Author: Darren Worrow

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 17th-23rd May 2023

Hey you, had one of those weeks so far, and need to blow off some steam?! I know I have, but you donโ€™t need me to get started on my problems, you need to hear about all the events happening this coming week in Wiltshire; hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found, but thereโ€™s always more to come, so info on these, links and further updates can be found on our Event Calendar.

Itโ€™s about this time when you really need to be looking over next month too and planning ahead. So much going on in June, from Pride to Devizes Arts Festival and, and, and, well, just have a sneaky peak HERE.

Ongoing: do check out Si Griffithโ€™s new gallery The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham. Thereโ€™s an exhibit currently running until the end of June, and it is amazing; see the poster below, and review HERE.  

Wednesday 17th: the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Also, a piano lunchtime recital from Helen Farrar at Pound Arts in Corsham.

The Tight Lipped Combo at The Bell Inn, Bath, and Tiff Stevensonโ€™s Sexy Brain at the Rondo Theatre.

Opening at Swindon Arts Centre and running until 20th May the TinkCo Theatre Group presents Calendar Girls. And Kate Rusby is at the Cheese & Grain in Frome.

Thursday 18th: And The Drystones play The Pump in Trowbridge, with a Comedy Network night at the Civic.

Happy Place at the Rondo Theatre in Bath.

Ghosts of This Town play The Vic in Swindon, Somerset Velvet & James Turner at The Tuppenny, and Luluโ€™s For the Record is at The Wyvern Theatre.

Jon Royon is a Corsham based potter who took up pottery 5 years ago after taking classes at The Pound, and you can meet him at the Pound in Corsham, and itโ€™s free. In the evening thereโ€™s a National Theatre live screening of David Harewood (Homeland) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) playing feuding political rivals in James Grahamโ€™s (Sherwood) multiple award-winning new drama, Best of Enemies, set in 1968 America, as two men fight to become the next president. This is also showing at the Merlin Theatre in Frome.

Friday 19th: The Reason, are at The Three Crowns in Devizes, and that is never a bad thing! Sarumโ€™s Lot are at The Barge on Honey-Street.

Thereโ€™s funky jazz and soul from the Shilts at the Civic in Trowbridge.

The Mark Harrison Band at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.

2 Sick Monkeys headline The Vic in Swindon, with Borrowed Time, The Liabilities and Room 10, while The Music of Meatloaf can be found at The Wyvern Theatre with Hits Out of Hell.

George Eggโ€™s Set Menu at Pound Arts, Corsham. The South play the Cheese & Grain in Frome, with A Band Called Malice at The Tree House.

Saturday 20th: Find a 75-minute chaotic journey through the minds of two dudes; Jack & Jordan at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, Lazy Dog Comedy comes to Devizes Con Club, and some edgy folk from Cauteโ€™s Plastic Army at the Southgate.

The Travis Waltons at Heartwork at The Pump, Trowbridge, the wonderful Strange Folk play Stallards, and Martyโ€™s Fake Family at the Wiltshire Yeoman.

The Hi Fiโ€™s at Melksham Rock โ€˜nโ€™ Roll Club, Triple JD Band at The Constitutional Club in Chippenham.

Homer at The Bakerโ€™s Arms, Swindon, The Roughcut Rebels at the Swiss Chalet, Faux Fighters at The Vic, Tim Vineโ€™s Breeep! at The Wyvern Theatre.

The Archive of Dread at Rondo Theatre, Bath, with Blurt at The Bell Inn, and Ricky Cool and the In Crowd at Chapel Arts.

Mara Simpson at Pound Arts, Corsham.

But Iโ€™m seriously thinking of crossing the border for our Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week, Big Country playing the Cheese & Grain, with Spear of Destiny in support, amazeballs! Meanwhile Muse tribute Muze plays the Tree House.

Sunday 21st: you can find the Madhatterโ€™s Wedding Fayre at Devizes Corn Exchange from 11am-3pm. From 5pm in Devizes, find the Eddie Martin Trio at the Southgate.

Jaywalkers at The Bell Inn, Bath.

All for the kids at Swindon Arts Centre with Grooving with Pirates, and Pop Princesses at The Wyvern Theatre.

Illyria presents Robin Hood in an open air performance at the Merlin Theatre, Frome.

Monday 22nd:

Pasha Finn & The Ellipsis at The Bell Inn, Bath, and Monday also kicks off SparkFest at the Mission Theatre, running until 27th May, thereโ€™s lots going on there.

Tuesday 23rd:

War of The Worlds at Swindon Arts Centre, Liโ€™l Jim at The Bell Inn in Bath, and an Exhibition on screen at Pound Arts in Corsham, called Tokyo Stories. 

And thatโ€™s all folks. Big weekend next time, bank holiday again, and Devizes Street Festival with so much other great stuff going on itโ€™s going to take me until next week to type it all out here! Have a good one, big love, Darren.

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How it Feels for a Bluebeard!

The first time I heard the name Bluebeard and the Desperate Hours, I presumed their sound might be folk or blues inspired. Judging a bookโ€ฆ

Extended Lineup for CrownFest

It was back in October when we revealed CrownFest at The Crown in Bishopโ€™s Cannings was returning this summer, and January when we last mentionedโ€ฆ

How to Tell if Your Parents Were Ravers!

Suh Gen Z? U might think U is well dank two-footing pensionerโ€™s doors for TikTok followers, n U might think U snatched the kiki, vibing n vaping through a Taylor Swift concert, polishing off a whole bag of Haribo, U total ledge. But I have wig for U about your so-called โ€œboomerโ€ parents; your slang is wonky at best, mate, they ainโ€™t boomers at all, theyโ€™re more likely the wicked, jilted generation X, and it might just be fact that in a time of yore, before you were a twinkle in your daddyโ€™s dilated pupils, they secretly partied harder, faster and longer in an hour than you will ever hope to achieve throughout your entire life…..

Big yikes, tho, donโ€™t get salty, Iโ€™m not out to diss U, so donโ€™t ghost me, Iโ€™m here to give you the tea on how to find out if your parents were what we deemed in the nineties as โ€œravers.โ€

Now, U might assume you know what this entails, but I can assure you, soz, but you have absolutely no clue at all. To rave in the nineties wasnโ€™t clubbing in soft play centres covered in neon glow sticks and daring to drink six Primes, like it might be today. Raving back then was mostly illegal, multitudes gathering in fields and disused warehouses across the UK, all of which wouldnโ€™t pass modern health and safety regulations; but this is only the tip of the iceberg, the rest will knock you the fuck out like you is Chris Rock at the Grammys, and these facts are Will Smith.

Yep, they might be dictating and demanding now, stamping their control over you, preaching right from wrong, and bigging up their own behaviour by comparison, but I ask, how well do you really know them, what secrets might they be hiding about their own misspent youth? Were your parents party to this outrageous trend? Did they gyrate like broken robots with eyes the size of saucers, masticating the shit out of a Wrigleyโ€™s Juicy Fruit?

Here are some tell-tale signs to help you discover if, in some long-forgotten past, your parents made some fucking noise, and if they secretly, knew the score (you may need to Google these archaic expressions):

1: Ask Your Grandparents

Grandparents might hold several clues but may not think it wise to let you in on them. Try asking them about what time your parents would get home after going out on a Friday evening. If they answer โ€œusually around 1 or 2am,โ€ you are off the hook. If they answer โ€œsometime on Tuesday evening, and then they slept until Thursday,โ€ then it’s a reason for suspicion.

If fortunate enough your grandparents still live in the same house as they did when your parent in question was young, go to their former bedroom and carefully peel back the wallpaper. Should you discover hundreds of blue smears, that will be blu-tac remains, and it’s very possible they adorned their walls with a thing called “flyers.” These were basically adverts for forthcoming raves. It was the carbon footprint fire insurance write-off done thing at the time, though collecting flyers doesn’t constitute they actually attended raves, it could’ve been a bluff to look cool and gain a shag, but it’s a good starting clue. Take some wallpaper paste to avoid detection.

2: Check for Jawbone Structure and Oral Hygiene 

If you think it likely your grandparents would’ve taught good oral hygiene, yet your dad’s teeth looks like someone threw a grenade into Wookey Hole, chances are he was gurning his face off in a field somewhere, long before you were an itch in his โ€œbaggies,โ€ and this is the aftermath. 

Remember, donโ€™t ask why, but the jawbone structure of Johnny Bravo and the teeth of Gollum is your gateway to enlightenment on the issue; I think it best you follow further instructions as your Dad sounds like the kind of right cheesy quaver who were dubbed โ€œthe white gloveโ€ brigade. Again, it was a thing at the time.

3: Blowdry your Hair and other Audio Clues

More simply, blowdry your hair. If they start dancing to the sound of the hairdryer it’s time to prepare for the worst; it sounds like they were officially on a โ€œpukka one,โ€ at more than one point in their life.

Attend a football match or other sporting event, should the refereeโ€™s whistle evoke blissful memories and your parents respond thus: โ€œwhistle posse!โ€ you should be concerned.

4: Shout Outs

Shout out โ€œI’ll take your brain to another dimension,โ€ from the top of the stairs, and repeat three times. If they reply, โ€œwhat the devil are you on about now, foolish child?โ€ then youโ€™re back in the safe zone. If, however, in a glorious screech of reminiscence they respond, โ€œpay close attention!โ€ Then it’s a pretty safe bet Iโ€™m afraid.

Alternatively, you could try the rave mantra, โ€œtop one, nice one,โ€ and they should respond with โ€œget sorted!โ€ If that doesn’t trigger them nothing is likely to, and you can be safe in the knowledge they probably listened to boy bands in the nineties, the sad acts.

5: Search for Photographic Evidence and Pop Music Knowledge 

Time for some research. You should note your parents are not of your generation who feel the need to photographically document every second of their lives on social media. In fact, pulling out a camera at a rave would be seriously frowned upon, so a decade gap of photographs in the famโ€™s archive of your parents might hold a clue. If all you find are the odd snap of a family occasion, where your parent can be seen snoozing on a sun-lounger in the background with a grin like the Cheshire Cat, or a photograph of them standing next to their XR3i or 3.0 Capri turbo, you should be wary.

Give your parents a pop quiz starting off with chart hits of the eighties, then the nineties. If they come up all chicken dinner with the eighties questions but fail like Joey Essex on Mastermind on the nineties ones, it’s because ravers forgot all about pop hits and chart positions when they first reached for the skies and got mullered at a rave party, fact. 

6: Suspicious Purchases 

If your mum neglects to buy you the bitesize GCSE maths book you’ve been asking for, but instead gets you a pair of Technics and a mixer, something is definitely amiss, and there’s a likelihood they want you to be the life and soul to a hopeful resurrection of the trend. Say โ€œno, I’m not Carl Cox, I only want to pass my exams.โ€

7: The Obvious Final Exam

Only attempt this if your parents have scored high in all the above tests, and never, I repeat never question why; there are some skeletons in closets you really donโ€™t want to uncover. For this final exam you will need a packet of M&Ms, favourably of the plain old chocolate variety. Take the sweets out of their packet, place them in a money bag and offer one to your old folks. The correct response from the average parent should be something along the lines of, โ€œoh, no thank you, itโ€™s very kind, but you eat them my love.โ€

However, should your mum or dad respond with a sniff, and a โ€œna, sorted mate!โ€ itโ€™s pretty much concrete that your parents have had equal if not more โ€rave accessoriesโ€ than Bez of the Happy Mondays, (Google him and prepare yo bad self.)

The bottom line is to never worry too much about it, okay so your parents were hardcore, but you do not need counselling, itโ€™s not biggie, really; just ensure they are comfortable and never throw out any of these things pictured below. They are called cassette tapes, and they might be the only fragments left of a long-forgotten youth culture very sentimental to them. You should note, the times were vastly different from today, we had an economic recession and were dictated to with an iron fist, by the last desperate attempts of a failing conservative government, but at least we didnโ€™t have Ed Sheeran. You cannot judge your parents by the order of things today, this is not Minority bloody Report.

Waiting for Godot @ The Mission Theatre

By Ian Diddams

Images by Playing Up Theatre Company

Samuel Beckettโ€™s existential work is performed in the round this week in Bathโ€™s Mission Theatre, by the Playing Up Theatre Company…..


โ€œGive them enough rope and theyโ€™ll hang themselvesโ€ โ€ฆ. Beckettโ€™s rope is superbly used by the company to great aplomb as it happens. Gogo (Matt Nation) and Didi (Darian Nelson), have no rope to do so whilst wanting to, while Lucky (Sam Fynn) and Pozzo (Jack Strawbridge) do have rope but no suicidal tendencies. Godot naturally never appears although his messenger (Scarlett Nation) delivers his tardy apologies.

These five perform on a traditionally sparse set, with cunning use of lighting for the tree, accompanied by two large rocks and two entrances to frame the action. Heavy winter clothing sets the season. Sophie Brookesโ€™ direction does the rest, ably supported by Richard Chiversโ€™ tech.

โ€œGodotโ€ is fundamentally a five-person, two-hour โ€œmonologueโ€. Itโ€™s word heavy, with little flow โ€“ โ€œNothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goesโ€. It has challenging scenes of slavery and abuse. Large parts of it are difficult to fathom. But the company provides a phenomenally slick production that avoids turgidity. This is community theatre at its very finest โ€“ professional qualities abounding. All characterisation is stunning, the gibbering loon of Lucky especially โ€“ disturbingly – so.

โ€œGodotโ€ ran until Saturday 13th May. The only question you needed to ask is โ€œShall we go?โ€. But now like our eponymous heroesโ€ฆ donโ€™t moveโ€ฆ

Future productions at the Mission Theatre, Bath, Here.

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Buzzwords, like โ€œturbo,โ€ or โ€œsonicโ€ are cliche, overused trends which gain popularity because they sound impressive, even if they are empty of meaning. I avoidโ€ฆ

Only The Brave Burn The Midnight Oil

Hurrah, at last! Only The Brave is the debut song from Burn The Midnight Oilโ€™s revised lineup; something Iโ€™ve been anticipating since watching them rehearseโ€ฆ

The Four Sopranos. Devizes Town Hall, Friday 12th May 2023

By Ian Diddams. Images By Gail of Devizes

Friday night saw the launch of an entirely new musical experience from good old Devizes Townโ€ฆ โ€œThe Four Sopranosโ€….

Attendees at the full house in the Town Hall may well have been familiar with those in the quartet alreadyโ€ฆ Jemma Brown, Terรฉsa Isaacson, Lucia Pupilli and Tabitha Cox. Yet whilst they certainly have historical and ongoing connections with โ€œThe Invitation Theatre Companyโ€ and โ€œThe Fulltone Orchestraโ€, nonetheless โ€œThe Four Sopranosโ€ are a separate entity in their own right; four friends coming together to perform something presented a little differently for audiences to enjoy. As Lucia says, โ€œWe have worked on the harmonies collaboratively, we didnโ€™t want to just take them off the shelf and let people hear what they might have heard before, itโ€™s been a fantastic way of working, but is also hard work โ€“ but it means our sound is absolutely oursโ€. And I can confirm it absolutely is.

Doing what their name says on the tin, โ€œThe Four Sopranosโ€ were exactly thatโ€ฆ four talented and musically excellent sopranos, delivering a widespread program of harmonic song, from opera, stage, film and popular music, sung in harmony โ€“ as per the above!

So what of the show? The foursome started with a couple of crowd favourites โ€“ two numbers from โ€œLes Misโ€; โ€œI dreamed a Dreamโ€ and โ€œStarsโ€. It is true there were some nerves showing โ€“ but understandably. A new venture, a new idea, a new approachโ€ฆ but with these two songs under their belt a noticeable lifting of confidence, a collective โ€œwhatโ€™s going on โ€“ letโ€™s get over itโ€ so to speak was evident. And the rest of the show delivered with verve, panache and oozed with the talent before us.

The Musical Theatre genre continued with โ€œSomewhere over the rainbowโ€ and โ€œYouโ€™ll never Walk aloneโ€. Followed by a change into a more classical and operatic tone with solos and duets, Terรฉsa with Gounodโ€™s arrangement of Ave Maria, Lucia โ€“ a fluent Italian speaker in her own right โ€“ with O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini. And โ€œSullโ€™ariaโ€ by Mozart performed by Lucia and Tabitha plus Delibeโ€™s โ€œFlower duetโ€. Our quartet finished off a whirlwind first half with numbers from โ€œPhantom of the Operaโ€ and โ€œMy Fair Ladyโ€.

Photo by Gail of Devizes

The second half followed in similar veinโ€ฆ I wonโ€™t bore you any further with lists of songs performed and if you want to find out what they were youโ€™d best get to one of their gigs! I will add that Tabitha and Jemma also performed solos โ€“ with โ€œNever Enoughโ€ from โ€œThe Greatest Showmanโ€ and โ€œShe Used to be Mineโ€ from โ€œWaitressโ€ respectively. Other than those two, needless to say it was just more high class, perfectly delivered songs from film and musical theatre including the breath-taking four voice rendition of Adeleโ€™s โ€œSkyfallโ€.

It would be remiss of me to not say that the eveningโ€™s performance was accompanied by the hugely talented pianist (and all-round musical virtuoso!) Dominic Irving, whose ivory tinkling was sublime in itself. And making a rare appearance for him of facing the audience rather than with his back to them, Anthony Brown charmed as the eveningโ€™s ringmaster.

So there we had it โ€“ a whistle-stop tour of music from multiple genres, in a beautiful building, created uniquely by four maestros of their art. What more do you want? Well, for a startโ€ฆ chances to see more of them thatโ€™s what!

You can catch all four next Friday night as it is, in Cheltenham Town Hall, including reprising โ€œSkyfallโ€ and โ€œSomewhere over the rainbowโ€ – amongst many other wonderful pieces of music including the phenomenal choral piece โ€œSymphonic Adiemusโ€ by Karl Jenkins; see the link at the bottom for ticketsโ€ฆ and keep an eye on the Facebook page for โ€œThe Four Sopranosโ€ for more dates and news in the future of course.

From tiny acorns do mighty oaks growโ€ฆ or words to that effect. And on Friday evening we saw one such acorn plantedโ€ฆ.

Photo by Gail of Devizes


Links: Tickets for Cheltenham Town Hall โ€“ Friday 19th May 2023
โ€œThe Four Sopranosโ€ Facebook
Dominic Irving

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Carmela’s Wonder Wheels Challenge

Cyclists of all abilities are invited to ride with our inspirational fundraiser, Carmela Chillery-Watson on their very own Wonder Wheels Cycling Challenge 100km around Wiltshire.…

Carmela, who has LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy, a very rare, progressive muscle-wasting condition which affects just one in a million children around the world, relentlessly continues to raise awareness and vital funds for the cause. She is, in short, the most inspiring person I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet, and has fast become an instantly loveable public figure through her sheer determination and drive to highlight the condition of muscular dystrophy.

The condition is likely, in time, to affect Carmelaโ€™s heart and lungs and is also very likely to be life-limiting. Some children with this condition do not survive their childhood or teenage years, while some, with the help of specialist intervention, live into adulthood. However, there is no cure; Carmelaโ€™s family is intent on raising funds to help further research into treatments and a cure, to help children affected, including Carmela, to enjoy a longer life.

Itโ€™s completely free to get involved in the Wonder Wheels Cycling Challenge, but Carmela asks you to try to raise at least ยฃ150 in sponsorship, this could help improve the efficiency of clinical trials, meaning they can reach more people and get results quicker.

If you’re thinking, whoa, Nellie, 100K is too much, there are other ways to Join Carmelaโ€™s Wonder Wheels Cycling Challenge. You can join in on the 2nd July by doing a 10k at Daunstey School, starting at 9am where they have a track suitable for bikes and wheelchairs.

You could also do your own 100Km, or 10km a day if the full distance is too much, at a more suitable date and route, any time in July and set up your own JustGiving page linked to Carmela’s Charity Research Fund.

To register for any of the options click here to sign up, this will take you through to a registration page so that you can support Carmela and research into LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy.

If you can, please join the Wonder Wheels Cycling Challenge, and make a real difference for children affected by LMNA congenital muscular dystrophy. If it all sounds far too energetic for you, I know, I hear you, there are other ways to support the cause.

Recently Carmela has set up a Muscular Dystrophy Buddy Bear campaign, where you can sponsor a teddy bear for a child with muscular dystrophy. Speaking from experience, Carmela explains how she was scared and crying at all the hospital appointments and tests, and first discovering she had muscular dystrophy, so Buddy Bear aims to provide comfort for younger children in a similar situation.

Registration is still open to sign up for Wiltshire Wonder Wheels, and closes on 1st June 2023. Entries for 100km across Wiltshire are closed but 100km and 10km around Dauntsey’s athletic track are still open: 250 laps for 100km or 25 laps for 10km. There is no age limit or restrictions on abilities, even wheelchairs and adapted bikes.

SIGN UP HERE

Sponsor a Buddy Bear HERE

For more information, join Carmelaโ€™s Facebook page HERE

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 10th-16th May 2023

Okay, the kingโ€™s bank holiday is over, put your bunting away itโ€™s turning into soggy mush now! Onwards to whatโ€™s happening across Wiltshire this coming weekโ€ฆ..

As usual, find info and links on our event calendar HERE. But do check in on the calendar throughout the week as updates will be added when they come in, and are not included here. Itโ€™s the conflict between getting this out there as early as possible for tickets to ticketed events, and balancing this with the smaller venues who will sporadically put up a social media post on Thursday night! So, itโ€™s not comprehensive, just a guide, check a check on the calendar. 

Ongoing, lucky you if you have a ticket for the Railway Children at the Wharf Theatre, which is nearly sold out, and running until Saturday. We reviewed it here.

Also find a review HERE for Hail the Curious alternative art exhibit at the newly opened Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham, go see this!

Wednesday 10th, and thereโ€™s the usual Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Anu Vaidyanthanโ€™s BC:AD – (before children, after diapers) at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Hang Massive at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Broken Robot Production Presents Britainโ€™s Got Talent finalist, Magical Bones at Swindon Arts Centre, and Tony Blackburn brings his Sound of the Sixties to The Wyvern Theatre.

Thursday 11th Spare Snare with Ravetank at The Pump in Trowbridge.

Mark Simmonsโ€™ Quip off the Mark at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Modern Evils & Cosmic Ninja at The Vic in Swindon, Good Habits at the Tuppeny, with Johannes Radebeโ€™s Freedom Unleased at The Wyvern Theatre.

Friday 12th sees The Four Sopranos at Devizes Town Hall, and The Unpredictables at the Condado Lounge. SynthCity plays the Bear in Marlborough.

Bath Festival starts Friday, running until 21st May, lots to see and do there. Rock the Tots are at the Rondo Theatre with some One Hit Wonders. 

ZZ Topped at The Vic in Swindon, Suzie Ruffell at Swindon Arts Centre.

Gary Davis BBC Sounds of the Eighties at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Saturday 13th is the annual Stert Country House car boot sale near Devizes, for Cancer Research. Rock Hoppaz at The Three Crowns, Devizes that evening, The Duskers at The Southgate, Ben Borrill is at the Moonrakers, and Slade tribute Sladest at the Cavalier for a Devizes Scooter Club night.ย 

Static Moves play The Barge on Honey-Street, Trash Panda at The Lamb, Marlborough, @59 play the Bear.

Scott Doonicanโ€™s Bar-Stewards Sons of Val Doonican is at The Pump, Trowbridge; long since sold out Iโ€™m afraid; youโ€™ve got to keep scrolling through our event calendar, and be quick!

Dilton Marsh Scarecrow Trail continues Sunday too!

The Green Man Festival in Bradford-on-Avon, free, see poster below.

Simon Munneryโ€™s Trials & Tribulations is at Rondo Theatre, Bath

Alasdair Beckett-King at Swindon Arts Centre.

XSLF at the Tree House in Frome, Eric Bibb at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 14th sees Avebury Artisans Market, and a Wellbeing Nature Day at West Lavington, and Jack Grace Band is at the Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Monday 15th I have nought, nada, let me know if something crops up!

Tuesday 16th is Poetika 111, The Great Outdoors at The Winchester Gate in Salisbury, 

Anton De Beke & Friends at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and the Pretenders, yes, I said The Pretenders, at the Cheese & Grain; wowzers, every town needs a cheese and some grain, donโ€™t they?!

Looking forward for needy speedy timely ticket takers, Thursday sees folk dance fusion at the Pump with The Drystones, and Lulu come to Swindon, Jack & Jordanโ€™s Sketch Show at the Wharf in Devizes on Saturday 20th, and Lazy Dog comedy comes to the Devizes Cons Club, Big Country at The Cheese & Grain. So much more going on, all you gotta do is keep scrolling, and have a great week.  

Oh, and of course, there’s this…โ€ฆ whoa Nellie!

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Whatever Happened to Pancake Races in Devizes?

It seems Shrove Tuesday celebrations in Devizes have fallen as flat as aโ€ฆ.well, you get the gagโ€ฆ Traditionally organised by Age Concern Wiltshire, and oftenโ€ฆ

Rowdefest 26 Lineup Reveal!

Drizzly Sundayโ€ฆagain. Iโ€™ve just finished designing the poster, so allow me to reveal the lineup for Rowdefest this coming May, might cheer us up aโ€ฆ

The 9:15 from Oakworth calling at Devizes Wharf Theatre; The Railway Children Reviewed

Images: Chris Watkins Media

Director Freddie Underwood and the cast of The Railway Children absolutely smashed it last night at Devizes’ Wharf Theatre, and that’s coming from someone who doubted it would be their cuppaโ€ฆ..

Said doubt derived from the social expectations and restrictions of my own childhood; aware of the Railway Children film, it just wouldn’t have done to have watched something I’d deem “girly,” and outdated (the film from 1970;) imagine the teasing from my elder brother, and I’d dread to think what would’ve transpired if my school friends found out! Though, at a younger age I relished in children’s period drama, of Enid Blyton, The Velveteen Rabbit, and archaic representations in The Beano comic where teachers still wore mortarboards. But by the grand age of ten plus, there were expectations of me to rather indulge in “boy’s stuff;” The A-Team, Monkey Magic, and a series with a talking car!

Coincidentally, much of the context of the Railway Children deals with social expectations and reputation, yet in a far stricter Edwardian era in which the book was written and set. A fairly affluent London family is uprooted to Yorkshire when the father is unexpectedly taken away by his employers at the Foreign Office. While the mother deals alone with the grief, the social etiquette of keeping the reasons secret from the children only shrouds the affair in mystery. Dealing with newfound poverty and cultural differences between London and the North, the mother and particularly the three children take a few hard-knocked lessons in the mannerisms of the working class.

Yet it is in the misadventures the children engage in, willfully upstanding by all modern reasoning, which the emotional roller coaster evokes the most prevalence and where lessons are sorely learned, yet in turn, sees their father acquitted from the accusations of spying. Not only dealing with the social ethics of the rich/poor and north/south divides, the two eldest children also contend with the issues of coming of age without a father figure.

But its beauty lies not from the genius plot, rather its point of view taken from a children’s innocence perspective. In this, the three children are the only ones allowed to break the fourth wall, as their excitable narration is so cleverly blended with the happenings. It all makes for a highly emotional ambience and thought-provoking mood. With minimal props or effects, the flow feels as imaginative as in the mind of a child. Of course, this couldnโ€™t be carried off with such precision without the need of some top class acting, and herein is the icing on the cake.

The side characters are played enchantingly, Mari Webster as the emotional mother, the kind hearted well-to-do nature of Wharf boss John Winterton as the old gentleman, and the bubbling pomposity of Jon Lewthwaite as the doctor are all played superbly, but it’s within the comical hard-knock mannerisms of station master Perks and the amusing bumbling of the Russian exile Mr Szezcpansky which this play really shines, played with certain skill by Debby Wilkinson and Ellie Mayes respectively.

The play hinges rather on the three protagonists, the children, and, for me, this made it the breathtaking experience it was, plentiful to revert any preconceived doubts on their head and go for broke that this is the best performance I’ve seen at our wonderful Wharf Theatre so far.

Both the eldest child, Bobbie, and middle boy Peter, played immaculately by fifteen year old Katy Pattinson and twelve year old Poppi Lamb-Hughes, just oozes delight and believability by their dedication to the parts and the divine proficiency in which they carry this off. It is with such utter conviction I had to duck back into my car straight afterwards, because as such talented actors it would be impossible to imagine these two as anything but the Edwardian children they were portraying. Ergo, the chance to meet and witness them chatting as usual twenty-first century kids I feared would’ve broken their perfected illusion!

If Bobbie and Peter deal with the conflict of expectations versus growing up and their confusions between what’s right and wrong while everything they expect praise for seems to be returned with reprimand, and equally, anything they seem to do right is hastily turned on its head by the misunderstanding of working class etiquette, the absolute icing on this performance’s cake is without doubt the comical element of the far more carefree youngest child, Phyllis. Influenced by both older brother and sister, she plays the two against each other, and charms all with gusto, wit, and risk taking, just as the typical youngest sibling tends to do!

The mechanics of the part of Phyllis is where this play could have taken a nose-dive, for this surely needs a certain something, a sheer sparkle. And that star is fourteen year old Jessica Self. Simply put, Jessica’s acting ability is sublime, of West-End/Broadway level already. She cam charm when charm is needed, evoke emotion and amuse at the drop of a cue.

Since returning last night I’ve been pondering two possibilities, the first being this part was made for her, but I’m tendering towards the latter possibility, that Jess has the natural skill to become whatever character she is given. I gave thought to the best movie actors, of Dustin Hoffman, of Tom Hanks; how you cannot imagine the persona of the real Tom Hanks through the character he’s playing in each and every film he becomes. I similarly cannot imagine Jessica as being anything like the cheeky girl of Phyllis, rather an imminent actress of boundless talent.

This combination of genius plot, perfect direction and the wonderful acting of particularly Katy, Poppi and Jessica, makes this a delightful, thought-provoking marvel. But you need to hurry as this is near sold out, as expected and deserved.

Another landmark performance at our wonderfully welcoming and devoted little theatre, the pride of arts in Devizes. And if it’s the family oriented ethos you love about it, note it is director Freddie Underwood’s eighth production here, the first time she’s directing her husband Chris, who plays the Father, and of whom she fell in love with during a performance together at the Wharf, and their nine year old daughter Gigi, who is named after said play, and appears in the Railway Children as the child of the station master, Perks; I mean, unless you’ve a grandad you could find a walk-on for to make it a hattrick, you cannot get much more family-felt than that!

Virtual bouquets thrown, then, to all involved with this fantastic show from someone who, if they had Steven Crowder’s “Change My Mind” Campus Sign meme template in the eighties may’ve added “The Railway Children is soppy girly mush!” As you did change my mind, with bells on!

In strict contrast to the synopsis and setting of the Railway Children, the upcoming Girls Like That is the next production I’m advising is unmissable, my preview here. Find all forthcoming events at the Wharf Theatre on our event guide and at their website.

Kyla Brox; Throw Away your Blues

By Ben Niamorย 

Long Street Blues Clubs’ offering for the coronation weekend.. Kyla Broxโ€ฆ..

The bunting is still up for those keen to celebrate, personally I was looking forward to this gig as the crowning moment in my Saturday, and I was not disappointed!

Opening up proceedings the ever-excellent and irrepressible Tom Harris. Tom has โ€˜Written hundreds of songs and released none,โ€™ he quips before launching into a great set with lots of original songs.

Three Word Slogans, my personal favourite, a genius political anthem.ย  Should be released digitally come local election time, such is this song’s genius.ย 

An observational rhyme on the hollow meaningless billboard contradictions of the (I agree with him!) broken political systemโ€ฆ 

Classic blues material frankly but delivered in Tom’s moderately manic and good humoured manner. With a disclaimer that it wasnโ€™t necessarily aimed at conservatives..! (Editor’s note, you are in the Conservative Club, after all!) A local gem you are only likely to enjoy by getting out to pubs and venues like this. 

Kyla Brox,ย  the main event, I wanted to see this lady for a good while; friends had advised me this was an essential gig for me.

Iโ€™ve had the album Pain and Glory for some time, and my anticipation of what that record would indicate with regard to a live experience was not wrong.

Kyla attests her incredible voice and total embodiment of soulful blues to singing in her father’s band from twelve years of age;

no surprise, you donโ€™t just learn to embody soulful blues to this standard, it seems to me like that would require those musically enriched genes and history.

Proudly sharing a little of her family and musical history in passing on stage, you realise very quickly this phenomenal voice has been nurtured over a lifetime, not forced and it shows in the stunning, natural way she sings from the heart. 

I feel like I am a little late to the party here, my first time seeing this band live, a good few old friends in tonight by the looks.

Hats off too, to her sensational band, painting the scene for the stars’ vocals.

Superb musicians all.

An outstanding gig, I was enthralled from start to finish, โ€˜ Queen of the UK blues sceneโ€™ as Iโ€™ve read elsewhere, not an overused moniker for a coronation day gig, a reflection of the musicianship on display.

Absolutely bowled over and will be making sure to see her again. 

Thank you to Long Street Blues Club for continuing to bring the best bands from across the blues scene to Devizes.

Hail The Chippenham Circus of Curious Artists

Alongside fellow artist Rae Melody from Chippenham, and dressed as a clown, Warminster artist Sarah Christie greets the curious and art lovers at the door of the newly opened Forbidden Carnival, long-time aspiration of homegrown Wiltshire alternative artist Si Griffiths. Inspiration strikes and she excitedly elucidates a blossoming idea on the topic of circus….. I went in, they had cake…...

I also found great conversation with Bristol-based artist Jimmer Willmott, who was proudly loitering around his own canvas, capturing an exceptionally dilapidated caravan, graffitied and amusingly adorned with a โ€œfor saleโ€ sign. The opening night of the show, Hail The Curious has my mind pondering, being we were taught art history in movements, what exactly is the movement of now, and if there is one, is this it, alive, well and driven to Chippenham by the enduring and prolific force which is Si Griffiths and his associates?

Wikipedia labels it โ€œcontemporary art,โ€ and denotes itโ€™s not to be confused with โ€œmodern art.โ€ It describes it as a movement, in โ€œa globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world,โ€ with a โ€œdynamic combination of materials, methods, concepts, and subjects that continue the challenging of boundaries already well underway in the 20th century.โ€ In layman’s terms itโ€™s a blank canvas void of rules, something the Dadaists conceptualised over a century ago so hardly ground-breaking. Yet also, as a concept shrouded in pastiche and often satire, it is indulging outside influences akin to what we see in all media, from music sampling to reworking of classic films.  

Though it is, akin to modern art, postmodernism, or pop art, a rather ineffective name, which will one day suffer from not being contemporary at all, as โ€œpopโ€ art is hardly as โ€œpopularโ€ today as it was when conceived in the mid fifties. Agreeably though, itโ€™s a basis of what I see here, as I browse diverse methods and subjects the only thing combining them is curiosity and alternative thought, the mood varies intensely from the fantastical forbidding worries of Montague Tott and the poignancy of Mike Longโ€™s โ€œOne Million Poppies,โ€ to the brain-curdling comix art of Guts and comical outlandishness of David Russel Talbot, carried off in Victorian book illustration style. It is an anthology of craziness, a feast for your eyes, sir.

So, what is great about the here and now, and firmly accounted for in Forbidden Carnival is the overwhelming notion that art defends itself from the onslaught of technology by being of a level of creativity and method artificial intelligence cannot contend with. Because AI needs the outside command prompt, whereas Sarahโ€™s lightbulb moment, or Jimmer enthusiastically expressing his thoughts when he painstakingly painted each line of said caravan, are organically composed command prompts induced by abstract observation, a challenge pop art never had to contend with. With the exact prompts, AI could recreate anything Warholโ€™s Factory knocked out, on a Samsung phone in seconds and still plaster you with adverts while doing it. 

Thereโ€™s two ways to overcome this battle between the infinite monkey theorem and so-called artificial intelligence; revert back to a period of realism and paint a pragmatic portrait or landscape, which duly seems to be a backpedalling trend around these backwaters and something commented on amidst this gallery of divine curiosity, or face the challenge head on, as is exactly what we see here.

Here, all the artists are independently devising a new wave of incorporating cultural influences, the bizarre and surreal, graffiti, circus and carny lifestyle, comic book art and anything else they deem appropriate to throw into the melting pot, in a manner so far unseen.

In this I partially take back my rather inept observation in my preview of this show, pigeonholing Sarah Christieโ€™s work โ€œfeminine Litchensteinesque,โ€ as I see now thereโ€™s far more layers to her work than preconceived, as while Litchenstienโ€™s blagged comic panels could be reconstructed by AI, Sarahโ€™s work though similarly inspired by comic-book art couldnโ€™t, as they offer originality and sly humour; one lady viewer giggled at the term โ€œmansplainingโ€ on one of her works, and in earshot, with my penchant for ironic overstatement I suggested my daughter had to explain the meaning of the slang!

Now, see, you cannot induce conversation like this with a throwaway AI image, anymore than you can gaze outward and zoom your eye in to pick out hidden details of anything on display here; hold on, there’s a mysterious pair of eyes in the window of Jimmer’s caravan, I could’ve seen this picture on social media a thousand times at not picked it out! I give particular reference to the mind-blowing cubist graffiti work of Miller, his Clokhous piece had me induced for an indefinite time, just gazing into it, picking it out the chosen angles and discovering their subject from the delineating separate image glued onto it, thinking why Pablo Picasso never thought of doing that!

If you want to browse antique shops for a pretty local landscape, you go do that, this is not for you. But should you wish to divulge into a realm of bizarre, of unexplored territory which dips your little toe into familiar waters, than chucks you straight into the deep end with a swirling splash of artistic outpouring, colour and the wary amusement of a meld of ghost train and hall of mirrors, then this circus big top of art is for you, and you only need to get yourself to Chippenhamโ€™s market place to do so. Open Saturdays and Sundays, 10-3pm, and also by appointment.

Trending……..

Agricultural Appropriation with Monkey Bizzle

There’s no sophomore slump for Monkey Bizzle; prolific in their art, these rural chav-choppers return with a second album, Agricultural Appropriation, only five years andโ€ฆ

Doctor Faustus Sells His Soulโ€ฆ. in Devizes!

Featured Image:@jenimeadephotography Just another rainy Saturday afternoon in Devizes, whereby I watched a profound fellow dramatically sacrifice himself to the devil, then popped to Morrisonsโ€ฆ

Chandra Finds Heaven on Earth

Usually I just write what I think, but if I had a point-scoring system this new single from Bristol-based indie-pop outfit Chandra would tick everyโ€ฆ

John Watterson Keeps The Music of Jake Thackray Alive, in Pewsey

Chansonnier Yorkshireman Jake Thackray is paid tribute in Pewseyโ€™s Bouverie Hall on May 26th by fellow Yorkshireman John Watterson, aka โ€œFake Thackrayโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€

An adopted YorkshiremanJohn Watterson, grew up on the Isle of Man, which is where he first met Jake Thackray in 1975. Recalling the performance at his local folk club, which John explains, โ€œhad the audience in stitches,โ€ chatted with a very modest and self-deprecating Jake at the interval, describing him as โ€œa big man and a huge talent, clearly embarrassed by the standing ovation, Jake preferred to have a pint at the bar with the punters and didnโ€™t really see what the fuss was about.โ€

Influenced by the likes of Jaques Brel and Georges Brassens, Thackray wrote and performed unique folk songs recognisably rooted in the English countryside, at times painfully funny, yet often sad, tragic, rude, irreverent, and incisive, and all these things at the same time. His performances in folk clubs led to appearances on The Frost Report, Braden’s Week and That’s Life. In nearly thirty years of performing he made over 1,000 radio and TV appearances ranging from a topical song in magazine programmes to broadcasts of live concerts on both radio and television. His EMI catalogue produced seven albums between 1967 and 1991.

On learning of Jakeโ€™s passing in 2002, John decided that the songs were too good not to be kept alive, so he set about learning more of them. Performing them at a memorial evening in Monmouth, and John is currently researching and writing a biography on Jake with the help of members of the Thackray family. This is where tribute act really takes on a favoured notion of true homage, his appreciation and love of Jake Thackray’s music reflects in this show he has toured with Fairport Convention nation-wide tour, and has performed twenty shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. He has also been delighted to support Ralph McTell, Richard Digance, Vin Garbutt and many more of his music heroes.

Tickets are ยฃ12.50, and include a light supper in the interval. Available from Around the World, Woottons and the newsagent in Pewsey (cash only please) Or call 07876 230 540.

Trending…..

Devizes Issues Wants You!

Dubiously biased and ruled with an iron fist, the mighty admin of the once popular Devizes Facebook group, Devizes Issues, is using the iconic Greatโ€ฆ

Who Broke into Joyrobberโ€™s Car?!

Poor Joyrobber, got his car broken into, on his birthday too, but avenged them in song! Requiem for my Car Window is this mysterious characterโ€™sโ€ฆ

Lady Nade; Sober!

Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4ยฐC eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiffโ€ฆ

Ha! Let’s Laugh at Hunt Supporters!

Christmas has come early for foxes and normal humans with any slither of compassion remaining, as the government announced the righteous move to ban trailโ€ฆ

Helenโ€™s Poem on BBC Upload

A quick one from me today, offering our congratulations to our new writer, Helen Edwards from Devizes, who read out her poem โ€œMotherhood,โ€ on BBC Wiltshire this week on James Thomasโ€™s Upload show. โ€œIt was fun,โ€ she told us, โ€œexcept my phone started ringing!โ€

Listen here from the BBC website, or Soundcloud link, here. I love writing, but poems, hum, something about bacon, not to mention Iโ€™m an absolute bag of nerves on radio! The article on the Bournemouth Writing Festival Helen mentioned is here too, and this one worked both ways, also inspiring Helen to write. Well done you, and we look forward to hearing some more soon!ย ย 

Trending….

Rooks; New Single From M3G

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โ€œEโ€) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes on hold for a moment, because this is a beautiful, epic journeyโ€ฆ. M3Gโ€™s seventh release, Rooks, poignantly pulls on the heartstrings when presented by the rise and fall of aโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season

Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season with BBC Big Band, Ute Lemper, Sir Willard White and comedians Chris Addison and Alistair McGowan revealing their classical music talents….. Wiltshire Music Centre announces new Spring season with some extraordinary listening experiences on offer in the new year. Wiltshire Music Centre is a unique and contemporary 300-seatedโ€ฆ

Daphne Oram; Devizesโ€™ Unsung Pioneer of Electronic Sound: Part 2

Daphneโ€™s Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in the sphere of electronic music and music technology. On the first Thursday of the month The Barbican held a concert commemorating Daphne’s centenary, where sound and music fair access partner, Nonclassical,โ€ฆ

Burning the Midday Oil at The Muck

Highest season of goodwill praises must go to Chrissy Chapman today, who raised over ยฃ500 (at the last count) for His Grace Childrenโ€™s Centre in Uganda, with a little help from talented friendsโ€ฆ. Years back as soloist singer-songwriter One Trick Pony, Chrissy organised annual fundraising gigs at the Southgate around Christmas time, but now tunedโ€ฆ

Daphne Oram; Devizesโ€™ Unsung Pioneer of Electronic Sound

Part 1: An Introduction March 1936: newlywed French telecommunications engineer Pierre Schaeffer relocates to Paris from Strasbourg and finds work in radio broadcasting. He embarks on early radiophonic experiments. Fifteen years of his research, his inventions of various electronic instruments, and collaborations with Pierre Henry would lead them to found Groupe de Recherche de Musiqueโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Council โ€œUpdateโ€ on Northgate Street Lane Closure

Yesterday Wiltshire Council published an โ€œupdateโ€ on the lane closure on Northgate Street in Devizes as the fire which caused it reaches its first anniversary. Only, it’s more a โ€œreminderโ€ than an โ€œupdate!โ€ It begins, โ€œthe fire, in November 2024, caused significant damage to the Grade II-listed property and since then the council has hadโ€ฆ

7 Hills Spring Festival Comes to Trowbridge

Is it time to start thinking about spring? I think so! Bath music promoters 7 Hills are moving their annual spring festival from the city to Trowbridgeโ€™s Old Town Hall. If youโ€™re already buzzing for the 2026 festival season to arrive, check this March offeringโ€ฆ.. 7 Hills regularly organise music events at The Night Jarโ€ฆ

St John’s Choir Christmas Concert in Devizes

Join the St Johnโ€™s Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th December at 7.30pm….. The spectacular, and oldest church in Devizes, St Johnโ€™s Church has a Christmas Concert on Friday with All proceeds go to Juliaโ€™s House and St John’s Church. Ticketsโ€ฆ

Devizes Assize Court Saved; A New Home for Wiltshire Museum

This afternoon I find myself contemplating what the future holds for historical discovery and learning for all ages, fun and educational exhibits and events in Wiltshire; and it looks positive! Devizes is blessed to have Wiltshire Museum already, but the future looks even better, the future isโ€ฆ. Assizes! Wiltshire Museum announced today, The National Lotteryโ€ฆ

For Now, Anyway; Gus White’s Debut Album

Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlboroughโ€™s singer-songwriter Gus Whiteโ€™s debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and itโ€™s more than worth a quick mentionโ€ฆ.. Gus White is a respected folk musician, record producer, festival organiser, and community maker with a deep love for the rooted and the heartfelt. Hisโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Snazzback

Wednesday, song of the week time, and itโ€™s some smooth jazz from Bristolโ€™s finest purveyors of looping rhythms and upside down chickens, Snazzback. Stokes Croft Sleep Clinic is from the forthcoming album Ruins Everything, and it gorgeously trickles over halfway, building layers until the evocative vocals of Tlk meld to complete the effect. So incredibly cool Iโ€™m horizontal!

Trending….

Butane Skies Not Releasing a Christmas Song!

No, I didnโ€™t imagine for a second they would, but upcoming Take the Stage winners, alt-rock emo four-piece, Butane Skies have released their second song,โ€ฆ

One Of Us; New Single From Lady Nade

Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Ladeโ€™s latest offering of soulful pop. Itโ€™s timelessly cool andโ€ฆ

Large Unlicensed Music Event Alert!

On the first day of advent, a time of peace and joy to the world et al, Devizes Police report on a โ€œlarge unlicenced musicโ€ฆ

Winter Festival/Christmas/Whatever!

This is why I love you, my readers, see?! At the beginning of the week I put out an article highlighting DOCAโ€™s Winter Festival, andโ€ฆ

Devizes Winter Festival This Friday and More!

Whoโ€™s ready for walking in the winter wonderland?! Devizes sets to magically transform into a winter wonderland this Friday when The Winter Festival and Lanternโ€ฆ

Boots & Braces Ready For Devizes Scooter Rally 2023?

Long overdue is our annual poking our nose into Devizes Scooter Club, see what peaky blinders theyโ€™re pulling off, including of course, the Devizes Scooter Rally 2023; because no matter what the people say, this sound leads the wayโ€ฆ..

While Iโ€™d half-heartedly shrug at critics giving it scooter rallies can be a niche market, retrospective lager-fuelled skinheads admiring each otherโ€™s hairdryers in an overgrown field while some northern soul DJ spins his 7โ€ rare grooves, this is where Devizes Scooter Rally differs from the status quo. Of course, appeasing the diehards who will trek vast land to amass at such events is crucial, but on its third year, Devizes Scooter Rally never feels insular, rather itโ€™s the genuine article, affordable fun and welcomes curious townsfolk and those who may only have a passing interest in the scene. That’s its beauty, and long shall it be so.

You only have to check the interest when the club ride the carnival parade looking dapper in suits and braces, to note this is more than a retrospective cult; the merger of youth cultures of yore, the mod, the soul boys and skinheads and all inbetween is something impossible for those caught up in to let go off, simply because itโ€™s irresistibly beguiling, and fun. To relish in soul and reggae of yesteryear is valid, as all mainstream pop since relies so heavily on its influence. 

So, weโ€™re talking the weekend of 28th-30th of July, when the club invites all to gather at Lower Park Farm, just off the dual carriageway on Whistley Road, where scooters will be on show, and will ride out no doubt, but thatโ€™s not all. Activities for the children will be added, with food stalls and of course, the bar! And all raising funds for such a wonderful organisation, The Devizes & District Opportunity Centre, our most fantastic pre-school for children with disabilities and learning difficulties.

Expect legendary Northern Soul DJ Terry Hendrick of the Soul Pressure sound system to be spinning tunes between bands, and the bands are, a reunited, I believe, Killertones, the perfect ska outfit of Cath and Gouldy from Sound Affects and the Day Breakers, who are stalwarts on the local scooter scene. Those trusty Roughcut Rebels, who never fail to bring the party with them, as is their era-spanning repertoire of anything from swinging sixties to Britpop.

The other locally-based act is perhaps the wildcard; Trowbridgeโ€™s 41 Fords play with all the vigour of ska, but are decidedly more rockabilly with a dash of scrumpy & western folk. We fondly reviewed their debut album Not Dead Yet, last month. Hereโ€™s a shining example of what I mean about the congenial and welcoming mesh of subgenres youโ€™ll find at Devizes Scooter Rally, see, rude boy? There were no mockers in eras past, theyโ€™d have been fighting each other! Thus the scenes merge and itโ€™s a one love happy aura for everyone to enjoy as, which is ironically the entire ethos of reggae and soul in the first damn place!

And reggae Iโ€™m certain youโ€™ll find there, of the boss variety of yore, predominantly, and of course itโ€™s predecessor ska, which though saw a second generation influx through Two-Tone in the eighties, thrives today on the scene. Now, if you know me, youโ€™ll know Iโ€™m something of an aficionado of this, and seen many a great ska band; Orange Street, named after the location of Duke Reidโ€™s legendary Kingston studio, Studio One, are one of the tightest ska bands Iโ€™ve witnessed, blowing my socks off at the inaugural Devizes Scooter Rally in 2019; having them return is the icing on this cake.

Going in blind for the last two in the line-up, first, Sharp Class, with a corporate identity akin to The Jam causing me to ill-conceive it would be an old bunch of mods knocking out Jam and Merton Parkas covers. Rather this young, fresh-faced London-based trio have a sharp image, hence the name, and original songs grounded in realism and spattered with an English essence. Merging punk and soul into power-pop and Britpop, they claim. Theyโ€™ve recently released a debut album โ€œTales of the Teenage Mind,โ€ and are set to tour Boston this month, but you can say you saw them in Devizes!

And the Butterfly Collective, Southampton based ska, soul and mod covers and originals five-piece, heavily influenced by The Who and the Mod/Rock fraternity including Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Kinks, Small Faces and The Hiwatts. They have become a renowned band within the Scooter and music scenes across the U.K. Being The Devizes Scooter Club tend to evaluate their lineup based on past experience touring other rallies, Iโ€™m assured weโ€™re in good hands, and this weekend will deliver a damn fine spectrum of entertainment to get you snapping your braces and skanking up the Whistley Road!

Now, if youโ€™re thinking where the catch might be, itโ€™s only your two-tone trouser suit, with a weekend wristband at just thirty notes and cheaper day options, youโ€™ve got to hand it to Devizes Scooter Club for maximum dedication to making this jumping jiving rally affordable and irresistible.

Prior to skanking up Whistley Road, the clubโ€™s base at The Cavalier in Devizes sees Slade tribute Sladest on May 13th, and following the rally, Bristolโ€™s big boss sound of Ya Freshness and the erm, aptly titled Big Boss Band will make their Devizes debut on Saturday September 9th. Self-styled rude boy Ya Freshness has worked with two-toneโ€™s best, from the likes of Neville Staple, and made groundbreaking original work with Bristolโ€™s retrospective reggae greats through his label Strictly Rockers. If you recall my radio show on Boot Boy Radio, those shout-outs were by this absolute legend.

Then, on 28th October itโ€™s the mandatory skalloween night at the Cavy, with ska band Skamageddon, and the club see of 2023 with a NYE party. Though as I said, thereโ€™s a welcoming atmosphere for those with a passing interest, local scooter enthusiasts should contact the club for ride-outs, social get-togethers and beanos to other rallies and clubs are organised. So get up on your feet, put your braces together and boots on your feet, and give me some of that old moonstomping!   

Trending……

Snow White Delight: Panto at The Wharf

Treated to a sneaky dress rehearsal of this year’s pantomime at Devizesโ€™ one and only Wharf Theatre last night, if forced to sum it upโ€ฆ

Chatting With Burn The Midnight Oil

Itโ€™s nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisburyโ€™s Radio Odstock ย picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oil andโ€ฆ

Devizes Town Council Welcomes New Councillor

Since the recent byelection for Devizes East, Guardian Vanessa Tanner was welcomed to The Town Council this month; Guardians of the Galaxy ensemble, or, maybe just Guardians of the Devizes, but you get the general gist! 

โ€œNot everyone would stand in an election,โ€ Vanessa said, which is a good start because I wouldnโ€™t want to; I could sit in one, maybe slouch a bit and snooze until it was time to hit the pub, but thatโ€™s about it!

Apologies, ignore my silly edits to bulk this out; Vanessa continued, โ€œby putting yourself forward as a representative for your community, you may open yourself up for criticism along with praise. We are hard-wired to remember the bad over the good so for your own self-preservation, you need to develop a tough skin and constantly remind yourself why it is important.โ€

โ€œSo why was it important for me to stand as a candidate in the recent by-election? I wanted to really engage in Devizes and be part of the community. Iโ€™m not a local born and bred, but Devizes has become my home and I love living here. Shortly after moving in, I met a group of people who are passionate about ensuring this little part of England remains beautiful and thriving. Those people are The Devizes Guardians. Each one of them with a story to tell about why they wanted to become Town Councillors.โ€

โ€œMy story is simple. I want to represent the people in my local area, to bring issues to the table and hopefully find solutions. Also, Iโ€™m already involved in a number of community groups, (Sustainable Devizes, CUDS, Devizes in Bloom, Dorothy House) so I wanted to represent them on the Town Council, to ensure their voices are heard. All that remains now is to do what I promised to do. Be a decent, honest and effective Councillor. Roll on the next couple of years.โ€

Roll on indeed, in our pre-election interview, well, I called it an interview, was more of a nice chinwag, I genuinely came away positively knowing Vanessa would make the perfect town councillor. Leader of the Guardians Jonathan Hunter commented, โ€œwe are grateful for the magnificent support shown by constituents in East Ward, along with the superb encouragement from those across the wider community who supported Vanessa Tannerโ€™s positive election campaign.โ€

โ€œIt was a hard fought campaign between the Conservatives, Labour and Devizes Guardians but despite lacking the resources of a national party, Vanessa won the election with an impressive 44% of the vote. The postal vote was incredibly strong, as was the strength of support for Vanessa on the doorstep.โ€ 

It was a testament to what can be achieved; though for the Guardians to have lost this seat, it still would not have tipped the balance to a Conservative majority. Local councils do not need persuasion from national political parties. They should be about what is best for the town. The Guardians are a conglomerate of independents. Jonathan touched on this point too, noting, โ€œresidents expressed their dissatisfaction with national and county politics and were keen to back an energetic and community-focused candidate from a party that champions local issues and campaigns for a better deal for Devizes and the local community.โ€

โ€œDevizes Guardians recognise the selfless public service from former Devizes Guardian and Town Councillor, the late Jane Burton, whose sad passing triggered this by-election.

Standing in an election isnโ€™t an easy decision and I would like to thank the other candidates for their efforts and support.โ€

We wish Vanessa all the best with her new role! 

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The Lost Trades Float on New Single

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Barrelhouse are Open for Business with New Album

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 releaseโ€ฆ

Ruzz Guitar Swings With The Dirty Boogie

Bristolโ€™s regular Johnny B Goode, Ruzz Guitar Blues Revue goes full on swing with a new single, a take on The Brian Setzer Orchestraโ€™s 1998โ€ฆ

My Oasis of Calmโ€ฆ Vince Bell at the Southgate Devizes

By Ben Niamor

Vince is often shy of praise, yet his gentle, respectful delivery of his own wonderfully written songs and carefully chosen covers deserve a celebratory mention….

There are many a-decent artist in the public conscious who would envy the beautifully crafted lyrics of songs like Lisaโ€™s Kitchen, or Spider-Man Pyjamas , and our town anthem, of course Vinceโ€™s Devizes song.

Whether it be a reflection on lifeโ€™s changes and fragility or the wry comical observations on youthful misadventure, those of a mind to settle and really listen are rewarded with a most engaging and enveloping warmth.

As ever, I want to extend my warmest thanks to not only Vince but, of course, Deb & Dave whoโ€™s own passion for music gives us these wonderful gigs and harmonious relaxing Sunday sessions.

This is my town, and this is one of the biggest reasons I ainโ€™t never leaving!

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 2nd- 8th May 2023

Whoa, decided today, Thursday, Iโ€™d have to start planning this one immediately, because thereโ€™s soooo much going on, and all, or mostly all, because of that King bloke, who I just thought had a pop hit in 1984 with โ€œLove & Pride,โ€ but apparently itโ€™s a smidgen more complex than that, the guy is royalty or something. So, grab your celebratory mug, wrap it around your bunting, and letโ€™s have it out nowโ€ฆ..

Firstly, I must interject and explain; our article highlighting coronation-related events  received criticism from anti-royalist keyboard warriors who either didnโ€™t digest if bothered at all to read the article, just jumped to conclusions, they did. If you think for one second Iโ€™d support a defective archaic institution which uses tax-payerโ€™s money to bail-out nonce family members then you donโ€™t know me at all. I do, however, despite being as anti-royalist as the next anti-royalist, support the Coronation for all the local entertainers and small businesses which will benefit from getting bookings, only a couple of short years after having no revenue at all. So, wind your neck in, and I hope thatโ€™s cleared that up!

Thereโ€™s plenty of stuff to do this coming week, if you want flag-waving or not, so letโ€™s drop the subject and get on with listing them. Donโ€™t forget, all links and info can be found on our event guide, and updates through the week will be added, so keep abreast, and up-to-date; this article is not conclusive.

Ongoing from Monday 1st to 7th May, is the Swindon Festival of Literature; lots happening there worth checking out.

Opening night for Zog at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, on Tuesday 2nd, and running until Thursday 4th, family entertainment based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Wednesday 3rd, is the regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Seeds of Memories is a wistful and uplifting show packed to the brim with puppetry and poetry. It offers a gentle exploration of losing a loved one and dealing with grief through the magic of the memories they leave behind, and itโ€™s at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Thursday 4th: Sees Derailer & Dangermind at The Vic, Swindon, the Hothouse Flowers at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, and some raw, open and honest but most importantlyโ€ฆfunny comedy at the Rondo Theatre, Bath with Richard Hardistyโ€™s Silly Boy.

Friday 5th: and King Charles Coronation kicks off, with a school art exhibition at St Peters Marlborough, events at Hilperton Village Hall, and the Junkyard Dogs are in Bromham.

The Blackheart Orchestra are at the Pump in Trowbridge, Sack Sabbath tribute at The Vic, Swindon. A homecoming for Will Lawton & The Alchemists at Malmesbury Town Hall. Six O’clock Circus at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Rock For Heroes at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and an extra show for John Kearnsโ€™ The Varnishing Days at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Saturday 6th: Wiltshire Farmersโ€™ Market in Devizes.

King Charles Coronation continues, youโ€™ll find live music from 4pm at The Crown, Bishops Cannings with White Horses, Tom Davis & The Bluebirds, and Plan of Action, other events include Urchfont, Picnic in the Park at King Georgeโ€™s Playing Fields in Melksham, Coronation Live Screening at John Coles Park, Chippenham, at Foxham Reading Room, Seend Village Community Centre, The Parade Cinema in Marlborough, The Cooperโ€™s Arms Pewsey have a great music programme, in Westbury Be Like Will are at The Players, and Westbury Cons Club has a party too. Picnic in the Park at The Rec in Calne from 10am-9pm, looks amazing, Coronation Celebrations at Devizes Market Place from 10:30-4pm.

Away from all that, find the Leon Daye Band at The Southgate, Devizes, and Kyla Brox Band at Long Street Blues Club; it’s all too royal with cheese for me, so yeah, Kyla Brox, Long Street you got my Editor’s Pick of the Week, hands down!

Acoustic punk band, Abdoujaparov of ex-Carter USM guitarist Les Carter headline the Pump, Trowbridge, with support from former Browfort frontwoman, Claire Kearley, and โ€œSong for Trowbridgeโ€ hero Gavin Osborn.

Rammlied at The Vic, Swindon, Sonic Alert at the Queens Tap, Homer at The Sun in Coate, Rosie Holtโ€™s Womanโ€™s Hour at The Wyvern Theatre.

Jah Wobbleโ€™s Invaders of the Heart take the Cheese & Grain, Frome, nice.

Sunday 7th: King Charles Coronation celebrations at Ogbourne St George Primary school, Ludgershall, All Cannings with Alfredโ€™s Tower, Rowde with People Like Us, Parade House Trowbridge, and Spring in the Park at Westbury. Devizes Town Band have a coronation concert at the Corn Exchange, called Animal Magic.

Unmissable monthly jaunt for Jon Amor & Guests at The Southgate, Devizes. Phil Samuelโ€™s The George Michael Experience is at the Bridge Inn, Horton, Devizes.

Open Mic night at the Barge on Honey Street.

The King’s Reggae at The Castle & Ball, Marlborough, with Razah-I Fi; ding!

Courting Ghosts & Becky Lawrence are at The Stallards Inn, Trowbridge.

Sour Apple at The Kings Arms, Amesbury.

Blues Jam at The Vic, Swindon.

Magpie Market at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 8th: King Charles Coronation at The Crown in Bishops Cannings with Illingworth, also a Produce Show at The Village Hall.

By the time you read this Iโ€™m predicting it a sell-out, but worth checking, opening night for The Railway Children The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, running until 13th May.

Tuesday 9th: Seven Drunken Nights at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

And thatโ€™s your lot, enough for you to do?! Hereโ€™s to the king, let us hope his reign is long and healthy, even if only so I donโ€™t have to type all that for one weekend again for a while!!

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Joyrobber Didn’t Want Your Stupid Job Anyway

A second track from local anonymous songwriter Joyrobber has mysteriously appeared online, and heโ€™s bitter about not getting his dream jobโ€ฆ.. If this mysterious dudeโ€™sโ€ฆ

Devizes Chamber Choir Christmas Concert

Itโ€™s not Christmas until the choir sings, and Devizes Chamber Choir intend to do precisely this by announcing their Christmas Concert, as they have doneโ€ฆ

Steatopygous go Septic

If you believe AI, TikTok and the rest of it all suppress Gen Zโ€™s outlets to convey anger and rage, resulting in a generation ofโ€ฆ

The Wurzels To Play At FullTone 2026!

If Devizesโ€™ celebrated FullTone Festival is to relocate to Whistley Roadโ€™s Park Farm for next summerโ€™s extravaganza, what better way to give it the rusticโ€ฆ

DOCAโ€™s Young Urban Digitals

In association with PF Events, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts introduces a Young Urban Digitals course in video mapping and projection mapping for sixteen to twentyโ€ฆ

Jol Roseโ€™s Ragged Stories

Thereโ€™s albums Iโ€™ll go in blind and either be pleasantly surprised, or not. Then thereโ€™s ones which I know Iโ€™m going to love before theโ€ฆ

Chippenhamโ€™s Forbidden Carnival Gallery

Next week Chippenhamโ€™s finest alternative artist Si Griffiths sees his hard work paid off as he opens his gallery at 64a Market Place. The Forbidden Carnival studio and gallery will be something the like Chippenham has never seen, except of course when Si has previously exhibited with friends at the Yelde Hall with an annual show of alternative art. Certain that The Forbidden Carnival will be in a similar vein on a permanent basis, I caught up with Si for a quick chat prior to the opening evening on the 5th Mayโ€ฆ..

With a penchant for the unusual; clowns and carny lifestyle, surrealist pop art, demons and underground comix of yore, Siโ€™s work is exemplary for the bizarre and unique. Recently he took part in Swindonโ€™s inaugural street art festival, Swindon Paint Fest, and the influence of urban graffiti seems to also be an upcoming theme in his work. 

From the Alternative Art Shows of Si, Sally, Clifton and Mike at the Yelde Hall, Chippenham

 But the grand opening will see a global collection of similarly inspired artistsโ€™ work as well. โ€œYeah,โ€ Si laughed as I asked him how it was going, โ€œdealing with a bunch of artists is like herding cats to be honest! But we should be ready to go for it!โ€

Grand opening is on Friday 5th May from 6:30-9pm, and presents โ€œHail the Curious,โ€ an inaugural exhibition featuring a rumbustious ensemble of local, national and international artists, and I know Si well enough by now to know he wonโ€™t skip on rumbustiousness or more importantly, providing a trailblazing sneak at the peculiar of offbeat counterculture art, be it eldritch or quirky.

But after the show, I was curious about the galleryโ€™s opening times, โ€œhereafter the show,โ€ he explained, โ€œit will be open Saturdays and Sundays, 10-3pm, and also by appointment.โ€ But he was flexible on times being his studio is based there too, โ€œweโ€™re still talking about opening times,โ€ Si mentioned the possibility of having staff. So, for the foreseeable future those are the times to visit, or book a visit from the website, and it will be well worth it; I wondered if Chippenham was ready!

Si expressed his delight at said ensemble, works from artists worldwide from northern England to the States, he mentioned shows he regularly exhibits in the US as networking, and an annual holiday combined, but Chippenham?! Does Chippenham know whatโ€™s going to hit it?!

I supposed, to do such a gallery in an area considered quirky and arty, say place this gallery in the Lanes of Brighton, it might meld and be lost amidst similar surroundings, whereas what we have here for Chippenham is something wholly unique. โ€œYeah,โ€ Si agreed, โ€œfor sure, if you go anywhere where it’s established, you just become one of the crowd, whereas youโ€™re switched out here, and Iโ€™m only doing this for me, because itโ€™s a fifteen year dream realised.โ€

Though Si shrugged and I felt he didnโ€™t want the gallery to rule his life, finding the time to continue painting is paramount to him, rather than being a fulltime gallery owner. In this he provides the clue, Si is a creative foremost, opening this gallery seconds to his labour of love, which connotes, this motivated by the passion of an artist, not the profiteering of a dealer.

I wondered this; if his studio is there and visitors pop in while at work painting, one would have to pause their inspirational moment to welcome them, and often with the creative mind in full flight itโ€™s difficult to pull away from it and then return at a later moment. But thatโ€™s the game, finding the balance between creativity, and promoting your work and others youโ€™ve networked. He reasoned with this and spoke of getting some help with the day-to-day running of the gallery, โ€œIโ€™m just opening it, itโ€™s causing a stir already, and weโ€™re going to see what happens.โ€

As is commonplace with the creative mind, to get butterflies upon venturing into something like this, though any fears Si might have suggested now about the certainty of The Forbidden Carnival is down to nerves, and this is will be a fantastic and unique place to visit, shoving a twig in the bicycle spokes of formalist arts in Wiltshire.

With dark artists such as Montague Tott and Holly Aragon, combined with the feminine Litchensteinesque of Sarah Christie and Siโ€™s own penchant for those mysterious clowns in odd circumstances, this will be the offbeat, circus-fashioned feast your eyes will love for, forevermore!

Check out the website HERE, for more info.

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Vince Bell in the 21st Century!

Unlike Buck Rogers, who made it to the 25th century six hundred years early, Devizesโ€™ most modest acoustic virtuoso arrives at the 21st just shortโ€ฆ

Deadlight Dance New Single: Gloss

You go cover yourself in hormone messing phthalates, toxic formaldehyde, or even I Can’t Believe It’s Not Body Butter, if you wish, but it’s allโ€ฆ

Things to Do During Halloween Half Term

The spookiest of half terms is nearly upon us again; kids excited, parents not quite so much! But hey, as well as Halloween, here’s whatโ€ฆ

CrownFest is Back!

Yay! You read it right. After a two year break, CrownFest is back at the Crown in Bishop’s Cannings. So put a big tick ontoโ€ฆ

Carsick Pump It!

By Ben Niamor (with Devizine edits)

This evening Iโ€™ve been reminded of a different feeling, something missing in recent years; noisy, energetic, bordering madnessโ€ฆ..

Youthful bands with something to say, a truly incredible gig. Sheer Music Presents Carsick at Trowbridge’s Pump, with Devizes own Nothing rhymes with Orange, and first out Meg, from Trowbridge.

Meg has a great voice and some great original songs. NRWO are a great, bouncy, mosh-friendly, superb band with huge potential for a wider audience.

And Salisbury’s Carsick – holy shit, good band! They reminded me of seeing new wave punk, or laterally The Computers. Clearly the whole assembled crowd of all ages felt the same, a resonance, an energy, a way to make people feel alive.

Instant fan, incredibleโ€ฆ

Itโ€™s been too long since Iโ€™ve seen anyone stand on a balcony, or the drum kit, since I saw crowd surfing or saw so many people having fun in this way.

Pump promoter Kieran J Moore continues to impress and influence me, with bands but also the incredible support he offers a scene that evolves. Nights like this makes me proud to know him. 

I have been told by record store owners, reviewers, many people I needed to see these bands and somehow Iโ€™ve landed on my feet and seen both together. Thank you all of you, amazing gig and wonโ€™t be the last time I see any of you.

Kieran said of the gig, “it’s single handedly more impressive, valuable and important when a band can come to a rural backwater town and blow up a scene, show and venue. Last night, once again, we showed that you don’t need to leave Trowbridge to have the time of your life.”

“Three young, fresh new artists played The Village Pump, and hundred people witnessed something you cannot fake, or throw money at to create. We saw something real, genuine, pure and incredible. It was that simple.”

The Devizine editor, gutted for being unable to make this one(!) wishes to extend this by congratulating all at this fantastic grassroots venue on our doorstep. The Pump continues going from strength-to-strength, last week the subject of a BBC Points West filming, highlighting hostess and trainee sound engineer Megan, as part of her work via The Prince’s Trust. The filming will be broadcast this Thursday 4th May. On our maiden voyage to the Pump, Megan made the perfect host, and her enthusiasm for this opportunity spoke volumes.

We continue to ensure all forthcoming gigs at the Pump are listed on our event calendar, and a direct link to their website is HERE.

Devizes Gearing Up For Street Festival

Less than a month away now until the best day out in Devizes, our International Street Festival; whoโ€™s overexcited, who wants to know whatโ€™s happening there, and who just wants to get bladdered?! Previous DOCA artistic director Loz Samuals set the bar pretty high, the new DOCA team have a lot to live up to, and I know theyโ€™ve been hard at work to get this show on the road, or better, on the Green and in the Market Place!

Dates, before I waffle, is Saturday 27th May, which will take place on the Green, and Sunday 28th at the Market Place, if youโ€™re new or travelling through, this is our mardi gras, Devizes style crop-over and itโ€™s all free! Details of the many acts coming to our town can be found on the DOCA website HERE, Iโ€™ve had a browse and I must say itโ€™s just as ever before, mighty impressive and inviting.

Some highlights of this mega meld of international street theatre, music, circus, arts, dance, puppetry, comedy, workshops, environmental talks, food, drink and crafts market, and of course bars, this year is the thirty foot Willow Sanctuary on the Green, designed by artist Sarah Jane and built by the people of Devizes, so you can guarantee it will be as strong as a horse! This temporary event space will be used throughout the whole festival, for acoustic music, a series of environmental talks and a space to relax and reflect; in my eraโ€™s slang call a spade a spade, itโ€™s a chill-out space!

But the beauty here is itโ€™s a 100% recyclable chill out zone, and after the event the willow will be, and DOCA invites anyone to take some home for their own gardens and allotments. Really though? I envision this and it tickles me pink to think of those who usually have difficulty navigating themselves home; view carrying a hoard of willow over your shoulder as a challenge! The kind of Itโ€™s a Knockout finale which might yet be the icing on the cake!

Or perhaps leave the circus acts to the professionals, DOCA certainly have them in abundance this year, as ever, but it doesnโ€™t end there, you could be flying the trapeze yourself with Above and Beyond, who as well as performing both days will be providing free lessons; here, hold my jesters hat and Black Rat!

Another unique most brilliant concept is The Actual Reality Arcade in which video-games will be interpreted into life sized interactive activities, so you could be shooting space invaders, dodging barrels like Mario, building Tetris walls, and running from ghosts like Pac-Man; are DOCA trying to tell us they intend to encourage gamers to divert their eyes from their consoles and interact with reality? This I have to see!!

With a socially charged exciting reggae-ish voyage laced with messages of peace, love & unity, we see live music from Mischa & His Merry Men, and global underground Balkan reggae and ska from The Cabarats. An award-winning UK folk duo, called Good Habits who seemed none too fussed to be stranded in New Zealand during the pandemic, where they  forged their style, and are bringing it back for us. Thereโ€™s also the protocol brassy goodness with Tuba Libres. But one thing not on their program which concerns me, and one which I urge you to help me with here, is Devizineโ€™s suggestion for a local upcoming band to be featured on the main stage.

Iโ€™m so glad DOCA have taken heed of this, this year. Amidst this wonderful array of international performances, which I truly welcome, for while I wouldnโ€™t want this event to turn insular and simply run with our standard circuit, I do believe some space should be made available on the roster to also highlight some of the talent we have at home. Is it just me, just an age thing?! I genuinely welcome your feedback on this, as I push it to DOCA every year as I believe it is important, and I intend to continue to do so. Hopefully our suggestion for the one local upcoming band who I think deserves to be up on the main stage will become an annual occurrence.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange Image by Gail Foster

So, your help is needed, as we presented Nothing Rhymes With Orange to DOCA and they stand to play at 1pm on the Sunday in the Market Place, despite unfortunately not being listed on the DOCA website. I really donโ€™t know the reason for this, but whatever it is, I need you, good people of Devizes, the followers of Devizine, and the fanbase of Nothing Rhymes With Orange to gather en masse at the Market Place at 1pm, and really show DOCA the worth of introducing this fantastic bunch of local youngsters, and the idea we support local live music. This will not only prove to be a fantastic set by the band, but hallmark a new era whereby upcoming local bands have the opportunity to play on the main stage at our Street Festival.

Okay, said my piece, must jog on, but yeah, DOCA, it looks fantastic yet again, a mahoosive well done from me. From a man and a woman hanging from rusty steel springs to a giant Octopus atop of a tricycle, and from a theatre full of theatrical surprises appearing from under the petticoats of an enormous women’s skirts to the weaving and flowing patterns of traditional Welsh folk-dancing, combined with the pulsating energy of queer nightlife, is erm, not something you see everyday in Devizes Market Place, usually just the 49 bus pulling in and the odd market stall selling ham!ย 

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Six Reasons to Rock in Market Lavington

Alright yeah, itโ€™s a play on band names and thereโ€™s only really two reasons to rock on Friday 17th October at Market Lavington Community Hall;โ€ฆ

Girls Like That: Wharf Youth Theatre Group in Bold Reality-Driven Drama

As part of our ongoing series exploring youths in our area doing good, to backwash this current trend by local media to sensationalise only the wayward minority for clickbait, I wanted to draw your attention to the final performance on the summer season programme at the fabulous Wharf Theatre in Devizes, โ€œGirls Like That.โ€

Under the direction of Lou Cox, who is finishing her masters degree in Theatre from Guildford School of Acting, graduated Bath Spa University with a BA(Hons) in performing arts and has a ACTL teaching diploma from Trinity College London, this is a performance by the Youth Wharf Theatreโ€™s senior acting company of teenagers aged between ten and fourteen.

What I think is really great about this is they donโ€™t mention the Youth Theatre element on their website, and it stands as Wharf Theatre production as much as any other. Nothing is condescending here because this is not the sort of play you might be expecting. Speaking to Lou, she joked, โ€œthey couldโ€™ve done James & The Giant Peach, or something like that, but we wanted something they could relate to!โ€

Girls Like That is written by Canadian-British playwright Evan Placey and was named Best Play for Young Audiences at the Writersโ€™ Guild of Great Britain Awards 2015. A phenomenal, contemporary play, depicting the social pressures, digital impact, and gender double standards; Iโ€™ve read this and it is intelligently gritty, reality-driven stuff. Exploring the pressures on young people today in the wake of advancing technology, the synopsis being protagonist, Scarlett, finds her naked photograph going viral and becomes the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. But while rumours run wild and everyone forms an opinion, Scarlett just stays silent.ย 

You can also help the youth group by voting for this performance at this TicketSource Community Event. Please vote HERE.

The Youth programme at the Wharf has been running for just under two years now, this play will really show its worth, giving young people in our area something to inspire them, something they can relate to, as this is not so uncommon today, as well as a stark warning to take care when online. It is running from July 20th to 22nd, tickets are just ยฃ10-14, available now. โ€œThe girls in the group have been working really hard towards this,โ€ Lou explained.

A freelance drama teacher at various schools in the area and a LAMDA examiner, Lou Cox has recently started exciting projects with Banardos adoption agency, using drama as a training tool for adoptive parents and a refugee charity in Swindon. She is notable for singing professionally at Glastonbury festival and stand-up comedy, and should you want a taste of the latter, you can find her one-woman not for the faint-hearted self-penned and performed show, โ€œHaving a Baby and the S**t They Donโ€™t Tell You,โ€ at The Wharf on May 26th and 27th.

This comedic and brutally honest show takes the audience on an emotional and, at times, highly entertaining rollercoaster. From morning sickness to hypno-birthing classes to labour, you wonโ€™t find this stuff in the pregnancy books! No holds barred; get ready for a whirlwind of witty anecdotes and graphic storytelling with an ending no mother could ever imagineโ€ฆ. (editorโ€™s note: of course, none of this is as bad as man-flu!)

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Oh Danny Boy!

Oh Danny Boy, oh, Danny Boy, they loved your boyish Eton looks so, but when ye was voted in, an all democracy wasnโ€™t quite dying,โ€ฆ

A Quick Shuffle to Swindon

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 Swindonโ€ฆ

Swindon Branch of Your Party is Growing

Following the excitement and success of the first meeting of โ€˜Your Partyโ€™ in Swindon, a second meeting has been arranged for 18th September 7.30 -โ€ฆ

No Rest For JP Oldfield, New Single Out Today

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 circuitโ€ฆ

DOCA’s Early Lantern Workshops

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 willโ€ฆ

Bournemouth Writing Festival 2023

A festival goerโ€™s perspective

Helen Edwardsย 

A first. A first for Bournemouth and a first for me.ย  The event, brain (and heart) child of Ildiko SpinFisher and Dominic Wong ran from last Friday 21st April to Sunday 23rd April (aptly Shakespeareโ€™s birthday)….

Amongst the team of organisers was Anna Farthing who used her prior experience, of promoting Creative Arts across NHS trustsโ€™ in the South West of England, to help collaborate and coordinate writers, illustrators, editors, agents, academics, volunteers (and many more) to put on the festival.  Anna expertly compรจred and facilitated the talks, workshops and panels running at the Palace Court Theatre (PCT) – the main site – with her professional and warm delivery whilst wearing what became her trademark bright blue Greatest-Showman-esque blazer.  She, to me, became synonymous with the festival.

I arrived at the event with no expectation other than the knowledge that I was going to have a wonderful time away from the responsibilities and roles of home.ย  Thank you Bournemouth Writing Festival for putting on your inaugural event the day after my birthday. By choosing this date you gave me permission to allow myself to shed my mum-ing, wife-ing and life-ing skin to inhabit a new identity for three days. I.e. to ditch the homestead and have a mini break. On. My. Own. And by choosing this date I am now left with a creative fizz deep inside that feels sustainable. With a belief that one day I too may be able to call myself โ€˜a writerโ€™.ย 

Navigating the golden triangle of the main venues (the PCT, the Avenue and ThisWorkspace) with my head in Google Maps, I was transported back to university days.  I was ready and eager to learn.  The fees to attend were extremely low (much less than other, comparable events) yet the line up was first class. I had FOMO before I even booked with clashes between talks, which meant I couldnโ€™t get enough of the sessions on offer. Therefore I found myself on a tight schedule to get around the 16 events that I did attend (and eat)โ€ฆ(and sleep).  Constantly weighing up the opportunity cost of going to one talk over another was my overriding festival dilemma. A bit like that scrambling feeling at Glastonbury whilst power wading from stage-to-tent-to-stage in a heightened state of excitement and creeping exhaustion. 

I can only talk in detail of what I went to at the festival and for that reason I wonโ€™t.  It wouldnโ€™t be fair to all those speakers I missed.  There were c.70 events in total.  However I will shout out a few.  Sue Cheung author of โ€˜Chinglishโ€™, thank you for your energised, riveting and humorous talk and for giving me your dog-eared copy of โ€˜Chinglishโ€™ afterwards because I couldnโ€™t be a**ed to walk across town to pick up a copy.  That was above and beyond.  Maxine Gee, your enthusiasm and positivity about A.I. and using it as a tool to create bigger and better was inspiring. Jeannie Duncanson and Diane Hull, what an inclusive and interactive workshop on childrenโ€™s book writing – your sparkly eyes revealed the joy your chosen profession brings you (and made me want a bit of the same please ;). Tim Clague and Danny Stack, the screenwriting collaborators, spoke my language – I loved how straight talking and commercially minded both were. I only went to this talk because I thought โ€˜why not?โ€™ and I left thinking โ€˜yeah, I want some of that too!โ€™.

How generous all the speakers and panelistโ€™s were to share so many of their tips with us all. A true abundance mentality pervaded. Non-existent was my previous (albeit limited) experience of the pomposity and condescension that can come from some established writers/academics.  You have refreshed my view of the industry (and made me want to disrupt some areas too).  Iโ€™m honestly not sure if an MA or an Undergrad degree would have given us as much in three months, or even a year, as we had in three days.  Except the actual writing bit of course! Pah, thatโ€™ll come right?!

The festival has given me a dip-dive insight into many things writing. From novels to memoirs, screenwriting to kids books media, marketing, publishing and poetry and a fantastic exploration into artificial intelligence, plus all the stuff I missed.  It was all there. I am still trying to slow my mind down and meditate my heart post the event.  A creative fizz is a lovely feeling but if itโ€™s going to stay it will have to be of the gentler Berocca varietal rather than a Lush bath bomb explosion.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the additional festival highlights:
Obsidian, local creative pub/events venue, for making a pop-up refreshments cafรฉ in the PCT with always a smile and a chat at the breaks.

The volunteers at the event who were brilliant. And who all had a passion for writing with often impressive experience.

The other festival-goers, my peers, who were varied, interesting, international (from Peru-to-Iran-to Oz), collaborative and friendly.ย  Iโ€™m sure a lot of fledgling and future connections have been made.ย 

Sitting by the blue-skied beach on the Sunday evening as the festival drew to a close I reflected.  But before that I considered (for perhaps a beat too long) whether I should do a โ€˜Shirley Valentineโ€™ to prolong the amazing escapism Iโ€™d been afforded over the weekend. I feel as though Iโ€™ve had a holiday. An exciting, exhausting, mind altering and fully immersive trip – like skiing on acid.  And now Iโ€™m on the comedown. Now I actually need to write!

I will be back in 2024 and predict the audiences to swell off the back of this yearโ€™s success.  Thank you Bournemouth Writing Festival and the amazing team of volunteers. 

I left to journey back to Wiltshire in my ancient car with an entirely new skin in place. One that whispered: โ€˜I am a writer, I am a writer, I am a writerโ€™ as I bumped over Salisbury plain.

Trending…..

I See Orangeโ€ฆ.And Doll Guts!

There was a time not so long ago when I See Orange was the most exciting new band in Swindon. Their latest offering released atโ€ฆ

Talk in Code Down The Gate!

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 themโ€ฆ

Recommendations for when Swindon gets Shuffling

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 toโ€ฆ

Swindon Shuffle is set to get the town aโ€™rockinโ€™ this September

Organisers of the popular Swindon music event have announced that Swindon Shuffle will return this September…..

The Swindon Shuffle has been a fixture in the diaries of local music lovers since
2007, celebrating all that is good about the Swindon original music scene.
The 2023 event (the 16th edition technically as 2020โ€™s festival was online) runs from Wednesday 13 September with an opening music quiz event at The Beehive.

Festivities continue until Sunday 17 September, with over 60 acts featured across five main venues in Old Town (The Beehive, The Castle, The Hop, The Tuppenny and The Victoria) alongside fringe events at venues like Baristocats and The Eternal Optimist and more. The event will be raising funds for Prospect Hospice.

The cream of the local crop will be on display with every musical genre imaginable. This year’s line up will once again include the Friday evening specially curated by The Swindon Folk Club, which takes place at The Hop.

Headline acts include the reggae goodness of Subject A at The Hop on the Thursday evening with Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army topping the bill just down the road at The Tuppenny.

On the Friday evening, the headliners include All Ears Avow at The Vic and Splat
The Rat at The Castle.

Saturday will see headline sets from Richard Wileman and Amy Fry (The Tuppenny), Modern Evils (The Vic), Concrete Prairie (The Beehive), and Stay Lunar (The Castle).

The final day on the Sunday will see headliners Fly Yeti Fly (Tuppenny) and Matt Owens and The Delusional Vanity Project (The Beehive).

Organiser Ed Dyer said: โ€œWe are really excited to have such an incredible line-up of local talent playing this years event. We have loads more to announce and plans for this yearโ€™s festival to be the biggest and best yet. It is a privilege each year to be able to put this event on and to raise much needed funds for Prospect Hospice.โ€

All sessions are free of charge with full details available HERE.

Trending….

A Busy Week For Lunch Box Buddy!

It was great to bump into Lunch Box Buddy in Devizes today. Last week was hectic for him; first BBC Wiltshire stopped by his standโ€ฆ

Wither; Debut Single From Butane Skies

Whilst dispersing highly flammable hydrocarbon gases into the atmosphere is not advisory,  Butane Skies is a name increasingly exploding on local circuits. The young andโ€ฆ

The Vintage Bazaar is back in Devizes!


On Saturday 24th June from 9.00am to 2pm, its regular home The Corn Exchange in Devizes, Wiltshire will once again be filled to the brim with beautiful vintage and antique finds……

This wonderful fair has been established for more than ten years and showcases a veritable cornucopia of delights from some of the very best vintage sellers from across the South-West and beyond. The fair has a well-deserved reputation amongst interior/fashion designers, vintage enthusiasts, makers and anyone who just loves beautiful things. It is one of the top vintage fairs in the UK, having featured several times in the national press and with customers travelling from as far as the US to visit!

At the event expect to find wonderful French brocante, beautiful period clothing, textile treasures from France, shoes and accessories from the 1920s to the 1970s, wonderfully faded antique fabric and textiles, lace, linen, jewellery, homewares and collectables. Many dealers save their best stock for the fair, and it shows, the displays are stunning.

As well as all the fantastic vintage dealers there will also be some carefully selected designer/makers there showcasing their wares.
This is a really friendly fair with a relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable sellers who are always ready to help. Entrance ยฃ2.

For more information visit the website: www.thevintagebazaar.co.uk
Find us on Instagram @thevintagebazaarevents and on Facebook

Trending…..

FullTone Festival 2026: A New Home

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 toโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 25th April – 1st May 2023

Hey, howโ€™s you? Ah, been better, been worse, thanks for asking. Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to be doing over this coming weekโ€ฆโ€ฆ.

All links, info and updates can be found on our event calendar. Other incoming events will be added there when we discover them, so do check in later in the week. For now thoughโ€ฆ.ย 

Tuesday 25th April:

Deadlight Dance on the Radio! Yes, Marlboroughโ€™s goth-rock duo Deadlight Dance will be live and chatting to Peggy on Donโ€™t Stop the Music Show tonight, on Swindon 105.

Staying in Swindon, The Cavern Beatles pay The Wyvern Theatre.

And thereโ€™s the regular jazz night at il Fiume in Bradford-on-Avon, with the Graham Dent Trio.

Wednesday 26th:

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Sirius Chau at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon.

Running until 29th April, opening night for Julius Caesar at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Also Running until 29th, Phoenix Players presents The Business Of Murder at Swindon Arts Centre.

Thursday 27th:

 Open Mic night at Stallards, in Trowbridge. 

Alex Lipinski and The Crown Electric & Matt Owens and The Delusional Vanity Project at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Mr Love & Justice play The Tuppenny, Swindon, while thereโ€™s a Chuckles Comedy Club at Meca, and The Diana Ross Story at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

Friday 28th:

Marillion tribute Marquee Square Heroes play the entire Script For A Jesters Tear for its 40th anniversary at Marlborough Town FC. Laurence plays Motown and soul classics at The Castle & Ball.

Itโ€™s The Final of Take the Stage 2023 at The Neeld, Chippenham, and Mr Love & Justice play The Old Road Tavern.

A Moroccan Banquet at Trowbridge Town Hall.

Billie Bottleโ€™s Temple of Shibboleth – Solarference at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, while Brake Lights play The Boathouse.

Tribute to Bonnie Raitt at Chapel Arts, Bath,The First Raitt Band. 

Oasish & Stereotonics at The Vic in Swindon, The Illegal Eagles at The Wyvern Theatre.

The Big Excuse: Featuring Solcura, Bit Bigger, and Big Dog at 23 Bath Street, Frome, and the Toasters play The Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 29th:

Is Seend Beer Festival, also the start of Urchfont Scarecrow Festival, which is running until Monday.

Mr Love & Justice is at The Southgate, Devizes, Ben Borrill at the Moonrakers.

The Duskers at The Barge on Honey-Street.

Barrelhouse plays The Bear in Marlborough.

The Woodbridge, Pewsey has a hog roast with live music from The Busy Fools.

From Jovi & Dragoneye at The Wheatsheaf in Calne.

The Upbeat Beatles play The Civic in Trowbridge, sold out already at The Pump for Carsick with support from Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Meg.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Masquerade – The Mayor’s Charity Ball at the Neeld, Chippenham.

Operation 77 at the Westbury Cons Club, Local Heroes Inc at Prestbury Sports Club, Warminster.

The Lost Trades return to Wiltshire after a national tour, and play the Hop Inn, Swindon. Meanwhile itโ€™s emo night at The Vic with Black Parade. Paul Young – Behind The Lens at The Wyvern Theatre.

Lucis Choir at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Pop-Up Bowie at Chapel Arts in Bath.

The Cheese & Grain in Frome has Peter Hook & The Light, and Greg Lake tribute Lucky Man at the Tree House.

Sunday 30th:

Dr Zeboโ€™s Wheezy Club will be at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

May Day Musical Mayhem at The Talbot Inn, Calne, raising funds for Campaign Against Living Miserably, they have Six O’Clock Circus, Peaky Blinders, One Chord Wonders, Red Light, Absolute Beginners, The Killertones Underground and The Daybreakers.

Family Concert at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon,Noisy Nature with the Magnard Ensemble.

Devil’s Doorbell are live in session at The Electric Bar, Bath

Raver Tots comes to Meca, Swindon, while The Wyvern Theatre has the Ministry of Science.

Monday 1st:

Running until 7th May, Swindon Festival of Literature opens.

Monthly album listening club, The long Player at The Vic, Swindon.

And thatโ€™s it, do check out Zog with the kids at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, opening Tuesday 2nd, and running until 4th May. Then we have the Kingโ€™s Coronation next weekend, lots going on to do with that, and lots happening if you wish to avoid that! Do keep a check up on the calendar. 

Trending….

Devizes Dilemma: FullTone or Scooter Rally?!

Contemplated headlining this โ€œClash of the Titans,โ€ but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes canโ€ฆ

Goodbye to The Beanery but Hollychocs Lives On

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 openingโ€ฆ

Gen-Z Party; Nothing Rhymes with Orange and Guests In Lavington

Images by Gail Foster

I could’ve guaranteed myself a great night with peers and those purveyors of space rock, Cracked Machine down the trusty Gate, or danced socks off with twenty/thirty-somethings at the Three Crowns to the unique take on covers of the ever-entertaining People Like Us. But, oddly if not in the know, I opted for a Saturday night at West Lavington village hall, nodding my approval as frontman Elijah Easton mingled with a gen z frenzied crowd singing back to him their beguiling magnum opus, to-date, Manipulation, for an encore the fans will forever cherishโ€ฆ..

For if it’s Devizine’s intention to highlight all that’s great about our music scene, it’s surely a priority to point out what’s upcoming, and Nothing Rhymes With Orange are the freshest squeezed fruit on that tree right now. I’ve been singing their praises since reviewing their EP Midsummer, unseasonably released last November, and now I can tick catching them live off my must-do-list I’m only going to enforce my words on how astoundingly awesome these youngsters are.

With blow-up orange segments bouncing between them on stage and their enthused blossoming fanbase, I figure I’m witness to a burgeoning local phenomenon akin to the roots of any mainstream band, left pondering the pensioners once screaming teenagers at Liverpool’s Cavern Club, when Beatlemania was imminent. If you consider that’s a tall order for comparison, I’d shrug, but while NRWO can clearly rouse the crowd, it feels like the building hysteria is a newfound blessing for them and they’re unsure how to react. This is a wonderful inaugural experience for a blossoming band, exposing them to reactions to the hard work they’ve clearly put in, and digesting those streams are from real kids, appreciating their sound.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange

For the fanbase so young in our rural zone, it’s not so simple just to rock up to venues, particularly pubs, and if the village hall is kinda “village hall like,” it’s because it is, but it’s an adequate space with a hospitable outlook. The band and their families have self-organised this sell-out gig with the intention of making this a homecoming atmosphere for a local band venturing to Bristol, Bath and Trowbridge’s Pump, and who will undoubtedly take that road a lot further in the near future. 

For the time being, they are here and they are now. If seeing Springsteen in the eighties was an amazing experience, seeing Springsteen play New Jersey was another ballpark, ergo in this case, Lavington is those Badlands.

The sound is frenzied indie-pop, but not all-out ferociously punk, they find the perfect middle-ground; easy on the palate for any age demographic. Precisely why they’re subject to my highest acclaim, homing in on what the kids want, is, historically, the recipe for success. They did this with bells on, belting out their known EP tracks, a couple of defined Arctic Monkeys covers, their latest release Lidl Shoes, and treated the crowd to a sneak at the forthcoming two singles.

But not before a triple bill of support they’re introducing to home fans. First up Dauntsys own Paradigm, who, though I only caught the final couple I’d suggest are a promisingly tight young band to watch out for.

Paradigm

Secondly Frankcastre from Portsmouth with a frontman originating locally, even penning a song named after Great Cheverall, which has to be a first! Perhaps as oddly as their name, to generation X a band attired in Fred Perrys and skinheads might connote mod influences, but the confident frontman was looking decidedly teddy-boy!

Frankcastre

Trivial is the significance of the uniforms of youth cultures of yore to this era, their originals came fiery and skater-punk; they refined the contemporary noise with brewing confidence and it was welcomed by the NRWO fanbase, particularly the girls. Two covers either side of their set though revealed a penchant for sixties blues-rock, covering firstly The Doors’ Break on Through, and The Animals’ version of House of the Rising Sun, with gritty vocals and devine accuracy. Something for the parents to acknowledge, perhaps, though the frontman delighted to elucidate his fondness for the era to me and I had nothing but to accept his knowledge on the subject. Their sudden usage of a keyboard, for example, to replicate The Animals classic was different, tilting it to one side while playing was beyond Jerry Lee Lewis; put him in your Google search bar!

Arguably the more accomplished of the two, Bath’s StoneFace produced lengthier original compositions, evoking mood with pitch and tempo alterations. With an air of neo-emo Stooges, interestingly with saxophone, damn they looked the part of Iggy Pop to envy!

Though sounding as good as they looked, this volatile style didn’t seem to wash down quite as well with the teenagers as Frankcastre, who, like punk, seem to favour the frenzied three-minute hero, though I personally fished with their hook. Introducing a new track Blue for You, and a particularly adroit one called Cave, the downtempo was plodding indie of perhaps a previous generation, but they did it exceptionally.

StoneFace

To conclude, those in local media sensationalising a minority of hooliganism for click-bait would’ve had their tails between their legs if they’d bother to attend this last night, for all I saw was the new generation, clean-cut by comparison of formers, thoroughly enjoying themselves and causing no issues in the slightest. Just in awe of four of their own, who’ve worked tirelessly to perfect a cooperative brand and inspire others. The forthcoming single Rishi speaks volumes for a current tongue-in-cheek satire they’re intelligent self-penned anthems extend to, though for the most part politics are avoided in favour of topics relative to gen z, like romantic interludes breaking down, and for this Nothing Rhymes With Orange prove their diversity.

It was an astounding achievement, bringing some class acts to Lavington’s youth, and onwards for NRWO I’m pleased to say in collaboration with DOCA, Devizine is proud to now annually suggest a best upcoming local act to feature on the main stage at the Devizes Street Festival, and you can bet your bottom dollar they are the chosen ones to get that ball rolling on Sunday 28th May.

You can also catch them next Saturday, 29th, at the Pump in Trowbridge, Bathโ€™s Party in the City at St Jamesโ€™ Vaults on 12th May, at Corsham Rugby Clubโ€™s CorrFest on Sunday 17th June, The Barge on Honey-Street on Saturday 1st July, Marlborough Festival July 8th, and Urchfontโ€™s Boundary Bash on the 15th Julyโ€ฆ. The future is bright, and doesnโ€™t rhyme with orange!

Trending……

Park Farm; Mantonfest Came to Devizes!

The first Park Farm Festival happened Saturday, it was fabulouso, and in some way Mantonfest came to Devizes; conveniently for me as I had toโ€ฆ

Ann Liu Cannon’s Clever Rabbits

Ann Liu Cannon is the Marlborough success story I hadn’t heard of until yesterday; thanks to local promoter and frontman of the Vooz, Lee Mathewsโ€ฆ

Live in Pewsey, at the First Oak-Fest

Amidst another packed summer weekend’s schedule laid that lovable large village Pewseyโ€™s turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if itโ€™sโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Save The King! Local Coronation Celebrations in May

Apparently, some bloke is doing the Queen’s old job; well, that’s wokeism gone crazy if ever I’ve seen it!

But whatever your opinions are about royalty, every town and village is gearing up for The Coronation celebrations and that’s all good for our local entertainers and food purveyors, as the drive to put on a great show feels like it’s getting somewhat competitive…pass the cucumber sandwiches, there’s a good chap.

So, with social media looking rather cluttered as each town and parish council frantically post their events, let’s try our best to collate them, and see who’s performing where and when.

Some places get the ball rolling on Friday 5th May.

Hilperton: at their village hall, from 6pm, have free inflatables for children, the bar will be open and a barbecue from We Meat Again, or bring your own picnic.

Marlborough’s weekend starts with a school art exhibition at St Peter’s, which runs all weekend.

Hats off to Bromham, who have the awesome Junkyard Dogs playing their event in a marquee on the Jubilee Field, and promise some special guests, raffle and ask you to bring your own drinks. This one is a fiver, the Dogs are at 8pm.

Saturday 6th May.

Urchfont: 10am screening at the village hall. Free to attend but ticketed to determine numbers for catering. At 2pm there will be a family fun afternoon in the paddock behind the village hall with entertainment, a family dog show followed by an “Urchfont’s got talent a talent show,” and at 7pm Bandoke will be providing entertainment in a collection of hits from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

Seend: the Community Centre goes for a bar, hog roast and bouncy castle combo, highlights are magician and balloon modeller Dave Hickory, and from 7pm, music from Ian Rayney and the awesome rock covers band, Siren. All free.

Pewsey: Looking good at the Cooper’s Field, screening followed by traditional fairground stalls, tugs of war and kid’s football. Pablo & Teos and The Good Food Van at this, with a great musical lineup from Static Moves, Hooch, and Humdinger.

Marlborough: Screening at the Parade Cinema, a prom at St Mary’s and street party in Manton.

Melksham: Picnic in Park at St George’s Playing Fields from 10:30am, sees a confetti battle at their extravaganza, which will feel a bit of plagiarism for Devizes folk! But lots more going on, fairground rides, and live music promised, we’ve not yet been tipped off as to who is playing.

Chippenham: Screening at John Coles Park, picnic and The Derek Nash Band will play live from the bandstand afterwards, with a showing of Disneyโ€™s Lion King (2019 live-action version) for everyone to enjoy.

Trowbridge: Yet to hear that the town council are doing anything other than supplying shops with bunty and floral displays to create a “Highgrove on the High Street!” Though Paxcroft Mead are having a street party and barbecue, and those Junkyard Dogs are at it again, at Ben & Tom’s Coronation party at the Wiltshire Yeoman on Chilmark Road at midday.

Calne: town council have really pulled it out the bag, with a picnic at Recreation Ground with a great lineup of music, with Six O’clock Circus, Rave Against the Regime, Operation 77, and the Chaos Brothers. Prior they’ve lots of street food, and entertainment, with stilt walkers, illusionists, balloon modeller and a bubbleologist, including the Lynham Military Wives Choir and a dance performance by 45 Star Dance.

Devizes: town council have there’s in the Market Place from 10am to 4pm, but are quite vague about what we can expect, promises a screening on a large screen, live music, food and drink and children’s activities, but it’s as of yet any details is a mystery, which may be not bad thing; surprises are nice! And besides, if it all goes Pete Tong rather than Charles Windsor, Leon Daye Band play The Southgate later and Kyla Brox Band are at Long Street Blues Club.

Sunday 7th May.

Marlborough: Big Lunch on the High Street with a street party.

Rowde: has a fete from 12:30 at the small playing field, with Chris Ashburn and the fantastic People Like Us – great booking Rowde Parish Council! Plus morris dancing, children’s fancy dress, a circus workshop, barbecue and more.

All Cannings: have also got a great sounding event at the village green, with a children’s circus and cooking competition, and the highlight there is a great newly formed band we’ve been excited about hearing more from, Alfred’s Tower.

Monday 8th May.

Bishop’s Cannings wait until Monday for a celebration at the Crown, dog show, duck race tugs of war, and lots more!

There are more events going up on our event calendar all the time, so keep checking in, today was supposed to be a sneaky taster at those towns and villages really pulling a rabbit from their hats for the king! 

Did we miss out your village or town’s do? Do let us know.

It does seem at present, akin to jubilee celebrations, everyone is fighting for the best event as if Charlie himself will be cruising around to judge them! And in this, many local villages have bettered the market towns. When what really should be occurring is town and parish councils working together, so free transport can be provided for those in smaller villages and housing estates a distance from town centres can unite in a bigger and better celebration in the larger villages and towns, because surely this should a coming together of people, rather than them segregated into small communities. But hey, that’s just my opinion!

Age of the Liar; The Burner Band

Okay, so it’s been a little over two years since I fondly reviewed the debut album, Signs & Wonders, from Leeds’ alt-country come Americana outfit, The Burner Band, when I labelled it “foot-tapping bluegrass fun” with, unusually, added elements of punk. This new seven track album Age of the Liar takes a massive step forward in poignancy…..

This said, I cannot now recall how we became acquainted, but lucky for us we did. Because while, Age of the Liar kicks off pretty much where Signs & Wonders left us, and waits for no man with insatiable foot-tapping bluegrass, there’s an underlying notion intelligent prose is at work here, as the lyrics, concerning the unquestionable loyalty to militancy rides this track like a trooper.

If the opener came as no surprise to me, the second track, Living in Fear certainly did, as while continuing the Americana roots forefront, it rides an offbeat like reggae, lowering the tempo, and taking an ecological topic, a “state of the world today,” it’s akin to the subject matter of punk and reggae too.

The mechanics of Living in Fear is also a hint towards the title track seven tunes in, which positively beams back reggae’s influence over punk; if the Clash did Americana, this is what it would probably sound like. Greatly overlooked in today’s mainstream, the social and political commentary of the era, once a prominent feature in both punk and reggae is put on the line here, satirically mocking the ludicrously of misinformation and propaganda of right-wing leaders, be it Trump or Bojo, it could go either way.

Throughout the album the desperation of contemporary issues is a running theme, even if it best works with these two offbeat songs. Dark and Lonesome Street takes us back to what the Burners do best, still as the title suggests there’s darker undertones. Even if the immediately lovable Hot Dog King has a rockabilly swing, the carefree mood isn’t all it seems, relaying a true story of New York hot dog vendor Dan Rossi, who fought against unjust licencing laws.

I love this concept, that the Burner Band aren’t afraid to explore and break confines of subgenre and pigeonholing, and it blends pleasantly on the ear. There’s elements of early Springsteen on the Asbury Park scene, often breezing into soul and blues, but never straying from the country backbeat.

This is truly is a modern take on roots and Americana, at times the definitive article, twangy geetars, or referencing American culture, but teetering the edge, there’s so many nods to a British roots scene, the punk, rockabilly and reggae movements of the early eighties, even down to the three-minute hero ideal, no tune tries to rule the album, all staying at the statutory running time. If the debut album touched on these influences too, it was subtle at best, this time the balance is perfected.

Social commentary continues to cover prejudices, immigration, stereotyping disabilities, yet no matter how complex the subject, tracks like Big Hole don’t baffle you in riddles, the messages are simple and direct, creating a beguiling and enjoyable ride with poignancy. I’ve yet to dive deeper into this, but suspect as I do more backstory and hidden gems will jump out at me, but I’m overdue mentioning it, as it came out the end of March, so presenting it to now is a honour; great foot-stomping stuff with the perfect balance of contemporary thoughtful prose and subject matter; yee-ha, it’s a keeper!

Website – Facebook – Bandcamp

Song of the Week: ร…lesund

Back-tracking a week for this, as it was two great tunes came along simultaneously; like buses, in another county, don’t get me started on the bus service around these backwaters!

Ah, and relax, save that for another time; ร…lesund‘s emotive and immersive soundscapes will do the trick. New single from, as I suggested, lat week, Never Enough, and it’s dreamy and drifting, with those driving vocals and rolling drumbeats, the ambient-indie of the post-triphop Bristol scene, harking back to Portishead, peppered with Evanescene’s drench of neo-gothic yet carrying contemporary freshness.

ร…lesund first came to my attention when Kieran Moore was at Trowbridge Town Hall, a few years ago, playing with similar fashioned band Agata. This single proves I wasn’t imagining how wonderful this collective are.

Link-Tree to the track HERE

Website – Facebook – Bandcamp – YouTube

Trending….

IDLES’ at Block Party

With their only UK shows of the year quickly approaching, the 1st and 2nd August will see IDLESโ€™ and music festival Block Party take overโ€ฆ

The Railway Children Calls at Devizes’ Wharf Theatre

Pride of the arts in Devizes, The Wharf Theatre say, “if you love the story of The Railway Children, first serialised in The London Magazine in 1905 and published as a book in 1906, before being made into the classic 1970 film; then we can assure you that the stage play will not disappoint.“

Being honest, it’s a story I’m unfamiliar with, believing, if memory serves me well, there was also a popular TV series of it in the early eighties, but at the time I was cosumed rather by Monkey Magic and The A-Team! I think today, though, I can look upon this with matured eyes and be equally as intrigued by its genius synopsis as those the Wharf deem “lovers” of the story.

Therefore, I’m pleased to highlight that they’re proud to present this renowned story of a prosperous Edwardian family from London, forced into near-penury in the rural north of England, after their Father is falsely imprisoned. Come and meet โ€˜Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis as they adapt to their new life in the cottage by the railway and join them as they meet someone who might just be able to help them get their happy ending.

Under Freddie Underwoodโ€™s direction, this stage adaptation perfectly captures the anxieties and exhilarations of childhood with great tenderness and insight. Adults and children will be enthralled by the heart-warming story and the clever use of imaginative theatricality. This is definitely one โ€˜not to be missedโ€™โ€ฆ

Running from May 8th to May 13th 2023 @ 7.30pm. As you might predict, tickets are selling well on this already, so I encourage your urgency to snap up a seat.

Tickets can be purchased by ringing 03336 663 366; from the website and at the Devizes Community Hub and Library on Sheep Street. For group bookings, please contact hire@wharftheatre.co.uk

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire 17th -24th April 2023

Things are all a bit upsidey-down as Devizine catches up with the 21st century. Something about old dogs and new tricks, I’ve streamlined with a new computer, which roughly translates to I don’t what the heck I’m doing! So, bear with me as I pretend everything is running as smooth as a baby’s bottom and bring you all the stuff weโ€™ve found to do over the coming week here in wonderful Wiltshire…..

Still the same ballpark though, donโ€™t take this as final, updates will come through and all that and links to the stuff listed here can be found on our event calendar, HERE.

Monday 17th April then:

You can sit back in the comfort of your own home and enjoy a live stream from those professors of video technology Visual Radio Arts, as they bring you a set from the fantastic Strange Folk

Tuesday 18th:

Nadiya and Kai โ€“ Once Upon a Time at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and opening at Swindon Arts Centre is the Swindon G & S Societyโ€™s Lolanthe, running until the 22nd.

Wednesday 19th:

Devizes Books Presentsโ€ฆ โ€˜Veniceโ€™ The play of light at a canalโ€™s curve, the slap of water against the hull of a gondola, the all pervading smell of the sea. This is Venice. Liz Light will shed light on its glories, its children, its history and its future. At Wiltshire Museum, Long Street, Devizes. Tickets ยฃ6.00 available from Devizes books, or book by phoning 01380 725944, or pay cash on the door.

Staying in Devizes, donโ€™t forget itโ€™s the regular Wednesday evening acoustic jam at The Southgate, bring an instrument.

And Tony Blackburn is still at it! Sounds of the 60s Live at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thursday 20th:

Amazing Thursday night in Swindon when The Sarah C Ryan Band play The Vic, with Atari Pilot in support, and Fly Yeti Fly are at The Tuppenny. Also, Russell Kaneโ€™s The Essex Variant comes to The Wyvern Theatre.

Friday 21st:

KenAvon Quiz Night at the Rennie Room, on Devizes Wharf, see poster for details. White Horse Opera at Devizes Town Hall.

The Roughcut Rebels play The Pack Horse, Chippenham

Wrong Jovi at The Vic, Swindon.

Gluehorse at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while youโ€™ll find Shadows of Santana at The Boathouse.

LGBTQ+ Poetry night at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Dreadzoneโ€™s 30th Anniversary tour at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 22nd:

Wonderful, People Like Us at The Three Crowns, Devizes, Cracked Machine play The Southgate.

Spoiled for choice enough if it wasnโ€™t for Nothing Rhymes with Orange at the West Lavington Hall, with Stoneface, Paradigm and Frankastre; the guys have put this event on themselves to appease their young fanbase, and I think thatโ€™s a real special effort. Iโ€™m tipping these best upcoming act of year, ergo it has to be Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week; this was your opportunity to check them out, I told you about it ages ago, but tickets are all gone, now; soz.

The White Horse Opera moves across to St Peterโ€™s at Great Cheverell.

A bold 21st century reimagining of Homerโ€™s Odyssey by Wiltshire writer Florence Espeut-Nickless, developed with and performed by the local community, at Trowbridge Town Hall, with The Four Winds.

Tom Jenkins with Luke De-Sisco and Hannah Rose-Platt at The Pump in Trowbridge.

Hillbillies  up for a barn dance, The Barge at HoneyStreet style!

Fireballs UK play Melksham Rock N Roll Club.

รMAR atย  Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Strange Folk for real this time, at The Three Horseshoes.

Tankus The Henge at Chapel Arts, Bath

My Secret Sister at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Maximum Output at Prestbury Sports Club, Warminster.

Ion Maiden at The Vic, Swindon.

Rising Aspirations Academy Of Performing Arts presents Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Vintage Bazaar at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, with The Inspiral Carpets in the evening, and Just Radiohead tribute at The Lime House.

Sunday 23rd:

Melksham Record Fair at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Two Man Ting at The Southgate, Devizes.

Snake Snake Snake at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Have a great weekend!

Trending…..

Across the Water with Paul Lappin

Remotely possible he misses all the roundabouts, Paul Lappin came from Swindon, now resides in the South of France, yeah, across the water, which is also the title of his latest EP; coincidence? Remotely possibleโ€ฆ.

Itโ€™s been since last July when we mentioned Paul with previous EP, Flowers in the Snow, this new title track is dreamy family reminisces sailing across a tranquil sea. Plucked from his Britpop inspiration, Paul never fails to create a beautiful ambience of meaningful prose, and this hits the spot.

Sophia, the middle track picks up the beat, twirls with the guitar riff closer associated with Britpop, Lee Moulding and Jon Bucket adding drums to this Stone Roses fashioned track, at their smoothest.

Polishes off with Chasing Rainbows, and we return to the dreamy style of the title track, making a wonderful finale. Check it out today, itโ€™s Sunday music for the soul.

Trending….

Clock Radio Turf Out The Maniacs

The first full album by Wiltshireโ€™s finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. Itโ€™s calledโ€ฆ

REVIEW โ€“ Billy Walton Band @ LSBC, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Saturday 15th April 2023

A Trip To New Jersey

Andy Fawthrop


Tonight weโ€˜re in the land of Springsteen, Van Zandt and Southside Johnny. Weโ€™re on the New Jersey shore, swinging with the band. Itโ€™s late, itโ€™s hot, the room is absolutely rammed and The Billy Walton Band are in town. Well, only just, after a late-afternoon scare when their van broke down on the way to the gig. But, hey, thatโ€™s rock nโ€™ roll, thatโ€™s life on the road. Unfazed, the band played on, and what a show they gave us….

But first things first. Support act for the evening, all the way up from that there London were new (to me) Interstellar Duo. Consisting of sisters Charlotte and Heather Sterland on every combination of piano, viola, violin and vocals, the pair presented something very different indeed. Finalists for UK Country Duo 2022, the two girls gave us some absolutely beautiful, haunting and delicate harmonies. Both vocals and instrumentation were precise and stripped back, reducing the massive crowd to a hushed and respectful silence during the performance, and loud applause as they finished. A hot, noisy blues club may not be the best platform for their brand of vocal harmony, but they absolutely nailed it anyway. Nearest thing I could compare them to was early Kate & Anna McGarrigle, but that might slightly undersell the beauty and ethereal quality of a great performance. Hats off!

Billy Walton is described on his website as โ€œan accomplished guitar master from the vibrant New Jersey Shore music scene. He earned his stripes in the rock & roll trenches, playing lead guitar for many years with Jersey icon, Southside Johnny. He has also shared the stage with music legends; Little Steven, Gary US Bonds and Steven Tyler, to name a fewโ€. Well – wow! Thatโ€™s a huge reputation to live up to, but there was nothing for us to worry about. The man turned up with a five-piece band behind him and simply let rip with his winning brand of bluesy rock nโ€™ roll.

On stage with him were bassist William Paris, Tom Petraccaro on sax, Eric Safka on Hammond B3, Shane Luckenbough on drums, and vocalist extraordinaire Destinee Monroe. As a unit they were tight, musically adept and extremely powerful, helping Billy to drive forward through a great show.

With his musical background it would have been all too easy to fall back on the old Southside Johnny classics, but instead were treated to a lot more recent material. Yes there were a couple of covers (I Canโ€™t Stand The Rain and I Feel Good), but these blended seamlessly into a near two-hour set of sheer entertainment and showmanship. There was plenty of chat, lots of humour, and great audience interaction. There were deliberate false intros โ€“ Stairway To Heaven, Smoke On The Water, Kashmir and even (unbelievably) Puff The Magic Dragon โ€“ just to pull the laughs and the applause. We even had a couple of rounds of Happy Birthday! But whilst these guys sure knew how to fool around, they sure as hell knew how to be serious and to deliver a truly great set.

Destinee shrieking high-octane vocals, answered note for note by a wailing keyboard was one of the highlights for me, but this was no one-trick pony. Whilst there were always the wham-bam-thank-you-mam numbers, the band also displayed a lot of depth and texture, mixing up the slower tempos with faster, driving boogie-woogie rhythms.

Lots of applause, dancing, a standing ovation, and an almost psychedelic encore. What more could you possibly want? Yet another great gig at Long Street Blues Club, and what live music is all about.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs: (but more to be announced/ confirmed next month โ€“ watch social media!)

Saturday 6th May 2023 Kyla Brox Band
Saturday 27th May 2023 Gerry Jablonski Band
Saturday 10th June 2023 Eric Bell Band
Friday 13th October 2023 Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia band
Saturday 28th October 2023 Susan Santos

Trending….

Thieves Debut EP

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 aโ€ฆ

King Alfred’s Tower Charity Abseil

This summer SOS Africa will host a 160ft charity abseil fundraising event from King Alfredโ€™s Tower at Stourhead in celebration of the organisation’s 20th birthday! Taking place on the 9th, 10th 16th & 17th September 2023, the abseil event will be the charityโ€™s highest to date and the first time that this iconic historical venue will be open to public abseiling courtesy of the National Trust.

King Alfred's Tower Charity Abseil Fundraising Event for National Trust & SOS Africa

Throughout this highly anticipated 4-day charity abseil, brave fundraisers from across the Southwest and beyond will climb the towerโ€™s 205 steps and descend from the top of this iconic monument dressed as their favourite historical figures. Before touching down at the base of the tower they will be able to savour breath-taking views across the surrounding counties.

Built by Stourhead Estate Owner Henry Hoare II in 1772, the folly was constructed at the site of Egbertโ€™s Stone, the folkloric landmark where Alfred the Great rallied his Saxon troops in 878AD to hold off a Saxon invasion. Constructed with over a million red bricks, the tower has become the pride of the 2650-acre Stourhead Estate.

Children Sponsored by the SOS Africa Children's Charity

Since it was first founded by Shepton Mallet student Dr Matt Crowcombe in 2003, each year the SOS Africa Childrenโ€™s Charity and experienced instructor Aardvark Endeavours have hosted fundraising challenges from iconic venues from across the southwest of England including Glastonbury Festival Pyramid Stage, Shepton Mallet Prison and Wells Cathedral, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds to educate disadvantaged children across South Africa.

โ€œSOS Africaโ€™s Alfredโ€™s Tower event will be the charityโ€™s most challenging abseil to date from one of the most well-known monuments in the southwest. Growing up in Shepton Mallet and Bruton, there were few moments when I could not see the tower standing proudly on the horizon. We are extremely grateful to the National Trust for embracing this exciting event and we cannot wait to start raising funds for 2 very important causes.โ€ Dr Matt Crowcombe (CEO/Founder, SOS Africa)

Alfred's Tower Charity Abseil: SOS Africa and National Trust Volunteers

Stourhead General Manager Philip Niemand has supported the event from its inception and cannot wait to welcome the brave abseilers to Alfredโ€™s Tower this September:

โ€œAlfredโ€™s Tower was built 250 years ago, reputedly marking the spot where King Alfred raised his standard and rallied his troops before setting off to defeat the Vikings at the battle of Eddington. This moment in time started our societal journey of freedom and democracy. We now have an exciting opportunity to raise valuable awareness of and funds for communities that are not as fortunate. The SOS Africa Abseil from the Tower is itself a unique call to action, an opportunity to join the charityโ€™s most challenging event to date from one of the most iconic monuments in the Southwest, raising funds for two very important causes.โ€ Philip Niemand (General Manager, Stourhead)

Charity Abseil Fundraising Event from King's Alfred's Tower, Stourhead

To participate, each abseiler is required to pay a ยฃ20 deposit to cover Aardvark Endeavours Instructors fees and raise ยฃ100 per person. To enter as an individual or team, please contact Event Organiser Matt Crowcombe by email (matt@sosafrica.com) with the following details:

Matt will then confirm your abseil date/time, set up your online fundraising page and add it to our Event Fundraising Page where you will be able to track the progress of your fellow abseilers and event fundraising total. No previous abseil experience is required, fancy-dress is optional and all abseilers must be age 9 or over (under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian). Although plenty of time will be allowed for abseilers to climb the 205 steps to the top of the tower, a reasonable level of fitness will be required.

This is likely to be a popular event and places will be limited so we recommend signing up and sending your deposit as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Thank you for your support and we look forward to welcoming you to the top of King Alfredโ€™s Tower in Septemberโ€ฆ

For more information, check HERE

Trending…

You; Lucas Hardy Teams With Rosie Jay

One of Salisburyโ€™s most celebrated acoustic folk-rock singer-songwriters Lucas Hardy teams up with the Wiltshire cityโ€™s upcoming talent who’s name is on everyoneโ€™s lips, Rosieโ€ฆ

Bands At The Bridge

Organised by Kingston Media – to raise money for Dorothy House and Wiltshire Air Ambulance – the 3rd of May saw Bands At The Bridgeโ€ฆ

Phil Cooper is Playing Solitaire

Trowbridge singer-songwriter and one third of The Lost Trades, Phil Cooper has actually been doing more than playing solitaire, heโ€™s released a new solo albumโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Nothing Rhymes With Orange

I know, I keep missing this supposed weekly feature, no matter how I might promise. I did have one for last week but the dog ate my homework, and, I dunno, procrastination takes control over me like Iโ€™m possessed by lethargy and need of an exorcist like Mr Motivator; whatever did happen to him?!

But it will have to wait for another week, as the Devizes imminent indie-poppers I tip to be the best upcoming local act of the year, Nothing Rhymes With Orange have surprised us with another upbeat cracker aligned with their intramural style of the debut EP Midsummer. Amusingly called Lidl Shoes, which besides the point, can be surprisingly durable as well as affordable(!), this single reaches its bridge like mountain boots, but without the rough grip of what you might expect from the stage-diving gen Z, this is flexible for ageless appreciation, just damn good, constantly improving intelligent punk-pop.

Do check it out, and remember next Saturday (22nd April) theyโ€™re a DIY gig at West Lavington Hall, tickets here.

Thirty Years in the Dreadzone

Dreadzone, the Phoenix rising from the ashes of Big Audio Dynamiteโ€™s success, when drummer Greg Roberts and keyboardist Dan Donovan teamed with Julian Copeโ€™s sound engineer Tim Bran, were the prolific electronic dance triumph of post-raveโ€ฆ.

Owing their accomplishment to the fine blend of reggae into the contemporary melting pot of dance culture, harking back to Two-Tone yet too encompassed the burgeoning breakbeat house scene which in turn would fuel drum and bass. But Dreadzone never went there, the final piece of the jigsaw was bringing in vocalist Earl 16, and they stuck to their guns producing memorable anthems of techno-reggae dub bliss, particularly unforgettable being Little Britain sampling Carl Orffโ€™s Auf Dem Anger.

But if you, like me, were bouncing around a muddy field like Zebedee on a day out from the magic garden to a 1937 classical symphony you might not appreciate me reminding you, Dreadzone celebrate their thirtieth anniversary this year; but it might cushion the blow by letting you know you can join the party at Fromeโ€™s Cheese & Grain on Friday 21st April.

Still in the forefront of the festival scene, in 2022, Dreadzone refocussed their show after MC Spee was forced to step back from touring and they explored different aspects of their history and catalogue ahead of their 30th anniversary this year. With a reconfigured line-up for 2023, the bandโ€™s live shows will feature core members Greg Dread and original bassmaster Leo Williams, plus legendary reggae vocalist Earl 16, as well as Bazil on technology and Blake Robert (Gregโ€™s son) on guitar.

They have been releasing albums and progressively bettering, refining, and perfecting their own unique and inimitable take on dub since their inception in 1993. Dreadzone opened the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 1994, though if memories of that are hazy at best, I fondly recall a night at Shepardโ€™s Bush Empire in 1995 when I was still dancing to an imaginary dubplate in the cloakroom queue!

With plans for their 30th Anniversary firmly underway, standby for a new studio album later in the year too.

Tickets are on sale now and priced at ยฃ25.00+BF, available here.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 12th – 18th April 2023

Speeding through April come sunshine, rain or a little bit unpredictable changing between the two, such is the season.…..

Said it before, Iโ€™ll say it again, more stuff will be added, this is published on Mondays so youโ€™ve time to grab any tickets for ticketed events, but live music in pubs and things like this will no doubt come to our attention through the week, so please keep in the loop with our event calendar as itโ€™d be impossible if not very cluttered to post individual events onto our social media pages.

The one link you need is here, our event calendar, for planning ahead, more info and ticket links.

Tuesday 11th wildlife presenter Gordon Buchananโ€™s 30 Years in The Wild at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Opening night Wednesday 12th and running until 13th April, An Evening Shared with Jasper Carrott & Alistair McGowan at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Also Wednesday, The Rondo Theatre, Bath has something for the easter holidays, Top Secret: The Magic of Science childrenโ€™s show matinee, and BBCโ€™s Live at the Apollo North London comedian Emmanuel Sonubi in the evening with his tour Emancipated.

Never forget though, itโ€™s the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate in Devizes every Wednesday.

Thursday 13th incredible bluesman Eddie Martin plays a special set at the church in Bromham, for a fundraiser for social centre rebuild which burnt down a couple of years ago.

One to watch out for, The Blackheart Orchestra plays Chapel Arts in Bath, while Tatty Macleod, better known as, โ€˜That French TikTok Lady,โ€™ tours Fudge (WIP) at the Rondo Theatre.

And choir Ten in Bar start a three nightery at Swindon Arts Centre, running until Saturday 15th.

Friday 14th sees Hadrianโ€™s Union at The Southgate, Devizes. Trash Panda at the Coopers, Pewsey. Phil Cooper & Jamie R Hawkins Get Schwifty at The Bear in Marlborough.

Quiz Night from the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust at The Neeld in Chippenham.

Brakelight play The Poplars in Wingfield near Trowbridge.

Fire, Rain & American Pie at Chapel Arts, Bath, with Sophies Dukerโ€™s Hag tour at the Rondo Theatre

Hairy MacLary Adventures with Weyo, sees conductor Tim Redmond and his brother Tom Redmond, who together present the Royal Albert Hallโ€™s My Great Orchestral Adventure series, join the West of England Youth Orchestra for a fun-filled interactive family concert at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Find Bully Bones at The Three Horseshoes, also in Bradford-on-Avon.

Sour Apple play The Crown in Westbury.

Green Day tribute, Green Haze at The Vic in Swindon, while Tanwood Youth Theatre presents Musical Mayhem at The Wyvern Theatre.

But focus your eyes on this treat, Editorโ€™s Pick of The Week, itโ€™s Jazz Knightsโ€™ third Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival at the Christ Church in Old Town. Friday night is soul night headlined by OMAR and QCBA with elements of Jazz, also featuring sessions from Eric Mylod-Okafo, Jack Baldus, Marvin Muonekรฉ Duo. The fun continues Saturday.

Saturday 15th The Wharf Theatre, Devizes will be Walking Back to Happiness, with Kevin Deanโ€™s Hot Band, who will breathe new life in the wonderful sounds of The Shadows and The Tornadoes.

Staying in Devizes, Billy Walton Band play Long Street Blues Club, Triple JD Band at The Southgate, Funked Up at The Three Crowns, and Ben Borrill at the Moonrakers.

Ska-punk at The Lamb in Marlborough with Operation 77.

The Will Blake Band with Junkyard Dogs in support at The Landsdowne Hall in Derry Hill.

Wiltshire Police Bandโ€™s Spring Concert at Seend Community Hall, Helena Softley @ The Barge, Honey-Street.

Eco-Future Fest at The Neeld in Chippenham.

Kova Me Bad play The Vic in Swindon, One Chord Wonders at The Queenโ€™s Tap, Francis Rossi has Tunes & Chat at The Wyvern Theatre.

And Editorโ€™s Pick of The Week, Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival continues at The Christ Church with a whole day and night of live jazz from across the genres, and African themed live music featuring artists from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Caribbean artists from Dominica and Trinidad.

The Clare Teal Four at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, The Butt Monkeys at The Three Horseshoes.

Two Beatles play Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.

Folk Rock Experience Tour- The Songs of Sandy Denny at Chapel Arts, Bath, while Garrett Millerickโ€™s Just Trying to Help show comes to the Rondo Theatre.

Sunday 16th sees Devizes Lionsโ€™ Sponsored Walk, and some amazing music around the countyโ€ฆ.

A gothic acoustic matinee with the fantastic Deadlight Dance at The Blue Boar in Aldbourne.

Another unmissable, John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett at The Pump, Trowbridge.

The Worried Men play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, and thatโ€™s awesome too!

Axel Blakeโ€™s In Style at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, while Long For The Coast & Drew Bryant play The Tuppenny.

And Monday 17th, I got nought!

Tuesday 18th sees Nadiya and Kaiโ€™s Once Upon a Time at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and the opening night of the Swindon G & S Societyโ€™s Lolanthe, which runs until 22n April at Swindon Arts Centre.

But you know, Iโ€™m sure thereโ€™s more to come so keep your eye on the event calendar!

Like a Fine Wine; Jon Amor’s Southgate Residency

I’ll do this now, get it ticked off, although I probably shouldn’t, a bit wobbly still; strictly professional all the way!

Said it before, Andy has too, and once Mr Ian Diddams wished to express it in his own words, a sentiment we can all agree on; Devizes is truly blessed when, monthly, our homegrown blues legend Mr Jon Amor, as regular as clockwork, arrives with cat and mouse team, drummer Tom Gilkes, bassist Jerry Soffe, and a guest of honour at the trusty Southgate. If this month was our easter egg, we stuffed our facesโ€ฆ

A week later than the usual first Sunday of the month, Jon’s superb trio did again, tore the place down with an electric set of electric blues, and the juke joint was bumping, grinding like sardines with shades on. It’s the highlight of the month in Devizes, worthy of giving up your Sunday roast for.

Thing is, it seems to be an occasion I never tire of, for as samey as it might sound, it doesn’t, it matures like a fine wine. Any similarities are welcomed; we love what Jon and Tom and Jerry do, but the diversity hinges on the guest.

For their touring efforts, they bring us back a souvenir, a musician friend who you’d gladly buy a ticket to see play. I asked Jon if they “knew what they were letting themselves in for?!” He assured me not all of them. But from what I witness, they always come away with a ‘well, that was well worth the squeeze’ expression.

This occasion was of no exception, Philadelphian soul blues virtuoso Leburn Maddox was mingling among the punters, likely in an attempt to keep awake. Missing his flight from Paris, he kipped in the airport and came to us via Dublin, but when it came for his time to shine, it was immaculate.

With fruity banter, exceptional finger-picking, and that authentic grizzly blues vocals, Leburn is the real deal, and Southgate regulars were in awe. He gave us some of his originals and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s Superstition, as well as customarily jamming with the trio.

It only leaves me dripping in anticipation as to what delights Jon can pull from his magician’s tophat next. Tune in next month, folks.

Gorillas and the Pissed in Bishops Cannings!

A minority of disgruntled villagers falsely accuse a pub of stealing a gorilla statue from Scotland to use as a memorial to a lost friend in order to sabotage their businessโ€ฆ.you can’t write comedy this goldโ€ฆ

Something fast becoming a legendary Bishop’s Cannings village vendetta, with a small minority of widely dispersed residents and others who simply like to whinge against the alleged evil of creating a lively community and often fundraising hub at their only public house, The Crown Inn, stooped to a new level of low this morning, as valuable police time was wasted when they reported a gorilla statue erected in the pub’s beer garden as a memorial was stolenโ€ฆ.

The gorilla was hailed by most as a “wonderful gesture to remember their great friend, loyal customer and all round good egg Kevin Wilson who sadly passed away last year.” Kevin was a founder of the inaugural CrownFest last year but sadly passed away from cancer prior to the event; an emotional tribute to him was made by landlady Judith Macfarlane.

The critical few knew no bounds or respect for the significance of the gorilla when they set about slamming its presence in the beer garden as “inappropriate” on a local Facebook group. Yet no one could elucidate exactly why they found it so offensive, only that it was within the vicinity of the renowned St Mary the Virgin Church.

Whilst many a village pub in the county is suffering financial issues and forcibly being closed down, The Crown at Bishop’s Cannings has for the past two years enjoyed a lively community-driven ethos, with camping available and has become a flagship fully supported by a majority of villagers. But the handful opposed to new landlords, Judith and Gary, have attempted to sabotage their efforts since they took over the Crown.

They systematically complained about noise, a building application for an outside bar, and caused the pub to restrict its live music licence to the bare minimum. But last night, as the pub welcomed back celebrated acoustic duo Illingworth, who play with guitar and cajon combo, hardly executing a deafening noise, they rallied against the pub, digging up a BBC article about a similar gorilla statue stolen from a garden centre in Scotland, in March, tenaciously linked it to the pub’s statue and called the police to report it as the stolen artefact!

As if the idea of driving a giant gorilla statue all the way from Scotland to publicly display in a pub 500 miles away isn’t ludicrous enough, and a massive waste of police resources, landlady Judith explained the gorilla “has been here for over two months, just not out on display. We paid for him in December.” Three months prior to the mass-produced statue being stolen!

They bought him from a garden centre in Surrey, Judith told us, “The police needed to see the receipt.”

The Crown is to hold a second annual CrownFest on 8th July, after last year’s huge success. One resident told us, “The pub has had the busiest weekend of the year so far, and they want to ruin it for everyone.”

We’re of the opinion that it is a crying shame a minority wishes to spoil what little entertainment the village has, by consistently attempting to sabotage it, and they should count their lucky stars they have such a dedicated team behind their local pub, for it’s a rarity in our villages.

The level they will stoop to apparently knows no bounds when it subjects falsely reporting a memorial to police. But the pub shrugged the incident off as laughable, and with the insane allegation, they drove a stolen gorilla statue from Scotland to place in their beer garden, we tend to agree! It’s a King Kong cockup!!

National Treasure: Henry Normal Brings New Tour to Devizes

Featured Photo: Richard Davies

Writer, poet, TV & Film producer, founder of the Manchester Poetry Festival (now the Literature festival) and co-founder of the Nottingham Poetry Festival, Henry Normal brings his new tour, Collected Poems and Other Landfill, to The Assembly Rooms in Devizes on Friday 3rd November.….

In June 2017 he was honoured with a special BAFTA for services to Television, credits roll like the ultimate rรฉsumรฉ. He co-wrote and script edited the multi-award-winning Mrs Merton show and the spin off series Mrs Merton and Malcolm. He also co-created and co-wrote the first series of The Royle Family. With Steve Coogan he co-wrote the BAFTA winning Paul and Pauline Calf Video Diaries, Coogan’s Run, Tony Ferrino, Doctor Terrible and all three of Steve’s live tours and the film The Parole Officer.

Setting up Baby Cow Productions Ltd in 1990, Henry executive produced all and script edited many of the shows of its 17-and-a-half-year output during his tenure as MD. Highlights of the Baby Cow output during his time include the Oscar nominated film Philomena, I believe in Miracles, Gavin and Stacey, Moone Boy, Uncle, Marion and Geof, Nighty Night, The Mighty Boosh, Red Dwarf, Hunderby, Camping and Alan Partridge.

Since retiring in April 2016, Henry has written and performed eight BBC Radio 4 shows combining comedy, poetry, and stories about family. His tenth show A Normal Home will be recorded on the 18th November 2022 for transmission on the 20th December.

In April 2018, Two Roads publishers released his book of memoirs ‘A Normal Family’ which was written with his wife Angela Pell, drawing on his family experience. It immediately became a best seller on Amazon and has already been reprinted.

Henry performs poetry at Literature Festivals around the UK and has eleven poetry books available from Flapjack Press including the latest entitled Collected Poems Vol.2.

He was recently given an honorary doctorate of letters by Nottingham Trent University, another by Nottingham University and has a beer and a bus named after him in Nottingham!

Support for Henry Normalโ€™s show comes from very special guest British actor, comedian, musician, novelist, and playwright Nigel Planer, perhaps best known for his role as Neil in the BBC comedy The Young Ones and Ralph Filthy in Filthy Rich & Catflap. He has appeared in many West End musicals, including original casts of Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Doors at 7.30pm, on Friday 3rd November. Tickets (ยฃ17.50 + booking fee) are available now HERE.

Trending….

No Alarms No Devizes, Aptly in Devizes!

If I’ve been galavanting recently, gorging on other local townโ€™s live music scenes, what better way to return to Devizes than a visit to theโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Music Awards Website Goes Live

Last month we were pleased to announce our involvement with the new Wiltshire Music Awards in conjunction with Wiltshire Events UK, details of which areโ€ฆ

Soupchick in the Park

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,โ€ฆ

41 Fords are Not Dead Yet!

Damp morning, about 3:30am Iโ€™m descending Pelch Lane in Seend, like a sack of potatoes dropping. If you donโ€™t know the track itโ€™s a steep one, with a bend which keeps on giving; not the ideal place to whip out your phone and change the tune when youโ€™re pinning down a heavily-ladened milkfloat! So, first taster of the debut album from Trowbridgeโ€™s 41 Fords, Not Dead Yet goes on loop, and I shrug, as itโ€™s no hardship, โ€œlet it roll for another round.โ€

I wasnโ€™t sure what to listen to next anyway, and to be honest, this took me by pleasant surprise. Sure, weโ€™ve registered their name on our gig list several occasions, regulars down the trusty Southgate (next date is Saturday 3rd June), but Iโ€™ve not had the opportunity to pay them a visit. I see now theyโ€™re on the roster for Devizes Scooter Clubโ€™s annual rally in July, which if I had of noticed before it mightโ€™ve given me a closer inkling what to assume.

coincidently, wristbands have just gone on sale for this!

But psychobilly was unexpected, neither is it a subgenre which usually floats my boat. Akin to heavy metal, the late-eighties fusion of rockabilly and punk is characterised with negative symbolism; itโ€™s all ultraviolence, death, B-movie horror pastiches, and other delinquent and discouraging subject matters, and I like to think Iโ€™m optimistic, least too old, to relish in morbidity.

But if I am to pigeonhole the 41 Fords, itโ€™s unlike the wrecking of The Meteors, or the all-out hellish nature of Demented Are Go, and not as offbeat as the skabilly of Roddy Radiation; this is matured psychobilly with all the negativity stripped away. It retains the lively rockabilly stance, the foot-tapping upright double-bass, the nods to western swing, jump blues and boogie-woogie, and breathing fresh air into it with punkโ€™s insolence, and gypsy folk goodness.

Yet their themes tend on maturing romantic affairs, often generation X mod-pop in nature. And for this blend, itโ€™s truly unique, beguiling and for want of sitting down, youโ€™ll be incapable; my highest point-scoring goes on the sheer energy these guys never seem to let up on.

Recorded at Nine Volt Leap studio in Melksham, Not Dead Yet is out on 1st May, and you really need to look out for this, I bloody love it! To break down exactly why isnโ€™t simple. The album kicks off mod, think hillbilly The Jam with double-bass, perhaps. A girl-infatuation themed Emily, opens, and from the off itโ€™s got me hook, line and sinker. For itโ€™s upbeat throughout, captivating, and optimistic; this is The Housemartins do psychobilly, and I mean this in the best possible taste, for you cannot prevent foot-tapping to Happy Hour, surely?!

The subject of reunion with a former partner is slam-dunked next, F. Scott Fitzgeraldโ€™s Daisy Buchanan style, The Great Gatsby offers nothing more than Emily in topic, only the literatural reference. Yet while romance is a running-theme, ballad doesnโ€™t appear in their vocabulary; 41 Fords do not come up for air. Marriage problems raises its ugly head, against a penchant for nightlife in the following track, and another girlโ€™s name title, Tabitha continues this sunny side of the street mood. ย 

If it goes on this leitmotif for a staggering twelve tunes, it all hinges on their magnum-opus for pop catchiness, the fifth tune, Peaky Blinders. Surely anthemic, it takes the humorous route of Del-boy lovable rouges; Chas & Dave does the Cockney Rejects!

Through this three-minute hero, you might wonder if cockney musical hall will continue being cited, but while Not Dead Yet maintains everything which has so far made this album sheer brilliance, 41 Fords swerve gradually into a more Anglo-Irish folk feel, like Shane MacGowan finished his pint and jammed with these Housemartins, doing psychobilly, with an overall Merton Parkas type fusion.

Ah, see now Iโ€™m worried Iโ€™ve given the impression this is all sounds cluttered, like thereโ€™s too much going on, but na, me old China plate, this is flows, smoothly operated with such individuality itโ€™s a tricky one to pin down. If, like me, youโ€™re willing to take onboard the Cramps, and be done with psychobilly, this offers a maturity in themes, wrapped in addictive danceable congeniality.

The Wonder of The Sky is perhaps the standout track towards the finale, for it encompasses everything great about the 41 Fords, who know precisely what buttons to press to write and deliver a pop song with retrospective wow, but refuses commercialisation. It doesnโ€™t verve to create a Stairway to Heaven or a dub-lampoon either, each tune is kept at the three-minute proximity, and each one does what you expect it to do; charges 240 volts into your blue suede shoes!

A Christmas Song, titled thus, finishes, and yeah, it has a Fairy-tale of New York feel, really bringing out the folk oblique which I believe breathes something local into it too, like Somersetโ€™s proclivity for Scrumpy & Western. In all, you could fit 41 Fords into a scooter rally bill, but equally into a Somerset cider brawl with the Boot Hills. And in that, if pigeonholing matters not when youโ€™re in the moment and the music takes you on a dancing voyage, 41 Fords are seamless. This album truly is a must-have.

Bung them a like on Facebook, for updates, and Iโ€™ll thread this review with links when the album comes out in May; youโ€™re in for a treat!

Recent Posts…..

Family Easter Holiday Events

Devizine isn’t only about music and gigs for grownups, y’know? It’s about events for everyone. This Easter we’ve lots of things to do overโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 5th – 11th April 2023

Here we are in April, and itโ€™s looking nice, hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do this coming weekโ€ฆeaster bank holidayโ€ฆis it, really? Sorry, I donโ€™t get bank holidays, you lethargic lay-about chocolate-egg eating lot!!

Said it before, Iโ€™ll say it again, more stuff will be added, this is published on Mondays so youโ€™ve time to grab any tickets for ticketed events, but live music in pubs and things like this will no doubt come to our attention through the week, so please keep in the loop with our event calendar as itโ€™d be impossible if not very cluttered to post individual events onto our social media pages.

The one link you need is here, our event calendar, for planning ahead, more info and ticket links.

Wednesday 5th is the second day of the Devizes Bouncy Castle Kingdom inflatable park on the Green, you need a ticket for this, and theyโ€™re mostly sold out. Another Easter treat is the Cartoon Circus Live at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Wednesday is regular acoustic jam night at the Southgate in Devizes, bring an instrument.

Little Women runs at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thursday 6th and Devizes Bouncy Castle Kingdom, is inflated for one last day.

Thereโ€™s a monthly regular open mic at The Barge, Honey Street.

Vamos presents Oxygen Thief at the Old Road Tavern in Chippenham, with Harmony Asia and MEG.

And Pop-Kids, a big easter neon family rave kicks off proceedings for Vic-Fest at the Vic in Swindon. All weekend, thereโ€™s a ton of bands playing, Iโ€™ll see if I can locate a posterโ€ฆ. ah yes, you go. It must be Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week, surely?! Here Come the Crows headline Thursday, Talk in Code on Friday, All Ears Avow Saturday, and Mother Vulture on Sunday, with loads supporting bands.

Meanwhile Gary Meikleโ€™s 2.5 is at Swindon Arts Centre, Fast Trains & English Weather play The Tuppenny.

Friday 7th Funked Up play the Pelican in Devizes, Midnight Hour play the Three Crowns.

Find Frog & Henry at The Barge on Honey-Street, and some raw rockabilly at The Bear in Marlborough with The Vipers.

The Dreamers (formerly Freddie & The Dreamers) headline a celebratory Sixties extravaganza, The Lollypops & Moptops Show at Melksham Assembly Hall.

At the Pump in Trowbridge, we have NervEndings with Start the Sirens.

Here Come Crows at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while thereโ€™s Fitz of Giggles comedy night at The Boathouse.

Sour Apple play The New Inn in Winterbourne Monkton.

Simon Brodkinโ€™s Screwed Up tour at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

The Beggar’s Bash at Salisbury Rugby Club.

On Saturday 8th Talk in Code will instore at HMV in Swindon from 3pm.

The Blind Lemon Experience arrive at The Southgate, Devizes, and itโ€™s a welcome return for Illingworth at The Three Crowns in Bishops Cannings, (hope youโ€™re better Jon) donโ€™t forget though, camping is available there. Two Complicated play The Barge, Honey-Street.

Martyโ€™s Fake Family at Stallards in Trowbridge, Be Like Will at The Greyhound.

Boogie Wonderland at Spencer’s Club Melksham, check the poster below!

Blue Moon Band at the Wheatsheaf in Chippenham.

The Forgetting Curve and a support at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

And while Vic-Fest continues at The Vic, Sonic Alert play The New Inn, and Swindonโ€™s Meca has an Eltonesque night.

Sunday 9th Garden Sale at Hillworth Park in Devizes from 12-2:15pm, from Devizes in Bloom.

Two great choices for Sunday afternoon blues, itโ€™s the monthly residency of Jon Amor at The Southgate, Devizes, where his guest will be Leburn Maddox, a master of blues from Philadelphia; just wow! And The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon has the fantastic The James Oliver Band.

Monday 10th I got nothing, yet.

Tuesday 11th and Gordon Buchananโ€™s 30 Years in The Wild is at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

And thatโ€™s it, folks, have a great easter week, and if you want to buy me an egg, Iโ€™m partial to a Buttons one, thank you!

Trending…..

Situationships With Chloe Hepburn

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, thisโ€ฆ

Devizes to Host New County-Wide Music Awards

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. Theโ€ฆ

Ruby, Sunday at the Gate

It’s a rarity that I should drag myself off the sofa on a Sunday these days, one usually reserved for the monthly Jon Amor Trioโ€ฆ

๐€ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐Œ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐œ ๐š๐ง๐ ๐Œ๐ž๐š๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ : ๐…๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ž ๐Ž๐ซ๐œ๐ก๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐š ๐š๐ญ ๐“๐ž๐ฐ๐ค๐ž๐ฌ๐›๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐€๐›๐›๐ž๐ฒ

Review by Pip Aldridge Last week, I had the privilege of seeing the Fulltone Orchestra perform at the beautiful Tewkesbury Abbey beneath the Peace Dovesโ€ฆ

Frankisoul on Fire!

It got me reminiscing, the EP helping through washing-up the roast dinner plates this Sunday, Trowbridge-based Frankisoulโ€™s newly released debut, On Fire. Ruminating my student days in the late eighties, whereby it was expected of us to take in the contemporary bleeps of acid house, blasting from a VW Beetle speaker while crowds nodded their bobbed haircuts and pointed fingers in time with the electronic clamour. When secretly, alone I, hopeless romantic, still listened to the likes of Luther Vandross and Alexander Oโ€™Nealโ€ฆ.

I wouldnโ€™t admit it at the time, such was the affectation of teenage โ€œcool,โ€ to resist the grain would induce banter of the highest order, for it was mush, mush I happened to like! But if our local music scene is awash with rock, rock is a chameleon, forever warping into subgenres, often tiresomely to keep mainstream. Soul though, is a leopard, it never changes its spots. It works on the basis if it isnโ€™t broke, thus will forever remain mainstream without the need for concern.

Sure, through time soul has progressed, and looking back it had moments which by todayโ€™s standard look timeworn, but the basic template hasnโ€™t changed since the days of Motown and Stax, since the days of Little Stevie Wonder and Aretha. But damn, if I thought this was going to be “okay,” I never imagined Iโ€™d be comparing Frankisoul to the likes of such legends.

To begin with the title-track opener is upbeat pop, and you get immediate shards of Bruno Marrs or Pharrell Williams. How Happy works so well in the Despicable Me sequel, how you canโ€™t prevent your feet from tapping even if you wanted to, well, On Fire is equal to the sum. If the first notion you get is, โ€œthis a local guy, not up there winning a MOBO?โ€ by the EPโ€™s conclusion youโ€™ll be wanting a full inquiry into why not.

What follows is five tracks of concentrated soul of the quixotic-romantic, and your Bruno or Pharrell comparison develops into the proposition if those two could be more like George Benson, what might come out the other end is not far off Frankisoul. Iโ€™m not bluffing here, man, itโ€™s sublime and of a quality to follow the soul train to the buffet cart of achievement. Frankie has spent a great deal of time and attention on this, and it shows.

For the third tune has the backbeat of modern RnB, with a sparser dancehall offbeat than the likes of nineties, Mary J Blige et al. Whereas Natalie, the following tune is sensual and smooth, perhaps the most evoking. But weโ€™re not over yet, Little Too Late is single quality material, a ballad arguably the most timeless on the release, the strength of Frankโ€™s vocals is felt here, and itโ€™s mind-blowingly beautiful.

Iโ€™m going to throw it out there, Iโ€™d like to hear this guy belting out an Otis Redding, the true test for a soul singer, and feel he would pass with distinction. The finale proves this point more than any, simply titled I Love You So, it wraps up this sensually poignant EP perfectly, and with subtle guitar solo, it heralds my point about the basic template of soul not being broken, so no need to fix it.

You should not delay, do it today, this is Sunday music, take a listen and decide for yourself. My preconception it might be โ€œalrightโ€ was turned on its head, Frankisoul deserves recognition for his naturally flawless voice, which just eases you in soulful bliss; top job!

For a Link-Tree to listening platforms see HERE

Fire Frankisoul a Facebook Like HERE!

Trending…..

Hells Bells! AC/DC tribute in Devizes

With our roads being the state theyโ€™re in, is it any wonder on the 5th April Hells Bells, rated as the UKโ€™s top AC/DC tribute,โ€ฆ

Cracked Machine at The Southgate

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 mightโ€ฆ

Geckoโ€™s Big Picture

In 1998 a pair of pigs escaped while being unloaded off a lorry at an abattoir in Malmesbury and were on the run for aโ€ฆ

Park Farm; New Music Festival in Devizes

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 andโ€ฆ

Results of Salisbury Music Awards

All images: ยฉ๏ธ JS Terry Photography An awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding musical talent within the city, aptly titled The 2024 Salisbury Music Awards,โ€ฆ

A Beginner’s Introduction to Oils in All Cannings with Arts Together

A little-known personal fact, at the tender age of twelve I won a posh set of Windsor & Newton oil paints via a Kelloggโ€™s competition, and feared to touch them for years! Oils are the crรจme-de-la-crรจme of art, in awe of those humongous Renaissance paintings hanging in the National Gallery came the worry Iโ€™d never be able to handle such a craft, and until art college days of yore they collected dust under my bed. Even when I did finally use them anything I painted, truth be told, was rubbish!!

If you have a similar story, fabulous local charity working to improve the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of older people through the provision of a range of participatory arts projects since 1999, Arts Together, have a fundraiser on 12th May at The Old Cricket Pavilion in All Cannings.

A Beginner’s Introduction to Oils invites you to light lunch in the Wiltshire countryside for a few peaceful hours of painting. The workshop will be run by Paul Oakley, an acclaimed landscape and still life artist who paints in oils on location and in his studio in All Cannings. As well as exhibiting his work as part of Marlborough Open Studios, Paul is an experienced teacher who runs oil painting courses for beginners and more experienced artists and regularly demonstrates to art groups throughout southern England.

The morning will be spent in the studio learning oil painting techniques and building confidence. After lunch there will be a chance to have a go at painting en plein air outside the studio where beautiful views of Wiltshire can be seen in every direction. The cost is ยฃ75. To booking a place: Call Belinda on 07779608196 or Online Here.

Arts Together truly is a wonderful charity, I once got the opportunity to visit one of their workshops in Melksham, and it remains one of my fondest experiences since running Devizine, even if, I still canโ€™t paint well!

Trending….

Static Moves at The Three Crowns Devizes

Bussing into Devizes Saturday evening, a gaggle (I believe is the appropriate collective noun) of twenty-something girls from Bath already on-board, disembark at The Marketโ€ฆ

Hometown Gig for Nothing Rhymes with Orange

First one in what I hope to be a series diverting negative local social media hysteria about wayward youths in our area, must be a Devizes-based indie-pop band of young hoodlums with nothing better to do with their time than pick up guitars and drums, practise like crazy, self-promote themselves, and name themselves with a rational band name, like Nothing Rhymes With Orangeโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Even though we have a mountain in Wales called Blorenge, and, the technical term for a sac where spores are made, sporange, all of which they couldโ€™ve Googled, but perhaps were too busy becoming the band the best upcoming band in the South West, Salisburyโ€™s Carsick, cite as the best upcoming band in the South Westโ€ฆ. maybe!

Whatever the reason for them overlooking these obscure words which do rhyme with orange, the guys are really at the top of their game right now, something we all should tip our hats to. Since fondly reviewing their EP last November, theyโ€™ve ventured off to perform in Bristol, Bath, and Trowbridge, as well as Chippenhamโ€™s Take the Stage contest. Iโ€™ve be encouraging some home-turf gigging too, which is never easy being they and their prospering fanbase are predominately under eighteen.

Seems my bleating to DOCA paid off, and all looks set for the guys to perform at Devizes International Street Festival in May, for hereโ€™s something without age limitations which can all enjoy. This is an opportunity Iโ€™d like to see become an annual thing, where we recommend a local upcoming band of the year to play the main stage, rather than any kind of bolt-on substitute. Because these guys thoroughly deserve all the attention theyโ€™re getting, and you thoroughly need to see them perform.

Which you can do sooner, Saturday April 22nd to be precise, as they play a hometown self-organised gig at West Lavington Hall, with support from three bands new to me, Stoneface, Paradigm, and Frankastre. Showing my age, maybe, but Nothing Rhymes With Orangeโ€™s accomplishments are also sharing the attention with a next generation circuit developing, and without trying to sound like a Mandalorian, something which has been “the way” since the eve of rock n roll!

If you donโ€™t wish to take my word for it, someone you should never doubt when it comes to music, Sheer Musicโ€™s Kieran Moore, sung their praises after a sell-out show last night at The Pump, alongside Chippenham-based (I believe?) band The Sunnies, currently taking a similar route. Kieran had this to say, โ€œwow, just wow. When the bands first played, they were a bunch of teenagers looking for opportunities. Fast forward a year, and they’ve both been hitting up Chippenham’s Take The Stage and St James Wine Vaults in Bath, played a number of gigs for us at The Pump, and begun hosting their own gigs in Lavington and generally have grown astronomically quick.โ€

โ€œThat furious year of activity have seen the bands stream line their abilities, build their craft and become the anchors around which we will hang off our scene. Their sounds have become dynamic, more focused, and concise. The crowds now know all their lyrics, and sing and dance accordingly, and the teenagers come and are so respectful. It’s a pure treat to watch this all unfold, and The Pump is beaming with pride, because it’s not just the bands who have been developing, but the team there too.โ€

Donโ€™t save me a seat, Iโ€™ll be crowd-surfing, and hope to see you there! Tickets are just eight quid, HERE. And Iโ€™d also like to thank The Pump for continuing to showcase upcoming talent, for more info on forthcoming gigs at the Pump, check here. But, if it’s one incredible thing to see a Springsteen gig, it’s a whole other ballpark to see a Springsteen gig in New Jersey, and wager, least hope for a similar effect in the Lavingtons!

Wayward youths are in the minority, and historically always have been. Sweeping generalisations, tarnishing groups according to age is counterproductive, probably making matters worse. We want to focus on the positives, highlight those youths out there doing good, for really, stuff the clickbait bad press, theyโ€™re in the majority, and here is the proof. If you know of more examples we’d like to hear from you.

Trending…..

The Emporium in Devizes to Close

If Devizes boasts an abundance of independent gift shops of unique and exquisite or often novelty items in the face of a national pandemic ofโ€ฆ

Mental Rot; New I See Orange Single

Hold on tight, the new single from I See Orange, Mental Rot embodies everything I love about this Swindon grunge trio, and takes no prisonersโ€ฆ..โ€ฆ

RowdeFest 2025!

Okay, I canโ€™t keep the secret any longer or Iโ€™ll pop! While all the hard work is being organised by a lovely committee, because theyโ€ฆ

Events This Weekend; January Into February!

If weโ€™re nearly out of the prolonged gloom of January, note itโ€™s still winter but weโ€™ve climatised and are ready to party. February this yearโ€ฆ

Gazette & Herald to Buy Out Devizine

In a deal I’ve been trying to clench for a year now, Newsquest, owners of Wiltshire based newspapers, including the Gazette & Herald have taken the decision today to buy out Devizine and merge it with the Gazetteโ€ฆโ€ฆ.

It is fantastic news for us, as Devizine readers will no longer have to put up with second-rate content, unprofessionally written by a kinky milkman, steering on honesty and commitment. Instead, our readers can expect slapdash clickbait articles with little or no reference to local matters, shameless advertorials, towing the Conservative line to the letter and endorsing illegal fox hunting activities.

In turn the Gazette will have a glossy pull-out section, a funky, freewheeling socialist magazine- fashioned spotlight on local arts and entertainment, highlighting the blossoming cascade of talent we are blessed with here; something they’ve not bothered to do since 1864.

It will rally the concepts of social and political change, be a crucial and pivotal hub for campaigning, fundraising, and highlighting charitable needs, offering free advertising for schools and charities, provided they cross our palms with silver, or at the very least buy us a nice Marks & Sparks Battenburg cake.

We can expect to see a regular environmental news column by Devizes & District MP Danny K Booger, who voted for dumping more raw sewage into our rivers, a sports section by Wiltshire PCC Phillip Willykissingson (blood sports that is,) a fun, games, and undernourishment section for kids by Chippenham MP Michelle Donenought, who voted against free school meals during lockdown, spot the pothole competitions from Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, Dr Mark McBellend, and regular updates by Devizes Town Councillor Liam Wallyish (or whatever his name is) on all the crap we canโ€™t read on local Facebook groups because weโ€™ve been perversely banned for no good reason.

We will be celebrating this fantastic news by erecting a humongous and obtrusive signpost on the Crammer in Devizes, blatantly advertising our reprehensible merger, with no indignity. Now defunct from the Guardians, independently bias and in a tizzy town councillor, Chris Greenpants welcomed the obstructive billboard, despite not really favouring proposals for a small โ€˜ducks crossingโ€™ warning sign. He said, โ€œthe last thing anyone wants to see is a squashed duck or swan on our roads, hopefully this sign will distract drivers enough to not notice, until such a time we can kick the carcase into a pothole and cover it over with either horse manure, or the bullshit that comes from our own mouths.โ€

A spokesman for the Gazette and Herald, Martha Fokker said, “this is officially the most unconvincing April Foolโ€™s joke Devizine has pulled since that statue of MP Claire Perry crap. If only we could think of something to counter attack this pathetic attempt we would, but being we’re a sad sack of spuds, awaiting boiling, we can’t. Oh, by the way, weโ€™re running on the scoop Strictly Come Dancing star Molly Rainford has just bought a house in Lancashire, now, thatโ€™s local news.”

Trending…..

Wharf-ing Back To Happiness!

Do you remember the wonderful sounds of The Shadows and The Tornadoes beaming across the airwaves from Radio Caroline with their spellbinding instrumentals; Apache, Foot Tapper and Riders in the Sky?

If you do then you will not want to miss the star guest at Devizes’ Wharf Theatre on 15th April, Kevin Dean, who recreates those nostalgic guitar sounds of swinging Britain which have since become the sound track to many peopleโ€™s lives.ย The show takes its title from the Helen Shaprio classic, Waking Back to Happiness, and, woopah oh yeah yeah; we could all do with a little of that!

Accompanied by The Hot Band, this wonderful show also features talented musical entertainer, impressionist, guitarist and banjo virtuoso Warren James, in company with your chirpy, musical host Mike Martin, who himself has spent a life time in show business including part of Wharf favourites, London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra.ย 

This light-hearted and foot-tapping show features the fabulous songs of Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, The Everly Brothers, Lonnie Donegan, Joe Brown, The Seekers, Tommy Steele and many more hit parade heroes.

There’s two show times on Saturday 15th April, evening starts at 7:30pm, and a matinee at 2:30pm. Tickets are between ยฃ10 and ยฃ14, with a booking fee, from HERE.

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Catherine Read to stand as Green Party Parliamentary candidate for Devizes

Last Week, the Green Party announced Catherine Read as their candidate for the next General Election in Devizes…..And I know what many will have to say…..

You carry on with your inane imaginings of Catherine being some dreadlocked hippy-chick, twirling uncontrollably barefoot at a love-in, if you must, we’ve surpassed your pathetic stereotyping. For Catherine is a health professional, with thirty years experience as a clinical radiographer working in the NHS. Now, looking for a different role, she is an active member of her community, working alongside local government to promote sustainable transport options and cleaner air.

Previously, she set up full time nursery provision and a BMX riding facility in her local village. Catherine has been a school governor at both primary and secondary level and a Parish Councillor. As a member of various environmental groups, Catherine is involved in activities to address climate change, shares eco friendly tips on social media and is gardening for wildlife.

Catherine said, “I am proud to have been chosen as the Green Partyโ€™s candidate for Devizes. More people are supporting the Greens and we have seen a record number of Green councillors being elected across the country, including in Wiltshire. The Devizes area has the opportunity to select a different MP, one from a party that has not become complacent. Living in this community, I will be standing up for local people and bring a fresh outlook and vision.“

“After 12 years of a Conservative government, we are experiencing crisis after crisis because of poor political choices. People are struggling with an out of control cost-of-living crisis, soaring energy bills and public services that are just not working for us. Increased sewage in our rivers and seas, an attack on nature and a failed climate promises, where our government have not stepped up and committed to the actions that are needed.“

“I am optimistic that this can change. We are seeing how people are supporting our public sector workers, calling for our water industry, railways and energy to be in back public hands. The NHS would be safe with the Green Party. We would take control of the NHS and end creeping privatisation. It is the Green voices in Parliament who are speaking out and challenging the government when they are not doing right by the public.โ€™

โ€œIf you agree with me that we need a fairer greener country, one that puts people and the environment first, then please vote for me at the next General Election.”

Devizine wishes Catherine the very best of luck. We have to be thinking green now, don’t we? Not aiming for an amber tag on your recycling bin! While I accept the public should focus on reducing the workload, Wiltshire Council’s hanger idea, I feel is counterproductive, and will inevitably result in more landfill, as well as being another unnecessary slip of sliced tree itself. We have to do this because we want to do this and not being pushed or punished for not. We have to do this because a worshipping money system is not the way to govern, you can’t take your wallet with you when it goes belly-up. I think we need to pose some serious questions for Catherine, and a few silly ones to lighten the mood, closer to general election time….even if we have to sail to the polling station.

More information about Green party policies are available at greenparty.org.uk

Trending….

Discovering Swindon Story Shed

With Dad’s taxi on call in Swindon and a few hours to kill whilst her majesty is at the flicks, it was fortunate local authorโ€ฆ

The Rise of Winter Festivals

Once upon a time it seemed to me, that folk would grin and bear the winter weather for the sake of a Christmas lights switchingโ€ฆ

In Retrospect With Gary Martian

So yeah, not only has Cracked Machine and Clock Radio drummer Gary Martin added a letter A to his name to make it sound moreโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Talk in Code

You canโ€™t stay on the sunny side of the street; youโ€™ve got to cross over at some point. But if the blurb Iโ€™m sent for Talk in Codeโ€™s latest single Hindsight suggests theyโ€™re showing โ€œa darker side,โ€ donโ€™t run off with the notion theyโ€™ve come over all Radiohead.….

Taken from their second album, The Big Screen our single of the week is out on Friday 31st March, but you know how it goes, you can pre-save on the streaming platforms. And do, because yeah, so itโ€™s perhaps a clichรฉ theme of biblical teachings; penitent, should-have-known-better sentiments returned unto you with a cold, hard slap in the chops, but wake up, weโ€™ve all been there, and Talk in Code project it with finesse, as ever, and of course itโ€™s cradled in the uniformed indie-pop synth style. A chic instantly recognisable and beguiling, every Talk in Code single is ageless and unhindered from pigeonholing, itโ€™s darn good pop, dammit!

Image: Helen PolarPix

Atmospheric thumper describes it best on the publicity, anthemic soundscape with swirling synths, shimmering guitars and soaring vocals. Recorded with Sam Winfield at Studio 91, Newbury (Amber Run, The Amazons, Fickle Friends) and out on Regent Street Records, continuously ascending, Talk in Code go from strength-to-strength and Hindsight exhibits precisely this.

https://www.facebook.com/talkincode/videos/1350060825774735/

Pre-save it HERE, and you’ll wake up Friday singing a new song!

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Christmas Greetings From Devizine!

Here’s our Christmas video Greeting, ho-ho-ho! Filmed on location at DOCA Winter Festival, Devizes, 2024 by Jess Worrow. Merry Christmas everyone!

REVIEW โ€“ Measure For Measure @ Wharf Theatre, Devizes โ€“ Monday 27th March 2023

First Night Triumph

by Andy Fawthrop

Images used with kind permission of Chris Watkins Media

Again it was a real pleasure to bowl along to our townโ€™s little theatre and to enjoy a wonderful opening night.ย  The fare on offer was that Mr. Shakespeareโ€™s tragi-comic offering Measure For Measure……

To be honest, it was (many) years since Iโ€™d last read or seen a performance of this often neglected play.  It just doesnโ€™t get wheeled out as often as those wonderful chaps Othello, Hamlet and Lear.  I wonder why that is?  Perhaps itโ€™s because it doesnโ€™t quite plumb the emotional and tragic depths in the same way as those giant figures?  Or perhaps because itโ€™s not as funny as the classic comedy capers we see in Midsummer Nightโ€™s Dream?  Or maybe tragedy and comedy donโ€™t mix together too well in the same play?

Notwithstanding these difficulties, Liz Sharmanโ€™s production made light of such concerns, and a competent and well-drilled cast delivered an excellent opening night performance to a near-full theatre.  The themes of corrupt power, of vice vying with virtue, of hypocrisy and double dealing remain as a relevant commentary on the political events of today, to say nothing of the resonance of the #MeToo movement.  In this case, of course, The Bard of Avon ensures that all is wrapped up well at the end, where deception is uncovered, virtue is rewarded and the criminals are punished.  If only that happened so neatly in real life.

Using a sparse black set, a simple staircase and a gallery, and little in the way of props or scenery, the focus was very much on the words and the actions.  The only real exception was the frequent use of cloaks and hoods, a necessary device given that the plot hinges on disguise and deception.  Pete Wallis as Vincentio, Simon Carter as Angelo, Paul Snook as Lucio and Eleanor Smith as Isabella all delivered their leading roles with great aplomb, but they were just as ably supported by stalwarts of the Wharf Lewis Cowan. Oli Beech and Tor Burt.  And it would be churlish not to mention the old โ€œrude mechanicalsโ€, Ian Diddams as the bawd Pompey and Lesley Scholes as the prostitute Mistress Overdone, whose exaggerated comic performances gave the show that comic lift that it occasionally needed.  It was worth the entrance money alone to witness the bizarre shirts worn by Ian.

All in all, a great ensemble performance from faces both new and familiar.  Well played!

The show runs until Saturday, so I urge you to go and see it.ย  There are still just a few tickets left, available via The Wharfโ€™s website.

Future productions at The Wharf Theatre:

Sat 1st April Open Day at the Wharf

Sat 15th April                                      Walk On Back To Happiness

Mon 8th โ€“ Sat 13th May                   The Railway Children

Sat 20th May                                       Jack & Jordan Sketch Show

Fri 26th/ Sat 27th May                      Having A Baby

Thu 8th โ€“ Sat 10th June                    Watson & Brown Little Big Band

Sat 24th June                                      California Dreams

Thu 20th โ€“ Sat 22nd July                   Girls Like That

For all information about The Wharf Theatre and its productions go to www.wharftheatre.co.uk

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Chapters, New Single From Kirsty Clinch

Okay, so, Iโ€™m aย  little behind, recently opting to perfect my couch potato posture and consider hibernation, meaning Iโ€™ve not yet mentioned Kirsty Clinchโ€™s newโ€ฆ

Devizes Writers Group Win Silver Award

Congratulations to Rosalind Ambler and Paul Snook from Devizes Writers Group… At the National Community Radio Awards held in Cardiff on 16th November Together!, theโ€ฆ

Hansel & Gretel: Panto at the Wharf!

Images: Chris Watkins Media It was lovely to spend Sunday afternoon at Devizesโ€™ Wharf Theatre, to see how this yearโ€™s pantomime Hansel & Gretel, isโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 29th March – 4th April 2023

Here we go, headlong into April with lots to do.….

Said it before, Iโ€™ll say it again, more stuff will be added, this is published on Mondays so youโ€™ve time to grab any tickets for ticketed events, but live music in pubs and things like this will no doubt come to our attention through the week, so please keep in the loop with our event calendar as itโ€™d be impossible if not very cluttered to post individual events onto our social media pages.

The one link you need is here, our event calendar, or two perhaps, March and April, for planning ahead, more info and ticket links.

Opening night tonight at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, for Shakespeareโ€™s lots play, Measure for Measure, and this continues until Saturday 1st April.  

Wednesday 29th is the opening night of Devizes Musical Theatre production of Doly Partonโ€™s 9 to 5, also running until Saturday at Dauntseyโ€™s in West Lavington. Regular acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

The Sing Spaceโ€™s Musical Theatre Choir has a Greatest Showman & Prosecco Masterclass at St Maryโ€™s Church in Marlborough and welcomes new members. Details are here.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman play Chapel Arts in Bath, while Annie Gardiner supports Sci-Fi, post-jazz rhythmists Run Logan Run at The Bell on Walcot Street, and the Rondo Theatre have Whimsi-Co Theatreโ€™s Escape to Wonderland, running until 30th March.

Award-winning garden designer and Gardenersโ€™ World presenter, Adam Frost is at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thursday 30th sees Funke & The Two-Tone Baby at the Pump in Trowbridge.

In Swindon, Lile Rode & Rob Beckinsale play The Tuppenny, Preacher Stone & The Sons of Liberty at The Vic, The ELO Experience at the Wyvern Theatre, and Mike Bubbins at Swindon Arts Centre.

Friday 31st thereโ€™s live music at the Pelican in Devizes, with The Thieving Magpies, so watch your pint! And oh, I love the name, darling, Camilla Parkyaballs brings their live show to The Exchange for a Devizes LGBTQ+ night.

Six Oโ€™clock Circus play The Pheasant in Chippenham, while itโ€™s heat 4 of Take the Stage 2023 at the Neeld.

Sour Apple play The Castle & Ball in Marlborough.

Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while Ashley Wass plays Wiltshire Music Centre.

Jayde Adams: Men, I Can Save You already sold out at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Hannah James & Toby Kuhn at Chapel Arts, Bath, with global folk collective Mishra Featuring Deepa Nair Rasiya at Rondo Theatre.

Nikki Kitt at Swindon Arts Centre, a Total 90s night at the Wyvern Theatre.

Tribute, Absolute Britney at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

All Fools Day, Saturday 1st April, sees Devizes Farmer’s Market from 9:30-3pm, Devizes Lions Sports Coaching Weekend, where children in school year groups 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are invited to try one of up to 16 different sports that they might not otherwise can experience and with tuition provided by qualified coaches.

Open Day at The Wharf Theatre in Devizes is free from 10am to 2pm. Corinthian Casuals play The Southgate, Roughcut Rebels at the Three Crowns.

Ravers young and old, head to The Barge on HoneyStreet where the Midlife Krisis crew are in effect. This guarantees to go off, if I break out a whistle and some white gloves I could rekindle my youth, embarrassingly or else just sulk in self-pity in the chill-out room! Nevertheless, I think itโ€™s high time we made Midlife raves our Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week; anyone got any Veras?

Six Oโ€™clock Circus play the Wheatsheaf, Calne, The ELO Encounter at The Neeld, Chippenham, GM Liveโ€™s A Tribute to George Michael at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Sour Apple are at The Rose & Crown, Warminster.

Sansara Vox Machina at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, while thereโ€™s an all-out triple bill at The Three Horseshoes with Hell Death Fury, Kings Alias, and Felis Margarita.

Long For the Coast at Chapel Arts in Bath.

Aniimalia play The Vic, Swindon, with Seek Harbour in support, comedian, and actress Jayde Adams at Swindon Arts Centre, while a retelling of the classic film Die Hard from Fringe First-winner, London poetry slam champion, BBC Audio Drama Best Scripted Comedy Drama award-winner Richard Marsh presents Yippee Ki Yay at the The Wyvern Theatre.

Sunday 2nd sees Devizes Half Marathon, with an 8:30am start, and Devizes Strongest 2023 at Devizes Town Football Club, usually only a couple of quid to spectate, I usually donโ€™t like to lift a finger on a Sunday!

The fantastic James Hollingsworth plays The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

One for the little ones, Sing-A-Long-A Encanto at The Wyvern Theatre, and Easter panto, Rapunzel, while Sheila Harrod presents 7 Guys and a Piano at Swindon Arts Centre.

Monday 3rd and thereโ€™s more fun kidโ€™s stuff Iโ€™d secretly like to do myself, with a Lego Animation Workshop at Trowbridge Town Hall.

Open Mic at The Lamb in Marlborough at 8:30pm.

Look out online for the wonderful Strange Folk are at Visual Radio Arts, and is estimated to be out on this day.

Tuesday 4th is bounce day, as you’ll find Devizes Bouncy Castle Kingdom, Inflatable Park on the Green, and this continues through to Thursday.

Also sees the Ukrainian National Operaโ€™s Carmen at The Wyvern Theatre, and Eshaan Akbarโ€™s The Pretender at Swindon Arts Centre.

Thatโ€™s all I have for now, but like I say, more will come in so keep checking our event calendar, and if thereโ€™s something weโ€™ve missed do tell us and I might, for chocolate cake, add it!

Have a great week, things to look forward to in April? Yeah, I can do that too: Vic Fest at the Vic I Swindon comes next week, Jon Amorโ€™s monthly residency is on Sunday 9th this month at The Southgate, Devizes, and The James Oliver Band plays The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon same day, Eddie Martin is in Bromham on Thursday 13th, Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival is coming, White Horse Opera, and Nothing Rhymes With Orange make a hometown call on 22nd April, and lots more, and Iโ€™m getting over-excited, so check the calendar, donโ€™t make me tell you again!!

Trending…

No Worries; Worried Men at The Pump

Long overdue a visit to the Pump in Trowbridge, Jamie Thyer, frontman of the Worried Men twisted my arm Friday night and there I was,โ€ฆ

Ian Siegal at Long Street Blues Club

Devizes is often spoiled for choice when it comes to live music. Swindon folk ensemble SGO at the Gate would’ve been an excellent decision forโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Music Centre Announces New Joint Leadership

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-leadershipโ€ฆ

What’s Happening During November in Devizes?

Remember, remember, weโ€™re moving into November; leaves, loads of โ€˜em! Being as we are no longer doing weekly roundups, hereโ€™s some highlights of events inโ€ฆ

Poetika Open Mic Night The Winchester gate, Salisbury. Tues 21st March 2023

By Helen Edwards

A few weeks ago whilst scrolling through social media an advert for this event came up.  Intrigued and having never been to a poetry night before I popped it into my calendar.  The date soon came round and I nearly bailedโ€ฆ too much to do, too far to drive, too dark, cold, lazy.  But before making the final call I did some research.  My main discovery was that the 21st March is in fact, World Poetry Day.  So that was that, decision made and done.  I was on my way to have poetry fun (yep, I know).

I arrived at the pub adjacent to Salisburyโ€™s ring road, went to the bar, and found myself standing next to a very tall Queen of Hearts. A huge auburn beehive wig added to her intimidating height.  The theme (I remembered) was โ€˜Through the Looking-Glassโ€.  Already feeling out of place with my usual jeans, sweater, and trainers garb, I tentatively walked into the intimate and warm side-room. Twenty or maybe thirty people sat, perched, or stood near tables decorated with playing cards and jam tarts, all facing the low stage embellished with tinsel and a large mirror reflecting their expectant faces.

Watching the final stragglers squeeze in, it became clear that most of theย audience knew each other or of each other. Because of this the atmosphere feltย supportive and inclusive. ย I sipped my wine, relaxed and opened my mind. Thenย BAM. ย The Queen of Hearts, Alice and the Rabbit, โ€˜Iโ€™m late, Iโ€™m late!โ€™ jumped onย stage and performed a semi-rehearsed intro show. Scripts in hand and costumesย adorned, the passion and dedication to Poetika came across to all. ย My initiationย into the poetry night proved louder, brasher and way more fun than anticipated.

With the ice, and not the mirror, broken the poets took to the mic.  The Queen of Hearts, Nikki (I learnt at the interval that Nicki is the chief organiser of Poetika) stepped up to read her fast paced, caustic, funny lines. It wasnโ€™t solely the poems that had me chuckling; Nickiโ€™s striking resemblance in looks and mannerisms to the eclectic and talented Sue Pollard amused me throughout. When I told her in the break that her poems reminded me of John Cooper-Clarke, the famous punk poet and I was informed that she was his support act for part of a past tour. How cool.  Itโ€™s obvious that JCC has been a huge influence on her work. I was offered a slot on stage in the second half to read my own stuff and responded by nodding whilst shaking my head simultaneously unsure as to whether Iโ€™d just enthusiastically agreed or vehemently declined.

Back to the first half. After Nicki came a succession of amateur poets, includingย Poetikaโ€™s Alice (Ria) with her clever plot and sweet but sharp delivery and theย Rabbit (Jamie). ย I sat consumed, listening deeply, trying not to miss the, at times,ย lightning quick word concoctions. It became clear that this was theatre. This wasย not a read-off-the-page poetry recital but a pure and raw exposure of oneโ€™sย writing, wit, and inner workings. Deep and true – as poetry can be โ€ฆ with a big dose of stage presence. ย 

Two of the next performers achieved a stand-up comedic delivery with inspired words and accompanying audience participation. Ripperโ€™s โ€˜Ciderโ€™ poem, a fun crowd pleaser, was read with an air of self-deprecating, drole, deadpan humour. Move over Romesh Ranganathan.  The other, Craig, is a born comedian. He evoked laughter throughout his set but brushed aside each short poem with a โ€˜and thatโ€™s that one!โ€™ remark, his poetry performance tic.

My favourite act of the night allowed all present to dive right through theย looking-glass and into the authors heart. Echo, a beautifully presented humanย with self expression etched on every inch of clothing, jewellery, exposed skin andย hair was outstanding. I cannot compare the writing to any other: FYI my currentย education level in poetry is pretty low so to me it was totally unique. ย A mirror toย the soul was shared and if I hadnโ€™t heard another all night, the poem, โ€˜T1โ€™ aloneย was worth hauling my butt to Salisbury for. Softly delivered, a hard-hittingย exposure to drug use walked us around a squat and Echoโ€™s mind. ย A beautifulย shock of a poem. ย The lines, โ€˜I glance up, I see myself in the mirror malnourished,ย dying. ย I look away quickly to convince myself my reflection is just simply lyingโ€™ย speak for themselves. ย I wouldnโ€™t be surprised if Echoโ€™s words are bouncing offย much bigger venuesโ€™ walls in the future.

The eventโ€™s special guest came next, the professional poet, Claire H from Bournemouth. Claire began with a capsule lesson on poetry agreeing with another writer (sorry, source unknown) that poetry โ€˜isnโ€™t a hiding place itโ€™s a finding placeโ€™.  Claire H, a self-branded witch poet, told her transfixed guests that โ€˜poetry saved her lifeโ€™. โ€˜That old chestnutโ€™ I hear you smirk but I believed every word. And judging by the reflective silence that followed it seemed many were concluding similar, that words had performed a transformative magic on them too.

Claireโ€™s stage presence, from her downright natural, cool-as demeanour to her dance-like arm movements marked her out as โ€˜the professionalโ€™ on the night. Even her poems had their own stand to be read from. I immediately connected both with Claireโ€™s honest, clear and charged poems and her generous and kind personality. She told me at the interval that she reads tarot cards but apart from this and her signature black fingerless gloves I wasnโ€™t really feeling the broomstick vibes. Maybe the reference to โ€˜burning effigies of all those women I wasnโ€™tโ€™ was the giveaway.

Claireโ€™s โ€˜Englandโ€™ poem was excellent: political, clever, personal and relatable. But my preferred piece was โ€˜Fortyโ€™ describing what it can be like to be a woman in the fourth decade of life right now. Spot on.  The snippet that has stayed with me however came from her โ€˜Love and Other Natural Disastersโ€™ poem: โ€˜Fractured affections and dislocated devotionsโ€™.  Claire left us with the insightful advice โ€˜to look to the poetry of your intuitionโ€™.  

The interval was like a cold-water immersion into a truly creative bunch of people.  It was powerfully revitalising and eye-opening to see glimpses of lives lived so differently to my own. I wanted more.  

Act two came with more solid performances from Poetika trio, Nicky (readingย John Cooper-Clarke), Jamie with his โ€˜Toryโ€™ poem, and Ria with her superb โ€˜Blackย Dogโ€™ piece. Riaโ€™s quirky, sweet radiance could fool one into mis-labelling butย listen to this poem, and you will hear a voice full of strength and intelligence.ย Respect to you, Ria, for picking a fight with Sir Winston Churchill. ย You educatedย and made us see that his labelling of black dogs as synonymous with depressionย was wrong. I love how Riaโ€™s quiet passion permeated the room and how herย words weaved anger and the virtues of black dogs into a great poem.

We had a Gary Stringer (lead singer of 90โ€™s band, Reef) look-alike sing a lovely song about his mumโ€™s death, Lois a relative newbie reading her second poem of the night and more from the comedy poets Ripper and his mate โ€˜and thatโ€™s that one!โ€™ Craig.  We had Hopper, confidently read his second poem and then we had me.  Confidence slipped away as I heard my name called. Tummy swirling, I floated above the scene and listened as I read out a personal piece of me.  I received a warm clap and vocal praise.  Thank you Poetika, my ego enjoyed the moment.  I write for me but sharing on the night was good.  And inspiring. The following day I wrote two poems.

If you want to sit back and take in the theatre, the warmth, the tough emotions and the laughter then I would highly recommend going along to Poetika in Salisbury. You will be welcomed and hopefully, as I was, surprised and inspired by the talent in the room.  If you have an inkling that youโ€™d like to get up on stage to read then please do. I may have had an out of body experience but itโ€™s charged me up like a supernova. You could always do what I did and go on your own.  If you die on stage you never have to go backโ€ฆ if no one you know hears it, it never really happened, right?

Thanks Team Poetika. See you in the future.

Next Poetika night: 18th April 2023, 7.30pm The Winchester Gate, Salisbury. Theme: tbc.

Concrete Prairie at The Southgate

Without cloning technology it was another Saturday night dilemma still as easily solved; Concrete Prairie were at The Gate, arm twistedโ€ฆ.

From The Barge to the Pump we were spoiled for live music choices; any decision made I could predict would’ve paid off. But after fondly reviewing Swindon’s dark roots Americana five-piece, Concrete Prairie’s self-titled debut album last September, I hot-footed it to Swindon Shuffle to see them, and from Calne to Bradford-on-Avon I’ve been stalking them like a red-cheeked groupie with hearts for pupils, hoping my hometown will get a taste of why, soonishly.

It only seemed fitting then, being I’ve nagged landlady Deborah to get them in, now they finally play our trusty Devizes answer to the 02 arena, I show my ugly mug and assist in draining the scrumpy barrels.

It was, as ever down the Southgate, a blinding night. Celebrating their fifth year at the helm and over 350 gigs, Deb and Dave show no sign of converting it to a Christian science reading room yet. It’s lively and bustling, despite a majority of town’s live music aficionados at Long Street, but importantly, it’s always welcoming.

Sadly the Gate supplied a PA unsuitable for a five-piece, ergo the engineering didn’t do Concrete Prairie’s divine sound justice, by comparison to the acoustics of the specifically designed Wiltshire Music Centre, where I saw them last.

But as pundits of their craft, they overcame and delivered us their superb set of stunning originals, with outstanding covers of The Coral, and the particularly adroit Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman.

I never tire of hearing this set. Concrete Prairie operates as a unit, their passion shows in this tight unification and spills out to any audience, the result is irresistible entertainment of the highest calibre. Dark country Americana doesn’t necessarily have to be your thing, you’ll come away in awe.

And as is their tradition, they leave their magnum opus for the encore. The mood-switching, tempo-layered The Devil Delt the Deck is the perfect finale, saccharine yet melancholic. Its building powerhouse of emotions acts as the template to drive you back to see this band at every available opportunity.

Catch them locally on 16th April at the Electric Bar at Bath’s Komedia, and again with Mad Dog McRea on 7th May, at Cherhill Bank Holiday Celebration in Calne on 5th May, The Live Music Festival in Bradford-on-Avon 3rd June, and their Food & Drink Festival on the 11th. On the 17th, they headline Chippenham Pride and are at Box’s Schtumm on 25th June.

The Southgate humbly work with what they have, squeezing the kind of band into the bijou you’d happily pay a ticket stub for, and whatever technical stage engineering they lack they make up with devotion, and create an undeniably happy place, essentially our favourite pub in Wiltshire.

Personally, my favourite band currently on the circuit, in my favourite watering hole, was a chicken dinner, so while there was plenty on the menu, trips to Marlborough’s Lamb for Pants, Deadlight Dance at The Barge, Plan of Action at the Three Crowns, Long Street and a Devizes Scooter Club night, I had to make a choice, but it wasn’t pin in a map, if you’ve seen Concrete Prairie you’ll understand; I scoffed the lot, with only vague memories of returning home!ย 

REVIEW โ€“ Thomas Atlas @ LSBC, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Saturday 25th March 2023

Bestriding The Stage

By Andy Fawthrop

Seems like an absolute bloody age since the last run-out for the Long Street Blues Club, but here weย were back on the old stomping ground again. ย So good to be back and see some familiar faces. ย 

What a shame to have to choose between LSBC and the Southgate (who had Concrete Prairieย playing at the same time) but thatโ€™s perhaps just a reflection of D-Townโ€™s vibrant live music scene atย the moment. ย In fact, it was at one of The Gateโ€™s recent Jon Amor Sunday residences that I first ranย into Mr. Atlas. ย His performance with Jon that afternoon was the very thing that inspired me to buy aย ticket for this gig.ย Hey, ho.

First up in the support slot was the returning local favouriteย Ben Borrill. ย Benโ€™s been working hardย recently, plying his trade in some of our local pubs, and tonight he was rewarded with a larger moreย attentive audience than he might usually get in the pub. ย Heโ€™s a singer/ songwriter whoโ€™s not afraidย of hard work. ย Here he seemed to struggle over his first couple of numbers, but then hit his strideย with some great covers. ย Numbers from Tom Petty, Chris Isaak, The Killers, Radiohead, Wheatus andย Ronan Keating were delivered with increasing confidence. ย Personally I wish someone would finallyย put Mr. Brightside out of its misery (mainly by just not playing it), but thatโ€™s just my personal taste.

Then on to the main fare of the evening โ€“ two sets from the returning Brummieย Thomas Atlas.ย ย Heย was back with a great young band (Andre Masine on keyboards, Jack Bowles on drums, and Samย Rogers on saxophone). ย Thomas was on lead guitar, of course, and also handled all of the vocals. ย ย Right from the off Thomasโ€™s sparkling guitar work set the scene with some wonderful funky stuff,ย with the band filling in some nice textures. ย There was no flash, no histrionics, just some solid down-to-earth hard work from a band that was tight on the set passages, but equally comfortableย loosening up for the jazzier solos.

Thomas himself was clearly very happy to be there. ย Apart from repeatedly telling us that he wasย really enjoying playing for us (they all say that, donโ€™t they?), his face was the proof of the pudding,ย constantly lit up by one long beaming smile.

There was plenty of original material, leavened with occasional covers/ reinterpretations. ย The twoย that stood out for me were Bob Marleyโ€™s Stir It Up, and The Stonesโ€™ Miss You. ย The guitar work wasย faultless, often reminding me of Clapton on the more flamboyant pieces and Robin Trower on someย of the more languid solos.

And, of course, in one of the worst-kept secrets of the night, Jon Amor was not only in the room, butย also up on stage, jamming and repaying the favour from The Southgate gig a couple of months back.

All in all a cracking gig, and a return to form for LSBC after a long lay-off.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:ย (but more to be announced/ confirmed next month โ€“ watchย social media!)

Saturday 15th April 2023 ย Billy Walton Band

Saturday 6th May 2023 ย  Kyla Brox Band

Saturday 27th May 2023 ย  Gerry Jablonski Band

Saturday 10th June 2023 ย  Eric Bell Band

Friday 13th October 2023 ย Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia band

Saturday 28th October 2023 ย Susan Santo

Crammer Working Party to ask Devizes Town Council to Endorse Dubious Approach to Future Management of the Crammer

Okay, I know, last thing I want is to be is a stuck record, always waffling about a pond in Devizes, but allow me thus, to express concerns in line with public opinion over the recommendation by the Crammer Working Party that the Committee endorses the approach being adopted by the Crammer Working Party in relation to the future management of the Crammer, which is due to be put forward in a Devizes Town Council Recreation & Properties Committee meeting on Tuesday 28th Marchโ€ฆbecause itโ€™s beyond wonkyโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Content of the agenda prioritises evaluations of the performance of council-run venues, including a report on the Hillworth Park Cafรฉ, running a net operating loss of ยฃ16,674. It sure is a nice cafรฉ, and nice to have a cafรฉ in the park, but if the preposterousness of the council isnโ€™t highlighted by the notion thereโ€™s a shop nearby which is considerably cheaper and, generalising, the most common users of the park are youths and families, the least groups with disposable funds right now to accommodate a costly cuppa and slice of cake when the shop will provide a viable alternative, the notion The Crammer Working Party is dedicated to the task it was set surely is the icing on the cake.

โ€œA recommendation that the Committee endorses the approach being adopted by the Cramer Working Party in relation to the future management of the Crammer,โ€ then, is the header to the section Iโ€™m dubious about. The Crammer Working Party being the very two councillors who weโ€™ve recently underscored for lying on social media about DEFRA testing the swans which died in Decemberโ€™s extreme cold spell, falsely confirming it was bird flu, staging a campaign to starve the birds by encouraging the public not to safely feed them and to argue with anyone defying their opinion by feeding, and censoring and banning anyone from their Facebook groups who dared to question it; yeah, those committed councillors!

The background explains a Planning Committee on 14th February where a loose association of concerned residents called Friends of the Crammer requested installation of specific wildlife warning signage, after several occasions where wildfowl had been killed by traffic. Which was promptly shot down by the Working Party members stating there was too much signage already and they considered more to be a distraction for drivers.

If the purpose of the report, is for the Committee to consider if it supports the working partyโ€™s approach to dealing with issues relating to the Crammer, let me explain to you exactly what they hypocritically came up with. Adamant specific warning signage would have a โ€œlimited impact on mitigating the issues surrounding wildlife and the adjoining highways, there is a sense that changing the way humans interact with wildlife may help, and one option may be to have a series of information boards surrounding the Crammer. These would give advice on the type of wildlife present, their behaviours as well as details on the history of the Crammer, including what its original use was.โ€ (“The way humans interact with wildlife may help” ?? They’re not running them over on purpose, I hope, or is that what they’re suggesting?!)

Butโ€ฆ.butโ€ฆ.but I thought you said there was too much signage already, and anymore would be a distraction, and now youโ€™re suggesting a small sign warning drivers to beware of wildfowl, which is pretty much standard in similar areas nationwide will have a limited impact, but whopping gurt information billboards labelling the species like itโ€™s a zoo is absolutely fine and dandy, and you expect a council to be blind to the hypocrisy here?!

What the council must decide is the purpose of the Crammer Working Party, which was in the eyes of the public to ensure the future conservation of the area and protection of the wildlife. Yet, in week where four ducks have been run over in separate incidents, The Crammer Working Party did not believe that the โ€œinstallation of signage was the right solution to the problem,โ€ and propose to babble on about the heritage of the Crammer, stating โ€œthere is also a significant heritage value associated with the Crammer, which should not be overlooked. To support this, various stakeholders have been sent a request to share their views on this aspect.โ€

In conclusion, then, if in true conservative philosophy the stakeholders and heritage of the site is more important to the Working Party than the feelings of the public that improvements to protect the wildlife needs attention, what really needs attention is the objectives of this Working Party. Members of the Friends of the Crammer are understandably outraged. One key member passionate about the wildlife there demands the Council gets rid of the Crammer Working Party, calling out the report as a โ€œthinly disguised attempt to play at being in charge and asserting control, but has highlighted that the CWP have no clue as to what is urgently needed. In almost a year since forming, the CWP have at no point indicated that the problems facing the Crammer wildlife are recognised or understood. What has instead been illustrated is ignorance of fatalities and health issues, ignorance of wildfowl habitat usage, and an unwillingness to listen to and discuss issues with the public actively supporting the Crammer wildlife. Instead, the CWP appears intent on maintaining an illusion that the CWP are active in the interests of the wildlife and the Crammer engaged public, when any one of those actively supporting Crammer wildlife daily can refute any such idea. The proposal of information boards is monstrously indicative of the CWP’s ignorance and unwillingness to engage and consult, adding to the built environment will only materially add to the obstacles and clutter mute swans must negotiate when attempting to move between the water surface and the grazing/rest/runway areas. Less obstacles need to be the objective, not more.โ€

Other members are wary, pondering โ€œif we go in all guns blazing, are we not in danger of the council becoming more intransigent?โ€ Of which I understand, but am hopeful councillors will see the logic that if a simple warning signpost is considered “clutter” an information board would be more so, having no effective reason for supporting. But the consensus is after taking a year to produce, the report is a farcical non-event, which says absolutely nothing. The group even proposes the possibility of creating their our own report with proposals based on research, expert advice, local knowledge and general feedback.

So, yeah, I know, itโ€™s just a duck pond, but a good and effective town council is being overshadowed by a few bad eggs, and this is symbolic of the charade. Maybe the Crammer Working Party could consider a tally chart on their information boards, so drivers can cross off the species of duck theyโ€™ve run over?!

Maybe rather than stare aimlessly at a stating-the-bloody-obvious sign saying, โ€œthis is a mallard, this is a swan, this is a moorhen,โ€ future generations could look more favourably at us, being the ones who took steps to better protect the wildlife depicted on the board, rather than wonder why a board exists without any evidence of the wildlife referenced on it!

Add a Dodo onto their anticipated information board, for the very idea of this so-called Working Party should be as dead as one! The Meeting is Tuesday 28th March, at the Cheese Hall, immediately following Planning Committee, you can attend to see the local council in action, you can witness if your money will spent on an elaborate superfluous information board against the objections of the public who think a far more effective and inexpensive warning sign really isnโ€™t that much to ask for.

Song of the Week: Lewis McKale

Song of the week this week comes from Brighton’s singer-songwriter Lewis McKale, a Billy Bragg-ish harmonica and guitar combo breakup song from his forthcoming album, Self Help Tape.…

Retrospectively shouty, Thanks For Nothing is as anti-Against All Odds, as Dylan’s Positively 4th Street, but if that’s not selling it to you, it’s a moreish grower with a unique composition, ideal for a damp spring evening as you watch rain drizzle down the window with lukewarm tea in a chipped mugโ€ฆ.which is what I’m currently engaged in, because it’s better than BBC1.

Got to rain, though, hasn’t it?! Likewise, musicians must express themselves, and this is heartfelt simplicity at its best.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 22nd โ€“ 28th March 2023

All the ickle birdies singing in the blossom, and itโ€™s beginning to look at bit more like spring, which it should, being equinox, which basically means, take a raincoat to all the events weโ€™ve found to do in Wiltshire this coming week!

As usual, more information and ticket links to everything I waffle on about here can be found on our event calendar. I know, like a stuck record I say this every week, but listen up; this article is put out on the Monday or Tuesday of each week, and is compiled from many sources, from individual venueโ€™s websites, and various social media groups. Once published you can guarantee someone, somewhere, usually on a Facebook share, will inevitably say โ€œoh, you forgot this!โ€

So, with this in mind, I do try to update the article, but be aware not always, so the best place to go and check for updates towards the end of the week is our calendar, as it will be updated there.

It’s never an easy task, to remember to check everywhere, itโ€™s like data juggling, and often stuff gets missed, but never think itโ€™s because we donโ€™t like you, or something similar, itโ€™s only that we missed it within the perpetual overload of information coming in! We love you all, please message us if you know of something we forgot and weโ€™ll do our upmost to get your event out there.

Onwards, to Wednesday 22nd March 2023, when as ever thereโ€™s an acoustic jam at the Southgate in Devizes. Opening night for Made in Dagenham at the Neeld in Chippenham, and thatโ€™s running up to Saturday 25th.

Also running until Saturday, Sheelagh Stephensonโ€™s dark comedy, The Memory of Water is presented by Rondo Theatre Company at The Rondo in Bath.

Afrobeat/funk at The Bell in Bath with Worm Discs Attackโ€™s DunDunDun.

Argentine tango king and Strictly Come Dancing legend, Vincent Simone, brings his show Tango Passions to the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, with Paula Duarte as his leading lady.

Thursday 23rd and The History of Soul, a joyous, life-affirming celebration of soul music through the years performed by a truly exceptional 9-piece band can be found at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Jessie Phelps plays The Tuppenny in Swindon, with Trashed, Sweet Diego and Palps at The Vic. Endorsed by Rodโ€™s own family, Some Guys Have All the Luck โ€“ The Rod Stewart Story comes the Wyvern Theatre.

The Sylvertones play The Bear in Bradford-on-Avon, Steve Knightleyโ€™s 2023 solo tour, Unlock Me & Other Lockdown is at Chapel Arts, Bath. Wildlife presenter Gordon Buchananโ€™s 30 Years in the Wild is at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 24th Wilswood Buoys, Meg and Ed Dyke play the Pump in Trowbridge, The Lost Trades are at Chapel Arts in Bath.

Celebrated Irish singer songwriter Brigid Mae Power paints expansive songs that are effortless, hypnotic, and folk-oriented, at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Find Stanton PLC and Yur Mum at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. While The AKA Trio play the Wiltshire Music Centre. AKA Trio is the result of 12 years of friendship between three world-renowned virtuosos: Italian guitarist, Antonio Forcione; Senegalese kora player, Seckou Keita and Brazilian percussionist, Adriano Adewale.

Looks like the last time youโ€™ll ever get to see punk legends Cockney Rejects, as they play a farewell tour at The Vic in Swindon, with Angry Itch and Street Outlaws in support. For a more relaxed evening in Swindon, find The Simon and Garfunkel Story at the Wyvern Theatre.

Black Sabbath tribute, Sack Sabbath at the Tree House in Frome, while more dance tributes play The Cheese & Grain, Chemical Dance and Daft Punk Experience.

Right, now, starting off with a craft fair at Melksham Assembly Hall, Saturday 25th is humongous, so pay attention! Iโ€™m at least triple-booked with no idea which I want to do; might have to flip a coin!

Guest at the last Jon Amorโ€™s monthly residency at the Southgate, Thomas Atlas brings his full band to Long Street Blues Club in Devizes, and thatโ€™ll be lovely. But folk artist John E Wright plays down The Cellar Bar, the incredible Plan of Action play The Three Crowns, Devizes Scooter Club presents legendary northern soul DJ Terry Hendrick at The Cavalier, and DJ Flash is at The Exchange.

Any of these will be great, but, one of our favourite-most, local dark country blues band, Concrete Prairie play The Southgate, Devizes, and this is unmissable, guys; that means donโ€™t miss it(!!) and Iโ€™m sorry to everyone else, but I must, by law, make this Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week!

Now, thatโ€™s not all, because there will be trippy sita playing at The Barge on Honey-Street when Omnivibes arrive in the evening, but before this, from around 3pm, our favourite Marlborough eighties new-wave/goth duo, Deadlight Dance will play a set, you may recall they came to my birthday party a few weeks gone. Personally, Iโ€™m having difficulties remembering much of that evening, with no explanation why.

Another damn fine choice, is to head to The Lamb in Marlborough, for if Pants were invited to play Vyv and Jackieโ€™s farewell party as landlords there, the new owners have only gone and invited them back; utter madness, is precisely what youโ€™ll find, and The Vooz are also playing.

Sheer Music presents indie favourites Arms & Hearts at the trusty Pump in Trowbridge, with Ed Poole in support (ignore the date on my poster, it’s changed.) The lovely Sour Apple play the Wiltshire Yeoman.

Ignore the date here, it is on Saturday!

Tequila Slammers play at Melksham Rock n Roll Club, while Peaky Blinders Band do their thing at The Pilot in the Sham.

A whole host of amazing choirs from across Wiltshire descend on Calneโ€™s Pocket Park for The Big Sing 2023: A song for Elton, a glittering finale to this yearโ€™s fabulous Calne Spring Sing, as they film a very special 76th birthday message for one of the best-selling artists of all time, Sir Elton John.

Iron Maiden tribute at Chippenhamโ€™s Consti Club, Ed Force One.

Find the wonderful Kirsty Clinch at Suave in Westbury.

Triple bill at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, with The Bolsheviks, The Setbacks & Split Dog. Dom Martin plays Chapel Arts, Bath.

Pearl Jam tribute, Earl Ham at the Vic in Swindon, and social media sensation and Chortle Award winner, Rosie Holt debuts an hour of comedy based on her smash-hit satirical videos at the Wyvern Theatre.

Thom Belk will be at Wilton Live at Michael Herbert Hall in Wilton.

Gaz Brookfield plays The Tree House in Frome, while King King play The Cheese & Grain, with Glenn Tilbrook.

Sunday 26th, Furlined at The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon, Fly Yeti Fly at Schtumm, The Queens Head in Box, and thereโ€™s an album crowdfunding launch for this ever-hotter Blues & Rhythm ensemble, Kirris Riviere & The Delta du Bruit at The Bell, Bath.

Revolution Performing Arts School presents The Soaring Revolution at Swindon Arts Centre.

At the The Cheese & Grain, Frome Voices sing Mozart.

Monday 27th and itโ€™s the opening night of hidden Shakespearean gem Measure for Measure at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, running until April 1st, when they have their open day. Directed by Liz Sharman, see preview here.

Ben Tunnicliffeโ€™s Nowhere Ensemble bring synth bass, bass clarinet, drums and keys into the room marked jazz and donโ€™t entirely behave as expected, at The Bell in Bath.

Tuesday 28th, Crazy Bird Comedy is back at The Piggy Bank in Calne, with Andrew Bird headlining, and Tuesday also sees Dreamcoat Stars at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, and Ivo Grahamโ€™s My Future My Clutter at Swindon Arts Centre.

Ruth Blake plays The Bell in Bath.

And thatโ€™s your lot. If itโ€™s not enough to be getting on with, you need to be thinking about buying tickets for Devizes Musical Theatreโ€™s 9 to 5 at Dauntseyโ€™s, which starts on Wednesday 29th. Have a great week, hope to see you around!

See Behind the Scenes: Open Day at The Wharf Theatre

Saturday April 1st, between 10am and 2pm The Wharf Theatre in Devizes are holding their second ever open day, itโ€™s free and open to all. Whether youโ€™ve been in the theatre before, or not, everyone is welcome to come and see what goes on at the Theatre and what goes into putting on a show…..

There will be a collection of costumes, and guided theatre tours – even to darkest depths of the Wharf visitors donโ€™t usually see, like the tech box and green room.

An entirely free event which will be offering refreshments. If youโ€™re interested in joining the theatre groups, either on the stage or behind the scenes, people will be on hand to chat about the various roles, but even if you fancy popping in for a cuppa and a look around, theyโ€™re welcome.

Publicity director Karen said, โ€œfollowing the lockdowns, when it looked for a while that we might not survive, we were saved with the help of the lovely local people who donated to our Just Giving Page, we would like to think that we are the little theatre who the town took to its heart and helped to save.โ€

Next show at The Wharf is hidden Shakespearean gem, Measure for Measure, running from March 27th to the open day on April 1st. See our preview here.

Trending….

YEA Devizes: DOCA New Youth Project

Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts announced their upcoming project, YEA Devizes today. Made possible by a grant from National Grid Electricity Transmissionโ€™s Community Grant Programme, theโ€ฆ

The Mist; New Single from Meg

Chippenhamโ€™s young folk singer-songwriter Meg, or M3G if you want to get numeric, will release her 6th single The Mist on Friday 18th October, andโ€ฆ

Danny, Champion of the Food Bank

Featured Image: Bob Naylor/WaterMarx Media

While The Trussell Trust created the first food banks in 2000, under Tony Blair, usage of them rose by a staggering 2,612% during David Cameronโ€™s term as Prime Minister. It didnโ€™t stop him barefacedly posing for a Tweet mucking in with Chipping Nortonโ€™s โ€œChippy Larder.โ€

Devizes MP Danny Kruger joined the food poverty hypocrisy voting against Marcus Rashfordโ€™s campaign to extend free school meals over lockdown. Speaking in defence of ministersโ€™ continuing refusal to U-turn the policy, he reasoned in the Gazette & Herald, โ€œthe problem is generous, unconditional, universal benefit entitlements trap people in dependency on the state and rightly enrage people who are working hard for themselves. Thatโ€™s why I believe in a more flexible, community-led approach to welfare.โ€

To address local causes of financial hardship, community organiser at Devizes and District Foodbank, Alex Montegriffo, arranged a meeting with Danny Kruger last month, with members of Devizes community, and representatives from local charities; letโ€™s see these โ€œgenerous, unconditional, universal benefit entitlements,โ€ panning out in the real world, shall we?

One hot topic was people living on houseboats, whoโ€™ve not had access to the ยฃ400 Energy Bills Support Scheme since it began. Out of the estimated 550 people living in houseboats in Wiltshire, only houseboats with a permanent residential mooring are now able to access the fund, leaving regulations for those in non-residential moorings, like marinas, in the dark, literally.

Danny Kruger agreed to write to the Canal and River Trust about using their database of houseboat license fees to distribute the ยฃ400 payment, by taking it off license fees, and potentially using their offices as permanent addresses for those with continuous cruising licenses.

Another topic was the insufficiency and lack of flexibility of the social security system, with benefits like Universal Credit often leaving applicants below destitution level. A member of Devizes community spoke, โ€œevery day I see my husband come back from work exhausted. He counts all the bills and has said, if prices rise again, he doesnโ€™t know what to do. He uses some of my disability benefit to pay his bills, and then pays me back when he gets paid. That shouldnโ€™t be right in this day and age.โ€

If claimants get into debt, even more money is taken away from their Universal Credit allowance, leaving sometimes just ยฃ100 a month or less for food and electricity.

Long and complicated application processes, even for small amounts of money or basic support, causes barriers for those who need help but are unable to fill out forms, or feel stigmatised by the process. As a result, thereโ€™s ยฃ10 million of unclaimed Pension Credit in Wiltshire, a benefit which unlocks Cost of Living Payments. Attendees heard Wiltshire Council are currently in discussion with the community organiser of Devizes and District Foodbank to simplify the application process of one of their support schemes, the Local Welfare Provision, to alleviate this issue.

A couple from Devizes described their frustration at not being encouraged to work, and feeling judged as โ€˜lesserโ€™ for not being able to work. Volunteering is not counted as work, despite the attendees contributing significantly to their community, spurring a discussion on the topic of the impact of part-time work versus full-time work versus volunteering on benefits, where the taper rate for Universal Credit discourages part-time work, and leaves some people better off not working if they cannot work full-time due to health conditions or disability.

Localising the social security system, so thereโ€™s more human contact and agency for recipients, as well as better advertising of support through local trusted individuals, was also discussed. Proposing how schemes such as The Homes and Money Hubs of Barking and Dagenham could be adapted to Devizes, as the Integrated Care Alliance already brings together some departments of Wiltshire Council with social prescribers.

If those with second homes have received their Energy Bills Support Scheme payments, but people living in houseboats are struggling, if people need more support than ever in the current cost-of-living crisis, if people feel theyโ€™ve no one to talk to, or are unable to get through on the phone for help with applications, clearly thereโ€™s lots of work to do; the food bank isnโ€™t just about giving out tins of beans.

Suggestions were made of a community hub in Devizes, with support for applying for and receiving benefits, or developing the several organisations existing at the St James Centre further. Hereโ€™s a group conversing specific topics and looking for solutions to this cost-of-living crisis in Devizes. They meet again on Thursday 30th March, 2:30-3:30pm at the Cheese Hall in Devizes Town Hall to plan and implement a project in Devizes addressing issues raised, which might be adopted in the rest of Wiltshire; if you feel you can assist, please attend.

โ€œIt would be great to get more people there to plan a project, and also be consulted on uses of the Community Fridge in the Shambles,โ€ Alex explained, โ€œalthough Danny agreed to do one action, which I’m not sure has been done or not, we agreed that sometimes it was quicker to do things ourselves.โ€

Attendees agreed to act, as they can quicker than local authorities and government. Cameronโ€™s defunct socio-political soundbite โ€œbig society,โ€ in action during these trying times, I could scoff, but tip my hat to all involved with this, for their enthusiasm and dedication. Not only Alex, but Suzanne Wigmore of Citizens Advice Wiltshire, Richard Oliver of Devizes Opendoors, Graham Martin of Sustainable Devizes, Martin Elliott of Warm Spaces Devizes and Devizes Community Fridge, Kate Brooks, Sarah Cardy and Rachel Clarke of Age UK Wiltshire, and those active members of Devizes community, thank you.

Day-to-day, though, we can all help, supporting Devizes & District Food Bank. Currently supporting an average 220 people per month, over 1,980 meals per month are supplied, which wouldnโ€™t happen without donations. You can download a BanktheFood app to keep up to date with their shortages while shopping, and drop off points for items can be found here.

Trending….

Song of the Week: Lucky Number Seven

Bristol’s purveyors of emotive post-grunge verging on etherealwave, Lucky Number Seven get our song of the week today, for their latest burst of harrowing energy, Marker Pen.

It’s neo-goth come post-punk, relished in Bauhaus lachrymose and passion, yet twisted with Foo Fighters’ fervidity, tumbling like iced water over rocks, it’s a rollercoaster four minutes full of masterful poignancy, apt for a Breakfast Club remake earring swap scene; enjoy but mind gnawing your fingernails….

The First Ever Devizes Pride Announced

If establishing Pride events in our cities and larger towns is sooo last decade, darling, we’re both keen and overjoyed to join the newer trend of small towns, even villages hosting Prides, as Devizes LGBTQ+ announce the very first Pride in Devizes on Saturday July 1stโ€ฆ.

It was an overexcited notion I put to Devizes LGBTQ+ group organiser, Oberon Christmas when they first started up a couple of years ago, and though taking it onboard as a future possibility I think they figured small acorns to begin with. Understandable, but now, with regular meets and events at The Exchange nightclub, it looks like the time is near to our own Pride here in Devizes.

Pewsey is also hosting a first Pride at the Cooper’s Field on 15th July. Melksham Pride is a couple of years strong now, that’s on 24th June at the Assembly Hall. Calne also pops its Pride cherry with a small event on Castlefields Park on theย 4th June. Of course, Pride is well-established in Chippenham, and this year sees our favourites Concrete Prairie on stage at Island Park on 17th June.

Though our details are yet to be revealed, it is a wonderful thing to be able to announce that Devizes is too to travel over the rainbow and join this festive fun. One thing, I see a lot of town councils assisting to get these small town Prides off the ground, and I do hope Devizes Town Council will follow this trend.

A Sneak Peek at Devizes Arts Festival 2023

Iโ€™m having a nose at Devizes Arts Festival website, as theyโ€™ve just published this yearโ€™s line-up, which you can find HERE. Thereโ€™s a lot of stuff I donโ€™t know of this year, but thatโ€™s no bad thing, because Iโ€™m something of an uncultured swine!

This wonderful annual arts festival on our doorstep has cultured me; turned me from bonehead bozo to bohemian squire in just a few short years! Iโ€™ve discovered so much I never thought Iโ€™d like but I did, whereas before all this I was happy with a karaoke and a bag of chips!

Bearing in mind there might be a few things left to add, particularly the free fringe events, letโ€™s see whatโ€™s in store we know about, shall we? Not to get you over-excited, it isnโ€™t until 2nd June through to the 17th, and the box office opens on 28th April, unless you’re a “friend” booking for friends starts on 11th April, see here to become a member now and get ahead of the game. But you know us, letโ€™s dip a toe in the ocean now. Iโ€™ll put pretty little stars next to ones I personally think are unmissable; favouritism, I know!

It opens with some tango, at the Assembly Room of the Town Hall on Friday 2nd June, with polar adventurer and motivational speaker Sue Stockdale at St Johns Church on the Saturday, and an evening with opera star Sir Willard White with the Kymaera Duo at Corn Exchange.

The Three Crowns plays host to the first fringe event weโ€™ve got, at 2pm on the Sunday 4th, with banjo and guitar roots combo Texas Tick Fever, and one we gave a song of the week too a few months back, the amazing Ajay Srivastav is the second free fringe gig at the Cellar Bar from 7pm, this is a must for me! First star, two stars **!

Ajay Srivastav

Walks are a big part of Devizes Arts Festival, personally Iโ€™m fine walking from the Three Crowns to the Bear on a Sunday. But the Festival Walk takes you over civil war battlefield Roundway Down, which actually sounds kinda doable!

First full week sees micro-artist Graham Short at the Town Hall on Monday 5th June, and Onarole Theatreโ€™s Jesus, My Boy at the Corn Exchange on Tuesday 6th.

Welsh, Polish, and Belgian influences fuse with the Aglica Trio at the Town Hall on Wednesday 7th, and see, thatโ€™s exactly what I meant earlier when I said about discovering new things; this year is an eye-opener, gets a star! *

And letโ€™s not stop there, because the Town Hall plays host to cello and guitar duo Dieci Cordeon on the Thursday, and you donโ€™t see this everyday in D-town! Also on Thursday, actor and singer, Lucy Stevens, and pianist Elizabeth Marcus meet for A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening.

Comedy by the weekend, with someone I do know (!) BBC New Comedian Award winner at the Edinburgh Festival, Marcus Brigstocke, is at the Corn Exchange on Friday 9th June, oh yes, star! *

Tessa Dunlopโ€™s Elizabeth & Philip โ€“ A Story of Young Love, Marriage, and Monarchy kicks off Saturday 10th, at the Town Hall. Rip-roaring alt-folk with Noble Jacks at the Corn Exchange, while fringe event is at 2pm in the Condado Lounge, Jukebox James.

Itโ€™s a hard stompinโ€™, bluegrassy, old-timey start to Sunday with a free fringe event at the British Lion with The Sisters and the Brothers, (star *,) a walk along the Wansdyke, and back to the Corn Exchange for the furniture restorer from The Repair Shop, Will Kirk.

One not to miss, local blues legend, Elles Bailey Band, on Tuesday 13th June, 8pm at the Corn Exchange, this is cool, weโ€™ve not seen Elles for an age, and it will be good to welcome her back to Devizes; star, deffo! *

Elles Bailey

Also on Tuesday, author Lois Pryceโ€™s Revolutionary Ride โ€“ One Womanโ€™s Solo Motorcycle Journey around Iran at The Bear, and Wednesday sees Clive Anderson, yes Clive Anderson, chatting about Macbeth; could be one of those where are they now moments, oh, theyโ€™re in Devizes, incredible!

I mistakenly read the next one, and thought fictional female equivalent to Dan Dare, Kitty Hawke was coming, rather St Andrews Church on Thursday 15th play host to folk duo Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow, while Chris Ingham Trio plays the Jazz of Dudley Moore at the Town Hall.

The festival draws a close with the unconventional and snappily attired boutique orchestra, Christian Garrick and the Budapest Cafรฉ Orchestra at the Corn Exchange on Friday 16th June, traditional Balkan and Russian, Iโ€™m going to star this too! *

Saturday 17th June sees a poetry workshop with Carrie Etter at the Town Hall, and the grand finale is Devonโ€™s reggae Latin funk powerhouse Malavita, which if you know be by now, they said Latin, they said reggae, Iโ€™m saving my last star for this โ€“ here it is *, and Iโ€™m there already.

The more I delve into this programme the more exciting it sounds, as ever, a refreshing break from the normal circuit, where variety knows no bounds. Well done Devizes Arts Festival, it all sounds irresistibly worthwhile looking forward to. In the meantime I’ve got to add all these to our event calendar; does it ever end?!!

Trending….

Autumn-Winter Comedy in Devizes

Comedy in Devizes is a rare thing, unless you count visitors turning right at the Shaneโ€™s Castle junction, reading opinions on the Devizes Issues (butโ€ฆ

Darren Worrow's avatar by Darren Worrow

Swindon Gets Shuffling!

Despite the population of Devizes throwing confetti and paint at each other in their most celebrated annual ritual, I believe I picked the right weekendโ€ฆ

Darren Worrow's avatar by Darren Worrow

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 15th- 21st March 2023

Windy but warm, no, not me, the weather, I mind my manners, I thank you! Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s going down this coming week across our green and (mostly) pleasant landโ€ฆ…

You should know the score by now, adding links here, ainโ€™t nobody got time fer dat! You can find all that, details, links for tickets and stuff over on our main event calendar, and you can use it to plan ahead, good huh?

Wednesday 15th Memory Cinema, wonderful idea, dementia friendly film screenings, at Swindon Arts Centre, this one is Dad’s Army.

New Yorkโ€™s musician and writer Franz Nicolay, member of cabaret-punk orchestra World/Inferno Friendship Society, the Hold Steady, Balkan-jazz quartet Guignol, and co-founder of Anti-Social Music, comes to the Pump, Trowbridge with Aimless Arrows in support.

Acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Original music at The Bell, Bath with world-folk into jazz artist Solana.

Thursday 16th is comedy night at Trowbridgeโ€™s Civic.

Dirty Sound Magnet at The Vic, Swindon, while the The Rosellys play The Tupenny.

Will Page plays Chapel Arts in Bath.

Friday 17th find Sour Apple at the Condado Lounge in Devizes, and The Truzzy Boys play The Bridge Inn, Horton.

Damn! at The Bear in Marlborough, with Al Jenkins at The Green Dragon.

Melksham Assembly Hall prepares for Giants of Rock.

Sound Affects play for St Patrickโ€™s Day at The Talbot in Calne.

Junkyard Dogs at Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Upcoming local punk-based Foxymoron are at the Pump, Trowbridge; you need to see these guys rock, and theyโ€™re with The Easy Peelers and Lonely Daughter. Be Like Will play the West Wilts Conservative Club in Trowbridge.

Hacksaw & Hot Pink Sewage & Altermoderns at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while Karport Collective are at The Boathouse, and Ineza Womenโ€™s Words, Sisters Stories is whatโ€™s in store at Wiltshire Music Centre.

House Above the Sun at Chapel Arts, Bath, and our Full Tone Orchestra are at Bath Abbey Churchyard with Karl Jenkins Adiemus.

The Unravelling Wilburys at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Come What May is the play at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. The Pre-Fab Four Beatles tribute at the Vic.

Saturday 18th is the opportunity for families to see what the fabulous Calne River Warriors get up to, and join in raft making and a woodland hunt, see poster below. In the evening, Six O’clock Circus take over The Rec Club in Calne.

The Hoodoos are at The Southgate, Devizes, with Rev at The Three Crowns, Ben Borrill at The Moonrakers, and Southern Ruin at The Dolphin. Smackdown at The Corn Exchange with CSF Superstar Wrestling, and DJ Flash is in the mix at the Exchange.

Pink Floyd night at The Barge on Honey-Street.

Songwriterโ€™s Circle at the Pump in Trowbridge provides us with Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week; with Annie Dresser, Lucy Grubb, Dan Wilde, and Luke James Williams.

Find Custyard Pye at Stallards, also in Trowbridge.

Orange Skies Theatre offer some riotous, narrative cabaret with Wild Onion at Swindon Arts Centre, while the musical theatre concert tour of Beyond The Barricade is at the Wyvern Theatre.

The awesome Barrelhouse play the Queens Tap in Swindon, Chop Suey bring nu-metal vibes to the Vic.

Some Indian classical music with Pooja Angraโ€™s new project Creative Unity, with vocalist Karan Rana, sitar player Baluji Shrivastav OBE, and tabla player Mitel Purohit, at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Ragged Union play The Three Horseshoes.

Jenny Colquitt plays Chapel Arts in Bath.

Blur tribute Blurd at The Tree House in Frome, with Hayseed Dixie at The Cheese & Grain, and Be Like Will at the Artisan Pub & Kitchen on Christchurch Street.

Sunday 19th sees Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra play Wiltshire Music Centre, in Bradford-on-Avon, and find Bob Bowles at The Three Horseshoes.

The FOS Brothers play The Bell in Bath.

Arch Garrison at The Vic, Swindon.

And a record fair at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 20th and Sue Harding & Gabriel Morenoโ€™s Troubadour Bandits play The Bell in Bath.

Tuesday 21st and the regular spoken-word open-mic Poetika is on at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury, every third Tuesday of the month. This session with guest poet, Claire H has a Through The Looking Glass theme.

Thatโ€™s all folks, but remember do check ahead for those ticketed events, keep on scrollinโ€™ our event calendar and watch out for updates. Have a fantastic weekend. Tell us if we missed anything, it’s free to list here, but you must send me some details, I’m not mystic Meg.

Trending……

Deadlight Dance New EP Chapter & Verse

Marlborough gothic duo Deadlight Dance are due to release an EP of new material. Itโ€™s called Chapter & Verse and itโ€™ll be out onโ€ฆ

An Amazing Devizes Concert for Opendoors

All images used with permission of Gail Foster

If of recent I’ve been critical about counterproductive steps taken to solve the rise in youth crime, favouring encouraging events designed for our youngest, it doesn’t mean any age demographic should miss out on live entertainment. Therefore, it was a blessing last night to see the Corn Exchange jam-packed, predominately with middle-aged and elders, enjoying a cracking musical variety concert in aid of Devizes Opendoors.…

A massive congratulations goes to the organisers, especially Dora Kan, who slaved to create an amazing rosta of entertainment and sizable raffle. Acts were tried and tested; Dora is an active member of the humongous PSG Choir, who shone for the finale with zest, ardour, and a selection of pop classics; my favourite? Well, no child of the eighties can argue with such a wonderful rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colours, now, can they?

One personal particular highlight of the event was to witness PSG members’ bubbling smiles of enthusiasm as they lined the doors awaiting their turn to shine. At one point I was nearly encased within them, praying I wouldn’t be dragged in by the crowd and expected to sing too, for this could’ve been the disastrous consequence which spoiled an otherwise unspoiled evening!

The pop gospel choir is a local amateur community-driven choir, which doubles as social group, with Will Blake as the mentor and conductor. But if the concert acted as both showcase and advertisement for this open choir, prior to this, Will was given the opportunity to also showcase himself and his trio.

Covering an era-spanning range of sing-a-long pop classics merged into a non-stop medley, The Will Blake Trio enthuses any audience with a showy display of accomplished precision. Will himself takes to a grand piano, carrying off the act in true Jerry Lee Lewis standing position. He even has the tendency to kick the stool away. To begin with The Jungle Book’s King of the Swingers is bold, to infuse it with the Jackson’s I Want You Back is surely just showing off, isn’t it?!

Will Blake Opendoors Concert 2023

It was the most amazing burst of energy to rouse the crowd after the interval, but if Will has class and style, and the choir can hold the audience in a certain awe, with the sheer number in the choir one could argue it’s not so tricky as doing this solo. This is where I came in, apologies to the amazing multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and music teacher Andrew Hurst, who I unfortunately missed.

Andrew Hurst Opendoors Concert 2023

I’d rushed home after a Devizes hockey 1sts away game in Portishead, and by the time dinner was finished I checked the listing on my own event guide to see it started ten minutes ago, an hour ealier than I’d imagined. Fancy that, I run the blasted event guide and still messed up! I heard a great response to Andrew’s set, knowing him, it’s hardly unexpected. Pre-lockdown Andrew was teaching my son piano, and his perfected work method engaged him throughly, and he’s no easy kid to engage. Dora is also tutored by Andrew. As I said, the entertainment has personal connections to Dora, which gave the evening this wonderful community ambience.

Anyway, I disgress, you don’t need to hear of my first jog up Dunkirk Hill since turning fifty, and how I suspect someone extends that hill a few extra yards everytime I scale the mountain, you need to hear, everyone needs to hear, what greeted me at the summit. As I say, a choir, yes, solo to hold a crowd spellbound, that’s another thing entirely.

Chloe Jordan was already on stage, perfectly accompanied by Susan Braunton on keys, but my inexperience in wording a critique on opera, on classical singing will show through here, in only being able to compare it to the very best of rock, blues, indie and folk singers of our usual haunts. However amazing they might be, this is way beyond. The pitch and note changes, the enriching power of this soprano holds you, encases you in the same awe as an entire orchestra.

It is, in a word, breathtaking. If the phrase using ones voice as a musical instrument is clichรฉ, there’s no better way to describe Chloe Jordan in full flight. It’s something amazing, a something to summon angels down from the heavens to listen, I kid you not!

Chloe Jordan Opendoors Concert 2023

Though we’ve not touched base on the overall joy this evening will bring, as the sellout crowd donated to the local homeless charity Devizes Opendoors; such a worthy cause. We’ve heard a staggering sum has been gratefully received, and this is the cherry on top of a wonderful evening and a testament to what can be achieved.

Chole, though, with her entertaining covers of sing-a-long classics from musicals and films, my personal highlight of which being Doris Day’s Deadwood Stage, which wowzers, if I’ve not heard for an age, I’ve never heard it performed so absolutely sublimely, I thank you, you are staggeringly amazing!

Chatting with Vanessa Tanner; Guardian Candidate for Devizes East

While it may’ve been a week of social media turmoil at Devizes Town Council, the type usually reserved for national politics, a few hours prior to the uproar, I put the phone down after the kind of conversation which left me feeling more like I’d been catching up with an old friend, rather than interviewing a candidate for a local electionโ€ฆโ€ฆ

I got the notion before chatting to hopeful Guardian Town Councillor, Vanessa Tanner she feared I’d come over all Jeremy Paxman! It’s not fair play for me to interrogate a person any more than it’s the opposition in this by-election’s morals to post exaggerated and prejudicial statements about them, though they did.

It’s impossible to publish concentrated material, such as an interview, to match the velocity of which social media accelerates, therefore I intend to produce this interview as it was said before this whoha, hoping it will shed some light on the Guardian candidate’s character and personality. Then, it is up to residents of East Devizes to decide if it’s the kind of refractory group who would slanderously magnify a trivial error in hope of sabotaging the opposition which they want on their seat at the town council, or an active member of the community, too busy cleaning the streets, engaging in support groups, and with the public, to fuss over some bitterness on bias Facebook pages.

The opposition party’s outrageous claim
Vanessa’s statement explaining the situation

Though the appropriateness of sole Councillor-controlled social media groups was a subject I coincidently wanted to verbally jab Vanessa with, it was something she didn’t dwell on, and our chat begun with the reason why we have this by-election in the first place.

Town clerk, Simon Fisher said of Jane Burton, โ€œShe was fiercely knowledgeable about all things Devizes. In the Council Chamber, Jane was a formidable force unafraid to take on anyone to get her point over; however, whilst she would not always agree with a viewpoint others would over, she would always be respectful of differing opinions. She had many skills and attributes we all admired, but she had a special ability to connect with residents, to listen and advise.โ€

So, I opened said passive interrogation(!) suggesting Vanessa had some โ€œbig boots to fill!โ€ But she extended this like birds of a feather, โ€œit was actually Jane who asked me to join the Guardians,โ€ continuing with a recollection of a quiz night, โ€œand before I knew it I was a Guardian!โ€

Vanessa has been a volunteer of Devizes Clean Up Squad for four years, and we spoke of the fantastic work they do. Though Vanessa is so active in the community, we moved swiftly onto her involvement with the โ€œLove Devizesโ€ group. โ€œYes,โ€ she explained, โ€œit started off with Love Devizes during Covid, and I was delivering meals during that time, for the people who couldnโ€™t get out, and then it changed to Love Ukraine, which I became heavily involved in, because we had the first Ukraine guests here.โ€

Devizes CUDS

Meandering already, a heart-breaking tangent ensued about her guests. Vanessa revealed how they only stayed a couple of months; after Russian concentration lessened in her hometown of Kiev, they returned to help her family, and for concern to their childrenโ€™s wellbeing. To encourage our conversation back to her as a candidate, as I felt her passion on the subject wouldโ€™ve led her to talk on this subject forever, I offered all this was evidence enough that she is a people-person. But does Vanessa hope to get the time to carry-on groups like the CUDs if she was to become a councillor?

With a tone of upmost sincerity she replied, โ€œI hope so,โ€ expressing her job had come to an end and venturing she should have enough time. Being she had stated she only had half-hour to chat, and Iโ€™d already diverted it to Ukraine, she replied, โ€œIโ€™m quite good at time management!โ€ Best rush through my questions, because Iโ€™m hopeless at it!

I wondered if there was any other charities or support groups Vanessa was actively engaged in, and that was precisely why we only had a half-hour window; she was off to work at the Dorothy House shop. โ€œAnd Sustainable Devizes is a big thing for me,โ€ Vanessa continued. Though a hot topic with the public, The Crammar isnโ€™t part of East Devizes, her association with the environmental group is enough to convince me of her penchant for wildlife and environmental issues. The Guardians in general have been engaged with talking to the Friends of the Crammar campaign group, and so we switched to the lack of electric-car charging points in Devizes. Again, though Vanessa relayed the question to a personal anecdote; her son came to stay, who has an electric car, but there is nowhere in town which an accessible charging point. โ€œSo, I raised it with Wiltshire Council, and asked on Devizes Issues, where are these car charging points, andโ€ฆ. There arenโ€™t any!โ€

Vanessa wrote to the supermarkets to ask them when they were likely to put them in, โ€œand I worked out that Devizes is the biggest town in Wiltshire without any electric car charging points.โ€ I sighed, as she sustained, โ€œI think theyโ€™re coming, there was a debate in the council a couple of weeks ago, about when they should be putting them in.โ€

New builds, I turned the subject onto. Vanessa agreeing encouraging contractors to up the percentage of affordable housing on new builds was vital to maintaining an age demographic in town, otherwise younger residents are priced out of the market. Neatly bringing us around to the other hot topic, youth crime. I asked Vanessa if she agreed we needed to improve funding for youth groups and associations. โ€œI think with any bad behaviour thereโ€™s always a reason which we have to get to the bottom of,โ€ she replied, โ€œwhat is motivating some to smash a window rather than play football, and if you can get to the bottom of the issue, itโ€™s a lot easier to get these people engaged in society again, because at the moment theyโ€™re marginalised but everybody misbehaves for a reason.โ€

I reasoned itโ€™s for the prestige, so to reduce several youths away from following the perpetrators, theyโ€™ve less of an audience reaction, lessening the thrill. โ€œThatโ€™s never a bad thing,โ€ Vanessa replied, โ€œto have more facilities. If we can get those reopened, it would be great.โ€

I admit, I hoped Vanessa would bring the subject of subsidising youth initiatives and groups up of her own accord, but in agreeing with me they should was, to be honest, a good enough baseplate. Plus, she did continue to say, โ€œI think by what Jonathan (Hunter-leader of the Guardians) was telling me, weโ€™re already quite a way down the road to getting a youth engagement officer, so, that will get the ball rolling.โ€

The importance of selecting the right person for such a job was her resultant, โ€œand thatโ€™s something a trained youth engagement officer will know how to do; weโ€™re on the road to getting one of those, and hopefully we can get to the bottom of it. Nobody wants to get their window broken, or be frightened to go out at night, and you donโ€™t want that in a town. As soon as this is dealt with the better, but I think Iโ€™m more of a carrot than a stick person!โ€

more of a carrot than a stick person!

Unaware of this idiom, I laughed, proposing it could be our headline: Vanessa; Carrot or Stick?! โ€œNobody likes to be told what to do,โ€ she explained, as I did bring my grievance about Wiltshire Council holding an open-event on the youth crime subject whereby youths themselves were unable to attend. โ€œThey like be involved with decision making. Discussion, compassion, and kindness is the way forward,โ€ Vanessa stated. In this, we must ask ourselves, exactly what is a town councillor, and what do we want from them?

Do we need them to be academics of law and national politics, seemingly expert enough to spot a minuscule flaw in the oppositionโ€™s election leaflet and expand it to a full-blown attack only for the purpose of upstaging them in a race to the position, or do we need someone so obviously concerned for our amenities, our environment and public wellbeing, motivated and active towards changing it? For the subjects we covered which do appear on Vanessaโ€™s promises, she was clearer and more adamant on; the green issues of car-charging, and cycle paths, and creating shared spaces, and keeping Devizes independently run.

Indeed, my question was one of statements inviting discussion, that national political parties should be kept out of local council, the very ethos of the Guardians. โ€œYes,โ€ she explained, โ€œso everyone in the Guardians have their own political views but theyโ€™re not bought to the table, because we are all about the town. Weโ€™re about what happens here, not about what the national parties have dictated to us.โ€

Ironically, other parties entering this election pledge a similar promise, though assigned to a national party for funding, they unyielding suggest they too are independently based, though I must ask, surely if someone is funding your campaign, theyโ€™ll demand you sway in their favour, at least tow the party line, and carry out the position with the shared philosophy. โ€œI canโ€™t answer for them!โ€ Vanessa laughed it off, โ€œI just know the Guardians are independent, and we will do whatโ€™s best for our town.โ€

And herein lies my concluding section, on councillorโ€™s use of social media, of which you should note happened before the brash and vastly embellished statements of their breaking of election law, by the oppositionโ€™s Conservative campaigner Iain Wallis, on his self-run Facebook group. I put to Vanessa, โ€œsocial media is another sour point with the public now, because while itโ€™s an advantage for councillors to gage public opinion, and visa-versa, some feel those councillors active on social media arenโ€™t really listening to them, rather brashly using it to blow their trumpets, and those who disagree are censored. Do you feel what we need is more attention to a create a united council social media output, so the majority, voice of a united council is the definite article?โ€

โ€œWouldnโ€™t that be lovely?!โ€ Vanessa responded with, โ€œin an ideal world! Youโ€™ve got twenty-odd different characters, havenโ€™t you? I think they came together for Covid, Ukraine, the bigger things, but theyโ€™re different adults from different backgrounds who are bound to disagree.โ€

But thatโ€™s what a council is, isnโ€™t it; to discuss these things, nail out a definite agreeance, and then go onto social media, unitedly announcing the decision? โ€œSocial media is a tool, but also a dangerous place to air your grievances. We have got a social media policy, created by Wiltshire Council, and in the main work occasionally thereโ€™s a little bit of spat, but it settles down again. But thatโ€™s not the place to air your dirty laundry, in my opinion. I use social media to inform people of whatโ€™s going on, not to have an argument.โ€ How sad that not hours after Vanessa told me this, she was victim to this precise kind of attack by the opposition, only to better their chances of winning the by-election on 30th March? It says more about them than her.

Vanessa would like to conclude, she is โ€œa real-person, just because I do a lot of community work doesnโ€™t mean I donโ€™t find time to get out and enjoy the pubs and restaurants of Devizes.โ€ She giggled throughout this bit, โ€œI try to frequent all of them, but not all at once! There are twenty-two drinking establishments, youโ€™d be a mess at the end of it, wouldnโ€™t you?โ€ I didnโ€™t like to suggest, Iโ€™d given it my best shot, so our chat regressed back to local environmental issues, for itโ€™s something Vanessa is obviously passionate about, but in this is precisely her character and charm, and itโ€™s infectious, exactly what I believe we need in a town councillor.

Trending….

Fulltone Confirmed For 2025 in Devizes

The Fulltone Orchestra has confirmed today that their annual festival will take place on The Green in Devizes from 25th โ€“ 27th July 2025โ€ฆ. โ€œItโ€™sโ€ฆ

Get ‘Lifted’ by Chandra

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-punkโ€ฆ

Local Book Review: Dadโ€™s New Dress

Spent most of Pride month, and the following month too (what? Iโ€™m a slow reader and a busy chap!) reading an apt book, given toโ€ฆ

Bradford-on-Avon Raises ยฃ250,000 For New Skatepark

Communities, getting together, fundraising, and doing something good for their town’s youth. It might sound like the stuff of Terry Pratchett fantasy here in Devizes right now, but over in Bradford-on-Avon, it’s a reality…..

They’ve successfully raised their ยฃ250,000 target and invited the town to come and see their new skatepark designs earlier this afternoon at St Margaretโ€™s Hall.

Maverick Skateparks have been busy perfecting their final plans and are presenting them to the full council, to vote on passing on to the construction phase. Campaigners intended to cram the council offices with supporters, we hear it went well.

This is what working with and listening to the public can achieve, Wiltshire Council, proactive engagement in providing facilities for youth, rather than condemning them in meetings, least so-called “drop-in” events deliberately arranged at such a time our younger generation would be unable to attend, much less air their views upon.

Well done, Bradford-on-Avon, for it’s more than a skatepark. It’s a testament to community spirit in an era that has seen so many youth enterprises and facilities cut back. If heaven is a halfpipe, you are the gods of the 180!

Here Comes the Girls; Celebrating International Womenโ€™s Day with our Local Musicians

Opps, it didnโ€™t occur to me until afterwards, we only had the lads play for us at my birthday celebration at the Three Crowns on Saturday. Not intentional, just the way the cookie crumbled, but itโ€™s no coincidence that today, my actual birthday, falls on International Womenโ€™s Day!

Like any other industry, the history of the music bizโ€™s treatment of women may be questionable, but itโ€™s fair to say as far as creative output goes, girls have been at the forefront since pop begun. There are so many talented females on our local circuit, so boys, go vegetate with your X-Box for a moment while we give a deserved roll-call to as many of our favourite girls on the scene as I can think of…โ€ฆ (in alphabetical order so there’s no arguments or hair-pulling!)

Annalise

Oh, for the haunting vocals of Annalise, fronting Salisburyโ€™s purveyors of folk-gothic rock, Strange Folk. So captivating, so evocative; think Amy Lee of Evanescence, and youโ€™re not far off the mark.

Becca Maule

Promising Salisbury teenager Becca is an acoustic singer-songwriter who has been known to occasionally strap a band of friends together. Coming from a post-punk angle, thereโ€™s some chatty punk-rock Kate Nash-fashioned vocals on some astutely self-penned songs and covers. Themes include contemporary teenage anguish, climate change and mental health.

Becky Lawrence

Drifted from the shores of the Isle of Man to anchor in Wiltshire, I first heard country singer-songwriter Becky Lawrence supporting the annual Female of The Species fundraiser. A young Becky started out in musical theatre, then trekked to London to attend London School of Musical Theatre. This training shows in her confident and accomplished solo show, and within powerful original compositions. Again, themes of maturing and relationships are key, and if you think this is somewhat clichรฉ, Becky puts her stamp on them with poise and exquisiteness. Her first single You Say reached the number 1 spot in the UK Country Music Charts on iTunes, her second gained over 90K streams on Spotify, but her latest my favourite, Loud and 17 is what kept me in awe of her performance.

Belinda Lee

Fronting Bristol soul four-piece Belle Day, this is a new one on me though theyโ€™ve been on the southwest circuit for some years, and Iโ€™m happy to report being blown away by these breath-takingly powerful vocals, of the classic Stax-Motown era. Itโ€™s smooth blues flavour is ballroom jazzy with a hint of R&B.

Charmaigne Andrews

Melkshamโ€™s premier rock soloist, tattoo artist, and one-fifth of The Female of the Species, Charmaigne is a force to be reckoned with. Powerful, soulful vocals enrich either solo performances or her newfound rock covers four-piece, Siren.

Chole Jordan

Perhaps the odd one out amidst these pop performers, but when you hear music teacher and classically trained soprano Chloe sing, angels will come down from the heavens to listen, officially!

Claire Connor

Show me a female-fronted Muse trump card, and Iโ€™ll raise you Trowbridge based acoustic trio Be Like Will. Popular on our pub circuit, theyโ€™ve already got some originals under their belt, as well as their popular rock covers. Claire controls the lads, and will hold you captivated too! Book these guys.

Claire Grist

Formerly of People Like Us, Claire now performs with six-piece function band LiveWired.

Claire Perry

Self-described as โ€œbarking!…daft…loyal…technophobic…achey chunk!โ€ we love Claire, for her outrageous onstage banter, and her contribution to Female of the Species. Find this devilish diva fronting Melkshamโ€™s most popular cover band, Big Mammaโ€™s Banned.

Evie Halpin

Iโ€™m yet to catch Evie play live. Pewseyโ€™s resident Joss Stone, she brings soulful vocals to her solo show, the like you wouldnโ€™t believe; ergo, Evie is on top of my must-see-list. A singer-songwriter citing Billy Holiday and Nina Simone as influences, so expect some blue soul. You can find Evie regularly at the open mic nights at The Exchange in Devizes, often playing the Moonrakers in Pewsey.

Harmony Asia

Folk with a touch of soul for this knockout singer-songwriter and acoustic musician from Chippenham, look Iโ€™ll leave you a YouTube link from Mr Mooreโ€™s days at Trowbridge Town Hall, and you can make your own mind up, but we think Harmony Asia is really something special!

Helen Carter

One half of husband and wife Devizes blues trio, 12 Bars Later, this wonderful couple can hold the kind of crowd spellbound which would usually take a six piece supergroup of legends!

Julia Hanratty

Frome-based Julia Greenwood is probably the vocalist of the Female of the Species Iโ€™m least familiar with, but through her soul ballads she wows me every year. Lead singer from Soulville Express, it is as it says, Julia can hold the note of Aretha Franklin with remarkable ease.

Julie Morton

Ah, our Jules, jewel in the ska crown of Wilsthire. Train to Skaville is the longest-running, chugging along since 2011, bestest ska and reggae cover band in the county, and let the lord Walt Jabsco strike me down if it isnโ€™t so. Also, key member of charity fundraising supergroup, Female of the Species, Jules skanks and we love her for it!

Katie Mills

Be it as a solo performer or with acoustic guitarist Sue in the duo Sour Apple, Katie commands any generation-spanning cover with all the power and finesse of the original. Breath-taking to think Katie will attribute a Whitney Houston set with certain ease, and her powerful vocal range I liken to Alison Moyet. Yet through her work in Sour Apple, the duo has set about creating many a sublime original, and works them into a set with equal passion. Prolifically gigging locally theyโ€™re the up-coming name which can accommodate any kind of venue or pub, and bring their shine to the punters.

Listen to their recent interview with Peggy-Sue of Swindon 105, here.

Kirsty Clinch

What can we say about Westburyโ€™s finest musical export, Kirsty Clinch that we havenโ€™t already? Concentrating on her childrenโ€™s music school First Melodies primarily these days, on the rare occasion our wonderful country singer-songwriter and music teacher is performing, you need to be there when she does. Kirsty is prolific in releasing some of most beautiful songs to bless my ears, and is astute with her business plans, self-managed, self-promoter and recently launching her own brand of clothing and merchandise.

Lorraine

Chippenham based duo, David and Lorraine take tribute acts to the next level. Lorraine makes the perfect Blondie, but theyโ€™ll add popular two-tone ska covers in too, making for a highly entertaining show. Blondie and Ska will liven your pub up, and get everyone up dancing.

Lucianne Worthy

Plan of Action are the Wiltshire rock, blues and alternative band which pack a punch. Itโ€™s loud and proud, and for every loud and proud rock band you need a killer bassist, the only girl in the group, Lucianne is the personification of rock bass!

Naomi

Lead singer with Salisburyโ€™s nu-cool indie sovereigns, Timid Deer. Arguably the most underrated local band, Timid Deerโ€™s unique sound is enchanting, Naomiโ€™s vocals are stunning, and this band does to indie-rock as Morcheeba did to trip hop.

Nicky Davis

Last but by no means least, we come to our final contributor to fundraising supergroup Female of the Species, Nicky Davis. Whether upfront vocalist or behind her landmark red keyboard, Nicky is a powerhouse. Fronting function band The Reason and lifetime member of our celebrated covers band, People Like Us, entertaining our pubs since 2016, Nicky, we love you!

Sally Dobson

Havenโ€™t heard from Sally for a while, I know she moves about a bit and believe she resides closer to Oxford. Still her wonderful acoustic sets a few years ago justify her presence on this here hall of fame, and her work with the gothic duo Strange Tales, which seems a little inactive of recent. Still, I never forget a talented musical lady when I meet one!

Sarah C Ryan

The Sarah C Ryan Band describe themselves as โ€œmelodic low slung rock pop with a country/folk tinge,โ€ and I always feel they sell themselves down, unaware of how completely mind-blowingly fantastic they are. This, if you perchance to see them at a gig adds a delightful element of surprise. If the name comes over a tad โ€œfunction bandโ€ too, you should take heed, theyโ€™re far from run-of-the-mill. Recently did one of the best Visual Radio Arts features Iโ€™ve seen, I see if I can drop the link to it……

Sara Vian

Frome based Welsh hippy-chick singer/songwriter Sara Vian is in her element singing jazz, soul and blues with a fabulous sunny vibe which charms and disarms with a distinction all her own, and she rides this with bells on.

Collaborating with the Graham Dent Trio, Sara has also released a number of singles over the Lockdown, and wonderfully acoustic goodness they are too!

Sienna Wileman

Daughter to Swindonโ€™s answer to Mike Oldfield, Richard Wileman, an incredibly prolific composer of pre-symphonic rock band Karda Estra, where there is nothing vertical or frenetic about his musical approach, the apple doesnโ€™t fall far from the tree. Though where singer-songwriter Sienna differs is theme, we hear topics of adolescence, youthful relationships, and perhaps their collapses, in this angelic voice of reason. Siennaโ€™s music is experimental too, easy-going, and ambient, and I predict great things from one the most promising young artists locally.

Sophia Bovell

Sophia & Soul Rebels

Swindonโ€™s astounding and versatile singer of soul, Sophia has many guises, as lively five-piece soul, Motown, disco, and reggae band, Sophia & The Soul Bothers, formerly Soul Rebels, and more recently a jazz ensemble simply called Sophia Bovell โ€“ Jazz. Sophia can hold that note like the great soul divas, and with skilled backing can put the funk into any event.

Sue Harding

I first met Sue as an interviewer at the now based in Devizes, Visual Arts Radio, but soon came to realise she is a magnificent Celtic and Americana acoustic folk singer-songwriter too, of the Wilts-Somerset border.

Tamsin Quin

Last in our alphabetical hall of fame, but certainly not least! One third of our beloved acoustic modern country vocal harmony trio, The Lost Trades, Tamsin is the stalwart female acoustic singer-songwriter on our circuit, and her flair partly the reason for me starting Devizine as this voyage of discovery into the mostly undocumented wealth of local talent we have here. It should be pointed out the combo was created out of their many collaborations with each other in the past, and each of them, Phil, Jamie, and Tamsin, have had and continue to pursue solo careers aside The Lost Trades. Since highlighting all the individuals of this fantastic trio, The Trades continue to go from strength-to-strength, and are bonded so specially I cannot now visualise life without their wonderful harmonies in it! And Tamsin is the connecting link between the guys, and long may be so.

I do ask Tammy about a second solo album, since the amazing Gypsy Blood debut, and while she never brushes off the notion, her dedication to the Trades is paramount; yeah, I totally get that!

Thatโ€™s about all I think of, and I like thinking about girls! But I know a few are going to say, hey, you missed me out! Iโ€™m sorry if I did, and can edit it if you let me know! Have a great International Womenโ€™s Day, and to everyone listed on this โ€œhall of fameโ€ just keep it up, girls, continue the amazing contributions to our music circuit, for without you the guys would probably just be hanging around a kebab van wondering if theyโ€™re on yet, and asking where is the gig anyway!

Potterne, and its Festival

Itโ€™s one Devizine overlooked somewhat last year, arranged rather last minute, clashed with Full-Tone, but was still a 1,250-strong sell-out nonetheless. Potterne is not all about Ruth Pearce and Mummer plays, it has an annual festival, and so I caught up with organiser Richard Fred Kerley, to question him about this yearโ€™s.

Two hundred tickets have gone already, for the sunny date of Sunday 27th August. He told me, โ€œWe have increased tickets to 1,500 this year.โ€ Ticket prices capped the same last year, and are tremendously reasonable; adults at ยฃ15, under 18s for a fiver and under 5s go free.

Once known as Potterne Beer Festival, I asked Richard if the beer-tag had been dropped to make it more universal. โ€œYes,โ€ he confirmed, โ€œwe used to concentrate on beer when we first started. Now it is more about music and families.โ€ Still got a handsome beer glass on the poster with a large selection of beers and ciders promised, so never fear!

โ€œGood line up, we think,โ€ Richard continued. With two tributes, Forever Elton and Bootleg Bee Gees, and the Fortunate Sons, I agreed, plus some our fav locals here at Devizine, astounding brit-poppers Billy Green 3, those faithful Truzzy Boys, and the amazingly talented Illingworth.

Noting children’s entertainment on the poster, I expressed, though Iโ€™m personally not one for bouncy castles these days, I think this is an often-overlooked important feature at our smaller local festivals as the last thing you need is bored kids! โ€œWe have two bouncy castles and face painting,โ€ Richard informed me, โ€œwhich is extra this year.โ€ Then he boasted three food stalls; pizza, hog roast and a burger van, he sure knows how to push my buttons!

But hereโ€™s another great thing about Potterne Festival; thereโ€™s nothing Royston Vasey about it, it provides a free bus service from Devizes. โ€œThe bus runs from outside Devizes School,โ€ Richard explained, โ€œto the Grove, starting at 11.45, roughly every twenty minutes.โ€ One might fairly conclude itโ€™s bonkers to provide Devizes folk with a means to escape and flood their village, but hey, sometimes you need to let them off their leash, and this all sounds good to me!

For updates, here’s their Facebook page.

Trending…..

Some Days with Paul Lappin

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 aroundโ€ฆ

Imberbus is running this Saturday !

Following on from last monthโ€™s email, this is a final reminder that yearโ€™s Imberbus service will be running this coming Saturday โ€“ 17th August 2024.โ€ฆ

Marlborough, I’ve Seen Your Pants

โ€œWe can’t stop here. This is Tory country,โ€ I chuckled while fiercely yanking the handbrake, as if Dr Gonzo was in the car. We canโ€ฆ

What Passes for Entertainment in Seend, Rolling Naked in Muck Heaps?!

Got to be the most bizarre village group Facebook post of the week, when Seend resident Amy Plumb caught a fellow rolling in her neighbourโ€™s muck heap on Sunday evening, stark naked!

Theyโ€™ve got their community centre and two great pubs, is this what passes for entertainment in Seend, or just in the Cleeve, I wonder, or was he just trying to keep warm?! More worryingly, could this become something of a trend? Are you contemplating a liberating naked roll in a muck heap anytime soon, and now youโ€™re gutted because this guy beat you to it?! Provided it’s not a satanic worship sort of thing, weโ€™d love to hear from you, after a shower, that is. This is Wiltshire street theatre gold.

After his solo romp in the steaming heap, Ms Plumb told the Facebook Seend Village Group, โ€œhe jumped in the car covered in it!โ€ Probably made him late for work at county hall!   

Noted residents didnโ€™t recognise the vehicle sounds like an attempt to divert any media coverage from suggesting itโ€™s exclusively a Seend kind of pastime to me, they’ve probably been at it for centuries! While Seend village is considered sophisticated, itโ€™s those Cleeve lot youโ€™ve got to watch out for! Some residents said they were glad theyโ€™ve spread theirs, others pointed out itโ€™s where you find the best eggs!

โ€œKeep an eye on your muck heaps,โ€ is the worthy advice given, for who knows when or where this mysterious naked muck heap rolling prankster will strike next! What a mucky imp.

Trending…..

Ruzz Up The Gate!

I was intending to start this along the lines of โ€œyou don’t need me to provide another reason why I love The Southgate,โ€ but thisโ€ฆ

Sing Another Love Song with Rosie Jay

Second impressive single from young Salisbury singer-songwriter Rosie Jay is released today. Sing Another Love Song; a sound of the summerโ€ฆ.. Her debut breakup trackโ€ฆ

Cotswold Water Park to be Renamed

Here’s a prime example as to why I could never be a councillor….. Cotswold District Council will vote on changing the name of Cotswold Waterโ€ฆ

Devizes Scooter Rally Rules, OK?!

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 withโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 6th โ€“ 15th March 2023

Still a tad fragile around the edges from my birthday party, hereโ€™s whatโ€™s Iโ€™ve struggled on through to find for this coming week, in which I was, last week, perhaps somewhat too optimistic about the coming of spring. Pass the Alka-Seltzersโ€ฆโ€ฆ.

As usual, further info and links to everything listed can be found on our ever-updating event guide, likely the most comprehensive thang of its kind around these backwaters because we go hunting rather than waiting for venues and creative types to contact us; they can be terribly unreliable! Therefore to take heed of other event guides will see you either staying in to watch Catchphrase or nipping to your village hall for karaoke with a drunkard called Gav!

Firstly, today, Monday 6th sees a live art demonstration with the wonderful Caroline LeBourgeois at Devizes Conservative Club, and the first of Nick Beereโ€™s Open Mic sessions at The Lamb, Marlborough.

Around About Dusk night at The Bell in Bath too, with some sultry femme vocalists, and theyโ€™ve left the coolest till last; Rachel from up tempo swing conspiracy Gin Bowlers, but this claims to be a jazzy hazy acoustic drift through the roots of the blues; noice!

Tuesday 7th. Congrats to the campaigners for a new skatepark in Bradford-on-Avon, whoโ€™ve raised their target of ยฃ250,000, and invite people to come and see the new skatepark designs on Tuesday 7th March – 7pm at St Margaretโ€™s Hall. If heaven is a halfpipe, youโ€™re ye fundraising gods, well done!

Blood Brothers is at Wyvern Theatre, Swindon; on the GCSE drama silly-bus this is โ€“ have fun, kids of the Lavingtons!

Wednesday 8th Western Playersโ€™ caravan comedy Third Week in August is at Swindon Arts Centre.

Tongue-in-chee[k]se Bristolian musical internationalism, Fromage en Feu are at The Bell, Bath; sacrรฉ bleu!

Regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes, after a Dark Side of the Moon anniversary celebration.

Thursday 9th At Pound Arts, Corsham, find Rachel Newton, a singer and harpist who draws on poems and ballads that are hundreds of years old, working them into her contemporary compositional style to create a rich sound that is ambitious, original, and unique.

Mark Harrison plays The Tuppenny, Swindon, while The Vic has new wave alt-rock Men in Vests, with The Crystal Wolf Project, Adriana, Lee Knott and N/SH.

Friday 10th, here we go, getting fresh for the weekendโ€ฆ… folk singer-songwriter David Ford brings his tour to the Pump, Trowbridge. Cara Dillon plays Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Radio Makers at The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon, while The Sad Dad Club play The Boathouse.

Saints of Sin at The Vic, Swindon, ZambaLando at Fiesta de Cuba.

Folk Law at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Green Day tribute Warning play the Tree House in Frome with The Blink 182 Show, while Limehouse Lizzy play the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 11th, got to be Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week, when the Corn Exchange, Devizes hosts a Charity Concert for homeless charity, Devizes Opendoors. It features an incredible roster of Andrew Hurst, Chloe Jordan, and Will Blake with his PSG Choir. Tenner a ticket, to a wonderful charity, will be a lovely evening with a mahoosive raffle.

Staying in Devizes, The Wharf Theatre, tells the story of The Man Who Left the Titanic. White Star Line Managing Director J. Bruce Ismay stepped into a lifeboat and sailed away from the stricken ship, sailed away from his passengers, sailed away from the cries, and screams and tears. The Man Who Left The Titanic evokes that terrible voyage and asks whether Bruce Ismay only did what any of us might have done in the same circumstances, or should his actions that night consign his name to infamy? Was he a coward, or merely human?

New one on me, Rev plays The Three Crowns, Devizes, the Lightnin’ Hobos are at The Southgate, and DJ Karl Maggs is on the wheels of steel at the Exchange.

Psycho-Acoustic Coat, Iโ€™m hoping that speaks for itself! Theyโ€™re at The Barge on Honey-Street.

Best of luck to the Lost Trades, touring their fantastic new album, theyโ€™re at Keevil Village Hall.

Martyโ€™s Fake Family play The Pilot, Melksham, Junkyard Dogs at Chippenham & District Constitutional Club.

John D Relevator at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while the Wiltshire Music Centre celebrates International Womenโ€™s Day with Bones Apart, a Wonder Women Family Concert.

Rorkeโ€™s Drift versus Black Rose at The Vic in Swindon.

Witchfest at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, with a witchโ€™s market followed by Damh the Bard. Clash tribute, London Calling at The Tree House.

Sunday 12th sees My Science Fair at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, where the Gasoline Bandits play The Three Horseshoes. Matt Owens & Jason McNiff at The Bell, Bath.

Oops, Deb at The Southgate has let me know we left out Manos Puestas at 5pm at The Southgate, Devizes. Latin/Gypsy Jazz & Rumba to warm up your summer, and we have the power to update and add it, see?!

The Fureys at Wyvern Theatre, and Tom Houghtonโ€™s Absolute Shambles at Swindon Arts Centre.

Frome Symphony Orchestra at The Cheese & Grain.

Monday 13th, Westcountry acoustic blues with Stompinโ€™ Dave & Lucy Piper at The Bell, Bath.

Macbeth at Swindon Arts Centre.

Tuesday 14th is Worsley Trainingโ€™s Emergency First Aid at Work or Basic Life Support course at Devizes Town Hall.

Theatre director Andy Burden playing self-penned songs at The Bell, Bath, the Graham Dent Trioโ€™s jazz night at il Fiume, Bradford-on-Avon.

Wednesday 15th and thereโ€™s Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre, showing Dadโ€™s Army.

Franz Nicolay & Aimless Arrows at The Pump in Trowbridge. Franz Nicolay is a musician and writer living in New Yorkโ€™s Hudson Valley. In addition to records under his own name, he was a member of cabaret-punk orchestra World/Inferno Friendship Society, โ€œworldโ€™s best bar bandโ€ the Hold Steady, Balkan-jazz quartet Guignol, co-founded the composer-performer collective Anti-Social Music, was a touring member of agit-punks Against Me!

And thereโ€™s some world-folk into jazz, at The Bell, Bath with Solana.

And thatโ€™s your lot; unless youโ€™ve forgotten to tell me something?! No secrets here, free listings too, all you gotta do is let us know; Iโ€™m not your mum, and canโ€™t keep following you around picking up your lost socks.

Have a great week!

Trending….

The Next Season at the Wharf Theatre

Featured image byย Chris Watkins Autumn, finish your ice lolly, as we need to to start thinking about it! Our wonderful, one and only, theatre inโ€ฆ

Police Praises Protestors, But Will They Listen?

Today’s protest at Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes over the appointment of PC Cheryl Knight into the rural crime unit despite being photographed riding with fox hunting associations, including the notorious Avon Vale Hunt, went peacefully.….

Devizes Police commended and thanked the protesters, “for the way that they conducted themselves.” Patronising is in the training manual.

The event passed peacefully, and no arrests were made. Online speculation there would be “trouble,” was unfounded; anti-hunting campaigners are passive by default. There are no grounds for claims made by PCC Philip Wilkinson, ousted by ITV for claiming to have โ€œcovertlyโ€ monitored sabs committing public order offences.

Organisers of the protest, Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs, say “for over eighteenth years hunts have been prolific in breaking the law, and doing so with both the implicit and explicit consent, support and even membership, of those with the power to do something about it. Wiltshire Police deployed over 50 officers and multiple resources to turn their cameras on sabs, as terriermen await dig out instructions from the Avon Vale Hunt behind them.”


Superintendent Conway Duncan said: โ€œWe know people want to make their voices heard and the right to lawful protest is a key part of any democracy, which UK police uphold and facilitate.”

“We had a presence at the event to do just that, but also as part of our responsibility to ensure the local community were not adversely impacted.โ€

We hope they will listen and assign officers accordingly rather than with clear conflicts of interests. Please sign the petition HERE.

Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs replied in a Tweet, “how dare they even consider themselves worthy of praising the protestors.  Wiltshire police are by definition of their own criminality, beneath contempt. We do not praise the way they are conducting themselves over this sordid affair, nor the 18 years of them turning a blind eye.” Ah, but it’s do as we say, isn’t it? Not as we do!

Song of the Week: Sara Vian

Normally Wednesday, Song of The Week, but I was having one of those Wednesday days, you know the sort, too middley arenโ€™t they, bit gloomy? Couldnโ€™t find a recent single release, whinged about it on Facebook, no one helped, then remembered I had this beauty from Frome folk singer-songwriter Sara Vian, out last week. Itโ€™s called Brighter Days, and what could be a more perfect fit?

Save it on Spotify here, it features David Setterfield guitarist from Strange Folk, itโ€™s very spring, wonderful.

Trending…

A Perfect Picnic in the Park

A perfect sunny(ish) Sunday at Hillworth Park in Devizes, if not to overcome one’s fear of public speaking while dressed in a giraffe onesie andโ€ฆ

The Pleasure was all Minety!

Broke my Minety Music Festival cherry, and it was gurt lush! When it comes to live music and festivals, I initially set a high bar.โ€ฆ

DOCA Picnicing in the Park!

With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Park nextโ€ฆ

Michelle Gonelan Makes History

Last political rant from me for a while, given all that happened today, pinky promise! Hitler shot himself, then, as requested, he was doused inโ€ฆ

MantonFest Magic, Again

With the danceable penultimate act attracting a packed crowd, I observed a young teenager, who, on spotting a disregarded beer bottle, picked it up andโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Council has โ€œA complete disregard for the residents of Devizes,โ€ says Guardian Jonathan Hunter

Youโ€™ve got to award Gazette & Herald reporter Jason Hughes the journalism medal of bravery this week, for his dissemination on head of the Devizes Guardians, Jonathan Hunterโ€™s mien concerning the tardiness of communication by Wiltshire Council over the current state of our roads!

The headline read โ€œDevizes potholes cause misery for motorists, councillor claims.โ€ Claims? Wha?! Does this guy get to go outside at playtime?! Has he seen the state of it out there? Itโ€™s like a lunar landscape after a flipping meteor shower! When Jules Verne wrote Journey to the Centre of the Earth, fittingly about volcanic tubes that reach the centre of the earth, he was inspired by Wiltshireโ€™s roads; fact!

Honestly, honesty is a must here, letโ€™s not get impassive on this breaking scoop; we all know the truth, weโ€™ve known for some time, and hats off to town councillor Jonathan Hunter for digging the claws in.

โ€œA road repairs promise was made two years ago,โ€ he explained, โ€œlast week I wrote to Cllr Caroline Thomas on behalf of the residents of Devizes who face the reality of an appalling local road network. Cllr Thomas, has given a statement through the press but after a week Iโ€™m still waiting for a reply to my email, which apart from being unprofessional and rude, it signals that the cabinet members approach is not community first and shows a complete disregard for the residents of Devizes.โ€

I responded, โ€œprobably because she owns a Chelsea tractor,โ€ with a little emoji of a tractor in hope to cheer him up! What can I say? I was under pressure and it was the best I could come up with at the time. But what can we do about it? Hereโ€™s Jonathanโ€™s top four tips, which makes a terrible headline, because people love โ€œtop ten tips,โ€ five, perhaps, Jonathan, but not four, no. Still, theyโ€™re good ones.

1. Continue to bombard WC using MyWilts the app, to report potholes. Whilst this system is very reactive itโ€™s the best that they can offer.

2. Write to Cllr Thomas and share your concerns, I canโ€™t guarantee that she will read or even reply but the more residents that express their concerns may make a difference. caroline.thomas@wiltshire.gov.uk

3. Please identify hazardous areas to your friends, neighbours or colleagues who are vulnerable. In particular, those with mobility difficulties.

4. At the 2025 Wiltshire Council unitary election remember the promises that were made in 2021 and the reality of how those promises have been implemented across your local road network.

โ€œThere are three areas of key concern in Devizes,โ€ Jonathan told the Gazette, โ€œLondon Road is the main road coming in and out and that isnโ€™t great at all. Bath Road and also Windsor Drive, which is an interconnecting road, the surface degradation on those roads is really poor.โ€ And continued to express his concern for damaged pavements reducing the accessibility and safety for vulnerable pedestrians.

After such, the article does give this press reply by Cllr Thomas, which goes thus: โ€œThe hot, dry summer of last year, and the very wet and very cold weather so far this winter has unfortunately created the perfect conditions for potholes to form across the 2,500-mile road network. Weโ€™re doing all we can to repair them, using all our skilled workforce and resources, with the priority being to make the road safe.โ€

Now, I did rant on this subject at the beginning of February, quoting Cabinet Member for Transport, Dr Mark McClellandโ€™s axiomatic piffle direct from the councilโ€™s website, so letโ€™s have a little game of spot the difference here: โ€œThe weather has provided the perfect conditions for potholes to form, and thatโ€™s why weโ€™re seeing an increase in the number of road defects throughout the county.โ€

Uncanny, huh?! At least theyโ€™re singing off the same song sheet I suppose. Probably written on the wall at county hall, โ€œjust reword this weather-blaming twaddle if the press asks!โ€

Well, please accept my apologises, but Iโ€™m not the press, just the milky, the milky inspired by Stephen Mulhern of Catchphrase to โ€œsay what I see,โ€ and with a tendency to do precisely that; itโ€™s an abomination which so obviously could have been avoided with ongoing proactive maintenance, even Mr Chips can see it, and heโ€™s a fictional yellow bollard with a clownโ€™s nose, naked other than a cravat.

โ€œThe roads are very dangerous for all users,โ€ Jonathan expressed his concern, โ€œpothole repairs should just be an emergency fix to prevent a serious accident, they are not a permanent solution as the substance shrinks within the original road defect. Unfortunately, it would seem WC have adopted pothole repairs as their main strategy to improve crumbling roads with surface degradation. The lack of engagement is a poor show and speaks volumes.โ€

Trending…

Devizes Arts Festival Rules, OK?!

Alas, it’s been a long week since the Devizes Arts Festival called time. It feels a little like when my Dad would take the Christmasโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 1st โ€“ 7th March 2023

March on! Letโ€™s say no more about the impending spring other than YES!!!! As you might be able to tell, Iโ€™m not a winter person. Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to be doing this coming week.…….

Find details and tickets links at our event calendar, and plan your month ahead. Watch out though, itโ€™s always updating and more stuff is added all the time!

Wednesday 1st March, finds Harriet Burnsโ€™ ballads, bards and minstrels at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilson & Wakeman at Chapel Arts, Bath, and Spirit Of The Dance at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Regular acoustic night at The Southgate was amazing last week, just as they get everyone organised in a circle, another musician comes in the door! Happens every Wednesday.   

Thursday 2nd and thereโ€™s this Wiltshire Council Devizes drop in event to update on work to reduce anti-social behaviour in the town at the Corn Exchange. I had a whinge about this the other day, read here. Good idea as it sounds, itโ€™s on during the morning when the people it really affects will be at school or college. I really feel our younger generation should be included in this, if Iโ€™m honest.

Anyway, find Magical Bones at Swindon Arts Centre, Paul McClure & Black Sheep Apprentice at The Tuppenny. Over in Bath, Brooks Williams & Boo Hewerdineโ€™s State of The Union is at Chapel Arts.

Friday 3rd and The Exchange club in Devizes has its second open mic night, some talent down there last time. Well done to Ian for sorting this out, and heard good things about it.

Soul Strutters play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, with Blazinโ€™ Fiddles at the Wiltshire Music Centre.

Larkham & Hall feat: Charlie Rose at Chapel Arts, Bath, and the Shindig lot, always up for a party, have their Shimmy Discotheque with Cโ€™est Chic at Walcot House; squidgy house fun!

โ€œZambaLandoโ€ are live at Fiesta de Cuba in Swindon, where the Vic has Phantom Droid, Modern Evils and Froglord, and Sophie Dukerโ€™s Hag plays at Swindon Arts Centre.

Saturday 4th sees a Sustainable Devizes swap shop at St James Church.

Then, did I tell you about my 20th birthday?! Is it fair to make this Editorโ€™s Pick of Week? Executive decision; ermm, letโ€™s think, Ruzz Guitar, Talk in Code, Vince Bell, Deadlight Dance, Ben Borrill, yes, I think itโ€™s perfectly fair!

Editorโ€™s Pick of Week this week is the editorโ€™s own inflated ego birthday bash at the Three Crowns, Devizes, but in fairness we have got free live music all day, where Iโ€™m hoping Ben will kick us off at around 4pm, and from there Vince is on at 5pm, Deadlight Dance at 6pm, Talk in Code at 7:30pm and Ruzz Guitar Trio from 9pm. Hopefully there will be some other guests, you are all welcome, bring cake. Note the pub is open as usual, this is NOT a private invite, you are welcome. Note, they serve food until 9pm, and itโ€™s card-only at the bar, but bring some cash and weโ€™ll have a whip round for the Devizes & District Opportunity Centre.

Over at the Wharf Theatre theyโ€™ve Olive Oatman for one night only, the story of an American woman celebrated in her time for her captivity and later release by Native Americans in the Mojave Desert region when she was a teenager.

Sad to have to miss Barrelhouse who play The Southgate. And DJ Stevie MC is at the Exchange.

Heading southwest, Triple JD Band play The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon, and Jason Rebello & Tim Garlandโ€™s Life to Life is presented at Wiltshire Music Centre.

The Saviours Collective at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Sour Apple are at The Phoenix, Wotton Bassett. A karaoke warm-up for the My Dad festival, My Dadโ€™s Wackier Than Your Dad! at The Castle, Swindon, Will Lawton & the Alchemists at The Hop Inn, Just Floyd at The Vic, Homer at The Sun in Coate, Showaddywaddy at the Wyvern Theatre, Eshaan Akbar: The Pretender at Swindon Arts Centre, Swindon

Thereโ€™s an intimate evening with Zion Train at the Tree House in Frome, with The Beat featuring Ranking Junior at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 5th Avebury Spiritual and Psychic Fayre at Avebury Sports & Social Club from 10:30-4pm, free entry.

Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs plan a protest at Devizes Police HQ from 1pm, to protest about the promotion of alleged fox hunter Cheryl Knight into the rural crime unit.

At 5pm, if Iโ€™m still standing, Iโ€™m invading The Southgate for 5pm, for the regular monthly Jon Amor residency with Jim Crawford as guest of honour.

Talis Kimberly plays The Tuppenny in Swindon.

The awesome Junkyard Dogs are at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while WYJO with Jason Rebello and Tim Garland play at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Monday 6th Iโ€™ve found nothing, but you know, it is Monday! Whoa there, Nellie: update, a brand new open mic session at The Lamb in Marlborough has been announced, first one Monday 6th at 8pm. Facebook group here.

Tuesday 7th Blood Brothers at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thatโ€™s your lot, have a great week and I hope to see you Saturday; you are permitted to buy me a pint, as long as itโ€™s not semi-skimmed.

Looking forwards, you need to snap up a ticket for the Open Doors charity night at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 11th, support this great cause, and if youโ€™ve never heard Chloe Jordan sing before youโ€™re basically missing one of lifeโ€™s most extraordinary occurrences.

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Talk in Code are All In for New Single

Swindon indie pop virtuosos Talk in Code released their brand new single, All In, Yesterday, via Regent Street Records. And We. Love. Talk in Codeโ€ฆ

SGO Release Live Album from The Southgate

Late November last year I took the Southgateโ€™s landlady Deborah on her word, and it paid off; a word you should never doubt when it comes to bands booked. She told me Swindon ensemble SGO are โ€œan eclectic folky blues collective. They played a few crazy tunes in a circle in the middle of the pub once. Everyone loved it, we booked them!โ€ On this chancer I dropped in and it was a pleasant surprise, such an apt band for the pub.

At the time I described it thus, โ€œBrimful of sea shanties, hornpipe, parissienne and gypsy jazz, with subtle hints of Americana and country blues, SGO are both charming and accomplished. Melodically harmonising through geetars, fiddle and accordion, they reaffirm folk is the backbone to all modern musical genres, and launch preconceived notions of frumpiness within the modern scene out into the stratosphere.โ€

But hey, ainโ€™t nobody got time to copy and paste anymore, you can read the full review HERE. All you need to know is, it was a brilliant gig, and now you donโ€™t even need to take my word for it, if anyone ever does, because theyโ€™ve released it as a live album, Bandcamp download only. Itโ€™s one of those you listen back to and realise it wasnโ€™t just a cider leakage in the brain, it really was as good as I recall. But if you didnโ€™t attend hereโ€™s a taster of the Southgate at its best, for the recording contains the typical atmosphere and background noises, including George the pub dog, who seemed to approve.

Live is best for the rowdy pub folk of this kind, and this recording will put you right in the very spot of a most memorable gig, and if you attended or not, will ache you to catch them next time theyโ€™re around.

Iโ€™ll say no more…. have a listen.

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Unsurprised Alchemy: Will Lawton & The Alchemists Played The Pump

Roundabouts of Wiltshire, I usually just drive around them, that is, after all, their purpose. Saturday evening, I parked in the middle of that big one in Trowbridge; you know the one, all roads lead there, probably driven around it a thousand times. But I knew it was there and like the rest of my night, nothing came as a big surprise.….

Though to assume “unsurprised” conotes negative couldn’t be further from the truth. The carpark is for patrons of the town’s The Lamb, a handsome unassuming flagship Waddies, with a pump room aback converted into a music venue. Unsurprised by this because I’ve known about the Pump for years, sent reviewers there, plus every musican who’s played it speaks highly, and gasps in shock if I reply I’ve yet to frequent it.

Simple reason being gigs are more often than not on Fridays, unsuitable for my rota. But to pinch an idiom from Sheer Music promoter Kieran J Moore himself, which he often uses to describe a band he’s booked, The Pump is “punching above its weight” when it comes to local live music venues, casting off any ill-conceived notions Vegas is a cultural void, and affirming our county town on the UK’s grassroots venue map.

Sheer Music itself is a stamp of authenticity, your assurance of a quality gig, and here is its headquarters. KJM not in attendance tonight, but their Will Riker, Megan made the perfect host, with a joy impossible to hide spoke of their delight at the helm of the Pump; I’m equal in delight to have finally ventured here.

But it’s a triple-whammy of unsurprised delights, as headlining is the fantastically unique Will Lawton and the Alchemists, a raggle-taggle ensemble of skilled Chippenham, and Malmesbury musicans impossible to pigeonhole. On the strength of recommendations, our review of their latest EP Alchemy, and Will’s solo tracks he’s contriubted to our Julia’s House compilation, I was assuredly in good hands.

They were everything I imagined they would be, splashed with a touch more. Sublimely distinctive and individual, quirky and acomplished, the result was spellbinding musical alchemy (as it suggests on the tin,) the variety to force your eyes closed and dream abstract visual accompaniments but sqint at intervals to amaze yourself at just how they create it.

These original enchanted compositions are performed on keys by Will himself with poignant lead vocals, guitarist Ami Kaelyn with emotive side vocals akin to Pink Floyd’s Great Gig in the Sky, Buddy Fonzarelli on an eletric four-string upright bass and as witty as they come, sophisticated engine room drummer and live sample triggerย Weasel Howlett, and classically trained, multi-instrumental Harki Popli usually adding an eastern flavour on tabla drums but unable to attend tonight.

There’s often psychological and astronomical themes to make Brian Cox’s toes curl, but it’s always with this drifting, beautiful ambience.

After the perfect ambience of their lengthy EP tracks, kicking off with the Bricks single, moving onto Dust, and earlier compositions like Soul Sneeze, they break them down with hilarious banter of equal skill. It’s avant-garde, only comparable with those who pushed musical boundaries for pushing musical boundaries; from Mozart to Flyod, Zeppelin to Giorgio Moroder, Scott Joplin to Scratch Perry, and I’ll give you King Tubby to A Guy Called Gerald as The Alchemists occasionally slip into idiosyncratic drum and bass with a breathtaking outcome. This is jazz, this is indie-folk, this bears hallmarks of classical, soul, psychedelia, of everything gone before and a hint at what’s to come.

If I get narked by Oasis being compared to the Beatles I retort they’re retrospective, the Beatles were progressive, and the Alchemists are far closer to what we could predict they’d be putting out today, to rinse the sincerity from Stevie Wonder’s parental pride anthem, Isn’t She Lovely, with a tune called Daughter, yes, it really is on this level.

But maintaining a down-to-earth charisma it’s warts and all, as if the music comes naturally and they’re in its playground. Similar could be said for the supporting act, as I did say this was a triple-whammy. With a forthcoming tour, they hid their identity with the anagram, Slotted Hearts, to perform a trial-and-error inaugural showcase of the new album, but like I also said, nothing came as a surprise as I teased Tamsin Quin, one third of the Lost Trades, that I sussed it because I’m good at anagrams. This was, of course, bullshit, I just noted they were attending via the Facebook event page!

And a wonderful set they were already in swing of upon my arrival, The Lost Trade’s second album is the perfect progression of their debut we reviewed a week ago. Our beloved vocal harmony modern-folk trio are going from strength-to-strength, destined for the deserved greatness they work so hard for. Their performance was as they said it would be, we were guinea pigs to replicating the album live, and if a few hitches were expectedly made, they were subtle at best. But humbly excusing themselves was unnecessary. If this was an insight into what’s to come, you need to be there when it goes off. It was a stunning performance, sublimely introduced, end of.

But it’s the informal setting, you see? The kind of safehouse where The Lost Trades can experiment, the kind of music appreciation society open to interpretation, with walls adorned with brass instruments and other random paraphernalia, wonky steps up to a seated balcony, and crossed beamed with an invition for appearing acts to graffiti their names upon. It’s quirky, non-pretenious, and exceptionally hospitable; it’s got my name all over it. A little haven of music I wished I’d trekked to a lot sooner, but I’ve done it now, and I’m not looking back.

Sellout gigs I hope will encourage them to open Saturdays more often, their programme chockful of selected delights, which, more often or not, are the upcoming named must-sees. The Pump’s collaboration with Sheer is a match made in heaven, and if your vision of heaven is a quirky backroom blessed with a plethora of our best musical activities, The Pump is the direction you need to be looking.

Through the ambient nature of Will Lawton, and the mellowness of The Trades, I take to wonder how lively post-punk bands like Carsick fair here, Megan confirmed they were stage diving like a moshpit, so aside this venue’s quaintness, diversity matches its brilliance.

How Ingrained is Hunting on our Society Given Police are Members of Criminal Gangs?

Of course, today’s opinion rant comes from news Wiltshire Police have promoted officer Cheryl Knight to the rural crimes department despite allegedly being a member of the Beaufort Hunt and has previously ridden with the notorious Avon Vale Hunt. The public outrage of such has spawned a planned protest on 5th March at Devizes Police HQโ€ฆ.

It should hardly come as a shock to those who follow social media of anti-hunt groups like Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs, as we’ve seen many attempts by hunters to infiltrate the police, and video evidence of police deliberately being awkward with sabs by blocking paths and siding with hunters. Recently we’ve seen it with another hunt member PC, Laura Hughes who turned a blind eye when hunters attacked protesters at Lacock’s Boxing Day meet. And at top level, with former Avon Vale huntsmaster Jonathan Seed defunct from the PCC election and current PCC Phillip Wilkinson’s open derogatory remarks about anti-hunt protesters.

But if bent cops sounds like something from an American thriller movie, no one’s as bold to suggest all Wiltshire Police support hunting. It’s a huge organisation employing many, therefore fair to assume the bad eggs are a minority.

However, their official reaction to the outrage this news has caused, defending Cheryl Knight and warning protesters they will be “seeking independent guidance from other agencies to ensure the protest is in line with those peaceful and lawful requirements and to ensure the Devizes community is not adversely impacted,” borders retaliation to public outcry. Reading between the lines, anyone so much as sneezes at the protest and they’ll shut it down. Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs stressed to me, “thatโ€™s how we read it too. Well, if they want even more bad publicityโ€ฆ”

It causes me to ponder just how far this rabbit hole goes; how ingrained by the traditions of hunting is this in our society? You may not stop to consider it while watching a children’s cartoon with anthropomorphised characters whereby the fox is nearly always portrayed as a “baddie,” or dining in a local pub, where your dinner is served on a pictorial plate adorned with a scenic landscape and a fox hunt in progress, or similarly on a painting on the wall, but in this glorification of the blood sport, these connotations of the fox spelling trouble, is it our own psychological Colston statue?

“You cannot erase history,” gammonites remark of the statue debate, and I retort with “poppycock!” For historical references in literature will always be, but a statue glorifies and celebrates the slave trade, ergo, is counterproductive to progress against racial discrimination. Likewise, the paintings in the pub, the common pub name, The Fox and Hounds, should they be changed? They clearly idealise this barbaric pastime.

My ponderings stem from a Facebook thread this week, by Devizes Town Councillor Chris Greenwood, (yes, the one who blatantly lied about Defra confirming bird flu on the Crammer) on his own general local affairs group, Devizes News. In posting news of Cheryl Knight’s promotion, he stated, “this group will not tolerate any form of detrimental, nor hateful comments associated with this article. The officer concerned has done nothing illegal whatsoever, and their appointment has been with the full approval of Wiltshire Police. Any false accusations or comments will result in the person posting being excluded from the group.”

It was simply too tempting, and inadvertently my reply, “so, why post it then?” saw me promptly barred from the group, along with a handful of others. But seems the temptation was deliberate for no sooner as we were gone, he posted again, boasting, and celebrating, “it was time for a clearout of activists, bigots and those motivated by negativity.”

Quite where the negativity in opposing the promotion of a possible criminal within the governing body supposed to prevent crime is supposed to derive from will forever confound me. Alas, adjoining various comments like a jigsaw, Chris made in this thread might shed some light on why he, like so many others, are so pro-hunting. Unable to respond to one question given by a concerned so -called bigot, Chris took a trip on memory bliss, and waffled a random interminable history of his affection for horse riding. One might assume this was irrelevant, but further on when we were discussing the social media posts of lists of local companies alleged to be in support of the Avon Vale Hunt, he highlighted a sponsorship of a pony club. So, herein lies his justification for supporting hunting; Avon Vale sponsored the club where his fond memories of riding begun. Ergo, he’s reminiscence through rose-tinted specs is clouding his judgment to the reality it’s a bloodthirsty pursuit, and I’d wager is not alone in this view.

I could agree, horse riding is okay by me, but you don’t need to take a pack of bloodhounds along to bludgeon a fox to death to enjoy it, surely? Though I fear it will fall on deaf ears. Hunts have spent decades and countless fortunes I could only dream of, to ensure their brutal activities are ingrained so deep into our society, economy and way of life, the rose-tinted specs wearers will only ever view it as a harmless tradition, because theyโ€™re trained to by showers of gold sent their way and into charities and causes.

Ergo, when a clear conflict of interests invades our police, these folk shrug, and state the officer concerned has done nothing illegal. So, given innocent until proven guilty, we should ask Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs if they’ve any proof of the contrary. “Her main association seems to be the Beaufort,” Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs explained, “that is where most of her hunting images were taken. She also has photos of her at Avon Vale meet, and also photos of her attending beagle meets (hare hunts).”

Besides, the point isnโ€™t whether she has, or hasn’t, the concern lies within her power to sway, ignore, or pervert the cause of justice in such matters she’s so clearly bias in. Does this mean the protest is focused entirely on her promotion, being it would seem there’s other pro-hunting officers?

“At this moment itโ€™s focused on the fact that a fox hunter has been appointed,” they continued, “but I guess the wider issue is who appointed her – and the appalling response they gave. There are other serving officers that have hunted with the Avon vale, which we also oppose, but to be placed into a role like this, particularly in the middle of an investigation by her new team, into the Avon Vale video just is crass beyond belief. Itโ€™s a direct breach of the Code of Ethics which Wiltshire Police are refusing to address.”

We live now in the aftermath of the national media exposure of video evidence proving The Avon Vale Hunt illegally fox hunted, its impact is this undeniable proof you’d have thought would be a catalyst to change, but this latest outcry suggests otherwise.

All my meanderings seem to return to a same point, the point in the video where they successfully pulled the fox out from the dig and threw it to the hounds, and one young hunter shrieks with delight like a little girl getting a pony for Christmas! If hunting was to cull a pest, that’s clearly in past, there’s few foxes left in the countryside, and the shrill of delight reverbs the acknowledgement, is symbolic that this is done purely for fun, the thrill. You don’t see an insect exterminator cry with joy when he clears your home of ants!

So, if you support this in any way, do you deserve to be called out for it regardless of how little your association with the hunts may’ve been formed upon, excusable by ignorance to the notion they were definitely killing wildlife, until now?

Yet while many companies and organisations have found themselves having to publish statements attempting to defuse their association with Avon Vale, or hunting in general, Wiltshire Police seem none too fussed, rather promoting officer Cheryl Knight to the rural crime unit, and have defended their decision to maintain the PC in the role. Others listed, such as ice cream cafe, The Rowdey Cow were quick to announce their association was only to vendor at one of their events, and it’s not just because they make exceptional ice cream, I’m willing to forgive that(!) rather sigh, that’s just business.

The Rowdy Cow I trust has sufficient trade to do without the association now, and hope they do. The last thing anyone wishes by way of boycotting businesses loosely associated with the hunts, is to bring any more damage on our rural economy. Yet Wadworth’s only line of defence seemed to be their association was “historic.” Should we forgive that too, because of the passage of time? Our councillor Greenwood on his pro-hunting rant seemed to suggest this, that the images of Knight hunting was the stuff of ancient history, leading me to ponder how old is she? From recent photos she looks late twenties, so it could only have been after 2004, when the Hunting Act was introduced, not so long ago for us old-timers, Chris!

Forgiveness only ever seems to be when the boot fits. The public don’t seem too keen to forgive Shamima Begum anytime soon, but views Piers Morgan as this cheeky chappie with a penchant for a few offensive comments, rather than the bastard who wrecked a teenage girl’s murder inquiry by hacking her phone. He took personal monetary gain over the life of a child, for Heaven’s sake, but hey, he’s on the tele. I like to call this the “Jimmy Saville Effect,” he raised these incredible amounts of money for charity, so should he be forgiven for paedophilia, necrophilia, and whatever other sick fetishes he performed? Equally, should we forgive hunters if their hunting is all in the past?

I believe this is simply another desperate excuse from pro-hunting lobbies. It matters not if or when Knight hunted, only that she is in support of hunting. To suggest her affiliation with the hunt wouldn’t affect her ability to carry out the role of a rural crime officer is completely and utterly ludicrous. The public know this, it’s hardly rocket science, and the public have the right to voice their outrage at this poor decision. After all, we do pay for the police, they are governed by law, but paid for by the taxpayer. Wiltshire Police make many a statement about building a rapport with the public and how they “serve them,” surely this is the ideal opportunity to prove this ethos right?

But it’s a small piece of a larger puzzle. Akin to the suffragette movement, anti-hunting will look blindly obvious to future generations if we can wash away this ingrained perception. The police’s involvement in watching over so-called trail hunts will be viewed as the massive waste of resources they clearly are, for if hunt organisations cannot be trusted the only solution is to ban them, and eradicate this insane affiliation to blood sports once and for all.

So, to people who share Chris Greenwood’s obsolete and atrocious opinions and see fit to censor opposing views, I say you’re foolish to think you can silence me. Not one to boast stats, but Devizine is read by the number of members in your petty group times a thousand. In a media war you’re the Gassworks Gang and I’m the American military! Accept the majority are anti-hunt, and will share this beyond way Facebook, until its long out of my control, folk will rightfully gather to sound their disgust at this barbaric activity, and the authorities which permit it to continue despite the indisputable evidence.

Their days are numbered, if we throw off our ingrained bigotry and accept it, that is quite possible. It wouldnโ€™t hurt to show your humane side. And in saying that, no one wishes to send Cheryl Knight to the stocks, only to advise she is moved to a department free from her bias. So patently obvious it’s staring everyone in face and making them angry enough to have to spell it out by reacting on offensive social media posts, with disregards to the idea they’ll be futility chastised by a power-tripping would-be tinpot dictator! Knockers I say unto thee, Devizes News indeed, the bastard son of GB News?! Lest we forget come local election time.

Song of the Week: Deadlight Dance

It’s Wednesday night, it’s Song of the Week time…. I’m just amazed with myself that I’ve actually committed to this new regular feature for a whole month, incredible!

This week, it’s post-punk eighties alternative/goth duo Deadlight Dance. Tim Emery and Nick Fletcher are a rekindled two-fifths of a Marlborough’s St Johns six form band and released a debut single this week, Missives from the Sisters.

Out on Ray Records, a debut single from a forthcoming album Beyond Reverence, due later this the year. This sullenly emotive tune of darkwave rings alarms for a reawakening of the gothic rock genre, once emblematic of Marlborough. I was just 14 when I moved there from Essex, it was a culture shock as we didn’t have goths in the motherland of shopping and stilettos, doubt we even had black hair dye, but I quickly realised the importance of liking the Cure, if I wanted to snog any girls!

Recorded at Nick Beere’s Chisldon studio, Mooncalf, the duo play The Crown in Aldbourne tomorrow (23rd Feb,) and The Plough in Shalbourneย on Saturday March 4th, after dropping in for a 6pm-ish slot at my birthday party down the Three Crowns, Devizes….I’ve told you about my birthday, haven’t I? It’s okay, if you come too, I pinky promise not to try and snog you!

Devilโ€™s Doorbell Live EP from the Pump

Itโ€™s any wonder if this bonkers jazz skiffle duo found a double-entendre in the name of Trowbridgeโ€™s finest live music venue, The Pump, when they visited at the beginning of the month in support for Jaz DeLorean, being theyโ€™re the boaterโ€™s royalty of euphemisms, but at least they did find time to release a recording of the occasionโ€ฆ…

A judiciously selected four-track EP acting as a teaser for this asinine pair, Devil’s Doorbell is up on Bandcamp, recorded live at The Pump by the man Kieran J Moore, and while it might be some way from Dark Side of the Moon, itโ€™s a half-hour of carefree jollity your life might yet depend on.

In true circus cabarert and homemade instruments, Nipper plays tenor banjo and kazzumpet, while Jellylegs Johnson is on the washtub bass, and both tend to finish each otherโ€™s lyrics with hilarious consequences over some good olโ€™ foot-tapping scrumpy and western flavoured skiffle. Take it no more seriously than this.

Rife with retrospective euphemistic rhymes, rudeness is abound from the start, mocked in goofy George Formby subtlety, Carry-On titillation and Pythonesque nonsense; itโ€™s a west country thing! My Girl’s Pussy opens the EP, reminiscent of Eric Idleโ€™s Noel Coward charade, Penis Song. Hot Nuts continues the ooh matron theme, while a slip of self-fashioned blues plays out with When I Get Low I get High, and weโ€™re back to square one with Rattle Snakin’ Daddy. Dammit though, it’s frolicking fun now, would’ve tickled the 1930s New Orleans high-energy jazz circuit pink, if only they were allowed in with wellies!

If itโ€™s jazzy itโ€™s silly in equal measure, yet with one eye squint you can envision yourself haphazardly perched on a log in dew-drenched tallgrass, near a Kennet & Avon towpath, swigging flat cider and thoroughly soaking up every minute, particularly during those random moments when they up the tempo.  

And if you like this audacious audio, the stage show is the visual treat youโ€™d expect from those crazy west country boaters, all props, burlesque, and silly hats, and you couldnโ€™t contemplate a better way to tickle the fancy and warm the crowd in your humble boozer, other than a real ringing of the devilโ€™s doorbell. You can book them at your own risk, HERE.

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Lady Nade at Devizes Arts Festival

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 soulstressโ€ฆ

LilyPetals Debut EP

One of many young indie bands which impressed me at Bradford Roots Festival, and proof thereโ€™s more than the name suggests at The Wiltshire Musicโ€ฆ

Courting Ghosts Debut Album: Falling My Friend

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, Fallingโ€ฆ

Stay Out of Trouble! Wiltshire Councilโ€™s Drop-In Event Targets Young Criminals Only

Ka-pow, ker-runch, ker-splat! Fear not good citizens of Devizes, waftastic Wiltshirecouncilman is here to save us from the evil delinquent Dylan and the Acne Street Gang! The devastating plan is to hold a “drop-in event to update on work to reduce youth anti-social behaviour in the town,” at the Corn Exchange from 9:30am to noon on Thursday 2nd March; that’ll give them a ruddy good telling off for sure!

Does anyone else see an immediate flaw in the plan? By very definition it’s counterproductive. Wiltshire Council send out a powerful message to our youth; their crimes are unacceptable, but we’re all fine with crimes committed by older people. Why not drop the “youth” tagline all together, and see any crime committed by any age with the same degree of urgency? Just, y’ know, a fleeting notion of fairness.

Way to go to marginalise society and section off a particular group according to age, that’s sure not to stoke the fire. And when can we expect a similar event to tackle crimes committed by adults, pray tell?!

We have a current issue in Devizes with some wayward youths, no one can deny it, it’s no secret, but from a minority. That’s the crucial point, all pigeonholing them is going to do is encourage a barrier between age groups and welcome more teenagers into the rut; you’re only going to make matters worse, you blind and foolish old fuddy-duddies!

We cannot expect to obtain upstanding young citizens by tarnishing them all with the same brush. Still social media is awash with pitchfork welding folk, condoning medieval punishments, and admin of these groups fail to deal outrageous comments promoting vigilante violence; look at yourself, publishing your futile online vengeance on youths, and still then ponder why they rebel so. Ever heard of a thing called an endless circle?

Places of real-life social interaction are no better, full of elders firing daggers from their eyes at any younger person who happens to pass by. I’ve spoken to young people about their fear of going into cafes for the dirty looks they’ll receive, despite doing no wrong and not having any intentions of. What else is there here for them to do, where do you expect them to go?

Cllr Peter Hutton, Portfolio Holder for Safeguarding at Wiltshire Council said of the event, “this will be an informal and interactive morning where you can talk to the people who are working with Devizes residents in all sorts of ways with a common goal of making the town a safer place to live.” But what about the people who this really effects most? We must readdress the balance here, focus too on the victims, not just the criminals. Children and young people are disproportionately more likely to be victims of crime, particularly the most serious crimes, by any age group including their own. And where are the group most affected by this issue between the set hours of 9:30-noon? At school or college most likely.

The very fact they’ve been excluded from this event sends a shiver up my spine. It’s as if to say they’ve no valid point to bring to the table, or any they might have, are worthless, amidst this wealth of grownupโ€™s experience. Why not make the time later, so it’s convenient to all to cast their views? Why not bring this โ€œroadshowโ€ to schools and colleges?

As we age it’s all too easy to forget how it feels to be younger, but not giving young people the benefit of the doubt is detrimental to them reacting angrily against the system. I may’ve been criminalised in my youth, but day-to-day I forget those occurrences, wish I was that age again, only because I view it through rose-tinted specs. It was never as easy as memory serves me. I rebelled, and much of the anguish came from my elders; the powers that be, parents, et al. They never understood, I felt trapped, a child in an adult world, and reacted with rebellious anger. Why? Because it was a thrill to, it exposed a crack in the boredom, an escape.

Yet top-heavy Conservative thinking Wiltshire Council and Police are backing a government which has acted far worse than these few wayward kids. They’ve lied their way through government, they’ve profited and partied while ordinary folk watched their loved ones die. They continue to drain every penny out of public services, to reduce the education budget to the point the teachers must strike, they’re determined to increase the poverty divide to line their own pockets, and we ignore it in order to focus on some naughty children. They are hardly setting the shining example of moral upstanding citizens. As Michael Jackson said, “if they wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.”

Or perhaps a more poignant musical quote could come from Woody Guthrie, “some will rob you with a six-gun, some with a fountain pen.” Purchase a security light for your home if you favour being robbed by the energy companies rather than some hoodlums in your shed at night.

Here’s a better plan, councillors, et al who follow the blue rosette, resign from your Conservative Party, and stand independently. Show them you don’t side with criminals before invoking your hypocrisy on the youth. For our young are no fools, and I, for one, salute them for taking a stance, I applaud their patience and endurance with the disgusting way they’re being treated.

Some will resort to crime, it’s a terrible thing, I wish it didn’t have to be this way, and I certainly would never condone it. But they’re not alone as a generation; history proves time-over during eras of abject poverty crime will increase. It’s not a problem with “youth of today” rather a problem with a minority of youth, historically. Rubbing their faces in it, plotting behind their backs isn’t going to help.

Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, an advocate of conservatism, says of the event, “this is a great opportunity for members of the public to hear first-hand the importance of the work that is being done as a result of the Home Office funding to tackle youth anti-social behaviour in the Devizes area and focus on ways to help prevent it.” But what’s his views on rural crime in general, to have called hunt saboteurs only gathering evidence of crimes committed by those who should be considered mature enough to know better, “balaclava wearing thugs,” when we’ve all seen the recent concrete evidence as to who the real thugs are?

https://www.wiltshire999s.co.uk/uproar-police-banned-hunt-member-rural-officer

The only smidgen of positive came from inspector Ben Huggins, Devizes sector Policing Inspector, who said, “we recognise that there are some anti-social behaviour issues in Devizes at the moment. We are and have been tackling them. My officers will always respond swiftly and robustly to reports of this nature; however, we know more needs to be done and this is not a problem that can be solved by us the police alone. So, this initiative is very much welcomed – involving not only the agencies we already work with but the wider community.  Hopefully, we can all resolve this problem by working together.”

It goes without saying, we offer our eternal thanks to the bobby on the beat. I certainly don’t envy their job at times like these, and in having to deal with the issues which arise from this, but there’s radical thinking we need to put on the table in order to tackle it, not the seemingly militant stance of conservatism. Communication with the youth is key, obviously, for crying out loud, including them in events like this, allowing them a voice.

Give a little to take a little, isn’t it? Treat them with respect and that respect will come back to you; see if it doesn’t, but apply something out of Robocop it will never be solved and we just go round in circles. I welcome the idea of this gig, but if they wished to build bridges, making it time appropriate for those most affected to attend would be logic, really, one wouldโ€™ve thought, or are we just a community of hypocritical pitchfork welding rednecks?

Actually, donโ€™t answer that one!

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 22nd โ€“ 28th February 2023

Last week of February, then; winter, do one! Lots going on as ever, so letโ€™s not beat around the bush, because left to my devises I know I tend to waffle, and no one ever just stops me and gives it, โ€œjust get on with telling whatโ€™s happening, for crying out loud, man!โ€

I do need to say this though, as usual, more information and ticket links can be found at our ever-updating event calendar. If your event is not on there you didnโ€™t tell us about it, no fault of mine! I do this shit for free, but I ainโ€™t going to chase you up! Tell us about it next time, bring cake.

Wednesday 22nd and Visual Radio Arts stream one of our favourite bands on the circuit, Concrete Prairie, into the comfort of your own front room. If youโ€™ve not seen this band before, do not miss this. Meanwhile itโ€™ll be the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Theatre Accord in association with The Production Exchange Ltd. Presents She at Swindon Arts Centre, charting the experiences of different women from childhood to old age, these stories, each with an intriguing twist, are visceral, poignant, and laced with humour.

Prue Leithโ€™s Nothing in Moderation is at Bath Forum, with Grace Campbellโ€™s A Show About Me(n) at Komedia.

Thursday 23rd sees an open mic at Stallards in Trowbridge.

National Theatre Live with Othello at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Concrete Prairieโ€™s name crops up again, theyโ€™re with Cooperโ€™s Creek at The Tuppenny, Swindon, while Kotonic and Failstate play the Vic, with a debut tour for comedian Chloe Petts at Swindon Arts Centre.

Tribute Local Cohen play the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, while Eleanor McEvoy is at Chapel Arts, Bath, โ€œSwiftogeddon,โ€ Taylor Swift club night at Komedia, and Michael Jackson tribute show at Bath Forum.

Regular childrenโ€™s Music 4 Fun session at Brown Street, Salisbury.

Friday 24th Always a great night with the Celtic Roots Collective, who play The Pelican in Devizes.

Over in Trowbridge, chap-hopper Thomas Benjamin is at the Pump.

Native Harrow: Old Magic Tour at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Jerry Lee Lewis Story at Chapel Arts, Bath, while The Fleetwood Mac Story is at Bath Forum, and cabaret night at Komedia with The Ministry Of Burlesque.

Riot Ensemble at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Gary Delaneyโ€™s Gary in Punderland comes to the Wyvern, Swindon, while tribute Dire Streets play Swindon Arts Centre, and Rush tribute Moving Pictures are at The Vic.

AC/DC tribute Livewire at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, and an intimate evening with Will Varley at The Tree House.

Saturday 25th and itโ€™s Devizes Lionsโ€™ Fashion Show at the Devizes Conservative Club, Gardna arrives at The Muck & Dunder, Bone Chapel are at The Southgate, Scott Browne is at The Three Crowns, and Sour Apple play at The Lamb. The Wharf Theatre hosts the Apollo Theatre Companyโ€™s Ode to Joyce, about the songs and monologues of Joyce Grenfell.

As if there wasnโ€™t enough to choose from in Devizes, Iโ€™m out of town for our Editorโ€™s Pick of Week; Will Lawton and the Alchemists are at The Pump in Trowbridge, and itโ€™s a double-whammy if Iโ€™ve correctly sussed the anagram of the support act; โ€œSlotted Hearts!โ€

Hairy Stars at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Mickey Ace & The Wildcards play Melksham Rock n Roll Club, and Mixed Bag play The Pilot.

Phoenix River Band play Chapel Arts, Bath, while Suzanne Vega is at Bath Forum.

Ravers head for The Vic, Swindon, where Midlife Krisis crew are in effect, with a Diversify night.The Blind Lemon Experience play The Swiss Chalet.

Salisbury Arts Centre have Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood.

And a Retro Electro night at The Cheese & Grain, Frome completes our Saturday.

Sunday 26th sees Ronnie Scottโ€™s Jazz Club at the Wyvern, Swindon, while thereโ€™s a secret session at the Vic, with Mickelson.

Simon Brodkinโ€™s Screwed Up is at Komedia, Bath.

Monday 27th sees Gigspanner Big Band play Swindon Arts Centre.

Tuesday 28th and KT Tunstall is at Bath Forum.

Thatโ€™s all I got folks, tell us about anything we missed and Iโ€™ll slip it in! Donโ€™t forget Iโ€™m getting close to 50, and that might mean it takes a little longer, but youโ€™re all invited to laugh at me at the Three Crowns in Devizes on March 4th; oh yeah, weโ€™ve got some amazing live music too, naturally.

Trending…..

Petrichor; New Album by The Lost Trades

If asked to summarise the themes of songs by The Lost Trades with a song, I believe Iโ€™d pick the classic Americana folk song โ€œKeep on the Sunny Side.โ€ Popularised by The Carter Family in the mid-twenties, itโ€™s the humble yet effective mandate to retain optimism whilst everything thrown at you has the potential to drive you to submit to misery.….

The Lost Trades describe their forthcoming album Petrichor โ€œwith a slightly darker sound and themes including mourning, escape and starting afresh,โ€ which while true, it never drowns itself in melancholy, least perhaps not till the finale, rather is uplifting on the soul, refreshing; the therapeutic equivalent of a nice warm bath, perhaps in candlelight.

It’s been just short of two years since the debut album The Bird, The Book, and The Barrel, and our beloved vocal harmony trio have pre-released four singles from this album, each one leaving us hanging out to dry with anticipation for this second album. 10th March is the date to unpeg yourself from the washing line, pre-orders are already being taken, and Iโ€™ll let you into a secret, which might be obvious to fans; you will not be disappointed.

Last time I spoke with Phil Cooper about the upcoming album, at Bradford Roots Music Festival, we spoke of the delicate balance of the follow-up, on teasing with a precise number of pre-singles but not overdoing it, and other common pitfalls such as exhausting your creative output on the debut with fan pressure to supplement it. Phil was ever-positive, explaining alongside fresh ideas they also had several indistinct drafts left from the first album, theyโ€™d returned to and revised. Unlike those lesser, โ€œcashing-inโ€ Pink Floyd albums of rejected offcuts off the more memorable albums, if the songs here were only fragments of ideas at the time of recording the debut, theyโ€™ve been overhauled with perfection, and Petrichor is undoubtedly the better album of the two. This equates to one main point Iโ€™d like to make; The Lost Trades are the fine wine, perpetually improving with age.

And anyway, four singles are reasonable, as this album weighs in at a value-for-money twelve tunes strong, and strong they most certainly are. There’s not even the one dodgy one, like The Girl is Mine on Jacko’s Thriller!

In reviewing these teaser singles Iโ€™ve been adamant throughout, the unification of the harmonies is now so intricate, so refined, even to have known the trio as individual performers in their own right prior to forming the Lost Trades, they merge now as one unit. Many have one take the lead, but the concord is paramount, the accompany of the other two enhances, whichever way around, like silk on flesh.

Though this is key to why this betters the previous album, the quality of production and reasoned flow of the tracks sprinkles it with magic. This optimistic โ€œKeep on the Sunny Side,โ€ comparison is no more prevalent than in the sixth tune, Under The Hornbeam, in which Tammy leads on this delightfully upbeat ditty, while it reminded me of her earlier days of singing The Jungle Bookโ€™s Iโ€™m the King of the Swingers, itโ€™s obviously far from being puerile, but in comparison with the other songs, it remains the perkiest!

Undecided on the opening track to the debut, in which they acapella an introductory prose of the concept of the Trades, and it comes across rather quirky, thereโ€™s no messing around with Petrichor, diving straight in with a taste of the sublime you can expect throughout the album. Old Man of The Sea, the single from last November bears all the hallmarks of the direction the Trades are heading. Concentrated in the raconteur style of Jamie Hawkins, who takes lead on this marine-themed expressive shanty-type ballad to Hemingwayโ€™s most unlucky character, Santiago. You might think of โ€œWait for my Boat to Come in,โ€ from the debut, but the forlorn and pensive impression is even stronger here.

If this leaves you tingling with anticipation of whatโ€™s to come, Septemberโ€™s single Keep My Feet Dry follows, and this is just mega-bliss! Reminding me at the time of Roger McGuinnโ€™s โ€œBallad of Easy Rider,โ€ with its river metaphor for a missing you theme, it drifts, a thing of beauty, uplifting, with a chorus immediately sing-a-long; every element fits together perfectly on this one.

Time for Phil to take lead, and this joyful sound, Atlas is an exclusive, with thoughtful prose, a personal reflection of carrying the heavens on oneโ€™s shoulders, rather than the Titans’ revolt against the gods! The last single pre-released, Long Since Gone comes next, and is a grower which sneaks up on you, and, with a humble narrative of bereavement and anguish, it loiters while youโ€™re dangling off a Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Returning to the joyful, the springtime first single Daffodils lifts the soul, and with this gorgeous retrospective banjo riff and vocal harmonies of the Carter Family, on its release I gave its technical perfection comparison to the timelessness of Will the Circle be Unbroken together with the more enriching mood of Randy Newmanโ€™s Youโ€™ve Got a Friend in Me.

Six tunes in and you are as immersed as the rocks a waterfall trickle over. Iโ€™ll give no more massive spoilers, for the following songs are new, and all wonderful. Fireflies is drifty, Little Blackbird is enchantingly upbeat, Best Foot Forward is a return journey of thoughtful prose. The title track follows, the aroma of rain after a sunny spell is the textbook interpretation of The Lost Trades in general, as well as this emotive beauty, so is such an apt album title, the song simply enlightens the gist.

Two more songs complete the healthy package, This Dark Forest is at it says on the tin, an emotive autumn ride, perhaps embracing their own description of being โ€œa slightly darker sound.โ€ Valhalla varnishes the album off with distant drumbeat, this haunting acapella holds an ancestral disposition, a haunting finale to the kind of album which will leave you with nought else to listen to next, favouring you might as well just play it again!

The Lost Trades are going from strength to strength, this authorises the detail. You. Are. In. For. A. Treat; but I gather you couldโ€™ve guessed this much by yourself; Iโ€™m just confirming it!

The album will be supported by a 2 month tour taking in much of the UK.

Recent….

Poppy Rose, Ready Nowโ€ฆ.

Not being able to hold a note myself, I tip my hat to any musician in a band. Yet thereโ€™s something so much moreโ€ฆ

Brave New Broken Hearts Club at St Johns, Devizes

by Helen Edwards

Picking our way around the back of St Johnโ€™s church in the dark, unsure where the gig was being held, I was reminded about how Iโ€™d walked down that long aisle years earlier. About my childrenโ€™s christening there and the more recent funeral of my father-in-law. So, as we entered the grand churchโ€™s side door, despite my quip about having โ€˜the blood of Christโ€™ as my BYO drink, I was feeling deeply reflective. I was open to what was to come.

After making ourselves comfortable in the pew, pouring our drinks and looking around at the congregation, faces lit by trails of fairy lights, the music began.

First, came the singer/songwriter, Pearl Fish. Now that I write that name I wonder if this is her given name or a performance muse [Editorโ€™s note; yes, she told me it was her real name!] Either way it is very apt. Pearl exudes a coy, bouncy, and ever-so-slightly ethereal energy.ย  She shines but in a subtle and gentle way. When introducing her songs, she seems to have an intriguing mix of shyness and self-assuredness. And when she sang these qualities, showing vulnerability with an undercurrent of solid confidence filled the church. Her words, many of which escape me now, reflected this feeling and as an initial doubter (to explain; I gravitate towards a more rock-ier vibe) I was converted. Pearlโ€™s voice is floaty and soft and helped take you away to reveries within yourself. I especially liked one song which changed tempo and sang like a cross between a folksy ancient tale with a sea-shanty beat.ย  I will be downloading Pearlโ€™s album and feel delighted that my open mind allowed my heart to consume Pearlโ€™s creative output.ย  I do think the church ambience helped with that.

A little more unholy wine later and Neil of Brave New Broken Hearts Club (I so want to write โ€˜Bandโ€™ at the end of that!) took the space of Pearl and the vicarโ€™s usual spot.ย  The church was growing colder in the February night but Neilโ€™s warmth, his fun and gentle manner and his evident kindness filled the atmosphere.ย  His conversational chat between songs bought smiles to all of us watching and gave an insight into this seemingly self-deprecating but obviously deep thinking and amusing guy. I bet heโ€™s a great crack to sit and have a drink with.ย  Anyway, on to the music….

Neil is an accomplished songwriter.ย  He tells a story with each of his tunes and touches a chord in his audience with themes that we can all relate to.ย  I spoke to him afterwards to say it was lovely to hear the personal journey he is on, that he showed through his songs. As with Pearl and one of Neilโ€™s favourite thinkers, Brene Brown, he has exposed his vulnerability and in doing so has produced some magnificent music.ย  His tunes are catchy, melodic, and chilled and his voice is awesome; clear and engaging with (my favourite bit) a heart-warming London accent.

An unexpected night and one of unearthed pearls (sorry bad pun) and catchy thoughtful songs.  Who knew the power of the-gig-in-the-church.  I will be part of their secret promoting crew when they are next in town by persuading my friends to join me.

Trending….

Devizes Town Council Reject Proposal for a Safety Sign on The Crammer

In the same week Corsham Town Councillor Ruth Hopkinson unveiled a sign, warning drivers to slow down for their peacocks, designed by a schoolgirl via a competition, a swan on Devizes Crammer flew into a passing car and died. Residents called upon Devizes Town Council for signage warning of the dangers, but the idea was doggedly rejected by councillors at a meeting on Tuesdayโ€ฆ.

Friends of The Crammer campaign group thanked members of the public for attending the meeting. The application was discussed at great length, often meandering. Campaigner Sally Noseda said โ€œit got off to a good start with one Councillor [Cllr Bridewell] saying she thought it was a good idea and proposing it. Then, there was a barrage of objections from several councillors – too much signage there already, warning signs never work, too distracting, swans die all over the town, its people’s fault for feeding them, too expensive, etc., etc.โ€

Councillor Iain Wallis said that whilst he believed the whole council supported making the area safer, he did not think that signs were the way to do this. Making one wonder what hairbrained invention would be deemed suitable, perhaps training swans to push the traffic-light button with their beaks?!

He felt that signs would not work as drivers should already be alert in this area; well, duh, alertness is best while driving anywhere! They also questioned the need (the need for basic road safety, duh again?!) and warned about overloading the area with signage, when itโ€™s no more overloaded with pointless signage than any other area of the town centre. So, he poo-pooed the idea, which is what he said he would do on his bias Facebook group, therefore meeting about it was a complete waste of oxygen, as his proposal was seconded by Councillor Hoult, supported by Councillor Nash, who raised the financial pressure on a council who recently forked out far more for some oversized flower pots in the Market Place!

A member of Friends of Crammer group contacted Barefoot Signs for a quote, which pushed the boat out to a staggering ยฃ30 plus VAT! But Sally explained, โ€œthe council were mostly thinking about formal Ministry of Transport wildfowl signs and the costs attached to those. I couldn’t really put in an official application for “unofficial” signs – they would need to be done afterwards. So, the discussion was based on official signs. Having said that, all the nonsense about costs, history, swan behaviour, swans dying in other areas of the town, too many signs… They threw everything at it, aided and abetted by the mentioned member of the public.โ€

Cllr Giraud-Saunders felt that feeding the swans by the road may be making the issue worse so suggested that maybe feeding could take place in another area, which is, with all due respect, total piffle; with the railings in place, the larger birds only have one exit-entrance from the water to the land, and that is at the roadside so to get to another area would still mean travelling along the roadside! Now, Iโ€™m no expert, unlike others Iโ€™m not pretending to be, but you only must go and look at it to work that out!

Cllr Greenwood, who was Charing, (not charming!) felt this was something that could be looked at under Cllr Wallisโ€™ proposal. Well quite; ideas have been put before via Crammer Watch that, ideally, the Crammer needs to be swizzled around, so the wildfowlโ€™s access to the water is on the grass rather than direct onto the road, but this would obviously need a huge investment, and being the council are doing everything in their power to reject a simple signpost might suggest anyone with the slightest faith this will happen is not living in Devizes, but cloud cuckoo-land!

The minutes then go onto say, โ€œthe member of the public who brought the item forward said they understood the councilโ€™s position, but was concerned that the crammer working party may not deal with the issue in a timely fashion.โ€ Now, at this stage we need to point out, if youโ€™ve not already guessed whatโ€™s coming, this crammer working party set up Devizes Town Council consists ofโ€ฆ. wait for itโ€ฆ. councillors Iain Wallis and Chris Greenwood!!

Cilla Black level of surprise, surprise; the very oneโ€™s campaigning against every proposal put by any member of the public concerned about recent happenings at The Crammer, the two who blatantly lied about the suspected bird flu outbreak and DEFRAโ€™s imaginary collection of the dead swans on their Facebook groups. Facebook groups which have seen anyone disagreeing with Mr Wallis outright banned from the group, even the Crammer Watch page set up to support the Crammer! The councillor who encouraged the public take matters into their own hands and reprimand anyone feeding the swans, knowing full well without a natural food source they wouldโ€™ve died anyway, bird flu or not! You canโ€™t make bureaucratic gobbledygook like this up!

And, sigh, the minutes conclude: Following the public statements Cllr Wallis amended his proposal to add a timeline to the working parties brief with a first report due in six weeksโ€™ time at the next Recreation & Properties meeting. This was passed with two abstentions. In other words, although the proposal for the most proactive doable solution was squashed, theyโ€™d all sit around and talk about it at later date, which is what I thought they were doing there and then?!

It feels like โ€œCrammerโ€ is a swearword at Devizes Town Council, any mere mention of it, for some unexplained reason breathes fire from the mouths of certain councillors, and their apathy towards any issue arising from the Crammer is questionable. How councillors can outright lie leaves me beyond hope for a simple solution, and I believe they should be held accountable for their dishonesty. As Sally expressed to the Friends of the Crammer group, โ€œI was looking at a circle of rather disinterested faces. I did accept Iain Wallis’s offer to bring it into the WP remit – but stressed that this was an urgent matter and I was unhappy at how long they’d taken to get this far with the Working Party.โ€

Working party, indeed, shirking party I think youโ€™ll find! One of the best responses from The Friends of the Crammer Facebook group stated, โ€œI think DTC need to show some interest and love for the Crammer. They give the impression that they don’t care about this special, historic, and beautiful spot of nature right in the centre of the town. Everything that has been asked for (which is very little and low cost as far as I can see) they appear to have resisted or turned down or gone very slow. This group has gathered 210 members in a very short space of time in a small town and I’m sure there are a lot of others who are equally concerned. DTC are the servants of the town. Surely these little things being asked for aren’t a big deal and would be of some help in protecting the wildlife on the Crammer. It is worth a try and would certainly go some way to alleviate this problem. Just put up a few small signs what harm would it do?โ€

But perhaps the best comment came from neither the group nor council, but from the unrestricted local page, Devizes Issues (but better) in which someone added something along the lines of, โ€œitโ€™s just swans on a pond fffs!โ€ adding there were more important issues, and I agree, after feeling driven to type a thousand words on it, for if they can pass off public ideas of such a simple notion as a signpost, what poppycock will they make of the bigger issues?!

Recent….

A View to a Thrill

“The Thrill of Love” at the Wharf Theatre by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Media Just over a year ago, the Wharf theatre performed aโ€ฆ

My Dadโ€™s Wackier Than Your Dad โ€“ a night of nostalgia and karaoke at The Castle Inn, Old Town

The team behind My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival are hosting a night of karaoke at The Castle Inn, Old Town on Saturday 4th March as part of their efforts to raise funds for Prospect Hospice.

My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, organised in association with South Swindon Parish Council, is held 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.  

During his tenure at The Victoria, Daveโ€™s Wacky Wednesday fast became one of the most popular nights of the week amongst Swindon revellers, with Dave regularly coming up with themes such as โ€˜Christmas in Julyโ€™ and โ€˜Barnyard Fancy Dressโ€™, much to chagrin of his staff who had to tidy up the next day.

Festival co-organiser and ex-employee of Dave and his wife Anna, Gemma Denley-Doswell said โ€œWacky Wednesdays came up in a lot of peopleโ€™s fondest memories of Dave when he passed away and so we knew we had to recreate it at some point for the people who used to attend back then. Weโ€™re all sadly much older now and not quite brave enough to attempt it midweek anymore so picked a Saturday and luckily Audrey and the team at The Castle volunteered to host us!โ€*

My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festivalโ€™s Raffle is also being launched at the event, after last yearโ€™s raffle of a guitar clock made and donated by Holmes Music raised nearly ยฃ1000 for Prospect Hospice.

This year there are several prizes to be bagged including another guitar clock from Holmes Music plus a haul of other fantastic gifts kindly donated by local businesses.  

One lucky winner will net a yearโ€™s free membership to Anytime Fitness in Hooperโ€™s Place, Old Town, with the gym generously providing another two three-month memberships to add to the prize list.

Also up for grabs is a Photoshoot Experience Day from Marlborough based Imagine Photography and a spa voucher from the newly-refurbished Sorella Spa located in the Swindon Marriott Hotel.

Other prizes are yet to be announced, with the final draw being held in July after the festival. Tickets are ยฃ1 each and will also be available at Holmes Music, The Tuppenny and The Castle after the 4th March.

My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival 2023 is being held on Saturday 22nd July in The Town Gardens, Old Town. Already announced on the line up is Imperial Leisure, True Strays and The Real Cheesemakers. Follow the festivalโ€™s social media pages for regular updates.

Get your My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival 2023 tickets now by visiting the website mydadsbiggerthanyourdad.co.uk  

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. My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival has raised over ยฃ24,000 for Prospect Hospice in its first two years.

*Gemma added โ€œFor those who can still handle staying up late on a school night, The Victoria is still proudly flying the flag for Wacky Wednesday to this day!โ€

Song of the Week: Atari Pilot

It’s Wednesday night, it’s Song of Week time….and here’s your host…. yeah, sorry, it’s just me, couldn’t afford Stephen Mulhern.

Haven’t heard from them for a while, but they’re far from collecting dust in a loft like a retro game console. Swindon-based Atari Pilot return this week with a new single, Train of Life.

If choo-choos are a common metaphor in blues and reggae, moreso to describe the chugging beat, we’re on another platform from Sister Rosetta Tharpe, or Keith and Tex. Sonic indie rockers Atari Pilot have their joysticks calibrated to this philosophical theme, life’s long train comin’, and it sure is a grower. Especially, I’d fathom, if you’re new to this band’s unique style, I ask you take at least a few listens before passing judgement.

But with lyrics like “rolling on til the track runs out, is it the journey or the destination you dream about?” there’s thoughtful prose admist those sonic riffs, and it affirms Atari Pilot firmly on the right track.

It’s up on Bandcamp as a name your price. Linktree HERE, go give them a like on the book of Face too, while you’re standing on the platform waiting for the strikes to end!

bandcamp width=100% height=120 track=539157991 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 tracklist=false artwork=small]

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 15th โ€“ 21st February 2023

Happy Valentineโ€™s Day, hopelessly romantic yet gullible consumers. If youโ€™ve any money left after your overpriced chocolates and cut-off plants purchases, here is whatโ€™s happening this coming week in Wiltshire.….

Snowdrops, though, to do my usual weather comment, Iโ€™ve seen snowdrops, and moths; is this spring already, or am I asking too much? But we can confirm, moth-action, sir, moth-action, bring on the warmer weather.

Also, as usual, details and links to everything listed here can be found on our event calendar, which scrolls through the future like a plutonium-fuelled DeLorean, so do go with it as if your name was Marty, for if you wait for this weekly update tickets for ticketed events might well have sold out.

Wednesday 15th sees the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Recommended for children aged 5+ and their families, Squashbox Theatre presents a cosmic Journey to the Stars at The Neeld, Chippenham, while ex-special forces soldier and star of TVโ€™s SAS: Who Dares Wins, Jason Foxโ€™s talk, Life At The Limit is at the Wyvern, Swindon. This show also plays Bath Forum on Thursday.

Scottish band acclaimed for their dynamic, sonically adventurous post rock, Mogwai play Bath Forum, with comedy from Hal Cruttenden at Komedia; Itโ€™s Best You Hear It From Me.

Some Irish folk at Brown Street, Salisbury with Sharon Shannon.

Thursday 16th is opening night for Seend Fawlty Playersโ€™ production of the Frog Prince at Seend Community Hall. Their 43rd village pantomime runs till Saturday.

Fantasy Radio will be at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Comedy night at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Splat The Rat play The Tuppenny, Swindon, and Prue Leithโ€™s Nothing In Moderation comes to the Wyvern; who knows you might be sitting next to baby-face Danny Kruger, nudging you and telling you itโ€™s his mummy up there!

Ah, anyway, (Iโ€™m sorry, couldnโ€™t resist it!) Over at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon we have The Bradfordianโ€™s presentation of Fantastic Mr Fox. And staying on foxes, the aforementioned Jason Fox is at Bath Forum, Lissie at Komedia.

Friday 17th Trash Panda play The Bear, Marlborough, Bob Bowles at The Green Dragon.

Duran at Swindon Arts Centre, Dreamboys, ladies, Dreamboys I say, at the Wyvern!

Itโ€™s a big happy birthday to Ruzz Guitar, who plays at The Cheese & Grain, Frome with his full Blues Revue, Pete Gage, and The Real John Lewis as support; that will be something else; got to be editorโ€™s pick of the week! All roads lead to Frome, though, as The Lost Trades play The Treehouse as well.

Alex Carsonโ€™s The Idiot Tour at Chapel Arts, The Musical Box at Bath Forum. Fleetwood Bac @ Salisbury Arts Centre.

Saturday 18th and itโ€™s DOCAโ€™s Festival of Winter Ales at The Corn Exchange Devizes; youโ€™ll be like Charlie Bucket to find a golden ticket to this now, but good luck anyway! Staying in Devizes, The Eric Bell Band, due to play Long Street Blues Club has been postponed, and the amazing talent we witnessed as guest at the Southgateโ€™s Jon Amor monthly residency last Sunday, Thomas Atlas brings his band from Birmingham, and that will be a brilliant swap. Talking Southgate, Black Nasty plays there.

Improvised comedy for one night only at the Wharf Theatre with Instant Wit, a bunch of very Unusual Suspects, forever on the run from the Comedy Police!

Find Ed Cox at Woodbrough Social Club.

Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth 20th Anniversary Tribute tour is screened at Melksham Assembly Hall. Sarah Keyworthโ€™s Lost Boy at Pound Arts, Corsham. Homer play Westbury Cons Club. Tequila Mockingbird at Stallards in Trowbridge. Junkyard Dogs play The Three Horseshoes in Chapmanslade.

Stranglers tribute, Straighten Out at The Vic, Swindon, Click at The Swiss Chalet, and Six Oโ€™clock Circus at the New Century Club. Babatunde Alesheโ€™s Babahood at Swindon Arts Centre, Buddy Holly tribute show Thatโ€™ll Be The Day at the Wyvern.

The Korgis Last ever complete performance Kartoon World at Chapel Arts, Bath, with Fairport Convention at Bath Forum, Clare Hammond at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

A Salisbury Live 2023 fundraiser, The Beggars Bash at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Judge Jules on the wheels of steel at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Eagles tribute The Alter Eagles are at The Tree House.

Sunday 19th sees Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes.

The Amazing Bubble Man at Swindon Arts Centre, Tap Factory at the Wyvern. Babatunde Alรฉshรฉโ€™s Babahood tour moves over to Komedia, Bath.

Monday 20th Lord of the Rings in Concert at Bath Forum.

Tuesday 21st Iโ€™m Sorry I Havenโ€™t a Clue at Bath Forum.

And thatโ€™s a wrap, folks, unless I missed anything, do let me know. Have a good week, donโ€™t worry, be happy!

Recent….

Trouble at the Vic, Ant Trouble….

Something of a family reunion at Swindon’s Vic last night, then, if as Adam Ant chanted, we are the family, the dandy highwayman so sick of easy fashion was rekindled by the utter brilliance of Ant Trouble, and left me hanging on a debate of the true worth of the tribute act….

Putting a two-part question to both your good self and my own deliberations this morning, what do you want from a tribute act? To be entertained, sure, but this is no different from an originals or covers band.

Nostalgia obviously plays the highest percentage, the want for an act to replicate a bygone band you idolised, or still do. Which raises the second part of the question, is sounding like more important than looking like the act they’re attributing?

Likely it’s a combination of these, a delicate balance. Though whilst I’ve caught some amazing tribute acts, my top three being a Blondie one, a Slade one and a Bob Marley & The Wailers, I could nitpick an issue with them all. Welsh Adam and the Ants tribute Ant Trouble sold-out Swindon’s Vic last night; something I was bursting with anticipation to witness firsthand. I return a million miles or so away from any shred of disappointment; it was highly entertaining, finding it impossible to nitpick any similar issue. By order of the equation surely puts Ant Trouble top of my list.

For nostalgic value, too, it ticked all boxes. But to understand why takes a backstory. For Bob Marley, I’ve been a lifelong fan, but not until heady art college days did I idolise. Slade was a smidgen before my time. But Adam and the Ants was bang on my childhood, a band though I’d loved to have seen perform live, was too young for gigs, and by the age I would’ve been the time and notion was lost.

To scare his younger sibling, my brother would put on undoubtedly the most bizarre of my Dad’s 7″ records. It was called “Burundi Black,” a 1971 single, whereby French composer Michel Bernholc overdubbed crashing piano to a recording of chants and drumming by theย Ingomaย people ofย Burundi. It still scares the willies out me today, truth be told!!

Whatever the quarrel between Malcom McLaren and Stuart Goddard (Adam Ant,) McLaren stole many original band members of Adam and the Ants to form Bow Wow Wow, but left Stuart a compilation tape with Burundi Black on. Both bands were inspired to create this Burundi beat, so that when my brother came home with Kings of the Wild Frontier, though I’d reached the grand old age of eight and wasn’t scared of anything now, I was left intrigued if slightly concerned by the sound of this previous album, as it was 1981 and I was hooked on the pop sound of Stand & Deliver.

It taught me pop stars weren’t just dropped into chart positions from outer space, they had a history, and grew to love Kings of the Wild Frontier. If the punk movement despised Adam Ant for selling out, I was blissfully as unware as the connection to Burundi Black; it was none of my business. I just loved this band, without reasoning why, for away from the angered social commentary, the disparaged realism of the punk movement I was too young to comprehend, Adam and the Ants exploited the fantastical, the carefree, enthusing any influences they cared to, from military jackets to new romantic frilly shirts, of Bauhaus, pirates, native Americans to Dick Turpin, to create this miss-mash, playful hero of nobility, and I idolised him.

Though through time that notion was lost in the plethora of ever-changing genres of pop, his attraction in uniqueness copied if never replicated, only to be bought crashing back to me like a wallop in the face, in a glorious show of retrospective precision, that’s key to why it topped my list; Ant Trouble may be the best tribute I’ve bore witness to so far, but my nostalgia not wholly the reasoning.

As for the Blondie tribute, it was perfection, though this Edinburgh lass maintained a corny Californian accent even when chatting backstage! Ant Trouble humorously allowed themselves to break the illusion, on stage, joking with extenuating accents, “we’re not really Adam and the Ants, just some Welsh nutters!” This was the honesty which deflected the pretence with an otherwise glam and showy band, it announced this was replicated, a homage rather attempting to maintain the false illusion it was the real McCoy.

My final niggly with other tributes is the fault of Father Time. Many are impersonating from their own youth, usually making them only slightly younger than the act they’re attributing. This can make the illusion awkward, and lack the zest of youth. Whereas Ant Trouble are of the same age Adam and the Ants were at their peak, bursting with the same energy, and their almighty display of enthusiasm and vigour was the icing on the cake.

They really gave it a 110%, through their skill of replicating and general performance, to the final part of my deliberations, both looking and sounding akin. Their fulfilled repertoire covering the earlier punk era to the pop peak and beyond to Adam’s solo career, and enthusing the effect with costumes, props, quality notation to the kinesiology, plus audience participation and banter. These skilful musicians could’ve produced an electrifying show if they were a Perry Como tribute!

What remained punk of Adam and the Ants was the three-minute hero, thus allowing Ant Trouble to cram a staggering thirty-two plus songs into this unique set. From Car Trouble and others from the debut album Dirk Wears White Sox, through to practically covering the entire Kings of the Wild Frontier album, and onto the pop hits Prince Charming, Stand and Deliver, et al, to later solo singles like Apollo 9, Ant Trouble delivered them all along with Ant Rap, but not by standing, oh no, they used the stage as if acrobats! The bassist of particular enthusiasm, jumping or rolling on the floor, throwing his guitar in the air, and climbing atop the speaker. Frontman Mitchell Tennant (who’s surname coincidently contains the word ant!) was equal to this showmanship, and the whole band’s interaction was exceptional, breathing life back into the discography of the pop hero of a lost era.

And that is precisely what I believe everyone wants from a tribute act. You come away from this show exhilarated, within a euphoric bubble of retrospection, but I could flatter all day, like Morpheus said to Neo of the Matrix: Unfortunately, no one can be told how good Ant Trouble are, you have to see it for yourself!

Trending….

The Tap at The Peppermill to Host Open Mic

Two local musicians have joined forces as Nightingale Sounds to host their first Open Mic Night at the new Tap at the Peppermill in Devizesโ€ฆ.โ€ฆ

Painting With Sound; Will Lawton & The Alchemists New EP

Perhaps youโ€™ve noticed of recent, my overuse of the word โ€œsublime?โ€ I could apologise, and worry abusing a word lessens its clout, despite happening to like it, but I ask you humour me; Iโ€™m going to use it again today, in a thoroughly slamming-my-fist-on-the-desk-like-I-really-mean-it type way! Malmesburyโ€™s purveyors of cool, Will Lawton & The Alchemists have an EP due for release on 3rd March, and yes, Iโ€™ll confirm now without thesaurus, itโ€™s erm, sublime!

Theyโ€™ve contributed to both our Juliaโ€™s House compilations and though I shouldnโ€™t pick favouritesโ€ฆ. ahem, and to note our roving reporter Andy has had the pleasure of fondly reviewing these guys live. I confess it remains on my to-do-list, but via Alchemy, this new three-track EP, Iโ€™ve knocked it up in priority to top of the list, above the heading.

Our given press release enlightens the EPโ€™s title Alchemy โ€œis a reference to the alchemical process of creativity with this EP being a fusing of Will’s masterful song-craft and the band’s dextrous flair for instrumental flourishes and lush, subtly evolving arrangements,โ€ and I couldnโ€™t put it better myself. Not for weird explosions in fogs of coloured smoke, but for the tentative and inventive melodious architecture, this is a Sagrada Famรญlia of sound.

 It opens with haunting piano and Willโ€™s sonorously equable vocals. An eight-minute masterwork called Daughter, will invoke imaginings of the most memorable parental occasions, the unconditional love, as subtle drumbeats roll over this drifting euphoric sonic soundscape, akin to Pink Floydโ€™s finest hour.

Alchemic as in experimental, naturally, as the texture of drum timings fragment from piano for the second tune, then conjoin to a fix. The single pre-release out now, Black Bricks, rolls into something exceptional, an unsolidified musical edifice, overlapping layers and smooth vocals on social commentary of the ordinary, bad day. The discomforting, yet almost satirised theme perhaps makes this the standout tune, this is rich and creative genius.

Cast Iron is the final tune, cryptic and abstract, it evokes the quest to fulfil dreams and ambitions and the sense of powerlessness that emerges from this questing. The only downside is it ends, for this is incredibly morish, and leaves you dripping to dry, but quality above quantity is key, and again, this is as smooth as a well-oiled boob! Weโ€™re treated to Eastern promise through subtle tabla in the introduction to the finale, amidst these gorgeous established layers of electric guitar, rolling drumbeats, both male and female uplifting vocals, and simple beguiling keys. But what becomes in this song, as best example for the EP, is of no standalone individual element or instrument, rather the composition, for this is the musical equivalent to Da Vinci.

Seriously, Will’s profession as a music therapist means he has a high degree of self-awareness when it comes to the cathartic, healing power of creativity. Ergo, if art students are taught the eight pillars of composition are balance, contrast, focus, motion, pattern, proportion, unity and rhythm, the only images this EP will blissfully summon in your mindโ€™s eye would be BA standard and youโ€™d be exhibiting in the Louvre in no time! This is how to do it; this is painting with sound.

Will Lawton & The Alchemists have steadily built a solid live following with shows across the South West of England, and garnered support from Scala Radio, BBC Radio Wiltshire, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Radio Gloucestershire, BBC Radio Somerset, and BBC Introducing for the West. They recently supported Brit-pop legends Space to great acclaim.

The EP is produced by Patrick Phillips at Play Pen Studios, Bristol, mastered by Pete Maher at Top Floor Productions, and released via Supermarine Music. It will be supported with a tour, dates below.

Alchemy EP Tour Feb/March 2023

16th Feb: The Old Stables, Cricklade

25th Feb: The Pump, Trowbridge

27 Feb: The Prince Albert, Stroud

2nd March: The Railway Inn, Winchester

4th March:The Hop Inn, Swindon

Recent….

The Wiltshire Gothic; Deadlight Dance

With howling, coarse baritones Nick Fletcher, the main vocalist of Marlboroughโ€™s gothic duo, Deadlight Dance chants, โ€œhere comes the rain, and I love the rain,โ€ฆ

Avon Vale Hunt Suspended from the British Hounds Sports Association

If Bob Marley used a Jamaican proverb for a line in I Shot the Sheriff , “Every day the bucket a-go a well, One day the bottom a-go drop out,”  it really has for the notorious Avon Vale Hunt, who’ve been suspended from the British Hounds Sports Association, following some sickening video footage…...

I guess congratulations goes to Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs, for want of a better word. The breaking news certainly produced an awkward chuckle from me. Their hard work has paid off with this indisputable evidence of the hunt, digging out two foxes and throwing one to the hounds, while the second attempts an escape. The most distressing and horrifying part of the film is to hear them shrieking with delight when realising there was a second fox.

A criminal investigation had begun, we hope the sentence fits the crime. I’ve tried to be as subtle as possible on this issue, always willing to give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Previous filming from the sabs has often been obscured and difficult to define precisely what’s happening, but this is undeniable, trail hunting is an outright lie.

This definitive proof shifts the way I’ll handle my wording on such reports, for it’s conclusive, that hunters are nothing but bloodthirsty criminal scum, and I, for one, believe the time has come to ban these so-called trail hunts once and for all.

Wiltshire Hunt Sabs told The Hunt Saboteurs Association, โ€œWe routinely sab this particularly vile and vicious hunt, so we arenโ€™t surprised to see them shrieking in delight as the whip chucks the first fox to the hounds as a second fox tries to flee. Itโ€™s almost a year to the day since they seriously assaulted a hunt sab after sabs stopped a similar dig out of a fox from an active badger sett near Erlestoke.

We hope Wiltshire Police do their jobs properly this time. For too long this hunt has gotten away with murder, largely because of the protection of Wiltshire Police who have had serving officers riding with this hunt. The Avon Vale are now truly exposed for the bloodthirsty criminals they are.โ€

So, we find ourselves at the conjunction where I will not refrain to mince my words any longer; anyone condoning the actions of the Avon Vale Hunt, from allowing meets on their establishment to political figures supporting the hunt or claiming they’re doing nothing illegal, will be called out and treated as an accessory to a crime.

A Wiltshire police spokesperson said, “We have received a report of alleged wildlife offences and will be reviewing the evidence that has been presented.” Begging the question how it can “alleged” if the offence is clearly caught on camera?

For a fuller story and to watch the film, please refer HERE, but warning, the video can be distressing. And please, if you can, donate to the Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs so they can continue their hard and often dangerous work.

Song of the Week: Ajay Srivastav

New one on me, Bracknell-based Graham Steel Music Company being my gateway to this astounding London rootsy acoustic soloist, and I’m impressed. With the subtle nod to Indian influences while retaining a delta blues fashion, this single is gorgeous and progressive.

Ajay explains this new new single, released tomorrow (9th Feb), is about “letting go of all that baggageโ€ฆ physical, emotional, and spiritual. Lighten your load and keep walking your road,” ergo the title “Futher up the Road;” enjoy! I’ll certainly be looking for more from Ajay Srivastav….

Here’s a link to his Bandcamp page, where you’ll find some work with Jah Wobble, really bringing out this wonderful Hindustani flavour.

The Jon Amor Trioโ€™s Residency at The Southgate Shows No Signs of Letting Up for 2023

Once fed a feeble excuse for not booking a local act on the circuit because they gigged in town so often it was becoming timeworn and monotonous; I wasnโ€™t swallowing the smallest chunk, it smelt sour. This is Devizes and we cherish the dependable, the analogous; itโ€™s not boring, because we know what we like, and we like what we get. Probable the best example I could give happened again this Sunday, and is something which has fast become as traditionally Sunday here as the aroma of roast potatoes. ย ย 

Homegrown blues legend Jon Amor, with the outstanding bassist Jerry Soffe and celestially-sited drummer Tom Gilkes, who make up the other two-thirds of the trio, again took up the monthly residency at Devizes Southgate Inn, and showed no signs of the consistency faulting this coming year.

Erm, not too much to add, only because weโ€™ve covered this regular occurrence often. Andy has reviewed it, and Ian and myself have had our tuppence too, but itโ€™s worthwhile to mention if only to act as a reminder. Yeah, those who know, know, and Iโ€™d go as far to suggest, when Jon labels the event as โ€œJon Amor & Friends,โ€ it extends further than the trio and his guest. So, for others, you do realise youโ€™re seriously missing out, donโ€™t you? Thereโ€™s something so tremendously communal about the experience you could probably wear your slippers to it.

Iโ€™d wager this is how Jon sells it to the regular guest, and Iโ€™ve yet to note one which doesnโ€™t thoroughly relish in the causal, informal demeanour. This last weekend was Brummie guitarist Thomas Atlas, who found it highly amusing the dogs would unperturbedly wander through the musicians as they played. Yet Thomas is as cool as this, cool as a cucumber, making his contribution solid throughout accompanying, and boy, when his time came to lead on a few self-penned songs, it was sublime, as well as locking in anticipation for the occasion he returns to town with a full band at Long Street. Oh, yeah, you need to know; that is on Saturday 25th March.

Yes, through Juggernaut to audience-participating banter, four-to-the-floor improv, and the occasional but amusing timing blunder, it was as it always is, the superb display of delta and Chicago electric blues we love! Donโ€™t take my word for it, Iโ€™ll pop a YouTube link to Richard Whiteโ€™s filming below, and leave you with the desired information, this is a regular feature at the trusty Southgate, who, not content with supplying our Saturday nights in Devizes with an assortment of free live music, adds this cherry to the cake every first Sunday of the month. Youโ€™ve officially been reminded; there is no better way to while away your Sunday in Devizes……

Recent….

The Drum n Bass Huntr/s of Old Devizes Town

In true Royston Vasey style, unfortunately due to time and resources we donโ€™t review international music as we did during lockdown, choosing to focus moreโ€ฆ

Let’s Clean up Devizes!

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 toโ€ฆ

Ashes of Memory; New Single From M3G

The fifth single coming out from Chippenham singer-songwriter M3g on Friday, Ashes of Memory, and if Iโ€™ve said in the past what separates Meg fromโ€ฆ

Shakespeareโ€™s Problem Play Comes to The Wharf Theatre

Following her recent successful production of As You Like It, at Devizesโ€™ Wharf Theatre, Liz Sharman returns with another Shakespeare masterpiece, Measure for Measure.

Often cited as one of Shakeyโ€™s Problem Plays, characterised by complex and ambiguous tones, pugnaciously shifting between straightforward comic material and dark, psychological drama, Measure for Measure is a predecessor to tragicomedy.

Written between 1603-4 Measure for Measure is set in a Vienna which has seen vice run riot. Beset with brothels and loose morals the city has also lost its respected leader. Angelo, left temporarily in power, attempts to restore order by reinstating long-neglected laws against immorality. However, when a novice nun, Isabella, comes to plead for her brotherโ€™s life, he proves himself to be both hypocritical and corrupt when he attempts to strike an intolerable bargain.

Measure For Measure is a hidden Shakespearean gem that has enjoyed a popular revival in recent years thanks to its fresh relevance to the social movement against sexual abuse and harassment, #MeToo. Themes of justice and hypocrisy are woven in typically Shakespearean fashion with comedy and a fast-moving, constantly twisting plot.

Wharf Theatre

The play runs from March 27th to April 1st 2023. Tickets can be purchased by ringing 03336 663 366; from the website Wharftheatre.co.uk and at the Devizes Community Hub and Library on Sheep Street.

recent posts….

Never Changing the Rules With Atari Pilot

Swindonโ€™s sonic indie popsters Atari Pilot are a prolific bunch, and have a new single out called The Rules Never Changeโ€ฆ. And, they donโ€™t. Thereโ€™sโ€ฆ

Peace, Love, Americana and Jol Rose

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.โ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 8th โ€“ 14th February 2023

February, not hotting up much temperature-wise, nevertheless plenty of stuff going on across the county and beyond; hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to satisfy your soul this weekโ€ฆ.

You know the score, no links here, find them on our event calendar โ€“ something you need to keep an eye on as it has been known to get updated from time to time! If we missed anything you told me about, I apologise, let me know and I can add it. If I missed anything you failed to tell me about, thatโ€™s your own lookout, but still, if youโ€™re nice I might add it, but it will cost you a cupcake.

Letโ€™s not mess about, Wednesday 8th sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes, an over 60s event at The Neeld, Chippenham, Macie J Kulakowski at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Chris McCauslandโ€™s Speaky Blinder at Komedia, Bath, and a folk open mic at Brown Street, Salisbury.

On Thursday 9th we welcome back Devizes Film Club, who are setting up camp at The Wharf Theatre, tickets for the film, Minari have sold out, please note upcoming screenings, here.

Pound Arts in Corsham have a triple bill of folk, Flo Perlin, Daisy Chute and Fern Maddie.

The Tuppenny, Swindon, have one on my hitlist, Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army, with the wonderful Harmony Asia in support.

Phil Beer plays Chapel Arts, Bath, and Terence Blacker presents The Shock of the Old at Rondo Theatre.

Opening night for How The Other Half Loves at Salisbury Playhouse, running until 4th March.

Friday 10th sees the acoustic folk-indie project of now London-based but former Devizes resident Neil Phillimore, Brave New Broken Hearts Club come to St Johns in Devizes for a one-off gig with London folk poet-singer Pearl Fish. Previewed Here.

Upcoming bands battle it out for heat two of Take the Stage 2023 at The Neeld, Chippenham.

The Corsairs play The Bear in Marlborough.

Emily Breeze plays the Pump in Trowbridge for Sheer Music. You need to get in quick on any events at the Pump, they will sell out before you know what’s-what!

Guitar enthusiasts head for Swindon Arts Centre for a show celebrating 50 Years of Fender, while The Shudders play The Vic, with Celtic folkers Liddington Hill and Death is a Girl.

Aaron Azunda Akugbo plays Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Sara Pascoe appears at Bath Forum, while thereโ€™s a free indoor fest at Komedia, featuring Year of the Dog, Nookee, Drop in the Ocean, Ryan Dโ€™Auria and Bohosapiens, and at the Rondo Theatre thereโ€™s a play called Thirst, running over the weekend.

Jolyon Dixson & Steele play The Royal George in Salisbury, Break Cover are at Brown Street, and Jarlath Regan and Garrett Millerickโ€™s Work in Progress at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Henge at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Start your Saturday 11th with some deliberation, as the Devizes Town Council Roadshow meets at The Market Place, 10am-1pm! In the evening, find Ben Borrill at The Three Crowns, and Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate.

Big Mamaโ€™s Banned play the Pilot, Melksham, Be Like Will play The Wiltshire Yeoman in Trowbridge, while The Worried Men are at the Pump.

Dave B & The Bop Wonโ€™t Stop presents The Ultimate Shakinโ€™ Stevens Tribute at Chapel Arts, Bath, and thereโ€™s a West End Winter Show at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

If thatโ€™s not enough difficult decisions already, Don Letts is guest at The Cheese & Grain in Frome, as the Dub Pistols headline.

Find Six Oโ€™clock Circus at The Phoenix in Wotton Bassett, Thickcut play The Swiss Chalet in Swindon, and Bella Notte features Bel Canto, Belle Voci and Bella Musica in an evening of songs from shows and popular music in Everybody Sing at Swindon Arts Centre.

However, Editorโ€™s Pick of Week will see us trek to Swindon, unless a serious hurricane-blizzard-tornado hits, where Adam Ant tribute Ant Trouble play the Vic. If you want a lift from Devizes, give me a shout, but you’ll have to help with my war-paint! Iโ€™ve been looking forward to this for ages, rekindling my youth with some ant music… we are the family!

Sunday 12th sees Bee-Gees tribute Jive Talkin at the Wyvern, while Tom Stade takes The High Road at Swindon Arts Centre.

Phil Cooper is live in Session at The Electric Bar, at Komedia in Bath, while comedian Lloyd Griffithโ€™s One Tonne of Fun play the main hall. Eliza Carthy & The Restitutionโ€™s 30th Anniversary tour comes to the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

On Monday 13th Strictly Come Dancing champion Giovanni Pernice invites you to join him on a journey to his homeland for his production of Made in Italy at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Tuesday 14th sees The Classic Rock Show at the Wyvern, Swindon. Bath Phil & Jeneba Kanneh-Mason at Bath Forum and Future Cavemen at Komedia.

Into The Future…..

Thatโ€™s all for this week folks, should be something to please everyone there, I think, but nothing will beat some kings of the wild frontier in my honest opinion!

Do scroll through the event calendar, some things you should take note of; Devizes Winter of Festival Ales is near-sold out, you best hurry. Seend Community Centre sees it 43rd village pantomime, The Princess & The Frog start on Thursday 16th and runs the Friday and Saturday.

Friday 17th in Frome, though, with birthday boy Ruzz Guitar at The Cheese & Grain, featuring The Real John Lewis and Peter Gage, and over the road, The Lost Trades play The Treehouse; wowzers! Talking of birthdays and Ruzz, don’t forget, Devizes people, not only is Ruzz playing his own birthday, he’s playing mine too! All welcome on March 4th to the Three Crowns where we’ll have a daytime open mic, the fantabulous Talk In Code will playing too and you can laugh at me reaching the half-century mark.

Spoiled for choice in Devizes on Saturday 18th, Thin Lizzy founder and guitarist Eric Bell arrives at Long Street Blues Club, head-to-head with Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, fantastic improv comedy with Instant Wit at The Wharf Theatre; decisions, decisions, but you need to make your mind up and get tickets, though if you fail, Black Nasty is at our trusty Southgate.

Trending….

Date Set for Devizes Pride

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 beenโ€ฆ

Swan Dies in Road Accident at The Crammer

A swan from the Crammer hit on the road between Morrisonโ€™s roundabout and the traffic lights this morning, has died….

In territorial disputes, the wildfowl will chase others, and they will flee onto the road. In other cases, desperate for food, some venture afield and cross the dangerous road.

Emotionally upset, founding member of the Crammer Watch team took it to McQueens for the incinerator.

It sadly highlights the necessity for signage on both roads warning drivers of birds crossing. We do hope the Devizes Town Council will raise this notion at the next meeting and look forward to reporting their response.

Facebook groups and pages with information and support for the Crammer:

Crammer Watch: Facebook page.

Friends of the Crammer: Facebook group.

If Old Photos of Devizes Were Posted on Social Media Today…..

Looking at old photos of Devizes can be a pleasurable way to spend a Sunday morning, such a beautiful and historic market town we live in, and things haven’t changed all that much…. architecturally….

But what if these photographs were posted on local Facebook groups today? What would the comments be? Our non-roving reporter, Karen McKarenson, speculates….

Is this where I stand 4 the 49 bus? Ive bin waiting 4 ages nuthin, bloody council – tia #devizesbusserviceisrubbish
Saw this van 2day in market plice – derty travellers parked in disabled bay. Where b the police? No bluddy where!
Look at that teenager just sittin on the bridge – where R his parents? Probably vapping as well- Sumbuddy needs to call the police #teenagersrunriotindevizes
Dunt no bout u but im fed up of peeple tryin to turn right at shanes castle – look at this twat #muppetdrivindevizes
Nun of these lot paid 4 parkin with the iphone app 2day – dole scroungers leftie woke whingers git a job
Wat idot put this up? Askin 4 a friend who neerly crashed his fiat into it #health&saftee in #devizes is a joke
Still cee murderous kids killin ducks by feedin them on the crammer wen they no its all infected wif bird flu cos that trusty councillor said it was – sumbuddy needs to string em up #deathtodevizeskidsfeedinducks
Smelly eco actavists rammed market plice 2day – nowhere 2 park the audi to go 2 greggs how wee supposed to #supportlocalbiznis wif these lot stickin there faces to the market X?
Why build up kids hopes of escapin only 2 knock em down – they’ll be waiting here for a while yet. #youthof2day numpties – get yr dad 2 giv u a lift!

Hope you like them, if you know of any more send them in or add them in the comments of social media shares – oh, the irony!

The Great Pothole Debacle; Are Wiltshire Councillors Teleported into County Hall?!

As a younger chap, for it once was so, I’d procrastinate with the washing-up, putting it off until the point I’d run out of cutlery or crockery. By this time the daunting task of tackling the mountain was too much to bear. Not forgoing, I’d be suspicious organic matter in the sink could’ve evolved into a dispassionate and sadistic varmint which would, acting in defence of its dwelling, ambush my digits, and marigolds would make unless armour.

In maturity I’ve learned engaging proactive to chores will prevent such issues from building to an uncontrollable catastrophe, but remain convinced, by driving on any road in the county, Wiltshire Council hasn’t yet reached such maturity. Their dithering, wilful ignorance of Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, has spawned an infestation of intractable and accrescent critters: potholes, and they breed like rabbits.

Agreed, like a birdwatcher finding a rare Capercaillie, I’ve seen council workers patching up the deadliest potholes of recent, here and there, but take The Kings Road, Easterton, for example, which for a while now I’ve renamed the Kamikazes Road, for my own personal white-knuckled amusement. Here, over the past week, they’ve shoved some hardcore in the odd pothole which has occupied the road for an insurmountable eon, ticked it off as a job well done, and returned to base for tea and custard creams. The equivalent of which in my washing-up metaphor would be to rinse a teaspoon I found rotting behind the fridge under the cold tap.

Of course, Cabinet Member for Transport, Dr Mark McClelland has waffled this axiomatic piffle on the councilโ€™s website, “The weather has provided the perfect conditions for potholes to form, and that’s why we’re seeing an increase in the number of road defects throughout the county.”

Akin to a football manger telling the presenter, โ€œItโ€™s a game of two halves,” tell us something we don’t know, like perhaps coupled with Dr McClelland’s valid point is also the unmentioned minor technicality they failed dismally to repair potholes for the last two previous years, minimum. Yeah, the increase of road defects is caused by bad weather, I’ll give him, but bad management too. Like my washing-up, if you don’t address the issue promptly, we see potholes on potholes on potholes, on, well, you get the picture; it’s of a lunar landscape, and you’re cycling one of those old Boneshaker bicycles over it.

Potholes are so rife in Wiltshire; people have started using them to give directions. “Oh-argh, go down road for six potholes, past the pensioners playing street golf, you’ll see a really massive pothole, not the one where Kate Winslet is grasping driftwood crying over drowning Leonardo DiCaprio, but a much deeper one, turn right there and it’s just past the third pothole on the left!”

Okay, you roll your thunder; cease the satirical ranting and tell us what we can do about it, I hear your cry. Here’s the longwinded Wiltshire Councillor Dr McBellend again, with the official advice: โ€œWiltshire Council has an online reporting system called MyWilts that people can use to report problems on the councilโ€™s roads and footways. This can be either accessed by computer or an app downloaded from the relevant app store. Reports received from MyWilts are processed accordingly and customers updated through the Councilโ€™s reporting and management systems.โ€

Like everything these days, from parking your car to ordering at Nandos, you must go to a website, download an app, create an account, and customise yourself to the inner-workings of the profiteering geek mate of the council who invented it.

According to the Wiltshire Highways Safety Inspection Manual, depending on priority and road size, it can take anything up to 60 days for them to address the issue, which, based on past experience, seems to be to send a team out to inspect, possibly spray paint a colourful circle around it, or in severe cases stick a traffic cone in it, return to base to file the report and grab some tea and custard creams. By which time umpteen drivers have lost a wheel in the pothole you’re attempting to inform them about.

Technophobes are shit out. I like to think I’m savvy, but it took me little under an hour to make head nor tail of the app, and report a SINGLE road defect, when the county is awash with them, on every single road, multitudes of them, potholes on potholes, remember? How much spare time do they think we have?

One has to wonder how Councillors get to county hall. Are they blindfolded? Are they teleported in like Captain Kirk? How come they cannot see what we see? Oh yeah, the gas-guzzling Chelsea tractor brigade, I forgot; why don’t we all just save up and buy ourselves a 4×4, goes the pig-ignorant Conservative thinktank. Because we’re scrapping the barrel to put food on the table due to their general incompetence of a thousand other issues I could rant a tangent on, that’s why, and we really don’t need the added expense of avoidable car repairs.

Oh, but, oh, what’s that you say? You can reclaim expenses from Wiltshire Council if your vehicle is damaged due to potholes? Yes, I hear that, and after months of paperwork there’s been some success stories; ninety days is the legal maximum allowed, they will take advantage of that while your kids go hungry.

Provided you take a multitude of photos and videos of the damage, the questionable pothole with a tape measure or sonic deep-sea echo sounder, and its surroundings, provide indisputable evidence it was said pothole, add some interesting history about any neighbouring landmarks, and possibly bribe them with proper posh Waitrose biscuits rather than working class custard creams, you can retrieve some but rarely all your costs, should you suffer an incident there and then. But what of the gradual wear and tear of our cars on our daily journeys across this scabrous terrain of endless bottomless chasms? These surely are both insurmountable and incalculable, and what’s more, impossible to prove. I quizzed a local mechanic.

Coils, springs and other such technical bits and bobs are forever being replaced at his garage, he informed me, and was undoubtedly convinced it was due to the constant driving through potholes. He extended it to suggest driving in France wouldn’t cause these problems; whoa, controversial!

Now, I’m sorry for my rude alteration of the councillor’s name, if you noted it, and if I could take it back I would, but I’ve said it now and it’s out there; just a typo really. I’m aware Tories can be touchy when pointing out their incompetence and hypocrisy, and often act like a told-off toddler, but name-calling is simply not cricket. I’m aware it’s a tricky issue and perpetual, but you did sign up for the job, so, no temper tantrums, let’s be logical here; the app is a get out clause for the council, if it’s not reported there it’s as mythical as unicorns.

For I made the gag out of frustration, not so much for the crumbs of pasty I lose while driving the milk float over these bumps, for I’m not so petty to calculate and invoice the council for a six pack of Ginsters, but for the pothole so deep it shattered my window, covering me in shards and leaving me in need of a change of underwear, for the repair of my car’s wheel balance, tyres, for the fact that although I drove over the window-shattering pothole carefully for the next month or so, and it was finally repaired, to note the other six or seven potholes surrounding that one wasn’t, and they’ve equalled it now in deepness. It’s a never-ending problem, I accept this, but for crying out loud, be the hero who finds a doable solution, and I can eat my words rather than have to mince them.

I’m aware we’ve bricked ourselves into this asylum the lunatics have taken over and that’s democracy, but if they’ve found a workable solution on the continent, are we too proud to pinch their strategies? Opps, grey area, fetch my blue pissport and I’ll shut the door behind me.

No good waffling figures to me about how much the council have spent on infrastructure, while I gaze at the new digital road sign in Worton, which flashes up the driver’s speed with a happy or sad face emoji, when one car I witnessed this week clocked 72mph and didn’t fuss to slow past the school gates through that 30mph zone. And, pray tell, how much did it cost to install it, compared to the revenue it’ll provide? It’s not how much you’ve got but what you do with it.

While it may well slow the considerate fella who’s accidentally slipped into 33mph, no emoji is going to cause these thoughtless potential murderers to take caution, but a copper with a speed camera offering a huge fine and lifetime driving ban might. That’d raise some pennies for tarmac, and reduce traffic as well as encouraging lorries to use the motorway and not shortcut through towns and villages; blimey I’m full of radical notions this morning; give the man a Twix.

But failing any of them, councillor, take a pay cut, live like the rest of us sufferers, avoid expensive luncheons, buy bargain custard creams for county hall’s biscuit barrel, or pick up a shovel, get your Fairy-Liquid-kind hands dirty for once in your sad little life and fill the potholes in yourself! Or do they keep potholes as it’s symbolic of where this country is heading?

Who can say for certain?

I can, “for certain,” there you go, job a good ‘un, shame the same canโ€™t be said for Wiltshire Councilโ€™s road policy!

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Mantonfest 2024

Images: Gail Foster Whilst festivals around us come and go Mantonfest has been a constant of the Wiltshire music calendar since 2009….. The 29th ofโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Sienna Wileman

Okay, I admit it, our Song of the Day feature was too optimistic, and failing every day to post a tune meant it fell by the wayside.

Song of the Week, think I can manage that, just! Let’s reintroduce it now, every Wednesday without fail, pinky promise, and do the first one right about now! Swindon Songstress and actor Sienna Wileman released this gorgeous song, For Nobody Else, this week.

And bonus, the video has some shots of Devizes in it, which doesn’t give her extra points, but then again, it doesn’t need them, it’s a hauntingily angelic song, as is Sienna’s style. You can find her first single, Petals, opening our Julia’s House compilation album, volume 2.

This one echoes that beauty and improves on it, too. Keep up the great work, Sienna!

REVIEW โ€“ Comedy Night @ The Piggy Bank, Calne – Tuesday 31st January 2023

Whatโ€™s Funny About Tuesday Night?

Andy Fawthrop

You know how weโ€™ve previously moaned on and on (and on) on these pages before about the lack of comedy in D-Town?  Well โ€“ guess what?  No โ€“ thereโ€™s still a yawning gap where the comedy should be in our lovely town.  But we continue to live in hope.

So, instead, desperate for a few laughs on a dark Tuesday night, I made my way to the slightly less lovely town of Calne.  And more specifically to The Piggy Bank micro-pub in the centre of town for their first ever Comedy Night, presented by Stroud-based Crazy Bird Comedy Club.

The place was absolutely packed, being a sell-out well before the night, and people were in place long before the show started in an effort to get a good seat.  It didnโ€™t really matter, as the place is quite small, so every seat in the house was a good one โ€“ and that included Yours Truly, doing a shift behind the bar to help the guys out.  And a busy old night it was.

Our MC for the evening was the affable Jon Pearson (described as the best MC in the Midlands, whatever that means), who proved to be a great foil for a lively audience that was definitely up for it.  Although itโ€™s become almost standard practice these days for comedians to gently take the piss out of the town theyโ€™re currently playing in, it was more than entertaining to witness Calne being put to the verbal sword for a change.

First up was Joe Wells, a hunk of a man, who was an immediate hit with the audience.  His routine was basically, with many digressions and plenty of raucous audience interaction, a riff on his own autism (or โ€œneuro-divergenceโ€), wherein he took the interesting line of sympathising deeply, in a maximally patronising way, with those who are, sadly, non-autistic.  Great stuff.

After a decent interval, and some more audience-rapping from our MC, it was the turn of the diminutive Julia Stenton, describing herself as a โ€œbad case of adult acneโ€.  Some nice observational sketches followed, with material that was both hilarious and near the bone (but without ever resorting to the poor comedianโ€™s escape-clause of sheer crudity).  Another class act.

And finally, onto our headliner Nick Page.  Here was a big guy who was comfortable on the microphone, relaxed and unhurried, knowing how to play the audience, riding the laughs and timing his pay-offs perfectly.  His material on the benefits (or otherwise) of having children was exquisitely judged.  Bang-on comedy in my book.

And then we were done.  Four acts and, to my comic tastes at least, four absolute winners.  You canโ€™t say fairer than that.  So, ten out of ten, and well done to owners Malcolm and Karen Shipp for having the vision, the energy, and the determination to put this show on.  And proving, yet again, that thereโ€™s definitely a taste for live comedy.  Letโ€™s face it โ€“ there canโ€™t be very much to laugh about in Calne, so they really, really needed this.  But the gauntlet has now been thrown down to anyone in D-Town who fancies getting some regular comedy nights going again.  Please?  Someone?

The next Crazy Bird Comedy is at The Piggy Bank later this month, Tuesday 28th March, featuring MC Harvey Hawkins, and comedians Jethro Bradley, Samantha Day and headliner Andrew Bird.ย  Tickets are already flying out of the door, but if youโ€™re quick thereโ€™s still time to bag yourself a great night out with a great atmosphere and some great craft beer.

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On The Wayside with Viduals

Akin to Ghostbusterโ€™s nemesis Slimer when he appears over the hotdog stand, I was squatting a spacious windowsill at Wiltshire Music Centre with an Evieโ€™s burger summoning me to munch, when a mature lady swung open the fire-door to the third stage at Bradford Roots Music Festival a couple of weeks ago. She looked agitated, speechless at the brash raucous reverberations of the next bandโ€™s soundcheck, as if this wasnโ€™t what she ordered at a โ€œrootsโ€ festival, and not alone in her opinion. Naturally, I smirked….

In this much, I consider, not being Peter Pan established, if thereโ€™s something psychologically wrong with me. Iโ€™m pushing fifty, and welcome the unforeseen, refuse to join pensioner grumpy club. Hark, I say, to the sounds of youthful post-punk indie rock, retains faith musical progression is eternal, and Iโ€™m game for upcoming, fledgling bands to do their worst and try turn me into a fuddy-duddy with progression above my capacity. For try as they might, it doesnโ€™t wash; Iโ€™m going in if theyโ€™re coming out.

The festivalโ€™s age demographic was wider than I imagined, and salute the organisers for supplying wild cards, things to appease younger attendees. There was a couple of bands which fit into this pigeonhole, Iโ€™m focussing on the one I managed to catch, Swindon-based four-piece Viduals.

This hard-hitting fury, in-your-face indie rock with flavours of skater punk and post-grunge, but never with an air of melancholy, though awash of surprisingly universal dejected romantic topics is a dish best served at a pub-like venue, known for diversity, if not Reading Festival. Our own Nervendings do it with cherries on, and along with a plethora of bands I cite Devizes-own Nothing Rhymes with Orange. The guys of Viduals know both these bands from gigging at The Vic and elsewhere, as I bought up comparisons chatting to them outside.

What came across from our brief conversation was, although not without a touch of understandable adolescent carefree banter, these young guys are level-headed and have a clear understanding what they want and where they wish to take this. Just mentioned that for the sweeping generalisations of stick-in-the-muds! Because, while the performance suffered somewhat with poor technical engineering, causing the Muppetโ€™s Animal-like drummer to be too upfront and drowning out vocals, there was something which grabbed me about these guys, and their EP The Wayside confirms my suspicions.

Five songs pack a punch, Viduals donโ€™t come up for air, the production on this EP affirms the perfect balance of a united group, working as a unit, and the splendour of Viduals shines through. It kicks off with Separate, like a little toe in the water, Look Away increases this degenerate, dysfunctional youthful amorousness theme, both never faulter to a bridge of forlorn downtempo mood, just rocks loud and proud throughout.

To mumble this general theme is clichรฉ, Viduals do it with finesse. Drums roll like velvet over nimble guitar-thrashed riffs and intelligent lyrics, Embraces perhaps the best example. Hereโ€™s a thing though; contemplating the aggression of punk of yore, metal or hardcore, while thereโ€™s bursts of adolescent emotion within these upcoming bands, the like of The Karios and Mellor, itโ€™s never as incensed or furious as punkโ€™s roots, it takes you with it rather than sticks two-fingers up at you.

Viduals do this with exceptional balance, itโ€™s tolerable universally, unlike, say, The Sex Pistolsโ€™ fashion of deliberately offending. I feel it collates various influences along the way, such as the mod-rock garage bands of the eighties, grunge, and in this it ceases to become a โ€œnoise,โ€ living in a limbo between acceptable and unacceptable, a kind of halfway house.

But the thing is, taking hardcore bands like Black Flag, through to grunge, thereโ€™s never been a more progressive, and consequently, creative time for this genre than now; it has matured into pop, officially and naturally. Enthusing youths to pick up instruments, motivating them to self-promote and persevere with creativity, is a surely good thing. Coming Back to You, being prime to what Iโ€™m getting at, perhaps the politest song on offer here; thereโ€™s a need to rock, but not spit at or nick the audienceโ€™s belongings while doing it!

The finale Permanent Daylight feels something of a magnum-opus, at least to-date, and is symbolic of my overall valuation; in laymanโ€™s terms, it kicks ass!

Ironic EP title, in my honest opinion, playing it down. Viduals are a young Swindon-based band destined not to fall by the wayside, rather stand solid and secure on that highway to hell, likely above one of those massive motorway signs straddling this borderline; if the lane is closed, shit, you’re gonna know about it, blasting their non-harshness sublime sound across the stratosphere! Yeah, love it, itโ€™s unexpectedly refined rather than raw, with bags more potential to boot.

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 1st โ€“ 7th February 2023

Thank the heavens we can kick January out of the door! Itโ€™s been a warmer week though, hasnโ€™t it? Still wouldnโ€™t reach for the Hawaiian shirts and straw sunhats just yet. The weather is a tease, loves to give you a taster of the potential of the coming season, then reverts without warning or the slightest concern that you risked lobbing your thermal long-johns in the wash!

Some people prefer winter though, apparently; weirdos! Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do in Wiltshire for the rest of us; hermits stay in, covered in blankets, re-watching Wednesday and praying into a bag of cheesy puffs for season two! Get a life, Wiltshire is not a cultureless void, see below if you donโ€™t believe me!

Links and details can be found on our event calendar: here. Just takes ages adding them in here a second time; ainโ€™t nobody got time fโ€™ dat!

Ladies Day continues at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes until Saturday 4th all sold out now, but the next production hosts improvised comedy Instant Wit, for one day and that day being 18th February. Not forgoing the welcome return of Devizes Film Club showing the 2020 film Minari, about a Korean-American family moving from California to a remote Arkansas farm in search of their own American dream. That is on Friday 9th February.

Pinch, punch, Wednesday 1st February it will be then, and Trowbridgeโ€™s Pump celebrates Independent Venue Week with The Howlers, Langkamer and Mumble Tide.

Regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Seventh Avenue Arts presents Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years at Pound Arts, Corsham. Danny Bakerโ€™s Sausage Sandwich Tour comes the Wyvern, Swindon.

The Greatest Magician continues until 4th at Rondo Theatre, Bath, and staying in Bath, Monkey Bizzle meets The Scribes Komedia, Flats & Sharp at Chapel Arts, and Junior Bill at The Bell.

Thursday 2nd Quiz Night at The Devizes Literary & Scientific Institute in aid of Devizes & District Food Bank by Devizes Labour Party.

Moon plays The Vic in Swindon, Truck at The Tuppenny. Ben Portsmouthโ€™s This is Elvis 2023 Tour at the Wyvern, and Limehouse Lizzy at Swindon Arts Centre.

Brennan Reeceโ€™s Crowded come to Rondo Theatre, Bath, and for music, find Del Barber & Band at Chapel Arts.

Still Moving DJs at Salisbury Arts Centre, Open Mic at The Winchester Gate, and Jamie Linghamโ€™s regular From The Book at Brown Street, Salisbury.

Friday 3rd and itโ€™s Potterne Cricket Clubโ€™s Quiz Night at Potterne Village Hall.

While revellers descend on Weston-Super-Mare for the Incider Festival, Jaz Delorean is at The Pump, Trowbridge, but I believe is near sold out, youโ€™ll need to be quick, or own a time machine for this one!

A new regular feature at The Barge on Honey Street, open mic session continues Friday.

Sophie Dukerโ€™s Hag at Pound Arts, Corsham, Phoenix Dance Presents โ€˜We Are Connectedโ€™ at The Neeld, Chippenham.

In the top three flamenco guitarists in the world, Juan Martin is at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Malaya Blue Band at Chapel Arts in Bath, some Impromptu Shakespeare at Rondo Theatre, and David Oโ€™Dohertyโ€™s Whoa is Me at Komedia.

Wow; Fairport Convention play the Wyvern in Swindon, with Lucy Porterโ€™s Wake Up Call at Swindon Arts Centre. Dohny Jep headlines a triple at The Vic, with Nervendings and Riviera Arcade.

Cressers Last Standโ€™s The Growing up Tour at Brown Street, Salisbury, while The Jonny Phillips Trio play the Winchester Gate.

Saturday 4th, The Shudders come to The Southgate, Devizes, (Update: The Shudders canโ€™t make it on Saturday. To the rescue, they have laid back dude Grizzly Rhys Morgan at The Southgate instead,)while Devizes Scooter Club hold a Back to the 80โ€™s Party at The Cavalier. But the concentration in Devizes should focus on The Corn Exchange, where we are thinking green. Make a hot-water bottle at Devizes Library during the day, and bring it to the Wiltshire Climate Alliance fundraiser with Seize the Day; preview here. Editor’s Pick of the week? Could be!

Damm! play The Bear, Marlborough, meanwhile it will be Vyv & Jackieโ€™s farewell at The Lamb, after over an incredible 43 years theyโ€™re retiring and we wish them all the very best. A solemn occasion it refuses to be, as Pants will out! If you donโ€™t know what that means, I suggest you read undoubtedly the funniest interview weโ€™ve ever done, with Pants, last week. Got to be Editorโ€™s Pick of The Week, if Seize the Day is too, I can’t decide this week!

Phoenix Dance presents a second night of โ€˜We Are Connectedโ€™ at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Still Marillion play The Vic, Swindon, with One Chord Wonders at the Queens Tap, The Bellflowers at The Tuppenny, Homer at The Swiss Chalet, and Six Oโ€™clock Circus at Coleview Centre. Troy Hawkeโ€™s Sigmund Troyโ€™d at the Wyvern, and Paul Foot at Swindon Arts Centre.

Stray Dogs will be โ€˜Unleashedโ€™ for a Charity Gig for The Music Man Project at Burdallโ€™s Yard, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Roy Orbison Experience at Chapel Arts, Bath, with Akasha at The Bell.

From 11am, Drag Queen Story Time at The Winchester Gate, while the evening in Salisbury gets punked, with Carsick headlining at foursome at Brown Street with Who Ate All the Crayons, Lucky Number Seven, and Seaside Glamour.

Staying punk, The Cheese & Grain hosts the Frome Punk Fest.

Sunday 5th and if youโ€™ve achieved nothing over the weekend all is not lost, the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency at The Southgate, Devizes at around about 5pm, with guest Thomas Atlas.

Also, Julian Gaskell & His Ragged Trousered Philanthropists are at The Bell, Bath, while Stephen Lynchโ€™s The Time Machine Tour arrives at Komedia.

The Psychology of Serial Killers at the Wyvern, Swindon, wraps up our weekend, but do keep a check on the calendar, for updates and planning.

Monday is Monday, not a lot going on. Do a jigsaw puzzle or something.

Tuesday 7th is the Wyvern Theatre Swap Shop at the Wyvern in Swindon, Randy Feltfaceโ€™s Feltopia at Komedia, Bath, and Wiltshire College FE Student Showcase Samphire at Salisbury Playhouse.

Have a great week, behave yourself, within reason, and donโ€™t forget to keep up-to-date with our calendar, for next week sees aforementioned return of Devizes Film Club, now based at The Wharf Theatre, a triple bill of folk at Pound Arts, Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army & Harmony Asia at The Tuppenny, Swindon, Emily Breeze at the Pump, the second stage of Take the Stage 2023 at The Neeld, in which we wish Nothing Rhymes with Orange the best of luck, 50 Years of Fender at Swindon Arts Centre, Ben Borrill at The Three Crowns, Devizes with Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate, and Big Mamaโ€™s Banned at the Pilot, Melksham, Adam Ant tribute Ant Trouble at the Vic, the Dub Pistols with Don Letts The Cheese & Grain, Frome, and so much more!

Trust other websites or Facebook pages with whatโ€™s to do and youโ€™ll miss truckloads; Devizine is the only one around these darkened backwaters to collate them all; give the man a Twix.

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