With the last minute heatwave looking as if it MIGHT be packing its bags, we move into autumn still with lots to do locally, the silver lining of the clouds aboveโฆ..ย ย
Not comprehensive, as I tell you each time, more will be added to our event calendaras we move through the week and they come to our attention, so check in on it from time to time. If you donโt let us know about your event you cannot expect it to be here, drop us a line and guarantee itโs listed here, it costs nothing.
Please, if you can donate a little something to keep us going, do, thatโs all I ask. We need to fund this, and any extra will be put into hosting events, something we would like to do more of but without financial support it makes it impossible. Any donations will be kindly accepted, you will get special attention, and we thank you. For info on how, see HERE.ย ย
Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.
Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.
Di & Viv & Rose opens at the Wharf Theatre in Devizes on Monday, and continues until Saturday 16th.
Abigailโs Party continues at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon until Wednesday 13th.
Wednesday 13th
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes, bring an instrument, voice, or just do as I do, just sit back, perhaps joke about playing the triangle, and enjoy the musicians doing their stuff!
Rosalie Cunningham comes to Chapel Arts, Bath, weโve seen Rosie at MantonFest, groovy, psychedelic rock n roll, loved it! The Bobby Kennedy Experience at the Rondo Theatre, and
Dusk Art Rhythm Quartet at The Bell, both in Bath too.
Thursday 14th
Melksham Music & Drama presents Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Melksham Assembly Hall, opening Thursday, running till Saturday.
Editorโs Pick of Week made easy this time, Swindon Shuffle not only raises funds for Prospect Hospice, itโs free, and a virtual cathedral of our local live music circuit. In the words of the great Zaphod Beeblebrox, โeveryone who’s anyone is going to be there,โ albeit he was referring to Millways the restaurant at the end of the universe, weโre only on about Swindon, still, it fits! feat your eyes on the poster below, enough said….
Running across the various pubs over the entire weekend, kicking off on Thursday, Iโm not going to list them all, because hereโs the poster and that says it all.
Elsewhere in Swindon, The Story of Guitar Heroes at The Wyvern Theatre, and Andrew Birdโs Taken Seriously at Swindon Arts Centre.
The Annie Keating Band at Chapel Arts, Bath, plus support from Steady Habits. Markus Birdmanโs Platinum at the Rondo Theatre.
Friday 15th
Seend branch of the Royal British Legion hosts the Pop Pickers at the Seend Community Hall.
The Future Sound of Trowbridge series sees a third instalment at The Pump, with Rae and Foxymoron supporting The Sunnies.
Rockabilly Rumble at North Swindon Club, John Kearnsโ The Varnishing Days at Swindon Arts Centre, The Ultimate Boyband Party Show at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and the Shuffle continues throughout the weekend.
Aretha & the Soul Sisters with Lisa Grand & the Jezebel Sextet at Chapel Arts, Bath, Will Collierโs Chet Baker Project at the Rondo Theatre.
Peter Doherty plays the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 16th
Devizes Heritage Day, leaflets are available from participating venues and also Devizes Books, and Wiltshire Museum. Devizes RFC V Chosen Former Pupils at Devizes Rugby Club.
Dr Zeboโs Wheezy Club at The Southgate, Devizes.
Live Music and Family Funday for Wiltshire Mindโs 30th Anniversary at The Pilot, Melksham, and a Psychic & Crystal Fayre at Melksham Scout Hut, 10am-4pm.
Heritage Open Day: Hidden on the High Street at the Neeld, Chippenham, and a new exhibit by Si Griffths at the Forbidden Carnival, see poster.
Sour Apple plays Kings Arms, Hilperton. Matt Owens and Courting Ghosts at The Pump in Trowbridge.
Train to Skaville are at Swindon Underground, formerly Level III, Simplicity at The Woodland’s Edge, 80s Mania at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, And Solo at the North Swindon Club, and of course the Shuffle continues throughout the weekend.
Roving Crows at Chapel Arts, Malone Sibun unplugged at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.
These Wicked Rivers at the Tree House, Frome.
Sunday 17th
Eddie Martin plays a Sunday session at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.
Ruzz Guitar Blues Revue at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon from 3pm.
Warminster Heritage Open Day at the Athenaeum
Emerald Storm at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, Ska Katz @at North Swindon Club.
The Glad Rags at The Bell, Bath.
Monday 18th
Thatโll Be The Day at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Lewis Barfoot at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 19th
Psychic Sally at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and Jazz Knights has Roger Beaujolais & Tom Berge Trio at The Royal Oak.
Thatโs all folks, but there are lots more to come!! Let the sunshineโฆ..but do check in on our event calendar too, as updates will be on there, not here, this is just a guide. Have a great week whatever you do do!
Christmas has come early for foxes and normal humans with any slither of compassion remaining, as the government announced the righteous move to ban trailโฆ
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunesโฆ
Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season with BBC Big Band, Ute Lemper, Sir Willard White and comedians Chris Addison and Alistair McGowan revealing theirโฆ
Daphneโs Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in theโฆ
Trowbridge RFC V Devizes RFC at Trowbridge Rugby Club
King Alfredโs Tower Charity Abseil for SOS Africa is taking place on the 9th, 10th 16th & 17th September.
Bit hot for cosplay, but thereโs a Sci Fi Day at The REME Museum, Lyneham.
Thereโs a Twilight Cinema at Hillworth Park, Devizes, screening Top Gun Maverick.
Autumn Fabric Pumpkin Making Workshop at the St Johnโs Parish Rooms, Devizes.
Grizzly Rhys plays The Southgate, Devizes.
Chloe Jordan and Pete Lambโs Heartbeats play a Wiltshire Air Ambulance fundraiser at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.
Long Street Blues Club, Devizes opens for a new season with The Ian Parker Band.
Bristolโs boss reggae and ska legend Ya Freshness & The Big Boss Band are at Devizes Scooter Club in the Cavalier.
The Boot Hill All Stars are at The Barge on HoneyStreet, with Whistling Treason.
Barrelhouse play The Lamb, Marlborough.
Mantonfest 2023
Saili Katebe at the Yelde Hall, Chippenham.
Bobbiโs Academy Of Dance โ Dance First Think After at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Salisbury RFC have their Beggar’s Bash.
The Unravelling Wilburys play Chapel Arts, Bath.
Frome 80s Festival at the Cheese & Grain.
Lifesigns are at The Tree House, Frome.
Sunday 10th.
Hillworth Park Proms with Devizes Town Band at Hillworth Park, Devizes.
The Jon Amor residency at the Southgate, Devizes from 5pm, guest this month is Adam Phillips.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange plays at The Exchange nightclub, with Stoneface and Ignotis in support.
Pewsey Carnival Week begins, running until 17th.
Daisy Chapman, with Carrie Martin and the Gordon Wood Band at Schtumm, Queenโs Head, Box.
Old Baby Mackerel at The Bell, Bath.
Swindon Recital Series at Swindon Arts Centre.
Bridget Christieโs Who Am I? at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Monday 11th:
Di, Viv & Rose opens at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, running until the 16th.
Wiltshire Motorcycle Rally at Salisbury Rugby Club.
Abigailโs Party opens at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, running until the 16th.
Von Wildenhaus at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 12th
Kosta Burgess at The Bell, Bath.
Libor Smolds & Daniel Newberry Quartet at Jazz Knights, The Royal Oak, Swindon.
Thatโs all folks, but itโs early days for September, and there is lots more to come!! Let the sunshineโฆ..but do check in on our event calendar too, as updates will be on there, not here, this is just a guide.
Part 1: An Introduction March 1936: newlywed French telecommunications engineer Pierre Schaeffer relocates to Paris from Strasbourg and finds work in radio broadcasting. He embarksโฆ
Yesterday Wiltshire Council published an โupdateโ on the lane closure on Northgate Street in Devizes as the fire which caused it reaches its first anniversary.โฆ
Join the St Johnโs Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th Decemberโฆ
This afternoon I find myself contemplating what the future holds for historical discovery and learning for all ages, fun and educational exhibits and events inโฆ
Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlboroughโs singer-songwriter Gus Whiteโs debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and itโs moreโฆ
Having to unfortunately miss Devizesโ blues extravaganza on Friday, I crossed the borderline on Saturday to get my prescribed dosage of Talk in Codeโฆwith aโฆ
No, I didnโt imagine for a second they would, but upcoming Take the Stage winners, alt-rock emo four-piece, Butane Skies have released their second song,โฆ
Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Ladeโs latest offering of soulful pop. Itโs timelessly cool andโฆ
Bank holiday done and dusted, hope you had a good one whatever you did. But Wiltshire shows no signs of letting up on great things to do moving into September; hereโs a roundup of events this coming weekโฆ..
Not comprehensive, more will be added to our event calendar as we move through the week, so check in on it from time to time.
Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.
Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.
Wednesday 30th:
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Devizes Salsa at West Lavington Village Hall; new members welcome!
The Deadnotes play the Pump in Trowbridge with The Sunnies and Lindup Brothers
Thursday 31st:
Thereโs an Open Mic at The Crown, Aldbourne.
Happy Kingsley plays The Neeld Bar in Chippenham from 8pm.
End of the Road Festival in Salisbury opens, running until Sunday.
VirginMarys & Lucky Number Seven play The Vic, Swindon.
Friday 1st:
Thereโs an Open Mic at the Barge on Honey Street.
Too Complicated at The Wellington, Marlborough.
Letโs Rock this Country with Shania & Friends at Melksham Assembly Hall.
The Pump in Trowbridge begins its series of Future Sound of Trowbridge gigs, with Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Feedback and Paradigm.
Queen 2 at the Neeld Hall, Chippenham, The Blue Moon Band at The Old Lane.
41 Fords at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
2 Sick Monkeys at The Castle, Swindon,Blind River Scare at The Beehive, State of the Quo at The Vic, and the Deprivation Festival at Underground, formerly Level III.
Phil Beerโs 2023 Solo Tour at Chapel Arts, Bath.
The Scribes play The Winchester Gate in Salisbury.
Ion Maiden at The Tree House, Frome, with Aynsley Lister at the Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 2nd:
Devizes RFC V Thornbury at Devizes Rugby Club.
And, of course, itโs Devizes Carnival: The parade departs from the Green at 5:45pm, with an environmental theme.
Julien Biddulphโs trio, Work Experience debut at the The Southgate, thereโs karaoke at The Three Crowns, and a Carnival Disco Party at the Pelican.
Swindonโs Apache Cats make their debut at The Bell in Great Cheverall.
Over The Lamb in Marlborough we see the second Famous Hangover Sessions, with a great lineup, Royal Soul from 12pm, George Wilding from 1pm, Jimmy Morre at 2:30, Jolie & the Souls at 4pm, Rivera Arcade at 5:30, Nothing Rhymes With Orange at 7pm, Mick OโToole from 10pm.
Trash Panda plays Great Bedwyn Cricket Club.
And itโs Pewsey Pride at The Coopers, with The Reason and, of course, Miss Luscious Lips!
The celebrated homemade festival, Party on the Drive 3 is in Chippenham, and Yanniโs Old Skool Reggae Night at The Neeld.
Be Like Will play Southwick Sports & Social Club, Shot By Both Sides at Stallards in Trowbridge, and From Jovi are live at Trowbridge RFC, with The Sunnies as special guests.
Swindonโs second annual Paint Fest will be happening across the town centre. Blitz Kids with Head Noise and Thee Acid Tonguea offer a night of new wave and synth, psychedelic punk at The Vic.
Hatepenny at The
Dire Streets tribute at Chapel Arts, Bath.
41 Fords are at The Sun in Frome, Sex Pistols Exposรฉ at the Tree House.
Sunday 3rd:
Gunina Lane Saxophone Quartet with The Pewsey Players, Take Five and Pewsey Winds at St Maryโs Bishops Cannings.
The White Horse Vehicle Show, Westbury.
Old Town Street Foods Festival, in Swindon, with Absolva and Furyhead offering some melodic metal at the Vic.
Monday 4th:
I got nothing, yet, keep an eye on the calendar!
Tuesday 5th:
Curious Kids at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.
Thatโs all folks, but itโs early days for September, and there is lots more to come!! I’m telling you, next Saturday you are seriously spoiled for choice, you lucky, lucky, people!
Words by Ollie MacKenzie. Featured Image by Barbora Mrazkova.ย The creative process can be a winding, long, and often confusing journey. Seeing a project comeโฆ
Whoโs ready for walking in the winter wonderland?! Devizes sets to magically transform into a winter wonderland this Friday when The Winter Festival and Lanternโฆ
One part of Swindon was in perfect harmony last night, and I donโt mean the traffic circumnavigating the Magic Roundabout. Rather The Lost Trades wereโฆ
Raging expressions of angered feminist teenage anguish this month, perfectly delivered by Steatopygous via their mindblowing debut album Songs of Salome, I hail as theโฆ
Righty-ho then, this weekโs rodeo roundup of all the lovely fings to Scooby-Doo across Wiltshireโs rolling landscape is rather like when you went on holiday as a nipper and your folks bought you your chosen comicโs summer specialโฆ a bumper edition!
Okay, millennials and gen z, youโll need Google to make any sense of that. The rest of us greying lot will remember spilling Ready Brec on their oversized Beano, Dandy or Nutty summer special while listening to the rain hammering onto a caravan roof, but everyone knows with the bank holiday looming, thereโs a lot to get through, so here goesโฆโฆ
Oh, one quick thing while I remember, as these roundup posts are getting more popular, (we had over 10K hits for last weekโs) you can see from below itโs too much to stick on a Facebook post, so we do it this way because those not on Facebook can also see whatโs happening, but more importantly, this list is published early in the week for ticketed events, events which come to our attention, like those smaller pub gigs which pop up on Facebook or Twitter(if we can still call it that) during the week will NOT be listed here, but they will be on the updating event calendar HERE. So, DONโT take this preview piece as comprehensive, DO check the calendar later in the week.
Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.
Also The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham has a street art inspired exhibit, Reviewed HERE.
Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.
Wednesday 23rd:
The regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon kick off their weekend earliest, with โsummer of loveโ festivities, thereโs spoken word and The Cleverly Brothers tonight.
Joe Pasqualeโs The New Normal: 40 Years Of Cack comes to The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Fromage en Feu at The Bell, Bath, Iago Banet, The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar at Chapel Arts.
Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are at the Tree House, Frome.
Thursday 24th:
Nothing Rhymes With Orange are part of a Fantasy Radio Live Lounge at The Crown, Devizes, with poetic interludes by Gail Foster. You can cheat and listen to it on Fantasy, or come down the pub!
The Undercover Hippy at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
James Kirbyโs The Honest Man Tour at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Mr Love & Justice at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Ghosts of this Town Album Launch Party at The Vic, Horrible Histories โ Barmy Britain at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Friday 25th:
Emergency Awareness Training! Wiltshire Air Ambulance at Hillworth Park, Devizes, but also the chance for the kids, and parents of course to meet Bluey from 12-2pm.
Yeah, Iโve no idea who Bluey is, but I know these guys will rock, Plan of Action at The Three Crowns, Devizes, and these guys will skank, Blondie & Ska at The Pelican, and well, we just love People Like Us who are at the Condado Lounge; spoiled rotten for choice Iโd say, Devizes!
Honey-Fest over at the Barge on Honey-Street starts, and what a great lineup there; Mr Tea and the Minions! Further afield, it’s the Reading Festival.
Radiation Sickness at The Consti Club, Chippenham.
Riff Raff Aurora at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon. West of England Youth Orchestra at the Wiltshire Music Centre.
Jurassic Earth at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
And music in Swindon is coming up roses: Stop Stop & Studded Rose at The Vic, Black Rose at the New Inn, Stratton, and Sonic Alert at The Queenโs Tap.
โShadowing Hankโ Justin Daishโs tribute to Hank Marvin & The Shadows is at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Dr Beetroot heads another glamping live music sesh at the Baa, near Salisbury.
Saturday 26th:
Continuing on Sunday, itโs time again for the FullTone Festival on the Green in Devizes; yay! And if youโre not going to this, or fancy popping out for a stroll, the fantastic Ruzz Guitar Trio play The Southgate.
Humdinger plays The Coopers, Pewsey.
Forest Fest at The Foresters Arms, Melksham has Manhattan Nights, This Way Up, and Martyโs Fake Family, kicking off at noon.
Cooperโs Creek are at The Wheatsheaf, Calne. Zero Hour at The Wiltshire Yeoman, Trowbridge.
Bradford-on-Avon have Castlefest at the Castle, and the fun continues at the Three Horseshoes with cabaret and circus acts. Ocean Blue, a relaxing duo of sax-based pop classics, jazz, blues, Boassa nova, and funk at the Boathouse.
In Swindon, 12 Bars Later at the Wroughton Club, Comedy at the Bowl at the Old Town Bowl, Apache Cats at The Queens Tap. The Little Mermaid at The Wyvern Theatre.
Sunday 27th:
Jim Blair at The Southgate, Devizes, while FullTone continues on the Green. The Potterne CC Festival is on, thereโs a bus to the village from the town centre.
Talbot-Fest at the Talbot in Calne, see poster.
Start the Sirens play The Grapes, Melksham.
A happy 16th anniversary to the Open Mic night at the Old Road Tavern in Chippenham. This one kicks off at 7pm.
Starry Eyes, a charitable trust based in Trowbridge, which provides an opportunity for people of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds to get involved in music, has a Disney Day at Studley Green, Trowbridge. Tickets will be available on the door with a range of activities and entertainment available.
The Summer of Love festival comes to a Reggae Reggae Sunday finale, with Troy Ellis with Hail Jamaica at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Itโs Sazz at the New Inn, Stratton, Swindon, 21st Century ABBA & Elton at the Old Town Bowl.
The Original Mike Hoddinott Blues Allstars at The Bell, Bath.
And The Hammervillesโ Bank Holiday Beach Party at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Monday 28th:
Unmissable should the headline read; Well Hung Heart at The Southgate, Devizes. But thereโs more, The Reason plays The Three Crowns, and The British Lion holds its Black Rat Monday, with a BBQ and the amazing Be Like Will.
Box Rocks at the Queenโs Head in Box, is the fundraising smasher of bank holiday Monday, previewed HERE, fantastic lineup yet again!
Another outdoor all-dayer at the Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, see poster.
Kid Hyena at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 29th:
Bank holiday over, back to work! I chant this because Iโve forgotten what a bank holiday is; no rest for the wicked (and I mean wicked in eighties ironic slang, cos Iโm of that era. Nowadays they say โsick,โ whatโs wrong with them?!)
But thereโs still Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon with Swing From Paris, and Rob Clamp plays The Bell, Bath.
And weโre not slowing down when we delve into September, you know? The Deadnotes play the Pump, Trowbridge with The Sunnies in support on Wednesday 30th, The End of the Road Festival kicks off in Salisbury the day after that.
Into September, thereโs lots to look forward to from the off, The Future Sound of Trowbridge series starts with Nothing Rhymes With Orange at The Pump on Friday the 1st, with our wonderful new writer Florence Leeโs band Paradigm in support.
Then thereโs Devizes Carnival, Pewsey Pride, Swindon Paint Fest, the infamous Party on the Drive 3 in Chippenham, Hillworth Park Proms in Devizes, Burbage Beer Festival, a Sci Fi Day at The REME Museum, Calne, Chloe Jordan and Pete Lambโs Heartbeats at the Corn Exchange Devizes for an Air Ambulance fundraiser, the new season of Long Street Blues Club begins, boss reggae with the arrive of Ya Freshness at Devizes Scooter Club, Nothing Rhymes with Orange play the Exchange, Pewsey carnival, The Wharf Theatreโs Di, Vi and Rose, Swindon Shuffle, Devizes Food & Drink Festival, and so much more to come!
Itโs nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisburyโs Radio Odstock ย picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oil andโฆ
In thanking everyone who supported this year’s Wiltshire Music Awards, Eddie Prestidge of Stone Circle Music Events revealed his intentions of continuing with the awardsโฆ
Featured Image: Lillie Eiger Frome Festival is launching itsย โ25 for 25โย fundraising campaign with a very special concert featuring three locally based acts:ย Tom Mothย โ best knownโฆ
Iโve got some gorgeous vocal harmonies currently floating into my ears, as The Lost Trades release their first single since the replacement of Tamsin Quinโฆ
Donโt hold your breath, but is โฆ .isโฆis that summerโฆ. coming? Ah, hereโs what weโve found this coming week to do in wonderful Wiltshireโฆ..
Usual gubbing, all the info and ticket links are on our jam packed event calendar, HERE, and you can plan ahead too. Any updates after today will also be put on there, so do check in later in the week too, as this is not exhaustive or comprehensive, or other such long words like that!
Do pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed here.
Also The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham has a street art inspired exhibit, I hope to pay a visit and report back tomorrow.
And thereโs the Cepen Park Emoji Trail for Dorothy House, see the poster.
Wednesday 9th:
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Lots for youngsters at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Fidgety Feet Dance & Drama, and two sessions of Fly Like a Bird for 5-7yrs, and then from 8-10yrs.
Thursday 10th:
Little Piccolos Summer Workshop and Beautiful Bunting at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Lego workshop, Bricking It at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Sarum Live Open Mic & Jam, at the Duck Inn, Laverstock, Salisbury.
Friday 11th:
The Roughcut Rebels at The Old Lane, Chippenham.
The Radio Makers & Deadlight Dance at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
More crafts and kidโs stuff at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon; Celebrate the Sun, and again, two aged sessions for a Frozen Dance Party, with a screening of Frozen 2!
Road Trip at The Vic in Swindon, Swipe Right at the Queenโs Tap.
Outdoor Cinema Night โ Dirty Dancing at Warminster School.
Stofest โ 2nd attempt! at South Newton & Wishford Village Hall near Salisbury.
Whoโs Next tribute at the Tree House, Frome. Live music at The Baa, see below…
Saturday 12th
Seend Fete on the Green, by the Lye.
Melksham Assembly Hall get all Lego, see the poster.
Duane Conn & The Connections at The Southgate, Devizes, Down The Hatch at the Three Crowns.
Pants at the Lamb, Marlborough, Second Hand Band at The Three Tuns, Great Bedwyn
Top Of The Pops Band at The Consti Club, Chippenham.
Happy 20th birthday to Venom at Club Ice, celebrating with a birthday bash at Westbury.
41 Fords are at The Royal Oak, Corsham.
Frenzy at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon.
Editorโs pick of the week is Swindon & Wiltshire Pride at Regents Circus, all rainbow blessings to you!
Elsewhere in Swindon, Homer is at The Swiss Chalet, Retro Electro at The Vic, Barrelhouse at Queenโs Tap, and The Vipers at the New Inn in Stratton.
Illingworth plays The Avon Brewery, Salisbury.
Rosie Merritt is live at The Queen Charlotte, Andover.
Rat Race at the Cheese & Grain, Frome; ska!
Sunday 13th:
All About The Music have their first Record Fair at Devizes Conservative Club, 10am-4pm.
Be Like Will are at The Farmhouse Inn in Southwick, Trowbridge.
Mike Hoddinott Trio at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Ortonesque at the Old Town Bowl, Swindon.
Monday 14th:
Lego Animation Workshop at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Tuesday 15th:
Another Lego Animation Workshop at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Alex Goodyear Trio presents the Music of Oscar Peterson at the regular Jazz Knights, at The Royal Oak, Swindon.
The Winchester Gate, Salisbury, have their regular poetry evening, Poetika 114 โ Pirates and Mermaids.
And thatโs your lot, for now, do check into our event calendar as between picking my nose and bum, I might yet updateโฆ what? No one reads this far anyway, do they?! This is a checkpoint, see whoโs still awake! Good reason for it though, itโs when we look at future stuff to be doing, and thinking about bookingโฆโฆ.
Like Liz Stringer at Chapel Arts, Bath on Thursday and a Tom Speight Instore at Sound Knowledge Marlborough.
Next weekend is Devizes DOCA Colour Rush & Confetti Battle, followed by The Jake Leg Jug Band at The Wharf Theatre. Sausage and Cider Day at The Brewery Inn, Seend. Sunday find the monthly Jon Amor residency at the Southgate, Devizes, yay!
And raver-families, check out The MidLife Krisis Summer Family Event at Supermarine, Swindon!
Further into the month, of course we have another one of those bank holiday things; FullTone in Devizes, Potterne Beer Festival, Box Rocks, Talbot-Fest in Calne, Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Southgate, Devizes, Cooperโs Creek at The Wheatsheaf, Calne, 12 Bars Later at the Wroughton Club, Swindon, and so so much more will be coming in, I promise you! We might yet have a summer after all!
Then, beginning September we see the Pump feature the Future Sounds of Trowbridge, a series of gigs for upcoming bands, which Iโm going to have to tell you about in a separate post, as Iโm too excited and need a weeโฆ..groundbreaking journalism, accept no less; have a great week!!
To be able to capture the attention of an age group from little children and grumpy teens to parents and even grandparents is not something that everyone can do. But Michael Rosen is not just everyone.….
He was completely charismatic and had the audience in stitches for his whole show. He grew up surrounded by education, learning, and books, as his parents were primary and secondary school teachers. As he told the audience, when he was younger, he had โthree parents.โ His mum, dad, and then his older brother, Brian. Brian is older than him by four years, and liked to tell him about his day at school, but also teach him everything he had learnt. Rosen shared the memory of sitting in their shared room whilst his brother would imitate their father at the breakfast table. Within seconds, the whole room was lit up with laughter.
No one was sat without a smile on their face. His impression was animated and came to life as soon as his mouth opened. Everyone was transported into a world of childhood memories.
Michael was born in London and came from a family that was filled with love. He was always interested in writing. He wrote poems for his mother to help her when he came back home from university, and these poems were collected to make his first book. His father was always a bit of a performer, but Michael only found out that he was a performer after writing his first book: โMind Your Own Business.โ He was put in front of around 300 children and completely changed his way of thinking while these 300 kids sang his poem in rhythms and sounds; it was a new way of writing poems.
It was clear to see that as soon as Michael stepped out onto the stage, he wanted to get to know his audience and fans. He instantly pointed out people eating โHariboโsโ in the front row and got to know โHenry,โ a young fan eagerly watching for his next joke. Rosen then introduced himself as Michael Raisin and asked the audience questions about their opinions on raisins. Everyone, once again, was laughing as soon as he made a joke.
Michael talked about how he named his books and told stories about people asking him what it was called and having to reply, โMind Your Own Business.โ This caused an eruption in the hall, but he continued to when people asked him about his second book. This time, he would say โWouldnโt You Like To Know,โ and getting the response: โYes, I would like to know.โ Not only did he interact by talking to the audience, but he also made the audience speak and act out his poems with simple movements. Even โthe dads.โ
His captivating poems had everyone doing exactly as he said. As I said earlier, capturing everyoneโs attention is a very hard thing to do, but it seems to me that Michael did it with ease. Had Michael not gone into writing, stand-up comedy would have suited him perfectly. If anyone has the chance to spend an hour with this enthralling author, donโt hesitate to go. You will not regret it.
Hereโs what weโve found to be doing locally this coming week into August alreadyโฆtake a raincoat for this is British summer time, yay!
Hereโs a thing, all the info and ticket links are on our jam packedevent calendar, HERE, and you can plan ahead too. Any updates after today will also be put on there, so do check in later in the week too, as this is not exhaustive or comprehensive, or other such long words like that!
Ongoing through the month, Marlborough Open Studios, countywide artist open studios, where you can invite yourself into many artistโs homes for free to see their work and what biscuits they have! Open Studios runs on the first four weekends in July between 11am and 5pm.
Do pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed here.
Ongoing until Sunday, the Westbury Festival continues until 30th July, with lots going on there.
Wednesday 26th:
The regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes, and Negra Santa at The Bell, Bath.
Thursday 27th:
Jam Night at the Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Beware of the Bull show, An Audience Without Jake Thackray, which you might have seen in Pewsey, is at Chapel Arts in Bath.
The ELO Experience at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
And festivals kicking off are Womad near Malmesbury (27th-30th) and the same dates for Camp Bestival near Lulworth; you lucky lot!
Friday 28th:
Ah, Editorโs pick of the week, Devizes Scooter Rally 2023 all weekend. The Scooter Club are saying the date for pre-order tickets has passed, but you can pay on the gate, except for overnight campervans and caravans, which must have been pre-booked. Friday has 41 Fords and Sharp Class, Saturday The Butterfly Collective, Roughcut Rebels, The Killertones, and Orange Street. Previewed HERE.
Devizes Town Hall has a magic night with Chris Hiscock.
The other biggie is Trowbridge Festival at Southwick, only a few ticket options left for this now, so get in quick.
Jaspreet Singh: With Love, Jaspreet at Swindon Arts Centre, The Daybreakers at The Vic, Good Times at the Queens Tap, and The Dukeโs Theatre Company presents Twelfth Night Summer Tour at Old Town Bowl.
Billy in the Lowground at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
R.E.M by Stipe at the Tree House, Frome.
Saturday 29th:
Dylan Smith at The Southgate, Devizes, Midnight Hour at The Three Crowns.
William The Conqueror has an instore at Sound Knowledge in Marlborough, with an intimate gig at St. Peterโs Church. Miles Kane is at Marlborough Town Hall, and Barrelhouse are at The Bear. Reggae Garden Party at The Pelican in Froxfield.
Spiritual medium Mitch Garlington at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Calne Bike Meet 2023.
The Last Baguette: Pandoraโs Box at Pound Arts, Corsham.
People Like Us at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.
In The Night Garden at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and also running on Sunday.
Sophia & The Soul Rebels at The Moonrakers, Swindon, Shades of Seattle at The Vic, and Rotten Aces at the Woodland Edge.
LCassidy, Backsy MOC + MissFaithee (Situationships) at St Margaret’s Hall in Bradford On Avon, Us-Two at The Boathouse.
The Dom Harrison Dilemma at The Bell, Bath.
Metallica Reloaded at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Sunday 30th:
Pims in the Park at Lydiard Park, Swindon, a great Julia House fundraiser, with some great bands including our favs Talk in Code, Sarah C Ryan, NoMiddle Ground and N/SH.
Monday 31st:
Mal Webb & Kylie Morrigan at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 1st:
Rock The Tots are at Old Town Bowl, Swindon.
Thatโs all I have for now, but early days, and more will come in, so pay attention to our updating event calendar, and follow our socials for updates and new stuff to do, rather than relying on me editing this, because I rarely get time for it! Have a great week!
The first day of the school summer holidays will be marked with a very special performance at The Cheese & Grain in Frome, with one of the worldโs best-selling childrenโs authors and poet, Michael Rosen, on Monday 24th Julyโฆโฆ
With over 140 books published to his name, including the classics โWeโre Going on a Bear Huntโ and โA Great Big Cuddleโ, plus 55 million views on his YouTube Channel โKids Poems and Stories with Michael Rosen’; the Number 1 selling children’s author is all set to come to the Cheese and Grain.
Recently seen on BBC Breakfast and The Repair Shop, the visit also follows Rosen receiving the prestigious PEN Pinter Prize just last week, an award honoured to those whose work is committed to a fearless exposition of truth about contemporary life.
Michael Rosen is one of Britainโs best loved writers and performance poets for children and adults. His first degree was from Wadham College, Oxford and he went on to study for an MA and a PhD. He is currently Professor of Childrenโs Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London where he co-devised and teaches an MA in Childrenโs Literature.
Michael is also a popular broadcaster and has presented BBC Radio 4โs acclaimed programme about language, โWord of Mouthโ since 1998, as well as regularly presenting documentary programmes for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3, including the Sony Gold Award-winning โOn Saying Goodbyeโ.
Michael has published in the region of 200 books for children and adults, including โThe Sad Bookโ with Quentin Blake (Walker Books) – a meditation on bereavement written after the loss of his son, Eddie; โWeโre Going on a Bear Huntโ with Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books) – made into an animated film for Channel 4 broadcast Christmas Day 2016 – and โA Great Big Cuddleโ with Chris Riddell (Walker Books) . His poetry for adults includes โDonโt Mention the Childrenโ (Smokestack) and โSelected Poemsโ (Penguin). Non-fiction work for adults includes โGood Ideas: How to Be Your Childโs (and Your Own) Best Teacherโ (John Murray), โThe Disappearance of Emile Zola, Love, Literature and the Dreyfus Caseโ (Faber), and his memoir โSo They Call You Pisher!โ (Verso).
He has written a book for children and teachers on writing poetry โWhat is Poetry?โ (Walker Books) and has done three booklets for teachers on writing and reading. These are available through his website http://www.michaelrosen.co.uk. He writes up a monthly news page on the website and a blog for teachers giving ideas for writing.
Michael writes a monthly open โletterโ to the Secretary of State for Education in The Guardian where he critiques Government policy on schools from the standpoint of a parent. He visits schools, teachersโ conferences and university teacher training departments where he is in demand to give performances, workshops and keynote addresses. He also appears regularly at literary festivals all over the UK and Ireland.
Michael has received several honorary awards, including degrees from the Open University, the University of Exeter, the University of London Institute of Education and the University of East London/Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust. For outstanding contribution to childrenโs literature he received the Eleanor Farjeon Award and was Childrenโs Laureate 2007-2009. In recognition of his contribution to the profile of French culture in the UK, he was made Chevalier de lโOrdre des Arts et des Lettres.
Rolling out a Barrelhouse of fun, you can have blues on the run, tomorrow (7th November) when Marlborough’s finest groovy vintage blues virtuosos Barrelhouse releaseโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ben Swann and Ian Diddams Self-appointed โMoroseโ Mark Harrison was once again on totally top form at Komedia last Sunday entertainingโฆ
Wiltshire Council confirmed Blue Badge holders can park freely in council-operated car parks again, following a vote at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday 21โฆ
Featured Image Credit: Jamie Carter Special guests Lightning Seeds to Support Forest Live, Forestry Englandโs summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has announcedโฆ
Wiltshire country singer-songwriter Kirsty Clinch released a Christmas song only yesterday, raising funds for the Caenhill Countryside Centre near Devizes, and itโs already racing upโฆ
It was never just the fervent ambience created which made me go tingly with excitement about Melkshamโs young indie band Between The Linesโ demo singleโฆ
A second track from local anonymous songwriter Joyrobber has mysteriously appeared online, and heโs bitter about not getting his dream jobโฆ.. If this mysterious dudeโsโฆ
Itโs not Christmas until the choir sings, and Devizes Chamber Choir intend to do precisely this by announcing their Christmas Concert, as they have doneโฆ
Review by Karen Cannings. Photography by Gail Foster.
Market Lavington Community Hall was filled with music and applause on Friday 7th July, as Lavington Community Choir presented their summer concert under the direction of Paula Boyagis…..
The choir showcased their vocal skills and versatility in a range of jazz-inspired songs, accompanied by a talented jazz ensemble featuring Tim Price on piano, Tony Jones on flute, James Monckton on double bass, Henry Liebling on Sax, Nick Kingman on percussion/drum kit and Nick Hale on miscellaneous percussion.
The first part of the concert included some classic jazz tunes such as ‘Moon River’ and ‘The Way We Were’, arranged for choir by Bernard Wight. The choir sang with rich harmonies and expressive dynamics, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere. Jessica Phillips, Soprano, charmed the audience with her sweet voice in ‘Let there be Love’, while Paula Boyagis, Mezzo Soprano, delivered a rich and expressive performance of ‘Autumn Leaves’. Jim Donovan then entertained everyone with his rendition of ‘Mack the Knife’, complete with a trilby hat!
The second half featured a jazz cantata based on Robert Browning’s poem ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’, composed by accompanist Tim Price when he was only 16 years old as a student at Dauntsey’s School. The choir, soloists and jazz ensemble brought this humorous and whimsical story to life with catchy melodies, lively rhythms and colourful narration. The original director of music at Dauntsey’s School, David Price, was present in the audience to enjoy the revival of his former pupil’s work. The conductor of the cantata was Paula Boyagis, who also sang the role of the Piper (complete with flute solos) resplendent in a colourful costume of red and yellow.
Mark Wastell, sang and acted his role as the Mayor with great conviction.
If Devizesโ celebrated FullTone Festival is to relocate to Whistley Roadโs Park Farm for next summerโs extravaganza, what better way to give it the rusticโฆ
This afternoon sees the inaugural grand ceremony of Stone Circle Music Eventsโ Wiltshire Music Awards taking place at the Devizes Corn Exchange. Itโs a selloutโฆ
In association with PF Events, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts introduces a Young Urban Digitals course in video mapping and projection mapping for sixteen to twentyโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Penny Clegg and Shakespeare Live โAntony & Cleopatraโ is one of Shakespeareโs four โRoman Playsโ, and chronologically is set after โJuliusโฆ
Unlike Buck Rogers, who made it to the 25th century six hundred years early, Devizesโ most modest acoustic virtuoso arrives at the 21st just shortโฆ
Another summery week ahead of us, and our weekly report on all the stuff weโve found to do. We will continue to support all local events and we wonโt succumb to petty squabbling about any of them, by anyone.
It seems unfair that we seem to get minimal respect for what we do by a few local councillors, perhaps it is because of this reason, I really donโt know. Devizes Town Council posted on their Facebook page last week, asking for suggestions to improve the free local council-run pamphlet โThe Messenger.โ I was the only one who offered an idea, being the events list in it only promotes those events governed by the council, that it would be helpful to both us and their readers if they could include a kind of โfor more information on local eventsโ link to Devizine, but they have not bothered to even respond.
It begs the question why Devizes Town Council would ask for suggestions and not reply to those few who do; a simple yes or no would have sufficed! Now that I’ve said it Iโm sure it will get political, Iโll be witch-hunted and banned from social media pages again when all Iโm guilty of is telling people about events going on, so here we go; do let me know if anything below offends you or is any way โbullyingโ someone, wonโt you?!
Donโt forget nothing is comprehensive, other events might well be added during the week as and when we discover them, so check in on our event calendar, for more info and links on these, updates and planning ahead.
Ongoing through the month, Marlborough Open Studios, countywide artist open studios, where you can invite yourself into many artistโs homes for free to see their work and what biscuits they have! Open Studios runs on the first four weekends in July between 11am and 5pm.
Do pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed here.
Wednesday 12th:
Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Jarman at Swindon Arts Centre.
Amadou Diagne & Group Yakar at The Bell Inn, Bath.
Sophie Duker at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Thursday 13th:
Mark Thomas: England and Son (Work In Progress) at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Chris Murphy at The Tuppenny, Swindon.
Ghosts of this Town album launch at The Vic, Swindon.
Friday 14th:
Lost Monkey Productions presents Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Foxymoron and Overstory at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.
The Unpredictables at The Peppermill, Devizes.
Wrestling Night at Marlborough Town Hall.
Slageri & Kimng Alias at The Barge Inn, Honey-Street.
Sour Apple at The Pig and Whistle, Melksham.
Nervendings and Mosaic at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
Jazz at the Cafe with Jacqui Hicks at The Civic, Trowbridge.
The Carrivick Sisters at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Barrelhouse at The Vic, Swindon.
Sara Petite (4 piece) plus support: Savannah Gardner at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Heathen Apostles at the Tree House, Frome.
Asian Dub Foundation at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 15th:
Arty Kids at Hillworth Park, Devizes.
Wiltshire FA Wildcats Festival at Green Lane Playing Fields, Devizes.
Italian Auto Moto Festival in the Market Place, Devizes.
Devizes District Wargames Group: Attack 2023 at Devizes School.
Chris Murphy & Barney Kenny at The Southgate, Devizes.
Roughcut Rebels at The Three Crowns, Devizes.
Midlife Krisis Summer โ Summer Dance at The Barge, Honey-Street.
Humdinger at The Lamb, Marlborough.
On Remand at The Crown, Marlborough.
Sour Apple at the Ship, Upavon.
Market Lavington Vintage Meet Family Fun Weekend
Family Fun Day at Woodborough Social Club from 12-4pm.
Pewsey Pride at the Coopers Arms.
The Passion of Joan of Arc at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Never 42 at Swindon Arts Centre.
Whole Lotta DC at The Vic, Swindon.
Nicki Leighton-Thomas โ One Good Scandal at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Later with Frome College at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Newton Faulkner at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Gorilla Riot at The Tree House, Frome.
Sunday 16th:
Deadlight Dance & Reverence 80 at The Blue Boar, Aldbourne.
Characters Stage School: The Addams Family at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
GM Dance Academy Showcase at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Warmington, Lindley and Webb at The Bell Inn, Bath.
Monday 17th:
The Westbury Festival opens with lots of great events running until 30th July.
Rock The Tots: Rock Gods vs Princesses at Pound Arts, Corsham.
BD Lenz at The Bell Inn, Bath.
Tuesday 18th:
Open Mic at The Angel, Westbury.
Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon with Roger Beaujolais & Tom Berge Trio.
Harri Mason at The Bell, Bath.
And thatโs all we have so far, do check into our event calendar for updates, and have a great week!
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Media and Ian Diddams Whilst probably best known for his editorship of โPrivate Eyeโ magazine and thirty-five years asโฆ
I mean, Devizes own contemporary blues throwback, JP is getting bookings, and rightly so. He’s off to Trowbridgeโs Lamb next Saturday for a double-bill withโฆ
As the excitement continues to detonate to an exploding point for our very first Stone Circle Music Events Wiltshire Music Awards on 25th October, weโฆ
Hey, busy week this week, hereโs what’s happening across the county. Donโt forget thereโs more info on these, ticket links and irregular updates on our fantabulouso Event Calendar, so get ahead one step ahead of the game!
Ongoing, Hail the Curious, the inaugural exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham; check it out by the end of the month. Devizes Tennis Club starts week one of their Tennis Holiday Camp at Devizes Tennis Club; book here.
Wednesday 28th:
Ah, the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
Jo Brand: Work In Progress at Swindon Arts Centre.
William KZ at The Bell, Bath, The Beat featuring Dave Wakeling at Bath Forum.
Thursday 29th:
Open Mic at Stallards, Trowbridge.
B-Sydes & Old Man Boom at The Tuppenny in Swindon, while Something Underneath and Chasing Dolls are at the Vic, Drew Bryant is at Timmyโs Bar, and Coldplay tribute Coldplace at The Wyvern Theatre.
Comedy at Komedia in Bath with Phil McIntyre presents Danny Bhoyโs Now is not a Good Time, Danielle Ward and Tread Softly Productionsโ hilarious, intelligent and seriously moving, no-holds-barred look at being a woman in comedy, The Half at the Rondo Theatre.
Friday 30th:
The acclaimed Welsh film, Translations gets a screening at Melksham Assembly Hall, Helen gave us a preview, HERE.
Drew Bryant is at The Pelican, Devizes, with Illingworth at The Three Crowns. And we look forward to Devizes first Pride on Saturday with Drag Queen Bingo at The Wyvern club and an LGBTQ+ Club Night at The Exchange.
Thereโs an Open Mic at Marlborough Town FC, Swipe Right play the Bear, and Reading Dub Club with the Jah Lion Movement visits the Barge on Honey Street.
B-Sydes at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Old Man Boom in support.
Opening is the amazing Minety Music Festival, nr Malmesbury, and happening all weekend.
Chippenham Comedy Festival starts at the Old Road Tavern, and continues until Sunday 2nd July.
Modern Evils, Viduals and Trippy Kicks at The Vic, Swindon, while Moon and Truck are at The Castle, and Jon Amor Trio at the Beehive. Comedy at The Wyvern Theatre with Phil McIntyre presents Danny Bhoyโs Now is not a Good Time.
Iona Lane with Malin Lewis at Pound Arts in Corsham.
Spectrum at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Ministry of Burlesque cabaret at Komedia, Bath, while the Rondo Theatre have Eleanor Higgins and Bush Productions queer cult sensation, In Pursuet, following two sell-out runs at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. And โYour Songโ โ a Celebration of the Songs of Elton John at Chapel Arts.
Keith Brymer-Jones is at The Memorial Theatre, Frome, with Led Zep tribute Coda at the Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 1st:
Marlborough Open Studios starts, and runs over the first four weekends in July between 11am and 5pm. This is a countywide open studios extravaganza where you can visit many different local artists in their studios.
It is Mantonfest near Marlborough time again; yay! Nothing Rhymes With Orange are at The Barge on Honey Street.
Free to take clothes, swap and donate at Devizes Swap Shop at St James Church from 11am-2pm. It is Devizes first Pride at Hillworth Park, and of course, the 22nd Devizes Beer & Cider Festival. To finish, Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective will continue from the beer fest over to the Southgate.
Thereโs the Heddington and Stockley Steam Rally and Country Fair.
Becky Lawrence & The Reason play The Green Dragon in Market Lavington.
Saucy Jack at The Pilot, Melksham.
Barney Kenny & Chris Murphey at The Pump in Trowbridge.
Matt Woosey at Pound Arts in Corsham.
Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, and highly recommended Adam and the Ants tribute Ant Trouble at The Three Horseshoes, with The Sylvertones at The BoatHouse.
Italia Conti at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. My Chemical Romance and Fallout Boy tributes at the Vic, The Black Charade and Fell Out Boy!
Figgle Fest 10th Anniversary, at Figheldean Village Hall Salisbury.
Tribute to Small Faces, the Small Fakers Band has sold out Chapel Arts, Bath.
Gordie Mackeeman & His Rhythm Boys at Frome Memorial Theatre, with An Evening with Simon & Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene at The Cheese & Grain, and Foo Fakers & Nirvanot at the Tree House.
Jon Amor regular session at the Southgate in Devizes, increibley with the Gris Gris, Robin Davey and Greta Valetni; just wow!
Inspire 2023 free music festival at Warminster Pleasure Grounds.
Zone Clubโs Summer Celebration Concert at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Regular first Sunday of the month Blues Jam at the Vic in Swindon.
Monday 3rd I got nought, yet.
Tuesday 4th:
Running until 8th July, the Bradfordiansโ Amadeus at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak in Swindon brings you the Alex Goodyear Quartet.
That’s your lot for this week, unless you know any different? It’s free to have your event added to our EVENT CALENDAR and feature on our weekly rodeo roundup, so don’t make me come chasing after you, do let us know about them. Have a sixties style fab and groovy weekend!
by Mick Brianimages from Lauren Arena-McCann The playwright Tom Stoppard is probably best known for his work โRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Deadโ, his absurdist comedyโฆ
You might think it’s a laryngologist’s dream come true, this Lewis Capaldi-led decade’s penchant for the blue-eyed soul singersโ melismatic strain to cause Mick Hucknallโฆ
Nothing cruel about our George Wilding; with his perfect match and another local legend of local music, Jolyon Dixon, they’re knocking out great singles likeโฆ
Thereโs a new single from Bristol-based Nothing Rhymes With Orange out tomorrow (Saturday 20th September) which takes the band to a whole new level, andโฆ
The Wiltshire Music Awards are delighted to confirm a new headline partnership with Stone Circle Music Events, who will sponsor the Awards for 2025 andโฆ
Delighted by winning the Best Theatre/Arts Venue category of the WiltshireโฏMuddyโฏStilettos Award 2023, Devizes Wharf Theatre wanted to thank everyone who voted for them. โWe are so proud of our little theatre and all our incredible volunteers,โ they told Devizine, โthe theatre literally would not run without their time and effort. Thank you also to everyone who supports us whether that be by coming to shows, volunteering, or, indeed, nominating us for this award in the first place!โ
MuddyโฏStilettos is all about celebrating and supporting local businesses and this year saw over 800,000 people voting on various categories around the country, and we congratulate the Wharf, for it really is a wonderful little theatre on our doorstep; but we all knew that already, didnโt we?!
There is only one more show left of the summer season at the Wharf, one Iโm personally looking forward to. Girls Like Thatis a gritty reality-driven drama directed by Lou Cox, and performed by the Wharf Youth Theatre Group. It explores the pressures on young people today in the wake of advancing technology, and was named Best Play for Young Audiences at the Writersโ Guild of Great Britain Awards 2015. It runs from 20th-22nd July.
And itโs on with the new program. Saturday 19th of August sees The Jake Leg Jug Band at the Wharf. An authentic sound of 1920’s and 30’s America, from jazz, blues, gospel and ragtime, this trio put their own twist on songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption.
From Monday 11th September to Saturday 16th, find Amelia Bullmore’s comedy, Di and Viv and Rose, dealing with friendships among a group of three cohabiting female students in 1983, displaying how their solidarity precariously survives physical separation, career paths and even mortality.
On Thursday 28th September thereโs a Devizes Film Club screening of Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom. A 2019 Bhutanese drama film directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji. The first film from the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan to be nominated for an Oscar, it follows a young teacher with a dream of moving to Australia but finds himself teaching a classroom of eager children, and a yak!
October 23rd to 28th sees Lyn Taylorโs Happy Jack, a 1989 play by John Godber, about a couple who live in a mining village in West Yorkshire.
Steaming into November, and the 4th has an uplifting story of heroism and love by Ali Smith, Cadbury’s Angels. Set in wartime when a group of women working on the production line at the Cadbury factory in Birmingham decided to secretly send letters and cards inside the tins of chocolates that were dispatched to the soldiers fighting on the front lines. To the men fighting miles from home, and away from their loved ones, these women became known as The Cadbury Angels.
Sunday the 5th November, remember, thereโs Water Rats Charity Variety Spectacular, some top stars all raising money for the Water Rats Charity.ย
Saturday 11th November thereโs two showings ofThe Last Post, a poignant, moving and thought-provoking stage show for children and families. The story revolves around the correspondence between Joseph, who is at war, and his son William at home.ย The split stage, multi-rolling and use of projections allows for fast-paced transitions from England to Belgium so the audience remains immersed in this simple but moving story that entertains in an appropriate and engaging manner.ย
With November behind us, oh no it isnโt, December now, and where would be without panto time? This year will beJack and the Beanstalk, and itโs running from Friday 1st to Saturday 9th.ย
Bounding into 2024, we can expect to find Oscar Wildeโs farcical comedy,The Importance of Being Earnest, from 29th January to 3rd February. Auditions for this will be on 18th September, see here.
All tickets for the above performances will be at the box office as of Saturday 1st July. Anything we publish hereafter is top secret speculation taken from leaked documents from the very top of the Wharf Theatre, and I will likely be shot for merely whispering them to you …..in some over dramatic theatrical way too!
Stagecoach Performing Arts School are visiting with a production of Frozen Jnr, followed by a Lonnie Donnigan tribute show on February 24th.
2nd March sees the Music of Simon & Garfunkelshow come to Devizes and in April you can look forward to something very Agatha Christie. From 13th May until the 18th, Amanda Whittingtonโs The Thrill of Loveis the performance. Set in a smoggy 1953 gentlemanโs club in Londonโs West End, where young manager, Ruth Ellis, had it all, the money and lifestyle that she had always dreamed of. However, by 1955 she had lost it all and was the last woman to be hanged in Great Britain.
And on the 1st of June, expect Top Secretโs explosive family show, The Magic of Science.ย An opportunity to surround yourself with the mystery of magic, cleverly fused with wondrous and miraculous feats of science. It is promised the venue will be transformed into a real-life science laboratory and lots of unbelievable “how did they do that!” moments.ย
Following the excitement and success of the first meeting of โYour Partyโ in Swindon, a second meeting has been arranged for 18th September 7.30 -โฆ
It’s been six months since Devizes-based young blues crooner JP Oldfield released his poignant kazoo-blowing debut EP Bouffon. He’s made numerous appearances across the circuitโฆ
There’s something to be said for the function duo route with universal appeal, you could be working somewhere hot! Powerhouse vocal harmony duo Reflections areโฆ
Formerly known as Judas Goat and the Bellwether, the now renamed band have announced the release of their latest single, โDrill Baby Drillโ (coming outโฆ
Photograph byย Simon Folkard It’s been a rocky road for Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) these last few years, and I didn’t mean the crushed biscuitsโฆ
Happy Summer Solstice, Wednesday, sunrise expected at 3:57am supposed to be a drier night than last night, possibly cloudy; have a wonderful solstice everyone; love and light.ย
Hereโs what else is happening across the county this midsummer week. Donโt forget thereโs more info on these, ticket links and irregular updates on our sparkly Event Calendar, so plan ahead.
Ongoing, Hail the Curious, the inaugural exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham; check it out by the end of the month.
Tuesday 20th:
Poetika 112 โ The Sun And The Moon at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Wednesday 21st:
Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
Classic Car Evening Gathering at Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum in Calne
Running until 24th June, The Western Players present The Dinner Party at Swindon Arts Centre
MorningStar plays The Bell, Bath.
Oh, and of course, thereโs that little shindig called Glastonbury Festival; have one for me if you are heading that way, and if youโve room in your backpack I have been known to fold up quite compact if duty calls!
Thursday 22nd:
Music For Miniatures at The Neeld, Chippenham.
Sebastian & Me & Mirrored Faces at The Vic, Swindon
Lol Goodman Band at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The Damned, yes, I said the Damned, at Komedia, Bathโฆ. well, Iโll be!
Friday 23rd:
Lucky Number 7 plays The Pump in Trowbridge, with JCC and Enter Red.
The Free Association presents St. Doctorโs Hospital, an improvised medical drama, directed by Graham Dickson at the Neeld, Chippenham.
Emily Storm at The Kings Arms, Melksham.
Robinson Stone at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The Unthanks at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Xodus – a Tribute to Bob Marley & The Wailers at Chapel Arts, Bath.
TommyInnit at Bath Forum.
Phoxjaw at Moles, Bath.
Hamsters From Hell & The Lonely Road Band at The Vic, Swindon.
Moore’s Exotic Reserve at The Tuppenny, Swindon.
Ed Sheeran Tribute at The Ridge, Swindon.
ZambaLando at Fiesta de Cuba, Greenbridge, Swindon
Saturday 24th:
The Vintage Bazaar at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.
California Dreams at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes. Enjoy a trip through the music of California in the 60โs and 70โs. Recording just a stoneโs throw from each other and guesting on each otherโs records, a group of musical legends worked simultaneously to turn out some of the greatest songs of all time. Hits by The Mamas & The Papas, Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Linda Ronstatd, The Byrds, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and many more.
Poulshot Village Fete.
Devizes Chamber Choir presents Summer by the Sea at St Andrews Church, Devizes.
Earl Slick Band @ Long Street Blues Club, Devizes, big question mark over this one, it might well be cancelled, do check ahead.
SGO at The Southgate, Devizes.
Funked Up at The Three Crowns, Devizes.
Ben Borrill at The Moonrakers, Devizes.
Calne Carnival
Melksham Pride
The Strollers at Melksham Rock N Roll Club, now in Spencerโs Sports & Social Club.
Back to the 80’s at Melksham Rugby Club.
Big Family Music Day at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Bus Station Loonies at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Atlas Rise at Moles, Bath.
Aoife Scott at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Mixed Bag at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.
Stars of Time Film and Comic Con at Steam, Swindon.
Drag Me Down & Youth Illusion at The Vic, Swindon.
Mickelson: Jump off the Earth UK tour at The Hop Inn, Swindon.
Fleetwood Shack at Level III, Swindon.
Talk in Code at Brown Street, Salisbury.
Sunday 25th:
Devizes Tennis Club starts week one of their Tennis Holiday Camp at Devizes Tennis Club; book here.
Itโs the Pro-Wrestling Showdown at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.
Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate, Devizes.
No Go Glasto charity gig for Diabetes UK at Stallards, Trowbridge.
Weekly bandstand concerts in John Coles Park, Chippenham.
Lazy Summer Sundays at Richard Jefferies with Canuteโs Plastic Army.
Wifi Wars at Swindon Arts Centre.
Keith Brymer Jonesโ Life, Clay and Everything at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Collapse The Sky & ChemiQueen at Level III, Swindon.
India Arkin live in session at the Electric Bar in Komedia, Bath.
Eddie Martin at The Bell, Bath.
Monday 26th:
Brendon at The Tap & Barrel, Swindon
Phil King Band at The Bell, Bath
Tuesday 27th:
Letโs Swim Get Swimming & Tokyo Toy Company at The Vic, Swindon.
Wyvern Theatre Swap Shop at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Jazz Knights Presents Nigel Price and the Alban Claret Quartet at The Royal Oak Swindon.
Spiers & Boden at Komedia, Bath
The Hill Book Launch at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Thatโs all I got, folks. Not as busy as last weekend, but still lots to keep us all out of trouble! Donโt forget though, to check in on our event calendar for updates as they will come in from time to time!
Bingo, someone came up to me in the Market Place while I was chatting with Devizes Greens chief, Margaret Green about all random matters of climate change, to offer us both a free vegan chocolate tiffin, and that’s plenty to swing this blogger to pen a decent review in itself!
Though I didn’t need a tiffin to twist my arm, Sustainable Devizes set up an outstanding fair in the Market Place today. I believe it’s the second annual Devizes Sustainable Fair, an amalgamation of all the separate activities various groups of Sustainable Devizes and others engage in; sorry I missed last year’s. For if imagining a handful of environmental campaigners gathering in crocs and tie dye tees to draw some pretty pictures of the planet was your preconception, you’d be sorely wrong.
Many, of all walks of life, gathered to address concerns and present alternatives to make Devizes sustainable and environmentally friendly, under a festive feel, and it was a splendid occasion.
Children were encouraged by Keith Brindle and family of St James to draw pictures of ideas to create a better environment, on transport and the future of plastic usage, a clothes swap whereby you could donate or take whatever you needed, both encompassed the general idea that this was a community based interactive experience, an event free of commercialisation and profiteering. This extended to the general feel of the day; everyone focussed on the same goal in a polite and friendly way.
There was food, soup and so on, free knife-sharpening, a bicycle repair shop, and organisations were welcomed from the Meadow in my Garden community interest company, to Kennet Furniture Refurb, and it was also lovely to meet the community free for all social club Camerados Public Living Room, who aside regular meetings in the Cheese Room on Fridays, seem to set up a living room complete with sofas, coffee tables and lamps wherever they care to, and I love that the most, they even gave me a cup of orange squash the lovely lot!
But what places this firmly on the map, and diverts this from being any old climate change meeting, converting it into a festival feel is the area of benches in which to gather, and the live music too. I’m sorry to have been too late to witness an acoustic jam session, followed by resident musicians Tom Harris and Chrissy Chapman, but I did make a beeline for those boaterโs royalty of euphemisms, Devil’s Doorbell. We reviewed the ingenious outpourings of this bonkers skiffle duo upon the launch of a live album recorded at Trowbridge’s Pump in February, and they delighted as much as suspected they would, with Nipper playing his tenor banjo and kazzumpet, while the colourful Jellylegs Johnson strummed her washtub bass, both with a jolly dedication to jazzy tunes of yore.
Had to inquire being Caen Hill Locks were closed and the Doorbell duo had to resort to bus journey here, how everyday folk reacted to taking a washtub and kazzumpet amoung their other gear on the bus! But that’s in a nutshell how this event played off, quirky, hospitable and welcoming, a true reflection on a community spirited goal to better ourselves when it comes to progressing with a greener, environmentally friendly manner, and for this alone you cannot fault it.
Brilliant job, Devizes, for together we are sustainable, least heading this way with gusto.
Another summery week ticked off, and our event guide just keeps getting bigger. This week is huge, people, huge โฆโฆI mean the week is huge, not the people, Iโm not one to body shame as, I believe, is the appropriate gen z term; pass my pronouns, thereโs good fellow.ย
Donโt forget thereโs more info on these, ticket links and irregular updates on our sparkly Event Calendar, so plan ahead. But this week we haveโฆdrum rollโฆ..
Ongoing, Hail the Curious, the inaugural exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham; check it out by the end of the month.
Tuesday 13th
Floral Display at Hillworth Park, Devizes, continues Wednesday too. Devizes Arts Festival still going strong, they have Lois Pryce: Revolutionary Ride โ One Womanโs Solo Motorcycle Journey around Iran at 3pm in the Bear Hotel, and the fantastic Elles Bailey Band, 8pm at the Corn Exchange.
Nick Beere has an inaugural Open Mic Night at The Bell, in Great Cheverall, which hopes to become a regular second Tuesday of the month thang.
McCartney โ The Songbook at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Free-movement dance session 60โs to 80โs music at Salisbury Methodist Church.
Wednesday 14th
Poulshot Green Gathering.
Devizes Arts Festival has Clive Andersonโs Me, Macbeth and I. 7:30pm at the Corn Exchange.
Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre for those with dementia and their families, showing
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Menopause The Musical 2 at The Wyvern Theatre.
Charlotte Sauste-Bridoux at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon.
Lunchtime Recital with cellist Idlir Shyti at Pound Arts in Corsham, and a double bill in the evening with Fly Yeti Fly & Pound Sound.
Thursday 15th
Devizes Arts Festival has folk duo Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow, 12pm at St Andrews Church, and the Chris Ingham Trioโs The Jazz of Dudley Moore, 8pm at theTown Hall.
Paul Henshaw plays The Tuppenny, Swindon. An Evening with Brian Bilston at Swindon Arts Centre, and Phil Wangโs Wang In There Baby! at The Wyvern Theatre. Liddington Hill EP release party at the Vic, with Lucky Number Severn & Dark Prophecy, EP reviewed here.
Folk Open Mic Meets From the Book, at Brown Street, Salisbury, A Night of Folk Music and Poetry, and continues on Saturday.
AC/DC tribute, Hellโs Bells at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 16th
Devizes Arts Festival has Gaelic folk anthems with Christian Garrick and the Budapest Cafรฉ Orchestra, 8pm at Corn Exchange.
John Langan & Maxine Ria at The Barge, Honey-Street.
Park Lane at The Civic, Trowbridge.
Radiation Sickness at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.
Longleat Summer Party.
John Bramwell & The Full Harmonic Convergence at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Swindon Folk Club Guest Night: Patakas at The Hop, Swindon, Pink Mac at The Vic,
21st Century Abba at Meca, Oye Santana at Swindon Arts Centre, and In Conversation With Stacey Dooley at The Wyvern Theatre.
Second night of the Folk Open Mic Meets From the Book at Brown Street, Barbar Luck at The George & Dragon in Salisbury.
Band X atThe Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Isabelle Farahโs Ellpsis at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, and The Alex Voysey Blues Band presents โFaux Bonamassaโ at Chapel Arts.
Legends, Bob Marley & the Wailers kick off a ska and reggae weekender at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 17th
Maps for Devizes Open Gardens are ready and on sale now from Devizes Books, Hillworth Park Cafรฉ, Devizes Town Hall and The Giving Tree in the Little Brittox. ยฃ7 in cash per map, continues on Sunday.
Devizes Sustainability Fair in the Market Place from 10am-4pm.
Devizes Arts Festival has a free fringe event, Carrie Etter Poetry Workshop and reading, atย 2pm in the Cheese Hall of Town Hall. Limited numbers so book your place. And 8-piece reggae Latin funk powerhouse Malavita! 8pm at the Corn Exchange, makes the grand finale of what has been a fantastic year for the festival.
Elsewhere in Devizes, find Will Edmunds Trio at The Southgate, and Humdinger debut at The Three Crowns.
Keevil Summer Roots Festival, a first for the village, preview here.
Stonehenge Campaign Festival, free, at the Barge on Honey-Street.
The Plough at Shalbourne has a FREE Ale and Sausage Festival, with Two Complicated, Deadlight Dance, @59, Reuben Medlin Band and more.
X-Factor winner Steve Brookstien at The Civic in Trowbridge.
Debut Dance Company: Bodies of Water at Pound Arts, Corsham, followed by Iona Johnson: Musical Storytime and Bella Hardy in the evening. But check out the poster for Corfest at Corsham Rugby Club, what a lineup, loads of my favourites from Train to Skaville, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Plan of Action and Splat the Rat; nice one!
Barrelhouse play The New Inn, Swindon, Hannah Rose-Platt & Adam Giles Levy at The Tuppenny, Wizards of Oz and Judas Rising at The Vic. Patti Boulayeโs Iโm Coming Out at Swindon Arts Centre. Swindon Music Trust holds a Party in the Park at Town Gardens, tickets are ยฃ11.50, great lineup, see here.ย
Bath Symphony Orchestra are Across the Pond at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, find Stanchions at The Three Horseshoes.
Peter Gill โ Piano Legends at Chapel Arts, Bath, with John William Richardโs Almost Hollywood at the Rondo Theatre.
An evening with Logical Park at The Swan near Barton Stacey, Salisbury.
G4 Live at The Memorial Theatre, Frome, with the Cheese & Grainโs second night of their ska and reggae weekender, featuring the Neville Staple Band.
Sunday 18th
DOCAโs Picnic in the Park at Hillworth Park in Devizes, a must!
Max & Ivan: Life Choices (Work In Progress) at Pound Arts, Corsham, with Gav Cross: Snack and Stories too.
GBH Big Bandโs I Got Gershwin at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, while the amazing Dry White Bones play The Three Horseshoes.
As Fanning at Komedia, Bath
Paul Burlingโs Big Daddy Variety Show at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Monday 19th
Declan Gaynor @ The Tap & Barrell, Swindon
And I got nuthin for Tuesday, yet But if I missed anything out let me know, feed me cake and I can update this and our calendar, but if you donโt tell me donโt come crying! Have a great week, remember, sunscreen, people, sunscreen.
Look out for our incoming next article, as we reveal the music lineup at Devizes Beer Festival on the 1st July!
What, again?! Another article about Talk in Code?! Haven’t they had enough Devizine-styled publicity?! Are their heads swelling?!ย Didn’t that crazy toothless editor catch themโฆ
Valedictorian graduate of Bates College in Maine, and with a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard, neuroscientist Lisa Genova self-published her debut novel, Still Alice inโฆ
Swindon’s annual colossal fundraising event The Shuffle is a testament to local live music, which raises funds for Prospect Hospice. If you’re ever going toโฆ
There was a geographical population imbalance this bank holiday Monday in Devizes which risked the entire town conically sloping into the back of Morrisons; noโฆ
You may know the tiny village of Keevil, the name of which will never cease to remind me of Evel Knievel, for its airfield steeped in spitfire history, but there are some things in the village deeply rooted to the ground. One is a rather exclusive folk club regularly held in the village hall.…
It first came to my attention when the Lost Trades announced it as a date on their ambitious album tour, leading me to gulp, Keevil, you mean the Keevil, for like Christopher Lambert in Highlander, there can be only one? Yes, came their reply like a Facebook whisper, as if it was all as top secret as Area 51. A low key affair, I was told, hardly exploited on the social media sites Iโm addicted to sourcing all known information from. And, if Iโm honest, Iโve never had need to physically pass through there; for fear of treading on a Trowbridge patch, my milk-float turns around at Bulkington, which incidentally will never cease to remind me of the Lipps Inc disco classic, you know how it goes; โwant to take you to, Bul-kin-town!โ
However, away with such disco and American stuntman silliness, we did receive an email from Rachel Howe about next week’s Keevil Summer Roots Festival, which aside elucidating the folk nights were a, โsmall affair; only 76 allowed in our village hall with tables and chairs,โ this event will be open to a larger audience, and itโs free during the day, other than a fiver to park.
So, from 3pm next Saturday, 17th June, the village welcomes their inaugural Summer Roots Festival, on the Barnfield Recreation Ground. Find afternoon activities and entertainment on the Recreation Ground, completely free to enter, with happenings catering for all ages including children’s activities, tug-of-war, crafting corners, artisan gift stalls, food van, ice cream, Festival Bar, โmuch more.โ
That โmuch moreโ includes the Wilshire Police Band, so behave yourselves, and Forest of Dean acoustic duo Jan & Ian.
Raymondoโs food truck, the Festival Bar and doors open at the village hall, ready for the music to start at 6pm. The tried and tested at their regular folk club musical haul includes Wiltshire based foot-stomping five-piece Stoneโs Throw, with a Keevil-own drummer they will be playing classic rock and pop anthems. Grassroots folk singer songwriter Alan Hinds. Westburyโs easy-listening family duo MGB, Frome-based ukulele renditions of classical tunes marvels The Frukes, and Bathโs lounge jazz duo, Body & Soul, local acoustic eyeopener Ian Rayney, ragtime and music hall aficionado, Hilary Pavey.
Keevil may be one of the smallest villages in Wiltshire but, thanks to the tireless efforts of a group of volunteers, it seems theyโve packed a punch. Wishing they could do more with theirย Recreation Ground. They are excited to be bringing this festival-style celebration of local creative talent to the village, and we wish them all the best with it. So, put that in your pipe, Evel, who never did attempt the Grand Canyon jump!
Whilst dispersing highly flammable hydrocarbon gases into the atmosphere is not advisory, Butane Skies is a name increasingly exploding on local circuits. The young andโฆ
The excitement and hope generated by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana announcing a new political party has reached Swindonโฆ.. A broad range of people haveโฆ
If I was bowled over backwards by Rubyโs teaser single last week, its title, Crowned Lightbringer, now also belongs to this five-track EP, released today,โฆ
Image: John Kisch Legendary songwriter and original Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell has announced a run of UK dates this November, accompanied by special guests Theโฆ
Atmospherically anthemic and reinforced with that infectious rhythmic groove weโve come to love Talk in Code for, More Than Friends is chockfull of it, andโฆ
by Mick Brian With Sandcastles Productions marking its debut production with Charlie McGuireโs original play Glass House, the cast and crew behind this production are clearlyโฆ
Trouble, troublemaker, yeah, thatโs your middle name, oh-oh, sings my homeboy Olly, but really, I ask you, what kind of a parent gives their kids a middle name like troublemaker? Ah, well, sign of times; hereโs the lowdown on everything weโve found to be doing around these backwaters this coming weekโฆ.
Donโt forget thereโs more info on these, ticket links and irregular updates on our sparkly Event Calendar, so plan ahead. But this week we haveโฆdrum rollโฆ..
Ongoing, Hail the Curious, the inaugural exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham; check it out by the end of the month.
Wednesday 7th
Devizes Arts Festival still going strong, with Welsh, Polish and Belgian influences, the Aglica Trio explore exciting works by lesser-known composers as well as delving into the standard classical repertoire. 8pm at Devizes Town Hall.
Regular acoustic jam at the Southgate in Devizes.
Dragons And Mythical Beasts at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
San Reetam at Komedia, Bath.
Thursday 8th
Devizes Arts Festival has cello and guitar duo Dieci Corde at 12:30pm in the Town Hall, and Lucy Stevens is Gertrude Lawrence in A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening, 7:30pm also at the Town Hall.
Meanwhile over at The Wharf Theatre, it’s the opening night for Watson and Brownโs Little Big Band, running until Saturday 10th.
Also running until the 10th, The Marlborough Players Presents Ian Hislop & Nick Newmanโs A Bunch of Amateurs at Marlborough Town Hall.
The Overmorrow play The Tuppenny in Swindon, The Zoots are at Swindon Arts Centre with some Sound of The 60s, and Alan Fletcherโs The Doctor Will See You Now is at The Wyvern Theatre.
Comedy Drag Bingo with Charlie Hides from Ru Paulโs Drag Race at Komedia, Bath, Human Nature at the Rondo Theatre, Luke De-Sciscio is at Chapel Arts, with support from Ella Clayton.
Friday 9th
Major British comedy talent Marcus Brigstocke is at Devizes Arts Festival, 8pm at the Corn Exchange. Plan of Action plays The Southgate, Devizes, and Gaz Brookfield is at The Barge on Honey-Street.
Mobile Blackout at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, Quartetto Di Cremonaโs Italian Postcards at the Wiltshire Music Centre.
Living Spit presents One Man and His Cow at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Celebrate Me at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, Mississippi MacDonald at Chapel Arts, and Kalopsia, Intrusive, Sharpie & Dreamcaster all at Moles.
Grunge Tribute Shades of Seattle at The Vic in Swindon, a change from the Chaos Brothers as previously advertised, Oasish at Coleview Community Centre, and
An Evening And A Little Bit Of Morning with Mark Steel at The Wyvern Theatre.
Saturday 10th
Marden Village Fete. Thereโs an Antique Sale at Devizes Market Place from 9am-3pm, and the Devizes Arts Festival continues with a free fringe event at 2pm in the Condado Lounge, Jukebox James, Tessa Dunlop, 3pm at the Town Hall, and folk-influenced Americana with Noble Jacks at 8pm in the Corn Exchange. Noble Jacks are a rip-roaring alt.folk band with roof-raising energy, whose warm electro-acoustic interactions fuse together a mixture of folky footstompinโ rhythms and engaging lyricism.
Elsewhere in Devizes, the Eric Bell Band Band play Long Street Blues Club, Lewis Clark is at The Southgate, Ben Borrill at the Moonrakers, a One Chord Wonders and The Killertones for a Cavalier special, see poster.
Time for The Famous Hangover Sessions at the Lamb in Marlborough, with Splat the Rat, The Station, The Vooz and of course, Pants.
North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra Presents a Summer Concert at the Neeld Hall in Chippenham. John Morrissey memorial gig at the Consti Club in aid of Dorothy House.
The Stones, tribute at the Civic in Trowbridge, oh, and this….
Nadine Khouri at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Itโs the Bradford-on-Avon Food & Drink Festival, Vonj at the Three Horseshoes.
Boorish Trumpson at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, Untamed Burlesque at Chapel Arts.
King Awesome at The Vic, Swindon, Kentwood Choir t Swindon Arts Centre, and
Elizabeth & Philip โ A Story of Young Love, Marriage, and Monarchy at The Wyvern Theatre.
Nearly Dan โ The Spirit & Sound of Steely Dan at the Cheese & Grain in Frome.
Sunday 11th
Lions on the Green, Devizes Lions Clubโs annual car show and fun day at Devizes Green. Devizes Arts Festival, Festival Walk โ Wansdyke Wanderings. Briefing at 10.20am. Thereโs a free fringe event, 2pm at the British Lion, hard stompinโ, bluegrassy, old-timey playing of The Sisters & The Brothers.
Friggit at The Tuppenny in Swindon.
The Jon Amor Trio play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
Adam Giles Levy is at the Electric Bar in Komedia, Bath, Josh Berryโs Sexual Politics at Rondo Theatre, Flamenco Express at Chapel Arts.
Monday 12th
Devizes Arts Festival have An Evening with furniture restorer, Will Kirk, primarily known for his work on BBCโs phenomenally successful restoration programme The Repair Shop.
7:30pm at the Corn Exchange.
Rock The Tots: Whatever The Weather at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Wiltshire Schools Dance Festival at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Tuesday 13th
Devizes Arts Festivalโs Lois Pryce: Revolutionary Ride โ One Womanโs Solo Motorcycle Journey around Iran at the Bear Hotel, the Elles Bailey Band play the Corn Exchange at 8pm.
McCartney โ The Songbook at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Thatโs all I got for you, trouble, troublemaker. I know youโre no good, but youโre stuck in my brain, or Brian, or whatever. So, just for you a reminder this list is not exhaustive, and more events will undoubtedly be added to our event calendar as and when we discover them. So keep an eye on it, just the one though, be safe and have a good week.
Wiltshire Music announces a new season for Autumn Winter: and the first under the new leadership of Daniel Clark, Artistic Director and Sarah Robertson, Executiveโฆ
If youโve seen Jess Self performing at the Wharf Theatre, singing at the FullTone Festival or elsewhere Iโm certain youโll agree with us; Jess hasโฆ
It’s been a wonderful summer’s weekend, in which I endeavoured to at least poke my nose into the fabulous FullTone Festival, despite being invited toโฆ
Devizes annual orchestral festival, FullTone got underway yesterday afternoon with a showcase of local talent from Devizes Music Academy,ย and finalised Friday night with theirโฆ
A feast of Salisbury musicians have recorded the single Edge of Reason, a powerful tribute to the irreplaceable ThomโฏBelk, a champion of Salisburyโs music sceneโฆ
OMG, OMG, another bank holiday weekend coming up, whoโs excited, who’s coming out to play?! Hereโs what weโve found this week, find the info and links, and for planning ahead, here, on our event calendar. No prizes for guessing Editorโs Pick of the Week this week!
Obviously more stuff will be added to our event calendar as and when it comes to our attention, this is not comprehensive, so do check in later in the week, and let us know what we missed, we charge one cupcake to add an event, but it must be a chocolate one!
Donโt forget to check out Hail the Curious, the debut exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham, running until 30th June.
Wednesday 24th:
Regular acoustic jam at The Southgate in Devizes.
Skimpy & The Triniti Band at The Bell Inn, Bath, where Little Shop of Horrors runs until Saturday at The Rondo Theatre.
Emmanuel Sonubiโs Emancipated at Swindon Arts Centre, and Gretchen Peters at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
The Mead Community Primary School presents Forever Treasure Island at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon.
Pierre Novellie and Huge Davies, Comedy Previews at Pound Arts in Corsham.
Thursday 25th:
Shindig Festival opens its doors, have a great weekend to all at Shindig, you lucky lot; have a boogie for me!
Open Mic at Stallards in Trowbridge.
Lady Maisery at Pound Arts, Corsham.
The Soap Girls play The Vic in Swindon, I say, ding-dong! Reverend Ferriday is at The Tuppenny, Jen Bristerโs The Optimist at Swindon Arts Centre, and itโs all soul at The Wyvern Theatre with the Luther show.
Octopus Dream Theatre presents I Love You, Mum, I Promise I Wonโt Die at The Merlin Theatre, Frome.
Friday 26th:
Lou Coxโs n o holds barred one-woman show, Having a Baby and the S**t They Donโt Tell You, at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes for Friday and Saturday; highly recommended from us, but not for the faint hearted!
Meanwhile, 12 Bars Later make a welcomed return to The Three Crowns, Devizes, with the incredible Mark Coltonโs solo show at The Pelican.
John Wattersonโs celebrated tribute to Jake Thackray, An Evening Without Jake Thackray comes to The Bouverie Hall in Pewsey. Billy & Louie at The Castle & Ball, Marlborough.
Running until the 29th, itโs the opening of Chippenham Folk Festival, while the fantastic Triple JD Band plays The Old Road Tavern.
Find Castro at The Wheatsheaf, Calne.
The most amazing young soul singer Iโve heard for an era or four, Franki Soul is at Trowbridge Town Hall. While Fly Yeti Fly have a double-bill at The Pump with Alex Roberts and Graeme Ross.
The Karport Collective are the Seven Stars, Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon; fantastic these guys are. Dervish, legends of the Irish folk scene at Wiltshire Music Centre.
Break Cover are at Brown Street in Salisbury.
Tapped at the Theatre Royal, Bath, and The Lynne and McCartney Story Theatre Show at Chapel Arts.
We Were Promised Honey at Pound Arts, Corsham.
Here Come The Crows at The Vic in Swindon, while Rosie Jonesโ Triple Threat is at Swindon Arts Centre, and The Roy Orbison Experience comes to The Wyvern Theatre.
Ultimate Coldplay at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, and The Urban Voodoo Machine at The Tree House.
Saturday 27th:
You know it has to be Editorโs Pick of the Week, The Devizes International Street Festival is free, itโs the best weekend in Devizes, and it starts on the Green on Saturday and continues on the Sunday in the Market Place; see you there!
Street Festival after parties, then, find Jonah Hitchens Band at the Southgate, Devizes, Ben Borrill plays at The Moonrakers, andย Gerry Jablonski Band plays at the Long Street Blues Club. The Snuff Box has an International Craft Beer Festival, and The Exchange hosts guest DJ, Castro.
Direct from the Pump, Fly Yeti Fly, Alex Roberts and Graeme Ross fly over to The Barge on HoneyStreet, while the Chaos Brothers are at The Lamb in Marlborough.
Be Like Will & Band Of Pilgrims are at The Pump in Trowbridge.
End of Story at The Talbot, Calne, while Band-X play The Wheatsheaf.
A fundraiser for Swindonโs Ukrainian community at Swindon Hub, Rave Against The Regime at The Vic, The Black Hole Sons at the New Inn, Walk Right Back at The Wyvern Theatre, and Tom Davisโ Work in Progress at Swindon Arts Centre.
Ma Bessie and her Pigfoot Band at Chapel Arts, Bath, with You Are The Sun at Theatre Royal, running until 29th May, and A Shining Intimacy at The Egg.
Triple JD are at the Sun in Frome, the Cheese & Grain have Lindisfarne while The Burning Hell are at The Tree House.
Sunday 28th:
Devizes International Street Festival continues, in the Market Place this time, too much to mention here, but do look out for our homegrown upcoming talent Nothing Rhymes With Orange on the main stage at 2:30pm.
The Barge, Honey-Street are Celebrating 50 years of Dark Side of the Moon with Atom Heart Floyd.
Jon Amor Trio at The New Inn, Bath, Jolie Blon at The Bell Inn.
Last Call at The Vic, Swindon.
Fromeโs Spring Vegan Fair at the Cheese & Grain.
Monday 29th:
Bank holiday goodness then, arty kids will be pottery painting at Hilworth Park, find Kate and The Unpredictables at The Three Crowns, Devizes.
Swindonโs famous duck race, see poster below.
Mono at the Cheese & Grain, Tryani Collective at The Bell in Bath.
Tuesday 30th I got nought, unless you know better; always tell us if weโve missed something! Mind you, I think thatโs enough for one week, have a day off, stay home and make beans on toast; you can add a little chilli powder to fully clear your system if you so choose! Have a great weekend, stop me and give me grief if you spot me at the Street Festival, I donโt biteโฆ..not on the nipple at any rate!
Devizes Food & Drink Festival launched their 2025 programme of events today. Running from Saturday 20th to the 28th September, the Box Office opens onlineโฆ
With your standard festivals two-to-a-penny, some consisting of not much more than a bloke with a guitar in a pub selling undercooked and overpriced hotdogs,โฆ
Contemplated headlining this โClash of the Titans,โ but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes canโฆ
Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Cafรฉ will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since its openingโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Sandcastle Productions A very new addition to Bath based theatre companies, Sandcastles Productions brings their self penned piece of theatre toโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Next Stage Theatre Company and Mike Stevens Florian Zeller is a contemporary French playwright and screenwriter, who received criticalโฆ
Rude to walk into an event sporting another event wristband but the welcome was friendly as ever at the Three Crowns in Devizes. It’s mid-afternoon,โฆ
Hey you, had one of those weeks so far, and need to blow off some steam?! I know I have, but you donโt need me to get started on my problems, you need to hear about all the events happening this coming week in Wiltshire; hereโs what weโve found, but thereโs always more to come, so info on these, links and further updates can be found on our Event Calendar.
Itโs 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 Griffithโs new gallery The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham. Thereโs 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 Stevensonโs 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 Luluโs 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 itโs free. In the evening thereโs a National Theatre live screening of David Harewood (Homeland) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) playing feuding political rivals in James Grahamโs (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! Sarumโs Lot are at The Barge on Honey-Street.
Thereโs 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 Eggโs 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 Cauteโs Plastic Army at the Southgate.
The Travis Waltons at Heartwork at The Pump, Trowbridge, the wonderful Strange Folk play Stallards, and Martyโs Fake Family at the Wiltshire Yeoman.
The Hi Fiโs at Melksham Rock โnโ Roll Club, Triple JD Band at The Constitutional Club in Chippenham.
Homer at The Bakerโs Arms, Swindon, The Roughcut Rebels at the Swiss Chalet, Faux Fighters at The Vic, Tim Vineโs 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 Iโm seriously thinking of crossing the border for our Editorโs 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 Madhatterโs 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, thereโs lots going on there.
Tuesday 23rd:
War of The Worlds at Swindon Arts Centre, Liโl Jim at The Bell Inn in Bath, and an Exhibition on screen at Pound Arts in Corsham, called Tokyo Stories.
And thatโs all folks. Big weekend next time, bank holiday again, and Devizes Street Festival with so much other great stuff going on itโs going to take me until next week to type it all out here! Have a good one, big love, Darren.
If youโve popped into Wiltshire Music Centre recently; for a concert, workshop, screening orย even a meeting, you might have noticedโฏchanges in the foyer: recorded music,โฆ
Photo credit: David Leigh Dodd Pioneers of the indie-rock sound which would lead us into the nineties, Transvision Vamp lead singer Wendy James has announcedโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Luke Ashley Tame of Acadia Creative Around 2 million women are victims of violence perpetrated by men every year, thatโs 3,000โฆ
Family run premier auctioneers of antiques and collector’s items, Henry Aldridge and Son announced a move into The Old Town Hall on Wine Street, Devizes;โฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Ian Diddams and Shakespeare Live Is it post watershed? Then I shall beginโฆ The etymology of the word โNothingโ is quiteโฆ โฆ
Amidst another packed summer weekend’s schedule laid that lovable large village Pewseyโs turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if itโsโฆ
Okay, the kingโs bank holiday is over, put your bunting away itโs turning into soggy mush now! Onwards to whatโs happening across Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ..
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. Itโs 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, itโs 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 thereโs the usual Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.
Anu Vaidyanthanโs BC:AD – (before children, after diapers) at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Hang Massive at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Broken Robot Production Presents Britainโs 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 Radebeโs 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 Doonicanโs Bar-Stewards Sons of Val Doonican is at The Pump, Trowbridge; long since sold out Iโm afraid; youโve got to keep scrolling through our event calendar, and be quick!
The Green Man Festival in Bradford-on-Avon, free, see poster below.
Simon Munneryโs 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, donโt 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 & Jordanโs 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.
Britpop icons Supergrass will headline Frome Festival as a fundraising event for grassroots community action group โPeople for Packsaddleโ who are fighting to save aโฆ
Another Triumph for WHO Andy Fawthrop Following the excellent recent production of La Belle Helene at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre back in March (see here), Whiteโฆ
Five Have An Out-of-town Experience You canโt always get that live music experience you crave by simply staying within the walls of D-Town.ย Sometimes, andโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Charlotte Emily Shakespeare wrote several plays that were termed in the late nineteenth century โProblem Playsโ. These wereโฆ
Together in Electric Dreamsโฆ. at The Corn Exchange Fashionably late for Devizes Arts Festival, I’d like to thank Andy and Ian for informative coverage ofโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Play on Words Theatre, and Devizes Arts Festival Who was paying attention in history at school when they coveredโฆ
Whoa, decided today, Thursday, Iโd have to start planning this one immediately, because thereโs 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 โLove & Pride,โ but apparently itโs a smidgen more complex than that, the guy is royalty or something. So, grab your celebratory mug, wrap it around your bunting, and letโs have it out nowโฆ..
Firstly, I must interject and explain; our article highlighting coronation-related events received criticism from anti-royalist keyboard warriors who either didnโt digest if bothered at all to read the article, just jumped to conclusions, they did. If you think for one second Iโd support a defective archaic institution which uses tax-payerโs money to bail-out nonce family members then you donโt 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 thatโs cleared that up!
Thereโs plenty of stuff to do this coming week, if you want flag-waving or not, so letโs drop the subject and get on with listing them. Donโt 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 itโs 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 importantlyโฆfunny comedy at the Rondo Theatre, Bath with Richard Hardistyโs 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, youโll 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 Georgeโs 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 Cooperโs 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 โSong for Trowbridgeโ hero Gavin Osborn.
Rammlied at The Vic, Swindon, Sonic Alert at the Queens Tap, Homer at The Sun in Coate, Rosie Holtโs Womanโs Hour at The Wyvern Theatre.
Jah Wobbleโs 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 Alfredโs 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 Samuelโs 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 Iโm 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 thatโs your lot, enough for you to do?! Hereโs to the king, let us hope his reign is long and healthy, even if only so I donโt have to type all that for one weekend again for a while!!
Poulshot’s Award-winning chocolate studio Hollychocs is proud to launch a heartfelt charity campaign in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK, with a charming chocolateโฆ
Events with diversity, be they ethnic, cultural, or life choices, must be welcomed, encouraged and viewed positively as assets offering variety in our local calendarโฆ
Swindon Palestine Solidarity continues to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for aid to be allowed to enter Gazaโฆ.. Their three recent roadside signโฆ
Hey, howโs you? Ah, been better, been worse, thanks for asking. Hereโs what weโve found to be doing over this coming weekโฆโฆ.
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 thoughโฆ.ย
Tuesday 25th April:
Deadlight Dance on the Radio! Yes, Marlboroughโs goth-rock duo Deadlight Dance will be live and chatting to Peggy on Donโt Stop the Music Show tonight, on Swindon 105.
Staying in Swindon, The Cavern Beatles pay The Wyvern Theatre.
And thereโs 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 thereโs 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.
Itโs 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 Bottleโs 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 itโs 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 Zeboโs 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 thatโs 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 Kingโs 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.
I want Devizine to be primarily about arts and entertainment, but Iโm often pathetically persuaded by bickering political factions to pass opinion on local politicsโฆ
Photo credit: ยฉ Rondo Theatre Company / Jazz Hazelwood A gender-queered production of William Shakespeareโs classic play, โThe Taming of the Shrewโ, will be performedโฆ
The first full album by Wiltshireโs finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. Itโs calledโฆ
Bradford-on-Avon Town Councilโs annual festival, aptly titled The Bradford on Avon Live Music Festival is back this weekend, championing local talent with an eclectic line-upโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Performing Sondheim isnโt the simplest of tasks. Or, rather, singing Sondheim isnโt the simplest of tasks. With his dissonantโฆ
The phenomenally talented Ruby Darbyshire is performing at Silverwood School in Rowde on 27th June. Ruby has kindly offered to support Silverwood Schoolโs open evening…..โฆ
Here we are in April, and itโs looking nice, hereโs what weโve found to do this coming weekโฆeaster bank holidayโฆis it, really? Sorry, I donโt get bank holidays, you lethargic lay-about chocolate-egg eating lot!!
Said it before, Iโll say it again, more stuff will be added, this is published on Mondays so youโve 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 itโd 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 theyโre 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.
Thereโs 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, thereโs a ton of bands playing, Iโll see if I can locate a posterโฆ. ah yes, you go. It must be Editorโs 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 Meikleโs 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 thereโs Fitz of Giggles comedy night at The Boathouse.
Sour Apple play The New Inn in Winterbourne Monkton.
Simon Brodkinโs 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 itโs a welcome return for Illingworth at The Three Crowns in Bishops Cannings, (hope youโre better Jon) donโt forget though, camping is available there. Two Complicated play The Barge, Honey-Street.
Martyโs 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 Swindonโs 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, itโs 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 10thI got nothing, yet.
Tuesday 11th and Gordon Buchananโs 30 Years in The Wild is at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
And thatโs it, folks, have a great easter week, and if you want to buy me an egg, Iโm partial to a Buttons one, thank you!
Adam Woodhouse, Rory Coleman-Smith, Jo Deacon and Matt Hughes, aka Thieves, the wonderful local folk vocal harmony quartet of uplifting bluegrass into country-blues has aโฆ
This summer David is returning with a brand-new show “Historyโs Missing Chapters”, a show made to uncover why, throughout history, some people and events haveโฆ
Under the new management, live music will be making a triumphant return to The Boathouse in Bradford-on-Avon and that Cracking Pair, Claire and Chloe ofโฆ
Always a happy place, our traditional record shop Vinyl Realm in Northgate Street Devizes is back in the game of hosting some live music afternoons.โฆ
One of Wiltshireโs Best by Andy Fawthrop Looking for something to do next weekend? One of Wiltshireโs biggest festivals is happening just up the roadโฆ
Here we go, headlong into April with lots to do.….
Said it before, Iโll say it again, more stuff will be added, this is published on Mondays so youโve 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 itโd 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 Shakespeareโs lots play, Measure for Measure, and this continues until Saturday 1st April.
Wednesday 29this the opening night of Devizes Musical Theatre production of Doly Partonโs 9 to 5, also running until Saturday at Dauntseyโs in West Lavington. Regular acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes.
The Sing Spaceโs Musical Theatre Choir has a Greatest Showman & Prosecco Masterclass at St Maryโs 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 Theatreโs Escape to Wonderland, running until 30th March.
Award-winning garden designer and Gardenersโ World presenter, Adam Frost is at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Thursday 30thsees 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 31stthereโs 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 Oโclock Circus play The Pheasant in Chippenham, while itโs 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 itโs high time we made Midlife raves our Editorโs Pick of the Week; anyone got any Veras?
Six Oโclock Circus play the Wheatsheaf, Calne, The ELO Encounter at The Neeld, Chippenham, GM Liveโs 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 thereโs 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 2ndsees 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 donโt 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 3rdand thereโs more fun kidโs stuff Iโd 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.
Also sees the Ukrainian National Operaโs Carmen at The Wyvern Theatre, and Eshaan Akbarโs The Pretender at Swindon Arts Centre.
Thatโs all I have for now, but like I say, more will come in so keep checking our event calendar, and if thereโs something weโve 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 Amorโs 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 Iโm getting over-excited, so check the calendar, donโt make me tell you again!!
If weโve had a keen eye on Swindonโs Sienna Wilemanโs natural progression as an upcoming singer-songwriter since being introduced to her self-penned songs via herโฆ
One of Salisburyโs most celebrated acoustic folk-rock singer-songwriters Lucas Hardy teams up with the Wiltshire cityโs upcoming talent who’s name is on everyoneโs lips, Rosieโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages byย Chris Watkins Media One could argue that Anne Frank is possibly the most well-known civilian of the WW2 years, and certainly ofโฆ
Trowbridge singer-songwriter and one third of The Lost Trades, Phil Cooper has actually been doing more than playing solitaire, heโs released a new solo albumโฆ
An effervescent musical, full of promising young talent Written by: Melissa Loveday Images by: Gail Foster After the success of SIX last year, Devizes Musicโฆ
A photo is circulating on X of Calne’s Reform UK candidate Violette Simpson, which for some reason doesn’t appear on her election campaign….I wonder why?โฆ
Big congratulations to Devizes DJ Greg Spencer this week, the creator of Palooza house nights at The Exchange nightclub, for he made the prestigious billโฆ
All the ickle birdies singing in the blossom, and itโs beginning to look at bit more like spring, which it should, being equinox, which basically means, take a raincoat to all the events weโve 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 venueโs websites, and various social media groups. Once published you can guarantee someone, somewhere, usually on a Facebook share, will inevitably say โoh, 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, itโs like data juggling, and often stuff gets missed, but never think itโs because we donโt like you, or something similar, itโs 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 weโll do our upmost to get your event out there.
Onwards, to Wednesday 22nd March 2023, when as ever thereโs an acoustic jam at the Southgate in Devizes. Opening night for Made in Dagenham at the Neeld in Chippenham, and thatโs running up to Saturday 25th.
Also running until Saturday, Sheelagh Stephensonโs 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 Attackโs 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 Rodโs 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 Knightleyโs 2023 solo tour, Unlock Me & Other Lockdown is at Chapel Arts, Bath. Wildlife presenter Gordon Buchananโs 30 Years in the Wild is at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 24thWilswood 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 youโll 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! Iโm at least triple-booked with no idea which I want to do; might have to flip a coin!
Guest at the last Jon Amorโs monthly residency at the Southgate, Thomas Atlas brings his full band to Long Street Blues Club in Devizes, and thatโll 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 donโt miss it(!!) and Iโm sorry to everyone else, but I must, by law, make this Editorโs Pick of the Week!
Now, thatโs 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, Iโm 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 Jackieโs farewell party as landlords there, the new owners have only gone and invited them back; utter madness, is precisely what youโll 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 Calneโs Pocket Park for The Big Sing 2023: A song for Elton, a glittering finale to this yearโs 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 Chippenhamโs 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 thereโs 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 27thand itโs 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 Tunnicliffeโs Nowhere Ensemble bring synth bass, bass clarinet, drums and keys into the room marked jazz and donโt 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 Grahamโs My Future My Clutter at Swindon Arts Centre.
Ruth Blake plays The Bell in Bath.
And thatโs your lot. If itโs not enough to be getting on with, you need to be thinking about buying tickets for Devizes Musical Theatreโs 9 to 5 at Dauntseyโs, which starts on Wednesday 29th. Have a great week, hope to see you around!
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 Margaretโs 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!
Itโs 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 yearโs.
Two hundred tickets have gone already, for the sunny date of Sunday 27th August. He told me, โWe 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. โYes,โ he confirmed, โwe 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!
โGood 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 Iโm 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! โWe have two bouncy castles and face painting,โ Richard informed me, โwhich 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 hereโs another great thing about Potterne Festival; thereโs nothing Royston Vasey about it, it provides a free bus service from Devizes. โThe bus runs from outside Devizes School,โ Richard explained, โto the Grove, starting at 11.45, roughly every twenty minutes.โ One might fairly conclude itโs 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!
Melksham & Devizes Conservatives released a statement on the 7th April explaining an internal audit revealed one of their candidates was โnot qualified by residenceโฆ
Last month we were pleased to announce our involvement with the new Wiltshire Music Awards in conjunction with Wiltshire Events UK, details of which areโฆ
And there was me thinking nothing good comes out of a Monday! Today local bistro Soupchick, popular in the Devizesโ Shambles opened their second branch,โฆ
Stuffed my dinner, scanned the brief, headlonged out the door, forgot about the road diversion into the Market Place, made a u-turn, arrived at Wiltshireโฆ
Still a tad fragile around the edges from my birthday party, hereโs whatโs Iโve 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-Seltzersโฆโฆ.
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 6thsees a live art demonstration with the wonderful Caroline LeBourgeois at Devizes Conservative Club, and the first of Nick Beereโs Open Mic sessions at The Lamb, Marlborough.
Around About Dusk night at The Bell in Bath too, with some sultry femme vocalists, and theyโve 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, whoโve raised their target of ยฃ250,000, and invite people to come and see the new skatepark designs on Tuesday 7th March – 7pm at St Margaretโs Hall. If heaven is a halfpipe, youโre 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 weekendโฆ… 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 Editorโs 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, Iโm hoping that speaks for itself! Theyโre at The Barge on Honey-Street.
Best of luck to the Lost Trades, touring their fantastic new album, theyโre at Keevil Village Hall.
Martyโs 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 Womenโs Day with Bones Apart, a Wonder Women Family Concert.
Rorkeโs Drift versus Black Rose at The Vic in Swindon.
Witchfest at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, with a witchโs 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 Houghtonโs 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 Trainingโs 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 Trioโs jazz night at il Fiume, Bradford-on-Avon.
Wednesday 15th and thereโs Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre, showing Dadโs Army.
Franz Nicolay & Aimless Arrows at The Pump in Trowbridge. Franz Nicolay is a musician and writer living in New Yorkโs Hudson Valley. In addition to records under his own name, he was a member of cabaret-punk orchestra World/Inferno Friendship Society, โworldโs 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 thereโs some world-folk into jazz, at The Bell, Bath with Solana.
And thatโs your lot; unless youโve forgotten to tell me something?! No secrets here, free listings too, all you gotta do is let us know; Iโm not your mum, and canโt keep following you around picking up your lost socks.
It was a fantastically successful opening night for Devizes Musical Theatre at Dauntseyโs School for their latest show, Disneyโs Beauty and the Beast, and Iโฆ
Renowned Devizes auctioneers and valuers, Henry Aldridge and Son announced today they are relocating their auction rooms to The Old Emporium, a Grade II listedโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ann Ellison. What can possibly be better than watching a performance of โBlood Brothersโ by Willy Russell? Watching TWO performances ofโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Josie Mae Ross and Richard Fletcher John Hodge is well known for his screenwriting of โShallow Graveโ, โThe Beachโ, โA Lifeโฆ
One of Swindon’s premier grunge pop-punkers, The Belladonna Treatment released their debut single, Bits of Elation, with London-based SODEH Records earlier this month. I spokeโฆ
March on! Letโs say no more about the impending spring other than YES!!!! As you might be able to tell, Iโm not a winter person. Hereโs what weโve found to be doing this coming week.…….
Find details and tickets links at ourevent calendar, and plan your month ahead. Watch out though, itโs 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 thereโs 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, itโs 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 Iโm honest.
Anyway, find Magical Bones at Swindon Arts Centre, Paul McClure & Black Sheep Apprentice at The Tuppenny. Over in Bath, Brooks Williams & Boo Hewerdineโs 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 Cโest Chic at Walcot House; squidgy house fun!
โZambaLandoโ are live at Fiesta de Cuba in Swindon, where the Vic has Phantom Droid, Modern Evils and Froglord, and Sophie Dukerโs Hag plays at Swindon Arts Centre.
Saturday 4thsees a Sustainable Devizes swap shop at St James Church.
Then, did I tell you about my 20th birthday?! Is it fair to make this Editorโs Pick of Week? Executive decision; ermm, letโs think, Ruzz Guitar, Talk in Code, Vince Bell, Deadlight Dance, Ben Borrill, yes, I think itโs perfectly fair!
Editorโs Pick of Week this week is the editorโs own inflated ego birthday bash at the Three Crowns, Devizes, but in fairness we have got free live music all day, where Iโm 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 itโs card-only at the bar, but bring some cash and weโll have a whip round for the Devizes & District Opportunity Centre.
Over at the Wharf Theatre theyโve 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 Garlandโs 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 Dadโs 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
Thereโs 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 Iโm still standing, Iโm 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 Iโve 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 7thBlood Brothers at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Thatโs your lot, have a great week and I hope to see you Saturday; you are permitted to buy me a pint, as long as itโs 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 youโve never heard Chloe Jordan sing before youโre basically missing one of lifeโs most extraordinary occurrences.
A second single from Swindon Diva Chloe Hepburn, Situationships was released this week. With a deep rolling bassline, finger-click rhythm and silky soulful vocals, thisโฆ
I’m delighted to announce Devizine will be actively assisting to organise a new county-wide music awards administration, in conjunction with Wiltshire Music Events UK. Theโฆ
Can You Find The Wiltshire Potholes From The Moon Craters?! Now, at Devizine Towers we are far too mature and sensible to mock Wiltshire Councilโsโฆ
Review by Pip Aldridge Last week, I had the privilege of seeing the Fulltone Orchestra perform at the beautiful Tewkesbury Abbey beneath the Peace Dovesโฆ
Happy Valentineโs Day, hopelessly romantic yet gullible consumers. If youโve any money left after your overpriced chocolates and cut-off plants purchases, here is whatโs happening this coming week in Wiltshire.….
Snowdrops, though, to do my usual weather comment, Iโve 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 TVโs SAS: Who Dares Wins, Jason Foxโs 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; Itโs 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 Leithโs Nothing In Moderation comes to the Wyvern; who knows you might be sitting next to baby-face Danny Kruger, nudging you and telling you itโs his mummy up there!
Ah, anyway, (Iโm sorry, couldnโt resist it!) Over at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon we have The Bradfordianโs 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!
Itโs 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 editorโs pick of the week! All roads lead to Frome, though, as The Lost Trades play The Treehouse as well.
Alex Carsonโs The Idiot Tour at Chapel Arts, The Musical Box at Bath Forum. Fleetwood Bac @ Salisbury Arts Centre.
Saturday 18thand itโs DOCAโs Festival of Winter Ales at The Corn Exchange Devizes; youโll 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 Southgateโs 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 Keyworthโs 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 Oโclock Circus at the New Century Club. Babatunde Alesheโs Babahood at Swindon Arts Centre, Buddy Holly tribute show Thatโll 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 19thsees Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes.
The Amazing Bubble Man at Swindon Arts Centre, Tap Factory at the Wyvern. Babatunde Alรฉshรฉโs Babahood tour moves over to Komedia, Bath.
Monday 20thLord of the Rings in Concert at Bath Forum.
Tuesday 21stIโm Sorry I Havenโt a Clue at Bath Forum.
And thatโs a wrap, folks, unless I missed anything, do let me know. Have a good week, donโt worry, be happy!
If many space-rock acts have more band member changes than most other musicians change their socks, Hawkwind are the exemplar of the tendency. There mightโฆ
The second single from Georgeโs sessions with Jolyon Dixon is out today, Isnโt She Lonely. With the vaudeville ambience of Queenโs later material and sprinklesโฆ
A new music festival is coming to Devizes this July. Organisers of the long-running Marlborough based festival MantonFest are shifting west across the downs andโฆ
All images: ยฉ๏ธ JS Terry Photography An awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding musical talent within the city, aptly titled The 2024 Salisbury Music Awards,โฆ
Monsieur, with these Exchange Comedy night you are really spoiling us, for usually comedy in Devizes is just what we make ourselves; laughing at visitorsโฆ
A drone operated by Wiltshire Hunt Sabs was attacked by a second drone, twice, while surveying The Beaufort Hunt, after it recorded them illegally huntingโฆ
February, not hotting up much temperature-wise, nevertheless plenty of stuff going on across the county and beyond; hereโs what weโve found to satisfy your soul this weekโฆ.
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, thatโs your own lookout, but still, if youโre nice I might add it, but it will cost you a cupcake.
Letโs 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 McCauslandโs 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, Canuteโs 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 thereโs a free indoor fest at Komedia, featuring Year of the Dog, Nookee, Drop in the Ocean, Ryan DโAuria and Bohosapiens, and at the Rondo Theatre thereโs 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 Millerickโs 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 Mamaโs 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 Wonโt Stop presents The Ultimate Shakinโ Stevens Tribute at Chapel Arts, Bath, and thereโs a West End Winter Show at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
If thatโs not enough difficult decisions already, Don Letts is guest at The Cheese & Grain in Frome, as the Dub Pistols headline.
Find Six Oโclock 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, Editorโs 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! Iโve been looking forward to this for ages, rekindling my youth with some ant music… we are the family!
Sunday 12thsees 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 Griffithโs One Tonne of Fun play the main hall. Eliza Carthy & The Restitutionโs 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…..
Thatโs 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.
Without sounding like a stuck record, itโs the same unfortunate news for Devizes Street Festival as it was last year; Arts Council England has notโฆ
Bussing into Devizes Saturday evening, a gaggle (I believe is the appropriate collective noun) of twenty-something girls from Bath already on-board, disembark at The Marketโฆ
Once the demonic entity Spring-Heeled Jack entered folklore it became subject to many books and plays, diluting the once real threat of this Victorian bogeymanโฆ
Devizes singer-songwriter Jamie Hawkins, famed for poignant narrative in his songs and one-third Lost Trade, has always had a passion for filmmaking; Teeth is theโฆ
Thank the heavens we can kick January out of the door! Itโs been a warmer week though, hasnโt it? Still wouldnโt 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! Hereโs what weโve 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 donโt believe me!
Links and details can be found on our event calendar: here. Just takes ages adding them in here a second time; ainโt 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 Trowbridgeโs 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 Bakerโs 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 2ndQuiz 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 Portsmouthโs This is Elvis 2023 Tour at the Wyvern, and Limehouse Lizzy at Swindon Arts Centre.
Brennan Reeceโs 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 Linghamโs regular From The Book at Brown Street, Salisbury.
Friday 3rdand itโs Potterne Cricket Clubโs 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, youโll 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 Dukerโs Hag at Pound Arts, Corsham, Phoenix Dance Presents โWe 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 OโDohertyโs Whoa is Me at Komedia.
Wow; Fairport Convention play the Wyvern in Swindon, with Lucy Porterโs Wake Up Call at Swindon Arts Centre. Dohny Jep headlines a triple at The Vic, with Nervendings and Riviera Arcade.
Cressers Last Standโs 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 canโt 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 80โs 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 & Jackieโs farewell at The Lamb, after over an incredible 43 years theyโre retiring and we wish them all the very best. A solemn occasion it refuses to be, as Pants will out! If you donโt know what that means, I suggest you read undoubtedly the funniest interview weโve ever done, with Pants, last week. Got to be Editorโs Pick of The Week, if Seize the Day is too, I can’t decide this week!
Phoenix Dance presents a second night of โWe 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 Oโclock Circus at Coleview Centre. Troy Hawkeโs Sigmund Troyโd at the Wyvern, and Paul Foot at Swindon Arts Centre.
Stray Dogs will be โUnleashedโ for a Charity Gig for The Music Man Project at Burdallโs 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 youโve 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 Lynchโs 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 7this the Wyvern Theatre Swap Shop at the Wyvern in Swindon, Randy Feltfaceโs Feltopia at Komedia, Bath, and Wiltshire College FE Student Showcase Samphire at Salisbury Playhouse.
Have a great week, behave yourself, within reason, and donโt 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, Canuteโs 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 Mamaโs 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 whatโs to do and youโll miss truckloads; Devizine is the only one around these darkened backwaters to collate them all; give the man a Twix.
There are only a few tickets left for this yearโs Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, an important fundraiser for DOCAโฆ.. This year DOCA has teamedโฆ
A sublime evening of electronic elegance was had at Bathโs humble Rondo Theatre last night, where Cephidโs album, Sparks in The Darkness, was played outโฆ
I caught up with an excited Jonathan Hunter, leader of Devizes Town Councilโs independent party The Guardians, and local loyal youth worker Steve Dewar toโฆ
Experience the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, a vibrant, family-friendly community gathering featuring traditional dance, music, song, and folklore throughout the town centre onโฆ
If Iโm considering reviewing worldwide music again, why stop with this planet?! Though Iโve reasoned two tenacious links to mention this madcap Scottish interstellar outfit;โฆ
The team behind popular all-day music extravaganza, My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, can now reveal that nearly ยฃ11,500 was raised for Prospect Hospiceโฆ
If the last thing you’d expect as the final sound you hear before leaving a festival carpark is of scraping frost off windscreens, notion of festivals as a summer thing is about to be turned on its head. January blues is curable in Wiltshire, The Bradford Roots Music Festival is your prescription.…
Devizine is not Time Out, writing about our music scene is a personal voyage of discovery, but until now I’d not reached the core. Because Bradford-on-Avon boasts The Wiltshire Music Centre, a modern, purpose-built hub of music and arts, and I’m happy to confirm it’s a wonderful place.
Andy fondly reviewed their past roots festival, on the strength of this and the stunning line-up, it deserved sending my grumpiest of hibernating reviewers, so here I am, with beanie on.
Situated on a housing estate next to a school, first impressions are school-like, by design and decor. Interesting, a festival in a school, even has a coat rack, and fire doors held open by polite teenagers; imagine! If I get a detention here, Iโll be glad.
I believe itโs part-funded this way. Cause and effect are a wide age demographic; yes, a majority are those elders who can afford to fork out ยฃ20 in January, but it notably caters for the youngest too, with a vast craft area and workshops, a dinnertime finale of the latter being a Wassail kids’ procession led by Holt Morris Club in the foyer.
Also noteworthy, though I missed this, part of the proceeds goes to Zone Club, an in-house musical programme for learning disabled adults, who’s improv show opened the festival. The other half goes to the centre itself, which has charitable status, and is worth its rather hefty weight in gold.
Wowzers, I was impressed enough already, with plentiful to engage in, yet I’m told this three-stage single day is scaled-down post lockdown, previously housing two other stages and a food court, over three days. Though it was expressed this is the level they’d like to see it return to in future. Iโm letting the cat out the bag, you canโt keep it a secret forever, Bradford, the south-west needs to know!
Though if food options were filtered to one, Bradford’s own Evie’s Mac N Cheese wagon is most definitely the one, my burger was to die for! There’s me, stomach-thinking first, when I’ve so much to report, so, so much great music, some completely new to me, others well-grounded in my favourites, and many to tick off my bottomless must-see list.
Aqaba
If I told you what I didnโt love, itโd be quicker, but blank! The only way to do this, is to get chronological, but before I do, itโs crucial to point out what’ll become clear by the end; the logo’s tree growing out of a guitar, and the whole name of Bradford Roots Music Festival can be a tad misconceiving; going in with the preconception it’s all folk, fiddles and hippy-chicks dancing barefoot, though these are present, to assume it’s the be-all-and-end-all is wildly off target. The diversity on offer here is its blessing, its quantity and quality is serious value for money, and likely the most important elements I need to express in order to sell next yearโs to you, which I do, because it was utterly fantastic.
Not forgoing the hospitable atmosphere, its easy access under one roof, and its professionalism in staging the best indoor local festival I’ve been to, if not a forerunner for the best local community-driven festival, period. On programming I could point similarities to Swindon Shuffle, in so much as grabbing an international headline isn’t their thing, favouring promoting local acts. But unlike the Shuffle where you wander Old Town pub-to-pub, there’s a treasure behind nearly every fire-door.
Lodestone
Arriving as prompt as possible, unfortunately not as early as I’d have liked, finding Phil Cooper and Jamie R Hawkins packed up and chatting in the foyer, I consoled myself by noting there’s so much happening under this cathedral of music’s roof I won’t miss. Firstly, I found the main stage, a colossal acoustic-heaven seated hall, where came the cool mellow vibes of Chris Hoar’s Lodestone, soon to be renamed Courting Ghosts, with drummer Tim Watts from It’s Complicated, a band booked to headline the third stage, Wild and Woolley, but had to cancel.
Lightgarden
Though at this time, I’d not even found said third stage, dragging myself away from the balcony to the foyer, where a smaller makeshift middle stage hosted the duos and acoustic acts. The beautiful folk of Lightgarden currently attracting a crowd.
Mark Green’s Blues Collective
People tended to settle in one place, I rushed from stage to stage, excited as a sugared-up kid at Disneyland! Discovering the third stage was the best thing I did, as Mark Green’s Blues Collective thrilled with a reggae-riffed version of Knocking on Heaven’s Door.
The Graham Dent Quartet
Decided I need to settle down, smooth and accomplished piano-based jazz on the main stage by The Graham Dent Quartet could’ve easily helped, but hot-footing back to the third stage to catch Junkyard Dogs was a must.
Likely my acme of the daylight hours, if it’s nearly as impossible to rank the best thing any more than picking faults in the festival, Junkyard Dogs rocked this stage with sublimely executed Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry timeless classics of the raw RnB origins of rock n roll, (apt for a “roots” festival,) with added amusing originals, a downtempo Suzie Q, and a funky guitar chilled Dusty Springfield’s Spooky.
Junkyard Dogs
With fantastic delta blues in the foyer, via Westward, and a Wassail choir workshop in the main room, I tended to hover around the more unorthodox third stage, where Mod-type synths band Aqaba rolled out some damn fine originals.
Westward
Caroline Radcliffe Jazz Trio
Meanwhile joyful lounge jazz was blessing the foyer with the Caroline Radcliffe Jazz Trio, as I made my way to way to the main stage once more, to tick Billy in the Lowground off my must-see list. Missed this unique banjo and fiddle five-piece folk ensemble when they’ve graced the Southgate, but though their fiery foot-stomping loud โnโ proud scrumpy & western is hard-to-pigeonhole, I won’t be missing them next time.
Billy in the Lowground
This is where the stages vacated for dinnertime, and the Wassail children’s parade accompanied an entertaining Morris dance ruled the hour. It mayโve felt as if the festival was slowing pace, but it was only temporary. Outstanding Bristol-based soloist Zoe kicked off the foyer happenings again, a stalwart of the festival, while young Swindon popular post-grunge wild card, Viduals blasted the third stage.
Zoe
Viduals
It was great to meet the level-headed youths of Viduals, one to watch on the indie circuit, asserting the third stage now was for younger attendees. Man, they had some upfront drumming I likened to Animal from the Muppets, and some defined originals!
Foxymoron
The similarly youthful band, Foxymoron, to grace the headline at the third stage since It’s Complicatedโs unfortunate cancellation, sounded prodigious, slightly more accomplished with slithers of retro post-punk, but I confess with so much going on, I didn’t catch enough for a full assessment. Because, I was equally surprised by Karport Collective at the main stage, but in a different way. Didnโt get any info on these guys, only to lean over to the frontman expressing my delight at them daring to cover Outkast classic Hey Ya at a roots event! If a pop repertoire of Fatboy Slimโs Praise You medlied with that Elvis breakbeat rework, wouldnโt fit at a folk festival, they did Bowieโs Letโs Dance too, engaging a mass-exodus to the dancefloor; surely a defining factor in my point about diversity here. Gallant five-piece, Karport Collective pulled a rabbit from their hat, and would be a superb booking for a function or large lively pub with universal appeal.
Karport Collective
Dilemmas over what to watch beached, the ultimate decision was the finale, where subtle yet powerful folk duo Fly Yeti Fly took the foyer, and my new favourite thing, Concrete Prairie played the main stage. Letโs get this straight, okay? Concrete Prairie are unmissable by my reckoning, though this is my third time seeing them live, and Fly Yeti Fly is one I so desperately want to tick off my list. The problem is solved by this easy access, weโre only one fire-door away from simultaneously viewing both, which I did; bloominโ marvellous!
Complete with double-bass accompaniment, predicted gentle positive acoustic vibes from Fly Yeti Fly, if a song about burning the furniture for firewood on a frozen canal boat is gentle and positive! But, oh, how a duo can hold an audience spellbound, Fly Yeti Fly are the enchantment. My night was completed by their tune Shine a Light, which (plug) you can find on our Juliaโs House compilation, together with swinging that fire-door to catch the sublime country-folk of Concrete Prairie as they polished off a set of debut album tracks, covers and new songs, with the magnum-opus Devil Dealt the Deck.
Concrete Prairie
Still at 1,000 feet of an impressive mountain; Bradford Roots Festival, I conclude, is faultless.
By Ian DiddamsImages by Jeni Meade No aficionado of 1960s and 1970s horror films would have missed seeing โRosemaryโs Babyโ, a story of Satanic pregnancy,โฆ
In November last year I was mightily impressed with Bristol soul-reggae producer Kaya Street, and reviewed their EP The Soul Sessions, read it here forโฆ
Another Stunning Week-End For Live Music Andy Fawthrop Normally Iโd be raving about just how good the live music was at The Southgate on Sundayย afternoon.โฆ
Developed in Devizes, blossoming in Bristol, as well as a snazzy new website, indie-punk phenomenon Nothing Rhymes with Orange released their next single, and itโsโฆ
Seems odd the perfect combination between Devizesโ only theatre, The Wharf, and one of the longest-running performance group, White Horse Opera hasnโt linked before, butโฆ
Back to a possibility of snow on Wednesday, the big freeze makes an unwelcome return, so please, if youโre heading out be careful. For those careful few, hereโs what weโve found to be doing this week. As usual you can find more details, links, and whatnots on our event calendarโฆ.
Wednesday 18thsees Winter Gems, a Lawrence Society art demonstration evening by Pam Lewis from Marston at Devizes Town Hall, and the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate.
Meanwhile, Amadou Diagne & Group Yakar play The Bell, Bath.
Thereโs an adult panto at the Wyvern, Swindon, Cinderella & Her Naughty Buttons. And Memory Cinema returns to Swindon Arts Centre screening The Wizard Of Oz. Memory Cinema provides a facility where those living with dementia, their carers, friends, and families can watch a range of films.
Thursday 19th the incredible ZambaLando are live at The Beehive, Swindon, while the Wyvern, Arsenal legends Ray Parlour, Paul Merson and Perry Groves give a talk.
Friday 20th is heat one of local amateur musicianโs contest Take the Stage, at The Neeld in Chippenham.
Melksham Assembly Hall plays host to Forbidden Nights, ladies, behave yourselves!
In Swindon the A K Poets take The Beehive, Get Carter play The Vic, and thereโs Rave On โ The Ultimate 50s & 60s Experience at the Wyvern.
Daytime in Bath, Rock the Tots take their Around the World Tour to the Rondo Theatre, and in the evening theyโve The Peopleโs String Foundation Duo. One on my must-see hitlist, Adam and the Ants tribute Ant-Trouble play at The Royal Oak, and From the Jam are at Bath Forum.
Theyโll be dancing in the dark at the Cheese & Grain in Frome with Springsteen tribute, Bruce Juice.
Saturday 21stand rock covers band Beyond the Storm play The Southgate, Devizes. Find Homer at The Cooperโs Arms, Pewsey, and El Toro at The Lamb, Marlborough.
At the Barge on Honeystreet, find NFA-TV and BishBosh presenting a night of โmusikal mayhemโ with the Radical Dance Faction, MC Basher, Doghouse and MCs, tenner on the door, extra ยฃ12.50 to camp.
Editorโs Pick of The Week this week must be the Bradford Roots Music Festival at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, which weโve previewed HERE and unless completely snowed in, I hope to check it out personally.
Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years at The Neeld, Chippenham.
Devizes-own blues legend, Innes Sibun Blues Explosion play The Bell, Bath, while the Rondo Theatre has Jen Bristerโs show, The Optimist.
The Rolling Clones tribute at The Vic in Swindon, Locomotion at The Swiss Chalet, Voodoo Room at Swindon Arts Centre, and ABBA Forever at the Wyvern.
Man of the World presents the Music of Peter Green at The Tree House, Frome, and thatโs your Saturday night! Unless you know different? Do let us know.
Sunday 22nd Warmington, Lindley and Webb at The Bell, Bath.
Monday 23rd Eddie Martinโs turn at The Bell, Bath.
Tuesday 24th sees a Fish N Chip Supper & Quiz Night for the RNLI at Devizes Conservative Club.
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls play Bath Forum, while Cirque โ The Greatest Show comes to the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Keep on scrolling through our event calendar to see just how 2023 is blossoming with things to do, far sooner than spring I might add! Have a great weekend, stay safe and donโt go changing just to please me.
Featured Image Credit: Stewart Baxter Riot predictor Nick Hodgson formerly of the Kaiser Chiefs has a new band, the charmingly named Everyone Says Hi, andโฆ
Bob Marley sang โjamminโ โtil the jam is through,โ Jimmy Cricketโs catchphrase was โcomeโere, thereโs more,โ but it looks like The Southgate in Devizes isโฆ
The second feature film for director Keith Wilhelm Kopp and writer Laurence Guy, First Christmas enters development, to be produced by Shropshire-based production company, Askโฆ
Image credit: Forestry England/Crown copyright. Forestry England Nightingale Wood invites dog owners to celebrate Walk Your Dog Month this January….. Walk Your Dog Month isโฆ
Well into new year and things are building up again slowly, letโs have a little looky at whatโs going on locally over this coming week, if you fancy going out to beat the January bluesโฆ.
As usual, details and links can be found on our updating event calendar; keep checking for future dates, and, some events for this week will inevitably crop up and I donโt often update them on these articles, only on the calendar.
Wed 11th and I am assuming there will be the regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Meanwhile, at the Bell in Bath you can find the Dusk Art Rhythm Quartet.
Thursday 12th is the opening night for Beauty & The Beast, running until the 15th at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Never too late for a panto!
Mark Farrelly, who you might recall as the creator of Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope, as seen at Devizes Arts Festival last year, has a play at Swindon Arts Centre. Itโs a tribute to Frankie Howerd, called Howerdโs End.
Staying in Swindon, Canuteโs Plastic Army play The Beehive, Swindon, while UK Pink Floyd Experience is at Wyvern.
Friday 13th might be unlucky for some, but not if you like Chicago blues and you live in Devizes. Editorโs Pick of The Week this week takes us to the Long Street Blues Club, where direct from the US of A, Billy Branch presents at night of Chicago Living Legends, Jamiah Rogers, and John Primer.
Suitable for ages 10+, Living Spitโs Puss in Bootsโ More Than A Feline comes to The Neeld in Chippenham, which contains a small amount of strong language and awful puns.
Outrageous comedy at Pound Arts, Corsham with Simon Brodkinโs Screwed Up Tour.
One local band to watch out for, Here Come the Crows, they play the Vic, Swindon, while the Calling Planet Earth show is at the Wyvern, a new romantic symphony that goes on a journey through one of the greatest musical eras of all time, the electrifying 80โs. Obviously, Iโm far too young to remember that!
Oh, and Absolute Bowie at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 14th and youโll find Finley & Mark at The Three Crowns, Devizes, and Celtic folk at The Southgate with the Cooper Creek Band.
The Buttmonkies at Stallards in Trowbridge, Legacy at the Pilot in Melksham.
For alt-rock, Britpop, and a dash of punk, check out Static Moves at The Pelican Inn in Froxfield.
Lauren Housley & Nigel Wearne play Chapel Arts, Bath.
Find His Way- The Frank Sinatra Story at The Neeld, Chippenham.
The Beehive in Swindon has an Open-Deck Vinyl Night, while Sister Sister play The Swiss Chalet, and Martin Kemp DJs an eighties set at MECA, plus, thereโs a Rapport CIC Performance at Swindon Arts Centre called The Suitcase.
Sunday 15th and The Neeld is the company of Charlie Hides with some Comedy Drag Bingo, while Circus of Horrors: Haunted Fairground is at the Wyvern, Swindon.
For Bath-centric folk instrumental, find The Barton Street Regulators at The Bell, Bath.
Monday 16th sees the first instore session at Sound Knowledge, Marlborough, as Rozi Plain comes to play an intimate set.
Riaan Voslooโs Uphill Game play The Bell, Bath.
And Tuesday I got nought, so far, save the first councillorโs surgery at Devizes Town Hall from 6pm, with Devizes Town councillors Chris Gay and Ian Pennington.
Unless I missed anything? Do let us know!
By now you should be thinking about tickets for Bradford Roots Music Festival at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, happening next Saturday 21st, The line-up can be found HERE. Thereโs also The NeeldโsTake The Stage happening next weekend. At the end of the month The Wharf Theatreโs production of Ladies Day, and lots more good, good stuff happening as ever, but youโll only find them all collated and neatly folded together as one on Devizine!
Salisbury acoustic singer-songwriter Rosie Jay released her debut EP today, taking its title from her first single from June this year, I Donโt Give aโฆ
I’m loving this new tune! Swindon’s upcoming reggae singer/DJ Silver-Star has teamed up with the legendary General Levy for a drum n bass golden nuggetโฆ
What better time than when the temperature drops like a sack of potatoes on official potato sack dropping day, to think about next year and all the fun you can have without having to trek over mountainous landscapes or oceans?Sometimes even with your clothes on!
So, without further ado, letโs take a sneaky peek at some of the many festivals and large events happening around these supposed “cultureless backwaters” in 2023, and I think itโll put any critics on their assโฆโฆ
It should be noted this list in far from comprehensive, and many other events will surely come to our attention, ensure youโve message us with your events we mayโve missed. Meanwhile, some of our favourite regular events have yet to secure a date. As soon as they do, we will add them to our event calendar, and slot them into place on this here article too.
No dates set yet for Trowbridge Festival, Devizes Arts Festival, and Swindon Pride, among others, but we suspect theyโll announce soon; watch this space. But what we do know is thisโฆโฆ
Now, before we headlong into the summer months, some folks are like polar bears and do not allow winter to spoil their party, so letโs kick this off in January. Donโt let me sound like your mum, but take a warm coat!
January
21st January: Bradford Roots Music Festival
A stable and reliable indoor multi-day event at the ever-busy Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, where you can find a series of events, showcasing the very best of local talent. Expect folk, jazz, indie and, of course, roots music, combined with crafty local beverages and delicious food offerings for the ultimate celebration of this iconic community festival. Last year the festivities were broadcasted online too for the first time, and we assume this will happen again this time. Details are HERE.
28th January: Winterfest Clevedon
Perhaps a little early for a trip to the seaside, but WinterFest in Clevedon offers sixteen bands over two stages at The Salthouse. Line-up is a whoโs-who of local Bristol-based talent: Adam & The Hellcats, The Shucks, Mr Zippy, Louis Stone Band, Captain Zero, Mireille Mathlener, Eddie Mole Band, Ragz, The Black Museum, Sophie & The Sticks, Magpie 22, Telhalla, Billy Driscoll, MJ Reynolds, and Drew Bryant.
Bowled over by boasting all this, they however neglected to give any tickets details! But we know previous years hasnโt cost much over a fiver, habitually on the door, and is usually charity fundraising. Info HERE.
February
3rd-5th February: Incider Festival (Weston-Super-Mare)
Staying west coast, this one is dangerously entertaining, and fuelled by cider! A trio of days indoors at Sand Bay Holiday Village near Weston-Super-Mare. Starting at ยฃ159 per person with no booking fees, your ticket includes chalet accommodation, meals, live music, entertainment, and leisure facilities; all you need to bring is a towel, a big smile and money for the bar!
To put things into perspective, the festival states these strict rules: No tribute bands. No X-Factor. No Carling lager. No tossers! Which should give you a vauge indication of what to expect! Tickets on sale now.
18th February: Festival of Winter Ales (Devizes)
DOCA in association with Stealth Brewery kick off 2023โs Devizes event calendar with this regular beauty. The Festival of Winter Ales is essential fundraising for DOCA, but what is more, itโs a whole lot of drinking fun with entertainment and a more types of beer and cider than you could sensibly test them all; but who said anything about sensible, you can least try! Our roving reporter Andy might be able to shed some light on the line-up, he has leaked that Alex Roberts will be present for the afternoon, and the fantastic Dr Zeboโs Wheezy Club for the evening session, and thatโs all I got for now!
Two sessions running on the Saturday, first from 11am-5pm, and later from 5:30-11pm, at The Corn Exchange, Devizes. Tickets on sale now.
March
Iโve got nothing yet for March, what the heck is wrong with March?! But I will be celebrating my 50th at the Three Crowns, Devizes on March 4th and hope you can come to that? Talk in Code, Ruzz Guitar Trio, Ben Borrill and hopefully and few other special guests will be coming, they might even give us a tune or two! Itโs free but I plan to have a whip round for a chosen charity, so bring your purse; yes, the pink one.
April
15th April: Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival
The Jazz Knights return for their 3rd year of the Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival at the Christ Church in Old Town, the venue with undoubtedly the best acoustics in Swindon. Not much more to go on this for now, other than there maybe some extra days around the weekend added, but for now, itโs the Saturday only. More info to follow, hereโs the Jazz Knights website.
May
1st-7th May: Swindon Festival of Literature
At thirty years strong, plans are now underway for the next live in-person Swindon Festival of Literature. If you have any authors or speakers you would like to recommend, please get in touch with them HERE.
12th-21st May: Bath Festival
From books to music, Bath Festival is the cityโs long-established gem. Sign up for their newsletter to find out more, HERE.
25th-28th May: Shindig Festival (Ilminster)
The dance music Mecca, Shindig is set in the posh grounds of the Dillington Estate in Somerset and while looks too good to be true, is well-established and known for its reliability. As well as camping and glamping, you can, at a price, stay in the plush hotel, and Shindig has an inspiring childrenโs program. Tickets are on sale, hurry, HERE.
26th-29th May: Chippenham Folk Festival
Early bird tickets are on sale for Chippenhamโs gem in folk music. The High Street is engulfed in a sea of colour and sound. Dance Sides, representing traditional styles from the UK and beyond, perform at key points around the high street and the main festival site at Island Park. Sides can also be found dancing and singing in the local pubs, as well as showcases on three public stages around Island Park. Open to the Public is a craft tent showcasing traditional crafts, hand produced wares and tasty treats from fudge to mead, also a music fair and many varied food stalls.
Those wanting a more participative festival experience can immerse themselves in tune and song sessions, both programmed and spontaneous, across the towns pubs. Beside the towns historic Butter Cross an outdoor ceilidh takes place each lunch time.
Inside more formal festival venues there are over 200 events. These allow ticket holders to plan a weekend to suit their own tastes. To soak in the sounds at the concerts, perform in club style events, develop skills in a vast array of workshops or stomp, twirl, and swing into the night with a choice of ceilidh, contra, and folk-dance eventsโฆ. sound good? Itโs just up the road! HERE.
27th-28th May: Devizes International Street Festival
The best day in Devizes, fact! DOCAโs International Street Festival is a double-day of music, street theatre, food, and drink, and itโs all free! The Market Place and all around it becomes a colourful festival; be rude not toโฆ. go HERE
June
17th June: Test Fest (Taunton)
Taunton Rugby Club plays host to a one-day music festival, fundraising for It’s in the Bag Testicular Cancer Support, and offers great music, good food, beer, children’s activities and a silent disco. Details HERE.
21st-25th June: Glastonbury Festival
Elton John headlines the Saturday night at unarguably the worldโs most historic festival, only across the county border. Need I say more about this one?!
24th June: Melksham Pride
Plans still underway for Melkshamโs second Pride, but to mark it your diary will be good enough for now. HERE.
30th June-2nd July: Minety Music Festival (nr Malmesbury)
This renowed festival continues to go from strength-to-strength. Tickets are up for grabs already, and theyโre boasting Owen Paul, Reef, Dodgy, EMF and locally based legends such as Gaz Brookfield, The Dirty Smooth, Rave Against the Regime, Talk in Code, Will Lawton & The Alchemists and too many more to list. Not been myself, but everything I hear about Minety tells me to make the effort! Tickets out now, HERE.
July
1st July: Mantonfest (Marlborough)
This is one which should be on everyoneโs agenda, itโs quaint and simple but effective and fun. If Marlborough was a festival, this would be it! A friendly vibe with a vast demographic, it is the gem on Marlboroughโs event calendar. Rolling Stones Now tribute headline, with James Oliver, Madness tribute Badness and of course, the constant jewel of MantonFest, Barrelhouse. I love it there, and I say, do this one if nothing else!! Tickets and Info HERE.
1st July: Devizes Beer & Cider Festival
In its 22nd year, The Devizes Beer & Cider Festival is the stable must-do for everyone in Devizes, because they all love beer! Spoiled for choice, hundreds of brands of real ale and cider, and the dependable music program which supports our local scene; Iโm there already in my mind! HERE.
6th-9th July: Nass Festival (Shepton Mallet)
If Shepton Mallet was never a hip hop capital, it is now. Nass is all about high energy stuff; skating, BMX, street art and an urban musical line-up, including the Wu-Tang Clan, there to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Thereโs camping, and tickets are up for grabs now, HERE.
8th July: CrownFest (Bishops Cannings)
Terrible poster, great event! To list here every local pub which puts a man with a guitar in a gazebo, flogs some manky hotdogs and tries passing it off as a festival would be insanely unfair on those who really makes an effort, and last yearโs inaugural CrownFest was one of them, one of the best of them; it was top notch. With proper-job stage and pyrotechnics, lots of food choices and kidsโ entertainment, camping and generally all-round good vibes, this has bags of potential for a second year.
8th July sets the date for 2023, at thirty quid, tickets will go on sale from 3rd January, and camping is ยฃ15 extra. Itโs all rather tribute top-heavy with Bob Marley & The Wailers, Abba and Tina Turner tributes, with Capโn Rastyโs Skiffle City Rockers, Junkyard Dogs, and The Leon Daye Band. Thereโs me contemplating a few more original local acts would better suit, but thatโs just my personal preference, itโs a good day out nonetheless.
8th & 9th July: Chippenham Food & Drink Festival
Double-day food and drink festival at Monkton Park, Chippenham, bringing some of the best chefs, wine tasting and talks, craft beer and cider, live music, childrenโs entertainment (kids go free,) and cheese masterclasses; tickets are going like hot cakes, HERE!
15th-16th July: Market Lavington Vintage Meet
This ever-popular family fun event in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance and local community projects will have displays of vintage and classic cars/vans/motorcycles/commercial and tractors, military vehicles, stationary engines, miniature & full-size steam engines and miniature train for kids to ride on.
Several car clubs will be having club stands. Wiltshire Air Ambulance fund raising team will be there as well as Wiltshire Police and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Thereโs a static display of birds of prey from K&H Falconry, who will also be doing a flying demonstration in the arena on both days. There will be gun dog demonstrations in the arena from BASC. A fun dog show will take place in the arena on Sunday followed by the popular tug of war competition. There will be numerous trade and craft stalls as well as demonstrations & collectables. Several catering outlets will provide a delicious range of food and Botanico bars will be providing beer, wines and spirits from their converted classic 1976 VW bay window camper van. Children’s entertainment will be a bouncy castle, swing carousel, fun house. Organisers have again applied to the RAF for a flypast by aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows.
22nd July: My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad (Swindon)
The inaugural Swindon Shuffle organised one day music festival at the Old Town Bowl, in tribute to Swindonโs premier music promoter, Dave Young, and raising money for Swindon’s Prospect Hospice was heralded legendary last year, and though few details have been released to-date for 2023, Iโll guarantee you right now, this one will be very worthy or your attention. Backing the very best of our local music scene, My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dadโs tickets are up for grabs now, HERE.
22nd July: Marlborough Festival
If Marlborough has scrambled somewhat in the dark since the closure of its historic Jazz Festival, Marlborough Rising set to replace it but phased out, this year we see a new kid on the block, simply titled โMarlborough Festival;โ why not?!
This inaugural one dayer takes place at Marlborough Town Hall, where they outline the plans for a community Music & Arts festival in 2023 and beyond. Suggestions welcome, but it already offers guest speakers, live music from Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers, a champagne reception with food from Rick Stein, Tipi Tapa and Pieโs Pies. Tickets are ยฃ30 each, available from Sound Knowledge, The Lamb, and HERE.
27th-30th July: Womad (Malmesbury)
Pricey, but you get what you pay for, and this is nothing short of legendary. This most diverse, world music extravaganza is on our doorstep, and attracts people worldwide. How they are coping with post Brexit visa issues will no doubt add to the ticket stub, but this magical festival really speaks for itself. If you can, do it, and report back to me, if nothing more than to make me jealous! Tickets not on sale yet, but HERE is the link where you can add your name to the mailing list.
27th-30th July: Camp Bestival (Lulworth, Dorset)
Se in two locations, the other in Shropshire, the Jurassic Dorset coast is within reach for us, and this one also speaks for itself. Tickets up for grabs now, HERE.
28th-29th July: Mfor Festival, Lydiard Park (Swindon)
Postponed from last yearโs cancelled festival, this pop-based festival at Lydiard Park has been cancelled again, claiming the next one will be July 2024. Unless you apply for a refund your ticket will automatically be transferred to the 2024 dateโฆ. this is including the already transferred tickets from this year! With this track record Iโd be asking for a refund if I was you, rather than hope and pray your 2022 tickets will see you into a festival two years too late. It is a shame, but it also sticks as a warning to festival-goers; be vigilant in where you splash your festival budget. The other side of the coin says advance ticket buyers are essential for organisers to make ends meet, and without them it risks the future of the event; a double-edged sword. All enquiries should be directed to info@mforfestival.co.uk
28th-30th July: Devizes Scooter Rally
If Mfor was the only local large event we currently know of clashing with Devizes Scooter Rally, its cancellation might be Devizes Scooter Clubโs advantage, not that the clientele rests in similar genres. The Devizes Scooter Rally is nuts and bolts modest, retrospective goodness of the mod, skinhead and scooterist variety. Though for some itโs a niche theyโre prepared to trek the country to attend, on their hairdryers, one thing which separates this from other scooter rallies is its continued devotion to attracting and catering for locals with only a passing interest too. That is why I will sing its praises, plus for two other simple facts; itโs affordable and wonโt leave you feeling ripped off, and after two previous years it is surprisingly reliable, for a bunch of skins!
Look, see what I mean, early bird weekend passes include camping, and thatโs a snip at ยฃ25.00, but a weekend pass anyway is only ยฃ30. There are also day passes for half-price, and a Saturday day pass is only a fiver. Live music from ska legends Orange Street, who were the highlight of their inaugural rally in 2019, Sharp Class, The Butterfly Collective, and local ska covers from Killertones. DJs also play a large part of the scene, and Fenton, Big Phil and Phil Seymour spin the tunes ahead of Northern Soul legendary DJ Terry Hendrick. The Devizes Scooter Club work tirelessly to bring us this annual event, and itโs worth every penny. Tickets HERE.
August
3rd-7th August: Wilderness Festival (Chipping Norton)
Complete change of scene now from our Devizes mods, Wilderness is a four-day boutique festival spanning music, the arts, food, and wellbeing, all set amidst the idyllic surroundings of Cornbury Park, near Chipping Norton. The Chemical Brothers, Christine and The Queens, Fatboy Slim, Sugababes, Confidence Man and Pip Millett are amoung the hefty line-up. Iโm in dark on this one, but it looks rather special, in a hippy-love freakout kinda fashion; have I got time to grow and beard and buy a straw hat? Tickets on sale now, HERE.
25th-27th August: Reading Festival
Reading festival, the younger man with tighter jeans and high-topsโ Glasto! Say no more, itโs fairly local, itโs grounded in historic legend, perhaps only overshadowed by Glastonbury itself. I could research the line-up but being honest, I think youโre like me, and too old to know any of them!
Okay, just in case youโre not, Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Foals, The Killers, Imagine Dragons and Lewis Capaldi headline; lucky tickets HERE.
26th-27th August: FullTone Festival (Devizes)
Not much to go on yet, but early bird tickets are up for grabs for Devizesโ third orchestral merges with pop extravaganza. On the Green, as usual, The Full Tone Orchestraโs homecoming plans to serve up six amazing sets from Proms to Iconic Themes from TV and Film, Huge Dance Anthems, Big Band, Massive Great Big Musical Theatre and The Absolute Best of Elton John. Plus, of course guests which are to be confirmed. Though I know a secret which Jemma might tell me off for breaking, so Iโll keep it under my hat, for now, but it will be something to look forward to, trust me!
Sunday of the bank holiday is also the regular date of another great shindig which sells out faster than it takes to drive there from Devizes, just down the road in Potterne. The Potterne Festival, not called “PotFest,” or it might have different connotations, organised by Potterne Cricket Club, is a regular mini-festival which punches above its weight. Details to follow on this, but see HERE for updates.
31st August-3rd September: End of the Road Festival (Blandford)
End of The Road Festival is located at Larmer Tree Gardens, near Blandford, in Dorset. Line-up yet to be announced, but it offers as much alternative shows as well as music, from comedy, talks and films to literature and healing workshops. Seems like a great all-rounder. Get in quick though, this sells out fast. HERE.
September
10th-17th September: Pewsey Carnival
Weโd surely be here all night if I was to list every local town and village carnival, but Pewseyโs is different, for a week it is Wiltshireโs Rio de Janeiro! Okay, usually a chilly Rio de Janeiro, but a Rio de Janeiro all the same. The marvellous things about it is the simple notion that everyone comes out to enjoy it, and truly is historically our countyโs most widely renowned carnival, so put it in your diary and Iโll see you feeling sorry for yourself in the Cooperโs field come September! HERE.
14th-17th September: Swindon Shuffle (Swindon)
Swindon is the place to head this weekend, if you wish to worship our local music scene. The Shuffle is free, supplies multiple gigs in all of Old Townโs pub venues, and raises vital funds for Prospect House. No details yet, though it offers no headliners, no hierarchy, just the very best of local live music; just another to stick firmly in your diary. HERE.
23rd September -1st October: Devizes Food & Drink Festival
Always with a packed program to fill your bellies, Devizes Food & Drink Festival is a stalwart for foodies. Details of this year’s festival are yet to be announced, stay in touch with them by signing up for their newsletter HERE.
23rd September- 2nd October: Bath Childrenโs Literature Festival
From Bath Festival comes a second event, just for your little bookworms. This is grounded in absolute top-notch guest authors, and no doubt will be no different this time. More info HERE.
28th September- 1st November: Marlborough Literature Festival
Pam Ayres has been rescheduled from the pandemic year, and goes to show just how prestigious the Marlborough Literature Festival has become. Check the link for info and the brochure, and where to get some tickets.
October
14th October: Swindon Ska Fest
A new one from last year, I believe, though The Moonrakers Inn in Swindon has always hosted the best local ska bands. This sees The Killertones, The Corsairs UK, The Bee-Skas, Skaโd For Life, and Sister Sister, an Amy Winehouse tribute from Caroline Lowe and DJ Dave Clark. This is a Specialized project, fundraising for various charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, and wait for it, tickets, on sale soon, are only a fiver; pick em up, pick em up, HERE.
Do not take this list as exhaustive, though it might make for exhausting reading! But for now, that’s all folks! Updates will be added, when details of more large events are released, so bookmark the page, or pay attention to our event calendar. Letโs make 2023 a real belter!
Somewhere just outside Westbury a sizable barn hosted the most memorable new year’s eve raves in the mid-nineties, but Iโd never have imagined then, thatโฆ
A Scooby snack-sized pinch punch, first day of the month came from Minety Music Festival this morning upon announcing their headliner for 2025, The Funโฆ
by Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Infrogmation Tennessee Williamsโ quasi autobiographical drama โA Streetcar Named Desireโ was first performed in 1947 as the worldโฆ
Purveyors of perfect motion, house music promoters Palooza return to The Exchange in Devizes on Friday 20th December, for its grand finale of the yearโฆ..โฆ
Okay, so, Iโm aย little behind, recently opting to perfect my couch potato posture and consider hibernation, meaning Iโve not yet mentioned Kirsty Clinchโs newโฆ
With Black Friday just a few weeks away, Wiltshire based Blackmore Computers Ltd, is encouraging people to think pre-loved if theyโre planning on buying laptopsโฆ
If rural West Country had a penchant for trance in the happy daze of the mid-nineties, heady nights of fluorescent-clad crusties with eyes like flyingโฆ
Congratulations to Rosalind Ambler and Paul Snook from Devizes Writers Group… At the National Community Radio Awards held in Cardiff on 16th November Together!, theโฆ
Two of the county’s top retrospective cover bands meet for a double-bill of action in Market Lavington This Saturday. Calneโs indie rock five-piece Six Oโclockโฆ
Again we find ourselves congratulating and thanking young Chloe Boyle for fantastic fundraising efforts for Devizes homeless charity OpenDoorsโฆ. With friends and family she spentโฆ
Images: Chris Watkins Media It was lovely to spend Sunday afternoon at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre, to see how this yearโs pantomime Hansel & Gretel, isโฆ
Sheffieldโs DIY punk queer emo five-piece, Slash Fiction will be at the Pump in Trowbridge on Wednesday 20th November as part of their nationwide tour.โฆ
What is this life if, full of jostle, we have no time to stand and waffle? A truckload of stuff to do this coming week, donโt let me ramble on pointlessly, you know how it works, more info and links can be found on our event calendar, HERE.
Sustainable Devizesโ Advent{ure} Reuse Christmas continues at The Little Green, Devizes, and runs until Christmas Eve. Little Red Riding Hood continues at the Wharf, but alas, is sold out.
Tuesday 13th there will be beer & carols at The Southgate, Devizes, and some Christmas Memories at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Wednesday 14th and itโs the regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Also, a lunchtime harp recital by Lise Vandermissen at Pound Arts, Corsham, and the regular Chuckles Comedy Club at Meca, Swindon.
Thursday 15th and Kairo Beats, Chloe Hepburn and PX do the Tuppeny, Swindon, while Christmas by Candlelight is happening at Meca.
Friday 16thsees the Butch Hopkins Memorial Gig at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.
Humdinger play The Cooperโs Arms, Pewsey.
80s-90s Christmas Party at Melksham Assembly Hall.
Highly recommended Monkey Bizzle play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while youโll find Bluesoul at The Boathouse, and Swinging at the Cotton Club at Wiltshire Music Centre, after a related swing dance workshop.
Thereโs a Rockinโ & Swinginโ Evening at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Over in Swindon, find Barrelhouse at The Queenโs Tap, Bublรฉ at Christmas is happening at Meca, but donโt get over excited, Bublรฉ fans, heโs not there, rather itโs some of the countryโs top musicians celebrating the music, the arrangements, and the tours that the man himself has made so successfulโฆ. apparently!
The Sweet play the Cheese & Grain, Frome, with Abba tribute SOS at the Tree House.
Saturday 17thand itโs Lego club at Chippenham Library from 3-4pm.
Christmas in the Park at Hillworth Park, Devizes, though tickets to see Father Christmas are sold out now. Sustainable Devizes will be at St James for a toy and book swap (details) until 2pm. The Corn Exchange has the Devizes Christmas Vegan Fair.
Near sold out, itโs everyoneโs favourite soprano, Chloe Jordan, who is at Devizes Town Hall with a Classic Christmas concert in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Devizes Community Choir are at St Johns, for a Big Sing Christmas Concert in aid of Dorothy House and Open-Doors. Highly recommended, Dr Zeebos Wheezy Club play The Southgate.
Editorโs Pick of the Week
Itโs Chrrriissssssmmmasss at Marlborough Memorial Hall, when MantonFest hosts a Christmas Concert with Slade tribute Slyde, and naturally, the fantastic Barrelhouse. Despite all the amazing stuff going on this weekend, itโs not Christmas until Noddy, or least a Noddy-a-like calls it, so Iโm thinking this should be Editorโs Pick of the Week.
Meanwhile, Pete Lambโs Heartbeats play Woodborough Social Clubโs Christmas Dance, and throw in a free ploughmanโs lunch on the deal!
In the Sham, the Assembly Hall has The Rock-A-Toons for a Melksham Rock N Roll Club dance, and The Beverley May Band plays The Milk Churn.
Double-header at The Lamb, Trowbridge with Lucky Number Seven & The Foundations. John Kirkpatrickโs Carolling & Crumpets at Pound Arts, Corsham. Itโs The Most Wonderful Time of The Year show at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Danny and the Randoms do The Swiss Chalet in Swindon, while itโs the annual 12 Bands of Christmas at The Vic, and the Tuppeny has a DJ set from Random Rules, โIโll Make You a Tape.โ
Shy FX featuring Stamina MC at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, with The Ramonas at The Tree House, and Flash Harry plays The Cornerhouse.
Sunday 18thThe Christmas Celebration of Music for Miniatures will be at Devizes Corn Exchange. Itโs Christmas Party time with Itโs Complicated at The Southgate, and Jamie R Hawkins does an afternoon set at The White Bear.
St Agnes Fountain play Marlborough Folk Roots club, at Marlborough Town Hall.
GBH Big Band at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, while The Worried Men plays The Three Horseshoes.
Christmas Sunday Swingout Social at Meca, Swindon, finishes off our weekend listings, and if I have to type the word โChristmasโ one more time, Iโm going to come over all Uncle Scrooge! Note though, this list is NEVER exhaustive, more events are coming to our attention, so keep one eye on our event calendar and the other on our social media pages.
Monday 19th, find Scratchworks Theatre at Pound Arts, Corsham with a show Wild, Wild Woods. Tuesday 20th and Iโve got nothing; hide under the duvet!
And you know what, events for New Yearโs Eve are looking pretty thin at the moment, perhaps you need to send us details of what youโre doing for the big one?!
by Ian Diddamsimages by Playing Up Theatre Company When is a mousetrap not a mousetrap? When itโs written by Tom StoppardโฆIf you have seen โTheโฆ
Wiltshire Music Centre is delighted to announce the new appointments ofย Danielย Clark as Artistic Director, andย Sarahย Robertson as Executive Director.ย Danielย andย Sarahย join Wiltshire Music Centre in a new co-leadershipโฆ
By Mick Brianphotos by Chris Watkins Media Disney aficionados will need no introduction to โThe Little Mermaid,โ Disneyโs 1989 film about mermaids falling in loveโฆ
Remember, remember, weโre moving into November; leaves, loads of โem! Being as we are no longer doing weekly roundups, hereโs some highlights of events inโฆ
The simple answer is yes, very concerned. Following the publication of an article in Melksham Newsโs last issue questioning the councilโs public notice policy, Wiltshireโฆ
Over three years since my most memorable โSpider-Milk-Manโ run in aid of Carmelaโs Stand Up to Muscular Dystrophy, itโs always nice to catch up with Carmela Chillery-Watson and her family. If I expressed then how much of an inspiration to us all Carmela is, agelessly, it was never said in a patronising manner simply because she was just six years old at the time, because she’s growing up, and surely proving my pointโฆ...
This week has seen Carmela in hospital for an operation, for a monitoring device to be implanted near her heart, and still, she comes up smiles! We all wish you the very best here at Devizine, Carmela, and of course, a very happy Christmas too, but the news Carmela plans to start helping one of our local care homes in the new year is outstanding.
Mum, Lucy explained, โon one of Carmela’s sad days a few weeks back, we discovered she was really keen to help put smiles on the elderly who can’t get outside to do sports and fun activities.โ
โCarmela said she gets sad because her body won’t allow her to do lots of things she was once able to and she said her weak body is like the elderly. But having me in her life helps her to do lots of other fun stuff. So that’s why she felt she could help the elderly like I do for her.โ
Carmela will be coaching bean bag boccia and fun hand sensory activities once a month after Christmas, and visited the home last week where she got to have a brief chat with one of the residents who was 99 years old. See what I mean now? She really is an inspiration to us all.
Well done, Carmela, and I just know you’re going to win their hearts!
Last August a team of fundraisers, led by Carmelaโs mum, Lucy, cycled 66 miles through Wiltshire villages for Muscular Dystrophy UK, and plan to do it again in 2023. You can register your interest HERE, or you can donate to the Courageous Carmela fundraising HERE, or the Cure for Carmela HERE.
Dumping pumpkins in the woods is bad for wildlife says Forestry England. As millions of pumpkins hit supermarket shelves and make their way to gardens,โฆ
If Phil Cooperโs 2018 โThoughts and Observations,โ was one of the first albums we ever reviewed here on Devizine, itโs been a while since Iโveโฆ
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts announced their upcoming project, YEA Devizes today. Made possible by a grant from National Grid Electricity Transmissionโs Community Grant Programme, theโฆ
Alberta Cross, along with the up-and-coming local bands Something Moves and BroccoliBoy, will perform at a charity gig on Saturday 30th November at 23 Bathโฆ
Chippenhamโs young folk singer-songwriter Meg, or M3G if you want to get numeric, will release her 6th single The Mist on Friday 18th October, andโฆ
Our very own illustrious orchestra, The Fulltone Orchestra, are staging live performances of Enyaโs 1988 breakthrough album, Watermark in Basingstoke, Bath and Cheltenham later thisโฆ
Grab some free Christmas gifts, clear some space at home, and reduce wasteโฆ “try swapping not shopping this Christmas,” says Sustainable Devizes, as they host a Christmas Toy & Book Swap at St James Church this Saturday (17th December,) from 11am-2pm.
Bring your unwanted toys, games and books to swap for something new, or simply donate some of your older toys and books. Crazy how they grow out of them so fast, isn’t it? While me, I secretly still want to play with them, but I can’t, because they’d moan at me, call me “babyish,” and what’s worse; they’ll tell on me!
Books for adults are also welcome. Toys should be clean and undamaged please (a little bit of wear and tear is ok!) Please note that they cannot accept electrical mains powered items, battery powered toys are fine.
If youโve nothing to swap, thatโs okay too, everything is still free! And there will be refreshments from Fairtrade Devizes. What a wonderful thing for those feeling the pinch this Christmas; thank you Keith at St James, Sam and all at Sustainable Devizes.
Forget the feud between Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, this is England’s West Country rivals The Skimmity Hitchers and Monkey Bizzle in a vicious rapโฆ
Itโs been a fantastic summer for Wiltshireโs indie-pop favourites Talk in Code. I think Iโve caught them live at least four times, and only onceโฆ
I was chatting to Josh Oldfield last week, a Devizes singer-songwriter I believe weโll be hearing a lot more of. Though this interview was pendingโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Josie Mae-Ross Noel Coward is probably best known for โBlithe Spiritโ but he in fact wrote sixty-five stage plays over aโฆ
Comedy in Devizes is a rare thing, unless you count visitors turning right at the Shaneโs Castle junction, reading opinions on the Devizes Issues (butโฆ
No point in amending your bad behaviour now, far too late; youโve got to have been good all year round to get on the good list. So, may as well carry on as usual, as this week sees us in the wintery but festive season. Are you ready, excited? Hereโs our rundown of stuff to do this coming week in our local province, walking in the winter Wiltshireโฆ.
Last day of November then, tomorrow; Wednesday 30th, acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes, and Doric String Quartet at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Starting Thursday 1st December on The Little Green, Devizes and running until Christmas Eve, Sustainable Devizes have the Advent{ure} Reuse Christmas, where you can be part of a living Advent Calendar! Create a scene or event for one evening during advent on a Christmas story or theme, to be displayed/performed for all to enjoy, and so many organisations have contributed to this. More HERE.
Meanwhile, Sarah McQuaid plays The Pump, Trowbridge, Martin Harley at Chapel Arts, Bath, The Bob Porter Project at The Beehive, Swindon, and UKโs hottest drag act, Holly Stars presents their first solo show Justice for Holly, at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Friday 2nd December, Sour Apple play The Pelican, Devizes, B-Sydes at The Pump, Trowbridge, Train to Skaville at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon. Thereโs also an evening of acoustic country with the Alan West Band at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Every Friday night from now until Christmas is Christmas Party night at the Exchange nightclub in Devizes, doors at 10pm, free entry before 11.
Shows include Through the Decades with Roy & Buddy at Melksham Assembly Hall, and Stardust: A Musical Journey at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
Pink Mac play The Vic in Swindon, while Bone Chapel take The Beehive.
Oas-is tribute at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, while L1nkn P4rk tribute at the Tree House, and for want of an originals band in Frome on Friday, the incredible 41 Fords play The Sun Inn.
Saturday 3rd, and Devizes Lions have their Christmas Fair at the Corn Exchange, from 9am-2pm. The Churchill Arms, West Lavington also have a Christmas Fayre, from 2-5pm. Regular Lego Club at Chippenham Library from 3-4pm. And Iโm sure thereโs Christmas fairs going off all over the place, but itโs a daunting task keeping up with all of that!
Onto music, and our Phil Cooper plays The Southgate, Devizes, Alex Roberts is at The Barge on Honey Street. Grant Sharkey plays The Pump, Trowbridge, while Triple JD are at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. The Ultimate ABBA Tribute play The Consti Club, Chippenham.
St Marys, Marlborough host the Marlborough Concert Orchestra Winter Concert, and Barrelhouse on their home-turf at The Lamb. Meanwhile, in Swindon, Oasish & Stereotonics play The Vic.
Westwards leading and itโs a Boot Hill All Stars pilgrimage to The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, Oye Santana at Chapel Arts, Bath, while DJ Dave Pearce presents Dance Anthems at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, and Billy in the Lowground take The Tree House.
Sunday 4th, Seend Community Centre has a Christmas Concert in aid of Alzheimerโs Support, and the Wessex Concert Orchestra play a Winter Concert at Devizes Town Hall.
Trowbridge Philharmonic Choir at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, and an ultimate Christmas party for the little ones at Meca, Swindon called Calling all Elves.
Itโs not a massive weekend for live music, the build up to the festive period, but if in Bath on Sunday, it must be an afternoon session at The Electric Bar, where youโll find Concrete Prairie live in session.
And thatโs all folks, have a good weekend. Please do send me some details of your Christmas events, and especially New Yearโs Eve, which is looking unusually bare on our calendar this year.
Seems like an age since I last visited Bradford-on-Avonโs wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre, though Iโve been listing their vast range of events on our calendar.โฆ
Wiltshire Music Events UK has hosted tons of memorable events locally, from CrownFest and The Marley Experience at Devizes Corn Exchange, to more everyday gigsโฆ
The “Business Fit For Future” programme has launched with startups across Wiltshire seizing the opportunity to participate in free online business planning workshops. This initiativeโฆ
Featured Photo: Forestry England/Crown copyright Planned timber harvesting is set to begin at popular walking destination, West Woods, from the end of September until Marchโฆ
Despite the population of Devizes throwing confetti and paint at each other in their most celebrated annual ritual, I believe I picked the right weekendโฆ
The newly drafted forest plan for West Woods and Collingbourne is open for public consultation until Monday 7 October. The plan outlines how each woodland willโฆ
Got a proper soaking this morning, fat lot of good it is whinging to you about it, you are here only for the lowdown on autumn happenings this coming week, so Iโll waste no time waffling, donโt worry about me, yeah, yeah, Iโll be fine!
Currently up and running, until Saturday, is TITCOโs Dinner Party at The Wharf Theatre.
Staying in Devizes, Thursday 17th sees the opening of the historic event, Devizes Eisteddfod. Hereโs the place to find future local stars of the arts, a five-day festival of over 400 classes of music, speech, drama, dance, writing, art, photography, and composition, for people of all ages, who may enter individually or through a school or group. There are competitive and non-competitive classes. The Music, Speech and Drama classes will be held in Devizes Town Hall. Find out more HERE.
Over in Bradford-on-Avon, check out Dylan Smith who has an official launch gig for his Cruel to be Kind album at The Boathouse.
Also find Ezio playing Chapel Arts, Bath. And for some doom metal and stoner rock, try a double-header at The Vic, Swindon, with Phantom Droid and Dark Prophecy.
Friday 18th is Marlboroughโs Christmas Light Switch-On.
After The Rocky Horror Experience, Soul II Soulโs Feel Free Tour comes to Meca. Yes, I said Soul II Soul, wowzers! But if youโve no tickets get in or check the alternatives in Swindon; The Beverley May Band at The Sun Inn, Coate, Splat the Rat play The Hop Inn for Swindon Folk Club.
In Devizes, itโs pub quiz time in aid of Arts Together at the Cavalier, and Iโve got to recommend the highly entertaining Blondie & Ska duo, who play The Pelican. Chippenham duo, as it says on the tin, do Blondie covers but also include those Two-Tone classics, in a kind of fashion youโd wished Blondie covered them; itโs lots of fun. In fact, it was going to be editor’s pick of the week! UPDATE: sorry to hear this has been cancelled. Postponed until 3rd February.
Drag Show at the Neeld, Chippenham, with The Dazzling Diamonds. Limehouse Lizzy at Salisbury Arts Centre.
After NโFamady Kouyate at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, theyโve got something on my hitlist, the acclaimed Moments of Pleasure, a Kate Bush tribute. Meanwhile, itโs bonkers at The Three Horseshoes with a triple bill of Hell Death Fury, Lone Sharks, & Monkish.
Craig Charles is on the wheels of steel at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Richard Norris plays sister venue, The Tree House.
Saturday 19th, kids, Lego Club, at Chippenham Museum from 3-4pm. I know I keep mentioning this regular event, but I love the sound of it, wish there was a Lego club when I was a kid, and well, I might go one day anyway. My own kids will be like, โdad, I need a lift to my science book writerโs guild annual general meeting,โ and Iโll be like, โfat chance, Iโm off to Lego Club!โ
Find handmade jewellery, woodwork, hand-poured candles, scented soap, artwork, and handbags at the Mynt Image Craft Fair at Devizes Corn Exchange from 10am-4pm. And in the evening find the Hardwicke Circus and The Alex Voysey Trio at Long Street Blues Club; upcoming talent Saturday, sounds tempting, very tempting! UPDATE: being our Editor’s pick of the season has been postponed, this isnew Editor’s pick of week!
The Southgate promises folky blues with SโGo, a new one on me; Deborah tells me, โTheyโre an 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 Cannot argue with that. Ye gods, that sounds tempting, very tempting too, what am I to do?!
Night Jar play Woodbrough Social Club, Miranda Sykesโ Show of Hands is at Marlborough Folk Roots, at the Town Hall, and the local favourites, Humdinger play The Lamb, Marlborough.
Thereโs a Trowbridge Weavers Christmas Market, and Gaz Brookfield plays the Pump, with Heartwork and Be Like Will in support, but I believe itโs sold out, check their website, but be quick on the flux capacitor. You could always head to the Somerset Arms, Semington failing that, where youโll find The Beverley Maye Band, or The Buckly Rage at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The wonderful seven-piece soul band, aptly named Blue Soul Band play the Contsti, in Chippenham, tributes The Faux Fighters at The Vic, Swindon and Coldplace at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Jessica Fostekewโs Wench runs at Salisbury Arts Centre, and thatโs your Saturday night.
Sunday 20th. Iโve checked this over and over, and it definitely says, Jazz Sabbath is at the Corn Exchange, Devizes on Sunday, are we sure itโs not Saturday, people? Damn your eyes, thatโs a school night!
Also occurring, Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra with Huw Warren at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Clinton Baptiste tour at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, after a record fair, and tribute L1nkn P4rk at The Vic, Swindon.
And thatโs your lot, I got nought for Monday and Tuesday, but donโt forget itโs the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate Devizes on Wednesday, 23rd, and Richard Robbins presents Passage of Time at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, thereโs a Willow Reindeer Festive Workshop beginning at Salisbury Arts Centre, which runs until 30th, and Matt Deighton is at The Tree House in Frome.
The biggies next week are of course, the Winter Festival and lantern parade in Devizes, Friday, and the start of the Window Wanderland. Saturday sees the second feast at Soup Chick, of Kashmir cuisine, and The Scribes come to Devizes, at the Muck & Dundar. We love the Scribes here at Devizine and are thoroughly looking forward to this; get a ticket!
John Otway at the Pump, Trowbridge on Friday, and The Moscow Drug Club on Saturday, both worthy of your attention. Then, gawd blimey, itโll be December. Iโm trying to keep up and update as regularly as possible, including getting the biggies up for next year. Have a great weekend, keep a check on our event calendar for updates, and planning ahead.
If there’s been welcomed stand-ins for the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency at the Southgate in Devizes recently, Ruzz Evans and Eddie Martin, Jon โtheโฆ
Supporters of local live music know, least they should do by now, that Swindon is the place to head this following weekend, 12th-15th September, becauseโฆ
Devizes-own indie-pop-punk youth sensation Nothing Rhymes With Orange smashed the Exchange on Friday as a farewell to their local fanbase. They pursue a music courseโฆ
Reports of another road traffic accident at the notorious Black Dog Crossroads near Lavington today coincides with Wiltshire Councillor for the Lavington constituency, Dominic Munsโฆ
For that certain some-Karen who drove through town last weekend, jumped on social media to waffle off the clichรฉ rant โnothing happens in Devizes,โ butโฆ
Yep, it’s true, Devizes’ wonderful Hillworth Park is to get an all-weather outdoor table tennis table, installed over the coming weeks, agreed at a Devizes Town Council recreation and properties committee meeting yesterday.…
Funded through the council’s CIL receipts, the project has been a bit ping-pong since the idea was put forward at the beginning of the year, with supplier and contractor issues, but looks likely to be smashed over the net very soon.
A positive strategy has also been served into action for those remaining town playparks in need of attention. Playgrounds in Cowslip Close, Festival Close and Wadworth Road have been earmarked by the council’s play area working party for repair and funding has been confirmed for them.
Councillor Jonathan Hunter, who has been formulating youth objectives and a working group structure recently said, “I believe the council has listened, and continues to listen to the community with action orientated follow up work that will improve play areas.”
Moving in the right direction to address youth issues could see a safe space youth venue, youth council inclusion schemes and a youth civic award scheme too. But little acorns, Devizine plans to grill Mr Hunter soon about progress on these exciting ventures addressing young people’s issues, over a nice cuppa, naturally, but for now, anyone for table tennis?!
Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4ยฐC eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiff … Continue reading “Lady Nade; Sober!”
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes … Continue reading “Rooks; New Single From M3G”
Hereโs our weekly summary of things to do over the coming week. It saves you surfing every individual event calendar, and saves me waffling on about some unrelated rubbish, which I admit I have a tendency to do, but in the words of the great philosopher, KC, and, of course, his Sunshine Band; thatโs the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like itโฆ… oh, Iโm doing it again arenโt I?!
Onwards, not forgetting further details and links can be found on our event calendar, itโs too time consuming adding them a second time, and besides, there you can scroll away until your heartโs content, planning future weekends.
Best way to kick off live music early is Swindonโs experimental dub duo, Subject A, are at The Bell on Walcott Street, Bath, on Wednesday 19th; consider it highly recommended. Meanwhile, Beth Nielsen Chapman plays The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Thursday 20th sees a Very Hungry Caterpillar, on show at Neeld Hall, Chippenham.
Mr Love & Justice are at The Beehive, Swindon, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage at Chapel Arts, Bath. But the link to Faustus at Salisbury Arts Centre seems to be broken, unsure if thatโs still going ahead.
Friday 21st and Trowbridgeโs Pump is the place to be, Matt Owens of Noah & The Whale headlines, with the amazing Concrete Prairie in support.
The magical Lady Nade plays Pound Arts, Corsham, The Little Unsaid at Chapel Arts, Bath.
Hatepenny at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, The Reservoir Hogs at The Old Ham Tree, Holt. And in Marlborough youโll find @59 at The Wellington, and the incredibly good fun, Dr Zebos Wheezy Club at The Bear.
That just leaves me with the tributes, Queen tribute, Majesty at Melksham Assembly Hall, while Fleetwood Bac are at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Devizes, I have got nothing at all for this Friday, unless you know different? When near-on every known pub in town put live music on last Friday night, with a guaranteed crowd-puller from Longcroft at the Corn Exchange too! This town isnโt a competition, guys, please try to coordinate, through us, if you like, but it works better for you all if we do. Rant over!
Swiftly onto Saturday 22nd, itโs Trowbridge Carnival, plus Lego Club at Chippenham Museum, free and at 3-4pm every Saturday; everything is awesome!
Thereโs an evening of Irish classics with Asa Murphy and Shenanigans at the Devizes Corn Exchange, and the unmissable Eddie Martin Band is back for some blues at The Southgate.
Daz n Chave at Neeld Community & Arts Centre, Chippenham sounds a laugh, and thereโs a Melksham Rock n Roll Club dance this week, with Glenn Darren & The Krewkats.
Full-Tone Orchestra presents their Symphonie Fantastique at Marlborough College, and if you check the quote on the poster, yes, I said that! Itโs always nice to be quoted, on the rare occasion I say something nice, that is!
Sheer are down the Trowbridge Town Hall, putting on Lucky Number 7 and the Lindup Brothers, with promising local teen band Boston Green in support. Meanwhile The Forgetting Curve play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. A tribute to Pearl Jam at The Vic, Swindon, Earl Ham, and Tundra plays The Woodlandโs Edge.
But if you want to boss the night away with some serious skanking, I cannot recommend Bristolโs legendary ska and reggae skinhead, Ya Freshness, of Strictly Rockers Records enough, who is with his Big Boss Band at Odd Down Football Club in Bath. Fiver a shot for a cracking knees up. In fact, what the heck, letโs make this one Editorโs Pick of The Week!
For a mellower experience in Bath, try The Tom Petty Legacy at Chapel Arts.
The Grief Opera, Love Goes On at St Andrewโs, Chippenham, Shift Social presents I Was Born in the Wrong Decade at Salisbury Arts Centre, and a Vintage Bazaar is followed by Moments of Pleasure, The Music of Kate Bush, at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Halloween Scavenger Hunt at Hillworth Park on Sunday 23rd October, PSG Choir hold an autumn concert at Devizes Town Hall, and the Chas Thorogood Trio play an afternoon session at the Southgate.
Kavus Torabi, Richard Wileman & Amy Fry at The Vic, Swindon, Richard and Amy appear on our Juliaโs House compilation album, show them your support if possible. Always in for a great night with the Joh Amor Band, who play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. And oh, CSF wrestling at the Cheese & Grain finishes our weekend off.
Got nothing through the weekdays Iโm afraid, but lots of updating to the calendar still to do, so check in from time to time. That is, of course, until Wednesday, the 26th, when White Horse Opera presents Lโelisir Dโamore at Lavington School, which is running until 29th October, and also running on the same dates, Female Transport at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.
And thatโs your lot for this week, can I go now?!
Trowbridge-Devizes finest musical export for a decade or two, acoustic folk vocal harmony trio, The Lost Trades, step out for a nationwide tour this September.โฆ
The Fulltone Orchestra has confirmed today that their annual festival will take place on The Green in Devizes from 25th โ 27th July 2025โฆ. โItโsโฆ
Chandra, Hindu God of the Moon, with his own NASA X-ray observatory named after him, and also frontman of a self-named friendly Bristol-based four-piece pop-punkโฆ
Paul’s self-made cover to his latest single, Some Days depicts a fellow sitting under a tree pondering life, while an autumn zephyr blows leaves aroundโฆ
Itโs when you hear those American addresses, like house number 21,456 Park Avenue, you realise Long Street in Devizes is a long street only comparableโฆ
Impressive, in a word, is the Lawrence Art Societyโs annual exhibition at Devizes Town Hall this year, in both quality and quantity; you’ll be amazedโฆ
Here we are again, happy as can be, but slightly older, opps, soz, missed a C, slightly colder! Though we are a week older too, but that means nothing, only as old as you feel. Quite aggravated by chipping ice of the car windscreen this morning though, itโs only October for cryingout loud; who do I need to write to about this diabolical travesty?
Still, going out is the new going out, and hereโs a lowdown of local stuff to do this coming week. The link you need is HERE, our ever-updating event calendar; you know the score by now.
Thereโs Craft and Chat at Chippenham Library on Thursday 13th October, and Beauty the Beast: The Guardians of the Forest at the Neeld.
Meanwhile lots still happening at the Calne Music & Arts Festival, with the Music Scholars of St. Maryโs School, Calne, The Primary School Choirs present: โSongs from Disneyโ, Kingsbury Green Academy Music Department in Concert and Tim Hughes presents โ120 years of the Blues.โ
Dick and Dom, yes, I did say Dick and Dom, are in Da Bungalow at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Mitch Bennโs Itโs About Time tour takes to the Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Friday 14th, thereโs an instore session at Sound Knowledge, Marlborough with Rachael Dadd. Sour Apple at The Condado Lounge, Devizes, while Illingworth play The Three Crowns, and Funked Up funk up the Pelican. But all eyes will on the Corn Exchange in Devizes when Longcroft Productions presents the all-female Black Sabbath tribute, Black Sabbitch; if it’s good enough for Dave Grohl it’s good enough for us!
DJ Stevie Mc holds the afterparty at the Exchange below, Friday nights is retro 80s,90s,00s night, free entry before 11pm.
Calne Music & Arts Festival has a piano recital from Helen Davies, and an evening of traditional Andalusian guitar and flamenco dance.
The astounding acoustic rave act, The Showhawk Duo plays Salisbury Arts Centre, while Erlestoke Golf Club has Barry Paull as Elvis!
Billy in the Lowground at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, The Derellas & Liabilities at The Vic, Swindon, The Chesterfields & Mighty One at the Tree House, Frome, while the Rhythm of the 90s bang out at The Cheese & Grain; sorted.
Impromptu Shakespeare at Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Moving on up to Saturday 15th, when the big Marlborough Mop Fair hits, with Grey Smith at The Bear.
Rockhoppaz at The Southgate, Devizes. Exchange has resident DJ Stevie Mc in the mix. Mick Jogger & The Stones Experience are at Steeple Ashton Village Hall, tickets ยฃ15 from their village shop.
Lego Club, never forget Lego Club at the everything-is-awesome Chippenham Museum, 3-4pm, every Saturday. While Wiltshire Museum, Devizes has a Building Materials conference on Industrial Archaeology.
Trowbridge has their annual Apple Festival at Emmanuelโs Yard, while NerveEndings play the Pump, with support from The Sunnies; ah yes, loud and proud.
Over in Swindon, the long-awaited Swindon Paint Fest begins; really good this looks, for all street art fans, head into Swindon Centre over the weekend. And The Moonrakers has The Specialized Project holding a ska fest too. Peloton play The Vic, and Hip Replacements at The Woodland Edge.
Tributes in Chippenham, The Tom Petty Legacy at the Neeld, and The Beatles for Sale at The Pewsham.
Siren plays The Talbot, Calne, which leads me nicely onto my editorโs pick of the week, in a minute, because the Calne Music & Arts Festival reaches its crowning, after Chris Dunn and Genevieve Sioka have a โMeet the Artistโ session, and a Photographic Talk titled โDown the Mekong, Cambodia and Vietnamโ the grand finale is my editorโs pick of the weekโฆ…
Editorโs pick of the weekโฆ…
Concrete Prairie at Marden Hall, Calne
My new favourite thing, Concrete Prairie will be at Marden Hall, Calne as part of the Calne Music & Arts Festival, for a full set. Itโs a tenner, seated event, which is going to be tricky if I go, I might just break into my jig down the aisle! Review of their album here.
Anyway, Apache Smoke at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, Ion Maiden at The Tree House, Frome, while eighties electronica band Blancmange play The Cheese & Grain; no, never heard of them, far too young!!
Mitch Benn is at Salisbury Arts Centre today, and Rob Autonโs The Crowd Show is at Rondo Theatre, Bath.
I mean, there might be more added as time goes on, but thatโs all I got for now; smaller venues, please submit your event listings to us asap, as you are the important ones which we really need to get the information out about. If you make me come find you on social media it never works, because I donโt know about you, but Iโm getting really narked off about social media at the moment!
Sunday 16th, then, and Wiltshire Soul & Blues Club have their exclusive monthly jam at the Owl Lodge, Swindon Paint Fest continues, and sax lovers, do check Guinea Lane Saxophones, Pewsey Players and Take Five at Pewsey Heritage Centre.
Highly recommended, Jack Grace Band at the Southgate, Devizss and The James Oliver Band plays The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, and Blackbeardโs Tea Party and Imprints at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.
Frome Wessex Camera Fair at The Cheese & Grain, with Ned Boulting in the evening.
Monday, I got nought, but nobody likes Mondays anyway. Ban them, ban them all now!!
Tuesday 18th, Assassins opens at Rondo Theatre, Bath, runs until 21st October, Good Luck, Studio at Salisbury Playhouse, and legendary folk at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, with Steeleye Span.
Wednesday 19th, and Swindonโs dub reggae outfit Subject A are live at the Bell on Walcot Street, Bath, Beth Nielson Chapman at The Cheese & Grain, Frome and donโt forget, Wednesday evening acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes, ah, yes.
Have a good week, donโt work too hard; that is a direct order!
Following on from last monthโs email, this is a final reminder that yearโs Imberbus service will be running this coming Saturday โ 17th August 2024.โฆ
Hereโs our bitesize look at whatโs happening in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ. Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go thereโฆ
by Ben Niamor A first outing on Saturday to Sound Knowledge for Devizes favourite Elles Bailey, whose latest album dropped Friday, and this mini tourโฆ
Tickets are limited and selling fast for a staged reading of Oscar Wildeโs most renowned comedy masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, performed in theโฆ
People from the Swindon community flocked to protect their town and itโs residents, in anticipation of the rumoured far right anti-immigration march through their townโฆ
New single out today from Swindon-based gothic-folk duo, Canuteโs Plastic Army, and itโs three yeses from meโฆCan one person give three yeses? Iโm way pastโฆ
Here we go for this coming week, excuse me for not waffling, really not in the mood. Oh, okay, just one whinge then, if you insist!
Itโs just the power-hungry draconian admin of Facebook groups, again. Now Iโve been banned from โThe Devizes Issue,โ not to be confused with โDevizes Issuesโ which Iโve been banned from for yonks, and โDevizes Issue,โ โDevizes Issues (but better,)โ โDevizes Got Issues,โโThe Issues in Devizes,โ or any other originally titled local Facebook group. One has to wonder if thereโs really that many issues in Devizes which warrants so many Facebook groups with the words โDevizesโ and โIssues,โ or perhaps, just perhaps, that there is the very issue in Devizes; canโt we all just get along?!
I was banned for sharing our article about an upcoming comedy show by Devizes Arts Festival, likely because the headline comedian was the guy who handed Theresa May a P45. With the Gazelle & Herod concentrating on The Jeremy Kyle Show returning to some TV channel no oneโs heard of, media here highlighting all the good stuff going down locally is becoming increasingly limited, and Facebook groups are untrustworthy, ask the town council! So, stick around, and Iโll get onto whatโs happening shortly.
First you should know, is, more info and ticket links to everything listed, and for planning ahead, the one link you need is our updating event calendar, or least two links this week as we delve headlong into October.
Wednesday 28th thereโs a Lunchtime Recital at Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Sustainable Devizes will at St Andrewโs Church for a free community film screening on the story of plastics. Starting at 7, Iโll drop the poster below.
Thursday 29thand thereโs a Jazz Social at Salisbury Arts Centre, the ultimate music quiz at The Cheese & Grain, Frome. The Lawrence Society of Art begins an art exhibit at Devizes Town Hall, free entry, running until Saturday 1st October.
Friday 30th September, the exceptionally talented Adam Woodhouse is at the Pelican Inn, Devizes, while those Somerset crazy folked up hip hoppers Monkey Bizzle bring the noise to The Southgate; this is a hilarious show, throw preconceptions aside and join the fun.
Jen Bristerโs The Optimist is at Pound Art in Corsham, while you can find The Music of Carole King at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and the regular Barnstormers Comedy at Salisbury Arts Centre.
Stay Lunar play The Vic, Swindon, The Toasters play The Tree House, Frome, with Toyah at The Cheese & Grain. Illingworth play The Royal George in Salisbury.
Pinch punch and build, Saturday 1st October sees the regular Lego Club at Chippenham Museum from 3-4pm, but real Lego enthusiasts should head to Steam, Swindon, for The Great Western Brick Show. Happening Sunday too, and always amazing!
The Brook Street Band come to St Maryโs Devizes for some Kaffeehaus Culture, expect some Bach, Handel & Telemann.
Meanwhile, editorโs pick of the week comes from Icarus Theatre Collective, who bring a touring, award-winning dark comedy to The Wharf Theatre, called The Lesson.
Icarusโ blistering, magical and award-winning production of Eugene Ionescoโs classic dark comedy returns to the stage, following sold out runs at Teatrul de Comedie in Bucharest, among others. A mild-mannered professor takes on a new pupil, and swiftly descends into tyranny, becoming bent on her destruction. A comically surreal exposรฉ about power, knowledge & those who hoard bothโฆ. but thatโs not only why Iโm picking this as my pick of the week.
Performances are enhanced by a bold projection design that features exciting new Creative Captioning Technology, which is supported by Arts Council England. It ensures that every performance is now accessible to deaf and hard of hearing audiences as well as enhancing the creative story and encapsulating the beating heart of Ionescoโs text; which is a fantastic initiative I hope will find its way to more productions.
If some mod covers are more your thing, Devizions, check Six Oโclock Circus live at The Three Crowns, always kicking up a stink, and the Roughcut Rebels are at The Churchill in West Lavington.
Sheer Music is at Trowbridge Town Hall with The People Versus, Pecq and Fly Yeti Fly in support, will be amazing.
Regular fav, Faze is at the Bear, Marlborough, Fire Gazer at the Barge on Honeystreet.
Thereโs writer Jim Read and performer Louise Jordanโs afternoon of memorable monologues exploring what it is to use paths and pavements at Salisbury Arts Centre, with Pavement Life.
Homer are at The Phoenix Bar, Wotton Basset, Shepardโs Pie play The Vic, and Barrelhouse at the Rolleston in Swindon, with Mortellica next door at Level III, while Devizes Road Oktoberfest goes off at The Tuppeny, Swindon, while the Bell in Bath also has an Oktoberfest.
Junkyard Dogs at the Bear in Bradford-on-Avon, Bully Bones at The Three Horseshoes, and CHK CHK CHK play The Cheese & Grain, Frome. The Zucchinis play Brown Street, Salisbury.
Sunday 2ndand find Melksham Climate Fest at the Assembly Hall, The Great Western Brick Show continues at Steam, Swindon, Magpie Market at The Cheese & Grain Frome, and Saba Douglas-Hamiltonโs In The Footsteps of Elephants shows later there too. Funky MH at The Three Horseshoes Bradford-on-Avon, Chai For All & Radio Banska at The Queen’s Head, Box.
But itโs all down to the Southgate in Devizes, where Jon Amor holds his monthly residency, this time featuring guest Dan Moore, whoโs played keys for everyone from Tom Jones to Massive Attack; ding dong!
Monday 3rd, sees the regular dream club at the Vic, Swindon, Tuesday find Improvers Art Sessions at the Cause, Chippenham and Spike at Salisbury Playhouse.
And thatโs your lot for this week, enough to keep you amused for a weekend?! Keep an eye out for updates, I do do them, occasionally! And donโt forget, support Devizine with all your might! Times like this we need you sharing, caring and sending us your event details too, donโt make me come find you! Have a great week.
Second impressive single from young Salisbury singer-songwriter Rosie Jay is released today. Sing Another Love Song; a sound of the summerโฆ.. Her debut breakup trackโฆ
Tory tears welled at County Hall this week, when Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council threw his teddies from his pram over the Government’sโฆ
Weโre into August already; Christmas before you know it, so you better get outside and taste the sun while it lastsโฆ. Hereโs what weโve foundโฆ
If it’s been a fantastic weekend on Devizes Green with the orchestral Full-Tone Festival, further out of town scooterists, mods, skins and anyone else withโฆ
Right then you lot, Devizine is five years old today, or at least it was when I begun this monumental mission of reminiscing on how, why and what the hell I was thinking when I started it in the first place. Question is, do you want the short story, or the long, drawn-out one?
Oh well, that’s just tough luck then, isn’t it?! You can’t stop me in full shit stream, because, everyone’s good at something, mine is endlessly waffling on about crap, so that’s what I’m going to do. In the words of the unforgettable Lesley Gore, it’s my party I can waffle on about crap if I want to, or something like that.
In consolation, I’ve sprinkled this piece with a lot of lovely photos, well, itโs been five years and weโve a lot to show off about. And what a wonderful ride it’s been; dancing, dodging, meeting so many wonderful and talented people, rattling a few cages, and I hope it will continue to be so, if I do say so myself.
Best, if any, place to start is childhood aspirations. Note, I never had any dreams of writing, let alone journalism. English at school was a pet hate, like every other subject, especially spelling, I was atrochous…… atreechois…. really bad at it.
Though I have to humour the media industry, I’d grow to detest Fleet Street wank-stains. To be a cartoonist was the thing for me, the like of Charles Schultz or Jim Davis favourably, they did, after all, make the most money. But I’d write for magazines, zines and FINs I submitted cartoon strips for in support, because they needed writers…. bloody slave drivers.
As time moved on and I created my own comic, reviewing works of other creative types within it was an aid to networking, and, most importantly, getting freebies. I also suffered with a lack of writers but plenty of artists, so I’d script for them, and gradually the writing took prominence over the artwork.
Self-publishing is a labour of love, and any excuse for procrastination was on the cards. Unpredictably stumbling upon family life was the perfect excuse for giving it up; there were nappies which needed changing before cross-hatching a nudy caricature of Cameron Diaz, and besides, I’d grown out of the psychedelic nature of the zine; fatherhood can change a lad. Word of warning, whippersnappers.
But once bitten, the creative cannot help but create, that’s why they call them creatives, see? I picked self-publishing up again when eBooks came around, as it was easy, and not so time consuming. As an author I spaffed out more books than Boris Johnson did lies, happy as a method of improving my writing skills; though it’s still a learning cuve…. curth… bendy thing. And okay, that’s the same joke, get used to it.
Devizine came about simply for looking at other avenues in which to offload my wobbly words to the unfortunate world. I pitched to satirical, (or “fake news,” to gammons of which satire is above their understanding) websites, but was only sporadically successful, even lesser-so my attempt to create my own satirical website, called Poop Scoop. Until I noticed a new local news-site called Index;Wiltshire. There, finally through this insane waffling lies the kingpin to Devizine.
The editor wrote to me, “you’re the most powerful person in Devizes,” as my weekly rant column amassed a thousandfold more hits than MP James Gray’s did. Dishonest flattery works; I marched on, slagging off everything that was shit about Devizes as I could possibly think of, for humorous effect, you understand? Some didn’t, and Monday morning hate-mail filled my inbox, which was amusing to start with but being grew tedious.
Aside common complaints from any medium-sized market town, the joke wore thin due to decreasing ammo. Devizes is actually a great place to live; could be better, like freewheeling Frome, or like Tijuana, the murder capital of the world, it could be worse. The need to keep the ideas flowing caused me to post a gathering material question on a local Facebook group. It was Jemma Brown who raised the most important point: why didn’t I focus on the positives about living in Devizes? Of course, she was bang on the money, but it simply wouldn’t do, for that’s not the nature of satire, that’s not the idea of “No Surprises Living in Devizes.”
At the time, I’d just crawled out from my hermit hole and seen for myself talent lurking in the mists of this Tory haven. Richie Triangle played The Black Swan, spurring me to meet Tamsin Quin, who was crowdfunding for a debut album. Jemma, naturally was aiming my attention to her productions, as the TITCO theatre company. I wrote of my findings in an ever-increasingly heavily edited version of my rant column, claiming I was spinning the negatives around, though it was lagging in ethos, because to know me is to know I’m happy-go-lucky, and I couldn’t keep the pretence of being some kind of left-wing Alf Garnett any longer.
The column suddenly became more about what events were forthcoming in Devizes, rather then ranting about how rubbish everything was. I think at one point I joked, โwhat do I look like, some kind of event guide now?!โ Not realising Iโd predicted the outcome.
Frustrated the column was so heavily edited, now a new editor took over, I took to publishing them on a personal blog, but blogs need love and attention, in other words shameless self-promotion. Devizine though, as I came to knock up a new blog with the idea of doing precisely what we do now, promotes itself, as featured creative types share the fact they’ve been featured, and generally, people seemed to flock to this gap in the market. The first ever article was an unedited version of the that weekโs column, the second was about Tamsinโs Crowdfunder.
I never understood, and probably never will, why aside perpetual splashes on national news stories as an aid to fund submissions to scoop sites, regional newspapers here couldn’t at least mention, or give credit to all the talented people here too. There’s room in a newspaper for both surely? But their downfall is our triumph. Devizine is now the go-to to what to do, the rest of it is me just mucking about!
This, coupled with our policy of brute honesty, will always be why Devizine has become something of a (slightly) respectable local institution. Though it may not have started out this way, because a few who were supposed to be responsible for what’s on sections of local media outlets fell short of lifting a finger, and thought it better to sought to trash Devizine’s pending reputation. Funny world, I thought Devizine would be welcomed, and I opened, and still do, my arms to the chances to work with them regardless; c’est la vie.
I believe it’s levelled now. Hardly anyone posts on local Facebook groups, “any live music going on tonight?” And if they do, rather than being directed to Devizine by yours truly, someone else beats me to the recommendation. Which brings me nicely on to the ten zillion quintillion thank you accreditations.
For aside my waffling, the bulk of this article is nothing more than a tedious clip show, which has taken longer to load up than I planned, probably be the sixth birthday by the time I publish it! Maybe we’ll refer to it as a โphoto gallery in dial-up connection speed!โ
Cider in one hand trying applause without spillages, my photography skills are best avoided whenever possible. Though I do believe I’m getting better, nothing illustrates a review better than a professional or semi-pro photographer. We’ve used and abused so many, and other than Nick Padmore, who makes me sit on his knee, most of them allow us to use their wonderful snaps for free! Which is handy, cos Devizine has not made millionaires out of us, quite yet.
So, a massive thank you, which would deserve a huge hug, if I wasnโt to wonder if that was a zoom lens in their pockets, rather than them being pleased to see me, and also an apology, there’s so many photos here it’d be a minefield wracking my miniscule mind recalling who took what, so excuse me, I hope that you donโt mind, I’ve not been able to credit them individually. Take it as red, though, the out of focus ones are likely from me. The rest I owe to so many photographers, some mentioned here and now: Gail Foster, Nick Padmore, Simon Folkard, Helen PolarPix, Ruth Wordly, Matthew Hennessy, Abbie Asadi, and Chris Dunn of Inscope Design. Please give them a virtual applause and go check out their work via their websites and social media.
But everyone needs a thank you, donโt they? So many good people have come to my rescue, submitted reviews, scoops and content, to make Devizine both comprehensive, and how I see it; a community-led, erm, thingy. I’d appreciate any help I can get, I’m totally overloaded here, and apologise to things I’ve missed, but Mrs Miggins has to get her pint of semi, also. You know you run a what’s on guide when Facebook pings the notification, “you have 55 events this weekend!”
Sporadically then writers have contributed, and I have Ian Diddams, Jemma Brown, TD Rose, Jenny Dalton, Phil Bradley, and Helen Robertson to sincerely thank too. But none more than our esteemed man in the field, the brilliant Andy Fawthrop, for his constant bombardment of most excellent reviews have been a godsend, to the point we need a statue of the good fellow here, front and centre of the lobby in the prestigious Devizine Towers. Seriously, if I cannot get hold of any marble, though, it might have to be made of paper cups.
All I have to say now is thanks everyone, everyone who has supported us, everyone I missed on the roll-call, contributed in some way, and that’s a long list, folk like the ones who’ve helped us out with technical bobs and bits; Ida McConnell, and musically, Dean Czerwionka, Mike Barham, Cath, Gouldy and the DayBreakers, Clifton Powell and Nick Newman, Daydream Runaways and The Roughcut Rebels.
Or those who’ve given their time to play for us at one of our fundraising gigs, the above mentioned, plus, Chole Jordan, Will Foulstone, Tamsin Quin, Phil Cooper, Jamie R Hawkins, George Wilding, Bryony Cox, Lottie Jenkins, Mirko Pangrazzi, Bran Kerdhynen, Finley Trusler and Sam Bishop.
And I think I’ve waffled enough; sorry if I missed anyone, but they know who they are. Bloody love ’em too, I do; group hug.
Being the Wiltshire Air Ambulance bear, touring homemade breweries, the Palace cinema, spending a day with Clifton Powell with Arts Together, going behind the scenes with DOCA, a day on tour with Talk in Code, press screening of Follow the Crows, riding an E-bike with Sustainable Devizes, meeting Neville Staple backstage, plus all the event invites, and so much more my brain is aching, there’s been so many fond memories, but I think, if you had to ask me to pick just one, it’d have to be the time I did my milk round in my Spiderman onesie and met with Carmela Chillery-Watson and her lovely family. A day I’ll never forget.
It leaves me now, to sign off, you must be tired looking at all those people having fun, but I did pre-warn you about my waffling! Enjoy the remaining pictures in our picture show, maybe you’ve spotted yourself in there, five or less years younger. If so, I want you to know, you’re still that gorgeous, gorgeous for showing us your support and partying with us; here’s to another five years, gorgeous!!
Trivia: What is the most popular article on Devizine to-date?
A: The April Fools Day joke 2021, when I announced, McDonalds was coming to Devizes. I believe that one broke the internet! Sad, but true.
Trivia: When did you first force Andy Fawthrop against his will and better judgement, to write reviews?
A: I believe it was October 2018, and the first review was Joe Hicks at the Three Crowns; I maybe wrong, I often am.
Trivia: Who was that country looking gent who used mascot on Devizine?
A: I donโt know, stop hassling me with inane questions like a fanboy at a Star Trek convention!
Slight seasonal changes, wetter but still warm, slight Prime Minister changes, dryer but still a narcissistic numpty; ah well, letโs see, a day later than usual I know and apologise, whatโs happening in Wiltshire over the next weekโฆ…
The one link you need as usual, is our event calendar, where itโs all listed with ticket and info links, and itโs updated (fairly) regularly, so bookmark the beast and remain as you will be after reading this; in the know. ย
Thursday 8thand thereโs the Swindon Comedy Club at Kioki, with headliner Abi Clarke.
Friday 9th Hedda Gabler begins at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes and runs until 24th September. Hedda Gabler is recognised as one of the worldโs great plays written by one of the worldโs great playwrights and is generally regarded as Ibsenโs masterpiece. Hedda, on the face of it, is not your archetypal tragic heroine. Starting quietly, and quite humorously, the drama builds to its terrifying and riveting climax, involving the presentation set of pistols that Hedda inherited from her father.
One to watch, Sour Apple play the Pelican in Devizes on Friday, and look out for a new music program called Vamos, at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham, theyโve got the wonderful Harmony Asia supporting Hoggs Bison. And find Illingworth at The Royal Oak in Marlborough, all free gigs.
โHurrah, they are back to Schoolโ runs the tagline of the end of summer barbeque at Seend Community Centre.
Our renowned house DJ, George G Force is at Marston Park, Frome, while tribute The Smyths play The Cheese & Grain. Festival season hasnโt quite closed yet, itโs The Mucky Weekender Festival at the Winchester Bowl.
Meanwhile, In Swindon, Dangerous Kitchen play The Vic, The Salts at Swindon Arts Centre, and A Country Night in Nashville at the Wyvern Theatre.
Saturday 10thand back by popular demand, the start of the legendary Pewsey Carnival, yay! Procession is next Saturday 17th, with the Wheelbeero race on Thursday 15th, but this Saturday is Pewsey Carnival Wine Race.
Our editorโs pick of the week; Party for Life, Melksham
A world suicide prevention day fundraiser in the Sky Bar at Melksham Town FC. The Soul Strutters, Blind Lemon Experience and Roughcut Rebels play this big one, with DJs and pizza and others; sounds fantastic, we did preview it a while back, and I believe a few tickets are still up for grabs, follow their Facebook page for more details.
Staying in the Sham, The Pilot has a Family fun day with music and, fundraising for MIND, see the poster for details.
Crafts, stalls and entertainment are promised at Devizes Rotary Clubโs Health & Wellbeing Showcase on the Small Green from 11am-3pm on Saturday, and for a musical evening in Devizes, rock covers band Black Nasty are at The Southgate, while People Like Us do their awesome thing at the Three Crowns.
Time also, for the Burbage Beer, Cider & Music Festival.
Another upcoming local band to watch is Salisbury indie-kids Carsick, who plan to blow the lid off of Trowbridge Town Hall.
Contrasts in Swindon as Rage Against the Regime play The Vic, while Shape Of You brings the music of Ed Sheeran to the Wyvern Theatre.
You might have caught him at Devizes Arts Festival this summer, Alfie Mooreโs show Fair Cop Unleashed comes to Salisbury Arts Centre.
No prizes for guessing who Motorheadache is attributing, theyโre at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Dana Gavanski plays their sister venue the Tree House, with Cornelia Murr in support.
And unfortunately, The International Comics Expo, ICE in Birmingham which Iโve still got listed, has been cancelled, Iโm just being too lazy to delete it!
Sunday 11th, after terrible weather last Sunday postponed Devizes Town Bandโs Childrenโs Proms in the Park at Hillworth, it will be combined this week with the planned main Proms in the Park.
And save a Recital Series at Swindon Arts Centre, also on Sunday, that about wraps it up for the weekend, unless you know different? Unless you dare to tell me that I missed something?! Please do, I donโt bite, at least only a nip, on the bum; itโs free to list stuff on Devizine, just message us, weโre in it for the love.
Through the week Iโve not got much, but you know updates of the event calendar occasionally happens, though Iโm currently undergoing the arduous task of getting next yearโs calendar up and running, so bear with, bear with.
Tuesday 13th, Iโve got Kaleidoscopic at Salisbury Arts Centre and a RSPB: A Victorian Birderโs Wiltshire at the same venue.
Next week though you can look forward to Pewsey carnival, Swindon Shuffle, and the White Horse Opera is back too, along with lots more events to get your teeth into; Iโll catch you around at one sometime, maybe? What else are you going to do, โSimpsoniseโ yourself with a phone app; get real?!!
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.โฆ
Gallivanting through festival season omits crucial visits to my local watering hole; I’ve missed it sooo much, and now feel thoroughly refreshedโฆ with a hintโฆ
Featured Image by Simon Folkard Following the announcement earlier this year about the cancellation of the Devizes International Street Festival due the loss of Artsโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this comingโฆ
The 50th Anniversary of the now legendary Village Pump Festival, which was brought back to the UK festival circuit in 2018 by director Nicholas Reed,โฆ
“I like my coffee on the dark side,” reads the slogan of a Darth Vader embossed travelmug, which my kids got me one father’s day. Much as I might slate commercial merchandising, I’m a sucker if it’s Star Wars related. Though I don’t use the item in question, because ergonomically it’s a poorer design than my exsisting travelmug, which has the advantage of a lower lip, ensuring less spillages.
Attempts to reason the functional qualities of the travelmug outweigh the aesthetic to my daughter were as futile as resisting a Borgg assimilation when she spotted one on a stall at the Bath Comic & Gaming Con on Saturday. Maybe I would learn to adapt to the higher ridge if I used it more often, but as a plethora of adolescents there made reference to my Star Wars t-shirt as “old skool’ I can take a hint, and add something about old dogs and new tricks.
That’s me, a dinosaur
This aside, for my point is, there it was, a travelmug you can buy in any supermarket, on display at a comic con. Just because it has Darth Vader on it doesn’t make it some religiously obsure artifact, and herein my inability to new tricks and changing faces of events in the face of popularity and commercialism. I came away from the convention with mixed opinions and a bag of Funko pops.
The kids had a brilliant time, their first comic con, and my priority is to relish in their enjoyment. If I’m to give my tuppence of this event, that much is paramount. Though you should be aware, as a self publisher of an outrageously rude comix in a previous era, in which comic cons were a lifetime in both punting and making contacts with likeminded lost souls nieve enough to think their photocopied rag of knob jokes would exhilarate them to a contract with Dark Horse, I’m also reflecting from this angle too. And for this much I could potentially come over all Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons, and bellow, “worst comic con, ever!”
Grumpy old git who should bugger off to the Upside Down!
For these aren’t the type of comic cons independently organised by true fanboys themselves, rather a commercial enterprise which roams the country staging similar events. And for this to work, I accept, honing in on what will make bods part with their money is the main directive, as opposed to a comic industry insiders business meeting.
Making a comic con more related to movies than comics has to be your first port of call, and organisers UK Comic Con & Gaming Festivals certainly utilised that, though in their defence, these days, so does everyone. Need I succumb to the notion if it’s good enough for Disney it’s good enough for me, or can you excuse my fogie rant?
I’m also nudged by the preconception I’d be mugged off at every available opportunity by halfwits in vapid cosplay, and I’m glad to say this was only partially true. Parking at the Uni, for instance, was claimed to be free for ticketholders, and was, though knowledgeable Bath traffic wardens operate militia, there was no signage to suggest they’d adhered to their promise and had it not been for the kindly advise of the alter-ego of Marvel hero Moon Knight, changing in the carpark, the system would’ve allowed me to unnecessarily pay!
Grateful to Moon Knight, we strode in, safe in the knowledge we’d not succumb to “noobisim” while a superhero was watching over us. I mean modern and retro video-game consoles were free to use and in abundance, there was plenty free activities, even origami, while others, like the chance to bash each other with extended torches in what was deemed a lightsaber combat school affordabley cost; swings and roundabouts.
There stood a couple of known actors, and a chat with the down-to-earth Clive Mantle was great while the kids shopped for merchandise. Further along the mighty hall was bustling with stalls and props for photo opportunities, which were free to pose by. All in all, the sense of being ripped off declined, and I comend the organisers for a fun and enjoyable day.
The intersection of the hall was for truer to comic fanboys, and it was good to chat with Bath’s leading comic shopkeepers American Dream Comics, on Walcot Street, who both enlightened and entertained my Marvel-obsseed daughter while chatting deeper into comics of yore with me. Though if I highly rate them for anything more, it was they had in sealed unit for a snip at ยฃ149, the first edition of Marvel UK’s Star Wars comic, that my dad threw out when we moved to Wiltshire. If I only had a suitable transplant patient in tow, I’d have bitten out a major organ for it!
Take him away, rebel scum!
Also through the inner workings, I perchance to meet about three tables flogging small press material. Artists there were not professionals in the comic industry, as often guested at other events, rather fan artists selling their wares independently, and this was great, though if you can have actors you could also get a few Marvel or DC artists sketching too. And there’s my grump, for actual comics it was lacking against a wall of Funko pops and other toys and merchandise; you could’ve been fooled into assuming the UK never had a comic industry, there was no sign of a Beano or Dandy, there was no sign of even contemporary UK comics such as The Phoenix. It would’ve been a better balance to have seen DC Thompson artists like Lew Stringer or Laura Howell doing their thing there.
Calls the event was cynical, and imbalanced toward American adventure and superhero genres, considering the entirety of the ninth art, is a tad unjustified as a complaint to the organisers persay, as this is the new norm, and what’s commercially viable. Like adadting to the higher ridge of the Darth Vader travelmug, getting over myself perhaps I could, but I would like to have seen a wider spectrum of comics as a whole; of manga or small press, I saw mininal, of French BDs and UK funnies, I saw nought, I did kiss a demogorgon though, and met Lightening McQueen, so all was not lost!
She seemed to enjoy the attention….
This was an enjoyable family day and well organised, and defeated my preconceptions of being ripped off, it was affordable and spritely, and I would go again, should Dad’s wallet live to see another day.
We canโt wait until roundup Tuesday, when we usually roundup the weekly roundup, itโs the last big summer blowout bank holiday, so weโre simply too excited and thought you might wanna plan early, so here it is, hold on to your horses… or just let them run wild, I’m not worried, just too excited, did I say I was too excited?!
Repetition is fine, but there’s no links here, too time-consuming, so please us this link to our event calendar, and you can grab details and ticket links from there, but you knew that already, I hope. Oh, did I say, repetition is fine?
All quiet on Wednesday 24th, but if youโre eager to get the ball rolling, 41 Fords play the Kilminton Home Guard Club in Warminster, entry by donation, and donโt forget Wednesday s are the regular acoustic jam night down our trusty Southgate in Devizes, and is always a wonderful night.
Thursday 25th then, and Honey Fest kicks off at the Barge on HoneyStreet, and banging out the whole weekend; I believe thereโs a few tickets up for grabs.
Meanwhile, unmissable rock soloist Adam Masterson plays The Tuppenny in Swindon with Jules Hill in support. Bath Forum have The Billy Joel Songbook, and lots of lucky people will be making their way to either Reading Festival or GoatFest; have fun!
Warming up to Friday, the 26th August, when our brilliant Irish folk duo, the Celtic Roots Collective are at the Pelican in Devizes.
Over in the land of chips and ham, thereโs an August Bank Holiday Beer & Cider Festival at the Three Crowns, and ska-punkers Operation77 play The Black Horse, Chippenham.
Illingworth takes on triple gigs this weekend, catch them at Flan OโBrianโs in Bath on Friday, where Komedia have a night with The Ministry of Burlesqueโs Cabaret; ding dong!
Mod band Peloton plays The Vic, Swindon, and wow, the Cheese & Grain, Frome have Morcheeba, yes, I said Morcheeba; show offs!
Saturday 27th, is the big one. Shall I start it with theโฆ.
Editorโs Pick of Week: The Full Tone Festival, The Green, Devizes
Yep, you probably guessed it, itโs time for the hills of Devizes to come alive with the sound of music. It is the Full Tone Festival Weekend. Hurry and get your ticket, and say hi if you see me wandering around like a lost puppy. Said what needed to be said about this corker, let the show begin.
Over in Devizes Market Place from 9am-1pm thereโs a Mind, Body & Spirit Market. Thereโs free live music all day at the Crown Inn, Bishops Cannings, with 12 Bars Later, Plan of Action, and Itโs Complicated. Later, 12 Bars Later nip across to the Southgate, Devizes!
And where do I even begin elsewhere? Holt Scarecrow Trail begins, itโs Aldbourne Carnival, a Rod Stewart tribute at The Pewsham, Near Chippenham, thereโs a Summer Party at Westbury Cons Club with Wade Merritt and Jay, followed by People Like Us, and the West of England Youth Orchestra perform at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.
A debut performance, at the Gloucester Road Conservative Club in Trowbridge for soul band Dimensions, and thatโs free entry. Kurt Vile & The Violators at Bath Forum, Apollo Ghosts at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, and in Swindon, the wonderful The Daybreakers are live at The Vic, while The Tin Shack Band play the Woodlands Edge. Oh, and The Swiss Chalet has a Harryโs Heroes fundraiser.
Sunday is where things usually start to calm down, but not this weekend. The 28th sees the second day of Full Tone, Great Cheverall Soap Box Derby and Potterne Festival.
Illingworth play The Churchill Arms in West Lavington today, and a young local band to watch out for, Nothing Rhymes With Orange are in support.
Thereโs a mini fest at the Talbot in Calne with Six Oโclock Circus, People Like Us, Wet Frank, End of Story and others.
LodgeFest aptly at Warminsterโs Lodge, an M4 Classic Car & Bike Show in Chippenham, and the Hammervilles have a bank holiday beach party at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Swindon is gearing up for the Shuffle next month, but in the meantime, Shades of Seattle plays the Vic, highly recommended Atari Pilot are at the Castle, and for the kids, thereโs always Milkshake live at the Wyvern.
If youโre still standing in Devizes on Monday, 29th August, hereโs what to doโฆ. Black Rat Monday, down The British Lion, with the Celtic Roots Collective and a jam to follow. Or Finley & Mark support The Reason at the Three Crowns; nice either way!
From 5pm Illingworth will be at the Waterfront, Pewsey, and the Beverley May Band play The Milk Churn, Melksham. Itโs the Chippenham River Festival, thereโs a massive line-up for a free music festival across the entire village of Box, it is Box Rocks. The Lost Trades and Dolly Mavies headline a mini-festival at The Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, and Abba tribute 21st Century ABBA play The Bowl in Town Gardens, Swindon.
Iโm sure thereโs going to be more added as the week goes by, so keep up-to-date with our event calendar. Thatโs the weekend forecast to date, though.
Tuesday 30thand Gently Tender play The Royal Oak in Marlborough, the regular Jazz Knights at Swindonโs Royal Oak has the Kevin Figes Quartet, during the day thereโs a Farmyard Circus at Queenโs Park, and Russell Brand comes to the Wyvern.
Wednesday 31st, look out for the Wind in the Willows at the Corsham Almshouses, and phew, thatโs me done, dusted and ready for a nap; have a great weekend!
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so!ย ย Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this comingโฆ
With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Park nextโฆ
Need to keep informed and updated on the general election and its effect locally? Don’t bother with national media sources, everything you need to vomitโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.โฆ
With the danceable penultimate act attracting a packed crowd, I observed a young teenager, who, on spotting a disregarded beer bottle, picked it up andโฆ
By Mick BrianPhotos by cast and arenaphotography William Shakespeareโs tragedy, inspired by real life eleventh century Scottish kings, is well known by anybody thatโs doneโฆ
All the local mainstream are on it like a fly on a turd, and the negativity of keyboard warriors is flowing fast and furious. Who am I to steer off the bandwagon, yet you know weโll handle the news Wax Palace obtained permission for a โrave festivalโ to happen near Erlestoke with a slightly different angleโฆ…
An angle much less based upon the fact your esteemed editor had a youth some indeterminable time yonder, where he gyrated in muddy fields with eyes like saucers, masticating the shit out of a Wrigleyโs Doublemint, and more on the notion, I hope, that while we have a great music scene in these backwaters, there is little to tickle our younger residentโs tastebuds. This then, is great news, surely?
But is raving still a progressive thing, or does it dabble largely in retrospection? And what exactly will this Wax Palace provide in the way of entertainment? Harry, one of the organisers, a man who unbelievably convinced Wiltshire Council, conservative at the best of times, to grant them permission to hold whatโs best described, to avoid media confusion, as a โrave festival;โ can he sell ice to Eskimos, or what?! In a short chat with him, I suspected he could.
He giggled at the question, โweโd do our best, thatโs for sure! Itโs been a bit of a task, but we got it through, and they seemed very with it, during the hearing.โ Throughout Harry projected himself as level-headed, reliably assured of the achievement of Kaleidoscope, the name of the event.
The first myth from the Gazetteโs report to dispel is that these guys are bundling down from Yorkshire to ruin our peaceful community, when Harry explained the company is only registered there, and he lives close to Erlestoke himself. โThe group who first run it were students in Leeds,โ he explained, โbut weโre very much Wiltshire born and bred.โ Herewith the reason for bringing it to Devizes.
Promoting this today is neither here nor there, theyโve a solid base and early bird tickets have already sold out for the estimated 800 strong event. โThis is our third edition of the festival,โ he said with me interrupting about how to define it, โit is very much a festival, but we hope it has the apogee of a rave, though licenced, as the articles have focused on. It started as one night event, next time it was two, now weโve got the full weekend, and our largest line-up yet.โ
To spoil my queries of disambiguation, musically, Kaleidoscope will offer the whole range of rave subgenres, from house and disco to techno to drum & bass; โyou name it will be there!โ But this only got me pondering the setup, if it would, as legendary pay-raves like Universeโs Tribal Gatherings once attempted, to host each subgenre in a different tent. Because much as this appeased the then evolution of the diversity, it tended to clash into one immense noise when central! โWe donโt have genre-split tents,โ Harry clarified, โtheyโre split more-so by their set design. Weโve got three stages, one indoors, another outdoor, in which weโre shaping out an old school bus for the DJโs, which should be really fun.โ
Harry jested jealously at me rapping about raves of yore like Universe, โwe missed that golden era, but we very much like to be inspired by the ethos.โ This is great, though Iโm trying to avoid an Uncle Albert moment where I preach on memory lane, but it does bring to question how niche is the market, does Harry think rave is either coming back, or it never really lost its appeal?
โI think it is coming back, commercially, perhaps it did lose a bit of what it was meant to be. In the last few years, Iโve heard people referring to their club nights as raves. I think the term rave now covers something broader and less political than it did, originally.โ Harry hopes it does come back, encouraged to bring back those original values.
Though Iโd suggest, rave was apolitical, it wasnโt until government interjected with the Justice Bill post-Castlemorton which both forced it underground and for ravers to think politically. Originally it was solely a celebration of life, and to party, and that really was our only objective. Which neatly covers another misconception; we raved everywhere and anywhere, if it meant standing in a muddy field, or if it meant going clubbing, location was irrelevant, so long as we could blow off steam and dance!
And herein lies my pitch at why I think this is a fantastic addition to our local events, because if youโre the first to complain about this, I sure hope youโre not the same one whinging about acts of anti-social behaviour in youth culture. If Wax Palace can provide a safe haven for young to go and enjoy themselves, itโs surely a positive.
Wiltshire Council were keen to label this a festival rather than a rave, as rave connotes to some to be an illegal, uncontrolled gathering. I say, this is the name of the genre, and doesnโt relate to illegal gatherings at all. After the Justice Bill the scene became anarchistic in frustration to the restrictions, but it never began like this. There was a sense of one big family, a tribal movement, and it was all about smiles. This, I feel is an important point to reduce this common misconception, and something Harry was also keen to express. โWeโve worked really hard to build a real sense of community,โ he explained.
Today, of course, the original ravers have come of age, and organisations like Raver Tots have marketed retrospection in the form of taking your kids to a rave, but throughout our chat I got the feeling the ethos of Wax Palace was much more progressive, about introducing “rave; the next generation,” and thatโs good to hear. โWe like the idea through the way we organise events and our approach will introduce the idea of raving to a market who are only just coming to an age where theyโre able to go to clubs. So, itโs nice to think we have the chance in shaping that impression they have. For a lot of people, this could be their first music festival, and for it to be local and described as a rave would be really exciting; exactly what Iโd wish Iโd have had in my village when I was 18.โ
Tickets are here, Kaleidoscope takes place from 2nd-5th September.
Avoid negativity of misconceptions bought about by a bygone era, well organised and safe pay raves have happened since day dot, and providing youth with entertainment is paramount to building bridges; Wax Place, I salute you!
by Ian Diddamsphotos by Richard Fletcher & Lisa Hounsome The concept of historical brutal dictatorships and comedy is not necessarily one that one considers asโฆ
A leopard doesn’t change its spots, and neither does a British Lion. Watch other Devizes pubs change landlord, decor, attractions, and styles. Watch them close,โฆ
Ah this is more like it, the English summer we know and love! Tad wet, but hereโs what we have to do this week and the last weekend before the big summer blow-out which is the August Bank Holiday.….
Donโt forget, more info and all links for bookings are on our event calendar, where you can also plan ahead, so long as it keeps updating, which Iโm trying my best to, honest!
Thereโs a floral demonstration at Devizes Town Hall on Wednesday 17th August, by the Devizes Flower Club; opens at 7pm, ยฃ5.
Parents head for the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon where thereโs a messy art session and a singing day ahead.
Manchesterโs noughties art rock band Everything Everything play the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Thursday 18th, and again, kids can visit The Musical Zoo at the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Three bands at The Beehive, Swindon on Thursday, The Acoustic Buzz 52, Larkham & Hall and Jol Rose. Also, at The Vic the have Monasteries, Creak, Persadian & Chasing Dolls. The Summer Youth Project performance of Legally Blonde is at the Wyvern.
Onto Friday 19th, and itโs the Wine Tasting event at St Maryโs Devizes, previewed here.
If youโre lucky you can still book a fantastic Survival Camp for any young adventurous children who are aged between 10 years old and 12 years old, with the Wild Edge Survival Camp at West Lavington.
Folk duo Fly Yeti Fly are at The Bear Inn, Bradford on Avon, The Beverley May Band at The Kings Arms, Melksham, Hayden Lloyd at Komedia, Bath. @59 play The Wellington in Marlborough.
In Swindon, Judas Rising plays the Vic, while Bobbi Nicholles is at Woodlands Edge.
Saturday 20th, itโs my pick of the week; the Bath Comic & Gaming Festival at Bath Uni. Full of UK based comic artist guests, some film and tv guests and cosplay guests, a dinosaur zone, Stranger Things, Ghostbusters and Star Wars props, and lots of stuff for kids to empty fanboy dadโs wallet! Lord, help me!
Roots and folk at the Southgate Devizes, with Barney Kelly, and the welcome return of Long Street Blues Club with Skinny Molly, I believe is a sell-out. Worth checking though, I might be wrong, as, I sometimes am; I said sometimes!
Dutty Moonshine Big Band play The Barge, HoneyStreet, Emily Barker is at The Pump in Trowbridge, and another successful Pipe & Slippers Rave at Trowbridge Town Hall goes off; I have to see this for myself; dust off the old whistle and white gloves! Oh, and if Sausage & Cider is more your thing, thereโs a Day of it at The Brewery Inn, Seend Cleeve.
Shame Live at Lydiard had to cancel, but People Like Us play The Swiss Chalet, Swindon and Click! are at Woodlands Edge.
Sunday afternoon on the 21st August then, has another Fantasy Radio Lark in Hillworth Park, Devizes, though Iโve no idea whoโs playing, because they never say. But Chaz Throughgood is at the Southgate.
Itโs the August Jam for the exclusive Wiltshire Blues & Soul Club, in their hiding place at Lacock, while the fantastic Sarah C. Ryan Band play a lazy afternoon at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon, and Jim Blackmann plays Komedia, Bath.
And thatโs your weekend over. On Tuesday 23rd Radio Banska play Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon, and at this moment in time Iโve nought else in the week until Thursdayโs opening of HoneyFest at the Barge on HoneyStreet.
But it will be bank holiday next weekend, and thereโs much to be looking into and planning. Weโll be at The Full Tone Festival on the Green in Devizes, and that one, I promise you, will be awesome, but not the same without you, so get your ticket as soon as possible!
But yeah, same weekend you can find Reading Festival, GoatFest, Potterne Festival, Holt Scarecrow Trail, the Great Cheverall Soap Box Derby, Mini Talbot Fest at The Talbot, Calne, LodgeFest at The Lodge, Warminster, an M4 Classic Car & Bike Show in Chippenham, Chippenham River Festival, a live music festival at the Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, 21st Century ABBA at The Bowl, Town Gardens, Swindon as well as multitude of smaller gigs at just about every local pub and venue you can mention; and itโs all here on our event calendar, just hope the rain gives it a break!
Cool, Man Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday night, and it was time for a little jazz.ย As I often say (apparently)โฆ
A Lunchtime Amuse-Bouche by Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday afternoon with a lunchtime classical concert in the beautiful surroundings of theโฆ
Masterclass by Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued last night, and it was the turn of another big name to grace the stage ofโฆ
Over the coming weeks I’m having cuppas with candidates of the Melksham-Devizes constituency crazy enough to indulge my political ignorance and endure my inane waffling;โฆ
World Class Piano by Andy Fawthrop And, following a lively few days of varied events over this last weekend, weโre now into Devizes Arts Festivalโsโฆ
Yes, itโs that time again, stay-at-home parents. Time to either max your Majestic Wine warehouse loyalty card or fight school holiday boredom like a boss. Hereโs some ideas in Wiltshire and around and about, to occupy your little devils and demigods; you know, save them climbing the walls, and save you some hair...โฆ
Itโs not exhaustive, check back here from time to time for updates. There will be those who despite my asking on social media, will suddenly materialise from the woodwork screaming news of their events, workshops and other ideas. And to them I say, the more the merrier, message us, we have the technology to edit this, so please send us details.
Fuel & Wilshire Council Activities
FUEL was supposed to be for young people who are eligible for benefit related free school meals, are of school age and either be a resident of Wiltshire or attend a school in the County. Camps will be running in Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Amesbury, Salisbury, Royal Wootton Bassett, Calne, Chippenham, Devizes and Warminster. Links to Fuel’s survey seems to be broken, and have left people confused how to book. Clearly WC have not provided enough places, but there’s lots of other activity camps across the county, to be found here.
Chippenham Kidsโ Comic Club
Make your own comic at Chippenham’s Neeld Hall on Tuesday 26th July. Tickets are just ยฃ1.50.
Outdoor Theatre show in Chippenham
โSomewhere in Britain, a long time ago, a very, very, very long time ago. So long ago that nobody quite knows whether it happened or not. Or where it happened or not. A boy pulled a sword from a stone and became King. A story of the old world, with knights, wizards, mist and magicโ.
This fun and farcical adventure is a deliberately anarchic re-telling of the Arthurian Legend with live music, physical comedy and lo-fi acrobatics. And some silly jokesโฆ
Kids Summer Art Club at Wiltshire Scrapstore & Resource Centre
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults must wear masks throughout the workshop. Numbers will be limited to ensure social distancing measures can be adhered to. Booking is essential and due to limited spaces. Book early to avoid disappointment. Sessions are ยฃ9.50 per child.
Groove and Move in Great Cheverall
A music and creative workshop for kids on the 8th and 9th of August in Great Cheverall. The days are intended to be a really fun day that will include listening to music, writing songs as a group, singing, dancing and a bit of drama added in. It will be a chance to let off steam, whilst joining in fun workshops intended to educate and stimulate literary skills, musicality and physical exercise.
The Mini Fair at The Rowdey Cow
in Rowde returns throughout the holiday. Operating on a wristband system thereโs bouncy castles, rides and games from 22nd July, 10am to 4pm.
Holiday Activities at Wiltshire Museum
Always a packed program over the summer hols, Wiltshire Museum in Devizes has school holiday craft activity sessions, suitable for children aged 11 and under; under 8s to be accompanied.
The sessions are usually held on the Wednesdays of school holidays, but they are so popular they sometimes run extra sessions on the Tuesdays too!
Braeside provides safe, inclusive, fun and challenging experiences for young people aged 8 -14. A whole range of activities take place. For a full detailed programme, for the current school holidays, please click the link. New dates have been added due to popular demand!
Devizes Tennis Club Summer Camp
If watching all the action at Wimbledon the past couple of weeks has put your little ones in the mood for tennis, be sure to book them in for Devizes Tennis Club’s Summer 2022 Tennis Holiday Camp.
Trowbridge Rugby Football ClubSummer Camps
On Sundays beginning 24th July until 28th August you are invited to join Trowbridge Rugby Football Club to give rugby a “TRY!” Boys and girls aged 4-12 years are welcome to come along to Doric Park from 11am-12 noon to take part in games, make friends, and learn what rugby is all about – FUN!
For more information about ๐ ๐๐๐ Summer fun sessions, please contact Andy Evans on 07872 065499 or summer.funsessionstrfc22@yahoo.com
Active Trowbridge
A range of sporty holiday activities for children, aged 4 upwards. Active Kids Camp, Soccer Schools and the Girlโs Football Camp, run in February Half Term, the Easter holidays, May Half Term, across the summer and finish for the year at October Half Term (excludes Bank Holidays). Offering sports and entertainment for your children for the entire day throughout the school holidays. They also offer breakfast as part of our extended day offer that will fuel them for the day ahead! Details HERE.
Summer Holiday Camps at The Farm Cookery School
A wide selection of cookery classes at The Farm Cookery School Netherstreet Farm, Bromham, to browse, book and then cook, see HERE!
Multi Sports Programme at Hardenhuish School
Up and Under are running their popular Multi Sports Programme to all abilities aged 5 -13, offering a fantastic variety of sports & activities each day. The course will run from 9am โ 4pm daily from 25th to 29th July.
ยฃ30 per day / ยฃ135 for all 5 days / 10% sibling discount is available
Sports include Trampolining, Climbing, Archery, Inflatable obstacle course, Football, Mini Olympics, Tennis, New Age Kurling, Handball, Hockey, Cricket, Ultimate Frisbee, Dodgeball, Multi Skill โ Martial Arts, Lacrosse, Basketball, Tag Rugby, Team Building Challenges along with daily competitions, prizes and certificates.
A Teddy Bearโs Picnic at King Alfred Hall, Chippenham
Join us for a musical Teddy Bearโs Picnic! Bring your teddy and journey with us to a magical garden to play with all the other teddies! Suitable for age 0-4 (older siblings welcome too!)
Summer holiday climbing sessions at The Arc, Chippenham
Climbing and games with expert coaching from one of our experienced instructors available over the summer holidays. These sessions will allow our younger climbers to work on their climbing skills, NICAS logbooks as well as engage in other activities and games. No experience necessary.
Bristol’s biggest retro video game and retro arcade experience is back and now fully open with 300+ games at the Galleries Shopping Centre, Bristol.
All day tickets with a wrist band so you can come and go.. (no coins required) – the Ultimate family and friends fun day! advance booking only. Buy one get one free (saving ยฃ14!) including weekends for all of the summer holidays July 24th – Sept 11th.
Family Space Day in Bath!
Coming to Bath this summer, enjoy a guided tour of the night sky; travel to the International Space Station; zoom across the Solar System; and handle a famous meteorite from outer space. Details & tickets
B-Smart B-Ballers: Fantastic football skills for kids age 18months โ 6 years; at Trowbridge Town Hall
Tuesday 19th July @ Trowbridge Town Hall. Fantastic football skills for kids age 18months โ 6 years!
Football is an amazing activity for children and most children will be kicking and throwing a ball of some sort as soon as they can walk.
At B-Ballers, We recognise that parents and guardians are by far the most important influence in a childโs life. Including parents in our mini and mighty Bee classes has a real positive impact on their football training. What better way to be involved and support their development whilst having lots of fun together
To book your 2 FREE lessons, simply call coach Emma reid on 07833788465 or visit www.b-smartballers.com
Performance: Catch That Beast! in Trowbridge
The Royal Society of Beastologists are a group with one mission: to track down mythical beasts. They canโt wait to come to Trowbridge Town Hall, meet their new members and capture the Terrible Beast of Trowbridge. Theyโve heard itโs been causing all sorts of nuisance.
But Jessy, the youngest Beastologist, has her doubts about beast hunting. What if beasts donโt want to be found? When Jessy is left behind at camp, an encounter with the Beast could help her transform the ways of the Beastologists for goodโฆ
Catch That Beast! is a magical, deliciously silly show about how we interact with wild things and how the youngest among us might bring about change. Full of humour, live music, inventive puppetry and audience participation, it is suitable for everybody aged 5+.
Art & Drama Workshops for aged 11 upwards at The Cause Arts Centre, Chippenham
Work with Charlie on colourful still life drawings, or play lots of fun games, exercises and make up short scenes with Laura.
A great way to spend a couple of hours and to find out if weโre for you before enrolling for a term. Weโre buzzing with ideas and canโt wait to get back to it! See you there.
4.30-6.30 on Wednesday 27th & Wednesday 3rd August. Find out more here.
Devizes Hockey Club Summer Camps
Junior Summer Sessions are here – limited places so get in quick!
Running weekly on Tuesday nights, from 12th July to 16th August, at Melksham Oaks astro, from 7pm-8pm. These sessions are suitable for U11s, U12s and U13s (Y6, 7 and 8 ) and for both boys and girls. Cost for all sessions: ยฃ30.
A fantastic Survival Camp on Friday 19th August, for any young adventurous children who are aged between 10 years old and 12 years old. Small groups of only 12, with a maximum intake of only 24 children; get in quick!
Devizes Netball Summer Camps
Mini netball Summer camps on Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th August, open to members and non-members of the club. These will take place outside on the netball courts at Devizes Leisure Centre.
Each day there will be two age groups:
9am – 11am – current years 2-3 (going into years 3/4 in September)
11.30am-1.30pm – Years 4-5 (going into years 5/6 in September)
runs from the 27th to 31st August. In its tenth year, Holt Scarecrow Trail welcomes everybody. Main trail with 50 scarecrows to be found and guessed! Children’s trail will be run separately but can also be done alongside the Main trail too.
Summer Swimming โ Crash Course at Starfish Hydrotherapy Pool, Chippenham
Neptune Aquaticโs small-group intensive swimming crash courses at Starfish Hydrotherapy Pool are suitable for children aged 3 years+ and are the perfect way to introduce your young child to a swimming lessons environment or build on skills learned in weekly lessons. We currently offer crash courses (with a maximum of 6 children in each class) for our Ducklings, Turtles and Jellyfish stages (equivalent to Swim England Stages 1-4.) All courses are 5 days, with children swimming every morning for 25 minutes. We welcome all swimmers, including those who do not currently swim with Neptune Swim School.
Chippenham River Festival is on Bank Holiday Monday 29th August 2022 from 10am-4pm. An Artisan market, community stalls, a duck race, Tree high ropes activity, Boat trips and Stand up paddle boarding.
Full throttle into July, then; hereโs what the weekend looks like around these parts. These parts of cultural void, so itโs claimed, we say otherwiseโฆ. You want proof?
As usual no links here, the only link you need is here, our event calendar. Have a great weekend whatever you do!
Ongoing from Wednesday until Sunday the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon has got Shrek the Musical. Thursday and Friday, Devizes Musical Theatre presents their Summer Concert, Miss Fortunes at The Wharf Theatre, see the poster, always see the posters!
Iโm delighted to hear Devizes LGBTQ+ groupโs first big event, Drag Bingo at the Exchange has sold out on Thursday 30th; well done to them and hereโs hoping for some similar events in Devizes in the future.
One of folk musicโs greatest innovators, Martin Carthy is at Trowbridge Town Hall Thursday, Paul Jones Live in Concert at Christ Church, Swindon while Swindon Arts Centre has a play called Blithe Spirit, running until Sunday.
Friday is pinch punch. Chippenham Comedy Festival at The Old Road Tavern, starts, running all weekend. Limited Weekend Tickets ยฃ60, individual shows are all ยฃ7 each. Friday 1st July: 7pm Sam Michael & John Matthews: Cister Act, 8.30pm Juliette Meyers: Passport Face,10pm James Dowdeswell: Beers of a Clown. Saturday 2nd July: 5pm Jo Caulfield: Here Comes Trouble, 6.30pm Sooz Kempner: Playstation, 7.45pm Katie Mitchell: She Festers, 9pm Andrew O’Neill: We Are Not In The Least Afraid Of Ruins; We Carry A New World In Our Hearts, 10.15pm Wil Hodgson: Barbicidal Tendencies. Sunday 3rd July: 5.30pm Jessie Nixon, Dannie Johns & Millie Haswell: Dumb Belles,7pm Joe Wells: I am Autistic, 8.30pm Beth Black.
Devizes School Summer School Concert in the main hall. Minety Festival kicks off for the weekend. Melkshamโs One Love reggae night has been moved from the Assembly Hall to Spencerโs Club on Beanacre Road, I just havenโt changed the poster, so forget all I said about paying attention to the posters!!
The Ukey Dukes play The New Inn, Winterbourne Monkton. Ska punkers head to The Barge at Honeystreet, for Slageri J headline there, and surfers should wipe-out at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, where theyโll find the highly recommended Palooka 5. Rorkeโs Drift play The Vic, Swindon, and fresh(ish) from Glasto, Jo Whiley plays 90s Anthems at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Saturday 2nd, Longleat continues showing off; those who donโt mind standing for hours, with a bottomless wallet and advance planning can see Tears for Fears, the rest of us are not left without optionsโฆ. like Salisbury Pride at Queen Elizabeth Gardens.
Arts Together fundraise with a day painting at Bowood, see the poster for real this time!
Six Oโclock Circus headline The Vale of the White Horse Scooter Rally at The Cooperโs Arms, Pewsey. While thereโs a reggae day at The Wheatsheaf, Calne; the Bee Skas play at 3pm!
The Seven Stars in Bottlesford has a Burger BBQ for twenty quid, but you do get The Reason playing.
The amazing Jack Grace is at Southgate, and popular covers band Paradox are down the Cellar Bar in Devizes; yes, I did say The Cellar Bar, glad to see this venue back on our listings.
Band X at the Three Horseshoes Bradford-on-Avon, Siren at the 12 Bells, Trowbridge, with Hatepenny rocking the Town Hall. @Fest mini-festival at the White Hart in Attsworth. Down & Dirty at The Vic, Swindon.
Swindonโs Midlife Krisis sound system was due to setup at The Barge at HoneyStreet, however, due to issues with their secondary camping field it is unfortunately cancelled. We wish the Barge all the best with this issue, and hope it can be resolved as soon as possible.
Sunday 3rd July is DOCAโs Picnic at Hillworth Park. British Blues with Trevor Babajack Steger from 12pm, from 1pm, find some jazz-tinged klezmer and old-world Yiddish folk, from Mozzle Brocha, branch of the collective, Chai for All, who we tried to get to play a Ukraine fundraiser at St Maryโs, but it unfortunately fell through. It will be good to meet you, guys.
Eastern European folk traditions follow that with East of Eden at 2:40, South African at 4pm with Otto & The Mutapa Calling, finishing off your Sunday entertainment. Also look out for Rose Popay, the โArt Tart,โ sounds hilarious, and various carnival workshops, suitable for all ages; see the DOCA website.
Elsewhere, People Like Us headline free live music for Inspire Warminster, preview here. The Cosmic Sausages play The Bell, Bath, The Lost Hills play The Tap & Barrel, Swindon. Blues legend Andy Fairweather Low plays The Cheese & Grain, Frome, with Ruzz Guitar in support, and oh, itโs Aldbourne Doggy Day!
Thatโs your weekend wrapped up, unless I missed anything? Did you let us know? Itโs not too late, I can edit our event calendar, if youโre nice and send cake!
Through the week you can catch a Live Art Demonstration by the wonderful Caroline le Bourgeois at Devizes Conservative Club on Monday 4th, meanwhile David Olusoga presents A House Through Time at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.
Tuesday sees carparks in Devizes closed for the Birmingham 2022 Queenโs Baton Relay; for a whole half-hour! Heaven help us! Keyboard warriors, Iโd advise you walk or bus it into town to get your garibaldi biscuits!
The New Forest Folk Festival starts Wednesday, while thereโs a bit of Shakey at Bathโs Rondo Theatre, Macbeth; all proceeds go to Marie Curie. Best of luck to the two Devizes actors appearing in this, Lucy Upward and Ian Diddams; break a leg!
Next weekend you need tickets for a fundraising concert for Devizes GAC’s chosen charity, Juliaโs House Childrenโs Hospice, at Devizes School Hall, on Friday July 8th at 7.30pm. Special guests at the concert will be the Pewsey Belles Ladies Choir. Tickets are priced ยฃ8 and available from 01761 472468.
Both Readipop Festival and Cornbury Festival, next weekend, and of course, Devizes Carnival and Trowbridgeโs ParkFest, both on the Saturday 9th. I believe Iโll be painting the whole village purple at Bishopโs Cannings mini festival at The Crown; please come and support this too. And on Sunday, give our Essex country-rocker favourites, Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective a warm Devizes welcome at the Southgate.
And if youโve read this far I salute you; people like you who pay attention really need to grab up tickets to the Full-Tone Festival August Bank Holiday, AND Devizes Scooter Rally, AND Devizes Beer Festival too!
Seven-piece sui generis ensemble The Cable Street Collective were everything I expected them to be last night at The Corn Exchange; another impressive booking forโฆ
As if the FullTone Festival isnโt exciting enough for Devizes, the Town Council has allowed them an extra day, on the Friday 26th Julyโฆ.. Seeingโฆ
Andy Fawthrop Itโs All In The Genes Today Devizes Arts Festival presentation took on a more serious and talkative tone with another marquee signing takingโฆ
The first gig and club night by Devizes Youth Action Group exclusively for secondary school aged youth in Devizes back in February was hugely successful,โฆ
Hereโs what weโve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week. Donโt forget your sunscreen and a nice party umbrella! Everything listedโฆ
Have you had โthe visitโ yet? Your local councillor house-calling hand-in-hand with Conservative candidate Michelle Donelan? I have. At least it broke up my busyโฆ
Devizes School students will be showcasing their artistic and creative abilities at the school’s first public concert since the end of the Covid-19 lockdowns on Friday July 1st from 7:30pm.
With performances and pieces from across the arts, the student community of Devizes welcomes local people back to their school with an evening to remember. A mix of dramatic excerpts, dance recitals across multiple disciplines and a mix of musical styles will be sure to engage and enthral attendees, as well as celebrate the young creatives ushering in the next generation of the arts in our local area and possibly beyond. The stars of the future could very well be born on the Devizes School stage!
Tickets are available now via Devizes School or alternatively on the door on July 1st.
A historic Devizes church will host a professional theatre company later this month as it performs a play that shines a light on the realities facing children in the care system in Britain today……
My Place is a powerful and moving evening of theatre and conversation, telling the interwoven stories of children โ an individual, a sibling group and a refugee โ as they journey through the care system.
As part of its 8 week nationwide tour, My Place is coming to St Maryโs Church on New Park Street in Devizes onย Sunday 26th June at 7.30 pm.
The evening will combine a performance of My Place with an opportunity to hear about the national fostering and adoption charityย Home for Goodย and how each of us can play our part in transforming the lives of vulnerable children and young people. ย
WHATโS THE STORY OF MY PLACE?
Both entertaining and thought-provoking, My Place follows the stories of four children in care, an individual child, a pair of siblings and an unaccompanied child refugee. They have different backgrounds and journeys, brought to life through a range of colourful story-telling techniques, including song and spoken word. Each story highlights the need for all vulnerable children to have a safe, stable and loving home where they can thrive.
Home for Good is a charity that exists to find a home for every child who needs one. We hope to inspire and equip people to open their homes to children and teenagers through fostering, adoption and supported lodgings. We resource churches to be a welcoming and supportive community for families who care for vulnerable children and advocate on their behalf at all levels of government.
WHO IS THIS EVENT FOR? ย
Everyone! Any individual who cares about children, has a passion for justice and compassion for our societyโs most vulnerable would be inspired by this event. We hope that many people will gain a better understanding of the experience of young refugees and children in care. The play is suitable for teenagers and adults but not recommended for younger children. ย
Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4ยฐC eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiff … Continue reading “Lady Nade; Sober!”
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes … Continue reading “Rooks; New Single From M3G”
Central at The Parade, Swindon Hub, an accessible, friendly community space which opened in October are aiming to host regular Saturday jamming sessions, to promote local artists and give them a platform where they can performโฆ…
The Hub is a comfortable volunteer-led centre trying to bring the community together. Theyโve an affordable cafรฉ where they invite you to relax in their โsnug,โ read and share books in their bookshop, browse items for sale from local retailers and upcycled furniture by Renew Men’s Shed. The profits of any surplus of stock items donated from shops for sale go to Swindon Night Shelter.
They are currently building a calendar of regular events including a monthly craft market, weekly knitting circle and writerโs club, as well as art workshops and regular music jams on the weekends. Theyโve just hosted Swindon ZineFest, which Iโm sorry to hear I missed, and from a Womenโs History Month exhibition or a Ukraine fundraising jumble sale to Dub in the Hub sessions, the last one by Suitcase Sound System, thereโs something for everyone here, especially those who like cake!
Music last Saturday came from The Thieving Magpies, but it was far from the be-all-and-end-all of activities at the Swindon Hub, as well as the aforementioned zine festival, there was a kidโs comic workshop too; it really caters for all.
“The Jam is a Community project as much as a Music one,” organiser Claire told me.
“It focuses on confidence building, teamwork, social interaction and collaboration.
The Jam has been running already since September last year and there have been hundreds of people who have taken part.
There are loads of people who take part who have no background in music or performing to an audience and it creates an opportunity for people to get involved with music without the traditional barriers that stop so many people from taking the first step.
That said there are also many talented musicians who take part and it creates a wonderful mix of experience and enthusiasm that allows people of all experience levels to have a meaningful musical and emotional experience.
The key to creating a successful jam is building a relaxed atmosphere with little pressure or expectation that allows people to share without fear of criticism, ridicule or humiliation.
The Hub has a great atmosphere for this kind of activity due to the warm, friendly and supportive nature of the volunteers and visitors to the space.
There are already some fantastic success stories of people who have had their confidence built up by attending the event.“
Post lockdown has seen a real boost in community spirit, and such volunteer-based projects like this are a lifeline, in rural areas and debatably more crucial in urban areas too; the larger the population doesnโt necessarily mean the large scope for friendships to occur, in fact it can be harder. So, a massive congratulations to the good folk at Swindon Hub, this looks like an amazing space doing some amazing work, and I might add for a wide-spanning age demographic.
They always need volunteers, if you want to join and help shape the future of communities in Swindon, and any musicians interested in performing for their day sessions should contact them. Facebook Page here.
If the opening Friday evening of Devizes Arts Festival was amazing for lively pirate-punk craziness, Saturday night was too for precisely opposite reasons. Bristol’s soulstressโฆ
With a rolling hook in the chorus, piano riff over acoustic guitar and a heartfelt narrative, hereโs a promising debut single from Salisburyโs young singer-songwriterโฆ
Land ahoy me hearties! Devizes Corn Exchange was boarded last night by Cornish punk pirates Jolly Roger, for a frivolous and swashbuckling opening to Devizesโฆ
Images used with kind permission of Pacific Curd Photography West Wilts and Somerset folk-rock collective Courting Ghosts are about to release their debut album, Fallingโฆ
We’ve been chatting with the Community Organiser and Campaigns Manager of Devizes and District Foodbank, Alex Montegriffo, about an important free community conversation on Mondayโฆ
By Ian DiddamsPhotos by Gail Foster In 1971 Ken Russell enchanted film audiences with โThe Devilsโ, which incorporated nuns in the story โ somewhat controversially.โฆ
Friday evening in the liveliest of Devizes pubs, The Three Crowns, with Devizes best upcoming band, Nothing Rhymes With Orange pulling a two hour setโฆ
In recognition of his selfless ministry and leadership of St James Church, where the community and residents are at the core of everything, birthday boyโฆ
Well okay, there’s a meerkat atop a camal, patrolling him through Devizes Market Place, while girls attired in Victorian strongman leotards heckle the crowds, spoiling for arm wrestling contests.Grown men in pink bunny onesies hop outside the Corn Exchange while Bristol’s riotous transeuropean folk drum n bass agricultural revolutionaries Ushti Baba harmonise beatbox and an acordian in a sea-shanty-come-klezmer fashion on an open stage where you usually park to use the cashpoint. Devizes Street Festival blessed us early this year.…
Ignoring the idol threat of April showers, Saturday was an absolute blast with the clement weather of summer and revellers out to play. The Market Place was thriving with smiley faces young and old and merriment abound. After last year’s restricted effort, we needed to blow it out of our system, and Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts knocked that sentiment out of the park.
Yet I do this; recover enough to string a haggard description of multiple circus and street theatre occurences into a kind of overhaulled review with a sensational “wow, this slice of festival really happened in Devizes” angle, every year. Throughly deserved though it is, to saunter through the crowd is to be joyful in the spirit of the moment, but blissfully unware of its inner workings.
Have faith, or take for granted the Market Place will magically tranform into Boomtown for a weekend, your free playground of revellery, with little consideration to how much effort has been made by a vast amount of contributors and volunteers.
So, the angle this time is only partially how utterly fantastic it so obviously was, rather focus behind the scenes, because arts director Loz and her volunteering team are not Paul Daniels, and this free fairytale bonanza doesn’t magically appear overnight.
To do this I’m high-viz wearing undercover, and for all the use I’ll be, other than clearing a few wheelie bins, misguiding folk in the opposite direction to the loos, and assigning myself offical cider tester, I’ve assimilated myself into the festival maker collective.
Adorned with access-all-areas privileges the Corn Exchange exposed the inner workings. Loz and leaders divide their time between rushing around like headless chickens and coordinating on a laptop, while every member wears a smile on their face despite the mundane or heftiness of the errand theyโve been set. Take these crates of food into the kitchen, I’ll be glad to. Happy to be on the team, which I haven’t made head nor tail of tasks set on a rota board by the entrance. I’m a newbie, many volunteers have done this for decades.
If you ever thought outside was bizarre, that hall you’ve been to for your covid jab is equally. A makeshift office-back stage circus hybrid, with a camal parked in the foyer, dancers choreographing in the hall, tree people preparing to wander out into the drunken abyss, and I’ve adopted the English tradtion of speaking my own language just with a hint of Latino accent in order to communicate with a crew of traditional Spanish saliors enjoying the supplied buffet. It’s an eye-opener to the inner workings of the centrepiece of DOCA.
Oh, for the energy, teamwork and amazing effort from everyone here, other than me, who, to put it nicely, aren’t getting any younger, to the keyboard warriors of social media land who continue to criticise changes to the programme, I confirm to you, my feet were aching by the first morning, and I was merely part time bin inspector. Criticise all you will, that is your perogative; they could’ve done this like this, not like that, where’s my favourite brand of lager, and the tradtionalist toppermost, why can’t they keep the dates as they were, all contained in a fortnight? Why not drain every last gram of stamina out of these volunteers and hang them up on a glucose drip afterwards?! Seriously, take a look at yourself, those guilty few, have you offered to help or are about to anytime soon? I took my best shot, it’s exhausting, I first-hand know this to be true now.
If its done anything it’s made me appreciate even more the will and effort of the volunteers, and respect that not every minor market town is blessed with such an event; we should be far more grateful. Then I revert, ignore the hiding whingers, they are but few. For everyone here, throughly enjoying themselves, the Ceres finale came at 6pm.
A theatrical acrobatic display of song and dance with the narrative of town’s folklore incident involing Ruth Piece, on this very spot, was promised. At first, while a hefty crane hoisted a peformer high into the sky, few drinkers at the bar huffed “hippy shit,” least admired the machinery and skill of the crane operator. Yet as the ambince of the drum beats, the haunting narrative of the moment, the strawmen casting shadows over the crowd, and the absolutely sublime acrobatic display above them, I swear every single person in the Market Place was left spellbound; you could hear a pindrop.
Unlike the usual fizzling out of the street festival, whereby revellers stagger away over time, navigated by a broken compass with the hide-in-a-pub or go home to sober up dilemma, even if they did they bore the imprint of a kind of subliminal concept, inserted through the medium of arts.
Perhaps Ruth Piece isn’t as portrayed, the archetypal baddie here, and while of course it is wrong to cheat, poverty and demading situations caused her to do what she did. Perhaps, just perhaps, the heckling and petty squabbling attaining her guilt was also at fault, and we should instead learn to have some sympathy and understanding. Perhaps, in turn, those complaining about the breaking up of the ‘fortnight of fun’ should consider the gallant work carried out by this group of volunteers, and appreciate their combined efforts, because Saturday was outstanding, and Sunday is awakening, the carnival, confetti battle and later events DOCA gift us with will arrive later in the summer, and you’re grownup, you can wait.
Ah, I’m getting all morally correct again, just ignore my insane dribbling if you will, the Street Festival continues today, I’m looking forward to it but I’m currently away in Taunton, typing this on my phone, where it’s rather drizzly. I hope this passes upon my return to Devizes later and we can do it all again; hope to see you there, and any delicious brownies from the Bake With Lil stall will be gratefully received!
This incredible Ceres show, with written verses by our resident poet Gail Foster, will be repeated as the finale again at 6pm, and prior one of my favourite bands, Mr Tea and the Minions are due to blast their sublime folky Balkan ska at us; lack of Mr Blue Skies I sincerely hope won’t prevent that!
Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4ยฐC eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiff … Continue reading “Lady Nade; Sober!”
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes … Continue reading “Rooks; New Single From M3G”
The World under the Wood is a new musical-play for children & family audiences written by Helen Langford, who brought โAdam & The Gurglewinkโ to the Wharf in 2020…..
Jodie meets a magical talking Tree who asks for her help. The wood seems to be dying and Tree thinks the incredible World under the Wood may hold the answerโฆJodie is whisked away to a super-world where life moves super-fast. But she discovers that this world is failing too; the super-humans have been collapsing and productivity is down. Jodie and Harley the dog must now journey between worlds to find an answer. Can the mega-multiplier plants restore the wood? And what is the mysterious Source?
The play highlights the need to stop taking the natural-world and its resources for granted. The world under the wood is an awe-inspiring land of invention and productivity, but Jodie discovers that the resources which underpin it are, to everyoneโs surprise, finite. The โsuper-humansโ parody the rat-race of contemporary life, where achievement is king and the constant cycle of doing is reassuringly exhausting. Any long-term consequences of living this way have been ignoredโฆuntil now. We learn through Jodieโs adventure, that it is through perseverance and working together that environmental problems can be tackled.
Though the message is timely and serious, the show is full of fun. With larger-than-life characters, catchy songs, and magical happenings, youโre sure to love your adventure to the world under the wood!
The World Under the Wood runs from Thursday 23rd June till the Sunday, 26th June.
Tickets can be purchased by ringing 03336 663 366; from the website https://www.wharftheatre.co.uk/ and at the Devizes Community Hub and Library on Sheep Streetโฆโฆand donโt forget to follow on Instagram and Twitter.
Ticket Prices: ยฃ6.00 โ ยฃ8.00* Family 4 โ ยฃ22.00* Family 5 โ ยฃ28.00* *booking fee applies For Group Bookings please contact hire@wharftheatre.co.uk directly to ensure that you only pay one booking fee.
Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4ยฐC eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiff … Continue reading “Lady Nade; Sober!”
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes … Continue reading “Rooks; New Single From M3G”
A historic Devizes church will help local children celebrate the Queenโs Platinum Jubilee by giving them the chance to work with a renowned local artist over the jubilee period.…
The parish of St John with St Mary in Devizes has partnered with artist Joanna May and historian David Evans to put an exhibition entitled โMajestyโ in St Maryโs Church on New Park Street from 2-4 June. Three local primary schools will participate: Wansdyke, Southbroom, and Trinity.
Shirley Urwin, who is helping organise the exhibition, said:ย โThe children will hear about Devizesโ historic links with the monarchy through story-telling, then Joanna will help them make paintings and drawings of story or person that resonated most with them. Joanna will then create a mosaic of the childrenโs drawings as part of a huge exhibition board, based upon her painting โMajestyโ, which depicts Queen Elizabethโs Coronation Crown.ย
โWe hope they will benefit from the opportunity to work creatively with a well-known artist and be involved in a unique project marking a memorable event in their lives.ย
โThe pupils will benefit from one-on-one time with a professional artist completely cost free. All three schools are state-funded, and both Trinity CofE and Southbroom receive higher than the national average Pupil Premium funding. This is about bringing art to everyone in our community.ย
โThis is part of a programme of activities that will secure the future of St Mary’s Church as a vibrant and viable multi-use venue for the community of Devizes and further afield. It will raise awareness and engagement in the town of the plans to make St Maryโs available for the community as a vibrant arts space, accessible to all.ย ย โย
The exhibition will be free, and take place at St Maryโs from 11 am โ 3 pm from Thu 2 โ Sat 4 June.
Joanna May is an artist based in Devizes. She is recognised and collected widely, with a listing in โWhoโs Who In Artโ. Her work has sold at Christiesโ, including to celebrity buyers; she has paintings at Le Manoir aux QuatโSaisons, Raymond Blancโs famous hotel near Henley. Her beautiful hare paintings for The Hare on the Moon โ A Treasure Hunt Book hang in her Joanna May Gallery, lighting up Northgate Street in Devizes. She can be contacted on joanna@joannamay.com and has a website at joannamay.com.
About St Maryโs, Devizes
St Maryโs Church is a Grade 1 listed building and one of the town’s oldest and most historic landmarks with its magnificent 13m high internal arch. It is among the top 2.5% listed buildings in the country and of significant historic importance to the town. Plans are afoot to redevelop the building into a space for the arts, accessible to all, enjoyed for generations to come, thus preserving our heritage. Find out more atย www.stmarydevizestrust.org.uk.ย ย
Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4ยฐC eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiff … Continue reading “Lady Nade; Sober!”
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes … Continue reading “Rooks; New Single From M3G”
devizine.com 