magic Teapot opens for the weekend. And Teddy Rocks Festival at Blandford Forum.
Saturday May the 4th Be With You!
Urchfont Scarecrow Festival opens and runs until Monday.
Star Wars Day Park Run at Quakers Walk, Devizes. May Day Fun at The Market Place, from 11am-1pm. A Seed Bomb Workshop at Hillworth Park from 11am-1pm. Garden & Plant Swap at Pamela House. Kidical Mass bicycle ride from 11am in the Market Place.
Jamie R Hawkins is at The Southgate, Devizes. Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse with Ruzz Guitar and Jon Amor as guests, at The Corn Exchange.
Illingworth & George Wilding at the Crown, Bishop’s Cannings.
No Alarms & No Devizes at the Barge, Honey Street.
South West Comedy Show at The Civic, Trowbridge.
Shot by Both Sides at Chippenham Consti Club.
Star Wars Day at Melksham Assembly Hall.
On Remand at The Royal Oak, Wootton Rivers.
Frenzy at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY at American Dream Comics, Bath. Krater Comedy Club, The Big Disco at Komedia.
Gordon Giltrap John Etheridge at Pound Arts, Corsham.
March For Palestine; 11am start at Regent Circus, Swindon. 12 Bars Later at The Swiss Chalet. Pink Mac at The Vic.
The Cuban Brothers at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, with DJ Yoda. Pet Needs at the Tree House.
Sunday 5th
Sour Apple at The Three Crowns, Devizes from 3pm. Jon Amor Trio with guest Jerry Crozier-Cole at The Southgate, from 5pm.
Southwestern (Adam Woodhouse) at the Lamb, Urchfont.
Open Mic at The Barge on Honey Street.
Open Mic at Red Lion, Lacock.
Cousin Norm’s 5th Birthday at Cousin Norm’s, Chippenham.
Open Mic at The Lamb, Trowbridge.
Schtumm…. Presents Catfish at The Queens Head, Box.
Super Blue Moon at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Chimpanzees Of Happy Town, a relaxed family concert at Wiltshire Music Centre. Ensemble 360 in the evening at the Centre.
โPeace, War and 9/11โ followed by Q&A with Matt Campbell and Piers Robinson at Chapel Arts, Bath. Komedia has a free community festival; the groove edition, featuring the Cable Street Collective, Ryan-D-Auria, Badlands Vonj, and Plume.
Shades of Seattle vs Nu-Call at The Vic, Swindon. David Scheel at Swindon Arts Centre.
Clinton Baptisteโs Roller Ghoster at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Rรญoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet at The Tree House.
Monday 6th
The Reason at The Three Crowns, Devizes.
Dirt Road Acoustic at The Lamb, Urchfont.
Animals Guyz Presents Amazing Animals at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Tuesday 7th
Thanks for the Memories at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Swindon Festival Of Literature opens at Swindon Arts Centre, Dr Caroline Campbell and
Alasdair Beckett-King.
WIG Presents Bath Drag Performer of the year at Komedia.
The Orielles at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
And thatโs all weโve got for now. Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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!
Featured Image: FullTone Festival, Devizes 2023 by Gail Foster Onwards with our look through all the big local events and festivals coming our way inโฆ
The Tedworth Hunt intend to stage a meeting in Pewsey this Boxing Day, despite not making an application to the Parish Councilโฆ.. Their usual meetingโฆ
Featured Image: Colin Rayner Photography It wonโt be long before the only Quality Street left in the tin are empty wrappers and those toffee pennies noโฆ
By T.B.D and D Rose for Devizine.The author can be reached at housetyg@gmail.com This month the historic Cooper Tires factory in Melksham which began theโฆ
If The Southgate is Devizesโ finest and most reliable pub music venue, it’s usually favoured by an adult crowd. Yet it’s without doubt that Nothingโฆ
In what appears to be a deliberate attempt to smear the campaign of opposition candidate for Wiltshire Police Crime Commissioner, independent Mike Rees, it seems existing PCC Philip Wilkinson has outright and unashamedly lied in a Facebook commentโฆ.
In the comment, Mr Wilkinson states Mr Rees was โpart of the force that went into special measures and I am the PCC getting it out of special measures.โ We can confirm from Mr Rees that this is untrue. โI left ten years ago when the force was in good order,โ he told Devizine, and said, โhe clearly needs to check his facts.โ
We have contacted the office of the PCC but as of yet they have not responded.
It seems Mr Wilkinson is clearly concerned about the outcome of the forthcoming Wiltshire PCC election, as Mr Reesโ campaign makes considerable gains, but to make such a misinformed statement at this time is surely detrimental to his own. We find ourselves asking if Mr Wilkinson is prepared to lie through his teeth in order to slander the opposition, what else he prepared to tell porkies about?!
Here at Devizine we remain hopeful for a time of change, a time when the rapport between police and the community is united, and we believe this is best accomplished by a PCC with on-hand experience in the police force.ย
Familiarity was key for me last night, if last weekend was new, trekking to Swindon for their soul and jazz festival, watching an amazing Gambian musician play a string instrument made from a cow skin covered pumpkin. Cue the theme to Cheers, sometimes I simply want to get down to my local, see a band I’ve seen umpteen times, and love, make no notes, take a few blurry snaps, and naturally, blow off work-day stress by sinking a few ciders too many, and when I do, The Southgate or Three Crowns in Devizes are my go-tosโฆ.
Apologies if we’ve covered this ground before, a number of times, but Devizine is a hobby. Therefore, I reserve my right to enjoy doing it! Not forgoing, I enjoy the adventure of finding acts I’ve not seen before and exploring new venues equally to the comfort of familiarity, so when Barrelhouse are in town the temptation is too much to resist; I’m legging it in the April drizzle to catch the bus!
There were two free live music options in D-town last night, both as valid as each other, as usual for a Saturday. The trusty Three Crowns had a new look Roughcut Rebels, those established mod to Britpop local favourites. I’ve had some reservations about recent lineup changes, but I’m aware there’s a new guy fronting the team. I must poke my nose in to investigate. So, too, did former members Finley and Mark, I jested to them that they were on the bench, but substitutions were unnecessary.
Only original lead guitarist, Weller-mod-cut John Burns remains, yet with proficiency cool as a cucumber, the new frontman, Jake Lockhart is unpretentiously smooth, bassist on cue, and a stickman who clearly knows his way around a drum kit. They roll out Kinks and Stones classics delightfully, I’m guessing this is going to go Britpop before long, and while I’d personally favour the setlist works in reverse, I’m not of the millennial majority in the Crowns the Rebels need to appease. I can ascertain they did, from their opening alone.
It only took a few songs to accept these guys had it in the pocket, and it was impendingly obvious the Three Crowns will explode into party mode post-haste, it always does by providing the best tried and tested cover bands. Like I say, familiarity. Time for me to grab my zimmer frame and join my own age demographic down at the Southgate; those Marlborough purveyors of sublime vintage blues must’ve soundchecked by nowโฆ
And so it was, The Southgate, as warm and welcoming as ever; found a place in the blossoming crowd of elder gig bunnies, and let Barrelhouse do their thing. If I do local circuit analysis and Marlborough comes up decidedly post-punk new wave and gothic, Barrelhouse better appeal to Devizes, perhaps; the Mel Bush effected blues aficionados. Although Barrelhouse is best served on hometurf, you should see the crowds turn out at Mantonfest; it’s a Marlborough blues phenomenon.
I’ve been telling Devizes this since they first appeared at our trusty Gate, to play to a slight crowd, an attraction which builds with each visit they make. Tonight was no exception. It was medium busy as they presented their wonderful show, squashed into the famous alcove, but with the passion and gusto they possess and input into every gig.
Turning the Southgate into a juke-joint is an easy feat, punters love their blues above all else. Though the Gate strives to bring a wider range, you only need to be there for the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency to confirm this. Barrelhouse is apt here, then, but it remains to be that some regulars still need to take heed of just how much these guys will rock them. Those present know the score now, Barrelhouse came, saw, petted the pub dogs, hung T-shirts over the toilet sign, and entertained superbly, again!
When they come your way, do check them out, I don’t fib, not about this anyway! The band are tight, the blues is vintage, with a fiery modern rock twist, in their calculated, balanced setlist of Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and other Americana covers, their own compositions which have become as anthemic as the classics to fans, and the brillant rock adaptations such as Motรถrhead’s Ace of Spades.
Frontman Martin Hands is hands-free, with no instrument other than his confident and convincing gritty delta blues vocals. The band complimented him, Tim is a guitar enthusiast, and his skills shine through. Stuart equally on bass, who acts as compรจre too. Nick adds to authenticity with harmonica, but it’s no secret he’s an authority both on, backstage, and in music production.
Even Martin’s fiancรฉ Heidi sporadically guests backing vocals, as do others affectionately dubbed โBarrelettesโ when available, giving the band a real family feel.
Encoring Solomon Burke’s Everybody Needs Somebody to Love is standard protocol for Barrelhouse, and they’ve achieved their aim; the pub is pumping, and everybody is dancing. Another memorable evening at the Southgate, you can bet your home most nights are. Check our event calendar for upcoming gigs, but rest assured, thanks to them and the Three Crowns, Devizes remains punching above its weight when it comes to showcasing live local music and while our ticketed events only add to this, there’s gemstones to be found here freely. And we love it!
Itโs just as unlikely Jimmy Page, who, it is said, designed the cover of Led Zeppelin 4, couldโve imagined Long Lot, the thatcher in a Victorian postcard discarded in an antique shop near his house in Pangbourne and used in the design, would be the central attraction in an exhibition some fifty-two years after the album was released, as the Thatcher himself would have imagined he would be the subject of a groundbreaking prog-rock album cover! I popped into the official opening of A Wiltshire Thatcher โ a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex at Wiltshire Museum in Devizes, to sepia-tone my noseโฆ.
Researcher from the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England, Brian Edwards discovered the photograph in November and became something of an overnight sensation with the national press, and a hero to prog-rock fanatics. Now news has moved on, the fable of the uncovering the image has come home to roost, accompanied once again by the collection of its photographer, Ernest Farmer intended it to.
The photograph came from an album titled โReminiscences of a visit to Shaftesbury. Whitsuntide 1892,โ the remaining Victorian photographs from it are of Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset scenes and some interesting portraits of farm workers, the customary Stonehenge images, and most poignant, the aftermath of a thatch fire in Sixpenny Handley.
They are displayed in the exhibit, alongside information boards about what little we know of Farmer, the rural life he depicted in his works, and information on thatching. The latter particulars might seem odd, being few images here depict thatchers, if it wasnโt for the selling point of the show, Long Lot, who is displayed throughout the exhibit, in interesting ways, such as a model of him, a selfie opportunity, and the merch of a rock legend in the museum shop!
Despite being a leading figure in the development of photography as an art form, which clearly shows through this celebration of his works, little is known about Ernest Farmer.
Ergo, itโs a mixed bag, hinging on Long Lot but far outreaching a monoculture display. One supposes rather than modern day photographers aiming for a particular style, genre or theme, a Victorian photographer was a rarer thing therefore he captured whatever random subjects inspired him. To turn a negative into a positive, it certainly makes the exhibit diverse, and the photographs are fascinating, nonetheless.
It is, then, an exhibit of perchance, or luck, more than anything, and I guess thatโs what makes it heterogeneous. Brian told me heโs working two projects down the line from this, in fact, it was never really a project at all, more chance discovery. The exhibition runs until the 1st September, at Wiltshire Museum in Devizes and would delight a number of groups, be they photographers, local historians, farmers or thatchers, anyone interested in West Country history or landscape, and of course, Led Zeppelin fans!
Something I was trying to skive off doing this year, being time consuming, is a local Christmas shopping piece, but then this terrible roadworks situationโฆ
I’m enjoy Monday’s stream from the wonderful Visual Radio Arts, recorded right here in Devizes. They’ve been hosting some great shows recently, from Richard Wilemanโฆ
So yeah, I thought Iโd be funny by commenting โcanโt waitโ on Chippenhamโs upcoming folk singer-songwriter Megโs Facebook post announcing her latest single, because, youโฆ
Featured Image: Colin Rayner Photography If Iโve recently been singing the praises of arts diversity in Bradford-on-Avon, centred around the Wiltshire Music Centre and notโฆ
Ah, the Tina Turner tribute, which turned my criticism of Tina Turner tribute acts on its head, is coming to Devizes in August. In the light of Wiltshire Music Eventsโ recent successful Corn Exchange takeover with the Marley Experience, it’s set its own pedestal pretty highโฆ.
Avid readers of Devizine should know I try, as much as one can in the media, to be honest! They also know and likely produce a deep sigh, I tell a long-winded story! I’m going to manage both today, for your reading pleasure; it’s an age thing, you don’t need to thank me!
Okay, so, once upon a time at the very dawn of Devizine, I was asked to preview another Tina Turner tribute act; it was a lesson learned in the delicate and often problematic balance between honesty for the sake of the readers, and the cajolery towards event promoters. The reason; because, by dammit, there’s no way to butter this up, they were simply the worst!
Accepted, Tina Turner is a popular choice to tribute, likely there’s hundreds out there, but akin to a bomb disposal expert, Tina Turner had such impeccable style, such a unique and powerful voice, it would blow up in their face should they fail.
And, I’m sorry, mentioning no names, but the failure was epic. A second opinion from the better half, I showed her the YouTube clip with a question, โit’s not just me, is it?โ The reply confirmed, it was terrible. But then came the dilemma, the dirty bit behind the scenes you don’t get to see; deciding what to do about it. Executive and rightful, I declined, politely. I would not lead readers up a garden path, I couldn’t bring myself to say this particular tribute was anything more than it was.
Backstory complete, I only needed to explain this as it led to my apprehension to the quality of Tina Turner tributes in general; is it even possible to replicate an artist of such calibre with such conviction?
It was also to emphasise my promise not to pull wool over your eyes. You don’t need to be stuck on my heart, baby, but please, hang on every word I say!
I was concerned history would repeat at last summer’s CrownFest when Simply the Best, were due on … how wrong I was. Kinisha Morgan-Williams answered my question through her superb performance; maybe it is possible. She is Tina in this instance; the heels, the strut, the divine attention to detail, and most importantly, the voice of this legend are all defined to perfection with this tribute, and is so astute it’s impossible not to assume you’ve slipped through a time hole to 1984, watching the real thing.
Kinisha, her band, the whole shebang, is a sublime experience for your retrospective entertainment. From Tina’s soulful roots with Ike and the Kings of Rhythm, to her unmatched Queen of Rock n Roll comeback, all the beloved hits are played out, the imitation is impeccable, the show is majestic, and Tina fan or not, you will not leave disappointed. I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t so!
In this point, I believe, lies the secret to a great tribute act, for it’s not the preconceptions you take in with you, rather it’s the joy and entertainment value whilst there, obviously, but equally, what you leave with. This is governed by personal reflection, how much of a fan of the original act you are. With an artist or band you adored, like me with Bob Marley and the Wailers, the groundwork is laid for them, but for the impartial, one with passing interest, to make an impact on them is the true test. I’m indifferent to Tina Turner, I loved her with no more or less affection than a host of eighties pop legends, but after being wowed by Simply the Best, I came away contemplating just how brilliant Tina Turner was. That’s the benchmark, that’s paying a convincing homage, right there, and Kinisha did this wholeheartedly.
Simply The Best comes to Devizes Corn Exchange on Saturday 31st August. Tickets are a purple one, from HERE. Treat yourself, you’ll love it, if that’s anything to do with it; it’s physical, only logical, and you must try to ignore that it means more than that!
Talk in Code
Wha-oh, Wiltshire Music Events is no secondhand emotion! They’re going from strength to strength! The Kings Arms in Amesbury is a fond venue for them, and they’ve our favourite indie pop originals, Talk in Code there on May 18th. But they’re no stranger to Devizes, hosting CrownFest in Bishops Cannings last year, and a plethora of in-house duo, Illingworth gigs in our pubs; in fact, you can catch Illingworth at the Crown in Bishops Cannings on the bank holiday, 4th May, with a rare appearance from the incredible George Wilding, on leave from his cruise ship work and back to entertain us landlubbers!
Illingworth
And if you need a fascinating fact to finish on, note John Illingworth and George are uncle and nephew, and 4th May at the Crown will be a rare opportunity to see them on the same bill….Thunderdome!!
If we spoke only last month about Wiltshire Councilโs threats to prosecute Wiltshire Music Events over posters advertising a Bob Marley tribute event in Devizes, it seems we were only at the tip of a disheartening iceberg for event promoters. Promoter for Adrenaline Stomper rave nights at Venom Nightclub in Westbury, Chris Freeman is the latest victim of their crackdown on fly-postingโฆ.
Mr Freeman tasted their venom, and was given a 24-month Conditional Discharge and ordered to pay ยฃ1,465 on the 19th April for flyposting, and then Wiltshire Council had the audacity to brag about it online. But, karma is a bitch; in a gloaty moment of stupidity, they displayed a photograph of the offending poster, acting like an advert for the event! We do hope it backlashes upon them, and entices people to attend on the 13th July. You canโt make it up! You’ve got to love our Council. I’m such a conformist I will certainly not give it this massive rave a plug for them….
Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Transport and Street Scene, waffled, โweโre committed to reducing fly-posting in Wiltshire, and this prosecution is part of our wider clampdown on this unsightly blight on our communities.โ As unsightly as, say, the construction of a ยฃ2.4 billion tunnel under Stonehenge that the High Court stated was โunlawful,โ perhaps? Or the thousands of miles of unrepaired roads in the county, the plight of vacant high street shops due to hikes in rent, the construction of solar farms on areas of outstanding natural beauty when they could quite easily be put along our motorways, or maybe, just maybe, the human faeces pouring into our rivers the government they back allowed water companies to ignore? That level of unsightliness? A poster, advertising an event? Really?!
โIt creates a bad impression of an area,โ the councillor who couldnโt bear the thought of people enjoying themselves at a party he obviously wasnโt invited to, continued, โand it costs the council thousands of pounds each year to remove.โ As costly as ยฃ1.4 million for a PCC re-election in 2021, because the Conservative candidate was a drink-driving wildlife assassin, perhaps? Or the ยฃ57,000 taxpayers paid to bail out MP Michelle Donelan for slanderous comments on her personal Twitter page? That kind of costly? To rip a poster off a lamppost, really?!
Chris Freeman personally expressed his โdisappointmentโ to see Wiltshire Council brag about their successful prosecution, telling us, โitโs disappointing what theyโve done, still canโt believe it really.โ
โI just want this whole thing done with,โ he said. โBeing Iโm someone in the local community and having lived in Wiltshire all of my life, with no previous convictions of any kind, of course I cannot begin to tell you how very disappointed that this went to court, without even a warning.โ Mr Freeman continued to suggest not only had it had a significant impact on him mentally, but also taken a huge toll on his family, even without the financial burden now in place.
Chris, a keen fundraiser for local charities, and a regular Father Christmas for local schools,ย asked Facebook users ifย justice was really served, โespecially considering these types of events bring business locally into our local towns, shops and hotels?โ
The nature of the events they seem to target could suggest the possibility of cherry picking events they take a personal dislike to, being that other event advertisements appear to be immune to the crackdown. Of course, this is highly debatable speculation, and far be for me to say it’s so. But with the hospitality industry at its knees post lockdown, again, maybe, just maybe, a little compromise is needed here from Wiltshire Council, just, yโknow, a level of compassion, a little communication, and understanding, perhaps, maybe, just a smidgen?!
โIn times like these,โ Chris continued, โevents that promote wellbeing, and aim to give people a reason to smile should be pushed forward, not pushed back.โ Bingo, sir.
Obviously though, we have to go along with Wiltshire Council on this one, and we cannot tell you that the Adrenaline Stompers Festival 2024 at Venom Nightclub in Westbury, on Saturday 13th July promises to be their biggest single day event to date! We really shouldnโt say, it hosts over forty DJs and thirty MCs, over indoor and outdoor stages, has weekend camping including a shuttle bus to & from the event, and retails for a mere ยฃ35 a ticket! Because, you know, your council wants you tucked up in bed by ten pm, after enjoying an entertaining TV show with Ant & Dec in…. so, jump to it.ย
To look around our beautiful landscapes youโd be understanding of visitors who assume itโs a barren outback with nothing going on, but we know different;โฆ
How did you celebrate your seventeenth birthday? Did you pop up to Glasgow to accompany The Charlatans, on bagpipes, at the historic Barrowlands ballroom, andโฆ
Photographs by Simon Folkard Astronomical winter starts on the 22nd December, yโ know, but the Met Office uses a meteorological definition of seasons, making theโฆ
Wiltshire-based charity, Wicked Weather Watch (WWW), is looking to expand its innovative approach to climate education with their upcoming Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign….. Theโฆ
Everything to do in Wiltshire this coming week, right in one handy listing, you know the drill, jump to it, preferably before putting your Christmasโฆ
One weekend away from Beltane, or May Day to Christains, bank holiday Monday to everyone else, still lots to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week besides. Hereโs what weโve foundโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week…..
Wednesday 24th
The regular acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Don’t forget to check our weekly recurring events page as well as the calendar, where youโll find the regular Devizes Salsa club at The Old School in Market Lavington every Wednesday.
Open Mic at Stallards, Trowbridge.
Joe Martin performs his debut album โEmpty Passenger-Seat,โ stripped back and acoustic at Chapel Arts, Bath. Skylight opens at the Rondo Theatre, running until Saturday. Manfredi Funk Initiative at the Bell, Bath.
The Big Jam Session at the Vic, Swindon.
Thursday 25th
Valuation & Buying Event at Gerrardโs Auction Room in Devizes Town Hall.
Runny Snottsโ regular acoustic sessions at the Neeld, Chippenham. PSG Choirsโ free taster session at King Alfredโs Hall. The ELO Encounterโs Blue Sky Tour at the Neeld. LGBGT+ drop in session at Chippenham Community Hub.
The Jersey New Boys at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Mellow sax classics with Timeout at the Old Bell, Warminster.
The Blackheart Orchestra at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Sultans of Swingers at The Mallard, Lyneham.
Cooper’s Creek & Atari PIlot (solo) at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Scott Mickelson at the Vic.
Lucy Beaumont – The Trouble & Strife at The Wyvern Theatre.
The Leisure Society Trio at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Friday 26th
Devizes Pubic Livng Room meet at the Cheese Hall every Friday from 1pm. Indie Disco with DJs Stevie MC & Thorfinn at the Exchange in Devizes.
Adam Woodhouse at the Barge, Seend Cleeve.
Duelling Pianos Night with Will Blake and Dino Baptiste at The King Alfred Hall, Holt.
Scott Mickelson at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
The Often Herd at the Pump in Trowbridge, Masa in support. Park Lane Big Band at The Civic.
Bill Laurance at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Captain Accident & The Disasters at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
The First Raitt Band, a tribute to Bonnie Raitt at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Rachel Parris – Poise at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. The Ramonas at the Vic, with Death Pop in support.
Sack Sabbath at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 27th
Family Games every Saturday at Devizes Library from 10am. April Sighthound Stroll, Devizes. Devizes Scooter Club has a 70s-80s disco at Devizes FC.
The Roughcut Rebels at The Three Crowns. Barrelhouse at The Southgate. Devizes LGBTQ+ Drag Queen Bingo Night at the Wyvern Club.
Rod Stewart Tribute at Erlestoke Golf Club.
The Chaos Brothers at The Lamb, Marlborough. Karaoke at the Bear. Two Complicated at the Crown in Aldbourne.
12 Bars Later at The Talbot, Calne.
Melksham Makers’ Market at the Market Place. Bob Marley Tribute Night at Spencer’s Club in Melksham. Delray Rockets at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.
Thereโs a Doorway Sleepout in Chippenham. Kandu Arts New Music Showcase at the Rotary Club on Station Hill.
James and the Cold Gun at The Pump, Trowbridge.
Joanna MacGregor at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.Joe Hunt at the Castle Inn. SicNote at The Boathouse.
Richard Herringโs Can I Have My Ball Back Tourโs warm-up at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Elevation at Tucker’s Grave Inn, Faulkland.
The Scribes
The Scribes at the Vic, Swindon. One Chord Wonders at Ashford Road Club. SALOS – The Greatest Show Concert at Swindon Arts Centre. Simon Reeve – To The Ends Of The Earth at The Wyvern Theatre.
Mother Vulture at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Vintage Bazaar at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, followed by Paul Youngโs behind the lens.
Sunday 28th
Sunflower Eventsโ Artisan Market & Gift Fair at the Corn Exchange, Devizes. April Sighthound Stroll, Devizes.
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
Corsairs at the Bear, Marlborough.
April Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. Blue Bus at Wellington Place, Hullavington.
Jinder & Mark Harrison at The Queenโs Head,Box. The Dirty Weather at the Bell, Bath.
Monday 29th
Praying Mantis & Soulweaver at the Vic, Swindon.
ViperTime at the Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 30th
Let’s Walk – Caen Hill & Jubilee Wood, Devizes. Open Mic at the Tap at the Peppermill, Devizes.
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some technical gubbings to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
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!
Intriguing and divergent is my two word summary of the latest exhibition at Devizes’ Wiltshire Museum, from one who grew up with first-hand second Worldโฆ
Devizes celebrated rum bar, The Muck & Dundar are hosting a dub reggae night with Omega Nebula on Saturday, and received this weekโs prestigious awardโฆ
This week the organiser proudly presented a cheque for a whopping ยฃ9537.75 to Prospect Hospice staff. The third year of My Dadโs Bigger Than Yourโฆ
Contemporary folk rock in the UK tends to come in three formats which never the twain shall meet, usually. Firstly you’ve got your acoustic goodnessโฆ
If our ground-breaking heroes of boom bap, the Scribes bring the noise during live performances and bless any venue with crowd-pleasing positive vibes, yet areโฆ
โThey promised hardcore shenanigans which never fall below 180 bpmโ
SHOX:
Afterseeing Shox in February I was expecting to have a great time, and for them to expand on their ideas which they showcased at the Devizes youth night; however, they managed to smash my expectations once again….
Their set list included โBack To Schoolโ by the Deftones, โFlorescent Adolescentโ by the Arctic Monkeys and โDrownโ by Bring Me The Horizon and included some insanely smooth add-inโs using the DJ set. The transition between playing โHappy Songโ by Bring Me The Horizon and โKilling in The Nameโ by Rage Against the Machine had a syren playing and what I can only describe as โThe music and voice that speaks to you before you go onto a terrifying roller coaster.โ I am not quite sure how to describe it, but I have never heard anything like it before. It was pretty incredible โ it drew the audience in and it was a really interesting experience. Their set was very much a journey rather than just some music. SHOX have come on leaps and bounds since the youth night and with some more gigs under their belt, I can only imagine their sound will continue to develop.
I wanted to know some more about them, so after getting in contact, I asked them a few questions. Jamie (drummer) and Ed (singer/rhythm guitarist) played together in primary school and wanted to get into a band in secondary school. So, when they joined they went out and looked for a band. Zac (guitarist) and Dylan (bassist) came along around two years later when they got paired to do an academic music project together. Once they had played a few times, they realised they had โgreat chemistryโ and formed SHOX. They are looking to start the rollout of their debut album called โTo Be Honest, I Couldnโt Be Botheredโ and are hoping for a release in November. They also have a โBig announcement in the middle of June,โ which I am sure many are looking forward to. If you havenโt seen them live, I would really take the next opportunity!
If you havenโt read my interview with Steatopygous, I would recommend reading it as you get the โinside scoopโ on what Steatopygous really means.
In a nutshell, Steatopygous is a riot girl (and boy) band, which truly could not get any better. With front girl Poppy Hillier, playing guitar and singing, the memorising Eliza on bass and drummer Ewan. They played three originals: โMarieโs Wedding Songโ, โFemale CDโ and the new โLittle Boyโ. It is safe to say that since hearing Little Boy, it has not left my mind since. You can tell the song came from somewhere close to their hearts, and is now embedded within the audienceโs. Both Female CD and Maireโs Wedding Song are also well written songs, that I cannot wait to be able to listen to online.
With three admirably well executed Bikini Kill songs – Carnival, Feels Blind and Star Bellied Boy, they enticed the audience so much, we were demanding โone more songโ. And wow, they performed Deception by le Tigre, which truly exploded the mosh pit, not that we had stopped dancing since Steatopygous had entered the stage. I just want to say an incredibly well done to Eliza, Poppy and Ewan, as during their set, they had to stop for a tech issue, but carried on, dare I say, better than before. As a performer myself, I can understand how gut wrenchingly scary it can be to play on stage, let alone have to stop and start again, and they dealt with it like the pros they are becoming. I have been told they are working towards an EP and I, like many others, am beyond excited to hear how it comes out. So, like SHOX, if your ears havenโt been blessed by the music of these beautiful people, then I would really take your opportunity.
While I heard both Steatopygous and Shox before, I was pumped to be able to listen to Menthol Lungs as I hadnโt heard of them and all I can say now is that I was missing out. As soon as they started to play, I was transported into the world of Subhumans and Minor Threat and felt the immediate need to find my skateboard and go stagedive off a speaker stack! Their heavy punk rock music was awesome, and I was even more blown away when I realised that eight of their ten songs were originals!
Menthol Lungs are anarchistic hardcore, which was appreciated by me and the crowd. The deeper meanings to what could have been simple lyrics, elevated their performance as they spoke for what they truly believe in. If I thought their performance couldnโt get any better, they then performed โThe Combine Harvesterโ by The Wurzels, which had the audience in stitches and singing along in true Devizes harvest-core fashion :-). I was lucky enough to be able to speak to the amazing Ava, who sings and ask a few questions about their band:
โWe have Corey, who is on rhythm guitar. Sam, who couldnโt make it today, is on lead guitar โ he is great. Zeth right here is on drums, Fergus on bass and I am Ava. I do vocals.โ
How did the band form?
โSo, about two years ago, I got kicked out of a sh**** pop, punk band, called Corner Shop Liquor. I then turned around to my mate James, an artist as well, and said โI want to start a new band, can you help me out?โ and he introduced me to Corey who could play guitar. Then my fiancรฉ Ash joined us as bassist, but then replacing Ash was Fergus; Fergus and Zeph kind of came as a package deal.โ
โWe met Corey at a gig about a year and a half ago and so he vaguely knew us.โ
โYeah, so about a year and a half ago, we got Zeph and Fergus in a band and we record some stuff and start rehearsing on Zephโs farm, in some stables. We got our first gig last December.โ
Special mention to their six-string bass, which I had to ask questions about:
โMay I just say your six string bass is insane. Looks sickโ โ me!
โThere is actually a funny story about that. Fergus left one band rehearsal with a five string bass and he left it at the rehearsal space. When he came back, he had a six string bass with him. Itโs brilliant.โ
How do you write your songs?
โSo, usually Cory will sit down and write some riffs and upload them onto Songster. He will add some drums and lead guitar and a bit of bass. Then, I usually have some lyrics lying around in my notes app and write them up into a full song, or Corey will write lyrics as well. Then at rehearsals we see what works and it usually ends up in a song.โ
How do you think tonight went?
โDo you know what, it was killer. Best vocals I think I have ever managed, to be honest.โ
ย Whatโs your next step?
โNext step โฆ We have an album coming out hopefully later this year. We are hoping for August, but aiming for the end of the year. We have a gig coming up with Disorder in July. We love Disorder. July 25th โ go buy your tickets!โ
Thank you Ava for spending some time speaking to me; you and your band are great and I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing how you guys progress in the future!
So, in conclusion, the audience and I had a brilliant time, dancing, sweating, slamming, singing and getting to know these sick bands. If these bands are not on your radar, please go give them a follow and see how they progress as the gifts they have for your ears are extensive and they have years beyond them of only getting better.
Finally, I just want to say a massive thank you to Kieran and everyone at the Pump. It is an incredibly special, intimate place, which holds thousands of memories for us kids. I wouldnโt be able to recommend going more. If you havenโt been, you are not just missing out on amazing music, but also an experience that you wonโt be able to forget for years. Thank you for letting bands be able to share their music with everyone. What you are doing with โThe Future Sound of Trowbridgeโ is unbelievably special and loved by so many people.
P.S. the drummer from SHOX, Jamie, has a DJ set at the Pump on Trowbridge on the 10th of May. Go get your tickets!
Snotty nose, change of weather, otherwise Iโd have dragged my sorry ass down to Underground, formerly Level III in Swindon for last weekendโs Children inโฆ
Residents from communities across Swindon are organising another show of solidarity with the people of Palestine….. They are inviting everyone to join them at 2pmโฆ
Steve Vick International (SVI), a leading innovator in pipeline engineering solutions, is thrilled to announce the renewal of their sponsorship agreement with the Wiltshire Musicโฆ
Boo! Weโve got everything to do in Wiltshire this coming week, leading us into Halloween and the end of the monthโฆ..as we always doโฆ.boo! Itโsโฆ
Creators of original music who may psychologically build a hierarchy with them atop, tribute acts on the bottom and cover bands hovering somewhere between, tendโฆ
If a rare journey to Swindon usually lands me in the Vic or Beehive, today things were going to be different. A lack of beer tap options was made up, tenfold, by outstanding acoustics of a nineteenth century church, a second stage in the accompanying community centre, an impressive all-day selection of jazz and African music, a delicious Jamaican food stall, and a unique and upfront experience locally with happy hospitality; welcome to the second day of Swindon Jazz & Soul Festivalโฆ.I took my favourite jazzy hat, but left it the car!
Having been listing the regular club events of Jazz Knights at Swindon’s Royal Oak, generally on Tuesday evenings, for a while on our event calendar, it was high time I poked my nose in, and their annual jazz and soul festival at Old Townโs Christ Church was the ideal opportunity. Itโs in its fourth year, folk there told me itโs become an unmissable annual attraction.
Arriving a day late, Friday concentrated on the soul element, climaxing with a Stevie Wonder tribute; would’ve enjoyed this but duty called. Saturday, I’m informed, is all about jazz; I’m somewhat in the dark with jazz hands and technicalities, but more than okay with that. Also, though, the community centre adjacent offers various styles and interpretations of African music; double-whammy.
The initial impressive element hits you before entry, the place is amazeballs. And once in, the acoustics in this colossal spire church are stupendous. This was supplied, at the time, by Cheltenham’s leading saxophonist and composer Kim Cypher, with the archetypal red beret and overwhelming quartet; nice hat, see?!
If jazz in its heyday was considered outrageous and one wouldn’t find it in a church, times change, clearly; all the pews accounted for by large age and ethnic demographics, all taking in the beautiful sounds of traditional jazz, in harmony, with a hint of red wine, said equally as much as the once popular Marlborough Jazz Festival. But I must check the community centre too, as Two-Man-Ting are already playing, and I know and love these guys, from them having played the trusty Southgate back in Devizes.
This Bristol-based duo consisting of English guitarist Jon Lewis, who has a clear penchant for Two-Tone and punk inclinations of yore, and Jah-man Aggrey, a Sierra Leonean percussionist, make for an amazingly unique sound with wonderful audience participation. They made it obvious, as a world music lover, this mini-Womad is going to be my preferred base for the day; found myself a comfy chair.
With an African fusion dance workshop with Morilie Taiwo of Dance Roots Africa in the centre, my two left feet sought the Jamaica Me Crazy stall to fill my soul food appreciation, which they did, mouth-wateringly. And between acts I sauntered from there to the main stage. Though my knowledge of jazz can be written on a matchbox, I know what I like. Bristol’s The Ibou Tall Jazzmates are causing an incredible sound, contemporary yet bebop, like Charlie Parkerโฆ to my untrained ear!
When I did drop back to the centre, a crazy-haired saxophonist was wandering through dancing crowds, and I guessed this must be Rhythm Of Africa, an experimentally yet entertaining, and often comical trio, exceptionally skilled in creating a beguiling sound through just djembe drum, guitar and balafon, the latter taken up by said saxophonist.
Things were more traditional jazz in the church, with the aptly named It’s Trad Dad, a passionate orchestra of accomplished musicians. All very conventional, tad swing, and delivered with an astute passion you couldn’t ignore. Here is what I was expecting to see, I got it with bells on, anything else was a bonus ball.
The crรจme de la crรจme of The African music showcase, Suntou Susso made my night, though; a bonus ball indeed. Half Gambian half Senegalese, Suntou Susso introduced the audience to his instrument of choice, the Kora. It’s a lute-harp multi-string instrument made from cow skin covered pumpkin, with a mahogany bridge, and he truly is a virtuoso of it. I’ve heard this instrument before, through an old cassette of Dembo Konte and Kausu Kuyateh, but I’ve never seen it played. To add to the already sublime ambience, Suntou completes this enchanting effect with a full funky backing band, proficiently tight and uniformed. It was, in short, a jaw-dropping awe moment.
I arrived at Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival concerned it might all be rather insular, born from a regular jazz club in a town erroneously preconceived to be cultureless, hence leaving my jazzy hat in the car! Figuring it’s akin to Mickey Mouse ears at Disneyland, or an I โheartโ NY in New York, isnโt it? Jazzy hat might suggest Iโm desperately trying to conform, when really, I look like a twat in it; it can stay on the backseat, I didn’t need a clichรฉ to fit in!
To consider if Oxford has its university and Bath has its Roman Baths, Swindon has its Magic Roundabout, is picky, you know this, and think of Spitfires, Doris Day, Edith New and the GWR; I believe anyone in a nearby town critical of Swindon has infrastructure jealousy issues! Still, I pondered that I shouldn’t expect miracles. I left feeling precisely the opposite. This comfy, quirky and buoyant mini-festival was certainly communal, but friendly and welcoming, and what’s more, the musical professionalism was of top quality. The hat wouldnโt have ruined the effect after all; it was as unpretentious as youโd want a jazz festival to be; bloomin’ marvellous!
Let me be the Melinda Messenger in your Billie Pipeline, local jazz aficionados take note, Jazz Knights is well worth trekking to Swindon for, and any and everyone looking for a unique and sincere music appreciation festival should bookmark next year’s Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival; I had fun there, my hat didnโt!
4Youth (South West) are pleased to announce the beginning of a 2.5 year street-based youth work project based in Devizes, Wiltshire on Monday and Thursdayโฆ
Gliding through October at colossal speed, with temporary bursts of cold spells hinting winter at us, and some, some I repeat, faintly whispering the Cโฆ
Devizes Town Councillors voted unanimously to adopt a Single-Use Plastic Policy and appointed Councillor Vanessa Tanner as the Plastic Free Champion for the town, atโฆ
An early and rarely-performed play, ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ has feisty heroines, lovelorn & bickering young men, dictatorial parents, foolish suitors, cross-dressing, letters galore, wildโฆ
If my Saturday’s entertainment at The Pump was decidedly offbeat and a tad bizarre, what with chap-hop, pith helmets and vintage jazz played through aโฆ
Girls, girls, girls, we love them here at Devizine, especially our esteemed all-female local supergroup The Female of the Species. 2024 will be their ninth annual fundraiser, they announced details of it this week; yay! The grand total raised over the years must be incalculable, has won them Civic Awards and thanks from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. But what is more, every event is a classic rock n pop n reggae n soul cover showstopper of such breathtaking proportions, I call it unmissable!
The Female of the Species are local girl power on fire; five ravishing frontwomen of five local bands, all of whom I fail every year to get any of their phone numbers! All working together in perfect union, with hints of naughty bantering and quality support acts. Jules Moreton of Trowbridgeโs Train to Skaville, Nicky Davis from People Like Us and The Reason, Julia Greenland from Soulville Express, Claire Perry from Big Mammaโs Banned, Charmaigne Andrews from Siren, and the unforgettable Train to Skaville saxophonist, Karen Porter. All being amazing performers in their own right, together theyโre an unsurpassable force which appears more harmonic with each year that passes.
Despite having obligations to their individual bands, they put their all into this trailblazing fundraiser, and they come together bang in the middle of Trowbridge, Melksham and Devizes, at Seend Community Hall, on the Saturday 21st September. Tickets are on sale, HERE, for a snip at ยฃ15.
This year we gather to raise funds for Trowbridge preschool Rainbow Early Years. They have only months to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds or face potential closure. Wiltshire Council have said the building it leases is โbeyond economical repair.โ
Rainbow Early Years has been a registered charity since 1993 and currently has 41 children enrolled, aged between two and four years old. Wiltshire Council are offering 25% of the cost of the building, the remaining needs to be found in order to keep the preschool open.
Parent and school volunteer, Cayla Harle told the BBC, โI came here as a child. My twins came here last year, and my little boy Arthur, now comes here too. (I feel) absolutely heartbroken. This place means so much, the staff here are incredible, they don’t deserve it.โ
Manager Hayley Galliers told BBC Radio Wiltshire that she is unsure what exactly the problem with the building is. โWiltshire Council said to us there’s an issue with the roofing, the electrics and the flooring. We’ve recently passed our health and safety inspection, the guy who did it said the flooring is absolutely fine. We’ve recently had our electrics done and also had our roofing repaired, so I just don’t see what the problem is.โ Despite several requests Miss Galliers said the council has been unwilling or unable to provide her with the latest survey report, which was completed in 2022.
Councillor Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Childrenโs Services, Education and Skills, said โWe have shared the contents of the survey with Rainbow Early Years but not the actual survey. There is a great amount of detail in the condition survey which would need to be explained, but we are happy to share this and talk through the details with Rainbows.โ
Jules Moreton of Female of the Species told us, โwhen Julia and I met up with the charity, the staff were all really concerned about their jobs.โ
We wish Rainbow Early Years all the very best with their fundraising efforts, but one thing is for sure, The Female of the Species will give it a great boost, and have a whole lot of fun doing it! So be there, get your tickets HERE.
With a wide selection of family-friendly and retro board games, RPGs such as Magic the Gathering, Warhammer and Pokรฉmon,ย and serving tea, coffee, cakes and, oh,โฆ
Wiltshire Council are asking public transport users, residents, businesses and visitors in the county to take part in a public transport review, to help shapeโฆ
Righty-oh, no time for messing about, weโve lots to get throughโฆ. What have I become?!! Thereโs always time for messing around. Hereโs a snapshot ofโฆ
Devizes teenagers from Wiltshire Army Cadets recently gave up their Saturday morning to help with a community gardening project on Windsor Drive in Devizes….. Theโฆ
Featured Image: Gail Foster If the most popular band to come out of Devizes recently, Nothing Rhymes With Orange are really gathering pace and attentionโฆ
Off and on weโve been writing about The Lost Trades for a couple of years now. ย Combining theย individual musical talents of locally-based Phil Cooper, Tamsin Quin and Jamie R Hawkins, weโveย always been impressed with both their digital recordings and with their live performances. ย Lastย night, as part of their current UK tour, they came to perform what was basically the first live musicย gig at Calneโs premier craft beer bar The Piggy Bank.
Although the Piggy is fast approaching its third birthday, this was the first ever dedicated live musicย night. ย Previously there had been pop-up food nights, quiz nights and comedy nights, but finally itย was time to combine the two finest complementary ingredients โ fabulous acoustic music and greatย quality craft beer. ย And what a success it was. ย The local Calne crowd, who had always supportedย these events from the start, turned out in droves on a chilly Tuesday night. ย Sold out some weeksย ago, the room was packed. ย This is after all a micropub, and not a concert hall, so space for bothย performers and audience was at a premium. ย But was that a problem? โ not a bit of it. ย It was, letโsย say โcosyโ, and all the better for that.
Describing themselves as a โvocal harmony and multi-instrument trio with a cool Laurel Canyon vibeโ, with a sound that is reminiscent of the California folk scene of the late 60s/early 70s, The Lost Tradesโ three-part harmonies have been described as “flawless”, “spine tingling” and “magical”. And with very good reason.
Playing tracks from studio albums 2021โs โThe Bird, The Book and The Barrelโ, and 2022โsย โPetrichorโ and their very recent live album, the Trades delivered a sparkling night of musicalย entertainment. ย Their performance included the now-expected frequent swapping around ofย instruments, with each of them playing bass, guitar and percussion at different points in the show,ย and the usual relaxed, easy rapport both amongst themselves, and with a very willing audience. ย Theyโre clearly comfortable now with their material, and obviously relaxed in each otherโs company. ย This closeness pays dividends. ย As ever, their harmonies were spot on, with lovely acapella sectionsย suddenly emerging in the middle of many songs.
Taking it in turns to introduce and explain the songs, and the meaning behind the lyrics, the three friends took the audience with them. There was a wonderful intimacy established in the room as their three sets progressed, and the audience (usually quietly spell-bound during the songs) responded with loud and warm enthusiasm. Iโm no expert, but Iโm pretty sure they made a lot of new friends last night!
An encore was an absolute formality. A nice feature of such a packed room was that there wasnโt really the space for the band to do that formalised โletโs walk off the stage and then come back on againโ routine. There could be no pretence in such an environment. The three of them were pinned to the stage, duly delivered their lost song, then took a well-deserved bow before a cheering crowd.
Difficult to top that โ a simple ten out of ten from me for a great nightโs entertainment.
So โ is this the start of something big for both The Lost Trades, and for The Piggy Bank as a new Tuesday night music venue? Time will tell, but both have now got the wind in their sails, so watch this space!
Future gigs at The Piggy Bank are listed below. Most are already filling up, with only a few tickets left, so if you want to grab some top-class keenly-priced entertainment in Calne on a Tuesday night, you know what you need to do!
Future music (and other) events at The Piggy Bank:
Tuesday 14th May The Black Feathers
Tuesday 21st May Crazy Bird Comedy Night
Tuesday 18th June Jon Pearson โWhat Have You Been Up To?โ (Comedy)
The Winter Solstice at either Stonehenge or Avebury remains one of the most awaited Pagan celebrations of the year, with thousands of visitors gathering toโฆ
The Future Smiths, a new community-driven organisation set up to advance entrepreneurship and innovation, is proud to announce an exciting initiative aimed at aspiring entrepreneursโฆ
Here we go with what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week, exciting stuff, I know!
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.….
Wednesday 17th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Emmanuel Coppey and Antoine Prรฉat at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Two times BBC Folk Award winner Daoirรญ Farrell is at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Memory Cinema, for those with dementia, at Swindon Arts Centre are showing A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Tom Houghtonโs Itโs Not Ideal at Swindon Arts Centre. Peppa Pigโs Fun Day Out at The Wyvern Theatre.
Show Of Hands โ Full Circle Farewell Tour at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Thursday 18th
Quiz Night at the Peppermill, Devizes in aid of The Cotswolds Dogs & Cats Home.
PSG Choir taster session at the King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.
Thieves & Skiddy at The Tuppenny, Swindon. The Big Fat Monthly Quiz at the Vic.
Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. Primary School Assembly Bangers Live! at Swindon Arts Centre. Peppa Pigโs Fun Day Out at The Wyvern Theatre.
Fretn Keyz with Dave Howell at Rude Giant Beerhouse, Salisbury.
Friday 19th
Youth Work Auction Fundraiser at John OโGaunt School, Trowbridge.
Take the Stage at the Neeld, in Chippenham. Chippenham Beer Festival too.
Bradford Roots Special at The Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon with Billy in the Lowground, Daisy Chapman and Thieves; Edโs pick of the week, that one is! Preview here.
The Droogs & John E Viztic at The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon.
People Like Us at Prestbury Sports Bar, Westbury.
Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival, preview here. Draining The Swamp at Swindon Arts Centre. Barrelhouse & The Leon Daye Band at the Vic.
Winginโ It at The George & Dragon, Salisbury. A Murder Mystery at Salisbury Cathedral.
Johnny Cash Revisited at Chapel Arts, Bath.
ex Wishbone Ash, Martin Turner is at The Tree House, Frome.
Saturday 20th
Roma Antoine Exhibit and Art Sale at Tonka Bean, Devizes. Devizes Swap Shop at St James Church. The Bren Jones Big Band at the Wharf Theatre. Strange Folk at The Southgate. Down the Hatch at The Three Crowns. DJ Tappa Tappa at the Exchange.
Oriental Antiques Indigo Antiques Open Day at Manningford Bruce, Pewsey. Dutty Moonshine at the Barge on HoneyStreet. @59 at The Woodborough Social Club.
Martyโs Fake Family at The Pilot, Melksham.
The Future Sound of Trowbridge #8 at the Pump in Trowbridge; preview Here.
Mighty Magic Animal at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Griff Rhys Jones: The Catโs Pyjamas at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Pop-Up Bowie at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Driftwood at Tuckerโs Grave Inn, Faulkland.
Junkyard Dogs at The Kingโs Arms, Amesbury. Are You Worthy & Grant Sharkey at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury. Salisbury Pride Fundraiser at The Hope & Anchor, Salisbury.
Rosie Holt โ Thatโs Politainment! at Swindon Arts Centre. Wrong Jovi at the Vic. The Worried Men at The Queenโs Tap. The Tin Shack Band at The Woodlands Edge.
The Shires at the Cheese & Grain, Frome is sold out, so too is Bare Jams at the Tree House. Try the 41 Fords at The Sun; we love the 41 Fords!
Sunday 21st
Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm. Devizes Town Band Showtime Sensations at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.
Open Mic at Red Lion, Lacock.
Jazz on Sunday Afternoon at Little Cheverall Village Hall.
The Dirty Weather Blues Revue at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
VW Campfest begins at Stonehenge.
Mini Ravers โ Spring Tour at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd
I got nothing, yet; keep a keen eye on our updating event calendar, as Iโm way behind updating it, and still got the front garden to sort out! Weeds, huh? I used go out to the garden to smoke de grass, nowadays I just go out to the garden to cut de grass!!
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some technical gubbings to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
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!
Saturday 4th November Underground, 73 Commercial Road, Swindon, SN1 5NX Swindon’s biggest indie pop Talk In Code are working alongside Underground, based on Commercial Road in Swindon, ourโฆ
Okay, clever clogs among us Iโm sure will tell me the Eskimo Nebula is a bipolar double-shell planetary nebula, 6,500 light-years away which is surroundedโฆ
According to the confines of youth cultures of yore, I shouldnโt like Marlborough-based duo Deadlight Danceโs debut album, Beyond Reverence, as while attempts to fitโฆ
By Ian Diddams Three women meet at university in 1983. Mixed backgrounds, sexual preferences, dreams. From early reticence, to friendship, to love. Sharing despair, hope,โฆ
Two teen Devizes punker bands appear on Trowbridgeโs Pump triple-bill this Saturday, as the search for the Future of Trowbridge reaches its eighth instalment; unsure if Flo, our youngest reporter (by a country mile!) will be on the scene, so I’m tempted to leave my embarrassing grandad cap in the drawer and have a nose myselfโฆ.
A new one on me, Menthol Lungs headline the show, with an ambiguous base I’m taking a wild stab in the dark to be Trowvegas. They promise hardcore shenanigans which never fall below 180 bpm. I might try to attempt to keep up with that, but kids, please stop me if you see me turn purple!
Now, our town’s newcomers, riot front-grrrl Poppy Hillier, bassist Eliza Brindle and drummer boy Ewan Middleton, aka Steatopygous, take the middle slot. In accordance to Flo’s recent interview with them, in true punk DIY fashion this band formed at Devizes school, and was the one she was most excited to see at the youth gig set up by Devizes Youth Action Group at the Corn Exchange in Feb.
Progressive indie fusion with a drum n bass DJ, apparently,SHOXalso played the gig, and Flo had only good words to say about them too, concluding thus, โthese guys have some awesome ideas, which makes them stand out and make a unique sound that I would love to hear some original songs with.โ A concept that leaves me intrigued, I must say.
There’s one damn decent way to further these band’s progression locally, and that’s to feature at the one true venue dedicated to being their, and so many other upcoming talentsโ launchpads, The Pump. Whereas most venues want to bring in a big name, The Pump strives to introduce you to the next big namesโฆ. Bloominโ lovely place too.
Bucking the trend of depleting support, this Trowbridge golden nugget goes above and beyond grassroots schematics to host what will surely be, The Future Sound of Trowbridge. Hats off to all who sail in her, and I’m over the moon if it is to be suggested Flo’s excellent coverage of the Devizes Youth Action Group gig on Devizine encouraged Mr Moore, our favourite-most promoter, to book these two. But, hey, if we’re talking hats, there’s bound to be some other codger to share gardening tips there, surely? What the hell, if I do attend this gen z hoedown I might take my grandad cap after all! Best of luck to Menthol Lungs, Steatopygous, and SHOX.ย
Tickets are only a fiver, go, invite your grandad along too! HERE.
There will be some foot-tapping folky goodness at the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon on Friday. This year’s Bradford Roots Festival may be a fleeting memory, but it seems they can’t wait for another January, so 19th April sees a session highlighting some fond favourites; if you’re looking for something to entertain you, I thoroughly recommend itโฆ.
Two bands on a triple bill, both which achieve a perfect balance; barefoot fiddler and banjo bashing Broughton Gifford-based headliner Billy in the Lowground, a well-established west-country come Americana favourite who have that rare knack of stabilising an up-tempo pitch with concentrated narrative. And the new ensemble of Adam Woodhouse called Thieves, who mightily impressed me at this year’s festival with that perfect balance of vocal harmony bluegrass and darker country blues.
Nestled between these two fine bands you need not accept a substitute. Trowbridge living legend Daisy Chapman is also on the bill. An early time slot at this year’s festival meant I still haven’t managed to scrub her name off my must-see list, despite briefly touching base with her and, naturally, fondly reviewing two of her albums over the years. Unique is an understatement with Daisy, and if we’re talking about perfect balance, I couldn’t say if it’s the euphoric and epic musical style of her folk, or her astounding writing ability which sets her above your average local singer-songwriter, so I wager it’s both!
Wiltshire Music Centre’s dedication to, and not to mention development of local music is second to none, as well as hosting a wide variety of international musicians. This one is going to leave you contemplating it was twelve pounds well spent, with certainty.
Chippenhamโs folk singer-songwriter Meg gets our early song of the week this week, and The Cycle is only her debut single…. Iโve spoken twice toโฆ
Kempston joystick! There’s a new single from Swindonโs sonic indie-rock blasters Atari Pilot, and it seems theyโre waiting for the summer to fall. Hint, guys,โฆ
Schools are back, summer has finally arrived, hereโs what weโve got this coming week…… Not comprehensive, more will be added to our event calendar asโฆ
Not as the title might suggest…. Since I peaked too soon over the bank holiday, coupled with working it, yeah, I sadly missed Monday’s entertainmentโฆ
Let’s face facts, they’re not referring to their average age here, are they?! Todayโs topic is belting through town like a headless chicken escaping Colonelโฆ
I woke up yesterday morning long before the rising sun, but I did have a smile, because I witnessed the sheer magic of The Marley Experience at CrownFest last summer, and knew Devizes would be beautifully showered in one love; it didn’t disappointโฆ.
They came to our Corn Exchange, rarely blessed with reggae, to pay a respectful and sublimely entertaining homage to the undisputed king of it, and raised the roof considerably higher. With professionalism, astute attention to detail and a prodigious heap of gusto,The Marley Experience is a live phenomenon must-see for anyone with so little as just a passing interest in reggae; and who hasnโt?! Itโs the offbeat, isnโt it? That little jump which makes it so appealing, that, and its marriage between narrative in songwriting and danceable beats we rarely see in other pop genres; well, it is for me!ย
Iโd only seen a few tribute acts prior to starting Devizine, thus was critical of their worth to begin with. Then my investigations led to an invitation to see a different Bob Marley and the Wailers tribute in the Sham. I thought of this as a true test, to impress me by tributing an artist I idolised rather than one I could take or leave. But they delivered, and this reinforced my devotion and commitment to tributes in general; at the time I never imagined a Bob Marley tribute couldโve topped it.
Amazing as this other Wailers tribute was, particularly visually, I felt the show was, at times, rather unmalleable, or structured, by comparison to the loose and causal vibrations of the real McCoy. To have been lucky enough to have seen Bob Marley and the Wailers perform during their peak would, Iโd imagine, have been an experience less lucid, more spontaneous and extempore. While arguably not quite as meticulous visually, The Marley Experience seem to have a better handle on this looseness priority, projecting a far more relaxed and comfy attitude, and resulting in something less ostentatious, joyful in ambience; precisely how Iโd imagined a real Bob Marley concert to have played out.
Amusing story from a documentary, when the original Bob Marley and the Wailers lineup with Peter and Bunny attended an Old Grey Whistle Test for the BBC in 1973. A BBC engineer had a wonky preconception of the mechanics of the reggae style and tried to intervene, claiming what the band were playing wasnโt reggae! Whatever his presumption was didnโt matter because reggae, from ska to dancehall, is progressive, never stagnant; these were raggle-taggle Trenchtown rudeboys doing what they do, I think they knew full well what reggae was, and that youโd have been extremely foolish to question them about it!
Reggae branches on equally as many tangents as rock or soul, perhaps more. Itโs this pliability which rewards it with its charm and magic. No tribute act is supposed to be Madame Tussauds, particularly a reggae one! Itโs surely a musical commendation and adulation, something The Marley Experience clearly acquired, proudly and ingeniously; musically precise, and that is, after all, what we surely want from a tribute act, not a duplicate, but an interpretation of, a homage.
There’s a plentiful beloved back catalogue of Bob Marley and the Wailers not to have to delve deeply into rarities, rather provide the audience with a setlist of the songs they know and love, and they did this. From One Love and Three Little Birds, they sure moved the crowd. Ballads like Stir it Up and Waiting in Vain were irresistibly causing partners to embrace, and his militant songs of unity, Buffalo Soldier or Get Up Stand Up were performed with such superlative passion, well, it might as well have been the real thing. And as Bob Marley & The Wailers fanboy number one, thatโs definitely the highest accolade I could reward.
They held Exodus off until the encore, leaving the crowds screaming for more. Perhaps the most obscure song choice being Soul Rebel, they marched on through the known classics with certain professional ease, and appeared to have a lot of fun doing it. The joy of performing reflects on the audience, and I didnโt notice one face in the crowd not in awe of what they were witnessing, much less attempt to stand still!
The atmosphere was enhanced by the quality of sound and lights, and the perfect engineering weโve come to expect from Wiltshire Music Events; they promise to return to Devizes in style; watch this space.
The brilliance of The Marley Experience took flight only after a wonderful set from John and Joylen, aka Illingworth, an acoustic duo with said worth, active on the local pub circuits and a cut above the rest. Favourites of Wiltshire Music Events and session musicians for their Tunnel Rat Studio in Salisbury, the pair did themselves proud, Iโd have expected no less from them. With some wonderfully executed covers of rock classics, it made for an alternative to the more common option of a reggae DJ to support, and Illingworth saw it as a convenient opportunity to add a higher number of their own compositions as they might usually perform in a pub scenario; something youโll never see me grumble about.
But, if there was a natural mystic blowin’ through the air last night in Devizes, if you listened carefully youโd have heard; watching the news and international tensions unfold, thereโs timeless words in Bob Marelyโs writing equally as poignant and relative today as they were when he wrote them. Yeah, we have this film, yeah we have Marley grandchildren sampling his works, but more grounded and achievable to go see, the strength of a good tribute act to him will do more than entertain, one hopes, it will serve to continue and resound the plain and simple message he profoundly wailed, and The Marley Experience have that commitment, passion and skill to do exactly that, plus get us easy skanking, naturally!
Bank holiday done and dusted, hope you had a good one whatever you did. But Wiltshire shows no signs of letting up on great things to do moving into September; hereโs a roundup of events this coming weekโฆ.. Not comprehensive, more will be added to our event calendar as we move through the week, soโฆ
All images ยฉGail Foster It may be a wrap for another successful Full-Tone Festival in Devizes this bank holiday weekend, but talking to conductor Anthony Brown, seems like itโs full steam ahead for next year, with a few changes. With such a busy weekend in general, the one possibility I believe we can leak isโฆ
Imagine, it’s only just eight pm on the opening day of Honey-Fest at the legendary Barge on HoneyStreet, and the haystack-filled marquee is already positively pumping, largely due to the energetic hoedown of Bristol’s Mr Tea and the Minionsโฆ… Too tempting not to, a double whammy with Devizesโ homemade upcoming marvels, Nothing Rhymes With Orangeโฆ
After an inaugural midweek gig with local legend Andrew Hurst this month, it seems Bromham’s St Nicholas Church could be the unexpected new rural music venue worth talking about, as jazz saxophonist Patsy Gamble arrives on Wednesday May 15thโฆ..
If brass is class, Stroud’s Patsy Gamble comes with an impressive rรฉsumรฉ. A British Blues Award finalist in 2011 and 2012, Patsy plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones and has performed across Europe and the Middle East. As a session saxophonist with one of the UKโs top horn sections, The Little Big Horns, there’s a hall of fame of names she’s worked with, from Steve Winwood, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller and Suggs, to Jasper Carrott.
Patsy performs freelance and with her own bands, The Patsy Gamble Blues Collective, and both as a jazz trio and quartet, is a vocalist, composer, and somehow even finds time for some art on the side! You may have seen her working with the incredibly cool Eddie Martin, a regular axeman on our circuit, and a particular favourite at our trusty Southgate in Devizes. You can also catch Patsy with her Blues Collective onย Sunday, 26th May, at The Southgate.
But it’s the jazz trio appearing in Bromham, with Tristan Watson on guitar and bassist Duncan Kingston, and there’s nothing better to cure those midweek blues than a touch of jazz, but you knew tgat already….
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