Tag: Atari Pilot

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.

• Discovering the Devizes Festival of Discovery!

  Yeah I know, right, it’s come up on us rather unexpectedly, this Festival of Discovery thing, hasn’t it?! What’s it’s all about then, I hear you ask. With DOCA busy with the hugely successful Confetti Battle and Colour Rush, they’ve not had time to update their website yet, so here’s what we know so far, and how Devizine got involved; let’s discover what we can and The Festival of Discovery!

  The Festival of Discovery is a new free weekend festival for Devizes, organised by DOCA. It is happening across the weekend of Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October. The festival will consist of three zones. Each zone is closed to traffic and is curated with wonderful happenings for you to explore, all connecting with their theme. Some performers will be travelling between zones. “Make sure you explore all of them,” DOCA says, “there is something for everyone in each zone!”

  One zone then, is at The Market Place and is labelled “Discover Community.” This is the place to sit, eat, listen to music, watch shows, make something in a workshop and make new friends.

  The second zone will be at The Brittox, “Discover Nature.” Swap, learn, repair, watch nature-inspired shows, check out our willow installations, make a dandelion flower and ride on the Bewonderment Machine. Think about how we can help and appreciate the nature that is all around us. In this nature zone, a huge willow structure will weave its way through the Brittox, transforming the town’s main shopping street into a unique woodland-inspired walk.

  The third zone is in Sidmouth Street, the Youth and Community Zones; discover young perspectives. “If you are or have ever been young,” DOCA says, “you’ll enjoy this zone!” There are games, inflatables, and a mini-stage for talented young musicians; the latter is where Devizine comes in, and the bit I want to tell you most about, despite the fact that I’m neither young nor talented!

  I’m delighted DOCA has asked me to host this stage, and with it I’m bringing some friends along; only the finest lineup of youthful talent in Wiltshire! The focus is on acoustic and singer-songwriters aged from 13 to 23, but there will be cover artists too, a couple of duos, and we will give them the freedom to perform what they wish.

  

  So, we will be in Albion Place at Sidmouth Street from 11:30am to 5:30pm both days, please, join us, and support these incredible young artists. Do not assume Sunday is going to be the lesser day, it seriously is not. I’ve had such a huge response to this, I’ve been crazy busy trying to organise it, and squeeze everyone in. Our grand finales on both Saturday and Sunday will blow your mind! And, if you’re thinking, ‘it’s just a bunch of kids’ you are still welcome, because you will be the most surprised!

  ---

  So, in order of appearance from 11:30 till 5:30, we present, on the Devizine Launchpad! 

  Saturday: Stan Jenkins, Sienna Wileman, Braydon-Lee Jones, Jodie Lauren, Ed Dowdeswell, Rosie Jay, Emelia Houchin, Meg Hoy.

  On Sunday we have Tamzin Antignani, Lois Millington, Indigo Avenue, Alfie Crinion, Orla and Jack, Seren Alyssa, Poppy Rose and Ruby Darbyshire.

  It’s going to be amazing, I’m more excited than they are! And I look forward to seeing you all there! Here’s some teasers…..

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• Lady Nade’s New Album, Identity

  There’s musical acts which play united on equal pegging, and then there’s those which follow the lead of a virtuoso. Be it guitar, like Hendrix, the poetry of Dylan, or trumpet like Miles Davis, any specific field of expertise, but none are so emotively poignant as the human voice….

  It would be unfair on anyone to compare their vocals with Bristol-based singer-songwriter, Lady Nade; I have to save this for the likes of Anita Baker’s rich phrasing and control, the gospel roots of Aretha Franklin’s, and, particularly, the smoky contralto of Nina Simone. Lady Nade has a new album, Indentity, out tomorrow, Friday 2nd October, a deeply personal album of self-discovery, self-acceptance and the courage to show the world who you truly are; it does, sublimely.

  The more I immerse myself into this album, the more intricate details I discover. Lucky I don’t give star ratings out of ten because there aren’t enough in the galaxy to award this treasure trove with what it deserves!

  We first reviewed a Lady Nade album back in 2021, Willing, where it was heavy with nods towards country influences, and I waffled about Ray Charles’ affection for the genre. This time, with only subtle sprinkles of roots, more of jazz and blues, the concentration though is soul. This lady takes on every subgenre of soul, track by track, and even with the blending of other styles, by the meaning of these ingeniously penned songs and Lady’s extensive vocal range giving them emotive deliveries, they win every time.

  Other than the general theme of courage and self-acceptance, there’s no precise running concept through the album; it is a collection of independent songs, where each holds its own narrative and prose; often of transformation, hope or resilience, but each one amazing within its own category.

  “Identity exists because of the love that surrounds me,” Lady Nade says of the album. “I hope these songs offer a safe space for anyone who has ever felt they had to hide parts of themselves to belong. We all deserve to be seen, heard and celebrated for who we are. This album is a reflection of what it means to be human, and to stand in our own truth.”

  

  If there’s an objective embedded into the album, it’s most prominent with the metaphoric penultimate song, Masks, a lounge jazz earworm which really brings the essence of Lady Nade’s homage to Nina Simone. Where it is that the album is honest reflection, and effectively “unmasks” the Lady behind, the summary is in the conclusion and the last single to be released from the album, Bloom; the empowering cure, an uplifting motive, akin to Heather Small’s Proud, but so much more delicate and subtle, it’s awe-inspiring.

  The theme of strength above the odds kicks in with the title track at the opening, and it’s a funky introduction. Funk makes a huge return halfway through with the righteous Stand, to make Marva Whitney blush. But the prospective love single One of Us comes second, with these subtle roots elements, and an irresistible singalong chorus rich with upbeat pop commercial viability; whoa, there’s a lot going on with this Identity, but as with any, they’re multi-layered.

  With a beautiful acoustic guitar riff, Rainbow, brings the uplifting sentiment into play with the most prominent nod to folk roots. And while there’s delightful ballads like Powerless, there’s Sober, the doo-wop inspired catchy little handclapping beauty that it is.

  The most vivid in subject is Smoke & Mirrors, and undoubtedly of the least abstract or of personal poignancy. It’s a jazzy homage to Hattie McDaniel, telling the story of Georgia’s racial segregation causing her to be banned from 1939’s Gone with the Wind premiere, and even at the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles, where she was required to sit at a segregated table away from the rest of the film’s white cast and crew.

  The remaining songs, though, are more personal, and open to the listener’s reflections and interpretations, and with a voice like Lady Nade’s, one which Cerys Matthews of BBC Radio 6 Music describes as “a pure voice that gets stuck in your mind,” it is impossible not be immersed in this wonderful album.

  Identity is out on the 2nd October 2026. Lady Nade will celebrate the release of Identity with a UK headline tour running from Friday 6th to Saturday 21st November 2026. If you recall, you lovely local people, Lady Nade did bless Devizes Arts Festival, it was one my all time favourite gigs in Devizes.

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• My River, New Single from M3G

  Tomorrow, Friday 2nd October, sees a new single from Chippenham indie folk singer-songwriter Meg Hoy, or M3G, and it’s called My River…..

  If you deem songwriters using rivers as metaphors as a bit cliché these days, from Springsteen’s safety net for the burdens of youthful relationships, or Joni Mitchell’s desperate escapism, to Billy Joel’s spiritual quest, or Neil Young’s haunting impulsive act, I’d nod, and tend to agree…but…

  Rivers often, and arguably more simply, represent the relentless passage of time, a comforting escape from relationship issues, or bold life or spiritual journeys. I’ve expressed the originality  in past reviews of Meg’s songs, and how she angles subjects with breathtaking honesty, and completely unique prose. My River is the perfect example, for here’s a commonly used subject, but Meg uses the river more as emotional balance; a kind of psychological therapeutic acupuncture.

  “The timeless presence of my river helps me find perspective through my pain,” she said, explaining “I grew up on and around the River Avon, it has been a constant in my life, something I can always rely on to be there.”

  “Another constant over the past seven years has been my pains and aches throughout my body. I wrote this song as I was being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Coming to terms with the fact that there is nothing physically causing all of my pain and that it would be around for the rest of my life was something I did not want to do. But as my pain will continue, so will the river that I love.”

  

  Perhaps the most appropriate song about rivers to compare this by composition to, is The Byrds, Ballad of Easy Rider, which Dylan famously scribbled the chorus to on a napkin for the director, Peter Fonda, because both flow like rivers.

  Acoustic for a minute, until subtle layers of chanting develop, and the whole composition of Meg’s river themed song builds in intensity to a climax of ultimate expression, just how a river builds its flow to an estuary. My River presents Meg vocally more mature than anything past. The effect is spellbinding.

  “The name ‘Avon’ comes a Celtic word used thousands of years ago to mean river,” Meg said, “so the River Avon literally means the River River!”

  Equally this song is so intensely beautiful, it should be named twice!

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• Flora Fiora Kicking the Tyres

  Chedworth, Gloucestershire; proud village soloist, songwriter and model Flora Fiora is kicking the tyres and smashing windows in with a new single, and it’s about as explosive as female rage sounds…..

  With Olivia Rodrigo fashioned dynamic and unfiltered sound of Gen Z vulnerability, hints of Florence & The Machine’s baroque indie-pop, and the radical emotional honesty in the songwriting of Lizzy McAlpine, Kick the Tyres is a new new wave, and shows Flora Fiora at her most fiery. If this is airing frustrations, just roll with it, because Flora Fiora makes it sound sublimely perfected. 

  Her third single of the year, the others all worthy of checking out; but this one, this one totally smashes it. It’s an instant like from me!

  

  I met Flora supporting Talk in Code at their single launch at The Vic in Swindon last year. There she was in acoustic splendour, but wielding an electric guitar; I knew this was going to go off. Outside I congratulated her, she took control of my phone from my intoxicated sausage fingers, too wonky to press the right buttons, to ensure I followed her Insta, and besides the perfection of her rocking performance there, coupled with the notion I wouldn’t advise rashly lending your phone out to any rock chick on those mean streets of Swindon, Kick the Tyres confirms I did the right thing!

  Linktree

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• The Wharf Theatre Becomes New National Theatre Live Screening Centre; Launching with The Misanthrope starring Sandra Oh

  The Wharf Theatre in Devizes is thrilled to announce a major new chapter in its artistic programme: the theatre has officially become a registered screening centre for National Theatre Live, bringing world‑class theatre from the West End directly to Wiltshire…..

  From November 2026, audiences will be able to enjoy up to 12 NT Live productions every year, screened in stunning high‑definition and presented with the same care, atmosphere, and community spirit that defines the Wharf Theatre’s live performance season.

  The programme launches with an exceptional first screening:

  The Misanthrope – starring Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh

  Tuesday 3rd November 2026 at 7.30pm Tickets: £18 + booking fee Discounts available for Wharf Theatre members.

  Artistic Director of the Wharf Theatre, Alison Warren said, “becoming an NT Live venue is a huge step forward for us. It means our community can experience the very best of British theatre without travelling to London. We’re proud to offer a programme that is both accessible and artistically ambitious.”

  Audiences can expect a diverse year-round slate of productions—from gripping dramas and reimagined classics to bold new writing—each captured live from the West End and delivered straight to Devizes.

  Tickets for The Misanthrope and the upcoming NT Live season are available now via the Wharf Theatre website and Box Office.

  National Theatre Live | The Misanthrope

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• Devizine Launchpad! Hosting Emerging Talent Area at DOCA Festival of Discovery

  Young, talented, I tick neither box, but I am delighted to tell you Devizine has assembled the very best of emerging musical talent from across Wiltshire, and we’re showcasing them at Albion Place on Sidmouth Street, Devizes, for DOCA’s Festival of Discovery on the 17th&18th of October. From 11:30am until 5:30pm we will squeeze in 16 young upcoming and professional acts; you will be amazed!

  For many years now Devizine has been promoting local music, and over those years we’ve seen young talent rise to professional capacity and become renowned nationwide names. There’s an uprising, the next generation are here! I could fondly waffle on about them and have faith you’ll take heed, but proof is the bottom line! I’m delighted to be able to host this amazing opportunity, presenting proof to you!

  

  Subject to change, our line-up includes:

  Saturday 17^th October:

  11:30: Stan Jenkins

  12:00: Sienna Wileman

  12:40: Braydon-Lee Jones

  13:30: Jodie Lauren

  14:20: Ed Dowdeswell

  15:10: Rosie Jay

  16:00: Emelia Houchin

  16:45: Meg Hoy

  ---

  Sunday 18^th October:

  11:30: Tamzin Antignani

  12:00: Lois Millington

  12:30: Indigo Avenue

  13:20: Alfie Crinion

  14:10: Jack Ralph

  15:00: Seren Alyssa

  15:50: Poppy Rose

  16:40: Ruby Darbyshire

  I hope to see as many of you as possible, supporting live local music, and the youngest of our most talented performers. More information to come, and we will include bios and info on all our artists. For now, just had to get the message out there; I think I’m more excited about this than they are!!

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• Loser to Loser; George Wilding’s New Single

  Second single of 2026 from local legend George Wilding, Loser to Loser is a grower which carries a delightful punch…if any type of punch could be deemed delightful, this is probably it!

  There’s something breezily contented indie-pop about George’s recent releases with more commercial viability, rather than the often whimsically lost or dejected characters of his early works. I’m tempted to reach more to bands like The Boo Radleys or Deacon Blue for a comparison than The Velvet Underground.

  Although there’s something broken in the relationship in Loser to Loser, where past characters might let it get them down, they seem to face up to realities gratified, or at least nonchalantly. Perhaps to match with the catchy hook and lively ambience. George declares in the song, a system of an accusation designed to confuse and amuse you.

  It kicks off with an electric guitar riff like an eighties power-pop anthem, but an “ooh-ooh” vocable breathing something more doo-wop or Motown, but whether George ventures for hints of quirky or experimental hidden details, it’s incomparable and unmistakenly George Wilding; a cracking single!

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  Trending…

  

  Devizes Brickley Lane Play Area Public Consultation

  Devizes Town Council would like to hear your views on the proposed scheme for the Brickley Lane Play Area… They are inviting residents and the local community to share their feedback. The consultation closes on the 30th September 2026. The Town Council is proposing to refurbish the Brickley Lane Play Area, which has been closed…

  by Darren Worrow Sep 16, 2026Sep 16, 2026

  

  The Bayeux Tapestry: In-Conversation Event in Frome

  In 2027, British Museum exhibition curator Michael Lewis and medieval historian Janina Ramirez will be appearing at Frome’s Cheese & Grain for an exclusive talk on The Bayeux Tapestry…. This special event invites audiences behind the scenes of one of the most talked about exhibitions in recent history. On Saturday 6th March 2027, join the…

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  What’s on at the Wharf Theatre in October?

  OCTOBER at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes arrives with a burst of creativity, variety and irresistible entertainment. This month’s programme showcases everything that makes the Wharf Theatre such a beloved cultural home: bold theatre, international film, Shakespearean drama, laugh‑out‑loud comedy and the soaring power of live opera. It’s a rich, colourful season designed to surprise, delight…

  by Darren Worrow Sep 15, 2026
• New Ladies-Only Club Opens In The Market Place.

  A ladies-only club, four gloriously eccentric rooms and a barista in a bowler hat: The Dressing House is anything but ordinary. Devizine contributor Charlotte Howard bought a ticket to its second soft launch to find out what was going on behind the doors…..

  I’d been dying to know what was happening at 40 Market Place ever since I spotted The Dressing House on Instagram, and rushed to buy a ticket as soon as they became available. Numbers were limited to give the new team a chance to settle in. The invitation was intriguingly titled “The Department of Very Important Outfits” and said groups and singles were welcome. So I bravely went alone, while my husband dropped me outside and left me to navigate the world of ladies-wot-lunch.

  

  I’m socially awkward at the best of times, but the team made me feel at home immediately, with a warm welcome and a glass of bubbly thrust into my hand. Then came a tour of four rooms, each decorated in glorious, eclectic, maximalist style.

  

  There’s the main parlour, looking out over Devizes Market Place; the Peacock Room, where colourful clothes are displayed in a rainbow of shades; the Raven Room, dressed in monochrome for more formal events; and the bar, ably run by the token male barista in a bowler hat, radiating reassuringly non-threatening energy.

  I quickly made friends and met Jemma and her mum, Sabrina, who lives above the shop and is keen to make new friends in town. I didn’t get to meet Jemma’s sister Tami, who looks after the work behind the scenes. Jemma’s young assistants were an absolute delight, and after a good rummage through the rails of gorgeous clothes, we settled down to lunch in the main parlour.

  All the clothes are second-hand and available to buy. You can also bring in your own clothes to exchange for credit to spend at The Dressing House. It’s a brilliant idea for anyone with a wardrobe full of things they no longer wear but can’t quite bear to part with.

  Lunch was a charcuterie selection, beautifully arranged on high-tea plates and served with vintage cups. Then the games began. We were each given a character and a mission, and told to dress up using the clothes in the two rooms.

  

  My mission was to play an artist dressing for her first feature in Vogue. Unfortunately, I was too fat for most of the outfits, but I still had a great time putting my former skills as a professional stylist to work, helping everyone else put their looks together. I then shoved a load of flowers into my hair, drew on a monobrow and became Frida Kahlo.

  

  Prizes were handed out, more drinks were poured, numbers were exchanged and new friends were made. Before I knew it, the three hours had flown by. My husband was waiting patiently outside to take his inebriated wife home. Apparently there will be the occasional “bring your well-behaved man” night too: the feminist answer to a Masonic ladies’ night.

  It takes guts to turn an idea this big into a real place, and I’m thrilled to see it happening in our town. It’s just what Devizes needs. Jemma already has plans to expand into more buildings once The Dressing House outgrows this space.

  The Dressing House is welcoming, imaginative and gloriously different. Wishing Jemma, Tami, Sabrina and the whole team every success.

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  Dinosaurs at Jurassic Hillworth Park!

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  3 Daft Monkeys Jumping on The Barge at Honeystreet

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  “Playhouse Creatures” at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, October 8th-10th – A preview

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  Halloween Firewalk for Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance

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  Ruby Darbyshire’s Freeman Tribute at Ilfracombe Festival

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  “Pink Mist” at The Mission Theatre, Bath, September 9th-12th

  by Ian Diddams images by Mike Stevens This week marks 25 years since 9/11 (11 September 2001), when the world awoke to the…

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  I See Orange Pining For Apollo

  If spring saw Swindon’s premier rock trio I See Orange breaking new ground on a US tour, autumn brings with it their first…

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  DOCA Awarded National Lottery Grant

  Congratulations to Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts, who announced yesterday that they’ve been awarded a substantial National Lottery Project Grant from Arts Council England….…

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• World Food Day Ends Devizes Food & Drink Festival

  Yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy! Another great year for Devizes Food & Drink Festival ended on Sunday with the World Food Day at the Corn Exchange. A hugely popular free event which annually sees queues heading out of the Market Place of hungry Devizions prepared to sample small dishes of a massive variety, prepared from locals with oversea origins….

  I’m not well travelled, but my belly is, thanks to The Devizes Food & Drink Festival! In a market town like Devizes, there’s limited options for exotic dining. We have Chinese, Indian and Italian covered, and I must give a shout out to Som-Som’s Thai-day Friday, but other than a kebab, that’s about as adventurous as it gets on a day-to-day basis. With dishes at just 60p each, your tastebuds can explore the world like Phileas Fogg’s bib.

  

  I confess, last time I attended this I went overboard and had to sample everything; “eyes bigger than his belly” my nan used to say about me, but I learn lessons slowly and by means of “the hard way!” I had to apply a small dose of self-control this year, and be selective, but it all looked so scrump-diddly-ump-tious!

  

  What did you go for? Spoiled for choice we were! From Austria, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Spain, Italy, even the Isle of Man. From Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria. From Asia, Japan, India, China, Vietnam and Taiwan. And African countries, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. I was wowed by everything I had; the spiced potato fritter, Hong Kong minced beef with potato chips, Italian minestra, the South African fish dish on a hot cross bun! I couldn’t get near the Vietnamese summer rolls, the queue was too big; I worried I might miss out on other things! My favourite, I must say, was the Lousianna gumbo!

  

  All delicious though, puddings too! I had a chocolate almond slice from Austria, but the winner there was sticky doughnut from Namibia. What a fantastic lunch, what an inspiring community event; I shed a tear as I made my way back to the car, for the few people dining in Spoons; seriously?!!

  The Quizzine event has been postponed until 9th October, but other than this, World Food Day ends another great year for The Devizes Food & Drink Festival…back to the old lunchbox for Monday morning!

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  Trending…..

  

  Chippenham MP Sarah Gibson Reflects on Shayne Hambakachere Case

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  Wiltshire Music Awards Announce Ceremony Lineup, Excruciatingly AI 

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  Howard Barker’s Scenes from an Execution Coming to Wharf Theatre

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  For A Lifetime, Luke Gittins

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  Radiant by Kirsty A Wilmott: Local Author Book Review

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  We Were Ready for Some Flocksteady Beats!

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  What to Do? September in Wiltshire

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  Kruger Will Nick Your Vote, Johnny Foreigner

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• 3 Daft Monkeys at The Barge on HoneyStreet

  Witnessed amazing fireworks for Confetti Battle in Devizes, and I hopped eastwards to that sacred hippy haven in the Pewsey Vale, The Barge at HoneyStreet; what better place for equinox? For while there’s always a hedonistic happening here, this particular autumn occasion was unmissable; 3 Daft Monkeys were heading from Cornwall for their final night of a summer tour; that’s a perfect recipe for a high octane detonation of scrumpy & western skulduggery…and it went off!

  3 Daft Monkeys applauded the crowd and the vibe of the Barge as vital factors to a cracking night, but whilst it’s worthy praise, being the Barge is that little pocket of counterculture resistance in an affluent, often conservative area, a sacred space for UFO enthusiasts, eccentric boaters, campers, and die-hard free party people, it was those 3 Daft Monkeys who really brought the party with them, and these two clash of Titans, the band and the establishment, would ensure it went off.

  Four 3 Daft Monkeys there are, actually; bad maths or simply irrelevant I forgot to ask. Hair of a Troll Doll frontman Tim, has matchless honest and loveable stage presence, accompanied by the exceptional gypsy fiddler, metal looking bassist with stamina, and a proficient drummer fusing standard drumkit with bongos, and the gusto of the Muppet Animal. Celebrating their twenty-fifth year, they know what buttons to press to enthuse a crowd to ecstatic proportions, and do with certain ease. 

  

  It might appear as a random raggle-taggle outfit, dressed independently quirky as they are, but boy, are they tight as band, unified by dedication to a unique sound, motivation to an energy-busting fusion of contemporary Westcountry folk rock, punk and ska, breakneck Balkan, Bavarian oomphlah, and anything else they care to lob into the carnival melting pot. If influences vary, the magic is composition, as they merge into a definite uniform.

  I fondly reviewed their album Information Camouflage two years ago, and have been aching to see them live since, because through the lively recordings it was obvious from the off, they’re a must-see. I’m so chuffed with myself I made the effort to cross them off that list; it was a sublime evening with the excitement of a toddler on Christmas morning. Naturally, my dad-dancing feet were in their element; we don’t get enough of this stuff around here, in my honest opinion, thus why the Barge on HoneyStreet is as loved as it is.

  

  It hosts the unusual, the quirky, and maintains the zestful zeitgeist of now, a post-free-party era where matured revellers congregate to continue the party they started at the beginning of their adulthood, be it any past decade or culture. The Barge nonchalantly caters for travellers; the complete campsite, pub grub or street food outside, its wharf, children’s activities, but most proudly of all, this overall ongoing comfy, friendly festival vibe.

  After a few management issues over the last decade, everyone here now praises Lenny and his team, who has unleashed the full potential of the surroundings and wharfside inn, and has transformed the Barge into the temple they only could have imagined it could become; it’s a fortean empire, a quirky theme park of charming yet unconventional.

  

  Apt then for 3 Daft Monkeys to jump on its bed. Themes of their songs vary, from hope to redemption, and prose of revolutionary social and political uprisings to comically whimsical cases of mistaken identity, such as a mermaid actually being just a fish with the head of a monkey. But whether the matter is fact or fiction, the mood is a frenzy of fiddles and guitar, a beautiful upbeat stomp of boundless shindig. And they do it with bells on.

  This highly entertaining showdown was supported by two other apt acts. Secondly Lenny No-Strings, with a bassist and fiddler of his own, apt for more reasons than because he runs the place. It was a psychedelic blues art piece, seemingly improv, but built into the framework.

  

  But most impressive was the South African fairy harpist standing before my eyes upon arrival in the barn, projecting a corona aurora onto the backdrop painting. Julía Faé expressively played acoustic guitar and swapped for a harp, to passionately deliver some lovely spiritual songs of fairies and ufos; it was all very otherworldly, mystical and beautiful. It’s not everyday a harp comes into play, so this was a pleasant surprise alone, aside Julía’s proficiency in using it.

  What I loved about 3 Daft Monkeys, aside their deliciously professional outpourings, which gave me pre-thoughts of having to bodaciously knock on a green room door to chat with, was their genuine charisma; that they stayed around to party with the punters and joined in the skullduggery all around us. But then, who wouldn’t?! The Barge is such a wonderful place, brimful of joy and positive vibrations, and long may it be so!

  

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