Irregularly I share a music video to our Facebook page with the status “song of the day,” or week, or whenever, as if it’s a daily occurrence. When the reality is it’s a big, fat fib on my part, it’s only when I happen to find such a video and can be arsed to share it. What-cha gonna do, sue me?
So, just in case your lawyer says you have a case, I thought I’d streamline this sporadic idea for 2021, make it an actual feature on the site rather than a Facebook post, and show off that I know what long words like “sporadic” mean.
Little more gone into it than this, you should be used to it by now. I’m not going to review them, just embed them here for your own appraisal and entertainment purposes. Potentially, it’ll be a groundbreakingily breif post, a simple but effective phenomenon, and something I can do without missing the Simpsons.
The challenge is consistency; whether I actually stick to the idea or, like others, it’ll be a flash in the pan. Who knows, this could be the start of something beautiful, this could be the thing they’re talking about in decades to come. A holographic Ken Bruce could be asking “what was the very first Devizine Song of the Day” in a Pop Master 200 years from now.
And you can answer it with who I bestow this honour, Atari Pilot. They’ll be revelling in the triumph of the hour if it wasn’t lockdown, I bet.
History in the making then, the only issue I foresee is I over-waffle any old crap, which is, incidentally, not what’s happening now and rarely does here; I had to explain myself, didn’t I?
Okay, I get message; here it is then, enjoy the tune, enjoy the rest of your evening. Good job, carry on.
- Nothing Seems as Sweet as the Start; NRWO as Devizes Arts Festival’s Finale
All Images: ©Gail Foster
If last Saturday’s Celtic punk band quipped if the Devizes Corn Exchange was a bingo hall, and Milton Jones jested “it’s great to be here, in the past,” it took a band with roots to the town to introduce Devizes Arts Festival to a next generation, and, predictably, Nothing Rhymes with Orange smashed it, with zest….
It’s been a fantastic year for Devizes Arts Festival, their 40th anniversary, though it continues to attract a majority of older residents. It’s understandable, with the Devizes age demographic and the cost of living crisis particularly affecting our youngest. Not for the want of trying, chief organiser Vince told me of a “Battle of the Bands” of yore, which has the blueprint of a young Kieran Moore’s past input, but the vicious circle comes down to economics; a certain style of event not selling has the potential to financially ruin the festival, and has to go. Wanton to attract a younger generation being the reason why the price to this particular event was reduced; it worked.
Highlighting the diversity of their program is something I’ve preached for the years we’ve extensively covered it, and upon receiving a whisper they’d booked Nothing Rhymes With Orange at the end of last year’s festivities, I kept schtum, but secretly I excitedly prayed this might be key to crashing the invisible boundaries of the festival’s age demographic. Not blowing my own trumpet, but I was right!
Prayers answered by Bristol’s Nothing Rhymes with Orange, as our oldest and youngest gathered; the latter only slightly outnumbering, but both tolerant and respectful of the other. The most age-diverse Arts Festival event I’ve witnessed was one of the happiest, and deffo, liveliest! And also, one element to the gig’s success.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange @ The Corn Exchange The other, of course, was the band formed at Devizes School, quickly became the local Gen Z phenomenon I’d refer to as “Beatlemania in Devizes,” and departed to Bristol Uni. If that usually spells an end to school bands, Nothing Rhymes with Orange made the adjustment together, and I will continue to vow this tightness and comradeship is the secret to their success, as, through their dedicated motivation and raw talent, they went on to replicate the local phenomenon into a national one.
Last night, they returned to their roots, and though they collectively confessed it felt “strange” to be back, to me, many of their original homemade fanbase waited in anticipation for those early singles, which they can sing back to the band; that’s as vital to Gen Z as recording it all on TikTok!
It was an obligatory pressure for Elio, Fin, Sam and Lui, who wish to retire their earliest songs in favour of progressive newer ones, and they announced this would be the last time they would play them. Fittingly here in Devizes, but not without subtle apprehension from the band; understandable. I get this; if I had to replicate my teenage creative output in my twenties I’d have cringed.
Never say never, I expressed, for nostalgia builds through aging. While the early songs were welcomed by the younger crowds, what was most impressive for all in attendance, was surely the new ones.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange @ The Corn Exchange If the indie punk pop genre has come of age, and thrashing out three-minute rages is cliché, Nothing Rhymes with Orange are at the pinnacle to a progressive evolution of the sound, with matured experimentation akin to prog rock. And therein lies their contemporary universal magic.
Through superior technical ability, mood-setting bridges and intros, and paced melodies, while still maintaining the professionalism, tightness and adroitness they showed from the start, their new songs have so much more body and strength. They are a pleasure to hear, and appeased the entire crowd rather than those here to sing back the early works.
The merger was a shrewd move, beginning with the classics and moving onto newer ones, with a finale of Manipulation, one of their earliest crowd-pleasers. They may not have played them for a while, and it’s not like riding a bike, but now they’ve ticked that box of reunification with their original fanbase off, and can put those old tunes to bed, it’s time to move on.
Last night proved Nothing Rhymes with Orange are at the top of their game, as they switched old with new seamlessly, and strived to become the universal name we locally knew they could from the very beginning.
Their synergy reverberated, as it ever did, but with a newfound level of proficiency and competence, leaving those who knew them before in awe. With one eye I scanned them as those kids singing to a handful of teenagers in West Lavington village hall, but with the other, as if we were watching The Pretenders or the Stranglers on stage. It was as plot twisting and refreshing as Luke Skywalker returning as a Jedi!
Supported by a brilliant Cheltenham five-piece called Underscore, all guitars, drums, overspilling and confident originals, made for an amazing gig, and a particularly different Devizes Arts Festival event.
Underscore @ The Corn Exchange, Devizes Nothing Rhymes with Orange could’ve just come out and nonchalantly played Brotherhood of Man covers and I’d still have been happy to see them all again! But, they didn’t, I mean they wouldn’t, would they?! They knocked it out of the Corn Exchange.
A journalist once told me, you write on a subject, publish and move on. That’s why I’m not a journalist, as I hug the frontman’s mum and tell her I’m proud, and can’t imagine how she must feel.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange was never just a subject for me, it was a model, of everything Devizine means to me personally, to summarise a journey of a local youth band, and now, through sheer dedication and motivation, to see them never taking a step backwards, only forwards, to a world stage, fills me with great respect for them, hope and delight.
- Sketch and Explore: The Art of Embracing Imperfection
by Maddie Blake
On Wednesday 10th of June at Devizes Arts Festival, we had the pleasure of a ‘Sketch and Explore’ workshop lead by Karen George, a contemporary artist. Karen is based near Bath, in the UK, and specialises in semi-abstract and contemporary painting of landscape and seascapes in acrylic and mixed media. This informal sketching workshop was held in the White Chalk Gallery, as-well as exploring Devizes Canal to reconnect with our creativity and sketch!!
Karens work was displayed in White Chalk Gallery on the day of the ‘Sketch and Explore’ workshop, and it blew me away at how beautiful her paintings were. I’d definitely take a look on her page.
I’ll admit, walking into the sketching workshop, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The majority of art workshops can come across as daunting and intimidating, especially when you’re surrounded by professional artists who know exactly what they’re doing. However, any worries or pre-judged expectations of pompous artists quickly disappeared when Karen greeted me with warmth and lighthearted humour, and most importantly, the truth about art.
With a room full of about 20 eager artists of all skill levels, Karen confidently presented her finalised work and sketchbooks. Rather than immaculate sketchbooks filled with detailed, polished artwork, Karen’s sketchbooks were filled to the brim with quick, experimental, and wonderfully unfinished sketches. She spoke of how sketchbooks should be treated as a blank canvas, where you can make mistakes, experiment and play on your artistic ideas; they are not meant to be perfect. This was such a refreshing approach that immediately reassured beginners, even those who had rushed out to buy a sketchbook just before the workshop.
One memorable moment was when Karen challenged the notion that great art requires expensive materials. She spoke truthfully about how art can be over complicated, and how it has become marketised into making artists feel they need ‘premium pencils and equipment’ to create something good, which I totally agree with. Karen told us that all you need is ‘the back of an envelope and a biro’ and you can do anything. This really highlighted how art is fundamentally conceptual, and how artists hold their merit through their ideas and philosophy for their artwork, rather than its physical form.
From that moment, I knew this wasn’t going to be a flashy demonstration to impress, but a genuine workshop to remind people of their creativity, showing how art is so accessible to explore and open to everyone.
After discussing the philosophy of sketching, it was time to put pencil to paper. We headed out to Devizes Canal, where Karen had planned three snapshot sketching sessions in three separate locations along the canal. Before letting us loose to begin, she gave us a demonstration of her sketching process. Karen taught us to focus on blocking shapes in first to help with composition and not to worry about detail. She expressed to us how important it is to capture the feeling of our surroundings and encouraged us to ‘sit, immerse and absorb.’
One of the most interesting techniques Karen introduced was mark-making. She explained how different textures can be portrayed through different drawing styles: rough textures, like the grass closer to the stone brick, could be emphasised through harsher and more energetic marks, while lighter textures could be represented through looser and flowing lines, such as the breeze pushing through the branches of the trees. She also encouraged us to record singular words about the environment, sounds and our impressions of the canal. This is what creates individuality within our artwork because everyone sees from a unique perspective. I found it fascinating how different marks could communicate the atmosphere of a place just as effectively as a detailed drawing. This technique helped beginners understand that creating an eye-catching landscape is not always about perfect detail, but about capturing the emotion, movement, and character of the environment around you.
At each stop along the canal, we were given around 15 minutes to sketch and take in the environment. As we settled by the locks and long stretches of glossy water, Karen moved between participants, offering kind encouragement and advice. She also generously shared some of her own art materials, such as Faber-Castell graphite pencils (preferably the 8B due to its rich tonal range!!). Her warmth and enthusiasm never wavered, and she seemed genuinely invested in helping everyone develop their sketching skills, echoing her passion for art. One participant commented that Karen’s exercise had encouraged them to look more closely at unseen details, noticing how the stone and buildings curved perfectly alongside the canal. By the time we reached the final sketching location, the group had become noticeably quieter, not from boredom, but from concentration. Surrounded by reflections upon the water, everyone seemed completely immersed in their surroundings, their heads moving up to observe the canal in front of them and back down to add to their beautifully crafted sketches.
What made this workshop so special wasn’t just the chance to improve my drawing skills, but the atmosphere that was created within this group. Everyone appeared so eager and inviting, it was such a wonderful experience to create new friendships and share stories with those with similar interests in the arts. Despite varying levels of experience, the workshop felt accessible to everyone, and no one felt out of place. This workshop didn’t pressure you to create something ‘perfect,’ but something that captivates your enjoyment and experience of the workshop.
By the end of the workshop and scrambling back to White Chalk Gallery, the room was filled with hearty conversation and smiles. It became clear that Karen’s workshop had resonated with everyone: that art isn’t just about perfection and the most extortionately priced pencils, but about curiosity, passion, and creativity. This Sketch and Explore workshop has taught me not to just focus on finer detail, but to actually ‘sit and absorb.’ Whilst usually spending hours refining paintings and sketches, I have taken away the ability to loosen my sketches and really focus on how to capture the atmosphere of the environment in front of me.
I would wholeheartedly recommend any future workshop of Karen’s to anybody who’s looking to explore their creativity, no matter their level of artistic ability: from a beginner to someone who knows pretty much all!! This was such a memorable part of Devizes Arts Festival, and I shall be taking so much away from this.
Link to Karen George’s website below:
https://www.karengeorgeart.co.uk
- Milton Jones; Deadpan in Devizes
Mock the Week’s recurring panellist and Radio 4 comedian Milton Jones stood on the stage of Devizes Corn Exchange on Friday, with the setter, “it’s great to be here, in the past!” And thereafter, everything which came from his mouth was utterly hilarious. Thank you Devizes Arts Festival, a fine chortling choice; I’m still chuckling now…..
Our antiquated town, the maturity of the audience and the country bumpkin stereotype had already been fired at us from the support comics, all in the name of banter. Slight heckling with calculated precision might’ve offset these London comedians, who seemingly learnt no lesson from the backfiring of Francis Grose’s quips which spawned the moonraker fable. Yet, with the timing perfection of Spike Milligan, God of Funny, Milton could’ve said anything you’d consider corny from the mouth of another comedian, and still come up trumps.
I could debate all day that if Milton thinks our town is old-fashioned, so too is his humour, and neither are bad things. While surreal conceptually, Milton delivers deadpan puns based on wordplay, and while genius, the lengthy observational storytelling of Dave Allen, Billy Connolly or Richard Pyror, and the madcap and shock factors of eighties alternative comedians like Mayall and Edmondson, for Milton, appears omitted in favour of the previous generation’s one-liner joke telling. Even the hair suggests Ken Dodd.
Milton neurotically fumbles with the microphone stand, but not his wordplay. As is his bed hair, any emotional instability or self-doubt is part of the act; he has us under his spell from the off. You couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the absurdity of his thought-process. I’m now of the opinion his manipulation of language and layered humour is second to none currently in comedy. He has nearly as many relatives as jokes, each one with their own punchline funnier than the next.
Some gags he divided into repeat opening lines, “isn’t it awkward when…” or in evaluating the audience’s reactions with pretend test jokes, and he occasionally returned to a thought, but each gag was separated by subject so vastly, and fired as fast as bullets, the mind boggled to keep up, and ordered minimal laughter relapse in fear of missing the next punchline. I could recite some gags, but I’d just ruin them; Milton is proof delivery is the crucial element.
The first support, Dave Vaughn, however either failed to assess the audience or didn’t have the arsenal prepped to adapt. What might’ve appealed to his peers, a younger city audience didn’t wash here unfortunately. Maths, a subject he came out with, was mildly amusing, but this matured audience isn’t going to identify with nostalgic observations of growing up in the nineties; that was yesterday to them!
Finishing on Trump jokes I hoped, for his sake, would elevate reaction, but they weren’t refined, nor as risque as they could have been, as if Dave was holding out on provocation in fear of being overly offensive, which he might have gotten away with in his comfort zone. He repeatedly said “yeah,” to compensate for “please giggle,” but Trump is his own joke, and just because the audience might look Conservative, doesn’t mean they needed modesty in this matter.
In many ways the compere was better than Dave, but he too felt like he had landed on an alien planet and was expected to entertain the natives. Milton called it later, “isn’t it awkward when…”
Thankfully this pattern was erased by the quirky dressed alternative girl in the middle. Undisputed UK Pun Champion Adele Cliff may not have fitted with the Arts Festival attendees, but would in the wider Wiltshire demographic, hippychick!
And she certainly delighted them. A self-confessed nerd, whatever Adele sourced she turned into magic, even corny quips, or geeky subjects like Doctor Who and Toy Story were delivered so perfectly, it produced the desired effect. I loved her, the audience found her hilarious as she lifted the spirit in preparation for Milton with stars, cherries and everything on top. Combined with Milton, they made my drizzly week, because laughter is the best medicine.
Another great night in Devizes, thanks to The Devizes Arts Festival. Today, Nothing Rhymes With Orange make their hometown reunion, and I’ve been hopeful it will attract a younger audience to the delights of our arts festival; we wait in anticipation, just wishing Milton could see it, for these lads originate from Devizes, and are the future.
- REVIEW – Devizes Arts Festival– Swing From Paris @ Corn Exchange (Thursday 11th June 2026)
A Little Bit Of French Polish
Andy Fawthrop
As the Devizes Arts Festival rolls majestically towards its final weekend, there’s no chance that the bus is anywhere near running out of fuel. There was plenty of gas left in the tank last night to bring us into the streets of Paris to hear…. but what’s that? – it’s some lively street music! Yet another beltingly-good music act had come to town to keep the DAF party going. Not only that, but there were signs of a bit of a runaway success – not only had Swing From Paris sold out the Merchants’ Suite venue downstairs, but they’d sold a lot more tickets too, so the gig had to be moved upstairs into the main Ceres Hall…..
To be honest the place didn’t look much like a Paris bistro – the high-ceilinged, air-conditioned, space of the hall would never allow that – but at least we were greeted with a more café-style layout, featuring a casual smattering of tables and chairs. It meant that we had some space to spread out for a change, whilst still feeling crowded together enough to create some atmosphere.
Swing From Paris breezed on to the stage and, after a little tuning, confided (to plenty of laughter and applause) that they weren’t actually from Paris at all! The shock! – we’d never have guessed! Still, Gloucester and Worcester’s Finest came to give us a good evening’s entertainment, and they sure succeeded in doing that.
Consisting of Tomasz Williams on upright bass, Sam Hughes on acoustic guitar, Andy Bowen on electric guitar, and Fenner Curtis on violin, who acted as the band’s spokesman throughout, we got two highly entertaining sets of jazz, swing, waltz and gypsy rhythms mostly from the 1930s through to the 1950s, but also featuring tunes from as far back in the 1890s and forward into the 1980s. There was plenty of humour and self-deprecation throughout as Fenner talked us through the provenance of each number.
The instrumental tunes were bright, lively, and often short, occasionally well-known and recognisable, delivered through some really tight arrangements, but giving just enough room for the occasional solo. Many tunes derived from Broadway shows, the movies, musical theatre, and the Great American Songbook, but there were a couple whose roots were more from classical music or folk traditions. Fenner humorously compared classical works to jazz works, in that nobody knew for sure exactly when to applaud, and then gave Tomasz a bass solo in the middle of the next number, just to prove the point.
And there were plenty of famous names being bandied around during the evening – Claude Debussey, Fats Waller, Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, George Shearing, George & Ira Gershwin to name but a few.
I particularly loved Fenner’s minor tirade against streaming sources when he exhorted folks to purchase an actual physical CD or vinyl copy of their albums. The difference, apart from the revenue stream to the artist, was so much better for the punter too – higher quality sound reproduction, the feeling of ownership of an artefact and its associated artwork, the programme and background notes, and the knowledge that it was much more financially supportive of the artist. I have to say I agree with him. Seems like other folks did too, as there was plenty of business going on at the merch desk during the interval and after the show.
Two fine forty-five minute sets breezed by in absolutely no time, capped off by the well-signalled and, ahem, totally unexpected encore. Job done! Artists very happy with their first visit to D-Town, DAF very happy with a larger than expected number of bums on seats, and an audience very happy with what they’d just heard.
So another “hats off” moment for DAF – well done for bringing these guys to town.
Anyway, there’s just a few more sessions to go from this Friday through to Sunday, and it’ll be all over for another year. So, if you haven’t done so yet, get yourself along to something before it’s too late!
The Devizes Arts Festival continues until the night of Sunday 14th June at various venues around the town. Tickets can be booked at Devizes Books or online at www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk
- Let’s Go Swimming with Poppy Rose
Two years ago we fondly reviewed I’m Ready Now, a debut EP from Bath’s Poppy Rose. I praised her unique take, her thoughtful prose and intelligent metaphors, but it was a collection of songs each with separate thoughts. Poppy’s new EP, Let’s Go Swimming is on another level, has a singular theme throughout, and a certain sound that relates, whilst also massively improving on uniqueness, prose and metaphor…..
The cover suggests Poppy likes swimming, especially when she was younger, therefore the writings are whimsical reflections on childhood, and the sound interprets the emotions and innocence of a visit to the swimming baths, perhaps with hidden metaphors, perhaps not! Nothing is forced upon you here, that option is left entirely up to the listener; all you need is some goggles.
The running order presents a timelined narrative. The opening tune is motivational, upbeat joyful pop, the excitement when the suggestion of a trip to the pool is accepted. The second is a playful rap duet featuring Moritz Finn Kleffmann (Finn, Prince of Whales,) and amusingly reflects on the joys of being in the pool. It’s lots of splishing, sploshing fun, returning you to a blissful childhood state of purity.
Now Poppy has reverted you to a childlike state, you’re a kid again, and enjoying the moment. But do you remember how it was, mates, showing off, diving in, and you’ve not conquered that fear of taking the first leap? The third tune of four calms the excitement with a moody ambient reflection of overcoming your fears; Dive represents doubt in your abilities, and peer pressure, sublimely. You loved it after you took that first plunge, didn’t you? And that is precisely what you must do with this EP, trust in Poppy!
Once the opening excitement has waned by the realisation you didn’t break any water speed records, as you imagined you would have, the acceptance of a good time regardless, and the fact you gave it your best, there’s a sleepy finale; young Poppy is tired, and wants to go home, and the music perfectly reflects the mood and sentiment, to the point a cascade of afterthoughts will waterslide through your mind, of those wonderful days of being taken swimming as a child, or taking your own children swimming.
It is, in a word, joyful, but brilliantly encompassing too. A wonderful take on a simple everyday activity, rolled into a running concept, a diary entry, and delivered with a simple sound of early electronica meets acoustic work, which exquisitely matches the theme. What I love about this is a child would relish with incorruptibility at its lucidity and playful imagination, while an adult would do likewise, just nostalgically. And in this, I cannot compare it to anything else other than the mighty whimsical rapper, Gecko.
Pass me my water-wings, I really fancy a quick dip myself after listening to that!
- A “Tender” evening of poetry – Harry Baker at Devizes Corn Exchange, DAF June 10th 2026
by Ian Diddams
images by Ian Diddams & Devizes Arts Festival
Harry Baker is a former world champion poetry slammer and German speaker with a mathematics degree. Whether the three are related is open to conjecture but all three feature in one way or another in his work. At the age of twenty he won the world poetry slammer competition in France with what he describes – fair enough – as the world’s best poem “Paper People”. From studying maths rather than medicine at university, to provide him with the time to keep on writing poetry, he is now a full time professional poet with a full diary of tours and performances and four books to his name.
His latest book, “Tender” chronicles the first hundred days of his son’s life and it was this that provided the material for the second half of his performance at the Corn Exchange, Devizes on Wednesday night. The poems ranged from the incredibly short inspired by exhaustion and exasperation, to good sized outpourings of love for his son and his wife, with many other lengths and subjects in between. We leaned how long it takes to look at a horse’s face when you are just weeks old, how Harry becomes accepted as milk provider – eventually, and of the inevitable ejections and projections babies manage from both ends. It is a set of beautiful, amusing and passionate poems the last of which – Day 1 – brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat as it echoed feelings of my own for over thirty years now.
Harry’s first half comprised pieces from his earlier books with titles encompassing his German speaking ability about a spoon with which to eat falafel (“falafellöffel”), finding your own way in the world (22 – which I realised immediately is the product of two prime numbers … that maths degree is never far away), a passion for swimming (“Wild”), enduring love (“Dust”) and a philosophical view of inevitable death (“Instructions for a funeral”).
The evening sped by, the audience of almost two hundred from far and near sitting spellbound throughout. Harry is a consummate performer, engaging, witty, self-deprecatory with a typically British sense of humour but with a gentle lilting delivery.His works can be bought at the ever excellent “Devizes Books” of course, and for a taste of what we all enjoyed YouTube has many clips of him in action.Huge thanks to DAF for bringing yet another wonderful act to our town, and the festival is not yet over 😊
- Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance’s Summer Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Join the Wiltshire & Barh Air Ambulance team on one of their behind-the-scenes tours of the Charity’s airbase at Semington on Thursday the 9th July….
By joining you will gain an insight into how they run this extraordinary lifesaving service.
The Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance will be opening the doors to the airbase to give guests a unique experience. The tour will cover a visit to the flight room, helicopter hangar and simulation room.
Tickets are £20, available HERE. All monies raised will go directly to help save lives in Wiltshire and Bath.
Please note that the tour will be led by volunteers, and as this will be an operational day, they cannot guarantee the crew or helicopter will be present during your visit.
During the tour, guests will be on their feet for up to two hours. While walking around the base, it will include 22 stairs up to the viewing platform (however, there is a lift at this location) and 22 stairs down to the hangar. Please advise Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance in advance if you would struggle with this. Please note that the majority of the tour is inside, but if the aircraft is at the base during the tour, it will involve some time outside.
This Summer Behind-the-scenes Tour is on 9th July 2026, from 2 – 4pm at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Airbase, Semington, Wiltshire, BA14 6J.
- PREVIEW – “Two Noble Kinsmen” at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes, July 14th – 18th 2026
by Mick Brian
images by Nic Proud and Wharf Theatre
Giovanni Boccaccio in the 1330s wrote a poem, “Teseida”, principally about two knights, Arcite and Palamon, who were rivals in love for the hand of Emilia, during the rule of Theseus. Fast forward to Geoffrey Chaucer about fifty years later who basically stole the story for the “Knight’s Tale” in “The Canterbury Tales”. Shakespeare was no stranger either at literary appropriation, if you will, or plagiarism if you prefer, and used the same story as the basis for “Two Noble Kinsmen”. It was to be his final play, written in partnership with John Fletcher another Elizabethan/Jacobean playwright, completed in around 1614 (Shakespeare died in 1616). As a tale incorporating two best friends both falling in love with the same woman and falling out with each other as a result, it of course bears no relationship to “Two Gentlemen of Verona” which is about two best friends both falling in love with the same woman and falling out with each other as a result. Will would surely never re-use the same plot devices?
[ Checks notes – “Twelfth Night” with a shipwreck and separated twins, “Comedy of Errors” and a shipwreck and separated twins, “The Tempest”, with a shipwreck and separated siblings; “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with a Duke Theseus and wife Hippolyta, “Two Noble Kinsmen” with a Duke Theseus and wife Hippolyta. Nope – nothing unusual here…]
“Two Noble Kinsmen” is to be performed by the Wharf Theatre at the eponymous venue on July 13th to 18th 2026. Nic Proud, who directed “Pericles” in 2024 returns to direct this latest in a fine recent tradition of the Wharf producing Elizabethan authors’ works – “As You Like It” (2019), “Measure for Measure” (2023), the aforementioned Pericles and “Dr. Faustus” (2026). As per the opening paragraph, the story revolves around the rivalry between two noble kinsmen Arcite and Palamon, for the hand of the beautiful Emilia, sister to the pompous yet wise Duke Theseus, with his kind and sympathetic wife Hippolyta. To add romantic confusion [Ed. – a Shakespeare play with confusions over love? Really?] there is also a jailor’s daughter and her wooer, while a court toady Pirithous obsequiously undertakes his master’s bidding. A drunken jailor, and his equally drunken tailor brother, provide suitably comedic scenes, along with two simple countrymen and a schoolmistress who with sundry others make up the characters in what is a far funnier play than may appear on the surface.
The cast certainly embrace the more comedic portrayal of this piece, and it rattles along in about two hours plus an interval. There’s plenty of quick changes between and intra-scenes and multi-rolling in the cast of nine portraying fourteen characters, and a dashing sword fight on stage to boot! Come and see if you can spot who is who and be amazed at the speed of the costume changes!
Tickets for this wonderful production of a little performed Shakespearian play can be found here at ticketsource, and the production runs July 14th to 18th at 7.30pm each evening.
- Swindon Travel Hub Brings Cruise & Holiday Show to the County Ground
Holidaymakers from across Swindon & Wiltshire are being invited to attend one of the region’s newest travel events this summer as Swindon Travel Hub hosts its inaugural Cruise & Holiday Show at the County Ground on Sunday 5th July 2026…..
Taking place in the Legends Lounge at Swindon Town Football Club’s County Ground, the free-to-attend event will bring together some of the world’s leading cruise lines, tour operators and holiday brands under one roof, giving visitors the opportunity to discover new destinations, access exclusive offers and speak directly with travel experts.
The event will feature representatives from a wide range of holiday companies, including ocean and river cruise operators, escorted touring specialists, family holiday providers and luxury travel brands. Visitors will be able to attend presentations throughout the day, gather inspiration for future trips and take advantage of special event-only promotions.
Shaun Jones, Co-Founder of Swindon Travel Hub, said: “Since opening our doors in Old Town, we’ve been overwhelmed by the support from customers across Swindon and beyond. The Cruise & Holiday Show is our way of bringing the travel industry directly to local people, allowing them to meet the experts behind the brands, ask questions and discover destinations they may never have previously considered.
Whether someone is looking for a luxury cruise, a family holiday, an escorted tour, a city break or simply some inspiration for their next adventure, there will be something for everyone. We’re delighted to be hosting the event at the iconic County Ground and look forward to welcoming visitors from across the region.”
The show is expected to attract hundreds of visitors and follows a period of rapid growth for Swindon Travel Hub, which has become one of the area’s fastest-growing independent travel agencies since opening in 2024. The business now operates from stores in both Swindon and Cirencester and has built a reputation for personalised service and specialist cruise expertise.
Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to register in advance to secure their place and receive updates on exhibitors and presentations.
Further information and free registration can be found at: Swindon Travel Hub Cruise & Holiday Show
Event Details
What: Swindon Travel Hub Cruise & Holiday Show
When: Sunday 5th July 2026
Where: County Ground, Swindon
Admission: Free Entry
Registration: Recommended in advanceCruise Lines
- MSC Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
- Ambassador Cruise Line
- Silversea Cruises
Tour Operators & Holiday Specialists
- Newmarket Holidays
- Wendy Wu Tours
- Riviera Travel
- Typically Holidays
- Anzcro
- Red Sea Holidays
With more suppliers still to confirm.
Special Features
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- Folding back… J.P. Oldfield & Gaz Brookfield, The Fold, Devizes, Friday 5th June 2026
by Ian Diddams
images by Sarah Bec and The FoldAbout a million years ago, before covid and lockdown, when the thought of Liz Truss as a P.M. was a laughable idea [Ed. – nothing has changed] and when a Post Office scandal was when the sub post mistress was found to be having an affair with the vicar, there was a magical place hidden away in the roof space of a former stables [Ed. – needs more research] where performers would entertain the thronged masses of Devizes [Ed. – it’s not that big] on Friday and Saturday nights
“The Fold”.
Just the name conjures up distant, hazy memories of wonderful acts like “Jasper in the Company of Others”, Dan Allen of “Ducking Punches”, “Lonely Tourist” and so many more. In that roll-call of greatness as one looks back through the history of “The Fold” there is one of several names that crops up time and time again… Gaz Brookfield, or as one listing shows, Gareth Brookfield! Then “The Fold” was no more for several years after October 2018, but has reopened its doors this year under the maestro-ship of J.P. Oldfield, or Josh if you need a vape, where already its hallowed newly painted walls have seen a “Lost Trades” reunited trio, Meg & Siren, “Bluebeard and the Desperate Hours”, and an open mic already.And thence to last Friday when previously Fold regular Gareth Brookfield returned to one of his old stomping grounds. If you don’t already know Gaz is a solo acoustic guy (occasionally cobbling his Company of Thieves together) from the West Country, who through Trial and Error has built a solid following round these parts and further afield, with two number one albums to his name. Modest as ever he claims he only plays Four chords and the Truth, but the reality is his lyrical penmanship is second to none, even if he insists his two chums, Messrs Turner and Faulkner i.e., Frank and Sam, are better. [Ed. – They aren’t. Just equally talented]. His Career Moves saw him based in Bristol and London, but eventually the draw of SN1 was too strong and he is returned now to the Shire.[Ed. – That’s enough song title dropping!]
Gaz has recently completed his “Village Halls” tour, literally booking and playing at village halls across the country in his self-managed, one-man band set-up, where audiences were treated to two sets the first of which were tracks that he rarely plays at gigs. Last year his tour comprised two songs from each of his ten albums. This Fold gig was in a similar vein of both, with an hour and quarter or so of songs he rarely, if ever plays live, from each of his albums in reverse chronology. Setlist as follows and many of the linked videos below are from Friday’s gig – credit and thanks to @waitingforwinter !
SN1
Trial and error
Death Bed
Four Chords and the Truth
Frank and Sam
Oaleago
Cornish fishing town
Solo Acoustic Guy
Towns
LW3
Career Moves (Loudon Wainwright III cover)
Nuggets
Aborglyph
Pantomime
RIP Inner Me
Caravan Bingo
West Country song (what else to finish on?)Gaz was engaging and lovely as he ever is, with interesting stories regarding each of his songs. I was personally delighted to hear “Nuggets” and “Aborglyph” as I thought I’d never get to hear “Nuggets” again, if only because of its progeny and Gaz’s relationship with his friend, and “Aborglyph” is simply a beautiful song. The seventy strong sold-out crowd sang and danced in the Fold’s confines in what was quite a “warm” and “sticky” atmosphere 😊
The gig had been promoted by J.P. Oldfield, who, no slouch with a guitar himself, had opened the show with a nine song, forty-five-minute set of his blues based, Johnny Cash style, deep voiced magic. Setlist below and for your very delectation, another wonderful video from Friday night from @waitingforthewinter with “Further from Heaven”.
St. James Infirmary
Heavy was the rain
Satan’s bar and grill
The Preacher’s Noose
House of the Rising Sun
Song 2
The Best I Can
Further from Heaven
No restHe claimed credit for writing “Rising Sun” but I felt he was just joking… but most of that list are all his own work, and are to appear on his new EP, due for release on September 26th this year – a full six track EP. Devizine covers that release in this article…
Five tracks from that new EP plus “Satan’s bar and grill” and “Preacher’s Noose” gave us an excellent review of JP’s own work. There were also a couple of covers – “St. James Infirmary” and “House of the Rising Sun” – but rendered in a very JP Oldfield manner very much making them his own – and that is not faint praise.
The Fold is very much making a welcome return and with gigs of this quality to look forward to its future is hopefully bright – so follow its Facebook page and book the September 26th for an EP release party at – where else – “The Fold”!
devizine.com 