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!
Swindon-based adrenaline pumping five-piece Liddington Hill released their first EP for three years, and Radium is highly radioactiveโฆ.. For most on the North Wessex Downs,โฆ
Mixed emotions over one of those eye-catching social media โreelsโ a few months ago, for two reasons. Firstly, attraction; the singing girl was a visionโฆ
by Ian Diddams images by Platform 8 Take Abigailโs party, add some Aykbourn, a touch of Coward and a liberal sprinkling of 2010s socio-political backgroundโฆ
Bradford on Avonโs Live Music Festival returns from Friday 29th May to Sunday 31st May; three days of live music from outstanding bands and artistsโฆ
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
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.
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
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
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!
Fromeโs Cheese & Grain will host a celebration of the life of local music promoter Phil Moakes, who sadly passed away last July, aged just 66โฆ Party at the End of the World will be on Sunday 10th May and will be a special event in celebration of Philโs life, alongside his family and friends.โฆ
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 of anything worse, or you’ve absolutely no opinion on the matter whatsoever, Devizes Musical Theatre’s Addams Family Musical is a must-see! Invited to the dress rehearsal yesterday, The Addams Family Musicalโฆ
Picturedrone, the new owners of the old Palace Cinema in Devizes announced today that the cinema will have a grand reopening as early as May, and media personality turned controversial comedian Katie Hopkins has accepted an invitation to cut the ribbon on the newly renovated establishmentโฆ. May is set to be an exciting time inโฆ
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….
And so it begins. Expect an influx of Tory propaganda and lies rammed through your letterbox over the coming weeks; youโd be better taking your chances clicking on a link from an Indonesian newsite claiming Simon Cowell is in hospital than believe any of the crap spewing from their mouthsโฆ..
Whoโs had this one recently dropped like a bombshell onto their doormat, You & Your Family?! Itโs NOT a delightful blithe local Hello magazine some nice neighbour thought youโd like to browse, itโs a propaganda leaflet of lies and deceit from a desperate ruling political party, only playfully disguised as a delightful blithe local Hello magazine, and you would be a fool to believe any of it. I hope they donโt mind that we remixed it, added a few truths.
From our own Conservative MP, Michelle Donelan, You & Your Family avoids the blue colour of the usual Conservative corporate identity, and goes for the neutral, coffee table magazine look in an attempt to disguise its true nature. It doesnโt even mention the political party sheโs affiliated with, rather shamelessly masquerades as something itโs not; theyโre that proud of their party they have to hide it!
Now, if the fact that both Michelleโs partner, and his father both set up companies to supply bogus PPE to the NHS during the pandemic, and recently this Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology faced court action for falsely alleging on X scientist Professor Kate Sang of Heriot-Watt University had expressed sympathy for Hamas, which she used ยฃ15,000 of taxpayer’s money to bail herself out of, isnโt enough tory scandal to put you off ever voting for them again, note this fluff pamphlet of deceit has been promoted by none other than our old pal, Jonathan Seed.
Yep, in the tiniest writing on the back it names Jonathan Seed as the promoter. Once huntsmaster of the Avon Vale Hunt, who busted a few heads in Lacock one Boxing Day while a police officer hunter herself turned a blind eye, and were so sure of themselves they convicted themselves, filming themselves killing a fox and posting it online!
Dammit, I thought weโd heard the last of this seedy by name seedy by nature character, who I warned you all about when he told me anyone campaigning against the needless and brutal slaughter of our wildlife is an online troll. He was going for the Police Crime Commissioner role at the time, a keen Countryside Alliance chappie, hoping to persuade the rural crime team to turn a blind eye to hunting. And despite me telling you he was a wrong-un, the majority voted for him, because he had his picture taken with Boris Johnson, a very trustworthy prime minister after all.
He won, if you recall. But he didnโt seem to care; he had previous convictions for drunk driving and many other offences, which he failed to disclose to the electorate, and pulled out after the election, costing the local taxpayer millions for a re-election. The result of which changed nothing as he was swiftly replaced in the PCC role by Tory crony Phillip Wilkinson who is equally critical of anti-hunt supporters and admitted attending hunt balls himself.
So when you read your magazine, You & Your Family, spare a thought for You & Your Family, for the ones promoting it, the ones lying in it, couldnโt give a finger of fudge about You & Your Family, for if they did, they wouldnโt be fleecing the NHS, the taxpayers to fund their own mistakes, they wouldnโt be drunk driving, or posing a danger to the public pursuing a fox to slay for pompous drunk kicks, now, would they?! Thereโs a lot of people out there trying to scam you, clearly, the Conservative Party is the worst offender yet.
Last night I was privileged to sit in on the Dress Rehearsal for this wonderful production.ย It was like having a private viewing of a great work of art, with a chance to see how it all came together, and to figure out what made the whole thing tick.ย It was also a chance for cast and crew, together with Musical Director Roland Melia, and Stage Director Matt Dauncey to iron out any last-minute wrinkles.ย There were a few but, as the song goes, too few to mention.ย This show is absolutely ready to go live for the rest of the week!
Giacomo Pucciniโs La Bohรจme is one of the most famous operas ever written, following the unforgettable story of two young bohemian lovers in Paris at the end of the 19th century. When young poet Rodolfo meets seamstress Mimรฌ, itโs love at first sight. But, faced by the cruel realities of poverty and ill health, will the flame that burns between them flicker and die? Or will the timeless strength of their youthful passion withstand every trial and tribulation that life can throw at them? With a great love story comes a beautiful score, including arias like Musettaโs Waltz and โYes, they call me Mimรฌโ (Si, mi chiamano Mimรฌ).
A classic tale of tragic romance, La Bohรจme is a great opera for beginners and regulars alike. Director Matt had updated the setting to the 1960s, with fashion to match but, to me at least, it made little real difference to the superb quality of musical operatic delivery. Using WHOโs trade-mark stripped back lines in terms of scenery backdrops, props, costumes and musical accompaniment, this was nevertheless a production that felt rich and full.
The four principals absolutely shone. Guest tenor Robert Felstead (Rodolfo), and WHO stalwarts soprano Lisa House (Mimi), baritone Jon Paget (Marcello) and soprano Jess Phillips (Musetta) all put in superb performances. And thatโs not to diminish the quality of the rest of the cast in any way. Contributions all round were spot on, and the staging was confident and upbeat. The rapid interplay of dialogue singing during certain scenes meant that everyone had to be completely on their game and if there were any slip-ups I certainly didnโt spot them.
The whole production is sung in English in four acts, with a half-time interval. The programme provides excellent notes and a synopsis of the plot for each act, and the whole thing wraps up in about two hours. These factors make the production accessible to all and easy to digest. If youโve not tried opera before, this is the sort of production that should change your mind, and Iโd encourage anyone to give it a shot. Equally those who are perhaps more familiar with the opera will not be disappointed, as whatโs on offer here is a truly sparkling version of a classic.
Tickets are still available (both online and at Devizes Books) for performances tonight (Wednesday), and for Friday and Saturday.
Future WHO events:
Sat 18th May Top Of The Ops Seagrey, nr Chippenham
Fri 6th December Christmas Concert St. Andrewโs Church, Devizes
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 it (in a jealous rage!) there might be a gap in the market for mollusc porn! Birds, bees, now snails, theyโre all getting some!
Okay, letโs get you out and about, and you never know your luck, you too can be like those snails! 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 with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.
Ongoing: Devizes RAF Squadron still have their Easter Egg Hunt running across Devizes, until 14th April; Iโd have eaten the lot by now!
And then There Were None runs at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes until Saturday; review HERE.
Wednesday 10th
Crafty Kids at Hillworth Park, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at The Southgate. White Horse Operaโs La Boheme at Lavington School opens and runs up to Saturday.
Runny Snotts Open Mic at the Three Crowns, Chippenham.
Dom Martin Solo Tour with special guest: Demi Marriner, at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Easter Panto, Beauty And The Beast at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Pop Kids Mini Rave at the Vic, with a Big Jam Session in the evening.
Thursday 11th
PSG Choir taster session at the King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.
Boo Hewerdine plus support: Vlado Nosal at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Tommy Hale & the Magnificent Bastards at the Beehive, Swindon. Lost Revellers at The Tuppenny. Tanwood Youth Theatreโs Frozen Jr. opens at Swindon Arts Centre, runs until Sunday. An Evening Of Burlesque at The Wyvern Theatre.
Friday 12th
Karaoke Night with Karl Maggs at the Exchange, Devizes.
Open Mics at The Barge on HoneyStreet, and The Parade Cinema, Marlborough.
Americana Beer Festival at The Bell, Bowden Hill, Lacock.
Sound of the Sirens at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Bluebeard in support.
This Carpenters Masquerade at Melksham Assembly Hall.
West of England Youth Orchestra Relaxed Family Concert at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Heavy For the Tropics at The Three Horseshoes.
Jon Amor Trio at The Ram, Bath. Emma Stevens Bandโs โBloomโ Tour plus support from BLรNID at Chapel Arts.
Barrelhouse at The New Inn, Swindon. Motorheadache at the Vic. Plucking Different at the Beehive. 12 Bars Later at The Village Inn, Shaw. Sir Bradley Wiggins at The Wyvern Theatre.
The Scribesโ Boombox at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Saturday 13th
Museum Explorers Club โ Animals in the Museum at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. Museum Explorers club is for 5-7 year olds and is an introduction to popular topics such as the Romans and Ancient Egyptians. The Great British Yarn Crawl at Pins & Needles on Snuff Street, Devizes.
Humdinger at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Cooperโs Creek at The Southgate. Dreamettes at Devizes Conservative Club. And Stevie MC is in the mix at the Exchange.
But, Editorโs Pick of the Week is The Marley Experience at the Corn Exchange, Devizes. Iโve been looking forward to this since CrownFest last summer; hope to see you thereโฆjamminโ โtil the jam is done!
Meatloud at Melksham Assembly Hall. The Corsairs at The Grapes. The Singing Herdsman at The Pilot.
The Chaos Brothers at The Talbot, Calne.
The Monkey Dolls at the Lamb, Marlborough.
The Exact Opposite at the Pump, Trowbridge.ย
The Idle Silence, Cult Python, & Otterman at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Fire & Rain & American Pie at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Stockers Street Food Festival at The Hop, Swindon. The Daybreakers at the Vic.
The Good Old Fashioned Lover Boys at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.
The JB Conspiracy at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.ย
Top Secret โ The Magic of Science at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Mother Vulture at The Tree House.
Sunday 14th
CSF Wrestling at the Corn Exchange, Devizes. Jon Amor Trio Special with guest Stevie Watts at The Southgate.
Open Mic at Red Lion, Lacock.
Deadlight Danceโs The Wiltshire Gothic Album Launch at The Blue Boar, Aldbourne. Album reviewed HERE.
Murder Trial Tonight at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Barney & Kelly at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Monday 15th
Macbeth at Swindon Arts Centre, also runs on Tuesday.
Tuesday 16th
The Lost Trades at The Piggybank, Calne.
Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe event for Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon, A celebration of Herbie Hancock, with Tom Berge.
Poetika at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
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.
And, while we’re planning ahead, April is hotting up, believe me, loads of good, good, even gooder stuff and stuff gooder than them! Have a look at the coming month HERE.ย ย
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 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
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
Forget your pedal board setup for a moment, it was as if The Clones knew precisely what buttons to press to rouse the party crowd at The Three Crowns in Devizes last night, and whilst I’d admit it doesn’t take a lot to get them going, this four-piece certainly put an earnest shift inโฆ
It seems irrefutable, the Three Crowns is the go-to pub to party and let your hair down in Devizes right now, particularly for Millennials and those tipsy enough to think theyโre also twentysomething, like, I dunno, me?!! These wheels have been in motion for a few years and show no sign of slowing yet. Itโs busy but hospitable, uses card-only payments to speed up service, inside it serves a respectable plate, and if previous generations favoured DJs in club format, the modern method of live cover bands is the epoch The Three Crowns abides by, and delivers in a spacious heated and covered beer garden, with zest โฆ.but you knew this already, right?!
Whilst thereโs the obvious popularity of regularly returning local bands such as People Like Us, The Roughcut Rebels and Illingworth, itโs a blessing to see a new band to the pub attract the same colossal positive response. The Clones hail from Corsham, I was unaware of them and my curiosity paid off. As we witnessed in Devizes last night, they sure put the cor in Corsham. Akin to when Pewseyโs Humdinger arrived in a blaze of glory, the punters showed them the Devizes appreciation and the atmosphere was electric.
Through a motley genre-mapped setlist they delivered a range of covers all with gusto, sharp class and attention to detail. Two lead singers generally adopted different stances, one taking the funky, soul numbers, with a sublime medley of Superstition and equally funky classics, the other with a penchant for eighties new wave, mod to Britpop; the Jamโs A Town Called Malice being my fav of the set, if I was forced at gunpoint to provide one.
Yet both duetted on a number of miscellaneous pop and rock classics. There were few tunes you might consider clichรฉ, but they handled this well because often the crowd wants this, and mostly though sing-a-longs, they werenโt the archetypal songs to falter a cover band setlist. Daring attempts too, from Bowie to Jackoโs Billie Jean, there were some your average cover band should only try at home! It was nonstop fun, never attempting to sooth with a love ballad, or experiment with a synth, just the rock n roll four-piece format of drums, bass and lead, brought up-to-date with an exemplary setlist to rouse any diverse demographic audience.
It was loud, proud, and teetering with polished enthusiasm and professionalism. Landlords, if you want a band to make your punters thirsty by jumping for joy, this might be the cover band for you.
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
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
Last night at Devizes Corn Exchange I, and a packed house, witnessed the retelling of the six wives of Henry VIII, in an unique, contemporary and dazzling way. It was as if Andrew Lloyd Webber was directing Little Mix in a musical of Horrible Historiesโฆ.
Without hindsight I admit, I was apprehensive it would be my cuppa. It was mostly the fact young Jess Self starred in it which drew me to it. Truly a natural born star, I’ve witnessed firsthand the range of dramatics she handles with sublime ease, yet I was concerned her talent may upstage the other students appearing in Devizes Music Academy’s inaugural showcase.
I wasn’t wrong about Jess’s talent, playing the part of Jane Seymour, her solo ballad much in the musical style she’s accustomed brought the house down, but I hadn’t predicted how exceptionally close to that pedestal the other cast members would attain. It was a bonded girl band, to all intents and purposes, akin to the non-uniformed Spice Girls, where each girl’s contrasting characteristics and personalities have the freedom to be played out, but the ingenious part was that both the individuality of each performer, and the characters of the wives of Henry VIII intertwined so wonderfully if the concept is difficult to imagine, it simply worked wonders through their dedication.
Image: Gail Foster
I mean, yeah, Devizes most prestigious stage, the quality of light and sound engineering, and the clever design of the dresses to mesh Tudor styles with contemporary fashion, all benefitted, but the magic truly was in the performance, as they boomed onto the stage brewing with both with the joy of performing and confidence of an established pop band on tour. Backed by the precise choreography of the remaining students, the six wives came out in a force of unison, as did they finalise the show with two additional numbers.
With just enough narrative to inform and not prevent it turning into a full blown play, rather a pastiche of a pop party, they jostled each other for the spotlight with amusing Gen Z banter and staged a song-off battle brimming with historic facts. It was uniquely brilliant.
Image: Gail Foster
Each took a solo pitch in the chronological order of the King’s wives. I tried to keep track of this despite mostly staring out of the classroom window during history lessons! Katherine of Aragon first, played enthusiastically and skilfully with the egotistical diva of Miley Cyrus, by Ruby Phipps, and you’d be forgiven to assume her astute and amusing quips and side-eye glances at the others would be a comical showstopper, much too was the confidence in her vocals.
Amelie Smith as Anne Boleyn followed. A contrasting but equally engaging performance, with the Cockney-pseudo-rap-singing fashion of Kate Nash. It was clear each modern pop sub-genre would be inclusive with each solo, and each performer’s personal attributes would be encased within their characters; the casting was defined with excellence.
Image: Gail Foster
Jane Seymour next, her family-orientated persona perfect for Jess Self to light up the stage with the aforementioned breathtaking musical ballad. Truly a star, but the others, I now know, are too.
It then all went all Europop for Anne of Cleves, adapting her Germanic roots in the House of La Marck as a tekno club intro was a stroke of humorous genius. Played with gusto and inimitable panache, the exceptionally talented Kelsey Husband took no prisoners in a neo-soul blast akin to Missy Elliot come attitude of P!nk in a period drama; wowzers, it was as cool as a cucumber!
Image: Gail Foster
Mia Jepson as Catherine Howard implemented a more punky, indie fusion, as if lead in a Republica style band. The result was spellbinding and contrasting, and performed with confidence, as if singing like a rock legend was child’s play to Mia!
Image: Gail Foster
The final wife Kateryn Parr, played with a certain brilliance by Lisa Grime returned the vibe superbly back to a soulful ballad, and through beautiful vocals the harsh realities of their fates begun to reside over the folly and excitement of fame, exactly the downside of Henry VIII’s wives and contemporary pop stars might equally face. And that was where the unique spin resided. I said from concept to production the idea was a stroke of genius, didn’t I?!
Sure, we’ve seen modern makeovers of biblical or historical stories in musicals, from the Romeo and Juliet adaptation West Side Story to Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar, but nothing I know of which reflects a Gen Z pop concert to the letter, in so much as it was more a pop concert than play, and this conveyed the preference of the generation, and breathed zest and joy into a head-chopping historic referenced narrative.
Image: Gail Foster
A mahoosive congratulations to director and mentor Jemma Brown, and all the awesome students of Devizes Music Academy. It was absolutely fantastic, enough to take on tour, or perhaps, if you all became presenters of the History Channel, they’d move it to MTV and actually get viewers!!
While thereโs many great local options for schools of performing arts, judged from the quality of this show alone, Devizes Music Academyshows real potential in creating current programs which would really engage the youth of today.
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
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
Brave young fundraiser, Chloe Boyle did it! Just as she promised, Chloe slept outside in her garden Friday night, and raised an amazing ยฃ600 for homeless charity Devizes Opendoors; fantastic Chloe, congratulations! You are a trooper!
ยฃ57 of it Chloe raised herself, running a cuddly toy stall at school. But this amazing effort is only part of the continued fundraising Chloe has done for Opendoors and other charities.
If cities host Big Sleepouts, this was surely Devizes’ Little Sleepout, and brave Chloe managed the whole night outside. Mum, Julie said, โI have to say I wasn’t as prepared as I thought, for the amount of noise that happens all through the night.โ
โI am so incredibly proud of Chloe for sticking out what was a really tough night in the end. It is not like being at a campsite where everyone around you is there for a holiday too, and the noise is a minimum. She has definitely taught me something through this fundraiser too. She really is a beautiful soul.โ
We agree, well done, Chloe, and keep up the awesome fundraising. You are an inspiration to us all. Seems the Mayor thinks so too, and this week, Chloe received a young person’s civic award from the Mayor.ย A very busy Easter holiday!
Julie said, โall of her efforts are only possible because of the amazing people in our community.โ Thanks to everyone for their support, homelessness is increasing locally, and Opendoors is there to help.
Devizes Music Academy brings us Six: Teen Edition This Saturday, and we wish all the young performers the very best of luck!
So, I find myself chatting with Jemma Brown, who, if you live in Devizes but donโt know, you donโt get out much! With husband Anthony, theyโre the brainchild of drama group The Invitation Theatre Company, and FullTone, our homegrown orchestra which has thrilled audiences from Marlborough College to Bath Abbey and beyond, yet annually return to town to stage the most breathtaking FullTone Festivalโฆ.but thereโs a new style of show heading our way this Saturday 6th Aprilโฆ..
Jemma has brought together a phenomenal team under the Devizes Music Academy banner, a school of performing arts she has run for the past two years, and their phenomenal cast of young people, to bring an historical masterpiece to the stage in the centre of Devizes this weekend. Six:Teen Edition is a full-length adaptation of Toby Marlow and Lucy Mossโ Six, modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences.
Six was created and written by Marlow and Moss. What began as a one-off student production staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017 has gone on to be staged professionally, and is currently seen on stages in Londonโs West End, on Broadway and on tours across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and nowโฆ..(insert drum roll here) ….Devizes!!!
Twenty local 13-19 year olds will be smashing their way through the stories of the lives of Katherine of Aragon (Ruby Phipps), Anne Boleyn (Amelie Smith), Jane Seymour (Jess Self), Anne of Cleves (Kelsey Husband), Catherine Howard (Mia Jepson) and Kateryn (thatโs how you spell it!) Parr (Lisa Grime), with 14 Ladies in Waiting in support – and promises to be quite something.
Think our young people canโt pull off a show of this magnitude? Think again! Jemma said โweโve spent the week absolutely drilling this show in full scale all day rehearsals – the voices of the six queens are off the scale and the entire attitude towards the production from all the performers has blown us away. We have full on tech from the best team (Patch Productions) coming in and quite literally are bringing the West End to the West Country! The music, the story telling, the dancing, the total and pure emotion of the songs, both in hilarity and devastation, rivals adult productions – fact. I canโt quite believe weโre doing it and that the young performers themselves have pulled off such a fantastic end result. Itโs very very exciting!โ
Itโs on at Devizes Corn Exchange for one day only – Saturday 6th April, but thereโs two showtimes, 2:30pm and 7:30pm. The strapline asks, would โHenry VIII approve of this show?! When you see SIX, weโre pretty sure youโll all be in agreementโฆ.who cares?!โ Devzine wishes Jemma and all the youths performing, we know a few from previous performances, all the very best with this amazing sounding show, and Iโm certain, no one will need their heads chopped off!
We fully agree with Jemma when she expressed, โsupporting young talent is so important, because encouraging kids to put themselves out there is a fantastic thing andโฆ..you might be surprised just how much you enjoy this gem of a show!โ
Tickets are from Devizes Books priced ยฃ15/ยฃ20; or online HERE.
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
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
Well, I had fun, danced my little socks off at Paloozaโs inaugural house music experiment back in early March, and Iโm glad to hear theyโve another coming up on Friday May 10thโฆ.
Palooza delivered everything they said they would to the Devizes Exchange nightclub early March, with a knockout inaugural night of smooth house music vibes. Here’s my take on it. The DJs were bang on the money, the atmosphere was unpretentiously buzzing with positive and uplifting vibes I compared to the UK rave scene at its peak, but a few more through the door wouldโve been welcomed. As it is with dance music culture, a new thing has to grow and develop, and this works through word-of-mouth; hence why I mention it!
What impressed me most was the age demographic there. I spotted a number of older ravers, reliving their misspent youth, and I saw younger clubbers too, but all mingled with the shared ethos of good vibes, and thatโs what made the night so satisfying. If you missed the last one, I advise you check in on the next one in May; keep up-to-date with them on Facebook.ย Tickets are HERE.
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 yearsโฆ
Featured Image:@jenimeadephotography Just another rainy Saturday afternoon in Devizes, whereby I watched a profound fellow dramatically sacrifice himself to the devil, then popped toโฆ
Stone Circle Music Events announced today that all proceeds of CrownFest will be donated to Wiltshire Hope & Harmonyโs Dementia Choir. CrownFest is anโฆ
Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival is coming soon, over the 18th to the 20th April at Christ Church and free fringe events at the Royal Oak, both in the heart of Swindon, Old Townโฆ.
The 4th Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival continues to bring world class acts to Wiltshire, and this year includes a month of free entry Festival Fringe events at The Royal Oak Old Town.
The main event starts with ‘An Evening of Classic Soul’ (Friday 18th April) which is headlined by The Wonder of Stevie, the Ultimate Celebration of Stevie Wonder. The project has been a favourite throughout theatres and is the brainchild of two of the top performers in the UK, Noel McCalla and Derek Nash. Noel McCallaโs long association with the Morrisey Mullen Band earned him acclaim as โone of Britainโs best Soul Singers,โ (Blues and Soul Magazine). Noel’s vocals were featured with the iconic Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and he provided vocals on Mike Rutherford’s album, Smallcreep’s Day.
The award winning saxophonist Derek Nash has played with Jools Hollandโs Rhythm and Blues Orchestra since 2004 and is also a member of the Ronnie Scotts Blues Explosion. He has performed live with artists such as Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, David Sanborn, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Amy Winehouse and many, many more.
Billy & Louie Soul Band
The Evening of Classic Soul also features local talent Billy & Louie, will perform with their new nine-piece soul band, following their soul out debut concert. The duo are set to perform an array of soulful classics from Aretha Franklin to Bill Withers. Theyโll also perform soulful versions of some of their own material from their debut EP โManifesting Youโ.
On the David Knight Jazz Stage (Saturday 20th April) the line up is headlined by the Darius Brubeck Quartet. Born in San Francisco, Jazz pianist and composer Darius Brubeck grew up in the artistic milieu of his famous father Dave Brubeck and has enjoyed a lifetime of international experience as band leader, composer, teacher and broadcaster. Previously a Professor of music in South Africa, his concerts also feature South African music as well as some of Dave Brubeckโs iconic hits.
The 2023 festival added a showcase of music from Africa which was a huge success and the 2024 event will continue to include this genre. The African stage (Saturday 20th April) is headlined by Suntou Susso and his band. Celebrated across Africa and Europe, Suntou is a Kora player (a 22 stringed harp-lute), percussionist, singer and composer from The Gambia. Born into the 700-year-old Griot tradition, Suntou performs his role as a historian, storyteller, and unifier of people through song. The group combines the rich, traditional sound of West-African Mandinka culture with Afro jazz and soul.
The event also features favourites at Devizes Southgate, Two Man Ting, the Bristol-based duo 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. Also, Ibou Tall Quintet, Ian Bateman’s ‘It’s Trad, Dad’, Billy & Louie’s Soul Band,ย Kim Cypher Quartet, and more.
Two Man Ting
The Festival Fringe is being held at The Royal Oak Old Town which is the home of Tuesday weekly Jazz nights. From 19th March, leading up to the festival, they will be celebrating some of the biggest names in Jazz such as Herbie Hancock and Stan Getz, with some of the best musicians on the scene. All the fringe events are free entry and the first set is at 8pm. As well as the live music, their restaurant, The ChopTank will be serving a delicious menu before and during the first set. Please contact the venue directly for table or pre music dinner – 01793 977337.
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
Christmas has come early for foxes and normal humans with any slither of compassion remaining, as the government announced the righteous move to ban trailโฆ
In song Bob Marley made no exceptions. He spoke freely in several songs about the powers that be, trying to hush him. The summit of their disapproval led to an assassination attempt in December 1976โฆis his message the reason for a loud minority of locals trying to derail a tribute act gig, I mean, really?!!
On the Survival album he chanted about an โambush in the night, tryin’ to conquer me,โ and in the song Keep on Moving he openly told of his heartbreak at having to leave his family to exile in London.
It is not for me to reason why, neither would I dare compare the gravity of his plight with a seemingly petty recent local resistance against the tribute act The Marley Experience coming Devizes Corn Exchange on 13th April, but after complaints to the Council over signage advertising this event, now it seems some people have taken to Facebook to falsely claim the event has been cancelled.
We will not speculate why they have decided to do this, only say the event is most definitely going ahead. Eddie Prestidge of Wiltshire Events, hosting the gig, said, โthis is totally unfounded. Unfortunately this rumour has been posted by some malicious individuals for unknown reasons, but the show will go on. There are still a limited number of tickets available.โย
Whatever motives those deliberately trying to sabotage this event have, we really don’t care. There are no valid reasons for it. If you don’t want to go, don’t; simples. We’ve been looking forward to this. I’ve seen The Marley Experience before, and as a lifelong fan of Bob Marley and the Wailers, I will tell you, you will not be disappointed. These petty attacks on the event are counterproductive to their intentions, as they only serve us a darn good excuse to continue plugging this gig!
They’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel for pathetic attempts to derail this gig from going ahead, โHave pity on those whose chances grow thinner.โ
Get your tickets from Devizes Books, Sidmouth Street, or online here:
Two local musicians have joined forces as Nightingale Sounds to host their first Open Mic Night at the new Tap at the Peppermill in Devizesโฆ.
With a vision to showcase the local talent pool and provide a platform for networking, connection and collaboration, Nightingale invites you to join them for an evening full of wonder, on Tuesday 30th April; what better way to finish off the first month of spring?!
Welcoming all abilities and styles, they also embrace the use of backing tracks and can provide a session drummer and bassist to enhance solo performances.
At this stage they are not accepting full bands, but would love to hear from you regarding future ticketed events as they plan to ramp up the ante for musical events at The Tap at The Peppermill.
Either turn up on the night between 7-730pm to book your 2 song slot to or pre-book with Chrissy on 07521770189.
First week of April, thereโs no fooling you, hereโs what weโve found to doโฆ..
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 3rd
Crafty Kids in Hillworth Park, Devizes. RAF Cadetsโ Easter Egg Hunt continues across Devizes until 14th April. Easter Bouncy Castle Kingdom on the Green until 5th April.
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer in Wiltshire โ Free Talk at Melksham Library.
Screening of The Royal Opera Madama Butterfly at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Simon Munneryโs Jerusalem at Swindon Arts Centre.
Thursday 4th
Thereโs Easter themed holiday activities at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. Rum & Records at the Muck & Dunder, Devizes.
Andrew Hurst is at St Nicholas Church, Bromham.
Hooch at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Subhumans at the Vic. Griff Rhys Jones: The Catโs Pyjamas at Swindon Arts Centre. The Illegal Eagles at The Wyvern Theatre.
Salisbury Open Mic at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Plumhall at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Friday 5th
Brian Poole at Long Street Blues Club, Devizes.
Teenage Halloween, Start The Sirens and Trashed at The Pump, Trowbridge. Open Mic at Newtown Social Club.
12 Bars Later at The 3 Brewers, Corsham.
The Forgetting Curve & Little Villains at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Kammerphilharmonie Europa at the Wiltshire Music Centre.
Swindon Old Town Comedy Club at Christ Church. Black Parade at the Vic. Phil Ellisโ Excellent Comedy Show at Swindon Arts Centre. King of Pop starring Navi and Jennifer Batten at The Wyvern Theatre.
Martin Carthy at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Norman Jayโs Norman Soul at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 6th
Jamie Williams
Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective at The Southgate, Devizes. The Clones at The Three Crowns. SIX: The Musical โ Teen Edition at the Corn Exchange. Back to the 80s party night at the Bear Hotel.
Mick Jogger & the Stones Experience at Seend Community Centre.
Siren at The Pilot, Melksham.
John Hackett Band at the Pump, Trowbridge.
Cara Dillon at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Desperate Measures, The Setbacks & Death Traps at the Three Horseshoes.
John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett at The Merlin Theatre, Bath.
The Beatles Complete Tribute Show at the Athenaeum Centre, Warminster.
Gaz Brookfield is in the Tent, at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
41 Fords at Tuckerโs Grave Inn, Faulkland.
Motley Crude at the Vic, Swindon. Swindon Recital Series at Swindon Arts Centre. Northern Live โ Do I Love You at The Wyvern Theatre.
A Band Called Malice at The Tree House, Frome.
Sunday 7th
Jim Blair at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.
Open Mic at The Red Lion, Lacock.
Little Wander PresentsโฆRia Lina at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. The Ben Fletcher Band at the Three Horseshoes.
Dreamboys at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Monday 8th
And then There Were None opens at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes, running until Saturday.
Tuesday 9th
Fish n Chip Supper & Quiz Night in aid of RNLA at Devizes Conservative Club.
Cafรฉ Concert at St Andrewโs Chippenham.
Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe, a Celebration of Wes Montgomery with Nigel Price at Jazz Knights, The Royal Oak, 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.
And, while we’re planning ahead, April is hotting up, believe me, loads of good, good, even gooder stuff and stuff gooder than them! Have a look at the coming month HERE.
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!
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunesโฆ
Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season with BBC Big Band, Ute Lemper, Sir Willard White and comedians Chris Addison and Alistair McGowan revealing theirโฆ
Daphneโs Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in theโฆ
Part 1: An Introduction March 1936: newlywed French telecommunications engineer Pierre Schaeffer relocates to Paris from Strasbourg and finds work in radio broadcasting. He embarksโฆ
Yesterday Wiltshire Council published an โupdateโ on the lane closure on Northgate Street in Devizes as the fire which caused it reaches its first anniversary.โฆ
Join the St Johnโs Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th Decemberโฆ
This afternoon I find myself contemplating what the future holds for historical discovery and learning for all ages, fun and educational exhibits and events inโฆ
Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlboroughโs singer-songwriter Gus Whiteโs debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and itโs moreโฆ
Join Devizes Opendoors for a sponsored walk, at 9.30 am on Sunday 12 May 2024,ย (registration from 9am) to support the work of Opendoors, which helps local homeless and vulnerable people. They ensure that they have a hot meal, clean clothes and bedding, help to tackle problems like finding a home, getting medical assistance, or sorting out financial difficulties….
It’s an eight mile circular walk to the south of Devizes, from the Guide Hall on Coate Road. The route is mainly flat and easy terrain but with a few small hills on the way. The route passes through Nursteed Village, Sleight, and Stert, then returns to the Guide Hall via the Wessex Ridgeway.
The walk organised by the Devizes Lions gives the opportunity to all the local groups and charities to raise funds for their particular good causes.
There is a shorter walk for young children. Dogs are welcome!
The walk is suitable for all ages and abilities. There will be marshals and safety vehicles at strategic points along the route should anyone require assistance. There will be a drink station on route and at the Guide Hall at the end of the walk.
Wiltshire Councilโs ambitious plans to resurface all the roads in Devizes before the next ice age have been cancelled because rare dinosaur fossils have been found in the potholes on Estcourt Street, by the Morrisons roundaboutโฆ.
Head of Wiltshire Council, Dick Cleaver, a keen fossil finder in his spare time, discovered the fossil of what is believed to be a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex when inspecting the potholes personally. โI’ve always had a keen eye for spotting fossils,โ he explained, โthere’s lots of them at County Hall.โ
โWe’ve suspected Devizes had a prehistoric past, a breeding ground for dinosaurs like the T-Rex we’ve found,โ Cllr Cleaver continued. โThis is why we’ve deliberately not fixed a single pothole for the last decade or two, but we couldn’t announce the reasoning until we found some concrete evidence.โ
Now they have, Wiltshire Council have had no choice but to suspend plans to fix the potholes. โThey are of vital archaeological interest,โ the councillor expressed, โa freestanding baby Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil perfectly intact like this is an extraordinarily rare find. Who knows what other feeble excuses, oh, sorry, I meant paleontological relics the potholes will unearth? Archaeology excavations are costly, thanks to the potholes we’ve saved crucial spending costs to the taxpayers.โ
It is thought the dinosaur died from either Sarsan dropstones falling from the melting glacier on Roundway Hill, 65 million years ago to this very day, the 1st of April, or it was hit by a speeding Waltery Rosely butchers delivery driver. Councillor Yan Wallish said, โit is unfortunate that local archaeologist Professor Brian Schmuck, the independent verificator of the discovery sadly has gone mysteriously missing in his brand new Porsche just hours before releasing his report, and the document is password secured on his Speak & Spell.โ
The contract for excavation of the site has been awarded to Strongishold Global Archaeological Research, a newly-formed subsidiary of John Turnerโs company, partner of local MP Michelle Donenought. Ms Donenought was excited by the news, stating, โthere’s been a decline in requirements for bogus PPE fleecing the NHS, since the end of the pandemic, and Johnny’s profits have felt the crunch; we thought we might have to sell the second yacht. By coincidence SGAR has just been set up for precisely this kind of exciting discovery, so we’re delighted; imagine trying to live with just the one yacht, like Chippenham chavs. Oh, by the way, I can say what I like about anyone now, and if they sue, you the taxpayers cough it up, how fantabulous is that?โ
Amazingly fortunate, SGAR was registered as a company at London’s Company House, with its banking in the Cayman Islands, just five minutes before the discovery of the fossil. With the potholes already at considerable depth, little further work needs to be done over the next millennium and the company could employ as many as three experts in the field. โExpect an insignificant rise in your council tax to cover the cost,โ Cllr Cleaver explained, โfor as little as an extra ยฃ30 a week to the average household, Devizes could become the archeological site of interest for the entire county, especially as we’re wrecking Stonehenge this coming summer. I’m sure residents will be delighted with the news.โ
Accusations made by Wiltshire’s gutter press, the Wiltshire Hive newsite were quickly dismissed by the council. Editor Kenny J Plebb, alleged the discovery was a hoax, and a feeble excuse for not fixing the potholes, as he spoke with Cllr Cleaver’s mum, who claimed some fossils had recently gone missing from her son’s private collection which he kept in a biscuit tin under his bed. Then she asked the Wiltshire Hive reporter for the fifty quid he offered her, but Kenny just ran away giggling, after showing her his Spiderman underpants.
Councillor Yan Wallish reminded residents that the roads are the property of Wiltshire Council, and anyone found interfering with any archaeological discoveries, by โdriving past them with the expression of a woke loony lefty,โ would result in the persons responsible being permanently banned from his Tory bias pornographic Facebook group, Devizes Tissues. โAnd no one wants that to happen,โ he expressed, โif they want the free pix of Liz Truss in her undercrackers, that I recently acquired, and who wouldn’t? Corr, I’ve cracked a few out over that, I tell you.โ
The baby Tyrannosaurus Rex townsfolk are calling โBarney,โ was approached for an interview, but as of yet has refused to comment, which is a shame because he would likely make more sense than your average Tory councillor dinosaur. What is becoming clear through these findings is that Devizes was hugely populated with these beasts, but despite the T-Rex left masses of footprints measuring 1.55 feet in length, Devizes roads were significantly smoother during the Jurassic period than they are now. Mum may have gone to Iceland, but it seems T-Rex shopped at Morrisons. The dinosaurs were naรฏve to a bargain, and likely missed out on hotdog stuffed crust pizza and chicken tikka lasagne for a pound fifty each.
The only question remains if the dinosaurs of today’s Devizes are equally as naรฏve to believe any of this April Fools joke. I’d like to think it’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel to expect anyone to fall for this, but the clickbait keywords are all here for a healthy hitting article, like Devizes and pothole, hot topics right now for some unknown reason.
Having to unfortunately miss Devizesโ blues extravaganza on Friday, I crossed the borderline on Saturday to get my prescribed dosage of Talk in Codeโฆwithโฆ
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 secondโฆ
Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Ladeโs latest offering of soulful pop. Itโs timelessly coolโฆ
Words by Ollie MacKenzie. Featured Image by Barbora Mrazkova.ย The creative process can be a winding, long, and often confusing journey. Seeing a projectโฆ
Whoโs ready for walking in the winter wonderland?! Devizes sets to magically transform into a winter wonderland this Friday when The Winter Festival andโฆ
November was one crazy month for our friend and researcher from the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England, Brian Edwards. Undoubtedly our only friend from the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England!
Brian still found the time to chat with me, despite national media hot on the story and hounding him. I didnโt follow the scoop up with a feature, at the time, as it was all over the national news before Iโd put the kettle on. Something Andy Warhol apparently said about being famous for fifteen minutes, which itโs likely he didnโt, but there you are. Brian certainly was so, more than poor ol’ Lot Long, the thatcher subject of Victorian photographer Ernest Farmer, who subsequently became the both unlikely and unsuspecting cover pin-up for a Led Zeppelin album…probably on minimal wage too!
Since the national sensation has retracted somewhat, the amazing find is being brought back local, as Wiltshire Museum in Devizesopens an exhibition celebrating the work of Ernest Farmer, on April 6th, and running until the 1st September. Itโs going to be an interesting one, as little is known about the photographer, despite being a leading figure in the development of photography as an art form.ย
A Wiltshire Thatcher โ a Photographic Journey through Victorian Wessex, will show how Farmer captured the spirit of people, villages and landscapes of Wiltshire and Dorset that were so much of a contrast to his life in London. While Iโm sure there will be some fascinating photographs on display, of course, the kingpin to it all is this world renowned image of the elderly thatcher carrying a large bundle of sticks on his back and still coming up smiling! An iconic 1971 cover for famously featuring no words, Led Zeppelin IV has sold more than 37 million copies worldwide. The framed image in a hint of rural and urban contrasts is understood to have been discovered by Robert Plant in an antique shop near Jimmy Pageโs house in Pangbourne, still its origins were unknown even to the band.
The origin of the central figure has remained a mystery for over half a century; thatโs where our Brian stepped into the story. He recently discovered it in a late Victorian photograph album. His research involved monitoring everyday sources that stimulated public engagement with Wiltshireโs past. While following up on some early photographs of Stonehenge, Brian came across the Victorian photograph Led Zeppelin made familiar over half a century ago, and likely, being a bit of headbanger in his past, nearly spilled his coffee all over it in shock!! (He’s going to love me for saying that bit!)
The exhibit promises some exceptional Victorian photographs from Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset, featured in Ernest Farmerโs photograph album titled โReminiscences of a visit to Shaftesbury. Whitsuntide 1892. A present to Auntie from Ernest.โ Thereโs over a hundred architectural views and street scenes together with a few portraits of rural workers.ย
So, if there’s a feeling you get, when you look to the West, and your spirit is crying for leaving, do check this exhibit out; I will, and no doubt you’ll want me to report my findings. Why not strap a bundle of hazel on my back while you’re at it, and I’ll thatch your roof for you too?!!
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
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
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, here she comes again,โ proving two things: one; heโs never been a milkman, and two; theyโve covered the Cult classic Rain on their upcoming second album, The Wiltshire Gothic, released tomorrow, 29th March 20224. Iโm one step ahead, you are advised to catch upโฆ.
If the time of the Black Death brought about radical advances in music and arts, weโre engulfed in a similar epoch post-lockdown; lone contemplation and plotting is paying off with overwhelming creative output, and Deadlight Dance is a perfect example. Messages exchanged between two members of an ex-St Johnโs Sixth Form late eighties gothic band, Nick, and multi-instrumentalist Tim Emery, was the root, a retrospective passion to return and pay homage to their influences. The result, a reunited touring duet finding a new-wave-gothic gap in the market, and the recording of an astounding debut album, Beyond Reverence last year.
The debut was superb original material top-heavy, nodding to their influences through substantial synths and drum machines; to suggest the Wiltshire Gothic is an addition to the concept is wildly off mark. Live, the pair appeased audiences through covers, with a strengthening acoustic take; think how Gary Jules stripped back Tears for Fearโs Mad World in 2003, add some lutes, youโre close enough to the picture. It was Timโs idea to record them, and Nickโs wish to do so in an Anglo-Saxon church. Tim said, โwe wanted to capture that side of the band. We were moving forward with the sound from the first album, but this was no more or no less valid.โ
On 28th November 2023 Deadlight Dance played some of their favourite covers acoustically at the 12th century All Saints Church in Alton Priors and with help from filmmaker Haunting the Atom, shot a promotional video. They felt it vital to clarify the church had no heating and averaged 3o; but hey, you are goths, I thought you liked coldness?! โMy initial idea was to involve Nick Beere of Mooncalf Studios,โ Tim furthered, โand record them live there, with a view to perhaps releasing them.โ Tomorrow you can hearken the result, essentially join them in that church.
The Wiltshire Gothic is a love letter to the songs of Deadlight Danceโs early days playing music, discovering bands, and then ultimately discovering themselves, through music. A love letter you can copy and paste because the effect is a thing of beauty. Three songs each from The Cure and The Cult, two of Joy Division, one being Love Will Tear Us Apart, naturally. Others from Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim, The Mission, The Weeknd, Sisters of Mercy, and lastly, the one alongside love tearing us apart which you need not have been a goth to appreciate, OMDโs Enola Gay. But hey, this is so encapsulating itโs enough to turn Roy Chubby Brown into a goth!!
If I award points for doing what it says on the tin, The Wiltshire Gothic is off the scale. For me, with mandolin, mandocello and bouzouki blessing these covers, subtle bass, and Nickโs evocative and mood-fluctuating vocal range, Iโm taken back to my innocence of youth, and its drive, born of frustration and anxiety for the mysterious direction life might take me. New to the Marlborough area, as a teenager, friends took me exploring the sights they mightโve taken for granted, off the beaten track. Iโm there again, sharing a bottle of red wine, perched atop West Kennet Long Barrow or the Devilโs Den, gazing into the sunrise. And Robert Plant resonates โoh, dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light,โ from a busted-up cassette recorder. The Wiltshire Gothic is this enchanting, the selection of lutes, the pure acoustics ringing out simplicity, breathes the fire of a dragon into authentic, timeless folk.
And there it is, yeah, Deadlight Dance are recapturing the gothic classics of their youth sublimely. In the video Nick stresses the flexibility of goth-rock compared to the confines of archetypal folk, but if these are the songs you took out with you, on your Walkman, even if just to Marlboroughโs Priory Gardens during school lunchbreak, then they are, in essence, your folk. They mayโve broken the mould, and thatโs good, isnโt it, thatโs what post-punk was all about? And that is what The Wiltshire Gothic not only recaptures, but reimages, divinely. It’s as if Robert Smith sang his songs in an 18th century Wiltshire field, whilst uprooting turnips!
โBecause of the unique instrumentation,โ Nick explained, โwe didnโt worry too much about staying too close to the original versions and felt we could be respectful to the original artists in how we interpreted their music. Itโs not a radical shift in direction for us; this has always been part of our sound. I would imagine weโll follow this up with another dramatic musical tangent.โ
The Wiltshire Gothic is released via Ray Records on Friday 29th March 2024, streaming everywhere worldwide. Available on Bandcamp. A limited run of physical copies is available from the band. The album is accompanied by a short film of the day that is released on YouTube on release day, we will add the link tomorrow. Deadlight Dance have an album launch on Sunday 14th April at The Blue Boar in Aldbourne from 6pm.
In thanking everyone who supported this year’s Wiltshire Music Awards, Eddie Prestidge of Stone Circle Music Events revealed his intentions of continuing with the awardsโฆ
Featured Image: Lillie Eiger Frome Festival is launching itsย โ25 for 25โย fundraising campaign with a very special concert featuring three locally based acts:ย Tom Mothย โ best knownโฆ
Iโve got some gorgeous vocal harmonies currently floating into my ears, as The Lost Trades release their first single since the replacement of Tamsin Quinโฆ
Rolling out a Barrelhouse of fun, you can have blues on the run, tomorrow (7th November) when Marlborough’s finest groovy vintage blues virtuosos Barrelhouse releaseโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ben Swann and Ian Diddams Self-appointed โMoroseโ Mark Harrison was once again on totally top form at Komedia last Sunday entertainingโฆ
Wiltshire Council confirmed Blue Badge holders can park freely in council-operated car parks again, following a vote at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday 21โฆ
Featured Image Credit: Jamie Carter Special guests Lightning Seeds to Support Forest Live, Forestry Englandโs summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has announcedโฆ
Wiltshire country singer-songwriter Kirsty Clinch released a Christmas song only yesterday, raising funds for the Caenhill Countryside Centre near Devizes, and itโs already racing upโฆ
It was never just the fervent ambience created which made me go tingly with excitement about Melkshamโs young indie band Between The Linesโ demo singleโฆ
An exodus of musical lovers and, I’d assume, a healthy handful of friends and family, trekked southwards through winter’s final ambush last night, to enjoy the opening night of a dazzling performance of Sister Act at Dauntsey’sโฆ..
It was presented by the established local amateur dramatics group, Devizes Musical Theatre. I stress my usage of the word amateur in its foremost dictionary definition; the opposite of professional. The second connotation it was in some way inept couldn’t be further from the truth in this case. A common misconception in creative arts, I find, whereby those in it for the love thrust their hearts, soul, and elbow grease into it, more so than a pro going through the motions for their paycheck. The result usually is perhaps something raw, but highly entertaining and enjoyable, and their production certainly was the latter.
The run ends on Saturday (30th March,) at the last count just fourteen tickets remained, so I advise you to be quick, and lucky, to pick some up. It’s a large hall, selling it out proves the grand reputation Devizes Musical Theatre has built locally, this performance hits their pedestal.
With a debatable focus on the singing rather than acting, the benchmark of a good musical, surely, there’s some show-stopping moments. Georgia Watson makes the perfect diva Deloris, and there’s both astounding vocals and comic timing from Louise Peak as Mother Superior and Barry Gibney, who plays the socially awkward police chief Eddie. Particularly noteworthy is Grace Sheridan who plays Sister Mary Robert, in song and conviction of the influence Deloris holds over the convent.
Yet high accolades go out to all the actors, stage directors and team; Adam Sturges, Oli Beech and Simon Hoy as the mobsters, Gareth Lloyd as mafia boss Curtis, Graham Day as Monsignor OโHara and the huge backing of those wonderful singing nuns! It is the combination of their motivation and exceptional effort which makes this such a dynamic show, coupled with the elementary notion, Sister Act has universal appeal and is simply fun on a stick!
In critical reflection, the musical concludes somewhat differently from the movie. Without spoilers, the amusing scene where Deloris prays for Godโs forgiveness unto the mobsters holding a gun to her head, causing them to question their ability to shoot her, wrongly perceiving her as a nun, is replaced by a more slapstick finale akin to a Benny Hill chase scene. Yet on further consideration into my rather geeky complaint, I guess this works better on stage, such is the jollification of a musical, often bordering pantomime. And it wraps it up faster, allowing more time for these astute and timeless Motownesque songs. Devizes Musical Theatre use this to their advantage; you certainly get your money’s worth.
Veils off to first time director Emily Holmes, and musical director Naomi Ibbetson for an apt and fantastic show, which will send you off thoroughly entertained, and with a smile.
A second track from local anonymous songwriter Joyrobber has mysteriously appeared online, and heโs bitter about not getting his dream jobโฆ.. If this mysterious dudeโsโฆ
Itโs not Christmas until the choir sings, and Devizes Chamber Choir intend to do precisely this by announcing their Christmas Concert, as they have doneโฆ
If Devizesโ celebrated FullTone Festival is to relocate to Whistley Roadโs Park Farm for next summerโs extravaganza, what better way to give it the rusticโฆ
This afternoon sees the inaugural grand ceremony of Stone Circle Music Eventsโ Wiltshire Music Awards taking place at the Devizes Corn Exchange. Itโs a selloutโฆ
In association with PF Events, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts introduces a Young Urban Digitals course in video mapping and projection mapping for sixteen to twentyโฆ
I have, what I like to call, a fortuitous fashion sense, meaning I open the wardrobe and whatever happens to fall out of it, I put on. Much as I’m a vogue window shopper, it doesn’t prevent me from telling you about an important fundraising fashion show happening right here in Devizesโฆ
Yep, Devizes! Devizes fashion, is that even a thing?! It is now and for a worthy cause. Sit back and enjoy your complimentary glass of fizz (or non-alcoholic alternative) as you watch a spring style showcase event live at the Condado Lounge, Devizes on May 2nd, 6-8pm, hosted by the BBCโs Ali Vowles.ย
The show has been curated by independent boutique, Spirit, and circular fashion pioneers 1st Impressions. Once youโve viewed the show, youโll have an opportunity to browse and buy the clothes as well as be in with the chance to win some fabulous prizes in the raffle, including a three course meal for two at The Pig, Bath, a gin tasting experience at Still Sisters, Sustainable candles from Paddywax Candle Bar and gift vouchers for a pampering session at the Beauty Bar, Bath.
You can choose from two ticket options, the gold gets you a free glass of fizz and tasty tapas board for one, whereas the silver just gets you the fizz!
Fashion against Fear is the ultimate night out for fashionistas, supporting FearFree, a charity working to break the cycle of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking across the Southwest. Free-Fear supports over 10,000 adults and children every year to not only keep them safe but help them to rebuild their lives free from fear and abuse. Find out more about FearFree here.
Now, I know, you’d all like me to steal the show in my LBD, all satins and statement sequins, a daring off the shoulder, or mini cowl neckline number perhaps. I know you know I’ve got the legs to pull it off, and I know you know I know, but really, darlings, others have to have their turn in the spotlight. Don’t let the fact Iโll probably be slouching on the sofa in my Batman onesie stuffing onion rings into my chubby cakehole rather than shaking my little tush on the catwalk put you off! If youโre too sexy for Milan, New York or Japan, vogue Devizes style and raise some cash for a worthy cause; you’re a superstar, yes, that’s what you are, you know it!
by Ian Diddamsimages by Penny Clegg and Shakespeare Live โAntony & Cleopatraโ is one of Shakespeareโs four โRoman Playsโ, and chronologically is set after โJuliusโฆ
Unlike Buck Rogers, who made it to the 25th century six hundred years early, Devizesโ most modest acoustic virtuoso arrives at the 21st just shortโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Media and Ian Diddams Whilst probably best known for his editorship of โPrivate Eyeโ magazine and thirty-five years asโฆ
I mean, Devizes own contemporary blues throwback, JP is getting bookings, and rightly so. He’s off to Trowbridgeโs Lamb next Saturday for a double-bill withโฆ
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 springโฆbecause we wear a headtorch, you see? Oh, never mind, what do you care?! You just want me to tell you whatโs happening over the eggtastic week in the wilds of Wiltshire; suppose so, if I must! Happy Easter one and all!
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.ย
Wednesday 27th
Last day to catch Vowvas film screening at Parnella House, Devizes, see poster for details.
Devizes Books PresentsโฆThe Island Continent; A trip through the history and culture of Australia at Wiltshire Museum. From the achievements of early Aboriginal tribes, through visits from European explorers, the inhabitants of the Red Centre and finally to the work of Australian imports to this country, they celebrate all that is great about the Antipodean life and culture. With contributions from Thomas Keneally, Nevil Shute, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Billy Connolly. An evening devised and introduced by Lewis Cowen. 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets, ยฃ6, includes a glass of wine or soft drink and nibbles. Tickets available from Devizes Books cash only please. Or book by phoning 01380 725944 and pay cash on the door.
The regular Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. And Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.
Opening night of Editorโs Pick of Week, Devizes Musical Theatre brings Sister Act to Daunstyโs School in West Lavington.
Siรขn Dicker: Waltonโs Songbook and Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, both at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Rondo Variety Show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Bethlehem Casuals at The Bell, Bath.
Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard at The Tree House, Frome.
Thursday 28th
Starting Thursday and running all weekend, Wadworth have open days at the Wadworth Brewery & Tap Shop, Devizes, promising a โWeโll Meet Again Big Weekend.โ
Regular PSG Choir workshop at King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.
Stuart Rolfe and Becky Lawrence at The Old Bell, Warminster.
Robert Brown at The Beehive, Swindon. Flo Parker Bombosch & Sienna Wileman at The Tuppenny. And itโs Vic Fest 2024 at the Vic, celebrating its tenth year, music all Easter โBandโ Holiday Weekend: eggs opening at 7:30pm with Chasing Dolls, Ritual Divide, Kotonic, Trashed and Falls On Deaf Ears.
Luisa Omielanโs Bitter at Swindon Arts Centre, and The Best Of Queen at the Wyvern.
Friday 29th
Easter Bunny Hunt across Devizes by the Devizes RAF Cadets, all weekend.
People Like Us at The Three Crowns, Devizes.
Some reggae and soca with David Brewster at the Bear, Marlborough.
Future Sound of Trowbridge #7 at the Pump, Trowbridge with Nothing Rhymes With Orange, SOAK and Feedback. Junkyard Dogs at The Red Admiral, Trowbridge.
Martyโs Fake Family at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. Regular Music event at the Cause Cafe in Chippenham.
Iain Ballamyโs Fascinada at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. The Boot Hill All Stars at The Three Horseshoes.
Funkkinsteins at The Beehive, Swindon. The Chaos Brothers at The Ashford Road Centre. A Country Night in Nashville at the Wyvern. Vic Fest continues at the Vic, with Truck, Nervendings, Men In Vests, The Belladonna Treatment and Fluff.
Tool Shed: A Tribute to Tool at The Tree House, Frome. General Levy at the Cheese & Grain – amazing, and it doesnโt look sold out yet!
Saturday 30th
Melksham Lions Easter Egg Hunt.
Tom Davis & The Bluebirds at The Southgate, Devizes. Funked Up at the Pelican.
Nick Harperโs Tempus Fugitive tour at St Peterโs, Marlborough. Barrelhouse at The Lamb. And a reggae party with Razah-Hi-Fi at the Royal Oak.
Josh Kumra at the Barge, HoneyStreet.
The Unpredictables at The Bell, Great Cheverell.
Brad Stevens at The Consti Club, Chippenham.
The Lost Trades at The Pump, Trowbridge, sold out Iโm afraid. Be Like Will at the West Wilts Con Club in Trowbridge. Miss Bridy & The Two Notes at Gloucester Road Conservative Club. The Ultimate Retro Disco Party at the Civic.
Be Like Will
The Buttmonkeys at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Mix at St Margaretโs Hall.
The Blue Moon Band at Tuckerโs Inn, Faulkland.
The Jukebox Graduates at The Swiss Chalet, Swindon. SGO at The Beehive. The Chaos Brothers at The Ashford Road Club. Awakening Savannah at The Woodlands Edge.
Marquee Square Heroes at Swindon Arts Centre. Bowie Live at the Wyvern. And Vic Fest at the Vic has Modern Evils, Life In Mono, Bluntnose, Sebastian & Me, Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Colour of Bone.
Reubenโs Daughters at the New Inn, Bath.
Junkyard Dogs at The Sun, Frome. The Wurzels at the Cheese & Grain. Viva Morrissey at The Tree House.
Junkyard Dogs
Sunday 31st
Scrambled Eggs Easter Hunt at Hillworth Park, Devizes. Illingworth at The Three Crowns. Adam Woodhouse’s Thieves at The Southgate, highly recommended if you like your Americana.
Thieves
Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.
Junkyard Dogs at Calne Liberal Club.
Rob Clamp at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
Sunday at Vic Fest, Swindon sees Kid Klumsy, Visceral Noise Department, AnyMinuteNo, Mr Badaxe, Rebel Station, Disruptive Influence, Bear Noir and Dangermind, from 5:30pm.
James Hollingworth at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Authentics at Tuckerโs Inn, Faulkland.
Moonlit Poachers with Jake Puntis at the Long Room in Box.
Carmina 3 at The Bell, Bath, and a Palestine fundraiser with DJs Goodgroove, JayCee, and others, see poster.
Monday 1st April
Canal & River Trustโs Letโs Walk through Caen Hill & Jubilee Wood. South Western at The Three Crowns, Devizesfrom 3pm-5pm.
Junkyard Dogs at The Red Lion, Lacock.
Tuesday 2nd
Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe presents at Celebration of Stan Getz with Terry Quninney, for Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon
And 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.
And, while weโre on about planning ahead, April is hotting up, believe me, loads of good, good, even gooder stuff and stuff gooder than them! Have a gander at the coming month HERE.ย ย
I would recommend Andrew Hurst at St Nicholas Church in Bromham Thursday 4th, Brian Poole at Long Street Blues Club Friday 5th, Mick Jogger at Seend Community Hall on Saturday 6th and the John Hackett Band at the Pump, or Cara Dillon at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Following week, you can find And Then There Were None opening at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes Monday 8th, and the Marley Experience on 13th April at Devizes Corn Exchange; unmissable.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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 FB 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!
Tell Us About Your Event
Please make sure we’ve not already picked it up and listed it before submitting, it saves me a lot of time; thank you!
Big up the Easter weekend, remember Easter is a time for celebrating the coming of spring, the beauty it encompasses, and the bringing of new life to the worldโฆ. by all means cover yourself in melted chocolate and ask your partner to get licking, but unless youโre prepared for all the gubbings bringing a new life into the world personally presents, be sensible and pop a Johnny on it! Filth, I know, but only the headstrong read this far!!
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
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 Hucknallโฆ
Nothing cruel about our George Wilding; with his perfect match and another local legend of local music, Jolyon Dixon, they’re knocking out great singles likeโฆ
Thereโs a new single from Bristol-based Nothing Rhymes With Orange out tomorrow (Saturday 20th September) which takes the band to a whole new level, andโฆ
The Liberal Democratโs are today celebrating a historic election win in the heart of Marlborough, in the first contested Town Council election for thirteen yearsโฆ.
In what was dubbed a “Battle of the Carolines,” the Lib Dem Caroline Sadler triumphed with 62% of the vote in what was once a traditional Conservative heartland.
The result came in at just after 11pm on Thursday night. A delighted Caroline Sadler paid tribute to Caroline Wrench (the Conservative candidate) and thanked all of the election staff before committing herself to work hard for all the people of Marlborough.
David Kinnaird Liberal Democrat candidate for East Wiltshire congratulated Caroline Sadler, and said โwe have to see this result is a stunning win for Liberal values. It is a rejection of the Conservatives and marks the beginning of a political sea change in East Wiltshire. Roll on the GE.โ
Congratulations to Caroline, and we wish her all the best in her role.ย
After a larger quantity of social media teasers than previous years, Devizes Arts Festival has today revealed their full line-up for 2024. Better take a peaky sneaky gander at it, keep in their good books, because it looks rather special! Based on previous experience they usually range from pretty awesome to super-duper lights are gonna find me awesomeโฆso here goesโฆโฆ
The festival runs from Friday 31st May to Sunday 16th June, and never fails to bring us a diverse programme of separate events within the arts, music and theatre, but also takes in talks and walks. Some come with a worthy price tag, but thereโs lots of free fringe events also. All it takes is for you to support it.
I donโt know about you, but the first one I got excited about when I heard, was Bristolโs soulful indie-folk singer-songstress Lady Nade, who plays the Corn Exchange on Saturday 1st June. I put this Lady on my must-see list after fondly reviewing her album Willing back in 2021. Iโve not yet had the opportunity to see her live. Yet it is not for that reason Iโm grateful to the Arts Festival for booking Lady Nade, rather in contemplation of the elevated sentimentality channelled through her Americana-fuelled songs.
I summed up the album at the time, with โwritten during the pandemic, thereโs a secluded ambience echoing through these eleven sublime three-minute plus stories of friendship, love and loneliness lost and found, reflecting the fact it was recorded in multiple studios and engineered by all the musicians in isolation. Yet to hear it will hold you spellbound in a single place, till its conclusion.โ
If that doesnโt tempt you I donโt know what will! But Lady Nade is not before a high-energy Penzance sea-punk grand opening to the festival, with Golden Gnome award winning Jolly Roger, at the Corn Exchange on Friday 31st May; blistering barnacles, Captain Haddock, that sure sounds like some swashbuckling shenanigans.
History of Market Lavington, anyone? Sunday 2nd has a festival walk, followed by the first two free fringe events, consummate story-teller Adam Alexanderโs Seed Detective at The Peppermill from 2pm, and a solo loop pedal show with Eddy Allen, 7pm at the Cellar Bar.
Likely the best known name on the roster, comedian Lucy Porter comes to Devizes on Thursday 6th June, and Iโm sure youโre all aware of her distinctive, bouncy, feel-good comedy from TV and radio panel shows, and being victorious on Celebrity Mastermind.
Lucy Porter
Prior to this headliner, NHS doctor, journalist, broadcaster, speaker, campaigner and comedian Dr Phil Hammond on Monday 3rd June presents โHow to Fix the NHSโ and โThe Ins and Outs of Pleasureโฆโ Iโve my own suggestions on the subject, donโt get me started, but maybe add Prime Minister to Philโs already impressive rรฉsumรฉ!
Wiltshire based multiโinstrumentalist, the Edward Cross Quintet at the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday 4th June. Liz Grandโs superb, funny, moving, sensitive and informative portrayal of Clementine Churchill, also on Tuesday at the Merchant Suite.
Wednesday 5th June sees English naturalist, ecologist, author and broadcaster Mike Dilger, known as the wildlife reporter on The One Show, doing a talk on One Thousand Shades of Green, his quest to find 1000 different British plants in a calendar year and assess how our flora is faring in modern Britain. Geneticist, author and broadcaster, Adam Rutherford, who frequently appears on science programmes on both radio and TV, also gives an engaging, provocative and informative talk the Arts Festival promises to be unmissable.
Hollie McNish. Image: Kat Gollock
Poet and author Hollie McNish presents her Lobster Tour on Thursday 6th June at the Town Hall; Iโm just chatting about her with the legend who is Kieran J Moore, seems Hollie played Bath Komedia recently, he recommends, and you canโt get a better local recommendation than that.
The weekend sees a blues, skiffle, calypso and rockabilly mesh, apparently with a sweeping vaudeville twist, which sounds like a beguiling and exhaustive blend I must say!ย Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls are at the Corn Exchange Friday 7th June.
Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls
Londonโs Cable Street Collective headline Saturday, an intriguing one, their sound mixes African-influenced guitars and beats with soulful female vocals, socially conscious lyrics and western melodies, creating an idiosyncratic alt-pop sound thatโs all their own.
Sunday 9th June sees a Festival Walk into the West Woods; Sarsens, Soldiers and Sawpits. Two free fringe events, an Americana band from West Midlands called Rumour, from 2pm at the Three Crowns, and a fresh and lively approach to jazz at St Johnโs Church from 7pm with the Annie Parker Trio.
The final week of the festival sees world-renowned concert pianist, Ida Pellicciolo on Monday 10th June at the Town Hall. Belinda Kirk, world-record holding explorer, researcher and a leading campaigner promoting the benefits of adventure on wellbeing, talks at the Town Hall on Tuesday, along with intrepid Antarctic explorer Tom Creanโs story brought to life in a dramatic and humorous solo performance by Aidan Dooley from Play On Words Theatre Company, at the Wharf Theatre.
Two best-selling Wiltshire-based authors, Kate Webb and Jon Stock, discuss their craft at The Peppermill Hotel on Wednesday 12th June, and thereโs a remarkable intimate solo guitar performance from Martin Simpson at the Corn Exchange.
Duo Tutti, a classically-trained flutist and pianist duo who combine well-known classical tunes with interesting sounds to create a unique concert that is accessible to all, at the Town Hall on Thursday. Terry Quinneyโs Sound Of Blue Note accurately recreates jazz and the aesthetics which defines Blue Note Records, also on Thursday 13th June at the Town Hall.
Friday 14th June thereโs an organ recital at St Johnโs with award-winning organist and conductor Huw Williams, and we have the intriguingly titled Slambovian Circus of Dreams at the Corn Exchange, an electrifying live performance of moody but upbeat alt-roots rock.
The final Saturday of the Arts Festival, 15th June, we have something altogether different, hypnotist Matt Hale presents an 80s Spectacular, where Matt promises to have you partying like itโs 1985, humm, whether you like it or not. Iโm not sure about hypnotists, I might stand at the back!
Matt Hale. Image: DG-Imagery-3
Soulful and electrifying rhythm and blues band The Junco Shakers at the The British Lion on
Sunday 16th June at 2pm, and Clive Oseman and Nick Lovell, creators of Oooh Beehive, the number one spoken word and poetry open-mic night in Swindon, have a Wham! Bam! Poetry Slam 6pm at The Wharf Theatre; two free fringe events polishing off another spectacular Devizes Arts Festival.
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
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 circuit since and created an impressive following. Today sees him on the next leg of his musical journey, a brand new single aptly titled No Restโฆ.. If the kazoo created aโฆ
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 are back in the UK after ten successful years on the Costa Blancaโฆ. Bringing the very best of the 60s, 70s & 80s, from Cher, Neil Diamond, Cliff Richard, The Carpenters,โฆ
Is it too early for the C word?! Of course not, Grinch! With DOCA’S Winter Festival confirmed for Friday 28th November this year, there will be a number of creative workshops and makery sessions, not forgetting the creation of those wonderful handmade lanterns for the parade; here’s some early sessions in which you can getโฆ
When I first heard about Joyrobber, a one man, faceless and nameless musical project itโs fair to say my interested was piqued, and itโs fair to say that the press release Iโve seen is only creating more questions… The project got underway in the summer of this year when the artist (whoever they might be)โฆ
Formerly known as Judas Goat and the Bellwether, the now renamed band have announced the release of their latest single, โDrill Baby Drillโ (coming out on the 27th November). I was given the pleasure of listening to it and you really couldnโt ask for anything betterโฆ The band themselves have gained a loyal fanbase withโฆ
If the eonian motivation of youths picking up guitars and forming bands has hit Gen Z enough that they’re two to a penny, I’m in the right place to discover one new to us, The Tuppennyโฆ.ย An adept drummer pinched from Bristol, with the remaining homegrown members formed aย youthful and hopeful Swindon indie-rock four-pieceโฆ
Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats!
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.…
Ongoing: The Mousetrap at the Wyvern, Swindon runs until Saturday 23rd.
Wednesday 20th
Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.
Daniel Kemish at Chapel Arts, Bath. Tuto Tribe atThe Bell, Bath.
Thursday 21st
Iona Lane and Ella Clayton at the Pump, Trowbridge.
Jim Blair at The Beehive, Swindon. Somerset Velvet & Hatty Taylor at The Tuppenny.
Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre.
Adam’s Apple Jazz Trio at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Sylvertones at the Old Bell, Warminster.
Desperados (Eagles tribute) at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 22nd
Devizes Ghost Walk with John Girvan. Eddie Martin Trio at The Southgate, Devizes. DJ Stevie MC at the Exchange.
Open Mic at The Barge, HoneyStreet
Damm! at The Bear, Marlborough
Band of Others at The Grapes, Melksham.
Take The Stage at the Neeld, Chippenham.
Eddie Gripper Trio at the Civic, Trowbridge. Wiltshire Rural Music Fundraiser at Emmanuals Yard.
Pussycat & The Dirty at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Furlined at The Beehive, Swindon. Moving Pictures at The Vic.
Ezio at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Rhythm Presents Funkagenda DJs at 23 Bath Street, Frome.
Saturday 23rd
Easter Egg Hunt at All Cannings. Jumble Sale at St Andrew’s Church, Devizes: 10-11am. John Rutterโs Requiem at St Andrewโs Church.ย Eddie Holgate Trio at the Southgate, Devizes.
Spring Concert at St Mary’s Church, Marlborough. Swipe Right at The Bear, Marlborough.
Peaky Blinders at The Pilot, Melksham. Rockin’ The Joint at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.
The Worried Men at The Talbot, Calne.
Radiation Sickness at The Consti Club, Chippenham. Counterfeit Quo, Status Quo Tribute Band at the Neeld.
Kevin Brownโs Shackdusters at the Pump, Trowbridge.
Moments of Pleasure; the Music of Kate Bush at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
M&W and Underbliss at The Three Horseshoes.
Soul’d Out at Tucker’s Graveyard, Faulkland.
Solarbird at the Duck, Laverstock. Rob Clamp at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Rachael Sage at Chapel Arts, Bath. Paul Footโs Dissolve at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
A World Music Club at The Beehive, Swindon. Biffy McClyro at The Vic, Swindon.
Lottery Winners at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Revelation Roots at the Tree House.
Sunday 24th
Sunflower Easter Fair at Devizes Corn Exchange: 11-4pm.
Josh Pughโs Existin’ La Vida Loca at Swindon Arts Centre. Jonathan Pie at the Wyvern, Swindon.
Junkyard Dogs at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The F.O.S. Brothers at The Bell, Bath.
Stevie Wonder tribute The Wonder of Stevie at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Monday 25th
The Great Big Dance Off at the Wyvern, Swindon.
Kevin Figes’ Wallpaper Music at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 26th
Spring Wreath Making at Hillworth Park, Devizes. And, it must be the first time Editorโs Pick of Week is on a Tuesday! The James Oliver Band play Devizes Conservative Club.
Jazz Knightโs Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe Event at The Royal Oak, Swindon, is a celebration of Grant Green with Chris Cobbson. How Sweet It Is at Swindon Arts Centre.
Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit at the Wyvern.
Sue Harding at The Bell, Bath.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
And planning ahead, donโt forget Devizes Musical Theatre brings us Sister Act at Dauntsey’s School from Wednesday 27th until Saturday 30th March. Next week also sees Vic-Fest at the Vic in Swindon, with a huge line-up, People Like Us are at The Three Crowns, Devizes on Friday, while Nothing Rhymes with Orange headline the Pump in Trowbridge, The Lost Trades are there on Saturday. General Levy at Cheese & Grain Friday, The Wurzels on Saturday!
Nearly into April, where I would recommend Andrew Hurst at St Nicholas Church in Bromham Thursday 4th, Brian Poole at Long Street Blues Club Friday 5th, Mick Jogger at Seend Community Hall on Saturday 6th and the John Hackett Band at the Pump, or Cara Dillon at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Following week, you can find And Then There Were None opening at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes Monday 8th, and the Marley Experience on 13th April at Devizes Corn Exchange; unmissable.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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!
Photograph byย Simon Folkard It’s been a rocky road for Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) these last few years, and I didn’t mean the crushed biscuitsโฆ
What, again?! Another article about Talk in Code?! Haven’t they had enough Devizine-styled publicity?! Are their heads swelling?!ย Didn’t that crazy toothless editor catch themโฆ
Valedictorian graduate of Bates College in Maine, and with a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard, neuroscientist Lisa Genova self-published her debut novel, Still Alice inโฆ
Swindon’s annual colossal fundraising event The Shuffle is a testament to local live music, which raises funds for Prospect Hospice. If you’re ever going toโฆ
There was a geographical population imbalance this bank holiday Monday in Devizes which risked the entire town conically sloping into the back of Morrisons; noโฆ
Iโm laughing, not at the Glasto lineup, but the incalculable comments of negativity it has encouraged in Facebookland. It should be said though, most disapproving remarks appear on shares of the post and not the original, and most of them were posted this morning when most ticketholders are likely at work, funding their forthcoming adventure to Pilton. Now theyโre homebound, online anticipation and positivity has risen above the seething armchair critiquesโฆ…
Then there is this โold photographs of Wiltshireโ Facebook group I recently joined, where a picture of the Barge at Honey Street was posted today with the caption, โThe Barge at Honey Street, near Pewsey.โ Some aging, caps-lock permanently stuck on gammon responded, โIT IS NOT PEWSEY IT IS HONEY STREET!โ
If caps-lock usually implies angered shouting, and the nearest large village to Honey Street is Pewsey, perhaps it suggests how nonsensically negative and overreactive your average Facebooker has become, and how much it exists for aimlessly irritated and amateur critics to vent their general disgust over first world problems. It says more about them and the tenet of Facebook than the thing theyโre mocking. This much ado about nothing is amusing though, thatโs why I like this particular social media platformโฆ.
Glastonbury Festival released their main lineup poster today, and my gut reaction was similar to the priceless online onslaught of negativity in the comments. Being honest, itโs not inane, itโs not the best lineup weโve seen, but I restrained myself from passing comment, considering itโs an age test; the older you get the less headliners you should expect to know at an event self-professed to be a festival of โcontemporaryโ performing arts. No one online considered it might not be Glastonbury which has the problem!
And secondly, for the simple reason Iโm not going anyway, and havenโt attended for twenty-four years. I wonder how many of those feeding negative comments to the pitchfork assembly are going themselves. I hope and pray itโs not many, for Glastonbury is not the place for decomposing strident and pessimistic cynicsโฆ. like me, for example!
Glastonbury is and will always be an experience, you go to Glastonbury for going to Glastonbury, not whoever happens to be on a stage youโre passing. Yeah, itโs held some massive names in the past, pre-broken Brexit Britain, but does anyone commenting have an inkling how much and how hard it is to organise something on this scale? How much work goes on behind the scenes? Far more than typing your grievance in a text box, rest assured.
I can now count the acts Iโve heard of on the annual Glastonbury poster on my fingers, even less ones Iโd actually like to see, this lessens with every year Father Time takes from me, itโs an old dog new tricks scenario; Iโm content with shit happens. Most of the names Iโve heard of are through my daughterโs playlist, with a sprinkling of classics like Cyndi Lauper, to whet the appetite of grumpy old bastards who might yet turn up; itโll all come off in the wash!
I shouldn’t scratch my Uncle Albert beard and tediously spin a yarn of how I once failed to see the Mad Professor at the dance tent because of my genius navigation past the Pyramid Stage while Pulp was playing. A band who, being I was a โraverโ and they were โindieโ I wouldn’t usually beeline, but finding myself unable to gorge further through the masses, was forced to watch them, and forever became a fan through unexpected circumstance. But if I did, it would surely serve a purpose to illustrate a tale of the unexpected. Digest new things, you never know till you try. To moan this act doesn’t suit your whim is to misunderstand the concept of Glastonbury, or festivals in general. You need to open your eyes and ears to new things not just relish in the nostalgic era of your individual youth. But more importantly, the arts and entertainment industry at its knees, need you to do this more than ever before.
Yet, in this ocean of boiling ageist whimpering which is the comment section on Glastonbury’s Facebook lineup post, which one could summarise as a multitude of disgruntled whingers unlikely to even attend, who cannot accept they’re past it and are whinging for the sake of whinging, one gen-zโs unintentionally amusing comment reversed the status quo, by calling the lineup, โa load of old dinosaurs!โ (Assuming they meant the acts listed and not the other commenters!) They win the internet today for standing against the grain, still bleating bollocks, but for precisely the opposite reason to everyone else, thus proving if you can’t satisfy everyone, why bother trying with anyone? Who the heck is SZA and how did they get listed above PJ Harvey? I might have to sacrifice a cute furry pet over this atrocity!
Though, in this, you should note the universal appeal Glastonbury promotes and always has. I recall the nineties when attendees foamed from the mouth at the thought Robbie Williams got up there to do his thing; youth today would hail this classic, as they wouldโve done for Led Zeppelin. Because should a change of tide wipe you out or this upset you, there’s a billion retro festivals, eighties nights, tribute acts, et al, which are more niche, and likely kinder on your wallet too. Maybe take some time to research them rather than jump a bandwagon?
Yep, if Shania Twain is the calibre of Elton John or Springsteen now, a tear will undoubtedly trickle down my wrinkled cheek, but it is not my cheek Glastonbury needs to appease, neither is it the witch hunt of unsatisfied grumpy old keyboard warriors. Key here is the simple notion; Glastonbury is so much more than a main stage and congested campsite. Don’t fuss over mainstream or contemporary things if they’re only going to engulf you in flames of irritation, think of your blood pressure.
No buddy, saunter them there Somerset fields and find the bizarre, outlandish, the upcoming, the amateur, the underground, then, and only then will you understand the true ethos of Glastonbury.
Or simply retire, watch it on the telebox; you can fast forward. With a cardboard cup of Lidl cider, and undercooked hotdog. Stay home where you can take a piss behind the sofa without queuing, and maybe start a blog where, like me, you can hypocritically rant your niggles without spoiling a Facebook post! What have we becomeeeee?!
Whilst dispersing highly flammable hydrocarbon gases into the atmosphere is not advisory, Butane Skies is a name increasingly exploding on local circuits. The young andโฆ
The excitement and hope generated by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana announcing a new political party has reached Swindonโฆ.. A broad range of people haveโฆ
If I was bowled over backwards by Rubyโs teaser single last week, its title, Crowned Lightbringer, now also belongs to this five-track EP, released today,โฆ
Written by Jonathan Larson Presented by Maple Theatre Company
It’s always hard reviewing a show that one has seen multiple times before, performed by differing companies. Itโs also hard reviewing a show that is one of oneโs favourite shows EVAH. And if that wasnโt hard enoughโฆ Its far too hard to review a show that one has performed in oneself. Itโs wrong to compare โ its unfair and meaninglessโฆ differing companies, differing directors, differing theatres. So, ignoring the seven other productions Iโve seen including the one I bummed around in (quite literally โ if you know you know) โฆ. Here goes…..
For those that know the story of โRENTโ โ you can skip this paragraph. Otherwise, Jonathan Larsonโs story โ a glorious homage to Pucciniโs โLa Bohemeโ – revolves around a group of bohemians in the lower east side of New York City and deals with topics such as homelessness, drug addiction, betrayal, and AIDSโฆ as well as love, friendship, recovery, and hope. All wrapped up with a stunning score of often poignant, sometimes funny, always beautiful singing with six-part harmonies. If you want to know more โฆย duck go go is your friend as ever.
RENT on stage is usually set in a quasi-industrial area โ and Maple Theatre Company donโt buck that trend (I doubt RENT heads would allow it to be honest!). Scaffolding creates multiple levels which are used excellently throughout the show and frames several areas for the action. ON stage props and setting is minimal, but I raise my hat to the wonderful use of moveable music flight cases with wooden tops that represent beds, side tables and THE cafe table (if you know, you know). Quite brilliant also was the use of 40-gallon steel oil drums โฆย where โdrumsโ covers two definitions of that word.ย Chapeau to Luke Hocket, set designer (who also produced the show) and his set team of Tom Courtier and Milly Hayward.
Directing a show like โRENTโ is no easy task (not as hard as reviewing it obviously ๐) as the show is basically โthe sameโ whoever does it (as it is so iconic โ maybe after 400 years, like Shakespeare, some aspects will be changed, and we will get a RENT set on a spaceship โฆ)ย but Dionna Kate-Hargreaves set her own stamp on it in subtly brilliant ways. I mentioned the use of multiple levels already but the piece de resistance of the show is in many ways โฆย the drumming.ย (If you know you know).
And speaking of drumming that brings us to the music โ a six-piece band led by MD Kris Nock rocked out the show hidden subtly off stage but in full view (once you know, you know). I wonder if Krisโ toughest task (not as arduous as reviewing obviously) was teaching three actors to hit a large piece of metal in time with two sticks for some considerable time (if you know, you know).
Tech is as ever hidden away where no one can see them up in the attic of the Rondo, and technical director Tom Courtier and his crew slid their sliders and pushed their buttons andย lit their lights to full effect. (Iโve got a deep and meaningful understanding of tech). Rule number one in a theatre is never hack off the tech guys โ they have hammers, and saws, and unlimited access to 240v at all times (if you know, you know) so โ GREAT WORK GUYS!!!
Thatโs about it then. Set, Tech, props, direction, music.ย Yup. Thatโll do.
Ah.
Yes.ย That lot that cavorts upon the stage.ย Nearly forgot them. Starting with cavortingโฆย choreographer and dance captain Grace Egginton and Grace Shobbrook whipped the cast into a frenzy of whirling limbs when they werenโt singing.ย And often when they were come to that. It must be said the Rondoโs stage is quiteโฆ.ย Bijouโฆ particularly when by necessity a good half of it is taken up by aluminium scaffolding poles that donโt bend if you collide with them (if you know, you know) so the tightness of choreography is impressive.
And so โ the cast. Iโve used the line about โstrutting and fretting his hour upon the stageโ before so I wonโt use it again.ย Ooops.
It takes a dedicated cast to work โRENTโ โ it is emotionally draining (if you know, you know), taking its toll on the actorsโ own emotions. And this cast did Jonathan Larson proud. The ensemble – they always get listed last so here they are first cos thatโs important (if you know, you know) so bravo Daisy Wilson, Morgan Hames, Georgi pepper, Steven Hockett, Jasmine Lye, Sophie smith, Milly Haywood, and Sarah Easterbrookโฆย All of whom also starred in the all-important cameo parts that just make โRENTโ simply โworkโ. Special mention must be made though for Jasmine, who stepped up to play the role of the harassed waiter in the cafรฉ scene due to cast unavailability this evening.ย Cometh the hour, cometh the Jas!
I suppose that leaves the principals. *sigh*.ย OK. Wellโฆย ummm…ย errrโฆ
Well in all honesty they werenโt good. Nope. Not at all.
THEY WERE BELTING!!!ย FANTASTIC!!!ย MAGNIFICENT!!!
and other superlatives.
In no particular orderโฆย Bryan Houce played Markโฆย his portrayal got stronger and stronger throughout the performance as the middle-class wannabe with no confidence (thatโs Mark โ not Bryan!). Mimi was played superbly by Grace Egginton who quite rightly as a choreographer played the part of a striptease dancer very well.ย (Hmmmโฆย that maybe came out a bit wrong?) ๐Roger Davis, all angst, and anger was quite phenomenal played by Josh Phillips.ย Absolutely fantastic. Liberty Williams probably stole the show for โmost likely to break a wine glass at forty feetโ with her incredible top note harmonising as Joanne, and Naomi Marie as Benny (dรฉjร vu here โ if you know, you know) as the brooding, mean turncoat-comes-good ex-flatmate.
If I appear to be rushing through these principals, itโs because I could write war and peace about them otherwise. Next up โ in her first ever principal role (which is hard to believe, if not as hard as reviewing of course) playing Maureen was Sarah Askew.ย Now Sarah is no mean belter of a top noted harmony as well, as befits a rock band vocalist (if you know, you know) but โฆย well.ย If you need a top MOO-ERR then Sarah is your girl (if you know, you know).ย And then we have Davey Evans as Collins. Another wow moment.ย Collins is a complex character to play especially with the range of emotions demanded of it, and Davey perfected them all. Great voice too. Which leaves last, but of course NEVER leastโฆย Angel. George Friend. I had the pleasure of speaking with George before and after the show โ he is reprising the role he played in 2017 โ and he claimed (yeah right ๐) he couldnโt believe he could still reach the high notes he needed but they were well reached, another great performance.
So thatโs it. Iโve reviewed a show thatโs hard to review. A show that for an opening night was quite wonderful. And let us not forget either the debut show for a brand-new Bath based community theatre company.ย Top job.
Image: John Kisch Legendary songwriter and original Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell has announced a run of UK dates this November, accompanied by special guests Theโฆ
Atmospherically anthemic and reinforced with that infectious rhythmic groove weโve come to love Talk in Code for, More Than Friends is chockfull of it, andโฆ
by Mick Brian With Sandcastles Productions marking its debut production with Charlie McGuireโs original play Glass House, the cast and crew behind this production are clearlyโฆ
Wiltshire Music announces a new season for Autumn Winter: and the first under the new leadership of Daniel Clark, Artistic Director and Sarah Robertson, Executiveโฆ
If youโve seen Jess Self performing at the Wharf Theatre, singing at the FullTone Festival or elsewhere Iโm certain youโll agree with us; Jess hasโฆ
It’s been a wonderful summer’s weekend, in which I endeavoured to at least poke my nose into the fabulous FullTone Festival, despite being invited toโฆ
Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, thereโs lots to get through! And I’ve not had time to run off a weekly podcast, though the thought was, cos I like doing them, but ainโt nobody listening to themโฆ. probably must be my jokes putting them off! I can understand that!
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโs jump right into the weekโฆ.
Wednesday 13th
Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.
Runny Snotts Open Mic at the Three Crowns, Chippenham.
Los Gusanos at The Bell, Bath. And running until 16th March, Rent at the Rondo Theatre.
Big Jam Session at The Vic, Swindon. Memory Cinema โ Peter Pan at Swindon Arts Centre.
Junior Voice Festival โ Songs From Our Song Book at the Wyvern.
Thursday 14th
Make your own Easter Egg Masterclass at HollyChocs, Poulshot.
Fantasy Radio live Lounge at the Pelican, Devizes: Jambon Chapeau.
Comedy Loft at The Civic, Trowbridge.
Ruby Darbyshire at The Old Bell, Warminster.
PSG Choir workshop at the King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.
Foregate Brothers at The Beehive, Swindon. Alex Taylor at The Tuppenny. Jeff Woodhouse Medium at Swindon Arts Centre.
Howlinโ Ric & the Rocketeers at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Friday 15th
The What 4โs at The Black Horse, Cherhill.
The Groomโs House Party at The Town Hall, Devizes.
Tom Davis & the Bluebirds at The Barge, HoneyStreet. Trash Panda at the Cooperโs, Pewsey.
The Soul Strutters at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Be Like Will at The White Hart, Atworth.
Richard Wileman & Amy Fry, Phil Mercyโs Blind Convergence at Baristocats, Swindon. Jon Amor Trio at The Beehive. Penfold at The Vic. Cirque โ The Greatest Show at the Wyvern.
Sam Kellyโs Station House at Chapel Arts, Bath. Beatsenders Episode 3 at Nowhere.
Nine Below Zero at The Tree House, Frome. Limehouse Lizzy at the Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 16th
CUDS; Letโs Clean Up Devizes, on the Green. Wiltshire Air Ambulance Free Valuation Day at The Corn Exchange, Devizes. The Starlight Concert Series with the Full-Tone Orchestra at St Andrews. The Tricks at The Three Crowns. Lightninโ Hobos at the Southgate. Devizes Rugby Club has the ladies v Amesbury, 2nds V Amesbury, screening of Six Nations and Six OโClock Circus in the evening.
Charity Event in Aid of Dorthey House at St Nicholas Church, Bromham.
The Blue Moon Band at Woodborough Social Club.
Josh Kumra at The Bear, Marlborough.
Start the Sirens at The Grapes, Melksham.
Beetlehead at the Pump, Trowbridge with Charmtype in support.
The Gesualdo Six: The Wishing Tree at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Asha McCarthy at The Manu Centre. Radiation Sickness at The Three Horseshoes.
The Honky Tonks at Tuckerโs Inn, Faulkland.
Alan West & Friends at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Depeche Mode tribute, Enjoy the Silence at The Vic, Swindon. Tundra at The Woodlands Edge. Cirque โ The Greatest Show at the Wyvern.
Livewire AC/DC at The Cheese & Grain.
Sunday 17th
Craft Fair at West Lavington Village Hall 10-4pm
March Sighthound Stroll, Devizes: Meeting at the car park right at the top of the road leading to Caen Hill Locks and Cafe. ยฃ3 parking fee applies.
Stones Throw at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Howlinโ Matt at the Southgate, with a cigar box guitar making workshop beforehand.
Pewsey Players at St Johnโs, Pewsey.
Ruby Darbyshire at The Red Lion, Lacock: 12-2pm.
Bob Bowles at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Schmoozenbergs at The Bell, Bath.
Dom Jolyโs Conspiracy Tourist Tour at Swindon Arts Centre.
Monday 18th
Jonah Hitchens at The Bell, Bath
The Mousetrap opens at the Wyvern, Swindon, runs until 23rd March.
Tuesday 19th
Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe, a Celebartion of Nancy Wilson with Victoria Klewin & Adam Stokes Trio at Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon.
Poetika (poetry slam) at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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, donate to us if you can, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโve added it and let me know if not!
Devizes annual orchestral festival, FullTone got underway yesterday afternoon with a showcase of local talent from Devizes Music Academy,ย and finalised Friday night with theirโฆ
A feast of Salisbury musicians have recorded the single Edge of Reason, a powerful tribute to the irreplaceable ThomโฏBelk, a champion of Salisburyโs music sceneโฆ
Devizes Food & Drink Festival launched their 2025 programme of events today. Running from Saturday 20th to the 28th September, the Box Office opens onlineโฆ
With your standard festivals two-to-a-penny, some consisting of not much more than a bloke with a guitar in a pub selling undercooked and overpriced hotdogs,โฆ
Contemplated headlining this โClash of the Titans,โ but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes canโฆ
Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Cafรฉ will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since its openingโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Sandcastle Productions A very new addition to Bath based theatre companies, Sandcastles Productions brings their self penned piece of theatre toโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Next Stage Theatre Company and Mike Stevens Florian Zeller is a contemporary French playwright and screenwriter, who received criticalโฆ
In true Royston Vasey style, unfortunately due to time and resources we donโt review international music as we did during lockdown, choosing to focus more on the original concept of local issues and talent, unless of course, we can find any vague link to someone around these parts; thereโs a tenacious one with Beskarโs latest album of uplifting drum n bassโฆ..
Proving the irony in Devizes singer Chrissy Chapmanโs nom-de-plume, One Trick Pony, her stunning vocals feature on two tracks on the album, Liquid with Friends, released at the beginning of the month, and on a number of previous singles produced by Beskar. One of them is an astounding cover of Ella Fitzgeraldโs Fever.
A chance opportunity for Chrissy, working as social media manager for 4NCยฅ //DarkModeโs London headquarters during the pandemic, unveiled a hidden talent producing some spoken words for a Dust tune, which in turn led her to be introduced to Beskar, who since has enhanced many of his tracks with her prowess as a singer-songwriter. Now, under the pseudonym Huntr/s, Chrissy has fast climbed to recognition and popularity in drum and bass circles, though this doesn’t mean youโll no longer see her acoustically perform on our local circuit too, I hope!
See? As the codger who was there for breakbeats slipping into acid house and creating a UK rave scene inspired equally from dub reggae as the less soulful German tekno, who danced through this progression, when hardcore fragmented into happy and dark, and celebrated what blew from itโs exhaust pipe, the โjungleโ of drum n bass, and still coming up dancing, I find it slightly confuddling differentiating between the many subgenres drum n bass has separated into more recently.
Take it as a senior moment, but Iโm dubious about breakcore or dubstep, feel theyโre heading in a direction Iโm not looking to journey down. For me the split came at the end of the rave honeymoon, 1993. Andy Cโs Origin Unknown caused heated debate, it was dark, directed away from the cheese on toast, carefree vibe of hi-hats and crashing piano breaks we were accustomed to. In just a few subsequent years I was waving A Guy Called Geraldโs Black Secret Technology CD around, but most of my mates waited for Goldieโs Timeless before accepting this new force, โintelligentโ drum n bass.
It peaked at LTJ Bukemโs Logical Progression in 96, drum n bass no longer the jungle tumult you heard at raves, rather as the title suggested, hereโs a style for the chill-out, for the after-party. And thatโs where I left it, trundling off to the big beat sound of Jon Carter, The Chemical Brothers and Norman larginโ it. While what Beskar is laying down here is fresh and original, it makes no secret in nodding to its influences, to this peak of drum n bass, and for me, that works a treat.
The opening to Liquid with Friends is much like this, thereโs the sparse drum n bass riffs of Photek, Hype et al, spacey ambient sounds of the Orb, KLF, and some uplifting vocals and piano breaks. Thereโs casual rap like Divine Bashimโs for William Orbit, thereโs a spanning package offered here, flowing sweetly. The result is euphoric and enchanting throughout, but itโs the Huntr/s featured tracks, Home and Running which are the standouts, and Iโm not just saying that, Iโm backing it up with reasoning; because from cheesy hardcore to contemporary house, when any dance music genre breaks for some beautiful female vocals the soul is elevated.
Donna Summer proved that for Giorgio Moroder, Caron Wheeler did it for Soul II Soul in the late eighties, Rozalla took it to the rave, Heather Small did it for Mike Pickering, and a lounge style of house brought to the masses; dance music wouldnโt be what it is totally instrumental. Mickey Finn knew this with Urban Shakedown, and we did, we lived as one family, the vocal only enforced it into us! We were like, โdamn thatโs some powerful shit, weโd better live as one family now, or else!โ I never did get any pocket money out of Mickey!
Beskar manages to amalgamate the lot without it becoming overcrowded there. Just as DJ Cam with the trip hop trend, funky jazz loops are allowed in. Thereโs a lot more going on with this album than breaks and beats, but it does this too with bells on. Silent River is one example to this experimental goodness, Inner City Life, the opening to Timeless meets Massive Attack, soulful vocals with layers of chill, and even subtle wailing guitars, akin Quincy Jones adding Slash to Micheal Jackson tunes, Beskar went there too; you magician!
Iโm taken back and in awe, our own Huntr/sโ contributions here embeds her voice to a history of female vocalists who uplifted the crowd, from Summer to Small, and thatโs a high but deserved accolade for our Devizes girl!
Rude to walk into an event sporting another event wristband but the welcome was friendly as ever at the Three Crowns in Devizes. It’s mid-afternoon,โฆ
If youโve popped into Wiltshire Music Centre recently; for a concert, workshop, screening orย even a meeting, you might have noticedโฏchanges in the foyer: recorded music,โฆ
Photo credit: David Leigh Dodd Pioneers of the indie-rock sound which would lead us into the nineties, Transvision Vamp lead singer Wendy James has announcedโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Luke Ashley Tame of Acadia Creative Around 2 million women are victims of violence perpetrated by men every year, thatโs 3,000โฆ
Family run premier auctioneers of antiques and collector’s items, Henry Aldridge and Son announced a move into The Old Town Hall on Wine Street, Devizes;โฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Ian Diddams and Shakespeare Live Is it post watershed? Then I shall beginโฆ The etymology of the word โNothingโ is quiteโฆ โฆ
Amidst another packed summer weekend’s schedule laid that lovable large village Pewseyโs turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if itโsโฆ
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 killed by Israel since October 7th when 36 Israeli children were killed.…
Theresa, a spokeswoman from the group said “All children are innocent. No mother should have to witness the death of their child. Children in Gaza are now starving to death and their parents can do nothing to stop this slow and painful death. It must be horrific to watch your child wasting away.”
“We are women of different religions and none, from different races and backgrounds, coming together to extend our solidarity and love to the mothers of Gaza. We are mothers, grandmothers, sisters and aunts, all heartbroken by the loss of life in the Gaza Israel conflict.”
“We realise that it is almost impossible to imagine the scale of child deaths, so our memorial will enable people to see what that looks like and hopefully encourage them to join us in calling for a ceasefire.”
On Saturday 27th April from 10am-4pm the group plan to lay as near to 11,000 sets of childrenโs clothing around the office of Justin Tomlinson MP, who voted against calling for a ceasefire. They want to make it clear that 76% of UK residents want a ceasefire in Gaza. “Weโve seen demonstrations outside Robert Buckland MPโs office. He didnโt vote at all on the motion calling for a ceasefire. We want to pressurise our political representatives to represent many their residents by calling for a ceasefire.”
“We will leave the memorial in place until the next day to give people the opportunity to see it or add to it. The clothes will all go to charity and not be wasted.”
Over the next seven weeks the group will be collecting clothes and will announce collection points to drop them off. They are looking for venues who are happy to receive clothes and for volunteers to pick up clothes, deliver them to the event on the day and help lay out the clothes.
The spokeswoman said “The clothes will be laid in a line from Justinโs office along the path in front of ASDA and M&S going in the other direction. This is a peaceful and emotive memorial for the lost children which cannot be spun as a โhate marchโ or organised by โIslamist extremists. We hope that this will also attract people who donโt want or canโt march but who empathise with the families and friends of these children. We will need lots of people to achieve this, including the tidy up on Sunday 28th April. Perhaps families going shopping will stop by on the day with some clothes and reflect on this terrible loss of life. Everyone is welcome. We will announce collection points soon. Weโd like to thank Swindon Palestine Solidarity for letting us use their social media platforms to share this women led community event.”
For further information on how to get involved please check out our Facebook event on Swindon Palestine Solidarity page https://fb.me/e/gxWlVcdki or look out for local press updates.
Britpop icons Supergrass will headline Frome Festival as a fundraising event for grassroots community action group โPeople for Packsaddleโ who are fighting to save aโฆ
Another Triumph for WHO Andy Fawthrop Following the excellent recent production of La Belle Helene at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre back in March (see here), Whiteโฆ
Five Have An Out-of-town Experience You canโt always get that live music experience you crave by simply staying within the walls of D-Town.ย Sometimes, andโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Charlotte Emily Shakespeare wrote several plays that were termed in the late nineteenth century โProblem Playsโ. These wereโฆ
Wowzers! Huge congratulations and a colossal thanks to young Chloe Boyle from Devizes, who is planning to spend the night of April 5th sleeping outside to raise funds for Devizes OpenDoors, a charity supporting people who are homeless or vulnerable. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of Chloeโs amazing fundraising effortsโฆ..
Super proud parents said seven-year old Chloe is โvery much hoping for nice weather,โ but you know, April is an unpredictable time to do this, Chloe, wrap up warm! This brave endeavour has already raised an impressive ยฃ312, over the bold target of ยฃ225, the amount needed to fund five nights of emergency accommodation. Find the Just Giving Link HERE if you can help her top it up even further, thank you!
Chloe has been raising money for Devizes OpenDoors since she learnt about the charity in a school lesson. Mum, Julie said, โshe came home saying we had to run a toy stall for them.โ Since, she has run stalls, tombolas and raffles, and with lots of local support in Devizes over the last year, donating toys and buying things from her stalls, she raised over ยฃ500 for them.
In 2019 Chloe raised an amazing ยฃ1,600 for Hope for Hasti, a parent-led charity for Hasti, a ten year-old with a rare genetic disease called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. I can’t even count that far, Chole!
Now operating at The Southbroom Centre on Victoria Road, Devizes OpenDoors is a charity to help people in the Devizes Community Area find solutions to homelessness; to offer support to local people when they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and to benefit local individuals in need, including the marginalised and vulnerable.
They provide four cooked meals a week, and with company and hot drinks, there is also the chance of a shower, and support and advice from staff and volunteers. OpenDoors are currently running low on various items in their food stores. You can follow their Facebook page for updates on what items theyโre short of, and you can find drop-off points in Lidl or Morrisons, or arrange to drop off to the centre directly through their website.
โWeโre camping out for OpenDoors,โ Chloe explained, โand thatโs who weโre raising money for.โ Well done Chloe and good luck, you are a super star fundraiser! Help her raise some money by donating HERE.
Together in Electric Dreamsโฆ. at The Corn Exchange Fashionably late for Devizes Arts Festival, I’d like to thank Andy and Ian for informative coverage ofโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Play on Words Theatre, and Devizes Arts Festival Who was paying attention in history at school when they coveredโฆ
Poulshot’s Award-winning chocolate studio Hollychocs is proud to launch a heartfelt charity campaign in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK, with a charming chocolateโฆ
Events with diversity, be they ethnic, cultural, or life choices, must be welcomed, encouraged and viewed positively as assets offering variety in our local calendarโฆ
Newly formed and locally based collective Palooza hosted their opening night at The Exchange nightclub in Devizes yesterday, offering house music with universal appeal and the ethos of raving days of yore; mind I don’t have an Uncle Albert moment here, โwhen I was in the rave!โ
Greg Spencer, the kingpin in organising the event, told me he’d be interested to read what I had so say about the do. While a DJ night is a different kettle of fish to reviewing a live band, the kettle or main premise is the same for anything, points scored for doing what it said on the tin. In other words, was it as advertised?
Palooza hyped it to be โthe hottest house event in Devizes. Deep house and soulful grooves, tech melodies to uplifting beats.โ The only indifference was it’s the โonlyโ house event in Devizes for some considerable time. Other than this trivial, my dancing clogs didn’t stop, so top marks all round for a fantastic treat.
Welcomed, then, for those dance music hunters and an inaugural shindig hoping to blossom, I hope so too. Retrospective glimmers to the heyday of UK rave culture have been successful in larger towns, yet always seem to come with a marginalised hook.
Raver Tots invites parents of toddlers to force their youth culture down the throats of their impressionable offspring, in a bizzare soft play-happy hardcore mesh, and Trowbridge recently saw the Pipe & Slippers Raves, patronisingly focusing on middle-aged ravers by reducing noise levels and ending at a respectable time.
Though both successful, they feel presumptuous and a tad condescending, in my opinion. I never felt the need to embed my nostalgic skulduggery on my kids; they find their own way. And as for the idea of finishing a party at eleven o’clock so foggies can retire to their slippers in some kind of care home fashion is, quite frankly, insultingily ageist and badly researched; ravers danced all night, into the next week if possible. What in the good name of John Digweed gave them the ludicrous Cinderella notion we can’t now cut a rug after midnight?! It’s not done via age concern, rather cashing in on nostalgia.
The reason for being critical of these others is that rave had no uniform or restrictions. It was universal, the loosest era you can dub a youth culture, for it engulfed every preceding one and fused them in one electronic explosion of positivity and joy.
Ravers came from punks, mods, soul boys, travellers, new romantics, rastas, bikers, the lot. No one gave a hoot about your roots, ethnicity, political sway, sexual preference, and especially not your age; we all danced together under the same sun. It was the most unassuming epoch ever.
And, delightfully last night, the ethos matched. Palooza filled โthe Binโ with a handful of older ravers proving they still got it, but equally attracted a wide age demographic, interacting without the slightest hint of aggravation. That’s the ticket, that’s precisely the atmosphere old ravers cherish with pride, and one which, evidently, is being passed onto the younger present. We stopped racial tension, drunken nightclub brawls, and football hooliganism; really.
The Exchange in Devizes faces historic self-deprecating banter from locals, infamously dubbing it โthe corny bin.โ I beg to differ. The modern Exchange is on a level way above your typical nightclub. By comparison, it’s comfy, congenial, and affordable at both the foyer and bar. It retains the exceptionally simple but functional design of square amphitheatre dance floor, with all seating facing inward to it and the bar stretching across the rear. It makes the perfect spot for a house night of Paloozaโs challenge to recreate the integrity of classic dance music culture. I’m only here to report back that it did, with bells on, oh, and shake ma thang like a Polaroid picture.
The air held a manner of anticipation, and the three DJs delivered. With splinters of classic house samples from Leftfield to Fatboy Slim, the speakers pumped of joyous contemporary beats, bang-on the timeless vibe of house music since its inception. Glow-sticks passed around, smiles and hugs exchanged, no bullshit from tossers, just carefree merriment and united celebration.
Another top point scorer from me was Palooza didn’t try to be something it wasn’t, it didn’t try to cater for all and meld every dance music subgenre into a single night, for that would feel cramped or sycophantic by modern standards. If you attacked it objectively because you wanted abstract minimalist techno or darkstep breakcore, you failed to see the simplicity of a working formula of yore, the enduring practicality of association. Because, while one day viciously throwing down on his box, Jack boldly declared, let there be house, and house music was born, in 1987, when your scrupulous pigeonholed subgenre was an itch in its daddy’s bell-bottoms.
Soz, but a market town like Devizes couldn’t sustain something so codifying as a quasi-amapiano ethereal techno gig; think broader, and dance your trainspotting cares away!
Palooza met that challenge head-on and unruffled. Greg expressed to me that he’s only in it for the love. It now needs the opportunity to grow and harness its ethos. It needs to extend a welcoming hand to those looking for a regular and affordable quality dance music night in Devizes, of which I’m assured it will. And hey presto, ravers young and old will arrive there, Harvey Ross Ball’s smiley face logo will be smiling on our town, and house music willย be reborn, and for that applause, Palooza gets my top rating; feel the melody that’s in the air and beeline the next date, one and all.
Legend has it, as a child Elvis Presley sneaked into gospel churches and juke joints, surely the spark of rock n roll. Given a flux capacitor, that’s one point in time I’d beeline; love to have witnessed what he saw there. But it’s unlikely, Doc Emmett Brown doesn’t give them out freelyโฆ..
So I ponder at the door to the Southgate, this is as close as dammit I’m going to get to a rowdy postwar Mississippi juke joint in 2024 wilds of Wiltshire! You could argue the point, but I believe I’m right; it’s rammed to the rafters in there, and it’s only a Thursday night! If you were there you would accept it’s not open for debate.
Valid reason, homemade blues legend Jon Amor shifted his trioโs monthly residency from the usual Sunday to Thursday to fit the schedule of his guest, and what a dynamite guest it was. Devizes hasnโt seen Ian Siegal since 2022, part of the lockdown supergroup Birdsmens at Long Street Blues Club, with Jon, Dave Doherty, bassist Rob Barry and Jonny Henderson pushing the keys. A most memorable gig for Long Street, either not forgotten by the blues hunters of Devizes, or theyโll rightfully take Jonโs recommendations as red.
Classic Rock Magazine described Portsmouth-born Ian Siegal as โa national treasure.โ He’s picked up thirteen British blues awards, three Mojo blues albums of the year, four European blues awards and three USA nominations. He is, as proved last night, cool on a barefoot Bruce Willis pounding through the glass of the Nakatomi Plaza level, he is the Steve McQueen leaping the anti-tank obstacles on a stolen Nazi Triumph of UK blues!
He came to our humble tavern, and between him and the Jon Amor Trio, sparks flew, pounding blues riffs reverberated, and crowds gyrated in harmony to a free gig youโd happily pay top dollar for. So, if weโve said a number of times just how unmissable and phenomenal this monthly residency is at the Southgate, which we have, many times and by our many writers, itโs always worth reminding, and because of last nightโs, this is a particularly appropriate time to do so.
There were people on Jonโs Facebook page commenting they were trekking up from Southend-on-Sea for this gig, ergo, we should consider ourselves so lucky to have it on our doorsteps, and thank Jon, Tom and Gerry, along with Debroah, Dave and staff at the Southgate, for maintaining Devizes as a blues town and providing us with talent on this level. It was one of the most memorable and historic nights Iโve witnessed at that tavern, and thatโs pushing the boat out.
Thereโs dogโs bollocks accolades I could award Ian with, donโt want to flatter the guy, but damn, the vibes from that fella replicate all which makes blues the root of all pop music genres, the growling and screeching Howilnโ Wolf vocals, the nimble guitar picking, the very construction of the blues is in his hands, and he delivers it with a passion and virtuosity of the greats, of Muddy Waters, of BB King; hot dang, that guy can play!
They did some originals between them, the ground thumped through Jonโs Juggernaut, the heavens opened when Ian lead the Rolling Stones cover You Can’t Always Get What You Want, long hair was swished around, the booze flowed and people came to party united in a sublime vibe of happiness, it really was the kind of scorcher Iโm not sure how Jon and the Gate can top.
Swindon Palestine Solidarity continues to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for aid to be allowed to enter Gazaโฆ.. Their three recent roadside signโฆ
I want Devizine to be primarily about arts and entertainment, but Iโm often pathetically persuaded by bickering political factions to pass opinion on local politicsโฆ
Photo credit: ยฉ Rondo Theatre Company / Jazz Hazelwood A gender-queered production of William Shakespeareโs classic play, โThe Taming of the Shrewโ, will be performedโฆ
The first full album by Wiltshireโs finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. Itโs calledโฆ
Bradford-on-Avon Town Councilโs annual festival, aptly titled The Bradford on Avon Live Music Festival is back this weekend, championing local talent with an eclectic line-upโฆ
Salisbury-based event organisation Wiltshire Music Events has been ordered to remove posters advertising the Marley Experience gig at the Devizes Corn Exchange on 13th April, by Wiltshire Council, because they were unauthorisedโฆ..
Company director, Eddie Prestidge said, โwe have been told by Wiltshire County Councilย to remove our posters from their present positions around Wiltshire or we will be fined ยฃ250 per poster, per day! When we designed the posters we carefully took into account where we would safely place them, and to make them of a sturdy and waterproof material, so they would be asย safe as possible. We have monitored them daily in case the weather affected them, but it is with regret that we will have to remove all of our advertising posters by Sunday.โ
Environmental Enforcement of Wiltshire Council notified the company, stating โthe display of such advertisements does not benefit from exemption or deemed consent under the above the regulations and is therefore unauthorised.โ It then threatens the company with liable action should they fail to remove the posters within three working days. โThe Council therefore trusts you will take immediate steps to remove the authorised advertisements, and insure that, neither these or any other unauthorised signs shall be displayed at any location in the control of Wiltshire Council,โ going on to explain it will not give the company a warning next time before prosecuting.
It should send out a stark warning to all, if you havenโt permission to display your advertisements it will be considered flyposting, illegal in the UK. UKGov states, โit is illegal to display advertising material such as posters or placards on buildings and street furniture without authorisation. It is not only unsightly but can also cause danger to pedestrians and road users.โ
But I have to have sympathy for Wiltshire Music Events, an event poster such as the one in question is hardly neon glowing Piccadilly Circus, and no more potentially dangerous to road users than many of our other permitted event signage, from our Arts Festival to DOCA or FullTone, even some brown signs like the one advertising the Old Potato Yard on Andover Road which seriously obscures the view for those turning out of Ostlerโs Yard.
If it all seems a tad harsh, given the town is plastered head to toe with other advertising signage, the rules are the rules, but I wonder if all said signs are situated on the ownerโs own land, or granted permission to be on Council land. And even if they are, should they not still be monitored for being โunsightlyโ or dangerous? Mr Prestidge sadly told Devzine that he feels โvictimised.โ
I consider if this is more โcross my palm with silver,โ than monitoring potential unsightliness or danger, and in this, ironically, if the words of Bob Marley, even through a fantastic tribute act to him, might be deemed too reactionary for the delicate situation the Conservative top-heavy county council find themselves in with a forthcoming general election and masses rising against the political ethos they stand by?
It could be; see this is an opinion piece razzled by the notion that both the hospitality and music industry is suffering enough post-lockdown, that it wouldโve been a kinder resolute for the Council to have waived it this time, with a wrap on the knuckles to say donโt do it again?
However, Wiltshire Music Events promises โthe show will go ahead as planned,โ and we will be here to sing it from the highest heights, as loud as we can, not because it appears it’s an event the authorities wish to poo-poo, rather because we need events like this in our town, we want to celebrate events like this coming to our town, and we want to thank all those promoters for sifting through the bureaucratic piffle in order to host them. Plus, Iโve seen the Marley Experience, and support act Illingworth, and Iโll let you know now, if you come along youโre in for an unforgettable night of entertainment!
If you have any prominent position in and around Devizes, and would let them display their poster, Eddie states, โperhaps we can come to some arrangement with a couple of free tickets for this event!โ Do get in touch with us, and weโll gladly pass the message on, or comment in our social media shares of this article, thanks. ๏ฟผ
So, three cheers to Wiltshire Council for giving us an excuse to promote this event again, with a disconcert and quite frankly unjustified angle! As Bob said himself, โwhy’s this fussing and a-fighting? We should really love each other, in peace and harmony, instead, we’re fussing and fighting, and them workin’ iniquity.โ
I hope to see you on April 13th at the Corn Exchange, Devizes; please do what you can to support live music in our town, share and invite your friends to events, that is the way to get word out.
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
You’ve got to love our CUDS, the Clean up Devizes Squad, hardworking volunteers who make the town look tidy and presentable. Here’s your chance to show your gratitude and help out tooโฆ..
In line with Keep Britain Tidy’s Annual GB Spring Clean Campaign, Be a LitterHero, the CUDS have their own Devizes Town Litter Pick on Saturday 16th March from 10:30-12:30, meeting on the Green.
At last year’s annual litter pick they pledged to fill fifty black bags of litter (3750 litres) but managed seventy-five bags, that’s an amazing 5,625 litres of rubbish off our streets! Well done all.
Given this, 2024 they’re upping their game, pledging seventy-five bags to be filled. With the support of Devizes Town Council all the collected litter will be sent off for recycling.
The litter pick is open to all, and the CUDS would like as many people as possible to help them out. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, parents, grandparents, nephews, nieces, etc. Equipment, bags, and all you need will be provided; all you have to bring is yourself!
There is a Facebook group you can join to find out more, HERE.
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
One of Salisburyโs most celebrated acoustic folk-rock singer-songwriters Lucas Hardy teams up with the Wiltshire cityโs upcoming talent who’s name is on everyoneโs lips, Rosieโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages byย Chris Watkins Media One could argue that Anne Frank is possibly the most well-known civilian of the WW2 years, and certainly ofโฆ
Trowbridge singer-songwriter and one third of The Lost Trades, Phil Cooper has actually been doing more than playing solitaire, heโs released a new solo albumโฆ
The fifth single coming out from Chippenham singer-songwriter M3g on Friday, Ashes of Memory, and if Iโve said in the past what separates Meg from the average singer-songwriter is her stark individuality, this one stands out as the perfect paragonโฆ.
Thereโs a choric aura in the undertones of this acoustic dream, evocatively expressed as ever, but perhaps more ambient and succinct than any of Megโs previous winsome outpourings. Itโs rich with poignant and lucid definition, hope in turning a metaphorical new page in her life, and the sorrowful trajectory which succeeds fades into tears, literally.
Itโs one of those three-minute marvels that leaves you breathless and in a dilemma of quite what to do now itโs over. Meg played many local festivals, and has supported the likes of Gaz Brookfield and Amelia Coburn; any musician following her better pray she doesnโt finish on this one!ย
Find her Spotify page below, follow, or at least return here on Friday to hear it and judge for yourself, I think it’s a beauty!
An effervescent musical, full of promising young talent Written by: Melissa Loveday Images by: Gail Foster After the success of SIX last year, Devizes Musicโฆ
A photo is circulating on X of Calne’s Reform UK candidate Violette Simpson, which for some reason doesn’t appear on her election campaign….I wonder why?โฆ
Big congratulations to Devizes DJ Greg Spencer this week, the creator of Palooza house nights at The Exchange nightclub, for he made the prestigious billโฆ
Melksham & Devizes Conservatives released a statement on the 7th April explaining an internal audit revealed one of their candidates was โnot qualified by residenceโฆ
Last month we were pleased to announce our involvement with the new Wiltshire Music Awards in conjunction with Wiltshire Events UK, details of which areโฆ
Come on spring! Oh well, hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, thereโs lots to get throughโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโs jump right into the weekโฆ.
Find a podcast of everything listed, sprinkled with some great local music below. Itโs only a half hour long, trial thing, see how it goes, give it a listen, let me know what you think, especially if youโre the kind of person who cannot be bothered to read this! Music comes from Ruby Darbyshire, Canuteโs Plastic Army, Fly Yeti Fly, Ruzz Guitar with Peter Gage, and the Birdsmens.
Wednesday 6th
Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.
Eldermirth, the elderly daytime comedy show at The Neeld,Chippenham.
Cantaloop at The Bell, Bath.
Swindon Old Town Comedy Club at The Hop Inn with: Alex Kitson. Ross Noble at the Wyvern, Swindon. The Western Players โ Outside Edge at Swindon Arts Centre, running until 9th March.
Thursday 7th
Editor’s Pick of the Week; Jon Amor Trio Special with Ian Siegal at The Southgate, Devizes. Rum & Records at the Muck & Dunder.
PSG Choirs free taster session at King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.
Junkyard Dogs at The Old Bell, Warminster.
Canuteโs Plastic Army at The Beehive, Swindon. Mark Harrison at The Tuppenny. Taylormania at the Wyvern.
North Sea Gas at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Mobius Loop at 23 Bath Street, Frome. Sam Sweeney Band at The Tree House. Paul McKenna: Success For Life at the Cheese & Grain.
Friday 8th
Devizes Ghost Walk: with John Girvan. Cobalt Fire at The Southgate, Devizes. Palooza house night at The Exchange.
Seend Village Get Together at Seend Community Hall.
Frankisoul at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Syncopation Station.
Take the Stage at The Neeld, Chippenham.
Rewind to the 90โs โ Kevin and Perry lookโalikes at Venom Nightclub, Westbury.
Brasher, Eat Your Own Head, & Bad News First at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Junkyard Dogs at The Boathouse.
Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra at Chapel Arts, Bath. The Living Room, Jim Godfrey at the Grapes.
Shepherds Pie at The Vic, Swindon. At-It at The Queenโs Tap. Showaddywaddy at the Wyvern.
Saturday 9th
Wiltshire Climate Alliance’s Green Open Homes event opens and runs until 17th March. It is an opportunity to ask a local resident about an energy saving improvement that theyโve made, and see if it might work for you. On an event day, people who have made energy saving improvements open up their homes to share their experiences.
Matt & Tom at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Southgate. Matchbox Mutiny at the Moonrakers.
Fly Yeti Fly at Keevil Folk Club.
Pancho & Bear at Woodbrough Social Club.
Static Moves at the Lamb, Marlborough.
Scott Doonican at the Pump, Trowbridge. Martyโs Fake Family at The Greyhound.
Back to the 80s party night at Spencerโs Club, Melksham. Twice Bitten at The Pilot.
Phantom Lymb at The Talbot, Calne.
North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra at St Andrewโs in Chippenham. Abba Sensations at the Neeld, Chippenham.
The Saga Louts at the Swiss Chalet, Swindon. Ghost UK with Phantom Droid at The Vic.
Black Rose at The Woodlandโs Edge. Dear Zoo at the Wyvern, Swindon.
Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Full Tone Orchestraโs The Queen Symphony at Bath Abbey. Mumma Quiche and LC Hammered at The Bell, Bath.
Baskery at the Tree House, Frome. Mad Dog Mcrea at The Cheese & Grain.
Sunday 10th- Motherโs Day – donโt forget!!
Kate at The Three Crowns, Devizes.
The Worried Men at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Motherโs Day Jazz concert feat. trumpeter Laura Jurd & WYJO at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Joli Blon at The Bell, Bath
RPA Level Up Present โActually I Canโ at Swindon Arts Centre. Dear Zoo at the Wyvern, Swindon
Monday 11th
Chippenham Film Club March feature.
Escher Steps at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 12th
Dom Franks Quartet at Jazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon.
The Spoonful at The Bell, Bath.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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 please listen to the podcast, itโll be fun, pinky promise!
Every first Thursday of the month Muck & Dunder owner Shelly Field plans to get behind the wheels of steel and bring us some funky, laid-back, groovy, toe-tapping, head-bopping vibes, starting with this Thursday, 7th March!
From 7 until 9pm, The Muck & Dunder rum bar in Devizes invites you to join them for rum and records, and even bring some vinyl records for Shelly to spin, but you need to sign up on the night with a max of 3 tracks per person. โThink all genres,โ theyโll say theyโll consider, โbut we donโt want any face-melters or offensive stuffโฆyou get the gist!โ
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
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
Swindonโs sonic indie popsters Atari Pilot are a prolific bunch, and have a new single out called The Rules Never Changeโฆ.
And, they donโt. Thereโs a definite uniformed methodology to Atari Pilot which builds with each new single. Yearning vocals, never without a repetitive chorus to hook you, neatly packaged in retrospective new wave electronica. It may not be as commercially viable as, say, Talk in Code, but itโs irresistibly beguiling and universal to be pop you need to hear.
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
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
I do believe I got a taste of this new single when I saw Bristolโs premier symphonic grunge collective, Life in Mono at Bradford Roots, and was held spellboundโฆ..
And Iโm not usually in for Seattle Sound, but Life in Mono are the kind of layer-building specialists who could turn Bjรถrn, Benny, Agnetha and Anni-Frid into ripped jeans and flannel shirt-wearing grunge kid crowd surfers! In an Evanescence fashion theyโll take three minutes to build the ambience then bring the guitars crashing, and the result is sublimely encapsulating.
Filled to the brim with brooding noir drama and sensually immersive grunge, the secret is out, Life in Mono is gorgeously intertwined enchantment, and this is one finely-produced tune which expands to fill the room, as choranaptyxic as the Occamy, for want of a less Pottermaniac analogy!ย
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
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
Members of Swindon Palestine Solidarity made themselves heard at the Labour Party fundraising dinner, where Jess Phillips MP was the guest of honour, protesting at the stance taken by the party on the ongoing slaughter in Gaza.….
Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted that Labour should be ashamed of themselves for not standing up against the genocide in Gaza.
Rob Gray said, “itโs unbelievable that the Labour Party who are supposed to be in opposition, have colluded with the Conservatives to thwart a ceasefire in Gaza. Over 30,000 people have been killed by the state of Israel, over 10,000 children. People are dying of starvation in Gaza and our local Labour Party are gorging a three course meal at ยฃ35 a head. What on earth are they thinking? We urge people to join our local marches and the national marches in London when they can. This is truly a matter of life or death for our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”
A couple of people entering the event stopped to talk with the protesters with varying views on the situation in Gaza. Some conversations became very heated.
Swindon Palestine Solidaritystates they will continue to protest until there is a permanent ceasefire and Palestine is free from occupation.
All images: ยฉ๏ธ JS Terry Photography An awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding musical talent within the city, aptly titled The 2024 Salisbury Musicโฆ
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 Theโฆ
Once the demonic entity Spring-Heeled Jack entered folklore it became subject to many books and plays, diluting the once real threat of this Victorianโฆ
This is getting to be a regular thing now.ย Ian Hopkins puts on a band that Iโve never heard of, so I trust him and buy a ticket.ย Then I wander up the hill to the Con Club and find myself in a room thatโs already packed to the rafters, with queues at both bars.ย Then I have a great night out, and I write a review about what a great band Iโve just seen.ย Too good to be true?ย Nope โ it just seems to work every time, and Iโm not complaining!
Only slight difference this time was that I got two great bands for the price of one. Support acts come and go, some are good and some are less so. But last night was one of those really good nights where the support act were really excellent. You can tell theyโre pretty good and getting through to folks when the idle chatter at the back of the room slowly subsides, and people really start listening.
And so it was last night with first-timers at the club Sons of the Delta.ย Consisting of Mark Cole ย (vocals, harmonica, guitar and mandolin) and Rick Edwards (guitar & vocals), these guys delivered some real no-nonsense stuff โ a great blend of electric and acoustic blues, featuring both traditional blues plus some originals. ย They were chatty, stripped back, relaxed and completely on top of their performance.ย It was mostly harmonica-driven, backed by gravelly vocals.ย Their set seemed all too short and, as Ian said at the end over the enthusiastic applause, hereโs hoping that we get to see these guys again.
And after our starters, we were onto main course and pudding โ two sets from the US-based Cinelli Brothers.ย The band is a project born out of a common passion for the electric Chicago and Texas blues from the 60s and 70s.ย Brothers Marco (guitarist and lead singer) and Alessandro (drummer) decided to form an explosive team showcasing original repertoire in the style of Chess, Stax and Motown.ย Last night on stage they were joined by Tom Julian-Jones on harmonica, guitar and vocals, and by Stephen Giry on bass, guitar and vocals.
This band won the UK Blues Challenge in September 2022, and were ranked number 2 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis USA in January 2023, so they arrived with plenty of pedigree. And their latest album is only a couple of months out of the packaging, so obviously there was plenty of material from that source.
There was lots of cool, down-tempo, laid-back stuff – I particularly liked โLast Cigaretteโ, which they described as their โbig fuck-up songโ, and โFoolsโ Paradiseโ. There was some blues, there was some funk, and there was some Motown. Most of all though, there was a damn good show, featuring near on two hours of superb musicianship. The stage banter, and inter-song rapport with the audience, were both good. They were commanding, they were engaging and, most importantly, they were utterly entertaining. Full marks from me.
If you get chance to see these guys in the future โ donโt hesitate. Definitely recommended!
Devizes singer-songwriter Jamie Hawkins, famed for poignant narrative in his songs and one-third Lost Trade, has always had a passion for filmmaking; Teeth is theโฆ
There are only a few tickets left for this yearโs Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, an important fundraiser for DOCAโฆ.. This year DOCA has teamedโฆ
A sublime evening of electronic elegance was had at Bathโs humble Rondo Theatre last night, where Cephidโs album, Sparks in The Darkness, was played outโฆ
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
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 about to get eighties around hereโฆ.
Every timeTalk in Code releases a single I find myself pondering deeper into what makes good pop, and if the word pop is a suitable term to use to describe a song at all. Wikipedia defines โpopโ as a โgenre of popular music,โ a rather incontrovertible statement, being it defines โgenreโ as โa conventional category that identifies pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions.โ Find me โshared conventionsโ between Elvisโs Heartbreak Hotel and Doja Catโs Agora Hills, other than both were commercially produced? If they weren’t โpopโ they would hardly fall into the same category. Theyโre styles apart, separated by time and influences, ergo โpopular,โ at the time, and that’s an epoch, not a genre.
Iโd argue pop is only a genre when thinking outside its own sphere, ie; classical, jazz, folk. Ergo, everything else is pop, making pop a blanket term. Not all pop songs are popular, even if the intention was; singles flop, or, era depending, they become timeworn. Ah, but we were discussing โgood popโ and for that there’s two distinct categories.
Category one is throwaway, only encapsulating briefly, fitting with a current trend. Think of those songs you bought back when, but you’re now horrified you liked them, compared with those songs you consider classics, and will still drag you down to the dancefloor today. I bet you thought of more classics than the once trendy ones, because the latter you block from your mind, until some radio DJ spins it and you think, did I really like that shite?! Therefore, good pop breaks the very rule of pop, itโs not trending, rather itโs timeless. Ask yourself why tribute acts are big business, or a current act feels the need to sample an eighties electronica riff, it’s nostalgia.
Talk in Code often cite The Killers and The 1975 as influences, and certainly their root lies in another ambiguous genre, indie. Indie to me implies nineties dance-indie or Britpop, but whenever I hear a new TIC single I’m contemplating eighties electronica pop, more with every release.
Something Of Nothing is no exception, it accentuates the euphoria of an eighties dancefloor filler, and wouldn’t sound out of place on a chart hits compilation of 1986. By the opening bars I thought Ah-Ha were making a comeback, I thought Roxette might sing. The fact that when I addressed this eighties influence with the band they were agreeable, despite citing nineties influences themselves; itโs what you want to hear, meaning one thing, that their sound is timelessly classic, ergo, good pop.
If it was so, that this tune was on a mid eighties hits album, I’m assured it would be a smash and Bruno Brookes would be introducing them on Top of the Pops. Equally with a nineties one. Talk in Code cherrypicks from era-spanning memorable and timeless pop songs, garnishing them with contemporary freshness.
Subject is equally perennial for any good pop, they blurb this one as, โtaking things at face value, over analysing and the scene of one person wanting more than the other from a relationship.โ Woody Guthire wrote this lyric, โand it’s hard and it’s hard, ain’t it hard, To love one that never did love you?โ in 1941, again, recurring themes are so because theyโre eternally popular subject matter, ergo good pop!
The song will be available via Regent Street Records on all streaming platforms from tomorrow, 1st March. Recorded with Sam Winfield at Studio 91, Newbury. Talk in Code take their dynamic show on the road,ย 7th July โ Minety Festival, 20th July โ Southgate Inn, Devizes, 27th July โ Fulltone Festival, Devizes, 2nd August โ The Three Horseshoes, Bradford On Avon, 3rd August โ The Castle Inn, Swindon and 26th August โ Box Rocks, Box. The act which can neatly slip into these diverse events, can equally thrill an audience at say, FullTone, or the Three Horseshoes, proves my waffling point, I think!
Experience the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, a vibrant, family-friendly community gathering featuring traditional dance, music, song, and folklore throughout the town centre onโฆ
If Iโm considering reviewing worldwide music again, why stop with this planet?! Though Iโve reasoned two tenacious links to mention this madcap Scottish interstellar outfit;โฆ
The team behind popular all-day music extravaganza, My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, can now reveal that nearly ยฃ11,500 was raised for Prospect Hospiceโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Jeni Meade No aficionado of 1960s and 1970s horror films would have missed seeing โRosemaryโs Babyโ, a story of Satanic pregnancy,โฆ
In November last year I was mightily impressed with Bristol soul-reggae producer Kaya Street, and reviewed their EP The Soul Sessions, read it here forโฆ
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
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, but EMF and Jesus Jones were West Country, from Cinderford and Bradford-on-Avon respectivelyโฆ.
International, and bright, but perhaps not quite so young, Wiltshire’s own Jesus Jones announced a first ever co-headline tour with EMF this autumn with Echobelly in support; who said they were rivals?!
Right Here, Right Now two of the 90โs most enduring alternative-rock acts are delighted to confirm they will be going toe-to-toe on whatโs shaping up to be an Unbelievable run of shows together.
Taking over big rooms in Manchester, Bristol, plus a major date at Londonโs O2 Kentish Town Forum this October, the co-headliners will be sharing a bill for the first time ever. A tour that promises Great Things, EMF and Jesus Jones will also be joined by very Special Guests: Echobelly for the Manchester and London legs of the tour. The full list of dates are below.
Expressing their excitement for the Autumn tour, James and Ian of EMF state:
โWe are so happy to finally be announcing these very special shows with our long term friends Jesus Jones, itโs been very hard keeping this news a secret! From EMF at these shows you can expect all the old hits with an added couple of bangers from our new album โThe Beauty and the Chaosโโ.
Echoing their sentiments in a year where Jesus Jones celebrate their 35th Anniversary, frontman Mike Edwards adds:
“People always assume EMF and us were great rivals – nothing could be further from the truth, we’ve been best friends for more than thirty years! Then, the same people always assume we must have been on the same bill, loads of times. Incredibly, it has NEVER happened before, until now. These shows are going to be fantastic – and having Echobelly on the bill too – it’s a brilliant line-up.”
Sporting over 20x Top 40 hits between them, Jesus Jones, EMF, and Echobelly dominated the charts during a vintage era for indie and alternative-dance music.
Forged in the cross-over crucible of the bubbling Acid House and Indie-Rock scenes of the time, Jesus Jones were formed in Wiltshire in 1988. Landing a Top 40 smash with their acclaimed debut album โLiquidizerโ (1989), the quintet would go on to find huge success in the early 1990s with major hits including โReal Real Realโ, โRight Here, Right Nowโ, โInternational Bright Young Thingโ, โThe Devil You Knowโ and many more across the decade. Releasing their most recent studio album โPassagesโ in 2018, the band are celebrating their 35th Anniversary this year with a world-wide tour, with shows across the US, Canada, Australia and these momentous UK co-headline shows this year.
Across the border in Gloucestershire, the stars were also aligning for fellow scenesters EMF. Founded in late 1989 the dance-rock quintet would quickly rise to fame with the release of their platinum certified debut album, โSchubert Dipโ just two years later. Shifting over a million copies sold and charting at #3 in the UK (and #12 in the US), it featured the infectious debut single โUnbelievableโ a track that conquered the charts on both sides of the Atlantic and remains their calling card to this day. From there, the hit singles kept coming throughout the decade, with their next 7 singles all besieging the Top 40 including โI Believe,โ โChildrenโ, โLiesโ, โPerfect Dayโ, โItโs Youโ and more. Releasing a further 3x Top 40 albums, the band would take an extended hiatus following the release of โCha Cha Chaโ in 1995. Reuniting for special live shows and festivals since then, EMF returned with their acclaimed new album โGo Go Sapiensโ in 2022. Continuing their hot-streak of recent years, the band have just released a brand new album, โThe Beauty And The Chaosโ. The first single from the album, โHello Peopleโ featured a guest appearance by Stephen Fry and gleaned rave reviews. A second single, โReach For The Lasersโ will be released on 8th March 2024.
Fast forward to 2024 and the catalogues of EMF and Jesus Jones remain as vital as ever. Pooling their creative forces and impressive collection of hits for a series of major shows together in 2024, tickets for the EMF + JESUS JONES tour – will go on sale this Friday, 1st March @ 10AM.
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. I swear to myself, โI must get on and review that,โ especially when itโs as brilliant as Jol Roseโs 2023 album, Peace, Love, Americana. So, thatโs my box to tick todayโฆ..
A surprising brilliance, for while Iโm aware of his popularity on the Americana scene, and particularly in his hometown of Swindon, it was only a brief encounter at Bradford Roots Festival in January, where he handed me this beauty. He was on early, see? I could still taste the toothpaste, had to locate the room in the lovely labyrinth of the Wiltshire Music Centre, and once done the room was full and I couldnโt get in until someone left; few did, now I know why.
Ergo, I caught his last few songs, recalling the upbeat, happy-go-lucky and amusingly fruity Make Some Hay, which though on the album, I realise after gorging myself on itโs sublime observations, portrayals and wonderful Dylan-esque folk-rock, happy-go-lucky and amusingly fruity songs is only the tip of the iceberg.
First impressions were, while Bob Dylan-like vocally, even the most troubled of Jolโs characters have escape plans. They arenโt totally dejected and beyond hope like many of Dylanโs. This gives a much more sprightly and sanguineness vibe, and Iโm leaning more in nature to the likes of the wild romanticisms or optimism in the face of misfortunes of Springsteenโs storytelling. Either way, despite Jolโs prolificness at an album annually since 2019โs My Nebraska, thereโs clearly a lot of time, effort, and thought put into his songwriting. Surely the key to any amazing acoustic folk artist.
Being on the gatefold is a call to โfree Julian Assange,โ a subject Jol blogs about on his website, rallying his local MP, I realise I must dive deeper into the meanings of his songs, as he has proficiency in weaving poignant narratives, far from simply โmaking hay!โ Still, only subtle political nods in his themes, I detect, are unlike the bluntness of Guthrie. The only exception to this rule I noted, is a closing tune When the Day and Night Collide, for this is truly blowinโ in the wind.
Thereโs defeatism yet hope, over Dylanโs usual bitter and derisive foreboding, yet romantic interludes are not often forthcoming, as in the opening tune, All Alone Again. It hankers the pit of your soul, an honesty pleading she takes him back home, even if he has trudged all over her flowerbed! Metaphorical or not, Jol, you need to get yourself to Homebase and replenish those Rhododendrons pronto!
Then comes the aforementioned light-hearted upbeat tune, Make Some Hay, followed by an absolute marvel. Meet me in Berlin, tormented touring dreams of it all coming together again, Romeo a personification of his hopes itโll freshen up, itโs homecoming, delivered with amazing passion; thus the album persists this way, and itโs stunning.
Featuring Rachael Birkin on fiddle, award-winning pedal steel player Holly Carter, keyboardist Jon Buckett and Lewis Lord-Jenkins on drums, Drew Di Fiore on bass and Jason Serious on harmony vocals, this is twelve tunes strong, which does exactly what it says on the tin. Thereโs authentic Americana throughout, country folk, country blues, and if tunes weave in and out of pace, it flows like a fresh Red River valley song. The Carter Family would save him a space at their dinner table.
Tracks like Let it Roll arenโt the complex riddles of clichรฉ Americana, rather facile sing-a-along, rolling into folk-rock. Other, more cleverly intertwined tunes require thought, often Iโm deciding if Jol is subtly reflecting metaphorically, or more simply this romantic longing in the face of doubt. This open-ended prose is the key to the magic, as you interpret it as you will, hopefully bearing relevance to your own affairs, and thatโs when the music takes you away. Itโs a skill only the best singer-songwriters can muster, if Jolโs music doesnโt take you there, none of the others will. Come on Home, nine tracks in, is the perfect example. Though thereโs a running theme of wishing to return home, itโs sublime and as congenial as home itself. It’s a painting on a wall, a permanent fixture hung with love.
I thought Jol was good, I didnโt dream he was this good;ย Peace, Love, Americana is a keeper alright! Bag yourself a copy HERE.
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
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
Regular readers of Devizine may be well accustomed to hearing the name โVince Bellโ. For those less frequent readers or those that have recently moved to this particular corner of the universe, grab a cuppa and sit back โฆ
Vince is a Devizes based singer-songwriter of excellent โ and well deserved โ local repute. He hides his substantial light under a huge bushel (and it needs to be huge to hide his phenomenal talent) but rest assured, if you donโt already know, when you see a gig of his advertised then itโs a gig worth cancelling weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs and other sundry celebrations for, in order to get down to.
Where do you start to review a gig by Vince, when that path has already been beaten by others before?
The more eagle eyed and inquisitive amongst you will have noted the above rather neatly represents a review every year since 2019โฆ and so, I find the niche for this reviewโฆ. One for 2024 and thus to keep the tradition alive.
Vince was justโฆ wellโฆ Vince. In the Oxford English Dictionary, under โSublimeโ it merely says โSee Vince Bellโ. True.
Vince pens his own bitter-sweet songs about life, relationships and family with complex fingering and philosophical lyrics. It has been said of him, that he has enough lyrics in just one song for an entire album (ยฉ Fraser Tilley) and certainly Vince is not one to use half a dozen lines when several dozen will do even better. But in between his own works Vince throws in a cover or two โ but these are no ordinary coversโฆ these are Vince Bell covers, covers like you never heard before. Vince may take anotherโs song, but he makes it all his own. At times, itโs difficult to tell if the cover is a cover particularly if itโs from one of his personal favourite musicians which may not be Radio 2 material and globally familiar.
Back to Vinceโs music. Some older songs of his, some newer. Including one of his latest pieces, a work in progress he is anxious to point out, to celebrate the recent publication by friend, Sorrel Pitts, of her new book โBroken Shadows.โ Naturally, as ever, it is as โฆ wellโฆ sublime as everything else Vince writes and plays.
The late afternoon soon swept past as it is wont to do and as the set end approached Vince asked the crowd which of his two particularly light-hearted songs we would like to hear โ โSpiderman Pyjamasโ or โDevizes Song.โ The answer was obvious of course โ there could only be one answerโฆ. BOTH! And Vince duly provided. Like everything Vince writes of course these are not however just light-hearted pieces. Listen to the lyrics properly and they tell hugely poignant tales. Nothing from Vince is just a glossy faรงade โฆ everything has onion skins of depth if you take the time to go peeling within themโฆ with surgical precision โฆ so to speak.
From an old man at his table, to what real heroes are โฆ
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
Bit Wintery, innit? Calendars are going forward, weather is going backwards! Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats…..
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโs jump right into the weekโฆ.
Okay, all being well, below, find a podcast of everything listed, sprinkled with some great local music. Itโs only a half hour long, trial thing, see how it goes, give it a listen, let me know what you think, especially if youโre the kind of person who cannot be bothered to read this! Also, I thought it might be good for anyone with sight or reading issues, but they will have to put up with me waffling! Music comes from Meg, Jol Rose, Phil Cooper, The Worried Men and Junkyard Dogs.
Wednesday 28th
Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at The Southgate.
The Importance Of Being Earnest at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, running until 11th March. Big Jam Session at The Vic.
Earl Okinโs Legend at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Buffoโs Wake at The Bell, Bath.
National Theatre Live at the Merlin, Frome, with Vanya.
Thursday 29th
Open Mic at The Crown, Aldbourne
Phil Cooper at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Alan Clayson & Chanson at the Beehive. Frank Carducci & The Fantastic Squad at The Vic. Daniel Foxx at Swindon Arts Centre.
Keith James โ โSolid Airโ โ The songs of Nick Drake & John Martyn at Chapel Arts, Bath. Tam Lin Retold at the Rondo Theatre.
Leaps of Faith at the Merlin Theatre, Frome.
Friday 1st March
The Cinelli Brothers at Long Street Blues Club, Devizes.
Technicolour Steam Train & Ed Dyke at The Pump, Trowbridge. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran Tribute at the Civic.
Jennifer Pike and Martin Roscoe at The Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Samantics at The Three Horseshoes.
Green Haze- Green Day Tribute at The Vic, Swindon. The Worried Men at The Queens Tap. Static Moves at the Deerโs Leap.
FearFree Fest 2024 at The Bell, Bath with DreamCaster, Kane Pollastrone, Mobscure, Louie Greensmith and Sharpie helping to support FearFree, a local charity breaking the cycle of abuse.
Free Community Festival at Komedia, Bath.
Saturday 2nd
CapFest at St James, Devizes. Plan of Action at The Three Crowns. Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate. The Music of Simon & Garfunkel at The Wharf Theatre.
Sam Cronin at The Barge, HoneyStreet. Open Mic at The Kings Arms, All Cannings.
Apache Cats at The Bear, Marlborough. Homer at The Lamb. Chuckle at the Church โ Comedy Night at St Peterโs.
The Chaos Brothers at The Grapes, Melksham
The Future Sound of Trowbridge #6 at the Pump, Trowbridge with Nobodyโs Dad, Sharpie and Sebastian & Me.
Spiers & Boden at The Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. The Derellars at The Three Horseshoes.
Mid Life Krisis, Diversify at The Vic, Swindon. Trios Amigos at the Swiss Chalet. Sonic Alert at The Queens Tap. Post 12 at The Woodlandโs Edge.
The Saviours Collective at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Witchfest Market at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, followed by Maniac Street Preachers Vs StereoIronics. The Blink 182 Show has sold out at the Tree House. Martha Tilston at Rook Lane Chapel.
Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th Iโve got nothing, but do keep a check on the event calendar for updates.
Update: Just in, there’s an open mic at the Lamb in Marlborough from 8pm on Monday 4th March.
Tuesday 5th
Jazz Knights presents Alan Barnes Quartet at The Royal Oak, Swindon.
ADHD and Women with Dr Samantha Hiew at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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 please listen to the podcast, itโll be fun, I promise you!!
It’s great to see a shining review on The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon and grassroots venues in general from a nationwide blog like God is in the TV….
Every weekend is a dilemma, with so much going on. Invitations to see The Beat at the big Cheese, Sorrel’s book launch in Lockeridge, but sometimes I just wanna go where…. .. cue the theme from Cheersโฆ..
And they’re always glad you came, at the Southgate in Devizes, a truly landmark tavern for bringing the town a steadfast, free and happy music venue. With a spectacular month’s line-up, incredible yet forever modest hometown singer-songwriter Vince Bell today at 5pm, those flip, flop flying Junkyard Dogs next Saturday, outstanding virtuoso Ruzz Guitar the following Saturday, grungy Cobalt Fire nestled between them and the legendary Jon Amor Trioโs monthly residency shifted from the usual Sunday to Thursday 7th to allow a convenient opportunity for the incredibly cool Ian Siegal, yeah it caters for the town’s historic penchant for the blues and prog-rock, but the Southgate never stands on convention; last night proved this.
What Devizes anchors in blues, each local town has its own niche, Chippenham, folk, Trowbridge, indie, but eastwards, Marlborough way, the tendency leans towards post-punk and gothic. It was something intriguing, if a smidgen eerie to me, drafted there at a tender age from suburban Essex, only knowing black eyelined boys with wicker necklaces and stormtrooper boots from vampire movies. Accepting gothic was a necessity if I wanted to fit in, get off with โposhโ girls, and avoid being bitten by the head vampire down Figgins Lane; none of which actually happened!
Something to look back on and laugh with Tim Emery, one half of duo Deadlight Dance, who was one of those goths in my school year. The other half, Nick Fletcher, arrived at St Johns for the sixth form but I was outta there by then. Together they formed teen bands, nowadays they’ve reunited to form Deadlight, playing here tonight after making a morning in-store appearance at Vinyl Realm, which I missed; could still taste the toothpaste.
In fondly reviewing their wares and gigs they’ve made me realise what I missed by only calling a meagre compromise of liking Robert Smith and teetering on the edge of full blown gothic; hence my reasoning for making a beeline to the Gate.
When the cumulation of the gig came to pass and Tim and Nick paid homage to their influences, I confess I’m in the dark about Sisters of Mercy or Fields of the Nephilim covers, but being in the dark for goths is a good thing, I thought?! I can, though, appreciate the more commercial or pioneering quarters, as they covered The Velvet Underground’s Waiting for my Man, or electronica classics from OMD and Joy Division; you know the ones.
Covers were sprinkled to begin with, as Deadlight Dance delivered their originals superbly, from a forthcoming album and their debut one, Beyond Reverence. With acoustic beginnings they built in layers from emotional melancholic expressions, on subjects like loving rain (despite wearing shades throughout the gig!), revolution, burning like fire in Cairo, and even a gothic sea shanty, to backing tracked beauties to enhance the second half of this poignant show with the new wave electronica and ethereal wave, and roused the crowd.
With a sorrowing rendition of Heartbreak Hotel, as found on their album, and these breathtaking impressions of gothic rock and electronica of yore, Deadlight Dance put the breath back into a genre often overshadowed these days by shoegazing pop or grunge; indie subgenres surely derivatives of post-punk but not as memorable for me.
If anyone’s going to bring out my inner-goth, it’s Deadlight Danceโฆpass my blood rose lined black corset and skull and cross pendant, pronto, because last night was another great night at the Southgate, again offering diversity to our town’s entertainment program. Bringing a touch of Marlborough to Devizes is a welcomed rarity imho, it often feels as if there’s anย ocean between Avebury and Beckhampton rather than just a flooded roundabout!
Thanks to the Gate for parting the sea, and thanks to Nick and Tim for a splendid evening. Even got the opportunity to briefly chat with two other bands on our ever-growing must-see list, The Radio Makersand Static Moves; watch this space!
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,โฆ
by Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Infrogmation Tennessee Williamsโ quasi autobiographical drama โA Streetcar Named Desireโ was first performed in 1947 as theโฆ
Hear ye, oh, hear ye, with much yet to plan for the event, we’re pleased to announce the date of Saturday June 29th has been set for Devizes Prideโฆ..
Put it in your diary, though I’m sure to remind you again. The inaugural Pride at Hillworth Park in Devizes last year, unfortunately, clashed with the popular beer festival. So, we’ve made sure there’s no major events in town this time on the day, because organiser Oberon Christmas and the Devizes LGBTQ+ group wants to build on last year’s success, and here at Devizine, we’re dedicated to helping out whether we can to make this an exciting and memorable day for all.
It’s too early to divulge plans yet, but there’s a focus on entertainment we are keen to involve ourselves with, so we’re hopeful for some live music, and of course, some drag. Details on this to follow. In fact, in negotiating a fair price from bands, I threw down a gauntlet of dressing up in drag myself, y’know….as an incentive…. though I fear it might have the opposite effect!
Do you dare me? Have I got the legs for it?! Will you turn up to find out? I do hope so!
Ha! Fear not, I’m certain there will be more entertaining things to do on the day than laughing at me in a ballgown and fishnets. I’m aware my interpretation of Pride might be slightly inaccurate. Maybe yours is too, all the more reason for one and all to turn up and take part in my honest opinion.
Being hetero, I see it more about being proud of how far we’ve come as a nation in the acceptance of equality, rather than pride in one’s personal sexual orientation, though I understand it means this to others as well, and rightly so. Watersheds like Stonewall aside, in my lifetime alone, we’ve progressed so far. It deserves recognition.
Ergo, Pride is welcoming to all, and that’s the way we should, and will, project it. It relies on this united ethos, I think, especially in a small town like Devizes.
Iย sincerely hope this year you can make it down to Hillworth Park for a rainbow celebration.
Hey, teacher! Leave those sausage rolls alone. Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, there be lots more than your average sausage roll to get through, yer filthy muckersโฆ..
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโs jump right into the weekโฆ.
Wednesday 21st
Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate.
Carducci Quartet at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon.
Jessica Fostekewโs Mettle at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Amadou Diagne & Group Yakar at The Bell, Bath.
Lunchtime Recital at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Thursday 22nd
Open Mic at the Crown, Bishopโs Cannings.
Devizes Film Club at the Wharf Theatre, screening Official Competition.
Runny Snotโs Acoustic Sessions at the Neeld, Chippenham.
Fin Taylor at Swindon Arts Centre. Adam Rowe at the Wyvern Theatre. Stone Soup, Modern Evils and Phantom Droid at The Vic. Larkham & Hall at the Beehive. Oxbowlake and Jess Marie at The Tuppenny.
Avalon Comedy Network’s Pierre Novellie, Tessa Coates, Huge Davies and Jake Baker at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Paul Cowley at Chapel Arts, Bath. Cindy Stratton Band Everything Changes album launch at the Rondo Theatre.
Rob Newman at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 23rd
Devizes Ghost Walk: with John Girvan. White Horse Operaโs Top of the Ops at St Joseph’s School.
Mark Morriss plays the Pump in Trowbridge with Sound Affects in support. Sax Man โShiltsโ at the Civic.โ
Drink and Draw at 31.Co.Work in Chippenham, opening the fringe February events across the town this weekend. Instant Wit โ A quickfire comedy event at The Constitutional Club. Heat 2 of Take the Stage at the Neeld Hall.
Thatโll Be The Day at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. The Retro Rock Show at Swindon Arts Centre. The Hamsters from Hell and the Vooz at The Vic. Jay Styles is Michael Jackson at The New Inn.
Shoun Shoun & Venice Treacle at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Nanny Folio Theatre and The Amazing Bubble Man at Pound Arts, Corsham.
CharmType at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Rock the Tots Family show at Rondo Theatre, Bath. The Jake Leg Jug Band at Chapel Arts.
Eddie & The Hot Rods at The Tree House in Frome. Absolute Bowie โ Greatest Hits at The Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 24th
Seed Swap at St Andrewโs, Devizes. Editor’s Pick of Week: Deadlight Dance arrives in Devizes with an instore at Vinyl Realm from 11am, and they play The Southgate in the evening. The Wharf Theatre has The Lonnie Donegan Story. Kennet Gateway Club has the Rockinโ Bandits at Devizes Conservative Club.
@59 at The Lamb, Marlborough.
Wet Franc at The Pilot, Melksham. The Fabulous โ59 Ford at Melksham Rock n Roll Club
Toodles and the Hectic Pity, Charlie Gillman and Luke De-Sciscio at the Pump, Trowbridge. Adult Panto Alice in Wonderland at the Civic.
The REAL nursery rhymes and songs โ toddler to KS1 at Wiltshire Swindon History Centre, Chippenham. Clareโs Circus at King Alfred Hall. Hidden Canvases โ โStreet Art and the Cityโ A talk by Doug Gillen at the Platinum Hall. Letโs build LEGO Chippenham! at Wiltshire Swindon History Centre, Chippenham. Rock the Tots: Baby Boogie atThe King Alfred Hall. Toddler Tango at The King Alfred Hall.
Steppin Thruโ Time โ Mary Lou Revue at The Yelde Hall, Chippenham. The Rosellys at Rivo Lounge. Daft Laffs โ A night of comedy greats at The King Alfred Hall. The Old Road Tavern has a Mega Fringe fest, see poster below.
Louise Farrenc plays Symphony number 3 at Corsham Town Hall. Martyโs Fake Family at The Royal Oak. Shake It Up Theatre presents The Improvised Shakespeare Show at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Holy Popes, Shin Splintz & Big Byrd at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Adriano Adewaleโs Cataplufโs Musical Journey at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Mollyโs Chamber at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.
Science Museum: The Live Stage Show at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Straighten Out at The Vic. World Music Club at the Beehive. Danny & The Randoms at The Queenโs Tap.
Glamarama at The Woodlandโs Edge. MetSon at the Swiss Chalet.
Martin Rowsonโs Giving the Gift of Offence at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Phoenix River Band at Chapel Arts, with Sophie Rose in support.
The Sunbirds at the Tree House, Frome. The Beat featuring Ranking Junior at the Cheese & Grain.
Sunday 25th
Vince Bell at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.
Melksham Record Fair at the Assembly Hall.
Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. Shed-ache Dance Theatre at The Constitutional Club Chippenham. Elvis in Blue Hawaii at the King Alfred Hall.
Bandeoke at Prestbury Sports Club, Warminster.
Schtumm presents DG Solaris & Courting Ghosts at the Long Room in Box. 3 Daft Monkeys Duo at The Bell, Bath.
Garth Marenghiโs Incarcerat at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
CSF Pro Wrestling: Showdown at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Monday 26th
Rock the Tots Family at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Josienne Clarke at Swindon Arts Centre,
Ben Tunnicliffeโs Nowhere Ensemble at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 27th
Valuation Day with Paul Martin at The Athenaeum in Warminster.
Sophie Stockham Quartet at Jazz Knights in the Royal Oak, Swindon. The Ronnie Scottโs All Stars โ Soho Songbook at the Wyvern Theatre. Connor Burns at Swindon Arts Centre.
Sam Thomas at The Bell, Bath.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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 I’ve been feeling as excited as little Charlie Bucket all week, I’ll justify why. On Friday my son and I had a chocolate adventure of our own, and while no one fell into a chocolate river or blew up into a giant snozzberry, we had fun at Hollychocs in Poulshot, returned with lots of goodies made with our own hand, and decidedly more enlightened to the art of the chocolaterieโฆ..
It was a birthday present for my ever-growing Oompa Loompa, rather than a recipe for an article, but this half term chocolate making workshop was so fun I feel inclined to mention it anyway!
Holly Garner opened this successful business five years ago, and while she’s yet to install a glass elevator, Hollychocs has won awards and expanded to a cafรฉ known as The Beanery. It’s the ideal space for hosting homey workshops, and there’s plenty to choose from for all ages. We’re here for a family-friendly course; I made enough mess with this one let alone something more technical!
Let’s be honest here, these workshops come at a price, but you certainly get what you pay for, especially if you love chocolate, and if we’re being honest, who doesn’t? Personally I’m as passionate about eating the stuff as Holly is with making it. If stuffing chocolate into a cakehole was a competitive sport, I reckon I’d be up for an Olympic gold medal; a chocolate coin medal, here’s hoping!
Holly’s enthusiasm and passion for her art is exemplified at such events. As her assistant provided us all with delicious hot chocolates, Holly introduced herself with a little background, including her roots as “the queen of caramel” at Cadburys; there has to be a parody of a Billy Ocean song in this, Caramel Queen, now we’re sharing the same dream? No? Maybe? Just me then!
And it was a dream come true. A detailed and educational five minutes kicked it off, explaining the journey from cocoa pod to chocolate liquor, and to your belly, with the use of a mock pod prop. Several example chocolate buttons of various strengths were handed out to try, including ruby chocolate, something you won’t find mass produced because of a lesser shelf life.
We were told their country of origin, facts about fair trade agreements, and after the brief but informative lesson, we were given the raw liquor and double cream to mix ourselves. Needless to say, I was getting a smidgen overexcited at this point!
Starting easy, we made chocolate lollipops and decorated them, followed by a chocolate bar and onto the grand finale, chocolate truffles. The kids all had fun, the parents had more. Some of the treats we made, like leftover buttons, mysteriously went missing before leaving the factory floor, the rest were neatly bagged to take home.
Like a right cheeky Wonka, I even ate the letters of my nametag, which Holly inscribed on our paper base with, yeah, you guessed it, chocolate! From now on, in chocolate language, I’m known as just โren!โ
I wondered if when Holly gets home after her working day, she just craves a packet of crisps, but one thing is for sure, she made techniques in chocolate engineering look simple, when it wasn’t so, and things got sticky; scrummy fun for all the family.
Cadburys, and I’m sure other sweetie factories too, may have their own theme-park-fashioned activities, where you’re a face in an overcrowded commercial queue. At Hollychocs, just down the road, you’re treated to the personal touch, not to mention her divine handcrafted and unique chocolates.
I can’t tell you anymore about it then this, who do you take me for, Slugworth? You’ll have to find out for yourselves!
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
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
It’s our lovable soup-making duo rightfully in the headlines here today. Anya and Marc of Soupchick are making good use of the unit opposite in Devizesโ Shambles, opening a tranquil art space, plus adding a further dining areaโฆ.
It’ll be a lovely space to relax, lunch, and browse some art for sale; I know, I poked my nose into their grand opening this afternoon!
Valentina, they’re calling it, named in memory of Anya’s grandmother, and while for the initial month there’s a teaser of local artists exhibiting, thereafter individual artists will exhibit a show.
I do believe I’m therefore duty-bound to return with news of said individual exhibits when the time comes, and it’s nothing to do with the absolutely scrumptious soup they serve, so, don’t dare say it is!!
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 heavy resurfacing artillery. Yet, behind blockades at the village hall, a pocket of gig resistance stood their ground, guided by their temporary sheriff of entertainment, Gaz Brookfield. They were going out-out, even if it meant marching from Littleton Pannell or Rickbarton!
No one’s fault, just unfortunate timing, but I gladly report any clashes between parties was reduced to the mere possibility of some reveller tripping on a traffic cone in the dark – what else can I say of the incident? My mum always told me to watch where I was going!
In this wonderful village hall, though, everyone was made to feel welcome. Warmed with chilli, rice and choice of drinks, curious villagers and local Gaz fans melded for a memorable evening. Armed with just a guitar this all-round entertainer of the singer-songwriter variety fulfilled a promise to book himself into willing village halls as an initial part of a wider annual tour. Who am I to argue town and city venues get all the fun, and this genius idea breathes life into otherwise often quotidian or redundant halls? But the true genius of Gaz Brookfield isnโt only present in marketing concepts.ย
Your typical singer-songwriter can be categorised thus; wonderfully creative yet timorous, bold but perhaps not so accomplished, or a pick of both positive qualities, as Gaz clearly falls into, an expert in confidently delivering self-penned marvels. It would seem nothing is off limits as a subject, as life takes its course Gaz reflects on any occurrence or newfound knowledge and views them equally as worthy of writing about. The result is variety. Habitual vow of playing a fun song after a melancholic one, Gaz explains this, as is he summarises the thought process behind each song with a balance of serenity and good humour.
You know what I mean, though? Some singer-songwriters, while talented, stand tense and only address an audience with โthis next song is called,โ whereas someone like Springsteen will drag a backstory out to epic proportions. Gaz finds the middle ground, a perfect balance. Yeah he gave a locally themed backstory related in his first gigs in a band playing his own village hall, but all intros were a brief synopsis, and on with the associated song.
Everything he plays is original, fans chant them back to him, but every layer of his personality, thoughts and observations are exposed on the stage he commands, thatโs his honest beauty. Also worth noting, parallel to Springsteen or folk singers like Seeger, thereโs sunny-side of the street, hometown themes, but Gaz confines himself to nada; thereโs historic or apocalyptic stories, thoughts of symbolic tree carvings, blues about diabetes, and quite often, frank insights to being a musician. Through the quips and ditties to the sombre or reflective moments, if Iโm making this sound as if Gaz is a jack of all trades, heโs not, heโs a king of them, an all round entertainer.
Weaving an audience under his spell, he relates, he engages an audience, makes them feel a part of the show rather than observers. Relaying an anecdote about an ukulele fashioned guitar, he drops off the stage and sings a shanty unplugged. A communal moment of sublimity alongside archetypal latest album plugs, and ending with a selection of previous known and loved works. Gaz is a tricky one to pin down, given the variety and proficiency he plays with, but he certainly ticks every box with a gold star.
A national gemstone from down our way. Expressing a love for the West Country just one tangent he focussed on, an ode to a friend amusing titled โnuggets,โ and too many other ingenious prose to mention. Though this was not before a Tilshead support. Mischa of Mischa and his Merry Men arrived without said merry men, calling an opportunity to play some songs he wouldnโt usually do with his accompanying band. Singing of desperation, eco-anarchy though with a mildly blasรฉ approach, and citing seventies electric blues influences in song, Mischa was apologetic about swearing, thrilled to be performing with Gaz, and made an apt and superb support act which would’ve been perfect with his collective as a headliner.
Being I reviewed Gazโs 2016 album, I Know My Place pre-Devizine for a now redundant newsite, alongside Richie Triangle, Tamsin Quin and Phil Cooper he was fundamental to this voyage of discovery in local talent, Iโm glad to finally tick him off the top of my must-see list, but wouldnโt mind at all making his gigs as something of a devotee. Aware of his music before last night, even in reviewing a live album, is a solid base but his ability to deliver a live performance in person borders on legendary.
The village hall tour continues until March, the closet being Hook near Swindon on the 23rd, further dates for his new album Morning Walking Club from April takes in Salisburyโs Winchester Gate on April 6th, and includes full-band festivals such as the My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival at Swindonโs Old Town Bowl on July 20th. Find more details HERE, and do, youโll be glad you did!
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
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
After an impressive forty-five years of Guiding in Worton, through Brownies, Guides, Young Leadership, and as the Unit Leader there for many years, it’s sad to hear Vicky Earley has made the very difficult decision to hang up her Brownie Wings and pass over the running of the unit to someone newโฆ
Unfortunately, the Assistant Leaders will also be leaving the unit at the same time so they really need a new Leadership Team.
Full support would be offered to anyone who might be interested in taking on this Volunteer role.
They’ve been sharing recruitment advertisements on social media in the hope that it would interest someone to enquire but as yet have no luckโฆcan you help?
If you, or anyone you know, may be interested in a fun, fulfilling Volunteer role, please do get in touch with them, or the unit is at risk of closure. It would be a terrible thing to lose for the children, after being established for sixty years this June,
The current volunteers are able to stay until the Summer Holidays. โAfter that if we have not found a new leadership team the unit will be closed,โ Vicky said, โwe really hope that it doesnโt come to that.โ
“I’m not looking for someone to commit for the next 30 years,” Vicky continued, “that was my personal choice, even if someone could just keep it open for the next few years it is better than it closing.”
Rainbows 1st Potterne Unit are also in need of volunteers.
If you would like some information about Girlguiding and what Brownies do these days please check out the website:
As a child of the 70s I grew up with the new genre of horror films โฆย โThe Exorcistโ led the way in 1973 with its green vomit and spinning head. โThe Omenโ in similar demonic child plot followed in 1976, but also released in 1976 was a film featuring a less demonic but no less โฆย disturbedโฆย teenagerโฆย โCarrieโ. The screenplay was an adaptation of Stephen Kingโs 1974 novel of the same name about an outsider high school student of that name.
So having a horror story book, followed by a horror story film, what is the obvious next step to take with the overall premise?ย Thatโs right โ a musical. How obvious.ย After all, its hardly lovely, fluffy, boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, unlikely misunderstanding occurs, boy and girl separate, boy and girl get back together, love blossoms, final curtain, all interspersed with some jolly rollicking show tunes, stuff. Oh no โ its more everybody hates girl, mother suppresses girl, girl is awkward, girlโs peers humiliate girl, girl kills peersโฆ ย all interspersed with some โฆ wellโฆ not so bouncy (but excellent!) show tunes.
If you arenโt aware of the story proper, and the above synopsis isnโt enough, then google is your friend.ย Though in a bizarre happenstance of fate my poor typing skills initially wrote that as โgoogle is your fiendโ.ย Which may be somewhat more apposite given the storyline.ย Maybe.
Anywayโฆย I quite like dark musicals. And letโs face it โฆย musicals probably donโt come much darker than something that originated from the pen of Stephen King.
โCarrieโ is performed by โLuna Theatricsโ, a Bath based company at the Rondo Theatre this week. The cast is a young one as befits the storyโs setting in Chamberlain High School and where the eponymous anti-hero is a late to puberty seventeen-year-old. The set is a simple black box with minimal props โ it very much helps highlight the action with few distractions.
In attendance is the quite excellent live seven-piece band led by Alex Williams, tucked away but centre stage in the rear section that the Rondoโs stage allows for. Tech is provided by Alex Draper & Tony Giddings with specialist effects from Lazurus Molina and Jack Whittaker. Mollie Macpherson produced the show.
So what of the show I hear you ask? The book is by Lawrence D. Cohen, lyrics by Dean Pitchford and music by Michael Gore, but thatโs the stuff that google can give you of course. Itโs a fast-paced show which nonetheless pulls along the fairly simple story line in about an hour and three quarters โ not that it ever seems to be taking long I hasten to add lest that appear a criticism.
There are three key partnerships in the story. Mother and child โ Margaret and Carrie. Margaret is the overbearing, Old Testament god-fearing, benignly intentioned, oppressor of her daughter and is superbly played by Caroline Murray; itโs the smallest principal character yet without Margaret the story doesnโt exist, and Caroline ensures every nuance of the motherโs influence over Carrie is illustrated. Carrie โ all shy angst and awkwardness, is played stupendously by Amy Goodspeed. At first Amyโs portrayal seems a little lack lustre โ but this is me being slow โฆย as in fact she had encapsulated the persona of her character perfectly, which as the second act moves on expands into a more confident girl and burgeons with itโฆย until the final humiliation and the crushing of dreams. These two have for me the most beautiful parts of the musical โฆย a duet in the first act (โEvening Prayersโ) and Carolineโs stunning solo in act two (โWhen There’s No One”).
The second partnership is Sue and Tommy โ the high school perfect couple โ played by Ella Rodbourn and Ewan Wyatt. Both play their characters believably as the โin crowdโ that become supportive of Carrie. Ella demonstrates Sueโs frailty and uncertainty in particular really wellโฆย while Tommyโs prom scene with Carrie is done sweetly with compassion.
Then thereโs the โnasty coupleโ of Chris and Billyโฆย where itโs better to strike than get struck better to screw than get screwed, better to punch than get punched, better to burn than get burned as Chrisโ solo (โThe World according to Chrisโ) explains. Chris is perfectly belligerently portrayed by the ever adaptable and strong stage presence of Naomi Marie. Jack Whittaker is absolutely perfect as Billy, all alpha male testosterone, and no brain cells.
The rest of the cast all equally shine โ unsurprisingly. Rebecca Paterson & Joe Gibson as the harangued teachers, and other students consisting of Joshua Phillips, Katherine Flint, Holly Dumper, Adam Evans, Sarah Coles and Louisa Naylor.ย Ensembles are often glossed over but these eight keep the pace high and all take their opportunities to shine.
Thereโs one area I havenโt mentioned yet โ and step forward director and choreographer Adam Evans. The dance sequences are crisp, sharp, and energetic โ several cast members mentioned after the show how warm they still were after changing! The direction is spot on tooโฆย there are parts of the show that are genuinely scary and disturbing.ย
TL;DR? Itโs a cracking show. The music is excellent. Choreography excellent. Drama spot on. Acting and singing top notch.
And so back to the film in 1976โฆย Those that have seen it may be wondering if the stage musical has the sameโฆย surprising โฆ ending. Wellโฆ..ย
โฆย Youโll have to go and see the show to find out!ย Carrie is showing at the Rondo Theatre until Saturday 17th February, at 1930 with a Saturday 17th matinee at 1430.
Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, letโs lots to get throughโฆ..
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.
Look, if itโs all the same to you, I cannot choose an Editorโs Pick of Week; too much great stuff happening. Iโm doing a Chocolate making workshop at HollyChocs in Poulshot on Friday (see here,) then off to see Gaz Brookfield at West Lavington Village Hall, (Preview) which has to be one. Saturday, if you loved Adam & the Ants, you need to get to The Vic, Swindon for Ant Trouble (previous review) and if you love hip hop get down the Pump in Trowbridge for the Scribes (preview) but saying all this, when SGO come to the Southgate, Devizes, which they are on Saturday, itโs always a pleasure (past review.) Huge dilemma, ergo, can I have five Editorโs Picks of the Week this week?!!
Ongoing until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes,ย Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed HERE.
Potterne Pantomime presents Robin Hood at the Potterne Village Hall, running until Saturday.
Wednesday 14th
Seed Bomb Making at Hillworth Park, Devizes, and the regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate.
Glad to hear The Charlton Cat at Charlton St Peter has a grand reopening on Wednesday.
Counterfeit Sixties Show at the Neeld, Chippenham. Love Stories in Chippenham, don;t know where, One Chippenham your website seems to be down!
A lunchtime recital with violinist Madeleine Mitchell at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Sterling Elliott at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Ghost The Musical at The Athenaeum, Warminster.
Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre screens Miss Potter (PG.) The Big Jam Session at The Vic.
Carrie the Musical at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Diddy Sweg at The Bell, Bath.
Thursday 15th
Open Mic nights return to The Cellar Bar, Devizes.
Seend Fawlty Players Presents Aladdin at Seend Community Centre, opening today, running up till Saturday.
Kid Carpet and the Noisy Garden Centre at Pound Arts, Corsham.
B-Sydes, Heartwork & Ed Poole at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Bob Porter Project at the Beehive. The Magic of Terry Pratchett at Swindon Arts Centre. Frankie Boyleโs show opens at the Wyvern Theatre and runs until Saturday.
Bath Bachfest opens and runs until Saturday with lots of concerts across the city.
Friday 16th
Innes Sibun Trio at The Southgate, Devizes. Disneyโs Frozen Jr runs at the Wharf Theatre on Friday and Saturday.
Gaz Brookfield plays West Lavington Village Hall.
Ward Thomas at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Collateral with Zac & The New Men at The Vic. Soulphia, new name for Sophia Bovellโs Soul Rebels, plays The Cow in Swindon.
Classic Rock American Highway Show at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Bootleg Blondie at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Liam Helm & The Hang Ups at The Tree House.
Sorrel Pitts will be signing copies of her new novel Broken Shadows at Devizes Books. Reviewed HERE. Thereโs a Devizes Town Hall Ghost Hunt. The Truzzy Boys are at The Three Crowns, and SโGO at The Southgate, reviewed here. Oh, and of course, itโs DOCAโs Festival of Winter Ales.
The Devilโs Prefects Album Launch at The Barge on HoneyStreet.
Operation 77 at The Lamb, Marlborough.
The Scribes Boombox reaches the Pump in Trowbridge, preview here.
The George Ward School Reunion Disco Class of the 1970s, at the Spencer Club, Melksham.
Wiltshire Police Band at St Andrewโs Church Chippenham. Valentines Concert in Chippenham, at the Neeld, perhaps? One Chippenham, your website is down.
Gwilym Simcock Trio at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Framed! And Help! I Think Iโm a Nationalist! at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Fleetwood Mac & Tom Petty The Legacy Show at Swindon Arts Centre. Apache Cats at Queens Tap. 12 Bars Later at Swiss Chalet. Ant Trouble at The Vic.
Deadlight Dance & Steve Mercy are art Chapter 22 Roots & Records, Bath. Joe Wilkinson
At the Rondo Theatre. This Flight Tonight โ A Tribute to Joni Mitchell at Chapel Arts.
Cover Stories at Salisbury British Legion Hall. The Wiseguys at the Rising Sun, Wimborne.
Even N Song at The Ship, Shipton Bellinger.
Judge Jules is at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Sunday 18th
Chantelle Smith is with Richard Wileman & Valve at The Vic, Swindon. Brian Conley at the Wyvern Theatre.
The Woodlanders at The Bell, Bath.
Monday 19th
Buffy Revamped at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon
Swingle-Tree and Whistling Treason at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 20th
Ian Bateman Quartet plays Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon. Miles Jupp at the Wyvern Theatre.
POETIKA poetry slams at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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- thatโs the last important thingy to say!!
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
Dumping pumpkins in the woods is bad for wildlife says Forestry England. As millions of pumpkins hit supermarket shelves and make their way to gardens,โฆ
If Phil Cooperโs 2018 โThoughts and Observations,โ was one of the first albums we ever reviewed here on Devizine, itโs been a while since Iโveโฆ
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts announced their upcoming project, YEA Devizes today. Made possible by a grant from National Grid Electricity Transmissionโs Community Grant Programme, theโฆ
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 23 Bathโฆ
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 in Trowbridge this year. Coming off the back of an incredible 2023 that saw the act perform at Glastonbury, WOMAD, Wireless, Isle Of Wight, Latitude and many more, this will be go off!
Arranged by The Village Pump Community Interest Company, this will be a great chance for people to see The Scribes’ Boombox in an intimate environment before they embark on their 60+ date 2024 tour, with support on the night comes from local up and comers Iggz, Jay Brooks and Origin.
The Scribes are a multi award winning hip hop act whose unique blend of beatboxing, off the cuff freestyling, crowd participation and genre-spanning music has created a critically acclaimed live show quite unlike any other on the scene today, with appeal ranging far beyond traditional hip hop fare.
They have consistently proven to be an impressive and engaging live act with recent festival appearances at Latitude, Isle Of Wight, Glastonbury, Wireless, WOMAD, Electric Picnic (Ire), Wilderness, Shambala, Boomtown, Bearded Theory, Beautiful Days, Great Estate and many more, and are proud winners of both the Exposure Music Award’s “Best UK Urban Act” and the EatMusic Radio Award’s “Best Live Act”. The group have also provided original music for BBC and Channel 4 television, and are featured regularly on both national and local radio and media including BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio 1 Introducing and BBC Radio 6 Music.
The Scribes are hotly tipped as one to watch, recently signing with Stimulus Management (Nas, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, Busta Rhymes), and sharing the stage with the likes of Macklemore, Rudimental, Nathan Dawe, Wu Tang Clan, Dizzee Rascal, Kelis, Rag N Bone Man, Example, Lethal Bizzle, The Wailers, Jurassic 5, Sugarhill Gang, KRS One, Pharoahe Monch, De La Soul, MF DOOM, and Souls Of Mischief to name (drop) but a few, and are steadily establishing a growing following across the continent to add to their already significant fan base at home.
Chippenhamโs young folk singer-songwriter Meg, or M3G if you want to get numeric, will release her 6th single The Mist on Friday 18th October, andโฆ
Our very own illustrious orchestra, The Fulltone Orchestra, are staging live performances of Enyaโs 1988 breakthrough album, Watermark in Basingstoke, Bath and Cheltenham later thisโฆ
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
London-based Errol Linton and band made a welcomed return to Devizesโ Long Street Blues Club last night. In June I was surprised to label it my personal best night at Long Street. Catching them again equally did not disappoint, despite knowing what I was letting my mojo in forโฆ..
If Flo’s recent review of the Devizes Youth Action club night expressed a need for gigs for local youngsters, we’re not ageist here and tonight I’m at the other end of the spectrum; yeah, say it, I can take it – where I belong!
Long Street Blues Club welcomes all, but largely attracts older middle-classes with a collective passion for the blues, implanted via the historic Mel Bush effect. Ticket prices also play a part in governing clientele, but you certainly get value for money. All the tried and tested acts booked on their seasonal programmes are of a superior class and quality. Long Street should be proud of the landmark they’ve created. It’s enough to pull devotees from Cardiff to London.
In its present-day form, Long Street Blues Club turns sweet sixteen this year, though with his brother Rick, town councillor and ex-mayor Ian Hopkins revived Devizesโ fixation with the blues mid-nineties.
Typically monthly, it offers the diverse range within its blues tagline its regulars crave. While others may favour British electric blues, prog-rock, or country blues, and these are readily available, I’m smitten for precisely what Errol and his band lay down, an irresistible mesh of Memphis, Delta boogie and jump with the wonderful twist of Errol’s Jamaican roots. Yeah, it’s going to switch to an offbeat, and set the Devizes Conservative Club to skank!
Likely the most prominent example of this in his set is a cover of Howlinโ Wolf’s Howlinโ for my Darlin‘, in which, after an explanation of the blues legend’s time in Jamaica, it rolls off with a one-drop reggae riff to make Joe Higgs blush.
Much is the set, a sublime and highly polished blues act with this resplendent reggae hook. I believe in my last review I waffled on a tangent about offbeat jump blues and shuffle rhythms influencing post wartime Jamaica via American radio stations, and the accidental hook creating the ska sound at an alleged Prince Buster recording session at Duke Reid’s Treasure Island studio. While I cited Jamaica’s first national sound, ska, as a major influence on Errol’s original output, tonight I felt a larger portion was ska’s successors rock steady and reggae. Maintaining the rootsy Delta boogie throughout, even tastes of dub was hinted at, as the pace steadied to hypnotic riddims; now, that’s right up my street and knocking on my door.
The crowd felt the vibe too, and while Long Street is a seated music appreciation society where idle chit-chat is frowned upon during a performance, folk felt the irresistible urge to shake their thang for the finale. For me, while happy it’s hardly stage-diving, mosh pit country here, I don’t know how anyone could’ve kept still last night!
It was a full house for this amazing five-piece, natural entertainer Errol on vocals and harmonica, pounding upright bassist Lance Rose, invigorating lead guitarist Richey Green, Petar Zivokvic wildly pushing the ivory, and devine drummer Gary Williams. Errol recounted tales of family ties, his parent’s immigration influencing a new song which came across decidedly dub in its initial King Tubby incarnation, whereas another memorable moment for me came with a country-tingedย ballad called Country Girl, so gorgeously delivered it could’ve come from Toots Hibbert’s songbook. It was that magical.
They played with skill, joy and gusto, but not before Oxford’s acoustic bluesman Thompson Smurthwaite pulled out an impressive support. A regular at the Southgate I’ve yet to have had the pleasure of hearing, though Andy has reported previously.
I don’t know if Thompson sold his soul to the devil at the Botley interchange, but there was something decidedly deeply-rooted in his enlightening set of relatable originals and prison-type narrative about life on canals, with casual scat vocals akin to Robert Johnson himself, and all the sublime harmonica and guitar picking of any Mississippi blues legend of yore.
Another cracking night at Long Street Blues Club. I was content enough just to be back in Devizes with cider in hand, after hibernation, broken by teetotal stints at The Pump and Wiltshire Music Centre! Anything else would’ve been a bonus, ergo, Errol’s band, and Thompson too made it a bonus ball the size of the boulder chasing Indiana Jones!
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
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
Breaking news, and it’s not often I get to say that here! As part of Gaz Brookfield’s Almost All Village Hall Tour, which kicked off last night in Kidderminster, he arrives at West Lavington Village Hall this coming Friday, the 16th Feb. It is likely that you know this already, hence why it’s sold out. But, be quick, Gaz plans to release a further twenty tickets for the gig…..
Quick-fingered Gaz fans keep your beady eyes fixated on this here ticket link, as while it might say it’s sold out at the moment, after returning home from a show in Devon tonight, tomorrow he will add twenty more tickets, and they could be yours!
West country basedย Gaz Brookfieldย is predominantly an independent solo musician. Although, on occasion you will find him on stage with his band,ย The Company of Thieves.
Since winning Acoustic Magazine’s singer/songwriter of the year back in 2010 he has spent his time on the road, building a strong and loyal following all over the UK and beyond. He was the first independent musician to sell out Bristol’s, The Fleece, (450 cap), and The Bierkeller, (750 cap), and SWX, (1000 cap).
Gaz has an impressive back catalogue of nine studio albums. The latest of which, Morning Walking Club, went straight in at #1 in the Official UK Folk Album Charts, #3 in the Official UK Indie Breaker Charts, #6 in the Official UK Download Charts, #10 in the Official UK Indie Album Charts, and even #37 in the Official UK Album Sales Charts.
He’s one artist I picked up on BD (before Devzine!) when the precursor rant column ran out of negatives and I begun hunting for more positive stories, finding myself on a voyage of discovery into a local music scene I had no idea existed. It was Devizes gigs for Richie Triangle and Tamsin Quin which got the ball rolling, and before long I was penning album reviews for the likes of Gaz and Phil Copper. I believe I splashed some fond words about the 2016 album, I Know My Place, but the website finished and all traces of it have bitten the dust.
While Gaz has sporadically featured here, I regret to say our paths haven’t yet crossed, so after seven years since reviewing the album I’m looking forward to being able to knock up a live review. Here’s hoping The Tale Of Gunner Haines is on his setlist, if he has one, prolific and quite the master of improv I believe he is!
The Almost All Village Hall Tour takes in twelve rural UK locations in a bid to get his music out beyond towns and cities, and begun with a Facebook post asking for village halls to stand up and be counted. West Lavington’s Community Hall on Sandfield makes the perfect space, a hall with so much potential, and I for one, am glad to see it on the shortlist. Ever a grand idea, getting gigs out to the villages, Gaz, and we wish you all the best with it.
Now, readers, stop reading this and keep one eye on the ticket link!
The newly drafted forest plan for West Woods and Collingbourne is open for public consultation until Monday 7 October. The plan outlines how each woodlandโฆ
With Ranking Junior now taking centre stage, Two-Tone ska icons The Beat will be coming to Fromeโs Cheese & Grain on 24th February as they look to energise audiences with some of the most famous ska and reggae tracksever written….
One of the key bands in the UK ska revival of the late โ70s and โ80s, The Beat still bring the near-perfect balance of pop melodies and taut rhythms that made them stars and won them worldwide acclaim.
Based in Birmingham, The Beat released their debut single โTears of a Clownโ through The Specialsโ 2-Tone label in 1979. The single went Top Ten in the UK and they soon struck a deal with Arista to distribute on their own Go Feet label.
Their debut studio album โJust Canโt Stopโ went Gold in England, and included the now-cult single โMirror In The Bathroomโ. The bandโs ferocious live performances and clever blend of personal and political lyrics continue to make them stars to this day, and theyโll be diving into their back catalogue at these new shows.
On Friday, I was lucky enough to have seen the four local bands at the youth gig set up by Devizes Youth Action Group to give under-18 bands the opportunity to perform and show off their talent at the Devizes Corn Exchange.….
Bella Donna were the first band on stage. The first song I saw them perform was Livinโ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and the audience loved it. They had a great set list which consisted of songs such as Drain You by Nirvana and We Will Rock You by Queen. It is safe to say that their stage presence and enthusiasm in these performances spread throughout the audience, who didnโt stop singing or dancing. The band consists of Emmie on drums, Roxie, bass, Bea, guitar with both Bea and Roxie singing. For a band so young, I was impressed by their ability to interact with the audience. I will be following their progress and I am looking forward to seeing how they develop.
The second band was called Shox. As soon as they started to get ready, the audience was shouting their name, eagerly anticipating their performance. My interest was piqued as soon as I saw they were using both a DJ set and live music to perform. They opened their set with using the DJ set and then went into a cover of the Arctic Monkeys โFluorescent adolescent,โ which was an instant hit with the crowd. Throughout their set, the drum and bass held the groove nicely, which paired up with Zach on guitar, who played some creative and well-polished solos. He nailed the solo in โCanโt Stopโ by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, which blew me away as I am an avid fan. The lead singer, who was very solid as a rhythm guitarist, let the others be technical and explore their parts whilst holding a beat and singing, which exceeded all of my expectations.
They covered songs such as R U Mine?, in which the drums created the heartbeat of the band, and Buddy Holly by Weezer, to which everyone was dancing. The DJ set really just levitated their performance and meshed really well with the live playing, but gave it an electronic feel, which I havenโt heard or seen in any other gigs. On top of this electric feel, the drummer used electric drums, and this helped the pre-recorded tracks on the mixer fuse smoothly with the instruments. Also, a shoutout to the bassist, who despite standing at the back of the stage held the backbeat of every song humbly, but it didnโt go unnoticed. Altogether, these 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. Well done.
Talking to some of the band players whilst Bella Donna and Shox took the stage, all of them downplayed and reacted humbly while I told them how excited I was to hear them play, saying things such as โDonโt be too excitedโ and โWe arenโt that good, donโt expect too much.โ However, to say that my expectations were not just met, but exceeded so much that I think I am Enguunโs and Steatopygousโ biggest fan.
When Enguun went onto the stage, I was simply blown away. They are insane. My ears were in euphoria as soon as Ewan Middleton and Joshua Allen started to bless the audience with their music. As a musician, their ability to capture audience attention and put everyone in a trance-like state of freaking out was out of this world. They used techniques such as detuning whilst playing and just purely encapturing everyone with their performance, breaking their promises of โnot that good.โ Using, or should I say blessing, a Tama Kit (the best type IMO), Ewan played with his whole body, putting his all into creating a beat that the audience could move their bodies too. The mass of sweaty teenagers loved the way that both musicians let each other explore the feel of music that they wanted to create.
It wasnโt just good music either, it was a performance. As you can tell these boys could just play and transport those around them into a different world. I am not quite sure how to describe to you just how much talent these boys have. Even without a Bassist (although they are looking for one) they still managed to keep the groove and attention of everyone looking at them. I was sure that the two boys must have known each other for years, but I was wrong. In the same year at school, and aware of each others presence, they didnโt get along too well at first, as Ewan โused to sit next to (Joshua) in Year 8 and it annoyed the s*** out of him.โ That was until over time gained respect and one day Ewan asked Joshua if he could play bass, to which he lied and said yes, but with some luck, the guitarist left, leaving the two boys to play ever since. I hope that I have written this to show the admiration I have for these guys. I will be following them and going to see them again as they were just insane, and you should too.
Last, but definitely not least, the act of which I was the most excited for, Steatopygous took the stage. With their adoring fans, of which I am one, hyping them up around me, my anticipation for their act had only grown. The band consists of talented Poppy Hillier on guitar and singing, Ewan Middleton (again) on drums and enticing Eliza Brindle on bass. The first thing I noticed about this band was how friendly they are. I had contacted them before to ask about doing an interview and they instantly replied being extremely kind; this was reflected to the incredible audience of enthusiastic and happy people who welcomed everyone to dance with each other and enjoy the music. The previous bands, school mates and strangers came together to enjoy their music. The fact that they have only done four gigs was insane for the way that they have an ability to perform; the queue after the gig for buying posters and signing them really just reflects how much the audience loved them.
Now, I was lucky enough to be able to talk to them myself, so if you read on, meet Poppy, Eliza and Ewan: When did you become a band?
โMay last year maybe? First, it was me and Eliza. We had Steatopygous and it was just. I had been playing bass, for like three days!โ
โWe started a band and I literally didnโt know how to play guitar. We were just like โletโs start a bandโโ
โWe went to this Young Womenโs Music Project in Oxford and afterwards we were like, yeah we are gonna start a band. Ewan joined a bit later.โ
What are your musical inspirations?
โDefinitely Bikini Killโ
โYeah. I think it would be a sin to answer this and not say Bikini kill. X-Ray Spex. Amyl and The Sniffers.โ
โSonic Youth, as well.โ
โAnd Rat Mobile.โ
When you were writing your single, how did you go about it?
โWe had never written a song before, so it was very much like letโs just try and do it.โ
โWe had no idea what we were talking about, but we were very angry with some boys, so we thought we would channel it.โ
Would you like to explain what the songs about?
โI think our main inspiration is what it is like to be a women in music and how it feels to not be taken seriously in the industry. There was this one time we were in band practise, and this builder next door, whilst we were playing a Pixies song. He goes to Ewan, our male drummer, โOh, you guys are really good, do you like the pixies?โ and completely ignored us. He did not acknowledge us and talked to Ewan the whole time.โ
โI think from there, it just became about all the annoying experiences we have had with men.โ
Why the fish?
โPoppy is really into fish; she wants to be a Marine Biologist and I do a lot of art. I spray painted a fish once and then wrote Steatopygous over it, and it just stuck.โ
Why Steatopygous?
โSteatopygous means excess fattiness on the thighs and ass of a woman, but it sounds like a dinosaur, which is a plus. My Mum was telling me about the poems she studied in her GCSE and there was one called fat, womenโs thoughts in a bath… or something. It was a poem about Steatopygous and I thought it was a sick word.โ
How does your female punk โriot girlโ look fit into having a male band member?
โI think that โriot girlโ definitely isnโt exclusive just to women. I think that one of the problems to โriot girlโ in the 90โs was that it was very exclusive, which let to some ethical issues with transphobia and racism within the riot girl movement, so I think itโs important for us to show that anyone can be a โriot girlโ and that comes across with having Ewan as our drummer.โ
Any upcoming gigs?
โNo, donโt have anything in the calendar at the moment, but always looking guys!โ
In conclusion, these are some people, who are truly talented and you they should be on your radar.
Editor’s Note: Trust me to have to add my tuppence into this great review, but I would just like to say a few things, if I may?! Thanks to everyone at Devizes Youth Action Group for hosting this event, it means so much to the youth that there is something for them to do, and let’s hope there’s more to come. Thanks to all the bands who played, I wish you the best of luck for the future and hope we get the opportunity to write about you all again. To all parents, we have as much as possible attempted to gain permission from you for featuring the bands, and while many responded, if there is an issue please do not hesitate to contact me.
I’ve linked in the band’s Instagram pages, please give them a follow and support them with their journeys; the future of Devizes live music scene depends on it!
But most of all, thanks to Flo for all her hard work. It’s one thing for me to report on youth events such as these, but it is far better that youth are the ones reporting on them. Thank you all!!
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
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
Devizes is a blues town, fact. Iโve dubbed its origins as โThe Mel Bush Effect,โ in the past; via Long Street Blues Club and down to The Southgate, the tradition continues and the label sticks. Music promoter Mel Bush would later go onto be a prominent organiser of some of the countryโs most memorable concerts, but he cut his teeth here in the early seventies, bringing top acts to the Corn Exchange, at a time the town only had a population of approximately ten thousandโฆ..
Knock on effect, while upcoming nineties bands modelled themselves on Madchester or grunge, from a local village five footballing teenagers formed a band inspired by Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dr Feelgood, the latter playing a particularly significant gig at the venue, which we need not recount now; if you know, you know! Concentrating on The Hoax, those youngsters, the Davey brothers Jesse and Robin, Hugh Coltman, finalised drummer Dave Raeburn, and of course, Jon Amor, raised the bar on the UK blues scene with the vigour of youth in an otherwise largely considered matured genre.
Pushing new boundaries post-Hoax, Jon has explored many guises, from Amor, with Wayne Proctor and Matt Beable, to the Jon Amor Blues Group and King Street Turnaround, solo, and collaborating projects like Birdmens, with Ian Siegal, Joel Fisk, and Dave Doherty, prolifically producing albums throughout. Here, heโs our lovable living legend, never failing to turn up at the Southgate for a monthly Sunday residency, set in concrete in December 2021, and with renowned guests to boot. Such splendour of the recurring occasion, many of whom return in their own right.
Jonโs backing for said residency and various other venues on the circuit comprises of astounding bassist Jerry Soffe and celestially-sited drummer Tom Gilkes, dubbed aptly as The Jon Amor Trio, and theyโve been into Swindonโs Crescent Records studio. While a Jon Amor album is no new thing, The Turnaround is the first for the trio, and being as itโs such a high pedestal Iโm popping them onto, I take a listen to it with a tinsey hint of scepticism they can recreate the magic of their live gigs. Because itโs the improv moments, the atmosphere, warts and all of a pub gig which grasps the magic, see? I found myself wondering if they couldโve released a live album instead, but who am I to kid, I shouldโve known better!
Eleven original tracks strong opening with the title track, it wastes no time in recreating said magic. Regardless of any particular setup, this is another Jon Amor gold album, enhancing their live performances and creating a little piece of it you can take home with you. The electric blues held in esteem here is not cut short, there is no wild tangents of experimentation, The Jon Amor Trio never try to be something theyโre not; just wild and highly accomplished archetypal blues riffs wavering in tempo, exciting and invigorating.
Itโs when I arrived at Rideau Street any doubts melted. With a subtle hint of rockabilly, it rides to the bridge as any good Jon Amor tune does, and you know, youโre in capable hands. Mrs James adopts a firmer delta blues riff, and from there Iโm immersed in its gorgeous and thick layers of sublime blues. A downtempo number, I Know What Youโre Using sounds direct from the Hoax songbook, and onwards we journey through an album which has definitely got Jon Amor all over it, enveloping the brilliance of this new Trioโs live shows, with bells on. Fans will not be disappointed, and so the shows must go on. Find them at the Beehive in Swindon tomorrow, Thursday 8th Feb, and Sunday sees this monthโs residency at The Southgate, Devizes, with Nat Martin as guest, guitar tutor at The Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford.
The album is only available at gigs and on Bandcamp; streaming isnโt good enough for this beauty, and rightly so!
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
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
Whilst festivals around us come and go Mantonfest has been a constant of the Wiltshire music calendar since 2009.….
The 29th of June 2024 will once again see the Manton Water Meadow, near Marlborough transformed into a festival field providing an affordable family friendly music picnic by day and a more traditional music festival by night. Most people arrive and pick their spot between 11 am and 12 noon. The live music starts at noon and there will be something for everyone.
Unlike many music events, festival goers can bring their own food and drink or make use of the many food and drink facilities on site. With an eclectic โmarketโ of local traders and of course the band merchandise tent this event has a real buzz from start to finish.
Mantonfest 2023
The 2024 Line Up
This yearโs line up is now complete. Headlining are The Bohemians a world class Queen tribute act. Badness return by popular demand (or should we say instance) after wowing everyone last year. Forever Elton and The Fab Four will get the whole field singing across the afternoon and evening. Local jumping blues band Barrelhouse will be getting the field moving with a blend of reworked classic and their own material and Jose and the Radio Tones plus The Bergamots will get the afternoon mood set perectly.
Mantonfest 2023
Young Talent Development Slots
Once again, this year Mantonfest is pleased to announce the continuation of its young talent development slot. Last year saw an impressive array of talent wow the audience and this year will continue the trend.
Mantonfest 2023
Chairmanโs Comment
Chairman Roger Grant says โ โThis yearโs event is one of our most ambitious and ticket sales are going very well. The event is managed by a volunteer committee who are supported by a range of villagers who help set up, steward and break down the festival. Without them we would be lost. Itโs amazing that we have hosted the likes of Toyah, The Animals, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Katrina and the Waves, Dr Feelgood and many world class tribute acts across the years. As ever profits made will be donated to good causes including Cancer Research. The primary aim is to provide a great day out for those attending from near and far but we like to make donations where possible.“
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
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
Hey you lovely lot, bit warm for Feb, innit? I wouldnโt do anything too daring, like break out your mankini yet, I expect there will be at least one more wintery blast to come. Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshireโฆโฆ
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 until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed HERE.
Wednesday 7th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Thereโs a screening of The Royal Ballet Manon at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Whitney; Queen Of The Night at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Peter Knight & John Spiers at Chapel Arts, Bath. Suntou Susso at The Bell.
Thursday 8th
Instalment 6 of the Comedy Loft at the Civic, Trowbridge.
Omid Djalili at Pounds Arts is listed, but sold out, sorry.
The Kahunas at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Jon Amor Trio at the Beehive. A Memory Move at Swindon Arts Centre, Jody And The Jerms play the evening there.
Josh Pughโs Existinโ La Vida Loca is at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 9th
All Floyd make a welcome return to The Bell on the Green, Devizes.
The Future Sound of Trowbridge #5 at the Pump, The Sunnies headline, with Ignotis and Cult Python in support.
Counterfeit Sixties Show at the Neeld Hall, Chippenham.
Syd Lawrence Orchestra: Big Band Brass at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Band of Others at the Boathouse.
Wizards of Oz and Black Rose play The Vic, Swindon. Limehouse Lizzy at Swindon Arts Centre. Rave On โ The Rise Of Rock And Roll at the Wyvern Theatre.
Ed Tudor Pole at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Alfie Moore at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Martin Harley at Chapel Arts.
Andy C has sold out the Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 10th
Music for Meninggitis at Seend Community Hall.
Courting Ghosts have had to cancel the gig at The Southgate, Devizes, find Grizzly Rhys Morgan there instead. Editorโs pick of the week takes us to Long Street Blues Club, where The Errol Linton Band makes a welcomed return. One of my best nights ever at Long Street last time they played, see a review Here.
The Kast Off Kinks at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Jaz Delorean at the Pump in Trowbridge, with Swingletree in support. And Sound Knowledge hosts Declan McKenna at the Civic.
Cultural Assembly; the Art of the Sustainable and A Family Business at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Purple Fish play Westbury Cons Club.
Max Output at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.
The Makings of a Murderer at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Nabil Abdulrashid at Swindon Arts Centre. Nervendings, Toast and Arizona Law at The Vic. Mojo at the Swiss Chalet.
Love is Enough at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Wifi Wars at Rondo Theatre, Bath
Billy in the Lowground at The Sun Inn, Frome. Ruzz Guitarโs Blues Revue at the Cheese & Grainโฆoh yes!
Coyote Country at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.
Bill Smarme Rock’n’Roll Trio at the Bell, Bath.
Ukrainian National Opera โ Madama Butterfly at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Monday 12th
Filskit Theatre: Wonder Gigs at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Cameron Pierre at the Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 13th
Potterne Pantomime presents Robin Hood at the Potterne Village Hall, running until Saturday.
Paper Moon Quartet plays Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon.
Maddie Storvold at the Bell, Bath.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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- thatโs the last important thingy to say!!
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 ride started at the Market Place and finished atย Hillworth Park. Cheered on by shoppers and pedestrians, we saw children and parents loving theย unusual freedom of cycling in town without fear. This all brightened up an otherwise dull day.….
This ride was organised to coincide with the launch of โStreet Tag,’ a Wiltshire council initiative to encourage everyone to lead healthier lives by promoting active travel. This is a shared vision of Cycle Friendly Devizes to highlight the urgent need for safer cycling routes in Devizes so that everyone has the opportunity to choose active travel.
Catherine Read, who is the organiser, is also an environmental campaigner with Cycle Friendly Devizes. She said, โParents are telling me that they want their children to cycle around town and to school, but they worry about the safety of their children with the amount of traffic and close passing. Parents want their children to walk and cycle safely outside and to school, but with the dramatic increase in vehicles and no safe segregated cycle lanes, thatโs not currently an option in Devizes.โ
โWe can improve the situation. Devizes has a local cycling and walking plan, and there are identified routes within the plan that, if actioned, would provide safer cycling for children that parents are calling out for.”
Susan Hayward, who was leading the ride, said, โEvery child has a right to feel safe in the town where they live. They should be able to play and ride in their streets, just like we all did when we were young, many years ago. Our Kidical Mass ride today demonstrates that people want to choose the healthy option of cycling in Devizes. It also gives a voice to children and families calling for Devizes to prioritize people over motor vehicles.โ
Kidical Mass Devizes calls on our town and county councillors to show bold leadership by supporting safer cycling and making it a priority to protect children. Please turn this vision of streets for people into a reality.
You can find Cycle Friendly Devizes on Facebook and Twitter.
On Saturday, people from across Swindon came to Swindon Palestine Solidarityโs charity dinner to raise funds for Medical Aid Palestine and raise awareness of the reality of life in Gaza……
Over 150 guests and 30 volunteers listened, often with tears in their eyes, as the guest speaker, Palestinian journalist Ahmed Alnaouq explained how over 21 of his family members have been killed in Gaza in the recent bombardments. Ahmed came with his new bride, who has also lost many family members and friends.
ย Ahmed is the co- founder of an organisation set up in 2015 to provide English-language writing workshops for young Palestinians in Gaza, called We Are Not Numbers. He told how during the Israeli military attack against Palestinians in the summer of 2014, his 23-year-old brother, Ayman, was killed by an Israeli missile while simply walking on the street near his home in Dir-Al-Balah.
Ahmed sunk into depression from which he thought he would never return to normal life again.During this time, he met Pam Bailey, who encouraged him to write his story. The death of his brother and his friends was reported in the media as six Palestinians killed but didnโt use their names. Ahmed wanted his brother to be named and remembered, as well as all the other victims of the Israeli attacks. From there, We Are Not Numbers was formed to share the stories of young Palestinians in Gaza. Over 350 writers now contribute to We Are Not Numbers.
People from the Swindon community, young and old, from varied religions and none, and many different races, came to listen to his story, join in solidarity with the people of Gaza and raise money and awareness.
Swindon Palestine Solidarity are extremely grateful for the generosity of local businesses and individuals who contributed food, decorations, time, and money. Thanks goes to Biblop, Ruchi, Jully, DuDuzo Kitchen,Lalbagh, Pizza and Co, Tandoori Nights, Shupe, Grand Bazaar, The Jewel in the Crown, Kaspars, members of theTurkish and Muslim communities. With their help, the event has raised over ยฃ3,000.
Ahmed said, โI just wanted to say that I was very, very pleased to have joined you in Swindon. To have joined my friends and family, the freedom lovers and supporters of Palestine in Swindon. It was very lovely to meet all of you, people of all faiths and colours, and people are Muslim, Christian, Jews and of non-faiths. We shared the same values that we all agree on, the freedom of freedom and sympathy of the oppressed with the struggle against the oppressor and I felt like home, I felt like I was surrounded by family. The event was very powerful and the spirit of the people I found there was very high and motivating and it gave me a lot of hope because as someone who has lost all his family members I feel like these people who support Palestine and solidarity with Palestine are now my family, are of my people. And it gives me hope that as long as we have people like you who have continued to participate in events and protests for Palestine, believe that Palestine eventually will be free.โ
This really was a great community event. Swindon Palestine Solidarity will continue to organise events, rallies, film shows, fundraisers, and marches in Swindon, as well as encouraging as many people as possible to attend the national demonstrations in London.
They invite people to jointhem for the next local march on Sunday 11th February at 12pm at Regents Circus, Swindon, and the next national march in London on 17th February.
Swindon-based adrenaline pumping five-piece Liddington Hill released their first EP for three years, and Radium is highly radioactiveโฆ.. For most on the North Wessex Downs, … Continue reading “Radium on Liddington Hill”
To international acclaim on the folk circuit, weโve loved to follow the progress of the Lost Trades since day dot, when Phil Cooper enthusiastically told me about the vocal harmony trio union of our three singer-songwriters, with Jamie R Hawkins and Tamsin Quin, one heady night down the Southgate. Then, if memory serves me right, Phil swore me to secrecy until they were ready to announce it!
Cat has long been out of that bag now, and if two fantastic award-winning albums later, one thing I bid you donโt miss is their live shows. From March 1st youโll be able to kill two birds with one stone, a terrible idiom I know and apologise for using, but hey, no animals were hurt in this announcement that the Lost Trades are producing a live album; yay!
Thirteen songs strong, recorded during their Spring 2023 tour, the album includes two previously unreleased songs. But you need not wait for this boat to come in (see what I did there?) you can pre-order it on Bandcamp now.
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
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
The Devizes Writersโ Group celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024. What started as a small group of people writing a set piece once a month has grown to a membership so large the Group has split into three, some still doing set pieces, others aiming for publication with books, poetry and plays in the pipeline.…
An award was set up in memory of founder member Sybil Amor, but competitions between members fell out of favour โ how can flash fiction, childrenโs poetry or a radio play be compared and judged?
This left a splendid, but redundant, trophy which will been handed over on into the safe keeping of The Bear Hotel, Devizes, which hosts two DWG meetings a month, to go on display for all to see.
Sybil Amorโs daughter, Becky Edgington, will be attending with Group Co-Ordinator Annie Cooper, at 3 p.m. on Monday to deliver the Trophy to The Bear Deputy Manager Joshua Grigg. It is a supersize red brandy glass on a commemorative base bearing a poem written by Sybil.
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. Plug in and prepare for takeoff, Wormwood continues on their already stunning discography of celestial shenanigansโฆ.
Pretty much where we left off with the Gates of Keras, Wormwood offers that prog-rock gorgeousness, as beefy as Bovril on the boil, heavy-laden guitar riffs beguiling the stoner or non-stoner alike; you need not skin up to be immersed in this. Pink Floyd’s moments of drifting ambience, meets contemporary likes of the Ozric Tentacles here, itโs a trip more than an album, flowing from track to track and taking you along for a ride of euphoria and headbanging moments, in equal measure. Someone, pass me a lava lamp, pronto.
All instrumental, and mentally metal, gorge yourself stupid, encased in its epic journeys. By its very flowing nature, it makes it tricky to say much more as a way of review, I found the summit track, Eigenstate particularly โaving it, and when it falls into eight minutes of Return to Anatres, youโre drifting back through clouds of guitar riffs as solid as tungsten. Yet, if space-rock as a subgenre has welded into the likes of Spiritized or Spaceman 3, Cracked Machine are more likeable to Hawkwind, which in my most humblest of opinions is no bad thing. Wormwood doesnโt go on whim of experimentation or try to slide anything unexpected into it, it just ripples along a course like a stream. Although intros like that of Desert Haze can cause you to assume things are going to get all trancy-techno, it doesnโt stop at that riverbank.
You may have caught them down the Gate for their album release show, I was gutted to have had to miss it. You may have seen them before, such as the year Vinyl Realm hosted a stage at Devizes Street Festival and all took flight from the Market Place to erect deckchairs at St Johnโs and lie in mega bliss. Such is the accomplished Cracked Machine, forging space-rock into a new era, yet not forgetting its rich history. Put this on and be submerged.ย
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 thisโฆ
With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Parkโฆ
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
And Morpheus said unto Neo, โunfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.โ Funny cos, I kinda feel similar about The Worried Men! So much so, it’s worth forgoing my weekend cider ration to drive down to the Pump to catch themโฆ
Fast becoming our flagship grass roots music venue, enough for Wiltshire Councilโs area board to reward them with a grant, Kieran and his team have transformed The Pump in Trowbridge from its origins as a folk club, through offering a diverse programme, and we love it here at Devizine Towers. It’s quirky, quaint, and most importantly, it’s impressively welcoming.
The grant was used to purchase some new equipment for The Pump that will enhance the artist and customer experience. There is no need to up their game with the programme of events though, in my honest opinion. Every show is a gig in heaven already, if heaven has an antique pitcher pump as a feature! Kieran said, โwe’re really trying to contribute to our community and thank you for joining us along the way!โ The pleasure is all ours, thank you Mr M.
Their worthy Future Sound of Trowbridge project to promote youthful upcoming bands at the Pump may well be in full momentum, but was put on hold for this Saturday night to make way for experienced, marginally older musicians! One thing you could be certain of, Worried frontman Jamie Thyler handles his guitar like Michelangelo handled his paintbrush. Cruising that well-oiled machine through a medley of every known Renaissance blues and rock guitar riff, with the ladders of his highly accomplished bassist and drummer, moulds them into one beautiful Sistine Chapel ceiling.
The Worried Men show consists of a few originals from their extensive discography, which sound like rock classics anyway, meddled with this cascade of known riffs and only pauses to allow some time for Jamie’s quick-witted, Gilbert Shelton humoured quips. They’re not wholly covers, per say, more improv homages and nods to his influences, the guitar heroes of yore, the blues master axemen from Muddy to Howlin Wolf and Hendrix to prog-rock’s Deep Purple or Zeppelin. Enthusiastic trainspotters will pick out Mungo Jerry, Spencer Davis, The Stones, but never will Jamie simply re-enact, it’s simply acknowledged in a beautiful mesh.
Opening with a decidedly Muddy Water’s version of Just Make Love to Me, and ending with a Jumpinโ Jack Flash encore, it truly was a breathtaking barrelhouse of delta to electric blues, with enough psychedelic swirls to overspill a sugarcube at Woodstock, but more importantly, it was delivered with sublime passion and exceptional skill.
First time I caught the Worried Men was at our trusty Southgate in Devizes last April, I made an odd but fitting oral hygiene comparison, โJamie holds an expression of concentration, occasionally looking up at you through these spellbinding Hendrix fashioned excursions, as if to ask โis that alright for you?โ Like a dentist with his tools stuck in your gum, you feel like responding, โyes, fine, thank you doctor.โ
But none of this magic occurred until after newly-formed indie-punkers FuturePlan gave us a grand support. With an attention to the heady dawn of punk, Future Plan attacked an indie set with ferocity and fire, making for a wild ride of originals. It was confident, rocking, and having it. Particularly entrapping was a track they called Rinky Dink, Future Plan might just be the most bookable pub punk band, if the landlord wants drinks to fly off the bar. With a debut EP in the pipeline, and some singles pre-released from it, find them on Faceache here, and I look forward to catching them again on the local circuit.
Another, what might be usually fantastic night at The Pump, and a most agreeable double thumbs-up from me. Though, Iโm still none the wiser as to what worries the Worried Men to call themselves such, if anything Iโd say if itโs not ironic, it should be.
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
by Ian Diddamsphotos by Richard Fletcher & Lisa Hounsome The concept of historical brutal dictatorships and comedy is not necessarily one that one considers asโฆ
With a Bob Marley and the Wailers biopic finally hitting the flicks this month, One Love; The Movie had its London premiere this week and opens Feb 14th, the reggae legend in general will surely be in the media spotlight and a focal talking point once againโฆ and rightly so.
Devizes this spring will have its own celebration of the king of reggae and the matchless band behind the legend, when, thanks to Eddie Prestidge of Tunnel Rat Studio and Wiltshire Music Events, tribute The Marley Experience pays a welcomed visit to the Corn Exchange on Saturday April 13th.
For me personally, though excited about the movie and now this announcement too, Bob Marley and the Wailers has never waned as my favourite band of all time, and doesn’t really need any such hype. True, reggae is my choicest music, yet the aurora surrounding Bob Marley transcends musical genre. As he spread reggae and his message from Jamaica to an international market, it not only incorporated rock, and enveloped soul, positively uniting all, but developed into a mystical and legendary saga permanently imprinted on society.
From this last paragraph alone you can tell I’ve always been somewhat obsessed with reggae in general and the king of it; I’ll try not to chew your ears off on the subject! Needless to say though, if there’s one act I’ll nitpick and be sceptical about a tribute to, it’s Bob Marley and the Wailers. The Marley Experience played CrownFest last summer, and I stood my ground there, waiting for any slight niggle to unrest my critical response, but it never arrived. The Marley Experience recreated the sound, the ambience and magic of Bob Marley and the Wailers sublimely and was thoroughly entertaining.
The weather at CrownFest last year had a lot to be whining about, the staff of the Crown, the organisation of the event and all of the acts performing there saved the day; The Marley Experience was the icing on the cake. I said of them at the time: โThe Marley Experience was everything I could have wanted and more, truly a dedicated and precise homage to Bob Marley and the Wailers of the highest quality and sublimely executed entertainment. They marched through the classic discography, and saved time for a few lesser known tracks, like Soul Rebel.โ
Illingworth
It is unfortunate CrownFest takes a break this summer, with the superb crowd pleasers Illingworth in support, this event will surely heal any wound. Tickets not out yet, watch this space, but don’t worry about a thing, put every little thing in your diary for Saturday 13th April aside, because this is going to be more than alright!
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, sadly itโs been a smidgen scarce in Devizes. Thatโs set to change, Greg Spencer from Palooza gladly informs us Devizes is on the verge of a groundbreaking shift in its nightlife scene. About time too, I might add, thereโs still a bit of life in this rapidly ageing raver yet, yโknow!
The inaugural Palooza DJ House Event is set to make waves at the Exchange Nightclub on Friday 8th March, offering deep house to soulful grooves, tech melodies to uplifting beats, and promising an extraordinary night of music, rhythm, and unparalleled community spiritโฆ.well, thereโs a thing, thatโs what it was always about.
Greg, who has previously owned a record shop and music venue, has been involved with festivals, and written dance music, signed to labels and remixed for other artists, tells me how he took a break from it all whilst raising a family, but like many of us feeling thereโs something missing from middle-age, heโs aching to zip up his boots and go back to his roots, โfor the fun,โ he expressed. Yeah, Iโll go along with that!
This inaugural Palooza DJ House Event promises to redefine Devizes’ nightlife, creating a space to celebrate music, forge connections, and craft unforgettable memories. Palooza urges Devizes to โget ready for an introduction to a new world of rhythm, and become a part of it. Join us at Palooza, and let’s create memories, dance, and celebrate the beauty of music.โ
They promise the event will have its share of surprises and special moments, making Palooza a truly unique experience each and every time. Palooza’s inception arises from a shared passion for the dynamic beats of house music. The event’s creators areย dedicated to bringing this unique experience to the heart of Devizes, sharing their love for music with the local community.
The team has carefully selected a thrilling lineup that combines the infectious beats of our local DJs, known for setting the dance floor ablaze, with globally recognized music from the house music scene. Each performer will infuse the night with their distinctive style and boundless energy, creating an unforgettable musical experience.
โPalooza isn’t just an event,โ they continue, โit’s an immersive journey into a world of rhythm and connection. The energy is palpable from the moment you arrive, drawing you in and making it impossible to resist the allure of the music. This event offers the freedom to dance without inhibition, lose yourself in the music, and connect with fellow party-goers whoย share the same passion for house beats. Whether you’re a seasoned clubber or a first-timer, Palooza invites you to a night of boundless energy and camaraderie.โ
In a unique initiative, Palooza invites partygoers to suggest their favourite house music track before the event for the opening DJ set. Visit the Palooza Facebook page to contribute to the music poll selection and shape the unique atmosphere of the night.
Just one? Tricky, but, twist my arm, if I had to pick just one it would be Sunscreemโs Perfect Motion. Remember it? Oh, I do, vaguely! In a cloud of strawberry scented smoke, the dancefloor like an air hockey pitch, my feet gliding like two pucks, and, if youโll pardon the puck pun, not giving a puck either, about any inhibitions, or cares, just you, and a fluffy crowd of smiling faces; If rhythm’s a drug, I’m hooked on you, So show me every move,ย We’ve got perfect motion…. Noooo, someone stop me, I double dare you!! I better sit down, have a cuppa and a bourbon biscuit, calm myself down a bitโฆ. until March 8th, coincidently my birthday!ย
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
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
Hey you, Feb already, hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshireโฆโฆ
Everything listed here is onour 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. Oh, and accept no substitute, this is the definitive guide to what’s really happening around these parts!!
Ongoing until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes,ย Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed HERE.
The Importance of Being Earnest is currently running until Sunday at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. This is sold out, Iโm afraid, reviewed HERE.
Wednesday 31st
Modern & Contemporary Art from the Collection of Chippenham Museum.
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
โFull Circle Part IIโ โ Phil Beer & Steve Knightley at Chapel Arts, Bath. Tight Lipped Combo at The Bell.
Truck at the Vic, Swindon, with the Belladonna Treatment and Nostomo. Viggo Venn at The Wyvern Theatre.
Thursday 1st Feb
The Tap Opening Night in Devizes.
Pound Arts, Corsham are screening Sherlock Jr. (1924) with live piano score by Meg Morley.
Cousins, Skiddy, Blair, Lynch at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Sebastian & Me, Talk in Code and Mirrored Faces feature at the Vic as part of Live Music Venues Week. Beyond The Barricade at the Wyvern Theatre.
Allโs Well That Ends Well at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Nigel Wearne (AUS) at Chapel Arts, with support from Simeon Hammond Dallas.
Open Mic at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Friday 2nd
Devizes Youth Action Group has their first event at the Devizes Corn Exchange. U18โs only, all-teen bands, Shox, Steatopygous, and BellaDonna play, with DJ Flam. Well done for organising, we fully support this initiative, and our own youngest reporter, Flo, will be there to give us the lowdown on it. Karaoke starts up at the Exchange nightclub below for the so-called grownups(!), with Karl Maggs on the wheels of steel. This will be a regular thing, the first Friday of each month.ย
Also on upcoming bands, check the first heat of Take The Stage at Chippenhamโs Neeld Hall, only costs a fiver entry.
Travis Waltons at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Martyโs Fake Family and The Earth & Me.
One Chord Wonders at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.
All Ears Avow, Death is a Girl, Fluff and Ritual Divide all play the The Vic, Swindon. Thereโs a Swindon Old Town Comedy Club at Christchurch, Old Town. Calling Planet Earth, Duran Duran tribute at the Wyvern Theatre, Dire Streets at Swindon Arts Centre.
And the In-Cider Festival begins at Weston-Super-Mare! Weston-Super-Mare, Eddie!
Saturday 3rd
The Thomas Atlas Trio takes over from the postponed LeBurn Maddox at The Southgate, Devizes. A darn good replacement, expect some amazing blues. Our trusty duo, Funked up will be at The Three Crowns, guaranteed good night at either. DJ Stevie Mc is in the mix at the Exchange.
Kieran doesnโt know it yet, weโll see if he reads this religiously, but Iโm invited to the Pump by frontman Jamie, so for this reason and for many others, this gets my Editorโs Pick of Week!ย ย
The Worried Men play the Pump, Trowbridge, with FuTuRe PlaN in support; anyone going up from Devizes? I needs me a lift!!
From the European Union Chamber Orchestra, Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon presents Yuzhang Li.
Still Marillion at the Vic, Swindon. Apache Cats the Rat Trap. The Thinking Drinkers at Swindon Arts Centre, and The ELO Show at the Wyvern Theatre.
Itโs Duckfest at the Duck in Laverstock, a Salisbury Live Beggar’s Bash thingy.
Phoebe Troup is at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Dylan tribute The Bob Villains at Tree House Frome Retro Electro at the Cheese & Grain.
Sunday 4th
All-family bike ride, Kidical Mass, from Hillworth Park, Devizes. Lewis Clark at The Southgate from 5pm.
Chasing Dolls, Lucky Number Seven, Better Heaven, Liddington Hill, and Oui Legionarries at The Vic, Swindon. Whitney Queen of the Night at the Wyvern Theatre. Ania Magliano at Swindon Arts Centre.
Monday 5th
Open Mic at the Lamb, Marlborough.
An Evening With Jasper Fforde at Swindon Arts Centre.
Tuesday 6th
Daniel Newberry Trio for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon. An Evening With Jeff Stelling at the Wyvern Theatre.
And thatโs all weโve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.
Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? 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- thatโs the last important thingy to say!!
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
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
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 shows with his new solo project.ย Beginning at Southamptonโs Turner Sims on 8th February, the tour will include Bradford-on-Avonโs Wiltshire Music Centre on the 11th Februaryโฆ.
N’Faly Kouyatรฉโs UK tour will be preceded by the release of a brand new single, “Premiers Pas”, a powerful, political track that finds the artist echoing Africa’s call for total autonomy. Offering a poignant reflection on Africa’s tumultuous history, the single will shine a light on the suffering, terror, and an unquenchable thirst for freedom the continent has endured. Merging French and Malinkรฉ languages, the lyrics reflect Africa’s fervent call for complete control, with N’Faly Kouyatรฉ requesting the world recognise Africa’s right to shape its own destiny. It will be streaming on all services on 3 February 2024.ย
The release of “Premiers Pas” will be accompanied by a striking official music video co-directed by N’Faly Kouyatรฉ, his manager Sandra Werner, and their team. The metaphorical visuals will depict Africa’s journey to freedom, celebrating cultural diversity and the inner strength of its people. Filmed in South Africa, the choice of Nelson Mandela’s homeland as the filming location underscores continental solidarity in the pursuit of autonomy. In tandem, the artist sheds light on similar phenomena in daily life, such as workplace abuse of power, domestic violence, and many others.
Speaking about the new single N’Faly Kouyatรฉ says: “I am raising a cry with ‘Premiers Pas’ to demand total autonomy for Africa. This song is the expression of the determination of an entire continent to finally take control of its destiny.”
More than a song, “Premiers Pas” is the resounding cry of a continent seeking to reclaim its voice and place on the global stage, sung by one of its most passionate musical advocates.
Originally hailing from Guinea, N’Faly Kouyate is a world-renowned Griot master musician and multi-instrumentalist. Moving to Belgium in 1994, he formed the ensemble Dunyakan (The Voice of the World), before joining Afro Celt Sound System in 1996. Frequently performing at WOMAD, the latter have released many albums through Real World Records and performed with stars including Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, and Sinรฉad O’Connor. Owning an innovative sound that blends electronica with music from Ireland and West African countries, Kouyate prominently provides vocals, kora and balafon for the group.
Famed for his irrepressible energy and virtuoso performances on stage, N’Faly Kouyatรฉโs latest solo project will promise a spellbinding mixture of polyphony and electronic music in symbiosis with traditional instruments, called Afrotronix.
On his upcoming โRรฉ-Gรฉnรฉration Tourโ, N’Faly will be joined each night by his extraordinary ensemble, promising a unique opportunity for British audiences to experience this visionary artist like never before.ย He comes to Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon on 11th Feb, Tickets here.
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
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
I arrived in a Wiltshire village aged fourteen from suburban Essex, anxious this was my new home. While my parents awaited keys from the estate agent, they sent my elder brother and I to the shop for milk. Wandering the lane an elderly gent wished us the customary โmorninโ.โ It left me bewildered; why was he talking to us, he couldnโt possibly know us?! This amusing archived memory of an introduction to the way of life in rural Wiltshire popped into my tiny mind recently, jogged by a book Iโve been readingโฆโฆ
You mayโve seen it on social media ahead of its release on 6th Feb. If youโre active on our music scene you may know the author, Sorrel Pitts, often found at open mics, accompanied by Vince Bell. I caught her at one in Great Cheverellโs Bell and was astounded by her songwriting ability; now I realise I was only skimming the surface.
Sorrel is undoubtedly well travelled but raised in Wiltshire, though if itโs not the picture-painting words describing our landscapes, culture and mannerisms giving this game away, itโs the characters reflecting on foreign lives they’ve built for themselves in comparison to the sensations of a homecoming which illustrates Wiltshire life so vividly, hence my jogged recollection.
The village in Broken Shadows is fictional, but believably set in the Marlborough Downs, west of the town; if you know the area you could hazard a guess to the inspiration. Sorrel was born here, and from the tracks to the primary school and pub, to sacred neolithic stones, and down to the wildlife and weeds defining a scene around a dilapidated barn, her remarkable proficiency of illustrative writing is abounded.
As Steinbeck paints an image of rural Oklahoma to the point you can smell the cotton on the drylands, Sorrel equals in building a visual environment we’re familiar with. Perhaps Hardy would therefore be a better geographical comparison, and like him, Sorrel exemplifies subtle differences between rural working class and the affluence of classic Brontรซ characters. Though this is modern, mentioning a lack of internet connection, covid tests, or housing developments in the village, as two characters return to the village they grew up in, to recollect their rural upbringings.
With the scene set superbly, you’re in a picture frame, prepped for fictional first-person narrative, building in intriguing layers, diary-like over a two character’s POVs, those of Tom and Anna. The pair begin unattached though schoolfriends, are reunited through a similar circumstance of returning there, Anna to recover from an operation, Tom to care for his dying father. In this connection thereโs an archetypal narrative of forbidden love sidelining, the thrill of lust against commitment, amidst an unfolding mystery, Tomโs brotherโs unsolved brutal murder in the village when they were children. Anything further might be considered spoilers, needless to suggest, Sorrel rocks the boat of the stereotypical tranquillity of rural Wiltshire, with this mysterious loss and the unveiling its developing backstory.
It takes time to unravel the truth of what really happened, the pace of reading steady, as characters are introduced through various other family or village happenings, and varying amounts of suspicion you will cast upon them. I certainly had my chosen suspects, but when the revelation arrived, the penny will not have dropped, and Sorrel accelerates to breakneck speeds as the climax unfolds, leaving you breathless and unable to put this book down. I swear, right, my wife had to take my Kindle off me so I could get on the school run!
Not sure I like the term โpage-turner,โ to describe a novel, and until halfway I wouldnโt use it anyway, but if the suspense building in layers will tempt you back to it, I recommend you go for it. Feeling youโre close to summit of the tale when all will be revealed will tie you to the characters and their circumstance personally, and that, my friend, is the sign of a fantastic novel.
It could be set anywhere and would be a great read, the fact itโs local makes it seem that bit more real. Youโll pick up on cultural references and geographic locations, identify with the surroundings, architecture and particularly, the mannerisms of the villagers; itโll leave it convinced you know Tom and Anna. The stunning wordsmithery of Sorrel is elementary, being the account is written akin to diary entries, thereโs nothing to confound you, but the juxtaposition shows that pure competence to weave a convincing, heartstring plucking, and edge-of-your seat story. Sorrel can write, and I was hooked, Sir Michael Parkinson too, apparently! Ah, at least Iโve one thing in common with Parky!
Sorrel has a book signing at Devizes Books on Saturday 17th Feb, find the book available there, or at White Horse Books in Marlborough. Find digital copies on Amazon here.
By Ian DiddamsPhotos by Gail Foster In 1971 Ken Russell enchanted film audiences with โThe Devilsโ, which incorporated nuns in the story โ somewhatโฆ
In recognition of his selfless ministry and leadership of St James Church, where the community and residents are at the core of everything, birthdayโฆ
Itโs going to be all strawberries and cheese baps in pith helmets swinging in trouserland bedlam, with chap-hop shenanigans galore at the Barge onโฆ
Okay, so, if I praised the Bradford Roots Festival last weekend and claimed to have had a fantastic time, itโs all as true as Harrison Ford retelling Daisy Ridley about the Force, with one embarrassing hiccup!
Finally, for a brief moment between closing fire doors I met Trowbridge-based singer-songwriter extraordinaire, Daisy Chapman. She was going in, with her daughter badgering her for ice cream, and I was wandering out, assuring her Iโd check the release date of the album she had kindly sent me for review. All a bit embarrassing on my part, I shouldโve checked prior, She Took Flight came out in May last year, so opps, apologies, Iโm late for the party, again!
Maybe this Daisy has equal power over the Force as Daisy Ridley, granddaughter of the Sith emperor Palpatine, or maybe sheโs thinking, please donโt make Star Wars references when reviewing my album, you stupid fanboy! but wowzers, this is one magically epic and euphoric seven-track strong album only a Jedi couldโve made!
I wasnโt going in blind though, fondly reviewing her 2017 album Good Luck Songs, albeit belated again, in 2021. By way of comparing the two, Iโd say while as the name suggests, Good Luck Songs is a sublime selection of songs with random muses, She Took Flight is concentrated on a theme and flows much better, with an overall narrative of life, motherhood, loss and love. Far be it to suggest it’s a concept album, but the thought, perhaps, is.
Dare I also suggest, akin to how Taylor Swift has financially benefited bending the folk rulebook to incorporate pop, Daisy folds similar, uniquely through dramatic piano and violin to define a confident euphoric and epic sound, like a musical classic. Though, with elements from so many sources and influences, to create something inspiring and enchanting, something she defines as “anti-folk,” I call it, in a word, enchanting. The uplifting musical reference is particularly true in the opening tune, Starlight, itโs a grand start.
Porcelain draws again on the epic, though incoming is Daisyโs refined and expertly crafted writing, often of arduous or dejected souls. This song drawn from a diary entry of the day her father died in hospital. Though there’s optimistic prose, as if life is starting over, only to be knocked back by the darker, probably most beguiling tune of the album, Womxn.
Over a subtle drumbeat the piano cruises like a well-oiled machine, and Daisyโs voice enchants like Kate Bush at her finest. Womxnโ chronicles a list of women whose work was credited by men.
At the summit of the album lies the only cover, a perfect rendition of The Kinksโ Waterloo Sunset, this sunny side of the street against all odds concept is gallantly captured, and Daisy makes this song her own. I couldnโt think of another song so absolutely fitting for this journey, which mood changes with such gorgeous subtly, itโs breath-taking.
The Gashlycrumb Tinies will then twist the narrative of the theme. An abject abecedarian, inspired by Idilia Dubb, a girl who met her fate trapped up a tower in 1851, and various other historic tragedies. Herein lies Daisyโs writing influence, the likes of Leonard Cohen, and her ability to weave magic in her wordplay.
Wind Horses takes on the penultimate melancholic trip to insure youโre suitably impressed before this amazing album ends, a poignant piece, a cinematic nod to all whoโve attempted to climb the worldโs highest peaks.
Then thereโs something downhearted lounge-room jazz about the building layers of Ballad of a Distracted Mother finishing you off in no uncertain terms, Daisy Chapmanโs voice is breathtaking, her writing astute and perceptive, and the dramatic string arrangements over her own ‘Nymanesque’ piano makes a this harmonic composition truly something to behold.
After forming bands at University in Bristol, Daisy released her first solo album in 2004, a collection of sombre songs for just vocals and piano. Her cover of Cohenโs Halleujah proved hugely popular at the time on the iTunes chart and caught the attention of German label โSongs & Whispersโ who have since formed a 15 year relationship with Daisy, booking her shows across Europe and beyond.
Another cover song, Umbrella, received her an International Independent Music Award (USA) in 2009, which inspired a self-booked tour of coffee houses up and down Highway One on Californiaโs Pacific Coast. Upon returning to the UK, Daisy was asked to be part of super-group Crippled Black Phoenix alongside members of Portishead and Hawkwind.
Iโm sorry to have her performance at Bradford Roots, and wonder why they put an artist of this calibre on so early, but after hearing this I endeavour to catch her live as soon as, and I believe you will too.ย ย Find out more about Daisy Chapman, here.
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
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
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 appreciate it. You have to rewind, temporarily forget Rick Mayall and Ade Edmondson, forgo all farcical comedy from The Goon Show to Charlie Chaplin, and leave your Tardis in late Victorian England, then, you will laugh.โฆ.in a hoity-toity kinda fashion!
Opening Monday, it’s a sell-out at the Wharf Theatre in Devizes already, assuring me you know the plot and backstory; though I caught last night’s dress rehearsal, I’m not sure I need review it, only to assure ticket-holders theyโre in for a good night, express, once again, why you gotta love our communal and hospitable town’s theatre, and maybe attempt to convince you Iโm an intellectual!
One of the few plays Iโve read, Iโm reminded how ironic and sardonic towards pomposity Oscar Wilde was, and how much trouble he got from it; surely making The Importance of Being Earnest a Victorian Men Behaving Badly, albeit written by a genius of twisting narrative the like I find unable to make a modern comparable.
I find myself wondering how, or even if itโs possible, to modernise it, as they did with Brewsterโs Millions, for example. For it lambasts the snobbery of Victorian social etiquette as nonsensical, ridiculing the formalities of gentry as preposterous folly, and though it suggests insincerity and fabrications should be morally neutral, our protocols to be so feigned with social interactions has drastically improved through equality since, making this feel somewhat lost in time. Such is its ex-post facto beauty, concluding some things are best left the way they are.
This leaves the happy ending scene questionable by todayโs standards. In an unfeasible modern twist itโs surely likely both Jack and Algernon wouldโve been victims of their own circumstance; akin to a double-act of Basil Fawlty and Basil Fawlty. A modernisation of the play would end (spoiler alert) with the penultimate scene, where the ladies discover Earnest was a big, fat double-whammy fib to get in their knickers, and the boys wouldโve been summoned to punishment for their deceptions, liable to sharp kicks to their respective groin-areas!
True, isnโt it? Modern girls wouldn’t have given these unsuitable and practically unhinged suitors the time of day! Theyโd receive only a two-finger salute, probably de-friended and condemned on Facebook, and theyโd both be rung out to dry on Tinder, no matter how loaded they are! It is then, with a curiosity of Victorian ethics which makes this play so endearingly comical, classic and impossible to modernise; go tell Disney!
Though, with a line in the play ironically defuncting happy endings I hadnโt picked up on till last nightโs fantastic dramatisation of it, I strongly suspect that is precisely what Wilde was getting at, only leaving me ponder what he would think of our era today. Thereโs far more connotations to encrypt from this play than first meets the eye, but at least he wouldnโt be threatened with a bouquet of rotten vegetables from his boyfriendโs pop and in his attempt to sue the Lord, get banged up in the big house for it. More likely the Lord would get a wrap on the knuckles for a hate-crime; proving how far weโve emancipated and why this play is so intriguing and poignant, if outmoded comically.
And itโs played out wonderfully, Rob Finlay plays steadfast Jack Worthing, Oliver Beech makes the perfect punster Algernon Moncrieff, and their conflicting characters ricochet off each other like they were performing this in Melkshamโs Bounce House!
Sophie Kerr plays Gwendolen Fairfax, and Anna McGrail is Cecily Cardew, elegantly defining the constricted mannerisms of Victorian ladies, and Wildeโs attempts to satirise it. Comic gold from Debby Wilkinson as Lady Bracknell and Jess Bone as Miss Prism, particularly when the two finally clash. Rob Gill is the bumbling reverend, Tony Luscombe and Ian Diddams make the perfect butlers.
Lewis Cowen is one dedicated director who has made this play shine beyond the rafters of the Wharf. I think youโll love it, being far more intellectual than me, and I finish with an oxymoron Oscar Wilde might be proud of me for; oh, awfully witty, what-what! Photographer Chris Watkins was there, trying to grab some images from him to illustrate this with, for now, I apologise for not taking photos, but guarantee you, itโs yet another stunning performance.
In what appears to be a deliberate attempt to smear the campaign of opposition candidate for Wiltshire Police Crime Commissioner, independent Mike Rees, itโฆ
Friday is over, I’m a day late to the party, but there’s anew single from Devizes-own Nothing Rhymes With Orange, and you’ve not heard anything like this from the boys before…..
Starter for ten, Friday is Over sounds four-five notches more professional than anything which went before, a result of 91 Studios in Newbury and a push to obtain a crisper sound for radio by our very own skateboarding Vernon Kay, James Threlfall! (I know, it probably bugs him when I call him that!) But tech is nothing without the skill to use it to your advantage, and from the off Friday is Over twinkles with a surprising eighties synth-pop intro. There’s retrospective elements of what local indie bands like Talk in Code, the Dirty Smooth and Atari Pilot aim to achieve, but not without the archetypical NRWO sound in the forefront.
So, Don’t go off thinking the band are the new A-Ha, the guitars roll and Elio’s vocals build to something we’re familiar with, as Nothing Rhymes With Orange fans. Still though, we’re on another level with this, the bridges and hooks, all chartable stuff from our hometown boys; for crying out loud Devizes Town Council, lets a get a statue of these kids in the Market Place, pronto!
If past tunes filled me with hope for them, this one fills me with assurance, knowing how hard they’ve all worked towards this, and pride too, to say we’ve been following and supporting them since day dot. Friday maybe over, but this is the start of a great adventure and we wish them all the best…. take a listen.
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
Hey frozen duckling, hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshireโฆโฆ
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 until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes,ย Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed Here.
Wednesday 24th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Big Jam session at the Vic in Swindon. Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit at The Wyvern Theatre.
Apricity Theatre Turns Ten The Rondo, Bath. John E Visticโs Country Club at The Bell, Bath.
Screening of The Old Oak at the Athenaeum in Warminster.
Thursday 25th
Runny Snotts Acoustic Sessions at The Neeld, Chippenham.
Mark Simmons: Quip of the Mark at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Ellis Evason at the Tuppenny, Swindon, Adult Panto โ Beauty And The Big Beast at The Wyvern Theatre.
Andrew Birdโs tour Taken Seriously is at The Rondo, Bath. Gordon Giltrap at Chapel Arts.
The Farewell Tour โ An Evening With Sir Geoff Hurst at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 26th
Lucky Number Seven are the Pump, Trowbridge, with LXRDVIRS and Notre Dame of Tokyo. John Lawโs Re-Creations at the Civic.
BlueSoul at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.
Avalon Comedy Network: Stuart Laws, Lucy Pearman, Heidi Regan & Josh Weller at Pound Arts, Corsham.
This is Your (Improvised) Musical at The Rondo, Bath. Reggae vibes at St James Wine Vaults with the Biggle Sound System. Australiaโs Ernest Aines at Chapel Arts.
King Awesome at The Vic, Swindon, Texas Tick Fever at the Beehive. Stranger Sings at The Wyvern Theatre.
Saturday 27th
Phereakers at The Southgate, Devizes, Donโt Frett at The Three Crowns.
Josh Kumra at the Bear, Marlborough. Broken Dolls at the Lamb.
Bo Walton Band at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.
A Big shout out to organiser John McConnachie, as Editorโs Pick of the Week is at Calne Liberal Club for the annual 7 Bands in 7 Hours. The Killertones, Real Cheesemakers, Mike & the Misfits, People Like Us, 6 O’clock Circus, Homer and the Chaos Brothers join forces for this fundraiser. This year itโs supporting two young children Hartley, diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome and Fletcher who suffers bowel disorder. The mini-festival comes with a suggested ยฃ5 donation, and starts at 4pm. If you canโt make it you can still donate here.
Martyโs Fake Family at Gloucester Club, Trowbridge. Samantics with Devilโs Doorbell at The Pump.
Junkyard Dogs are at The Consti Club in Chippenham.
Shakespeareโs Fool at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Band of Others at Warminster Conservative Club.
Stranger Sings at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Papa Shango at The Vic with Here Comes The Crows in support.
Ukrainian Benefit Evening at The Bell, Bath. Ania Maglianoโs I Canโt Believe Youโve Done This at The Rondo.
Snuff at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury. Wilton Live all dayer at Wilton Community Hall, see poster. Sam Fraser is at Follow Comedy at Qudos.
Hugh Cornwell and special guests The Primitives at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, Bruce Juice, Bruce Springsteen Tribute at The Tree House.
Sunday 28th
Vince Bell at The Southgate, Devizes.
Screening of The Royal Operaโs Rusalka at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
South West Hotel and Careful Spider play a Schtumm at the Long Rooms in Box. Andy Burden Band at The Bell, Bath.
An Evening with Glenn Hoddle at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Monday 29th
Is the opening night of The Importance of being Earnest at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. This is running until Feb 3rd, and we will bring you a review of it before it opens; watch this space!
Rock The Tots โ โThe 1990sโ at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Most Haunted Live at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 30th
Stop Making Sense at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Tom Clarke-Hill Quartet plays Jazz Knights The Royal Oak, Swindon. I See Orange at the Vic. Most Haunted Live at The Wyvern Theatre.
Pete Morton at The Bell, Bath.
And thatโs your lot! Let me know if we missed anything, we can list events for free, but a chocolate muffin works better to persuade me! Lots to look forward to this month, Iโll lob a few posters below, but keep your best eye on theโฆโฆ
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
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
If you go down to Quakers Walk today, you’d better go in disguiseโฆ and perhaps an open mind….
Who’d thought sharing a post about Devizes Town Council’s honest pledge to โreduce plastic waste and create a sustainable future,โ would unearth such a remarkable and comical find as this โฆ.a lost neck massager in Quakers Walk? Ooh matron!
We received an exasperated comment on the share, backed up by a second witness, politely claiming they’d possibly overlooked this discarded item, left abandoned for all to view, like a Soho apartment’s coffee table conversation piece, not forgoing a potential playful toy for pet dogs to play fetch with!
Note, though, Ruby and Monty in the picture seemed otherwise preoccupied. Their owners claim they were disinterested, but there’s a few other suspicious claims the dog’s owner made, like โI went with my friend and her two terriers to look at the bluebells, and for the dogs to have a run, when we came across it in a clearing and laughedโฆโ Yeah right, likely story!!
Ah, but is this dipstick a single-use plastic I ask myself, among other concerns?! Surely, if returned to its rightful owner it can be reused as often as a milk bottle, though not necessarily for the same purpose, health and safety would warn us.
Just, you know, it might need a battery change.
Another commenter revealed they found a purple one in the Urchfont woods a few years ago, visible from the road, leading me to realise this is far from an isolated incident. Ladies, why can’t you keep control of these things? There must be easier ways to hint to your boyfriends that you need a larger handbag?!
If you think I’m simply after clicks with this saucy scoop, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Unless it’s intended for communal use, a possibility I am not willing to rule out knowing how filthy the population of Devizes can be at times, I firmly believe it would be just and right to publicise this lost item in hope it is reunited with its original owner. As a community, let’s see if we can do that. It feels like the right thing to do. To think, it’s likely sorely missed!
So, if you’re the owner of this lost item, wondering โwhat did I ever do with thatโ it’s in Quakers Walk, Devizes. Do let us know if you find it again; it would make a great, feelgood conclusion to our story! (Please note, though, any images you may send us of yourself reunited with your long lost mechanical bestie may not necessarily be publishable.)
Hibernating since Christmas, now I feel like a turkey, making up for it, stuffing eighteen bands into eight hours, such is the beauty of Bradford Roots Festivalโฆ..
Impossible to provide detailed analysis of each with such a sizable quota, not without an essay-length review, and there’s the handful I missed. Suffice it to say, every act I witnessed at Bradford Roots Festival was top notch, and locally-sourced, just as we like it here on the De-viz-ine!
Over two years from 2019, our man Andy returned from the annual convention and reported back. I skipped through it and published. I need not doubt his words, dedicating my time writing something else. I wrongly assumed at the time, likely from its name, that the Bradford Roots Festival was a folk festival, rather โrootsโ I now believe refers geographically; it’s the music of the here and now. I discovered this for myself attending last year’s and unexpectedly hearing jazz and youthful grunge bands you wouldnโt usually hear at a folk festival!
Open any fire door to the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, and there’s another surprise behind it. The festival is an annual indoor feast of music over four stages, fundraising for the Centre itself, their Zone Club, a musical group for disabled adults, and a chosen charity, this year’s being Parkinson’s support. I like to define it as a convention of local musicians rather than a festival, only because it’s all indoors and winter, but it doubles up as either. Either way you view it, it’s a brilliant event for all ages. For the elders there’s a bar and food options, for the youngest there’s craft rooms, workshops and naturally for a festival in January, ice cream!
You could also see it as a taster for the wealth of musical acts we have on this circuit; youโll find them performing in our local venues. Some I’ve previously tried and tested, others were new to me, and some essential to check off my ever-growing must-see list.
The latter true of the first, gutted to have been too late for Daisy Chapman at the acoustic Gudeon stage, Jol Rose followed. He’s the Swindon-based Americana soloist I met at a Swindon Shuffle of yore and been meaning to catch perform. Like all others, he didn’t disappoint, despite only catching his finale. Here’s a prolific acoustic magician with the experience under his belt to engage an audience. An open mic hour followed at this stage.
If Jol, though, came as no surprise, Thieves did. My next venture to the Wild & Woolley stage where blues is the order by day, and youth gather for indie by the eve, Thieves were playing an acoustic harmony not unlike the Lost Trades, and hey presto, I’m standing next to the one only Phil Cooper, one third of said Trades! Heโs compere for this stage, and will perform at the bar stage later. As Thieves progressed through a sublime set of bluegrass I likened it more to Concrete Prairie, and of similar quality. I’m staring at the frontman from a distance, thinking, by Jove, thatโs Adam Woodhouse, who I know as a soloist with a penchant for rock n roll covers. This new outfit, Thieves, only formed in June and is barking up his alley, youโd imagine the four-piece to have done this all their life. Adam tells me theyโre playing a Sunday at The Southgate, Devizes, in April, well worth your attention.
The festival breaks for its foyer tradition of Holtโs morris dancers and childrenโs parade, known as the Wassall, then Phil Cooper takes the Bar Stage, kicking off with his own Road Songs, finding time to superbly cover Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Such is diversity on offer, when itโs time for some jazz hey presto, again, Iโve finally made my way to the Main Stage for The Graham Dent Trio. Jazz pianist with a double-bass player and Nick Sorensen on sax, this is divine melodic invention, contemporary and unique, though I knew what I was letting myself in for, I saw them last year.
Drag myself away, for Bristol Uni indie four-piece, LilyPetals. New to me, confident youngsters with funky basslines over the archetypal rock, big tick from me. And a tick off my must-see list, Be Like Will on the main stage, a varied strong female-fronted three-piece pub circuit band who used the festival to play through their originals rather than their usual covers to appease a pub audience, which, either way, theyโd accomplish with bells on. The new tune finale was a definite article to how rousing this band can take an audience.
The showstopper though, and itโs a big show to stop, came from Ruby Darbyshire at the Gudgeon. An absolutely spellbinding performance left the crowd in awe as others mingled outside praying someone would leave to replace them; few did. Rubyโs stage presence has drastically improved in a relatively short space of time, her talent to adapt from acoustic folk to jazz scat need not. With just the right balance of originals and covers, she held us in awe, was the only artist to get an encore, and through Sinรฉad O’Connor, Dylan, Bob Marley and Springsteen covers she nailed them all and made them her own. Particularly poignant, Ella Fitzgeraldโs Misty, simply, wow!
Beguiling building layers of goth-rock were sounding from the Wild & Woolley, though, as Bristolโs female-fronted Life in Mono took to the stage. Evanescence in shape, yet solely idiosyncratic, hereโs a euphoric original band to look out for. With Life in Mono indulgently ticked off my must-see, a new one on me rocked the main stage, the steady gypsy-dad-folk of The Mighty Rooster, prior to ensuring I was at the Bar for the unmissable Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, Meg. A passionate and thoughtful young artist, Meg delivers in such a unique yet proficient way I deem it impossible for anyone not to love her.
Such is the tight schedule though, should I need waiver artists weโve seen and featured before in favour of ones Iโve yet to catch live? Trowbridge soul artist extraordinaire, Frankisoul is due on the main stage; anticipation brewing from the crowd while the band frustrate themselves with minimal setup times, resulting in a few technical mishaps, would, in any other circumstances be somewhat off-putting, but, fact is Frankisoul is such a character, and such a vibrant and sublime soul vocalist, hiccups were easy to polish over, still, they came up smiling and were my second showstoppers of the festival.
Clichรฉ is putty in Frankisoulโs hands, if his only cover, Gloria Gaynorโs I Will Survive is so, and they rinsed their originals with gusto and stylish proficiency, even down to a moment of hilarity upon Frankisoul mimicking the coat stage gimmick of James Brown. Itโs these originals which gravitated me towards them, reviewed here, I shivered apprehension comparing him to likes of Luther Vandross, particularly Otis Redding, and yeah, live thereโs a hint of eighties soul, of Kool & the Gang, but now I know he can live up to these.
Meanwhile the wonderful Courting Ghosts were unplugged at the Bar Stage, with their amazing blend of folk-rock, and Melkshamโs finest youth band The Sunnies rocked the Wild & Woolley. One Iโve been aching to catch, yet I didnโt catch enough of due to Frankisoul gluing me to my seat, if I liken The Sunnies to Devizes-own sensation, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, I think itโs fair to now state, The Sunnies angle slightly to more indie-pop, their originals tinged with a carefree and indeed, sunny-side-of-the-street feel; a blessing to watch, bloominโ marvellous!
With lively function band the Corporations attracting those left standing to the main stage, crowds lessened at the Wild & Woolley, sadly just when the epic finale was due. Yeah, itโs Devizesโ Nothing Rhymes with Orangeโs headliner; those in the know and a few curious punters stayed to observe our hometownโs fever as the boys pulled out their typical energetic and competent show. Evermore is their attraction spreading, with gigs lined up as far as Manchester now, NRWO, Iโll be banging on about their brilliance for a while yet it seems!
Conclude this now, Worrow, in some manner, youโre sounding boring! I Know, but, over a colossal word-count only teetering on covering all the happenings at Bradford Roots Festival, and only the one day of it too, I struggle to find anything to grumble about. What a way to start the year, Bradford Roots Festival is amazing, the shell, The Wiltshire Music Centre is a blessing to our county, the value for money is righteous, the atmosphere is equable and convivial, and long may it be so.
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
The first gig and club night exclusively for Secondary school aged youth in Devizes is set for Friday 2nd of February at the Exchange nightclub. In conjunction with St James Church, the Devizes Youth Action Group has organised this event for youth, run by youth and created by youth…..only making me wish I was a little bit younger, just a little bit you understand?!
Two local upcoming youth bands, Steatopygous and BellaDonna, of which we’ve heard great things about and will no doubt hear more, will play the night with Devizes School year 10 lads, Shox, headling the bill, and a DJ set from their drummer, Flam. The bar will be non-alcoholic, and here’s hoping this will spur on further youth gigs and club nights in Devizes.
This night is hosted by Devizes Youth Action Group (DYAG), a newly formed group of youth wanting to make things happen for young people in and around Devizes. It is supported by Devizes School and Devizes Town Council. If it’s one thing to see and hear of youth creating their own bands, it’s another to organise such events for them to play and for all to attend, and furthermore, all going well, Devizine’s brilliant young reporter Flo should be on hand to review it.
This night is exclusively for Secondary School aged youth only. No entry will be permitted for those younger or older.ย Online tickets are ยฃ4. Tickets on the door on the night are ยฃ6. All profits from the bar and ticket sales will be used to support future DYAG events. There will be professional security on the door during the event.
Devizes-based Steatopygous are Eliza, Poppy and Ewan, and define themselves as post punk/riot grrrl, BellaDonnaare B on lead guitar, bassist Ems, and drummer Roxie, headlining are Shox, new to me, but then, I’m passed it! Please give them a follow on Insta. Well done to everyone for organising this, and good luck to the bands and Flam; we show Gen Z in a positive light and fully support your efforts!
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
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
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 learning how to make her signature caramel (she was Queen of Caramel at Cadburys) to perfect hand-rolled truffles, her classes take place at her Beanery Cafe just outside Devizes. And as a mum and busy business owner, she knows all too well how challenging it can be to plan fun half term activities to keep the kids busy. That’s why she plans her kid-friendly classes to coincide with the school holidays, giving you a fun and chocolatey way to start the holidays.
Kids will learn how to make things like truffles, chocolate bars, and lollipops, and are suitable for kids 5+.ย You get to take home your chocolatey creations, as well as enjoying one of Holly’s 12 tasty hot chocolates and a cheeky discount in the chocolate shop, too.ย
All her upcoming classes, including the 2 family-friendly classes during half term on 23 Feb and the Easter Chocolate Class on the 29 March, can be booked on her website hollychocs.comย
V busy week ahead, too busy to type the word โvery,โ (though I just did type the word โvery,โ) despite the cold spell, nothings gonna stop us now, reminding me somewhat of Ollie & Jerryโs theme โBreakinโ, thereโs no stopping us.โ
Not that it takes me much to be reminded of Ollie & Jerry – I think about them all the time, I wonder where they are and what theyโreโฆ..okay, letโs push on, we donโt need you to be like Turbo, no one to dance with other than a broom, (youngsters pipe down and Google it!) hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshireโฆโฆ
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 until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes,ย Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed Here.
Artist Clifton Powell with Eric Walrond portrait at Wiltshire Museum
Wednesday 17th
The Melksham & Devizes Primary have a new year meet at the Kings Arms, Melksham; we recently did an interview with them, a really important issue, check it out here.
The regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Lunchtime Recital Series at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, with Babatunde Aleshe in the evening.
Opening night of The Wind in the Willows at The Rondo, Bath, running until Sunday the 21st. Meanwhile, Starlings play The Bell in Bath.
British Lion are at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Thursday 18th
M3g plays The Tuppenny, Swindon, Zamba Lando at The Beehive, John Otway at The Vic, a memory sing at Swindon Arts Centre, and Get It On at The Wyvern Theatre.
Friday 19th
Borrowed Atlas plays the Pump, Trowbridge, with Ravetank in support.
Cara Dillon is at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Forbidden Nights at Melksham Assembly Hall, ladies!
Stompers at The Boat House, Bradford-on-Avon.
Littlemen at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Dark Prophecy at The Vic, Swindon, UK Pink Floyd Experience at The Wyvern Theatre.
Saturday 20th
Day course: Wood Engraving with Robin Mackenzie at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
An album launch gig for Cracked Machine at the Southgate, Devizes, with Clock Radio in support. Siren at The Three Crowns. Real Music are at the Bear, with a Soul, Motown Disco.
Open Mic at The Barge Honeystreet.
Chippenham Record Fair, at The Citadel on Bath Road; free entry.
Editorโs Pick of the Week is Bradford Roots Festival at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon; Iโve been saving myself since new year for this! Incredible line-up, all day Saturday and Sunday, preview here, hope to see you there?
Cara Dillon is at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Ian Diddams and Wendy Dopheide take Happy Jack to the Athenaeum, Warminster for a two night run, Saturday and Sunday; hereโs a review from when this show was at the Wharf in Devizes.
The Korgis โ Time Machine at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Apache Cats at The New Inn, Swindon, The Rolling Clones at The Vic. Abba Forever at The Wyvern Theatre, and an RPA Golden Ticket Show at Swindon Arts Centre.
Sunday 21st
Manos Puestas at The Southgate, Devizes.
Bradford Roots Festival continues.
Sing-A-Long-A Matilda The Musical (PG) at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane at The Bell, Bath.
Monday 22nd
Giovanni Pernice at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
The Swing Vote at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 23rd
Vasilis Xenopoulos & Tom Berge Trio for the regular Jazz Knights The Royal Oak, Swindon.
Giovanni Pernice at The Wyvern Theatre.
And thatโs your lot, let me know what we missed, we can list events for free, but a chocolate muffin works better to persuade me! Lots to look forward to this month, Iโll lob a few posters below, but keep your best eye on theโฆโฆEvent Calendar!! Also note, we have a new page for weekly events including clubs and activities, here: it’s new so we need to list some more, tell us what you know!
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
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
Tuesday before Christmas Iโm in New Society. I gazed across to a table by the window, recalling an optimistic response from local Labour candidate Rachael Schneider-Ross when I quizzed her if she felt she had a chance in this Tory haven, in 2019. โNever say never,โ she replied, predictably, it was not to be.….
This time, though we’re talking local politics I’m not with a candidate or anyone affiliated with a political party. I’m with Anne Graham of the Melksham & Devizes Primary, not a school, rather a school of thought with an ambitious yet strategic plan to topple Conservatives from this supposed safe seat in the next general election; cross fingers, toes, whatever youโve got spare!
In interviewing candidates, I’d always ask if they felt a coalition was a possibility, never with a positive response. If there no unification within the alternative parties, everyone here against the monopoly of Conservatives is divided. Anne and her colleagues in the Primary, Mike White, Felix McGrath, and Claire Gwilliam, call it โsplitting the vote,โ I call it โdivide and conquer.โ
โAll my life,โ she explained, โI have never once voted for anybody who’s become my MP. I think the current electoral system needs changing, though I don’t think that’s going to happen. But when you look at this constituency and other parts of Wiltshire, the number of people who don’t vote for the Conservatives outnumbers those who do.โ
This is correct in the Devizes constituency for 2019, only when considering adding the 30.6% who didnโt vote, reducing Danny Krugerโs 63% win to 43.8%, which Anne was keen to point out with pie charts. Another displays the predictions for the next general election, estimating Conservatives to take only 20.8%. Though theyโre still winning, if combined, the votes of the other big three weigh in at 37.6%.
Without a united strategy to challenge this plummeting majority while the iron is hot, thereโs confusion as who would be best to strategically vote for to overthrow the Tories, virtually a two percent difference between Lib Demsโ and Labourโs predicted results; herein lies the issue. Yet more concerning is this general frustration that it’s unsolvable, and the idea there is no point in voting at all if it’s always a foregone conclusion.
โThat’s a really important group,โ Anne expressed. โThere’s about a third of people who don’t vote, particularly an issue for people under thirty, something like a third of those people are not even registered to vote. If you look at the numbers of the people who don’t vote in this constituency, if all those people voted and they didn’t vote conservative, that would change the result drastically.โ
The Melksham & Devizes Primary offers a possibility we should view as an opportunity, a silver lining, provided enough people gets behind it. Its beauty is you’re not signing up, aligning, or devoting to anything. All they ask is we’re conscious of it and take heed of their valid, professional, and in-depth research.
Anne puts a leaflet in front of me headlined โletโs be clever and vote together,โ and graphically depicting fish. Akin to the most haunting of Bruegel’s images, Big Fish Eat Little Fish, yet unlike the doomed fish in the painting, the smaller fish in this diagram are joined within an even bigger fish. Diagrams are all well and good, but is this possible in reality? Is it possible to overturn this historically Conservative seat, and exactly how does the Melksham & Devizes Primary intend to try? I asked Anne, and by the end of our chat I felt more confident there’s a real chance than ever before.
โI think the only way to outnumber the Conservatives is to make tactical voting public,โ Anne continued, โbasically to get people to coalesce around one of the alternative candidates, the Green, the Lib Dem, or the Labour, based on the best person for this constituency. Maybe that’s a local person, somebody who’s got experience, somebody who’s young and dynamic, whoever people think is the best person. And then to publicise that, saying if you want to vote tactically, we’ve asked through public Q&A sessions to decide who you think is the best placed person to represent the constituency. The majority say it’s this person, so we would recommend if you wanted to vote tactically, you vote for this person.โ
My concern: I may not personally agree with this โchosen oneโ, and in knuckle-draggerโs inane flaw of fighting far-right government with an even further right party, are they invited? Though my initial plan to play devilโs advocate backfired, upon Anne showing me the rightwing-free graphics, weโre clearly only talking middle-of-the-road and left parties, and now Iโve nothing left but to nod in agreeance; I like this idea, and even if I didnโt, a bad plan is better than no planโฆ even Baldrick had a plan!
I wanted to confirm theyโre not asking for anyoneโs allegiance or association, as in signing your name in blood that you will vote for this chosen candidate no matter what. Theyโre only asking people to sign up tothe website so they can distribute this information, which, cometh the day, we will gladly publish the result of their findings.
โWe’re looking for people who want to be kept involved in some way, thoughโ, Anne extended. โPeople who would like to be actively involved โ because I think there are a lot of people out there who are alienated โ feel like their vote doesn’t count. And the other thing is that people are unaware of the new requirements on voter ID.โ
We chatted politics for some time and discussed our reasoning for mutually feeling the Conservatives have lost their path of vison, are out of touch and unsuitable to govern. โI’m very wary of party politics because I don’t like the factional way people fight; I’m more cooperative,โ Anne stressed.
I believe such reasons are widespread yet obvious, and going into them here is a distraction from the objective, to highlight the Melksham & Devizes Primary; it was merely to confirm weโre singing from the same song sheet. Though my personal opinions are unprofessionally formed, on the basics I know and consume, Anneโs interest in politics is more specialised. She recalled her inquisitive childhood, telling me of her mum driving around, how sheโd ask her, โwho designs this one-way system, who says this goes here, who puts these street signs up?!โ
Anne studied for a degree in public administration. โFrom there I’ve worked a lot in the public sector. I’ve worked for some of the big accountancy firms. So going into the public sector, I’ve worked inside local government, and I’ve worked inside the NHS. My whole interest when I was doing my degree was around value for money and the accountability when you pay your taxes. How is that money being spent? How do you know it’s being spent to best effect? How do the policy decisions that politicians make then get translated into the budgets and financial plans that cascade down from the vote in the Houses of Parliament to the town council and the county council?โ
Enough backstory, itโs only to show Melksham & Devizes Primary arenโt randomly pushing a pin into a map. โMy starting pointโ, Anne reverted onto the subject, โis predictions from an organisation called Electoral Calculus. They’ve predicted the general election result correctly for something like seven out the last eight. What they’re currently predicting is a Conservative majority of about 2,000. So, if people carry on doing the same old thing, we will get the same old results, because no other parties are predicted to exceed the number of Conservative votes. However, if you could combine the people who would vote for the Lib Dem and Labour together, you’ve got over 24,000 people. Combine them with the Greens, you’ve got a potential majority of over 12,000. It’s possible, I think. The only way to make a difference is to do something different.โ
โSo, for me, trying to run this primary model is the โdoing something differently,โ because I am really frustrated that nobody’s done this. Why is nobody doing this? Why are people not out there, shouting and making a fuss? Why are the parties not working together? And quite often, the answer comes back to, well, the Lib Dems were in coalition with the Conservatives, and they let you down, which is exactly what you just said.โ
Sheโs right too, I did suggest this when discussing the Tories coming back to power in the Cameron era, casting my vote to LibDems, who sold it to the Tories. But on a local level Iโm back in support of LibDems, alongside Labour and Greens, and I donโt know which way to turn. Iโm only adamant the Conservatives need to be taught a lesson. โIn my opinionโ, Anne said, which is bang on the money, โwe need to think about what’s best for this constituency, the people who live here, and try to get past the someone did this, and she said that, and they did this, and they did that, yeah? The top priority: you change something.โ
โI’m no friend of the Conservatives,โ she continued, โI disagree with a lot of their policies. I think they’ve done a lot of damage to the country in the past thirteen years, particularly they’ve underfunded public services, you can see it day-in day-out. You only need to drive around the area to see potholes, and the reason there are potholes on the roads is because they’ve underfunded local government. That goes under the radar because people don’t understand the government and how it’s funded. The only way in this area is to somehow get people to back a candidate against the Conservatives.โ
Anne reverts my attention to the graphs, โThis graph shows good gains for the Lib Dems: this number has been getting progressively bigger. But there are other polls which put Labour ahead of Lib Dems in this area, so it’s not clear cut: Labour and Lib Dems are always close.โ
The other factor is the moving of the constituency boundaries. To maintain a greater chance of winning more seats, the government has shifted the goalposts, splitting their safe seat in Devizes, which Michelle Donelan is eager to sit upon. โIf now is not the time, I don’t know when isโ, Anne expressed. I was keen to ask how they get this message out.
โSo, we’ve been out with democracy meters, asking questions, what people think about, is the NHS safe in conservative hands, for example. And then people put stickers on the board, like they did with the Brexit campaign. We’ve done one in Devizes and in Bradford on Avon so far, and weโre planning to take it to Melkshamโ. They also plan to go door-to-door. They have a website which, โexplains how it all works, and then we will organise some public question and answer sessions before the general election. We invite the candidates. This is not Hustings. This is not us trying to interfere in the democratic process. All these people stay on the ballot. We invite the public to come and talk to these people. Ask them questions. See what you think. Who do you think is the best person for this constituency?โ
Melksham & Devizes Primary plan to live stream the events too, and record votes on who should be this chosen candidate. โThe question is not who do we recommend,โ Anne concluded, โrather, who do the public think is the right person for the constituency? [The recommendation is by] the people who’ve come to the events who’ve asked the questions in public.โ
The papers she gave me optimistically conclude thus: โlose separately or win together.โ I wish it was this cut and dry. Anne tells me they use a model from South Devon primary, and there are others too, one in East Wiltshire, where Danny Kruger will be standing. I gave thought to the surprise result in a 2021 North Shropshire by-election, a one hundred and seventeen year Conservative stronghold which fell to Lib Dem candidate Helen Morgan. Anne pointed out that that constituency was far more yellow than red, whereas here the vote is much more evenly split.
โThose constituencies have an obvious second choiceโ, she explained. โA lot of the political system โฆand the way that elections are framed in the mainstream media where the constituencies are marginalโฆ there’s a lot of focus. The mainstream political parties will focus their energy and their attention on marginals because those are where the elections are won or lost. We have a situation where we are not marginal and our vote is evenly split, so neither Labour nor the Lib Dems nor Greens are targeting this seat, so they are not putting any significant resources beyond what they normally do into this constituency. They’re just ignored, ignored from their [central offices]. Well, that’s not good enough. Then everyone here thinks, โoh, there’s no point voting because they (Conservatives) just will always be inโ. And then you’ll get people who do go out and vote for the other parties, but [they will vote for] whichever one they may think is best, and so split the vote. So the Conservatives always win. It’s the definition of madness, isn’t it? If you always do as youโve always done, you’ll always get the same result if you don’t do anything differently.โ
This caused me to visualise an animal in a cage, disturbingly trapped and perpetually sauntering back and forth. โYeah, that’s a good analogyโ, Anne agreed. We shouldnโt hold hope for a fictious David and Goliath scenario: only if we have multiple Davids will this work; only if we take the data, collate opinion, and stand united to strategically vote will anything ever change. So, hereโs your starting point: join in on this website and Facebook Here, to follow the progress of Melksham & Devizes Primary and, when general election time comes around, consider the strategic option they present.
Thanks to Anne at Melksham & Devizes Primary for taking the time to explain. We had a nice chat. I reckon itโs a great idea, but it is something I doubt the mainstream media will be willing to publicise, thatโs why weโre here! Dunno about you, but Iโm sick to the back teeth of the underfunding, the ignorance and self-entitlement, the disregard for important social and ecological matters, the partying while people died, the supporting of xenophobia and genocide, the daily scandals and utter selfish thievery from the ones supposed to govern us, the ones we pay to serve us; change is a necessity now, letโs hope this works, I donโt type two thousand words for the love of it, mate!!
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
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
Long Street Blues Club didnโt allow the excesses of Christmas and the New Year to slow anything down, and kicked off 2024 in grand style with two amazing, but very different, ย gigs on the same week-end.….
First up on the stage, on Friday night, we had the 4-piece Pete G & The Magnitones as a very worthy and hugely enjoyable support act, with their interpretation of the Chicago Blues.ย But this was only the taster for the real thing to come,ย John Primer with the Giles Robson Band. ย
This guy, an absolute legend, and King of the Chicago Blues, was back โby public demandโ and that was no empty boast, as the room was rammed for a completely sold-out show. Heโs been Grammy nominated three times, and was inducted to the National Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis last year. As the bandleader and lead guitarist for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, this guyโs virtuosity as a blues musician was forged by real blues legends. Heโs recorded more than 87 albums, with 17 of those in his own name. Heโs written and produced more than 55 songs on more than six record labels including his own, Blues House Productions.
What a pedigree! So there can be no doubting that this guy is the real deal, an absolute Chicago Blues icon, and here he was playing in our town.
Featuring Pascal Delmas on drums, Antoine Escalier on bass, and Giles Robson on harmonica, the 4-piece band delivered a single two-hour plus set of stunning Chicago blues.ย Giles Robson is no slouch either.ย Heโs a multi award winning, internationally recognized Blues harmonica virtuoso, singer and masterful showman. He was the only UK or European artist to appear on Chicagoโs legendary Alligator Records (who described him as โA blues giant, absolute master of the formโ). Heโs only one of three UK blues artists (alongside Eric Clapton and Peter Green) to win a coveted Blues Music Award in Memphis (the Grammys of the Blues). His albums are in the top of the worldโs most prestigious music magazines criticsโ polls.
No disrespect to Pete G, but this main bandโs sound was just so much fuller and more solid. Primer delivered gravelly vocals and some simply stunning guitar licks. The atmosphere and feeling injected into the material was superb, particularly I thought on Rainy Night In Georgia and Hoochie Coochie Man. The pace varied from fully-leaded driving blues, down to more sedate walking blues numbers. And it never seemed to stop โ interspersed with only minimal chat, the numbers just kept on coming. Robson, meanwhile, played some beautiful, powerful, emotional and timeless blues with a deep groove and laden with intense feeling. His howling, growling, squealing sound, was imbued with rhythmic power and sensitive emotional expressiveness. Standing like a pair of giants at either side of the stage, and letting the rhythm section do their thing with great accomplishment in the middle, these two great artists played off each other, varying between a healthy competiveness and at other times a complementary tonal harmony.
The guyโs slogan is โYou canโt paint the Blues without the Primerโ and you could certainly see why. Primer was indeed the real deal, and he delivered a fantastic show that went on long into the Devizes night. Eleven out of ten on my Happy Scale!
So that was Friday done and dusted. But there was still Saturday to go! And so it was that Ian Hopkinsโ LSBC combined with Paul Chandlerโs Longcroft Productions to bring us another amazing, but completely different, show on the very next night.
Damian Wilson and Adam Wakeman were touring their brand new studio album, and Devizes was only the second stop on that tour.
Introductions first – Damian Wilson is an English songwriter and vocalist whoโs known for his exploration into different genres and is considered one of the most versatile singers in rock. To date heโs released six solo albums and three albums as a duo with Adam Wakeman. He balances his career as a singer-songwriter with being an energetic frontman for rock bands and guest vocalist. Heโs toured all over the world fronting bands such as Rick Wakemanโs ERE and Threshold. Heโs performed on the most prominent stages in the UK, during his two-year tenure as the lead in Les Misรฉrables.
Adam Wakeman is best known as the keyboard and guitar player with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Heโs also released nine albums with father Rick Wakeman, and five solo albums. As a classically trained pianist, his albums cross many genres and styles from classical to rock. He co-wrote the 2010 platinum selling album Scream with Ozzy Osbourne and has also toured extensively with Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Rick Wakeman, Travis, Annie Lennox, Will Young, Slash, 10CC and many more. And, as a further feather in his well-decorated hat, he recently stepped in at short notice to play keyboards on tour for Deep Purple.
So yet again โ a couple of impeccable pedigrees. And yet again two guys who absolutely lived up to their billing as brilliant composers, musicians and singers. Right from the opening piss-take chords of Smoke On The Water from Adam, and the belated comedy walk-on from Damian, we were in for a great night. If anybody was in doubt, this was all very different from the previous night โ the Blues it certainly wasnโt. What we got instead was two hour-long sets of superb original songs, interspersed with an easy-going laddish banter between these two stars.
There were delicately-structured songs, soaring vocals from Damian, with sympathetic harmonies and fills from Adam. There were romantic and uplifting melodies from Adamโs keyboard which permeated every song, and provided musical background to the chatty interludes. The tracks they featured from the new album each had a backstory. I was particularly struck with Can We Keep The Light On Longer and Multiplicity โ fabulous songs. I was absolutely loving this.
What I liked slightly less โ and this is my only note of old manโs carping criticism โ was the frequent use of an old skool cassette recorder (with its own back-story) as a comedy device, and the sometimes overlong, extended rambling chatter. I found it a bit self-indulgent and caused the occasional loss of momentum and atmosphere. What I kept wanting them to do was to do what they did superbly โ play/ sing the songs! At times it felt a bit incoherent and under-rehearsed, but there were elements of a double-bluff as the comedy riffs ended and the next belting song came along.
But thatโs a very minor criticism of what was overall a stunningly good performance from two very talented artists. I was kept amused and well-entertained โ a cracking night out.
So โ once again โ hats off to Ian Hopkins and to Paul Chandler for bringing what can only be described as world-class talent to our town. This is why you should support live music and our music venues. Brilliant.
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
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
The organisers of all-day music extravaganza My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival have revealed the first acts on the line up for their fourth outing which is to be held at The Old Town Bowl, Swindon on Saturday 20th July 2024โฆ.
First to be announced is the return of local legend Gaz Brookfield, along with his band The Company of Thieves.
Gaz is shortly about to embark on โThe Almost all Village Hallsโ tour, after allowing himself a quick breather following a successful run of dates promoting his most recent album, Morning Walking Club.
The album, Gazโs ninth, was released in August 2023 and was this week named 37th Best Selling Album of 2023 after going straight in at #1 in the Official UK Folk Album Charts, #3 in the Official UK
Indie Breaker Charts, #6 in the Official UK Download Charts, #10 in the Official UK Indie Album Charts, and even #37 in the Official UK Album Sales Charts.
Co-organiser Ed Dyer said: โItโs our absolute pleasure to be welcoming Gaz and the band back to The Bowl, especially after his recent success, and pleased heโs been able to squeeze us in around his busy touring schedule.โ
In its first three years My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival has raised over ยฃ32,000 for Prospect Hospice in tribute to Dave Young, the former landlord of The Victoria and 12 Bar who died in early June 2021 at Prospect Hospice after a hard-fought battle against cancer.
Daveโs last band, Calneโs legendary punk covers outfit, The Chaos Brothers, are also joining Gaz on the day, along with the Swindon based bluesy THUD, whose debut performance was at MDBTYD 2021.
Ed added โThis is only the start of things to come for MDBTYD 2024. We canโt wait to show everyone who else we have in the pipeline!โ
MDBTYD Festival will again see plenty of activities for all the family, including the return of the popular indie market, as well as food and drink from a variety of locally based vendors. Prospect Hospice, based in Wroughton, provides palliative and end of life care for people across the region and has to raise the majority of its costs through fundraising.
For information about Gaz Brookfieldโs upcoming โThe Almost all Village Hallsโ tour, visit gazbrookfield.com or check out his social media pages.
On the eighth day of raw sewage gushing out of overflow drains into the River Kennet atย Stonebridge Wild River Reserve near Marlborough, like a gigantic diarrhoea-infected Oliver Reed relieving himself from the effects of a Special Brew and chlorinated chicken festival into the Buxton Spring, Thames Water has done 100% naff all, nada, and Danny Kruger, the local MP for the party who allowed this to happen, met ARK, a charity for the Rivers Trust for the Kennet catchment area, for a pre-election photo opportunity. The day after, today, no action has been reported to have taken place; let the poo flow freeโฆโฆ
Yeah, Danny went onto his Facebook page to express his outrage, despite being one of the majority of Conservative MPs who, in October of 2021, voted with the House of Lords to reject amendments to reduce sewage pollution, basically allowing water companies to take whatever action they feel like when addressing the amount of raw sewage being dumped into our rivers, effectively passing the buck onto renowned callous profit-making private water companies. Surprised, given baby-faced Danny supported Prime Minister Boris Johnson when Prime Minister Boris Johnson held an inquiry to find out if Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a party during lockdown at Prime Minister Boris Johnsonโs house?! Still the irony escapes Tory votersโฆ.
In a 2021 press release from ARK about the stripping out of the amendment in the Environment Bill, they said, โARK and many other eNGOs are extremely disappointed by this result, as the governmentโs current plans, such as Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs), to address the issue do not compel water companies to take immediate action to tackle sewage pollution, meaning the state of our rivers could continue to decline indefinitely. DWMPs do not explicitly require the improvement of sewage infrastructure, nor do they require a reduction in the harm caused by sewage pollution. DWMPโs are also temporary. Whilst the current Ministers and Water Companies have the shared goal of eliminating the harm caused by storm overflows, there is nothing to say future incumbents will have the same view. Placing this duty on the face of the Environment Bill through this amendment will put it beyond legal doubt that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to tackle sewage pollution.โ
And here we are in reality, after a minor storm, raw sewage pouring into the Kennet, at Stonebridge, AND since New Yearโs Eve, continuous discharging from Fyfield Sewage Treatment Works, and theyโre continuing; Iโve seen prettier festival toilets. Widely reported as being one of the worst offenders of the new lack of regulations, Thames Water donโt hide it, in fact, after appointing a new CEO with a salary of ยฃ850,000, they say they โwant to be open and transparent about our storm discharge activity,โ and provide an interactive disaster area map, for all to see just how, quite literally, shit the situation is.
Here’s a map of all the outstanding issues of leaking drains Thames Water still hasn’t dealt with, provided by Thames Water themselves!
While we wait in hope, and poop, our local MP might pop back into his constituency once in a while, and tell us of any reply from his letter to Thames Water, I spoke to Peter Force Jones, True & Fair Party candidate for East Wiltshire, asking him where he thinks the blame for this shitshow should lie. โThames water must take huge amount of blame here,โ he expressed, โitโs clear they have continued to pay out massive salaries to those at the top, and are more than happy to mount up debts and pay out dividends despite failing to invest anywhere near adequately enough to update what is still often Victorian age infrastructure.โ
Though Peter was adamant that equally was the governmentโs responsibility to, โput in tough and enforceable legislation (fully empowering regulators) to ensure water companies work hard to quickly see such overflows become a thing of the past. The other problems I currently see are MPs voting down sensible measures that could help, the Environmental Agency seeing a large exodus of experienced staff due to poor wages, and ill-equipped to take meaningful action against water companies. Also, a lack of consideration of capacity of sewers when some new developments are allowed, and sometimes the locations of these.โ
Mr Jones also pointed to privatisation, or more accurately, the arrival of private sector monopolies, saying, โgiven we as consumers have no choice in the matter has not materially helped. Whilst the current government werenโt the ones who did this, they must still take responsibility for core basic services that everyone relies upon.โ But, but, but Danny K visited Ark yesterday for a photo opportunity, isn’t this enough action from the government for you, Peter, or am I taking the piss?! After all, thereโs plenty to take, a nearby river full of it. Least perhaps we should consider this come general election time. Theyโre trying to control shipping in the Red Sea, they canโt even control a popped drain cover in the Kennet.
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
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 as a high compliment, Richard Wileman, released his fourth solo album, yesterday (Friday 12th Jan,) The Forked Road. Iโve been lost in its gorgeous blend of prog-rock experimentation and acoustic folk goodness for a while now, perhaps too much to get around to telling you about it!
It is more usual for Wileman to separate his two defining subgenres into composing under the pseudonym Karda Estra, for the experimentally ambient prog-rock, those lush Pink Flyodesque vibes of deep instrumental, and using his own name for the more acoustic folk moments. Yet since Led Zeppelinโs debut in 1969, the two have been married, and here, Richard combines them to great effect. Indeed, it is the former style which draws you deep undercover as a way of a dawning, The Last Book of English Magic is four minutes of lush and gentle instrumental introduction, easing you into this album, the most diverse Iโve heard of Richardโs, playing it out with a reprise, the First Book ofโฆ.
He takes vocals on the second airbourne tune, Butterflies, a floaty beauty youโd know already if you had just bought our compilation album for Juliaโs House, as it was contributed to that project. Wileman describes the album as a โprog-folk horror concept album, rooted in his home county and charting the encounter of a comet with Earth, resulting in the undead rising and converging on The Ridgeway, all bookended by the last and first books of English magic.โ Ifauthor Philip Carr-Gomm transports us across Englandโs vast scholaric of occult arts and explores its history of magical lore and practice, Wileman captures this in music as wonderfully as Zeppelin did with the fictional magic of Tolkien; only this Shire is Wiltshire.
The title track again find us on the experimental instrumental path again, and it’s enchantingly cobblestone, teetering with whimsical harps, from Chantelle Smith, like sorcery evaporating into mist, only to be followed by the summit of this adventure, The Children of the Sun, a duet with Amy Fry, which is blissfully sublime; dreamy is the benchmark here.
Just like the Horses of the Gods album, We Wish You Health, if youโre not whisked into a timeless magical realm within the mystics of your own county by now, seek medical attention! Avenue & Circle is more harp and melodica driftiness, like wandering into the crystal shop in Avebury. Finally, the scene is set, and Richard brings back Amy Fry to vocalise the diegesis unfolding. Comet Vs the Earth is Wilemanโs Forever Autumn, if Justin Hayward was Jeff Wayneโs scene setter in his musical version of War of the Worlds, and what can be more of a Wiltshire related comparison than that?!
Harpist Chantelle Smith duets with Richard on the next tune, Old Bones, delicately resurrecting, never does this venture into anything horrifically jumpy, rather flows gently throughout, even if things are becoming spooky in the next instrumental piece, Spectres of the Ridgeway, which in its very name suggests the narrative of the concept.
Alongside guest vocalist, Amy Fry, who also adds saxophone, and harpist Chantelle, and his daughter Sienna, who captured sound recordings of Avebury, Richardโs multi-instrumental skills are at the forefront, taking on guitars, vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion bouzouki, Appalachian dulcimer, accordion, melodica, and finalises his projects with artwork.
Weโre nine tracks into this storyline, concluding with a dramatic ambient piece. Wilemanโs faint lamentation leaves you wondering if the Inevitable Beast is metaphoric and youโve missed a reality within the plot, and it’s followed by the aforementioned reprise. Combined this album is awash with the timelessness of prog-rock concept albums, of Bowie, and The Who, yet dreamy as Pink Floyd, all this I expected, but in listening to the past two sections, of Richardโs acoustic solo work largely with Amy Fry, and the more experimental angle of Karda Estra, Iโve longed for the two to embrace, and here it is, and itโs all rather lovely, wrapped in mystical narrative; top marks!
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
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
Everything is looking awesome at Devizes Library as they announce the Lego Club for six to twelve year olds will begin on Saturday 27th January!
With bookable sessions each Saturday from the 27th, at 2-3.30pm, places will be limited so either call in or phone on 01380 826190 to book your place.
In addition, the library will be running a drop in session on Thursdays from 3.30-6pm from the 1st February. There’s no need to book for this session.
My only issue with this is that sessions are suitable for 6-12 years….bang goes my spaceship project! I love this idea, as I loved Lego, still do! Well done, and thank you, Devizes Library.
Christmas, a thing of the past, this in 2024; howโs that working out for you so far?! Never mind, Fishy Rishi is gonna make us all better off, apparently; sense a general election in the air, smell fresh dung pungently emanating from Downing Street?! Oh well, hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week, help take your mind off itโฆ..
All info and links can be found on the event calendar, HERE, and it’s forever(ish) updating so plan ahead, with us!
Ongoing until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed Here.
Wednesday 10th
The Southgate, Devizes re-opened Monday, after a well-earned rest, Iโm assuming the regular Acoustic Jam is on. Thereโs also a Devizes Salsa Beginners Class, at The Old School, West Lavington; work off all those Quality Street in style!
Regular big jam at The Vic, Swindon, and Bella Humphries will headline the Old Town Comedy Club at the Hop Inn.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry screening at Warminsterโs Athenรฆum.
Monkey Chuckle at The Bell, Bath.
Thursday 11th
Comedy Loft at the Civic, Trowbridge.
Peter Green tribute, Man of the World has sold out at the Tree House, Frome.
Friday 12th
John Primer Band at Long Street Blues Club, Devizes, Editorโs Pick of the Week.
Sleeping Beauty opens at the Civic, Trowbridge and runs across the weekend.
Hidden Comedy Club at The Neeld, Chippenham.
An Evening of Soul with Billy & Louie at Swindon Arts Centre, Pearl Jam tribute, Earl Ham at The Vic.
The Everlys & Friends at Chapel Arts, Bath.
David Olusoga at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 13th
Ceilidh with Random at Seend Community Centre.
Jonah Hitchens Trio at The Southgate, Devizes, The Unpredictables at The Three Crowns, and Longcroftโs Damian Wilson & Adam Wakeman at Devizes Conservative Club.
Martyโs Fake Family at The Pilot, Melksham.
Wiltshire Jazz Academy showcase at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Be Like Will at The Brewerโs, Corsham. National Theatre Live: Skylight at Pound Arts.
Just Floyd at The Vic, Swindon.
Jaz Delorean is solo at Chapel Arts in Bath.
Chemical Dance at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Sunday 14th
Jon Amor Trio at The Southgate, Devizes for 5pm.
Deadlight Dance at The Blue Boar, Aldbourne, again, 5pm start.
The Ska Mechanics at the Cider Barn, Draycott.
Panama Jazz Band at The Bell, Bath.
Monday 15th
Hedera at The Bell, Bath.
Jonathan Pie has sold out at the Cheese & Grain, both Monday and Tuesday nightsโฆwhy? Because people like honesty, Fishy Rishi, take a leaf out the Pie! Tbh, I don’t think Fishy reads this, not regularly anyway, let me now if you’re out there Rishi; hands in the air!
Tuesday 16th
Jonny Henderson Organ Trio at Jazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon. Legend โ The Music of Bob Marley at The Wyvern Theatre; this is a brilliant show if youโre a fan of the Tuff Gong.
Barney Kenny at The Bell, Bath.
And thatโs your lot, shut it and be happy! Oh, and let me know what we missed, we can list events for free, but a chocolate muffin works better to persuade me! Lots to look forward to this month, Iโll lob a few posters below, but keep your best eye on theโฆโฆ
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
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
The longer I gaze in awe at the lineup for this year’s Bradford Roots Festival at the Wiltshire Music Centre the more tempted to break hibernation for an expedition to Bradford-on-Avon I get, even if it means in Robert Falcon Scott style. If it’s Antarctic conditions out there on Saturday 20th Jan, I’m hiring huskies!
Billy in the Lowground
Four stages of the crรจme de la crรจme of locally sourced music under one purpose-built roof ensures it’ll be warm inside. Bradford Roots Festival is a who’s who of local talent, more music convention than festival, and I don’t know if they took heed of some suggestions I made or we’re simply singing off the same song sheet, but, just, wowsers!
Frankisoul
One thing before waffling on those I do know, there’s much more that I don’t know, yet, which is equally gurt lush, and hope to shed some light on those once done and dusted. For now though, let’s virtually trek stage-by-stage, kicking off with the main stage. Graham Dent Jazz Trio I caught last year and look forward to, Be Like Will aren’t much after and we love those guys, but Trowbridgeโs upcoming soul hero, Frankisoul is a must for me. Reviewing his debut EP left me at loss for a local comparison, and while I’d never use Otis Redding lightly, such is the strength of Frankisoul’s vocals I did, and that’s the highest compliment I can reward, surely?! Though I’ve yet to catch him live, I’m putting him on a pedestal I’m certain he won’t kick over.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange at Devizes Street Festival
Wild and Woolley stage speaks for itself, Mark Green’s Blues Band are worthy of attention based on last year’s stunning performance. Yet it’s the gen z takeover in the latter half of the day down there which is really going to go off. Foxymoron, Melkshamโs finest The Sunnies, and Devizes homegrown sensation, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, are all must-sees. Nestled between them is Bristol’s Life in Mono, who, though slightly older, I’ve only heard great things about.
Courting Ghosts
Newly formed but brimming with experience and talent, Courting Ghosts are unplugged as a finale at the bar stage, which will be something else. It’s also grand to see one third Lost Trader Phil Cooper on the list, Phil was the mc last year, and one rising acoustic magician I beg you to catch, Chippenhamโs Meg.
Meg
There’s another stage I can’t even remember them having last year, The Golden Gudegon, kicked off by Trowbridgeโs incredible Americana artist Daisy Chapman, followed by the impressive force which is Swindonโs Joel Rose, and though the rest are new to me,ย Ruby Darbyshire is rightfully on that list, and I recommend you find the stage for these.ย
And that’s just Saturday! Though unless I win the lottery, or suddenly invent commercially viable cloning technology within a fortnight, Sunday, I’ll sadly miss it. Though Becky Lawrence, Billy in the Lowground, Karport Collective, and Ed Dyke are the ones I’ll be most sad to have missed.
Karport Collective
And there’s my take on it, I’m sure you may have a different opinion and can name drop a whole other set on this stunningly extensive lineup, that’s your prerogative, and I’ll always heed of your recommendations. But one sure thing, Bradford Roots Festival is on, and is a wonderful thing. Fundraising for Parkinsons UK, the Music Centre’s Trust and their inhouse Zone Club, a monthly music-making project supporting the creativity of learning disabled young adults. The Zone Club presents their work on the main stage at 11:30.
Becky Lawrence
Beer from Kettlesmith Brewing and plenty of food and drink. Tickets are just ยฃ32 for the weekend or ยฃ22 for Saturday and ยฃ17 for Sunday onlyโฆ.snap them up, it’s worth it for one of those acts recommended aloneโฆor maybe two, maximum!
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
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
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..
Chucking Fairport Convention a human beatboxer is probably not the best idea, neither would handing Mr C a concertina; herein lies the genius of Ushti Baba.
โA song about the brittle nature of art and of those creating it and the fragility of meaning; the stories we tell ourselves about who we are,โ the band describe it, from an idea originating back in 2015 while jamming with other musicians around a campfire outside squatted garages.
I would never advocate anyone covering Sparksโ This Town Ainโt Big Enough For The Both of Us, but if someoneโs life depended on it, and it was up to the Afro-Celt Sound System to save them, it might come off a tad like this! Though this remark might sound a smidgen critical, it really isnโt intended to be, because that would be one heck of a tricky number to effectively pull off, and while Ushti Babaโs sound is kooky, itโs avant-garde and beguiling, ergo apt for such a unnatural request. If anyone could make a good job of a cover like that, the Baba could, for which youโve got to hand it to them!
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
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
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..
Capturing with certain ease dejected youthful pensiveness, rejecting a birthday cake through fears of ageing, this enchanting song hits its haunting intention and echoes the notion Sienna shouldnโt concern herself overly, as through time each song she puts out illuminates both her songwriting talent and power to deliver it with emotion.
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
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
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 Endless Scrolling Gazelles, a sardonic rap on the overuse of social media. Yeah we reviewed that back in 2022, and it sure was a different approach for Billy Green 3, yet the breezy journey cruising interchanging archetypal indie styles dotted with experimentation puts them firmly back on the mapโฆโฆ.
Thereโs three previously released singles on this eleven-track strong album which weโve covered before, Garden being another stab at social media wrapped in quasi-rap poetry teetering with Geordie mockery, it holds an ironic slate against the charade of social media embodiment. โPeople posting inspirational memes in one post, and ruining people in the next,โ Bill described its subject to me at the time.
Betwixt those, four tunes, Raised Scars is the dreamy side of indie, the Verve, the exotic hopeless romantic melody of I Donโt Really Sleep (โtil You Get Home) drifts more akin to Primal Scream, thumbs up for that, surely showing the trio at their finest. Back to the upbeat rock-rap with one called Not That Deep, swapping back to soulful ballad for With You.
Broken is the third, Britpop still, yeah, but with a melancholic riff drifting over a subtle Latino backdrop, I summed it as โMadchester in Ibizaโ back in 2022.Four tunes follow, The Fire Works cherrypicks the euphoric element of the rest and embellishes it, thereโs a spoken word section here, and the whole U2 album track feel displays yet another tactic that Billy Green 3 is no one trick pony.
Scars sends us carelessly drifting to shore, another previously released single, it seems, this technophobe mustโve missed due to all being on Spotty-fly these-a-days; hadaway and a shite, Bill, get in touch, oh and โup the toon!โ (Thatโs the only saying Iโve got which sounds anything remotely Biffa Bacon.) Where was I? Lovesick, again a single release from 2023, fuses this hopeless romantic standard Billy Green 3 push, yet waivers between song and this spoken converse over a beat decidedly nineties indie-dance.ย
And oh, another reference to the title, Gazelles plays out this beautiful album. Epic closure on the theme of the human disposition versus scrolling through endless media, this one encapsulates every angle explored on the album and rolls it into one conclusion, with a snippet Easter egg at the finale, and thatโs my best gamer reference. Superb album, engineered at Potterne’s Badger Sett studio, especially for the wee brit-popper inside us all, though I expected as much, going on the debut Still.
Even if the second album is always a worry, Billy Green 3 can welcome in the new year confident. Put this on, grab yoorself a braan ale, n kick back like Guimaraes int nivvor leaving St Jamesโ Park! But if you need further reading about Bill and his relation to Wiltshire, see here.
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
Okay, so there must be a truckload of local social and political ranting to cover, but itโs new yearโs day, Iโm going to waffle about magic teapotsโฆ..
When you put out a piece highlighting local festivals happening over the next year itโs inevitable youโll miss a few, and good folk will email, hoping their shindig can be listed. Naturally, weโre always happy to hear from them, and will endeavour to add them to the list. But being this is such a fantastic concept, and besides, itโs called The Magic Teapot, how could I refuse a little extra attention?!
In the economic plight stationary music venues face troubled times, hereโs a mobile venue, which goes from festival to festival, hosting its own little festival inside it; magic indeedy! The Magic Teapot, though, hosts its own annual festival too, happening in the Mendip Hills from the 3rd to 6th May. I put to its creator, the aptly named Joseph Peace, he could put a model of a festival inside the festive teapot, making it like those Russian dolls!
He replied he liked the idea and would ponder it, but more importantly, after I had calmed down from the excitement of hearing from a magic teapot, Joseph told me The Magic Teapot has been running since 2017. โWe currently take The Magic Teapot to around 18 festivals each year,โ he said, โThe Gathering is the only event of our own we currently run, hiring a campsite to do it. It’s quite an undertaking so once a year is enough at the moment. When we get our own land we will be doing regular small events ourselves, hopefully that can happen sooner rather than later, fingers crossed.โ
This is the third year of The Magic Teapot Gathering, why am I last to hear about these things?! A totally acoustic, amplifier-free festival in four Magic Teapot structures which can easily accommodate everyone in the case of poor weather. Headliners for 2024 are 3 Daft Monkeys, Noble Jacks and Mobius Loop; lovely. Lots of opportunities to join in with playing and singing and each venue features a real piano and a warming central fire.
Make no mistake just โcos itโs new yearโs day, Iโm partially frazzled and 2024 hasnโt got off to a great start what with my daughter assaulting me with a teacake to the face last night, I absolutely love this festival with charms on, this whole Magic Teapot idea, and Iโm all tingly with just how communal and beautiful it all looks; somebody put some dandelions in my hair, pronto!
Here we are again with another year under our belts and me trying to best sum it up without restraint; I reserve my right to free speech, spliced with a slither of satireโฆ.
2023 was, in a word, wet. ITV reports โsummer 2023 was unusually wet, with 11% more rainfall than average, but it was also recorded as being the eighth warmest on recordโฆ.โ I’m not sure I remember that last bit, just the perpetual drizzle, between the three months of April showers and the floods of Autumn! It was this, and my failure to find a suitable Peppa Pig costume preventing the promised second fundraising milk round; hopefully this summer, coupled with a free live music event, watch this muddy puddle!
Bit dodgy!
Freedom of speech is another sour point. I’ve tried to focus on entertainment and arts, and keep Devizine away from politics as much as possible towards the latter half of the year, it’s all too depressing. Yet it seems standing against prejudices and genocide is frowned upon by a few vocal sorts, who deliberately intended to degrade Devizine without the foggiest notion of what weโre about, for which, laughably, had the opposite effect; we reached record breaking stats again this year topping last year’s hits by 35% and reaching beyond the 150K mark. This is great, though points don’t make prizes in this game, it means we’re continuing to reach out to more people.
So letโs not dwell on the negatives, only to add the epicentre of my frustrations doesnโt derive from any particular councillors, as some might think. Certainly, in reporting some blackmarks on local issues and politics, one name in particular appears to recur, but the satire I write is never deliberately directed at anyone personally, only their actions, or inactions on the subject in hand. If this upsets you, try to act more positively. Example; if you publish a post on your own local Facebook group asking for event listings, some people will instinctively suggest Devizine is a possible place to look, being as thatโs the aim of what we do here. To ban them for life for merely uttering the word Devizine, which is what happened and was completely out of my control, is petty and deliberately undermining all my efforts and the efforts of our contributors who work hard for nothing to make Devizine what it is; and you donโt expect this behaviour from a town councillor to frustrate me a smidgen?!
I laugh off such minor issues, rather my annoyances derive at the middle of this year when I happened to be updating our event listings and came across a Katie Hopkins show at Meca in Swindon. Make no mistake, this bitter and twisted celebrity is outward racist, homophobic and spreads her hate through national hollering. I posted on our Facebook page, we would not list such an event as it goes against our principles, not really thinking of the consequences from some who enjoy being xenophobic.
Rather than Newquest picking up on the work we do to promote local venues, artists and businesses, or our fundraising attempts, it decides on highlighting us for clickbait by publishing an article in the Swindon Adver slating us for sticking to our morals. The effect of this was hoards of haters, who hadnโt even heard of us until this moment, flocked to our social media to sound their disapproval. I was inundated with all manner of threats by those who assumed, rather than us simply refusing to list the event, I was part of some imaginary gang defying their freedom of speech to spout racism and homophobia; you canโt make it up, and in turn, is part of the reason we stand on certain principles and moral codes while, it seems, the mainstream media are hell bent on rocking the boat and creating a hateful ethos in this once great, now damned country.
Ah, bollocks to those noisy twats in the minority, in wailing my frustrations a multitude commented how they love what we do, and their compliments far outreach the sort of oddball nutjob who would pay their hard-earned cash on a ticket to see a karen bath up racism in Swindon!
So, let’s go month by month, looking over 2023, shall we? Trying to maintain positivity throughoutโฆ..I said โtry!โ
January
We started 2023 much like this one, with a review of the past year; I know, Iโm like a stuck record! January saw us preview Ladies Day at the Wharf Theatre, Seize the Day appearing at the Corn Exchange for a Wiltshire Climate Alliance event, the FullTone Festival, Pure Gritโs Devizes Strongest contest, former Devizes resident, the Brave New Broken Hearts Club gig at St Johns, The Exchange nightclub hosting open mic nights, and Bradford Roots Festival at the Wiltshire Music Centre, of which I attended, cherished and reviewed.
Concrete Prairie @ Bradford Roots Festival
One of the funniest interviews Iโve done was with Marlbroughโs Pants, due to play the final gig for landmark landlord Vyv and Jackie at the Lamb, which happened in Jan, and was hilarious.
These Pants!
Adam Woodhouse at the Three Crowns
We Will Rock You @ Devizes School
Venturing out in January isnโt my cuppa though, truth be told. I broke hibernation to catch Adam Woodhouse at The Three Crowns, and Bill Green gave us a review of Devizes School’s performance of We Will Rock You. Other than this staying in listening to new music is favoured, and we reviewed a new single of the Lost Trades and added their second album announcement, On The Wayside EP by Viduals, and Marvin B Naylor and Rebsie Fairholmโs album Psychedelicat.
On ranting, yes, I told on the billions of untaxed investment under our very feet at Gastardโs wine cellars, and the Old Wharf Cafรฉ not meeting its potential by becoming a meeting room, and, of course, how Devizes Town Councillors lied about bird flu on Crammer, because they did, though seemed to successfully brush it under the carpet, but the high hitter, strangely, was one I wrote on my phone purely for fun, Ten Top Tips for Driving in Devizes. A popular topic, it seems, coming in at the second highest hitter this year.
February
Swindon folk ensemble SGO released a live album from The Southgate, and Devilโs Doorbell did one too, live from the Pump. We also reviewed the studio album Petrichor by The Lost Trades, and Painting With Sound, Will Lawton & The Alchemist’s new EP. This was followed by my first trip to the Pump, to see Will Lawton, with the Lost Trades in support, double-whammy!
Will Lawton & The Alchemists @ The Pump
The Lost Trades @ The Pump
I reported that Jon Amor Trioโs Residency at The Southgate shows no signs of letting up for 2023, and it remains the case to this day. Another unforgettable gig was Adam & His Ants tribute Ant Trouble at the Vic, that was something else.
Jon Amor Trio at The Southgate with Thomas Atlas
Ant Trouble @ The Vic
Andy gave us a review of the comedy night at The Piggy Bank, Calne, and after previewing the Brave New Broken Hearts Club gig at St Johns being unable to attend it, we found the wonderful writer Helen Edwards, who would continue to write reviews for us throughout the year. Thank you Andy, Helen, and Bill, from last month!
Brave New Broken Hearts Club
We previewed the Wharf Theatreโs Liz Sharman returning with another Shakespeare masterpiece, Measure for Measure, and a night of nostalgia and karaoke at The Castle Inn for the My Dadโs Festival organisers. I also attempted to introduce our regular song of the week piece, songs coming from Deadlight Dance, Atari Pilot, Sienna Wileman and Ajay Srivastav, the latter of whom I was later delighted to hear was coming to Devizes Arts Festival.
Measure For Measure
If the Crammer was a sour point last month, in Feb it got a whole lot worse as another swan died, this time in a road accident. We highlighted the campaign group asking the Devizes Town Council for a safety sign to warn drivers to slow down past the Crammer, they sadly rejected it, putting the aesthetic look of the crammer, already awash with pointless signage, above the wildlife, and risk to drivers.
But outside Devizes matters are serious. Yeah, we covered The Great Pothole Debacle for kicks, but the ongoing hunting scandal was paramount. One town councillor banning me from yet another Facebook group for merely suggesting the Wiltshire Police officer going for a promotion in the rural crime unit when she was an active member of a hunting gang was a tad conflicting, especially being in the same month the Avon Vale Hunt was suspended from the British Hounds Sports Association for posting a video of them killing a fox.
Besides this, Wiltshire Police maintained the officer was not acting illegally, instead tried to turn focus on to youth crime, with the PCC and Wiltshire Council staging a drop-in event in Devizes which targeted only youths at a time youths would be at college or school so unable to defend themselves. Understandably we were critical to all this, cos someone has to be! For light in Feb, I took some old photos of Devizes and added pretend modern comments as if they were posted on social media today, to lighten the overall gloomy happenings in local politics.
March
Well, warming up a tad now, March was my 50th birthday and so I had a little do in the Three Crowns, which if I could remember any of it I would never have forgotten it in my life! I mean, if a jobs worth doing I say, we had Ben Borrill kick us off, followed by Vince Bell, and then Deadlight Dance, and then Talk in Code stepped in, and I only wanted a support act, not four main acts before the main act! Iโm forever grateful to all of them, and to top it all off Ruzz Guitar Trio played us out, and thus, I was half a century old and feeling it!
I felt I shouldn’t really review my own birthday party on Devizine, if I could recall it anyway! But we did preview the Open Day at The Wharf Theatre, and Waking Back to Happiness, and Andy reviewed Measure For Measure, all at the Wharf Theatre. I also found time to preview Devizes Arts Festival, Potterne Festival, and the first Devizes Pride.
Poetika
Andy reviewed Thomas Atlas at Long Street Blues Club, with Ben Borrill in support. I took to an amazing Devizes Concert for Opendoors with Will Blake, PSG Choir Chloe Jordan and Andrew Hurst, and a huge congrats to Dora and the PSG for organising that. I also made it down to The Southgate for Concrete Prairie, and Helen reviewed the Poetika Open Mic Night at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Opendoors Concert 2023
Songs of the Week came from Talk in Code, Lewis McKale, Lucky Number Seven and Sara Vian. And we celebrated International Womenโs Day by highlighting our favourite local female musicians.
We announced Bradford-on-Avon raising ยฃ250,000 for a new skatepark, we chatted to Catherine Read, the Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Devizes, and Guardian Candidate for the Devizes East byelection, Vanessa Tanner, who won despite pathetic attempts to derail her campaign by the opposition.
Vanessa Tanner
Meanwhile, Guardian Jonathan Hunter hailed Wiltshire Council had โa complete disregard for the residents of Devizes,โ the Crammer Working Party asking Devizes Town Council to endorse a most dubious approach to future management of the Crammer, Wiltshire Police praised protesters against the fox hunting officer at Devizes Police HQ like it was ever going to any but peaceful, we took a stark look at Devizes Food Bank with Alex Montegriffo, where I got told off for speaking my mind about the Conservative approach to food banks, but they do seem to wear the idea theyโve increased the usage of them tenfold as a badge of honour, do they not?!
But the real highlight and top hitter of March was when a resident of Seend noticed a naked bloke rolling in her neighbours muck heap at night!
April
We previewed Chippenham artist Si Griffithsโ Forbidden Carnival Gallery. Girls Like That, and The Railway Children at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre. The Henry Normal and Nigel Planer tour coming to Devizes, The Vintage Bazaar in Devizes,
Swindon Shuffle, Thirty Years of Dreadzone before playing the Cheese and Grain, King Alfredโs Tower Charity Abseil, Devizes Street Festival, A Beginnerโs Introduction to Oils in All Cannings with Arts Together, a hometown gig for Nothing Rhymes with Orange, and all the local Coronation Celebrations.
NRWO at the Pump
Ben Niamor reported on Carsick, NRWO and Meg at Pump. Helen covered a Bournemouth Writing Festival. Andy provided a review of The Billy Walton Band at Long Street Blues Club. I managed to attend Nothing Rhymes with Orange and support acts in Lavington, one important one will be Dauntsys own Paradigm and I’ll explain why later. Oh, and Jon Amorโs Southgate residency with Leburn Maddox, managed this too.
Jon Amor and Leburn Maddox
Paradigm
Song of the Week included ร lesund and Nothing Rhymes With Orange, also reviewed Across the Water EP by Paul Lappin, 41 Fords album Not Dead Yet, Frankisoul’s EP on Fire, and Age of the Liar by The Burner Band.
Now, see what I was saying earlier about being better behaved on social and political matters as the year went on? Hardly anything throughout April, save an article titled Gorillas and the Pissed in Bishops Cannings! But when a minority of disgruntled villagers falsely accuse a pub of stealing a gorilla statue from Scotland in order to sabotage their business, well, you cannot expect me not to jump at the opportunity to stir the pot!
And, strangely I never did get a response from the local newspaper when our protocol April Fools joke was headlined Gazette & Herald to Buy Out Devizine, but there you go, I thought it was a good idea.
May
Previews for May included Devizes Arts Festival, Female of the Species, Devizes Scooter Rally and John Watterson keeping the Music of Jake Thackray alive in Pewsey.
We had Carmelaโs Wonder Wheels Challenge, and our writer Helen Edwards read her poem on BBC Upload. Helen wrote a breathtaking review of Lou Cox’s poignant comedy Having a Baby and the Shit They Don’t Tell You at the Wharf, and I covered the Railway Children.
Ian Diddams reviewed Waiting for Godot at The Mission Theatre, Bath, and The Four Sopranos at Devizes Town Hall.
Ben wrote on Alex Roberts and Fly Yeti Fly at The Barge, Honeystreet, Vince Bell at the Southgate, and Kyla Brox at Long Street Blues Club.
Si’s Forbidden Carnival Gallery in Chippenham opened with the exhibit Hail The Curious, which I attended the opening of, and I reviewed Devizes Street Festival in two daily parts. What a fantastic year it was.
I also took a trip to Frome to see Big Country and Spear of Destiny at the Cheese and Grain. Loved the venue and the vibe of the town, and ended up on a pub crawl with a friend in the know.
Song of the Weeks came from Canuteโs Plastic Army, and Snazzback, but the idea of the feature is starting to wane. We fondly reviewed Deadlight Dance’s debut album Innocent Beginnings, and Nothing Rhymes With Orange released a new single Butterflies.
Still well behaved on the news front, congratulating Vanessa Tanner as the new town councillor, but I did publish a piece called Your Place, or Mine? Devizes Town Council Squabbles Over Meeting Venue!
The top hitting article of the year came in May, How to Tell if Your Parents Were Ravers! It was a fun piece to write, and its universal appeal is likely the reason for its success.
June
In June my daughter sneakily managed to blag a week’s work experience with me, thinking she’d be able to stay in her PJs, but I sent her out to Chippenham to interview young upcoming folk singer-songwriter Meg, and, apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, she did a marvellous job.
As the mainstream local media seemed intent on sensationalising troubles with youth for clickbait, I refused to accept it was nothing more than an issue with a minority of youths. Nothing new, it’s always been this way. Jess’s interview with Meg got the ball rolling in which we would not only cover youth doing good work, bands and artists and others, but also encourage youth to write and photograph them too. I really believe this was the most positive thing to come out of 2023 for Devizine, and to think it stemmed from this negative trend of others publicising this exaggerated notion there’s a youth crime crisis.
In other areas, we previewed the Wharf Theatreโs upcoming season, Keevil Roots Festival, the fantastic CrownFest, CSF Wrestling, The Lavington Community Choir’s Pied Piper, Swindin Shuffle and My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival. Ian Diddams previewed Shakespeareโs Henry VI at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. And I did the Devizes Beer & Cider Festival’s music lineup, though by the time the event came around the organisers sadly seemed to neglect our free promotion and gave us a cold shoulder, not sure what we did to upset them and hope to rebuild on this in the future.
The third highest hitting article of the year was the opening of Tonka Bean in Devizes, proving once again food and drink related stories are popular, still not enough outlets contact us for publicity.
Also we covered Talk In Code’s race to Glastonbury Pilton Party, local artist Clifton Powell commissioned by King Charles for Windrush portrait, and a major step towards revitalising Devizes Assize Court as the new home of Wiltshire Museum. But in all, June was about event reviews.
41 Fords
Devizes Doorbell @ Devizes Sustainable Fair
Starter for ten, we had Devizes Sustainable Fair, 41 Fords at The Southgate, Humdinger at the Three Crowns, Watson and Brown at the Wharf Theatre, which Ian kindly covered, and I sent Helen to the film premiere of Translations in Melksham.
But real group collaboration covered the entire Devizes Arts Festival, Helen on Carrie Etterโs Poetry Workshop, Ben took Elles Bailey and Will Kirk, Ian took The Sisters and The Brothers at the British Lion, and I managed three, Ajay Srivastav, Malavita and Noble Jacks.
Malavita at Devizes Arts Festival 2023
It really was a packed program so thanks to everyone for contributing reviews, but no more than Andy, who virtually squatted the festival, providing words on Christian Garrick & The Budapest Cafรฉ Orchestra, Hawes & Catlow, Chris Ingham Trio, Clive Anderson, Lois Pryce, Marcus Brigstocke, Lucy Stevens, Aglica Trio, Onarole Theatreโs Jesus My Boy, Texas Tick Fever, Sir Willard White, Sue Stockdale, and Tango Calor.
Songs of The Week from Beskar which featured vocals from local singer Chrissy aka One Trick Pony, and Ruzz Guitar Blues Revue. I reviewed albums by Danni W, and Liddington Hill.
Liddington Hill
We had some fun with my Top Tips to Survive a Muddy Glastonbury Festival, and another called Wiltshire Council Replicate Table Mountain in Devizes Pothole!
But poor WC, when Devizes New Chair to Area Board of Wiltshire Council was announced I got my knickers in nearly as much twist as Danny Kruger’s did over an Affordable Housing Development in Devizes, but I admit I jumped the gun on that one, but eat humble pie, na, not me. There’s too much other terrible rightwingy crap happening to focus on minor errors, like the counter protest to a drag queen reading stories at Swindon library.
July
Devizes Pride
Mantonfest 2023
Previewed Box Rocks, Embrace All, Swindonโs festival for disabled, and Matchbox Mutiny, Ben Borrill & Pat Wardโs new duo debut at The Gate, but previews are so springtime, reviews are what was happening in July, and lots of them! Devizes Scooter Rally, CrownFest, Devizes Pride, Mantonfest, and Karen Cannings guest reviewed Lavington Community Choirs The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Bob Marley Experience @ CrownFest
Devizes Scooter Rally
Two art exhibits reviewed, Anna Dillonโs Wessex Airscapes at Wiltshire Museum and Alexander Kaiโs Figures in Focus at St Maryโs Devizes.
Alexander Kai at St. Mary’s
New tunes from Subject A and Beskar featuring Huntr/s, an album by Onika Venus. But on the subject of youth participation, July was exactly what we wanted. The Pump called for young talent with its Future Sound of Trowbridge project, we had a new tune from Nothing Rhymes With Orange, and I reviewed their gig at the Barge, but couldnโt make the one at Devizes Corn Exchange. This is where the drummer of Paradigm, Florence Lee came in, remember I said weโd mention them again? Well, Flo reviewed the gig and Kiesha Films supplied photography. This is precisely what weโre looking for, youth reviewing and capturing their own generationโs gigs.
NRWO @ The Corn Exchange
Flo did such a grand job I sent her on two historic bear hunts, to report on a Sound Knowledge gig in Marlborough with William The Conqueror and Michael Rosen Hunt at The Cheese & Grain, thank you Florence and Kiesha. Other youth interactions came with The Wharf Theatreโs youth production of Girls Like That, a feature on RAE, and a review of Becca Mauleโs Teenage Things EP.
Becca Maule
My only rant was on the subject of the overworked bus driver who fell asleep at the wheel.
August
Soupchick launching a falafel stall, Wharf Writersโ Group first Podcast, Whereโs the Cat? Chloe Jordan playing the Southgate, the return of the Imberbus, and My Dadโs Festival raising ยฃ9,000 for Prospect Hospice were hot topics in August.
Fulltone Festival 2023
The Fulltone Festival was covered with words by Jemma herself, and double-reviewed by Helen and myself. I also managed HoneyFest, Meg at The Neeld in Chippenham, Beyond Chippenham Streets exhibit, ran a general piece on open mic nights, and went salsa dancing with Devizes Salsa; Eso!
Devizes Salsa
Songs of the Week from Paul Lappin and Ruzz Guitarโs Blues Revue. New singles from The Scribes and Atari Pilot, and Sally Dobsonโs new project Foxbaroque. Albums came in from Dylan Smith, The Radio Makers and Junkyard Dogs.
Mr Tea & The Minions at HoneyFest
I managed one rant on the New Devizes-Melksham Constituency, taking a critical look at Michelle Donelan; harmless banter, you understand?
September
Devizes Food & Drink Festival in September, Ian reviewed Di, Viv & Rose at Wharf Theatre. I ran previews of Omega Nebula at the Muck & Dunder, Swindon Rocks for Children In Need, The Big Sleep Out In aid of Devizes Opendoors, and produced a podcast episode too!
We reported on The Future Smiths, Devizes Parish Wins Prestigious Award for Future Plans, and Watching the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge or Avebury: How to Prepare was an advertorial piece I confess, but while I try not to do these, it paid for this yearโs website fees with some pennies left to put on a gig with.
Songs of The Week from Meg, and Canuteโs Plastic Army. Beyond Reverence, Deadlight Danceโs debut album was reviewed.
I donโt usually report crime, but the headline Epic Fail, Devizes Burglar Steals Doormat was too funny not to run! Herein lies my frustrations though when I reported on Swindon’s MECA defending its right to promote racism, and I stand by my guns whatever the outcome, because we really donโt need this behaviour on the hospitality industry already at its knees.
October
A Typical Saturday of Live Music in Devizes is a Beautiful Thing! Was the headline, again me trotting around three pubs in town to include all gigs in one night! Then there was Seendโs own Live Aid, The Female of the Species, what a night.
The Female of the Species
Retro Relics Games Cafe opened in Lavington, 4Youth: New Street-Based Youth Project for Devizes begun, Devizes Libraryโs hopes to start a Lego Club, New Organ Arrives in Devizes Like โA Phoenix Rising from the Ashes,โ Devizes Teenagers Give Up Spare Time to Help Community Gardening Project, and Devizes Town Council Pledge on Single-Use Plastics.
I previewed Shakespeare Liveโs Autumn tour, World War One play The Last Post at The Wharf Theatre, Calne Music & Arts Festival Stand-Up Comedy Night, a Palestine Solidarity March in Swindon, took two trips to the Pump, one for Amelia Coburn, Ruby Darbyshire and M3G, the second for Professor Elemental and Devilโs Doorbell. Andy provided words on the White Horse Operaโs Gala Concert and Blood Brothers at Long Street Blues Club, and I managed to get down there one night too, to see the Billy Walton Band.
M3G @ the Pump
Mick Brian reviewed Happy Jack at The Wharf Theatre, NervEndings launched a scathing attack on the music industryโs chancers and charlatans, Nothing Rhymes With Orange frontman Elijah released a solo tune I paid a visit to the The Healthy Life Company, and we had an interview with Steve Vick, having renewed their sponsorship of Wiltshireโs Youth Orchestras at Wiltshire Music Centre.
For a giggle I answered Wiltshire Councilโs Public Transport Survey, and I wrote a Halloween gag about Eddie Cochranโs ghost in Chippenham!
November
Mick Joggerโs Devizes gig got a preview, 12 Bars Later popped into The Badger Set,
Ruby Darbyshire
Ruby Darbyshire played Glasgowโs Barrowlands with The Charlatans, and Gail and I met Henry Normal and Nigel Planer at Devizes Town Hall; heavy!
With Nigel Planer @ Devizes Town Hall
James Hollingsworth at The Southgate
Chicago Blues and Russ Ballard gigs at Long Street Blues Club were covered by Andy, and James Hollingsworth at The Southgate too. Ian did TITICOโs The Pirates of Penzance at the Corn Exchange.
Pirates!
Jess Self and cast of Jack & The Beanstalk at the Wharf
I did Jack & The Beanstalk at the Wharf Theatre, and loved it. I skanked in the Muck with Omega Nebula, DOCA Winter Festival and lantern parade, and attended the duo exhibits at Wiltshire Museum opening event.
Omega Nebula
We spoke highly of the Wiltshire Music Centre, and took a look at what was happening over Christmas in Devizes. Wicked Weather Watch launched a campaign to empower youth on climate action.
Winter Festival Devizes by Simon Folkard
We reviewed new tunes from The Scribesโ Jonny Steele, and the Dirty Smooth, and an album by the Two Man Travelling Medicine Show.
December
Illingworth at the Three Crowns
Previewed the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, reviewed Barrelhouse at the Southgate and Illingworth at the Three Crowns, and a most memorable gig at theย Wiltshire Music Centre with Kasai Masai.
We had new singles from M3G, Billy in the Lowground, and the Viduals,and an album review of Cephid.
Weโre continuing to highlight local festivals for 2024, and yes, Pewsey took a bit of criticism for the Tedworth Hunt parading without permission this Boxing Day. But, I did go all out on a satirical rant about the roadworks situation in Devizes, and got on my high horse with Councillor Iain Wallis, which some people thought was a little OTT.
NRWO at the Southgate
What I didnโt mention was it was through personal frustration the piece was reflected. Having given myself over forty extra minutes to cross town to get my autistic son to his disabilities football session at Wiltshire FA in Green Lane, we were still fifteen minutes late; punctuality key to his meltdown in the car. For Iain to then take to his social media group defending the appalling coordination of Wiltshire Council and turning comments off, which could have been fair suggestions as to how to solve the issue of future roadworks planning, was counterproductive, so he got a little bashing for his actions, as is all what he and anyone else here has ever got here, criticism for their actions or inactions on the subject weโre covering. It was not, and has never been a personal attack, much as he claims it is. But I do take all the opinions cast under my wing and the result was me getting rather frustrated and annoyed with it all. I believe if the actions of anyone in a position of power, such as an MP or councillor are dubious they deserve to be called out for it, and besides, it is only ever with a shrewd slice of satire which we do it with, not to be taken so seriously.
I threw my teddies from the pram, yes, and suggested giving Devizine up. I slept on it while a load of comments praising what we do here flooded our Facebook page, and this gave me a fresh perspective, running a quick photo article joking that,of course, I wouldnโt give it up, only to receive comments from someone who was previous supportive of Devizine stating I duped them into thinking I would quit; you cannot win! I can only assure you, the feeling was real, all these nasty folk who seem to want to derail us, mock us for standing up for what is right, they do get to me, and do make me feel like quitting, that much is true and the joke was it was all a joke, because it wasnโt. My god, why am I pouring my heart out over this silliness; if you like Devizine read it, if you donโt like Devizine, donโt read it, but donโt parade around slagging us off like youโre the victim, which I took the test of then and there myself and it does inflate the ego; simples!!
I wish you all a happy new year and sincerely hope we donโt need to go down this avenue again, I hope we can provide a platform to promote talented locals, venues, the arts and all, but tell me I cannot spice it up with a little controversial satire, whatโs the point in me doing it I ask you?! 2023 has been a great year, with lots going on, lots to report and so many people Iโm grateful for, for their contributions, input, advice and support, for they far outnumber the oddballs who seem to think weโre stifling creativity or backing some imaginary concept like cancel culture. The simple fact is, no other local media is highlighting and promoting local arts, it depends on the individual social media presence, and somewhere to combine and collate it all, I believe, is a positive thing. Rant over……
devizine.com 