Tag: blues

Burning the Midday Oil at The Muck

Highest season of goodwill praises must go to Chrissy Chapman today, who raised over ยฃ500 (at the last count) for His Grace Childrenโ€™s Centre in Uganda, with a little help from talented friendsโ€ฆ.

Years back as soloist singer-songwriter One Trick Pony, Chrissy organised annual fundraising gigs at the Southgate around Christmas time, but now tuned up a notch with her incredible Americana band Burn the Midnight Oil behind her it was a high noon lock up and load for a Sunday afternoon hoedown at the Muck and Dunder rum bar in Devizes. The better half, Mrs Devizine, has been asking me to take her somewhere tropical, so given such an opportunity, we bused it to The Brittox.

With Burn The Midnight Oil rightfully grasping the top slot with the same intensity as me holding my pineapple vase of piรฑa colada, all kicked off at half-two with Gary Hewitt-Long performing a rare acoustic set. New to the game, and while I obviously cannot condone a satirical song aimed at a certain rogue local councillor, Gary was unnecessarily bashful, as he acoustically played out some great originals to warm the crowd!

Perhaps it was the crowd which, understandably nerved him; it sure was building, as Martin Rea sauntered through them, sporting a fashionable bum bag and dishing out raffle tickets.

A Wiltshire duo new to me, One Plus One may offer sums even I can handle in name, but their performance was delightful. A proficient and lovable pop cover duo to please any event, One Plus One is guitarist Dave, and Emily on vocals, confident to take on an Amy Winehouse cover or two and come up trumps. Chapel Roan’s Pink Pony Club also got a superb makeover, and they polished it off with the seasonal Fairytale of New York; why not?

Maybe only because our modest local folk legend Vince Bell, who followed, also planned to finalise his sublime set with the UK’s best loved Christmas song, with his wife Lisa as Kirsty MacColl. Though more musical theatre, no stranger to the limelight, Lisa nailed it, and the handsome, pretty, and the queens of New Devizes City crowd never minded the doubled up cover and sang the chorus.

Vince also offered Chrissy the accompanying chair for a spellbinding middle duet they supposed they should record, and they should. But beginning his set with his divine self-penned melancholic earworms, garnished in percussive rhythm guitar mastery akin to flamenco, and raising the spirit with the more spritely Spiderman Pajamas, Vince is a local treasure and never fails to charm.


Exactly a year after we first interviewed the original lineup, Burn The Midnight Oil came bursting on and delivered their awesome set with unified passion and precision, seemingly lapping up every minute. You’d be excused for assuming this band has been playing together for decades despite it being less than a year in the new format.

They appeased the audience with a taste of what they’ve been working on, looked fantabulous, and, most importantly, put 210% into their show. Yet it was arguably the sum of all these parts and the community festive spirit, which made it the wonderful afternoon it was.

Chatting With Burn The Midnight Oil

Itโ€™s nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisburyโ€™s Radio Odstock ย picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oil and they gained air time, but the interview was published short of year ago now, and the band have had significant changes to the lineup and their style. So, I the time is nigh to poke my bulbous nose in and interrupt their rehearsal againโ€ฆ..

Formerly a trio, bassist Chris Lane remains with Chrissy Chapman up front,ย  but guitarist Andy Jacobs sadly passed away this year. โ€œAndy was an amazing musician and really helped carve out our initial sonic signature,โ€ Chrissy told me. โ€œWeโ€™ve always wanted to acknowledge his creative contributions, given that music ran through him like the letters in a stick of rock. However, for reasons I canโ€™t discuss out of respect for everyone involved, the band collectively decided that it was no longer suitable for Andy to remain involved. Weโ€™ve made every attempt to show him grace since that decision but there was a negative backlash. Regardless, we were all very sad to hear he passed away shortly after, and our sympathies remain with his family and loved ones. Weโ€™re committed to remembering him in the best light.โ€

โ€œThere was definitely concern about doing the songs justice after we parted ways with Andy,โ€ Chrissy continued. โ€œEventually, though, we made a conscious effort to develop a new sound that honoured the music while allowing John the creative freedom. The core of our sound now focuses on doing the  songs justice rather than trying to replicate what Andy originally brought to the table and embracing the natural evolution of our sound that draws from all of our influences.โ€

The Original Trio of Chrissy, Chris and Andy

John Lane joined as guitarist, but was making me a cuppa while I was chatting with  Ron Riordan, the new drummer. Theyโ€™ve both been instrumental in forging a new direction for the band, literally! John said of Andyโ€™s passing, โ€œas part of getting through that phase the band has grown,โ€ and Ron added it had โ€œevolved.โ€

Turning to Chrissy I jested that when we did the original interview, she had suggested they didn’t need a drummer! โ€œWell,โ€ she explained, โ€œwe always needed a drummer, but we were able to perform at the time without a drummer because we were percussive enough. And it went down really well. A couple of venues, we did three gigs before we got Ron, a brilliant drummer!โ€

Ron stepped in immediately at a crossover period between Andy and John, a proficient drummer who told me he had played in a few ska bands in Swindon, โ€œI started playing drums when I was about nine, in orchestras and learnt to read music, that type of thing.โ€ I smiled; he looks like he can blast a Two-Tone riff. โ€œThat’s the thing though,โ€ Chrissy said, โ€œbecause straight away we had DOCAโ€™s Winter of Festive Ales booked. So it was like, everybody had to jump on really, really quickly. And we wanted to use that as an opportunity to do the originals.โ€

It was on the strength of the demo I asked them to play RowdeFest, I hadnโ€™t seen them performing before. But the committee was encouraging me to find a covers band. โ€œWe followed your advice about doing the covers,โ€ Chrissy said, though it wasnโ€™t really advise, rather a  way to get them booked! Iโ€™m so glad they did, they were dynamite and feedback was overwhelming. The kind of band youโ€™d think had been on the circuit for years. โ€œI felt that we were at the party at the end of the day!โ€ John remarked, and they certainly was.

โ€œWhat was nice about that is it the focus was about โ€˜let’s give people a showโ€™ rather than it just being about  โ€˜let’s get our songs outโ€™,โ€ Chrissy explained. โ€œYour influence was about getting a show to give to people, keeping people up on their feet, so and not allowing those breathers.โ€  I did encourage them to ensure they blasted some originals out too, though, which they did!

โ€œWe tried to dress it on different levels of the visual,โ€ John stressed, โ€œwearing the outfits, the recognition of known songs, and the come on, party time!โ€

โ€œYeah, it worked, didn’t it?โ€ I replied, a template to liven up a pub gig, and Burn the Midnight Oil are certainly getting them. The Queenโ€™s Tap in Swindon and Kings Arms in Amesbury their recent outings, but how do they feel about how far theyโ€™ve come?

โ€œGiven that the new face of us being coming up a four piece with Andy’s departure in January, to get that in the space of a year, well, less than a year,โ€ Chrissy said, โ€œas a new lineup, I think it’s quite incredible.โ€

Itโ€™s the added drums which changes it, I supposed, surely essential for a harder rock feel.

โ€œIt changes the scale of the presentation,โ€ John added. โ€œIt’s now got drive and rhythm rather than being listening for the lyric. It’s actually motivated, it hooks into people’s natural sense of rhythm, and you can’t help it. First thing people take in is rhythm, then melody, last of all, lyrics. So if you hook the first bit, you don’t get the second one, then they come back for the lyrics. So we’re attacking it from the best angle.โ€

Here was were I felt a healthy division between John and Chrissyโ€™s perspective, as she began to speak on where she drew inspiration from in the writing and a change in direction from  intrapersonal to interpersonal. She drew from personal relationships and her faith, implying her writing was key, but the difference was never confrontational and a good blend of opinion is surely necessary to compose the elements of a song professionally.  

โ€œI had a tsunami of a creative spell, and wrote twenty songs in as many days. So we’re now, everybody’s having to play catch up, trying to get them polished!โ€ Chrissy explained. She labelled her past songs as an โ€œangsty teenage phase,โ€ and felt her songwriting about โ€œgood guy/scumbagsโ€ had evolved and matured into โ€œsomething more universal. It’s not so much like a diary, it’s definitely becoming more cryptic. It’s pulling in a different kind of imagery and symbolism. And then, because I’m faith-based as well, I’ve given a lot of inspiration taking verses from the Bible that have really helped me through difficult times. I’m weaving them, not to be preachy, but just to be like, this is my story.โ€

โ€œWeโ€™d like the two songs we did at the award ceremony, to polish it up more, get a scratch track done, and then we’re going to go back to Matt Millerโ€™s Dusty Shed, who did the original three.โ€

โ€œWe can’t really use the original EP anymore. And also, it’s fair to say with John’s influences, and the way that we’re allowing space for his creative flow to come into it, it just sounds different.โ€

John pointed out his mixer was adequate when I pondered if they needed a producer. Chrissy replied while it would be โ€œfantastic,โ€  she crunched numbers and said they, โ€œreally want to get onto the festival circuit, and that means having tracks done ASAP.โ€

Captivating to listen to Chrissy delving deeper into the inspiration behind her songwriting and the maturity she felt it levelling to, in which she exclaimed with much delight, โ€œit’s definitely been refreshing having John’s influence, him sharing how he sees it as a viewer. Because you write what you know, and unfortunately, I’ve been exposed to quite a lot of things that I don’t think many people would ever want to be exposed to. And being able to find hope and joy in some of the songs and being able to write happier songs. For the first time ever, I’ve written two love songs! I’ve never written love songs before! So, there definitely seems to be more universal themes.โ€

Yet as fascinating as it is, hearing Chrissyโ€™s writing motivations, John revealing the technical side to their development, Ron adding splices of drummer-fashioned wit, and together them trying to summarise their change in direction whether it be a more rock-blues or dark-country, only to finally decide it unnecessary to pigeonhole it anyway, it makes for a laborious read, so I thought I’d inject a light-hearted, more physical observation with Chris, who otherwise, I suspect, wouldโ€™ve remained silent, save occasionally strumming his bass!

It was that I heard Jimi Hendrix had extremely long fingers, I noted so too did Chris, and wondered if he considered it an asset to playing guitar! John jested, โ€œit’s like watching a spider running up and down a hot plate!โ€ Ron pointed out his stumpy fingers, โ€œI’m a drummer; I’ve just tried to learn the bass guitar and I can’t get my hands anywhere round the neck of the guitar like Chris can!โ€

Chris exampled pianistsโ€™ tendency to have stumpy fingers. โ€œYou look at Elton Joh or Les Dawson, theyโ€™ve all short fingers, but they can play like crazy! I can get away with some stuff, but some of it’s more, arguably, bad habit than good! But I can get away with having long fingers rather than good habits!โ€

 A fellow of far fewer words than the front girl, evidently, but when he does its witty self-mocking is worth itโ€™s weight in gold and sparked a humorous angle to the interview in which, while Chrissy justified his dexterity and nimbleness, Ron favoured to joke about Chrisโ€™s dancing on stage, โ€œwhich is brilliant. I love it!โ€

John praised the firmness of Chrisโ€™ bass, โ€œyou’re methodical, you’re listening. I’m done wondering if he’s bored to death as I explain something to him, as heโ€™s sitting there taking it in. It’s not till you go and think he’s got it.โ€

They all seemed content with each other, and John effectively โ€œkeeping them in line,โ€ and this brought up the subject that they abstained from drinking while performing. โ€œOne rule I was pretty adamant about,โ€ John explained while Chrissy and Ron laughed about being โ€œhyper,โ€  โ€œis drink and music don’t mix. If you’re going to load it up, don’t expect to be any good at the music. Because we’re there to make the party for everybody else.โ€

โ€œYeah,โ€ Chrissy joshed, โ€œso I’m not allowed to have a pre-shot of tequila, which is really good because I definitely noticed a habit where I needed the Dutch courage in order to get up and I started realising, this is a bad habit that I don’t want to become dependent on. So itโ€™s two-wayed. You were definitely enforcing it. And I tried to be more mindful of it and just get up despite feeling nervous. And I get nervous every single time still.โ€

Aside the notion everyone gets butterflies, we moved between passionate subjects like the local circuits and venues and getting further afield, and we ventured back into songwriting inspirations, but I wanted them to nail it into a summary.  โ€œIn a nutshell,โ€ Chrissy said, โ€œweโ€™re focusing on rhythm and melody so that the lyrics can shine through. And we’re drawing inspiration from real life. Trying to make them more universal and a punchy sound. Rocky, bluesy, layers musically and lyrically; say that, Darren!โ€

Okay, I will! And if you want to hear this band progressing, follow their socials for gig updates. Theyโ€™ll be in Devizes on Sunday 14th December, at that tropical holiday resort in the Brittox, The Muck & Dunder, with a fundraiser for Ugandan orphanage His Grace Children Centre Bugiri, which theyโ€™ve organised themselves.

In true Christian spirit Chrissy annually organises a fundraiser around the yuletide, which she did as a soloist ironically titled One Trick Pony. Ironic because, she lent her vocals to drum n bass tracks, returned to town to learn guitar and perform acoustically, ย and now thereโ€™s Burn the Midnight Oil; a proficient four-piece who, merging experiences in varied genres, refuse to ย pigeonhole their developing style, and has an angelic vocalist with a penchant undaunted to delve deep into her psyche and faith for inspiration, and oh yeah, a bassist with long fingers!

Now available at Devizes Books!

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Lady Nade; Sober!

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

Ha! Let’s Laugh at Hunt Supporters!

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

Rooks; New Single From M3G

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โ€œEโ€) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunesโ€ฆ

Barrelhouse are Open for Business with New Album

Rolling out a Barrelhouse of fun, you can have blues on the run, tomorrow (7th November) when Marlborough’s finest groovy vintage blues virtuosos Barrelhouse release Open for Business, their third studio album indicative of their astounding live showโ€ฆ..

Tim and Stuart’s dramatic guitar riff from the off, Dave Growcott’s drums kick in and Open for Business doesn’t wait around for you to hang your barn jacket on the juke joint’s hall tree. Nick’s growling harmonica strides into the room next, all guns blazing, and we’re like a greyhound out of the traps when Martin grits his teeth and presents his deep encapsulating howl.

If the black cat bone mentioned as the title of the opening tune is a hoodoo lucky charm for protection and luck, it’s unnecessary, expeditiously it magically assures you’re in for a rocky ride to the dusty crossroad, with minimal pitstops and without the need of any such luck.

It doesn’t calm the zest frenzy until the third track either, an absolutely sublimely haunting cover of The Beatlesโ€™ Come Together, where Hedi’s backing vocals compliment Martin’s with such unbelievable harmony it smooths out the pace welcomingly.

Things go country for a ballad to Lydia, which I snooped through the interweb searching for an original version only to be informed by Nick Beere, more than just a mouth organ, rather the producer and engineer behind the album via his studio Mooncalf, that guitarist Tim wrote the song. Reason for my research being, itโ€™s magnificence is instant, it simply sounds like a singalong country classic akin to The Band’s The Weight, which is also superbly covered penultimately on the album, btw. Then it’s back to full steam blues workout when they repropel Muddy’s mojo, a second Muddy classic into the melting pot, and belt the living daylights into Canned Heat’s On The Road Again.

Classic Americana come edgy blues rock cover choices, the ambience of Barrelhouse I’m illustrating you might wrongly convey in generalisation as โ€œthey’re a serious bunch of hard rock dudes,โ€ but there’s a subtle frivolousness in their delivery which charms a crowd. Their labour of love is reflected joyfully outward to an audience without a pretentious mood, and fondly thrown back at them with an enthralled response, making their shows atmospherically interactive and thrilling. The experience in comparison to your atypical morose blues band is one rather of danceable merriment; a tick from me.

Mantonfest 2023 Image Gail Foster

If a song is original it’s hard to distinguish them from classic covers, Barrelhouse combines them into a seamless show, and makes an irresistible party album. A party appealing to Mantonfest’s youthful fanbase, who’ll invade the dance area when Barrelhouse mount the stage, and impress the matured Devizes blues aficionados with equal measure.

A Bo Diddley beat polishes this album as a grand finale, but if polished ramped serious blues cuts melds with an effervescent delivery is their working formula, its true beauty rests in the simplicity of its production. There’s no technical studio skullduggery here, no manufactured overdubs; what you hear is what happened in real time. Each song is recorded in a single take, making it not just authentic but the perfect representation of their energetic and entertaining live show. Something the band pride themselves in. If you’ve ever seen an amazing band live, only to be disappointed by the CD you brought because it didn’t match the splendour rawness of their performance, this is not the case here. Open for Business is taking the Barrelhouse show home with you. That’s why it’s a keeper.

But donโ€™t take my word for it, next Saturday (15th Nov) sees the album launched at St Peterโ€™s Marlborough, with support from 7pm. Itโ€™s free and copies of the album will be available on CD and vinyl. And if you canโ€™t wait for that, this coming Saturday (8th Nov) Barrelhouse will turn the Devizes Southgate into their own juke joint, a legendary occasion blossoming in modern folklore, as Devizes loves the blues and word got out via a toothless milkman.

Failing these options, theyโ€™ll be donning Santa hats and bringing out the tinsel at the Bear in Marlborough on 20th December, when you can almost taste the pigs in blankets in the ether.

Klass Komedia Kurmudgeon, Bath, November 2nd 2025 โ€“ Mark Harrison

by Ian Diddams
images by Ben Swann and Ian Diddams


Self-appointed โ€œMoroseโ€ Mark Harrison was once again on totally top form at Komedia last Sunday entertaining us with his style of stunning blues music, engaging history lessons and highly amusing cynical views on society. Lest I appear to be painting Mark in a poor light you may rest assured his easy delivery is gentle on the ears, but delivered with killer punch lines. A thoroughly winning combination. Albeit lacking hotpants which was the sole difference between Mark and Elton John back in the day it seems …

Amongst the recipients of his wit and repartee, and his sublime ex Eric Bibb 1934 National Trojan resonator delivered music, were Ralph McTell, I.T. Analysts (I hid at that juncture!), Eric Clapton, prodigal sons and daughters, a heckler, the services’ economy ( a bunch of flats in London…), schmaltzy songs and twatsโ€™ anthems, โ€œMy Wayโ€, and his cousin Colin. We were regaled with the history of the two artists formerly known as โ€œSonny Boy Williamsonโ€ โ€“ the original aka John Lee Curtis Williamson whose successes in the 30s and 40s were piggy backed by Rice Miller who appropriated the same performance name to hoodwink audiences and record labels. And of Howling Wolf who was years before his time in offering his band members what we would now regard as standard employment benefits such as health insurance.

But in case this sounds like Mark is just a Jack Dee wannabe, it should be emphasised we were here for his music and he was there to deliver it โ€“ with style and panache and not without a bitโ€ฆ well a lotโ€ฆ of dry humour. A cover or two, but predominantly โ€“ naturally โ€“ his own stuffโ€ฆ haunting, engaging, even breath-taking.


The afternoon rushed past โ€“ two hours with a twenty minute break; just one Midlander and a 1934 National Trojan resonator, in a bar in Bath. And thankfully no hotpants.

Perfection.

Mark Harrison’s gig list is here, and his merch is available here.



Ruzz Guitar Swings With The Dirty Boogie

Bristolโ€™s regular Johnny B Goode, Ruzz Guitar Blues Revue goes full on swing with a new single, a take on The Brian Setzer Orchestraโ€™s 1998 album title track The Dirty Boogie.….

Another high-energy bout of rockabilly guitar divinity we love from Ruzz, but this time weโ€™re transported back to 1920s New Orleans dancehalls for that big band swing sound; jazz hands!

The Dirty Boogie, is out today on digital download for a quid, from Bandcamp.

JP Oldfield & Deadlight Dance Down The Cellar

I mean, Devizes own contemporary blues throwback, JP is getting bookings, and rightly so. He’s off to Trowbridgeโ€™s Lamb next Saturday for a double-bill with Joe Burke. Likewise our favourite Goth duo Deadlight Dance too, Tim showing me some fetching snaps from Friday night’s gig at Frome’s Tree House. But sometimes it’s nice to play an intimate home gig you DIY, so we’re down The Bear Hotel’s Cellar Bar, reviving a once beloved venue with alternative options to Devizesโ€™ status quoโ€ฆ..

And it was; Nick Fletcher and Tim Emery were on the cobblestones first, attired marvellously macabre with whitewash faces; All Hallows’ Eve comes early for goths, and they don’t require Haribo! Equally terror-fically tenebrous was their set, sublimely shadowy synths, then their gloomy guitar rhythm fragments darkened by Nick’s howling vocals. When they came for air you could hear a pin drop.

Deadlight Dance found my inner-goth and devoured it some years ago, still their show improves like a fine Dracula’s blood-wine ….with age and nightly kills! They worked precisely through several tunes from their three albums, concentrating particularly on Chapter & Verse, last year’s gothic literary inspired outpouring. They sprinkled the set with covers, a synth-driven Cureโ€™s Just Like Heaven, for example, quite different from the acoustic version on their breathtaking homage album, The Wiltshire Gothic.

They finished on their ghostly reverberating post-punk makeover of Heartbreak Hotel, because if you’re a goth duo planning to cover an Elvis Presley song, one about a lonely man jumping from a hotel window is apt. Then they stripped it back for an acoustic wandering through the crowd encore.

Herein lies the connection which made a double-bill of post-punk goth and rootsy blues work; JP Oldfield duties the plaintive projection of original southern blues, often termed gothic. Therein the expression of rural, economically disadvantaged African-American communities, and through his gorgeous bass vocal range, the metallicity of his resonator and pounding suitcase drum, it’s about as authentic as you’re going to get on our local circuit.

Yet if JPโ€™s writing is foreboding and disquietude, in line with its influences, some of the darkest corners of his debut Bouffon wasnโ€™t inclusive at this live show, and replaced by some outstanding, intricate and rightfully resonate guitar-work; plus thereโ€™s always the kazoo and his natural banter to brighten things up.

His latest single polished off an amazing set, No Rest, indeed. It embodies everything progressive about this rising starโ€™s skill and bittersweet panache; a fellow who can hold an audience spellbound despite being, perhaps, an acquired taste. But I challenge anyone critical to stay whilst JP thrusts out House of the Rising Sun, making it his own, as itโ€™s so befitting to his encapsulating style. Yet the broadest evaluation of JP Oldfield is simply that, through his dedication and blossoming experience he continuously improves. It is this then which encourages me to call this gig in, slight in attendees which it unfortunately was as the chills of autumn blast through, the best and most passionate Iโ€™ve seen JP play.

Mind you, I groaned about the weather shift to Nick of Deadlight Dance, who replied with positivity. Apparently, he likes Autumn, I joked, โ€œthatโ€™s because youโ€™re a goth and Iโ€™m a milkman!โ€

I do hope we can find more gigs down the Cellar Bar, and bring it back to its former glory, a sentiment I believe will be reflected by the live music hunters of Devizes.

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Jon Amor & Friends; Juggernaut at Long Street Blues Club

Oh yeah, invite me to a place with a bar, throw some of the best blues this side of New Orleans at me and then hope Iโ€™ll articulate some words about it next morning, why don’t you?! It’s okay readers, it’s become standard protocol for me, I’ve got thisโ€ฆwith help from Ben and Vicky!

…Here goes my bit; it was the opening of the new season at Long Street Blues Club in Devizes last night. Homegrown blues legend Jon Amor paid it a visit, bringing along his proficient drum and bass section, Tom Gilkes and Jerry Soffe, respectively, a handful of special guests wise in the ways of instrumenting sublime blues, and an intention and motivation to pull an extravaganza from the anticipation in the ether. Irresistible prospect, had to witness, savour, and shake my tail feather to, like it was going out of fashion. Olโ€™ Frankie Valli couldn’t describe it better, oh what a night.ย 

Four to the floor electric blues was the order they marched out to, each one a showstopper yet the show didn’t hang around for the audience to contemplate. Musicians aplenty popping out of the stage door, grabbing instruments and jamming on a rotation akin to an ice hockey game. Johnny Henderson seated at the Hammond organ, Tom Jones guitarist Scott McKeon strumming with Will Edmunds, Craig Crofton blowing that sax, and precision sound engineering all enhanced the usual trioโ€™s show, elevating it to a phenomenal stance.

There were times Jon smoothed it with rarely played ballads, such a superbly protracted Happiest All-Time Low, from his 2018 album Colour in the Sky, but for the most part the Juggernaut and his overload appeased the crowd with expeditious renditions of his belovedย sprightly favourites, and newer The Turnaround album tunes he recorded last year with Jerry & Tom, easiest to pick out being the swinging Rideau Street and the hard stomping riffs of the explicit Miss James. I donโ€™t know who Miss James is, but the passion Jon puts into this, and every song, leaves you wondering what her phone number is!

If this Indian summer is subtle outside it was a furnace inside. Ex-Hoax guitarist Jon, a testament to Devizesโ€™ Mel Bush effect, an immutable adoration of blues, is a stalwart on stage, delivering blues in a style only he could. The aforementioned gubbings only added to the trioโ€™s splendour, and a truly fantastic opening evening for The Long Street Blues Clubโ€™s new season.

But donโ€™t take my word for it, hereโ€™s what Ben Romain and Vicky thought about it, as we got our wires crossed and both wrote about it, but it was such a gig it deserves two reviews anyway!

Stand up and shout! Blues is what it is all about, laid back and loving Blues in D-town!

In my many years as a fan of Jonโ€™s music Iโ€™ve seen him play many venues in Devizes and nearby. We are blessed of course with a monthly residence at The Southgate Inn, where the majority of this ensemble has at some point graced the stage. This evening was a change of a little more space to get some friends together, at our very own Blues Club.

A fine opening set from Leonardo Guilliani, a rapidly rising star, hailing from Southampton. No stranger to the club, having opened for Watermelon Slim previously.

Some great original songs from his album, and new songs from an upcoming release recorded at Abbey Road Studios! I particularly liked the new song โ€˜Angelโ€™, a soulful reflective song, with a gentle tone, blues of a sort but melodic and soothing in a contemporary Blues vein. A few well-chosen covers too, with some resounding classic electric blues. Overall, a perfect opener for this gig! I look forward to seeing him again along the road.

As Jon introduces the extended band to the stage, I am reminded of countless gigs in Devizes and beyond, where I have enjoyed all these musicians. This ensemble has between them played an unbelievable range of genre defining big names, and it showsโ€ฆโ€ฆwith the confident ease they poured into this session.

There are the Jon Amor Trio set regulars like โ€˜Miss Jamesโ€™, โ€˜Juggernautโ€™ and โ€˜Birds Nest on the Groundโ€™, some less regular but great additions such as Jonโ€™s โ€˜Red Telephoneโ€™ and โ€˜Happiest All time Lowโ€™. This entire two hour plus set revelled in and resounding with the connectivity of the scene.

When Will Edmunds and Jon share โ€˜Lovinโ€™ Cupโ€™ a rousing dance friendly classic we get to enjoy the best of this sense, a classic in the sets of Jon and Will in their regular haunts, sharing as they do, many gigs the might of Gilkes and Soffe.

Weโ€™ve enjoyed Jonny Henderson guest slots here in Devizes and with another Devizes and authorโ€™s favourite Elles Bailey amongst others, weโ€™ve seen the wonderful Scott McKeon guest with Jon, and for a bonus Devizes point with Jonโ€™s former bandmate Robin and Beaux Gris Gris and The Apocalypse and most commonly known for playing with Tom Jones.

I could ramble enthusiastically all day about the good vibes of this gig but thereโ€™s a wider point to acknowledge before I run out of type spaceโ€ฆ.that of the community and connectivity both with musicians and audiences.

We have an unusually high level of gigs, especially blues leaning gigs in our town. We have some pretty heavy hitters in the UK blues past and present around here which doubtless helps, but we are also blessed with venues born of passion, people who support those opportunities as much as they can, so we are known in Devizes for putting up a good audience.

Our little world faces challenges like all venues and scenes across the UK, yet on the whole we are bucking the trend and attracting fine music from the brave upstart to the big established names and something to be rightly proud of.

Thereโ€™s weekly amazing music at the Southgate and these incredible seasons of blues at Long Street, pub gigs, even occasionally music in bars and coffee lounges!

Key to the future of all of it, is people getting involved. I could name around a third of the crowd last night, and know most of the band from past gigs, with all of the craziness of the world, when many conscious or not are affected by loss of community, unity and shared positive experienceโ€ฆ.we have all that right here at home, every week.

I am now twelve years or so into my passionate support of local live music, it offers so much more than huge mega money gigs, and it supports through shared venues other aspects of our towns offer.

So, if you missed this incredible gig look at listings here, Facebook or wherever, message venues, talk to friends, thereโ€™s always a solid welcome, and you may find your new favourite band or next best friend in the crowd!

Thanks Ben, that is exactly what itโ€™s all about! And now a “further reading” related rant to finish on!

When I published a preview of Long Street’s new season I highlighted this gig in particular, because Jon is loved by the residents of Devizes as this native hero. It was inevitable, and something I had discussed with both Ian, organiser of Long Street, and Dave at the Southgate, that someone would comment on the social media shares of it, questioning why they would pay to see Jon at Long Street when his monthly residences at the Southgate are free. Being I suspect thereโ€™s others that share this understandable view, and that money is a benefactor to deciding what to and what not to attend in these trying times, I thought Iโ€™d answer it with my opinion, for better or worse.

Starter for ten, we love the Southgate, we love the fact they host these regular sessions with the Jon Amor Trio and usually a special guest, and weโ€™ve covered them many times. In fact, The Southgate has probably had more reviews from us than anywhere else. Dave and Ian are friends, they attend each other’s gigs and liaison to avoid clashes of similar gigs. The Southgate will pay what they can for an artist from money they make at the bar, most pubs operate this way, it is up to the artist to accept this or decline to play. The Southgate, like others, will hand around a tip hat, to top up the performersโ€™ earnings. That is the way we get free gigs, but it is not how it works with event organisers who must pay for acts from the revenue of ticket sales. No matter how great this residency is at the Southgate, they are on Sunday afternoon when gravy is tipped onto your roast! Personally, due to work commitments Iโ€™m unable to let my hair down over more than a pint, like I can do on a Saturday night; thatโ€™s the time they let me out! Iโ€™m sure others find themselves in a similar situation.

Aside this, with the capacity of the club greater than the pub allowing folk room to move, the enhancement of the show via additional guests forming an eight piece band at times, the perfection of the sound engineering, and the uninterrupted presentation, are all benefits you are unlikely to get in any pub environment. Saturday night proved this, for it was a cut above what any performer would be capable of in any pub. It was a fantastic night, if you were there you would know it was and accept it was total and utter class. If you weren’t, well, you only have my and Ben’s words it was so.

And with that notion we can put the final slither of their comment to bed, that Long Street has โ€œzeroโ€ atmosphere. Yes, I understand there are a few longstanding devotees who favour to remain seated and silent, the root to my little regular jest labelling them โ€œthe Devizes blues appreciation society!โ€ But the atmosphere is what YOU make it! We danced the night away, I loved it, Ben and Vicky clearly loved it, people around us loved it. No one bothered us in doing so and no dancer bothered those who opted not to. When compromise is necessary, no less punters at Long Street adhere than might in a pub.

Thereโ€™s no hard feelings, the comment remains as we donโ€™t delete fair opinions. Iโ€™m no Nostradamus, but I suspected someone might suggest this, just a little irked to understand the reasoning for posting it. If it was to encourage others to side with them I genuinely think thatโ€™s a shame, as it risks the continuation of this wonderful club. No one is forcing anyone to go anymore than anyone is forcing anyone else to write such a comment.

Hey, I might see them at the Gate sometime, but they should note some regulars there attended this one, and others who might not frequent the Southgate, they did too; why deny their chances to see an act they claimed to love themselves, like most of us in Devizes? Because, and hereโ€™s the killer line, when Jon and his extended team blasted out the customary Juggernaut finale, feet were stomping, sweat rinsed shirts, and expressions of sheer joy blessed the faces of those in attendance. It was blissfully brilliant, the best night in Devizes Iโ€™ve had for a long time; long live Long Street Blues Club, but yeah, other options, such as The Southgate are available and come highly recommended too. What a petty fiasco!ย ย 

No Rest For JP Oldfield, New Single Out Today

It’s been six months since Devizes-based young blues crooner JP Oldfield released his poignant kazoo-blowing debut EP Bouffon. He’s made numerous appearances across the circuit since and created an impressive following. Today sees him on the next leg of his musical journey, a brand new single aptly titled No Restโ€ฆ..

If the kazoo created a unique identity for Josh, quirking up otherwise darker themes than the novelty songs you’d except the instrument to be found in, this idiosyncratic move may have caused some criticism from traditionalists who simply didn’t get it. Not me, inherent in the belief rules are made to be broken, I’m of the reckoning JP Oldfield is a contemporary rarity, a misunderstood genius finding his feet. A dedicated axemen with an axe to grind, and a singer-songwriter unafraid to explore and expose every detail of the melancholic mind maze in the encapsulating way blues legends did before him.

With this in tow, I’d argue the jukejoint authentic sound created with his haunting grizzly vocal tones, that steel guitar and beaten up suitcase pedal-drum is Marmite. Love it or hate it, JP forged an imitable style, ranging from Cash to Tom Waits and Nick Cave in comparison. I’d draw any critic’s attention to a track like Last Orders, a heart-wrenchingly honest tune which takes on the drunkard’s misery of a relationship break-up in true mellowed delta blues fashion, without kazoo. But hey, now we’ve got No Rest, a level up certainly in production and indicative of all the greatness he’s already achieved; it rocks.

There’s the sombre spiritual blues theme we’ve come to expect, but it’s a foot-stomping pace with a killer rolling riff, kazoo-less yet a perfect balance of everything else JP throws at his music. It’s deliberately raw, perfectly hard-hitting and undoubtedly JP on the best form we’ve ever seen.

In our interview a month short of a year ago, Josh gave me the impression he was something of a perfectionist. A lot of work has gone into this full bodied five minute marvel, and it shows, in its crisp sound, this composition of elements making said perfect balance, and also a enlightening video accompanying it, by Jamie R Hawkinsโ€™ Side Owl Productions. This cones out around 6pm tonight, I’ll add the link to it here, so return after your potato waffles.

The video has a different narrative from the song, rather โ€˜the story of the song;โ€™ a fascinating showcase of JP’s session at Mooncalf Studios, where Nick Beere engineers the kind of tune which we might suggest JP’s feet have been found. We look forward to hearing the other songs from this session in good time, but for now this is plenty to indicate this Devizes bluesman is heading in the right direction. But Nick brought out the best in musicians while I was still doodling boobs on my school rough book!

He’s JP Oldfield, I’m just old, but I know what I like. I could dance barefoot in a barn grasping a bottle of bourbon to this, and when it gets to that irresistible bridge I’ll procrastinate my repent, letting my sins roam free for a day; though I havenโ€™t drawn a boob on a school book for quite some considerable time! 

Frome based band, Bellwether, to release new single

Formerly known as Judas Goat and the Bellwether, the now renamed band have announced the release of their latest single, โ€œDrill Baby Drillโ€ (coming out on the 27th November). I was given the pleasure of listening to it and you really couldnโ€™t ask for anything betterโ€ฆ

The band themselves have gained a loyal fanbase with their psychedelic blues-rock style, drawing inspiration from The Doors, Cream and Jefferson Airplane amongst others. After having most of this year packed with gigs all over Frome and the surrounding areas this new single is taking things up a notch for the band.

โ€œDrill Baby Drillโ€ starts with a heavy acoustic guitar riff, before leading into the smooth vocals of Sara Vian, the lead singer. By the chorus youโ€™ve got pitch perfect harmonies layered with a mellow electric guitar line creating pure harmony. This continues throughout the song after being met with a steady drumbeat flowing with the song. All in all, itโ€™s a delight.

And itโ€™s nice to see that a clear message still shines through, over the song as a whole. It was originally inspired by the so-called โ€˜diablos musicaโ€™ (devilโ€™s tritone). In simple terms a tritone in music is an interval, two notes that are a certain distance apart being played simultaneously and back in the day this was seen as unsettling and spooky โ€“ due to its dissonant sound. This was pretty much forgotten about until Black Sabbath came along and released โ€˜Black Sabbathโ€™.

Sara Vian herself described it as โ€œlong branded as forbidden and dissonant, yet I discovered an article which claimed that medieval high clergymen imagined it to be the sound of the Holy Trinity; a paradox which became the perfect foundation to explore whatโ€™s going on in America right now!โ€

โ€œDrill Baby Drillโ€ really is worth a listen โ€“ it only takes one to have you hooked and playing it on repeat (I know I have). ย Luckily for you readers, its being soft launched today (5th September) on Bandcamp

There’s also an official launch soiree on the 19th September at the Meet at Eight bar in Yeovil, where local heroes Long Sun will also be appearing (here)

And don’t forget to check out the Bellwethers themselves on whatever social medias you use: @bellwetherbanduk

The Next Season at Devizesโ€™ Long Street Blues Club

The lawn is still frazzled but the apples and leaves are falling; the weather might not know what season itโ€™s supposed to be running, but all is not lost as we look at what Devizes blues appreciation society, Long Street Blues Club has to entertain us throughout the next season, or threeโ€ฆ.

Their season doesnโ€™t end until January, actually making it more like half a year, and weโ€™ll find John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett on stage, kicking off the summer season in June, but thereโ€™s a lot to get through heading up to that, gigs and a number of specials.

Jon Amor & Friends

Firing on all cylinders for a grand start, doors crash open on Saturday 20th September 2025 when Leonardo Guiliani supports homegrown Hoax member Jon Amor at the Conservative Club. A local legend who needs no introduction to Devizes blues aficionados. You can rest assured Jon will be bringing his trio, drum and bass comrades Jerry Soffe and Tom Gilkes, and an abundance of special guests cherrypicked from his vast circle of legendary friends, including John Baggott, pianist for Portishead and Robert Plant, organist Johnny Henderson, Scott McKeon guitarist for Tom Jones, guitarist Will Edmunds, and Craig Crofton on sax.

What a way to begin, but predictably popular, so early booking is advised. Advance Tickets are ยฃ18.00 from usual outlets or book online (online booking fee applies) Tickets ยฃ20.00 on the door. The deal is the same for all Long Street Blues gigs at the Conservative Club, unless otherwise stated.

October sees three entirely different gigs. On Saturday the 4th The Dirt Road Band returns, by overwhelming popular demand. The brainchild of guitar legend Steve Walwyn, mainly known as the longest serving guitar player in Dr Feelgood, The Dirt Road Band recruited the services of Ted Duggan, a professional since the 60s, including stints with Badfinger and world techno giants Banco de Gaia, and bassist Horace Panter, better known as a founding member of The Specials.ย 

Saturday 18th October Ben Poole is back. A young act to watch, Ben Poole and his band return to the club after a sensational night in April. Jeff Beck called them โ€œf***ing amazing,โ€ need we say more?!

Rock & Roll Circus

Observing all health and safety regulations, on Friday 31st October Long Street Blues Club members march girl-boy, girl-boy across to the Corn Exchange for a special trip back to the sixties. Unusual to see tribute acts organised by the club, so while it might be a wildcard, itโ€™s not to be trifled at, because a Rock & Roll Circus is promised; the gig that never happened!ย 

The very best tributes to three British rock giants, The Who, The Beatles and The Stones, namely Who’s Next, The Beatles For Sale and The Rollin Stoned, will surely wriggle you down memory lane!ย 

With the aid of authentic stage wear and instruments, Whoโ€™s Next recreates a magical point in time in the early 1970s when many believed that The Who were the greatest pop and rock group on Earth. Similarly The Beatles For Sale pride themselves on replicating the Fab 4’s onstage image, sparing no expense with their equipment and outfits, with the ultimate intention to recreate the magic of the Beatles in their sixties heyday.

The Rollin Stoned have toured their affectionate tribute to The Rolling Stones for over 27 years, sharing billing with the likes of Dr John, Status Quo, Suzie Quatro and Jerry Lee Lewis. 

Advance Tickets are ยฃ30.00 for this great night out, from usual outlets or book online (online booking fee applies) Tickets ยฃ35.00 on the door.

Into November, no hanging about, as Last Train Smokin’ pulls into the station to support The Ian Parker Band on Saturday 1st November 2025. Another returning favourite.ย 

Aberdeen’s finest are back on Saturday 22nd November, The Gerry Jablonski Band with support from Firekind.ย 

Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse

Then, an early Christmas present. Yes, itโ€™s a California-Devizes crossover, with favourites Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse at The Corn Exchange on Friday 5th December. Hoax member Robin Davey returns to his hometown with Louisiana born and bred, award-winning vocalist Greta Valenti and their band, and itโ€™s something to behold. I strongly suggest you get in quickly with this one if you wish to start winter in style.

Advance Tickets are ยฃ25.00 from usual outlets or book online (online booking fee applies) Tickets ยฃ28.00 on the door.

If that doesnโ€™t warm your winter cockles nothing will, but their Christmas party is actually on Saturday 20th December 2025 when the โ€œperfect band for our Xmas partyโ€ Dino Baptiste & Night Train appear. A highly energetic London soul and boogie-woogie pianist, Dino Baptiste has a smattering of Ray Charles, and will get the club jumping.

And into the new year we find Oregon harmonica player Curtis Salgado, the man who taught John Belushi the blues while on set at the filming of 1977โ€™s Animal House, team up with European multi award-winning blues harmonica virtuoso Giles Robson.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest blues and soul singers to have emerged in the last fifty years, Curtis Salgado is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Long Street Blues is one of only three dates he is playing.

Thatโ€™s Saturday 17th January 2026; work off some Quality Street, because the next gig isnโ€™t until Monday 8th June, with John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett on stage. Yet one thing is for sure, Long Street Blues Club are quenching the thirst for blues in Devizes folk, and they usually have a big appetite for it!!

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Crowned Lightbringer; New Single From Ruby Darbyshire

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby! So good the Kaiser Chiefs wrote a song about her, or if not, at least brilliant enough to silence the most rowdy venue into an utter state of jawdropping awe! A video of a new tune, a metaphorical sea shanty, Crowned Lightbringer teasing us for a forthcoming EP, is out todayโ€ฆ..

A diary jam-packed, gigging across the South West to Scotland and beyond, her natural talent is off the scale, and deservedly gaining attention. With youth on her side, raw determination, and a twinkle in her eye, whatever avenue she might choose to take to get there, everything screams future legend about Ruby Darbyshire. I predicted this from day dot, Crowned Lightbringer confirms.

They whisper, โ€œoh, I’ve not heard her play yet,โ€ and not wishing to present them with a spoiler, I reply, as Ruby tunes up, โ€œjust, don’t go anywhere.โ€ Seconds later, another instant Ruby Darbyshire fan has spawned!

For her most treasured song to date, Insomnia, uses the inventively crafted metaphor of a blankie to represent a relatively adult issue, even breaks the solemnity with a comical line, it remains the simple premise of an intelligent childlike product in comparison to Crowned Lightbringer.

A rowing boat in a storm, a race against sea monsters, the lighthouse diverting ships from a bay; this is multi-layered and richer metaphorically than anything we’ve heard from Ruby in the past,ย and projects a maturing sentiment, with a fleshed, lost character and a sombre, inspiring narrative. The mood is chilled in darkness and euphorically hopeful to be guiding towards light.ย  It’s a sublime voyage of discovery, and overlapping looped harmonies echoing Ruby’s soulful vocal range insists you come aboard.

sneaky peek at the forthcoming EP cover

The tempo mellowed to ghostly, the sentiment interwoven into this rich theme of the implications of maturing; blues, in essence, with silk and steel strings? I’m no expert, but I do know the result is breathtaking, perfection on every level. It feels personal yet outwardly reflecting, and leaves you longing for this forthcoming EP.

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Thieves Debut EP

Adam Woodhouse, Rory Coleman-Smith, Jo Deacon and Matt Hughes, aka Thieves, the wonderful local folk vocal harmony quartet of uplifting bluegrass into country-blues has a four track debut EP; who knew?!

I only found out through talking with Adam about a merch table at our forthcoming RowdeFest, where you can, incidentally, find Thieves playing, but at any gig youโ€™re lucky enough to catch them at, I suggest you pick up a copy of this little showcase disc; theyโ€™re our very own resident Carter Familyโ€ฆ.

Opening with Calneโ€™s Jo Deacon on lead vocals, who also sings solo and with soul function band the Midnight Hour, Coming Back For Me is beguiling and uptempo, refreshing bluegrass fashion. Yet Working Man, which follows, slides the divine ambience into mellowed country-rock. With Adam on lead vocals, Iโ€™m thinking Neil Young, the Byrds, and all those irresistible Americana classics, which imagines youโ€™re heading west through Oklahoma on a Harley with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.

Probably the highlight of this EP is the penultimate, Now You’re Around. Five minutes of total bliss, with Jo back on vocals and some seriously intricate melodies, combining the talents of Roryโ€™s resonator, Adamโ€™s mandolin, and Mattโ€™s upright bass, you can sense Joโ€™s soul experience, as it rings out as authentically Americana as Janis Joplin playing Woodstock with Crosby, Stills & Nash. And still I hear something decidedly UK folk here too, of Fairport Convention, perhaps. Iโ€™m no connoisseur, just know what my ears like; itโ€™s all a melting pot,ย and Thieves stir it with delicate precision.

And in that, Iโ€™m unsure about the name Thieves. Certainly the genuine sound of America is pinched if not more agreeably heavily influenced by, but it might suggest thereโ€™s something edgy going on, when this is dinkum, universally appealing sunny side of the street melodies; the kind of folk the eldest in the crowd will tap their toes to while children will merrily twirl barefoot on the grass.

It was a series of coincidences when I first saw them at Bradford Roots Festival a few years ago. From a distance I thought โ€˜that guy looks just like Adam Woodhouse,โ€™ (and maybe a smidgen like MacGyver too!) but upon hearing them perform I thought of The Lost Trades, turned to tell the person standing next to me, who just happened to be Phil Cooper of the Lost Trades, who nodded his trilby in approval; a fine accolade indeed. โ€œIt is Adam,โ€ Phil replied! Oh, yeah, so it is; I didnโ€™t need to go to Specsavers, because their wonderful sound pulled me closer.

We finish the EP with a ballad called Lately, which Adam and Jo duet, and itโ€™s so beautiful and moreish, leaving you suspended on whatโ€™s to come from Thieves, but rest assured, hereโ€™s a wonderful quartet which can hold a crowd spellbound.

Find where Thieves are playing on our local circuits by following socials Facebook Insta for gigs, and hopefully catch them at Rowdefest on Saturday 31st May? Itโ€™s free, bring me a haslett and cucumber sandwich, Iโ€™ve arranged the acts, I wonโ€™t let you down.

iTunes Link

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Between Two Worlds with Ruzz Guitar

He might be between two worlds but he can also be in your home, in your very own ears, and that’s the best place for Ruzz Guitar to be. With a striking Funk-O-Pop styled cartoon cover, Ruzz Guitar has a new album out and yeah, just yeah!

Shadowing the Shadows with a belter of an opening track, Ruzz slips into Bo Diddley like a glove, then it’s off to those foot-tapping honkytonk ballads for a few tracks; oh yes, Ruzz is back and it’s a Gretsch-grappling beautiful monster.

There’s not a great deal I can say about this which I’ve not said about our Ruzz before; if it’s not brokenโ€ฆ.

Ruzz Guitar is a tour de force, a sublime blues rocker meshing blues into a unique and prolonged ecstatic ride into the rock n roll formula of yore, it just jumps, jives, and doesn’t come up for air. And if he does, five tunes in with Forever Yours, it’s like standing in a burning sugarcane field; the sweetest air you’ll ever breathe.

Ruzz brings in stellar backing, with some mind-blowingly soulful vocals from Shannon Scott and Julhi Conlinn. Drummer Brian Fahey, both Chris and Steve PelletierSmith on bass, pianist Paul Quinn and special guest appearances from Tyrone Vaughan, Paul Pigat and Mike Eldred.ย 

Recently he’s been two and fro across the Atlantic more times than Concorde, hence the title of this ten track whopper, but I never find myself wondering how he goes down on the other side, you know, delivering something they invented back to them. It worked for The Beatles, you simply know they’ll love him as deep down as Texas, because it’s impossible not to.

Right here though, we’re in Devizes and via the โ€œMel Bush effect,โ€ the Hoax and now the Long Street Blues Club we’ve equally been conditioned with high expectations when we receive a blues dosage, but no one does it quite proper job like our Bristolian Johnny-be-Goode, Ruzz Guitar. He’s so good they named the guitar after him.

This is class in a tall glass, I was expecting it, it never disappoints. Thereโ€™s a number of tracks weโ€™ve tasted before, revised and polished for the ultimate road trip soundtrack; itโ€™s got a new version of Sweet as Honey on it, which for some reason always makes me go bananas!

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Ruzz Guitar Swings With The Dirty Boogie

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

Joyrobber Didn’t Want Your Stupid Job Anyway

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

Devizes Chamber Choir Christmas Concert

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

Steatopygous go Septic

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

The Wurzels To Play At FullTone 2026!

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

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No Alarms No Devizes, Aptly in Devizes!

If I’ve been galavanting recently, gorging on other local townโ€™s live music scenes, what better way to return to Devizes than a visit to the liveliest watering hole, The Three Crowns, to see a band with our town’s name all over it, No Alarms And No Devizes? How apt!

Iโ€™ll confess, while I know most of the members of this five-piece as individual musicians in their own rights or as members of various other groups, I was yet to see them in this setup, despite them forming the best part of a year ago. Naughty of me, I accept, but Iโ€™m overly glad to finally tick them off my must-see list, and on the strength of last nightโ€™s performance, it wonโ€™t be the last.

Aware of their talents as individuals my only pre-gig apprehension being it can sometimes be a case whereby groups formed of members whoโ€™ve met at open mics sadly donโ€™t equate to the sum of their counterparts. This minor angst I quashed before arriving; I could hear them from the carpark as they rang out Steve Harley & the Cockney Rebelโ€™s Make Me Smile with gusto. โ€œCome up and see me,โ€ the song suggests, yeah, Iโ€™m nearly there, and already glad I did. Again, how apt!

But itโ€™s not just in the word-playing a Radiohead songโ€™s band name to give it a local spin, nor the coincidental meaning of the song they were covering when I arrived which makes me happy to report that they know exactly what buttons to press, rather on the tightness of the band and their comradeship too. Frontman Tom Harris, known for also fronting extreme-metal band Kinasis and a stalwart locally as a blues solo artist, is a force to be reckoned with. His lively vocal range knows no bounds, and thereโ€™s joyful connotations within his energy and often amusing facial expressions which rub off on the audience.     

If, as it suggests, โ€˜extreme-metalโ€™ is too extreme for me, itโ€™s in his lighter fashions which makes me smile, and during lockdown the few funky tunes he created really brought Tomโ€™s natural talent to entertain to my attention. With No Alarms No Devizesโ€™ varied range of cover choices in their arsenal, Tom is free to explore his funky side or whatever fancies his tickle, and I loved this about the No Alarms And No Devizes show the most.

Tom is backed by proficient guitarist Pat Ward, once modest about his abilities, today moving through the audience whilst strumming, like a pro! Bassist Jonny Jam, whoโ€™ll you see blessing his skills in many local bands. A new drummer, Nick Wood, who sure found his feet and sticks last night. And with the additional Matt Pryor on keys, the lineup gives them the scope to nail a vast range of pop songs into their repertoire, and they do them all with impressive confidence and showmanship.

Keyed in to precisely what the varied crowd at the Three Crowns want, they ventured through anything and everything from Nina Simone and the Beatles to the obligatory Radiohead, the Proclaimersโ€™ crowd-pleaser, and eighties pop such as my personally most welcomed Men at Workโ€™s Down Under, with a gradual fade from melodic to a frenzy. They slipped in a few great originals too, but whatever direction they took themselves into they did so with flow, precision and enthusiasm, making for a universally highly entertaining night I cannot fault. Even their break was no longer than a wee-stop!

I do ponder if the bandโ€™s name implies itโ€™s just a bunch of guys from Devizes when they arrive at other townโ€™s venues. They played Swindonโ€™s Rolleston recently, they played HoneyFest at the Barge and Salisburyโ€™s Coach & Horses, among others, but Matt assured me theyโ€™re welcomed wherever they play, leaving me only to assure venues outside Devizes, they may be announcing theyโ€™re guys from Devizes within their very name, and banter between towns might be a thing, but once No Alarms And No Devizes are in full swing, youโ€™d be glad you booked them!

Another wonderful night at the Three Crowns, then. It never fails to please. With the Brewery Shop opening next door, seeing visitors stopping into the pub, the live music and gourmet burgers, The Three Crowns is surely a testament to what a pub can achieve if they put their heads into what punters want, particularly in these uncertain times. It was as busy as ever in there, hospitable and lively, with a varied age demographic out to party and nothing baleful.

We clashed events with the wonderful Facebook page dedicated to promoting local live music, Bird is the Word, which had to happen at some point! Go give them a like if you do Facebook, theyโ€™re doing good things over there, with higher quality photos and video streams than my tiddly tries of getting into focus while dancing and balancing a cider!

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Jol Roseโ€™s Ragged Stories

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

Keep reading

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JP Oldfield Meets The Devil’s Doorbell at the Cellar Bar

To suggest I’m knowledgeable about the music of the 1920s because I lived through the era is plain cheeky, though I wouldn’t put it past you! I like to think I know just enough to hold my own in a drunken waffle on the subject. Such is that Jellylegs Johnson suggested a resurgence of 1920s jazz was pending, to which I agreed, or at least I would appreciate it if it was soโ€ฆ.

Cos I love digging to discover the roots of music, although I cannot be certain a gig of the era resembled what occurred down the Bear’s Cellar Bar last night, even if it was labelled thus, but it was an entertaining night for sure. This much is guaranteed whenever The Devil’s Doorbell has moored nearby.

Yeah, that’s right, I said The Cellar Bar, that central cobblestoned cosy dungeon which holds as many fond memories for Devizions than it does history. It feels great to be down there, as it’s been a while, and this sentiment is shared with the modest audience.

Backstory to why we’re here goes, after our interview with Devizesโ€™ rising star of kazoo-blowing, suitcase drumming idiosyncratic delta blues, JP Oldfield, he landed a gig at Chippenham’s Old Road Tavern supporting the bonkers jazz skiffle duo and boaterโ€™s royalty of double-entendres, Devil’s Doorbell.

Being he was unaware of them at the time, I assured Josh he was in apt company. For if JP’s style is quirky, Nipper, a freewheeling James Baskett/George Formby crossover, and Jellylegs Johnson in sequined hot pants, feathered flapper girl headband and marigolds, audaciously but not impudently salvage long-lost rags, nuggets of bebop and gypsy jazz with tenor ukuleles, a kazzumpet, and Jellylegs on a bass handmade from a washtub and broom handleโ€ฆ and that’s beyond averagely quirky!

It’s also a hard act for anyone to follow, as the agenda was switched for Nipper and Jellylegs to open the show JP Oldfield had arranged. They rang the doorbell for surety, with their unique cheeky tunes and banter, which Jellylegs told me afterwards are often assumed to be of their own pen, rather than outrageous long-lost 78s of a golden jazz era. It’s always a pleasure to hear them play, and so playful with the circus-cabaret they are, it’s infectious.

JP contends with more sombre moods versus a need to be jocular, but his ability to find that perfect balance is his unique spin on delta blues, that and using a kazoo where a harmonica is usually positioned, and both are something blossoming with each gig. His masterwork to date, The Ghost of Spring-heeled Jack is the verification of this balance.

I don’t believe confidence was ever an issue for JP, but that’s grown too, and he proficiently pulled a stunning set of originals and rare covers, neatly chosen to compliment those of his own labour; Tainted Love perhaps not so rare, but with added kazoo, welcomed!

Though on this occasion JP proved he’s no one trick pony as he turned to harmonica for a song, and excused himself for any amateur delivery of it, which was unnecessary as it was sublimely done. As was his entire set.

If we fondly reviewed his debut EP last month, JP Oldfield astutely replicated the magic on stage and guided the crowd to his chosen mood. Likewise, we fondly reviewed Devil’s Doorbell live recording from Trowbridgeโ€™s Pump a couple of years ago, and their excellent stage presence sticks like mud. Two acts, complimenting in a manner others might find it tricky to do, makes for an entertaining night, which it was, and back in the Tin Pan Alley days of yore, of course instruments were handmade or secondhand, salvaged from wherever they could be sourced.

Maybe a gig in the 1920s wouldn’t have been so different to this after all, as both JP and the Devil’s Doorbell are authentic enough and value the retrospection, and when sprinkled with this fun element, does it even matter?!

Ruby, Sunday at the Gate

It’s a rarity that I should drag myself off the sofa on a Sunday these days, one usually reserved for the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency at The Southgate. But beyond doubt my favourite young singer-songwriter right now, Ruby Darbyshire, is down my favourite watering hole, and such an occasion would be unmissable even if she did it weekly; twist my arm, why don’t you?!

This raw and self-disciplined talent when I discovered Ruby a little under two years ago was so breathtaking it caused me to state, โ€œRubyโ€™s music will grow into a phenomenon, and you need to hear it blossoming.โ€ I’m honoured to note it’s quoted on her website, one which everyone took heed of, on our local scene and beyond, and one which we can safely convert to past tense; Ruby’s music has blossomed and is now phenomenal.

Everyone was held spellbound throughout, this is now standard protocol wherever Ruby plays. Though Ruby remains modest and โ€œshowyโ€ simply doesn’t equate for her performances, alongside her refined multi-instrumentalism, her confidence to present herself and engage with an audience has accelerated to level up with the naturally sublime soulful voice she’s blessed with. A voice which may be kingpin to her excellence, but is really only the cherry on a cake with top marks all round.

A cake which covers virtuosos Nina Simone to Freddie Mercury, and makes them her own homages, then flips to bring Rag’n’Bone Man’s magnum opus to an older audience, and slides her own compositions in so effectively it’s divinelyย  encapsulating. Then, there’s the additional nods to her Scottish roots; folk sing-a-longs and her distinctive introduction to the second half of her set, with bagpipes. Even if you know it’s coming, you’ll never tire of it or any of it because that’s simply the magic Ruby brings to any venue.ย  Ruby Darbyshire is the whole deal now.

Bouffon! JP Oldfieldโ€™s Debut EP in Review

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 bogeyman into a mockery of mass hysteria and hoaxes. If our local upcoming blues soloist JP Oldfield is resurrecting the legend as an opening to his forthcoming debut EP, Bouffon, the trackโ€™s haunting ambience is broken by the usage of his kazoo, implementing the very vaudeville element of satire the albumโ€™s title reflectsโ€ฆ.

Bouffon, being a French theatrical term for a performance of mockery, much like a jester becomes subtly apt once youโ€™ve listened, but thereโ€™s deeper prose at work. โ€œI threw a lot of names around in my head for this project but nothing seemed to fit,โ€ Josh told me, โ€œI wanted a name that summed up everything that these songs, my style, stood for. As such Bouffon, I think, is an unexpected title for my debut EP but I’ve never really seemed toย  like following the mould with any of this musical stuff and despite at first I rejected the idea, it sat in the back of my mind and wouldn’t go away.โ€

In a town where blues is taken extremely seriously my initial reaction to this EP was โ€œthere he goes again, blowing that kazoo when traditionally there should be a harmonica!โ€ But it soon dawned on me, this, and his beaten up suitcase pedal-drum looking like a juke joint throwout, is all part of the unique and idiosyncratic approach JP Oldfield has forged, and its originality works wonders.ย ย 

If thereโ€™s one notable eccentric kazoo-blowing duo on the local circuit itโ€™s Devilโ€™s Doorbell, who Josh supported at Chippenhamโ€™s Old Road Tavern. But whereas those crazy boaters with ukulele and washtub bass rely solely on the jaunty and jocular, thereโ€™s a much deeper tenet to JP Oldfield, richly layered, psychologically.

โ€œTo me a Bouffon clown holds a mirror up to the audience,โ€ Josh explained, โ€œat times it can be hard to look at, deeply sad, and presents you with things you’d rather not face, but in the end it doesn’t pull its punches, and allows for anything to be possible, a blank space where youโ€™re truly free to explore. I really resonate with the idea of this. I’ve always enjoyed the strange, quirky and unlovable. Elements of this have bled far enough into my music to feel a need to name my debut after it.โ€

The second tune asks this directly, if the singer has the blues, as if the melancholic disposition of blues is an affliction the doctor can diagnose. But three tunes in and weโ€™re blessed with such melancholy, Last Orders is a gorgeous ballad to vainly justifying alcoholism. Magpie which follows delves much deeper in its narrative.

โ€œA lot of people associate me with lively suitcase drum playing, jazz chord kazoo mania,โ€ Josh expressed, โ€œand I get it, but that’s not the only side to my music and I would be doing myself a disservice if that was all that I recorded. All my songs are dark but sometimes it needs to bubble up fully to the surface and see the light of day.โ€

He examples the two as those which โ€˜really fill out the point of the recordings.โ€™ โ€œLast Orders is a deep dive into my previous alcohol abuse and really aims to look behind the curtain on the inner workings of a lonely alcoholic. Magpie is a story told from the point of view of a child whose parents have just lost a baby and the confusion that comes from that as the parent’s attempt to hide and dress up the truth. It was actually written in half an hour, the afternoon before hitting the studio, when I put it down on tape it was only the fifth time I ever played it. I had the lyric sheet in front of me and sat real close to the microphone. We did it in one take, the studio went silent and we all seemed to be in agreement that despite it not being perfect, it was exactly the take we needed for that song.โ€

I suggest, in its rawness, Magpie is the most emotionally driven track on the album, the song an audience will take away with them. Though achieving the balance is key here. When we first met for an interview, the topic rested mainly on his powerful basso vocal range, likening him to Cash or Leonard Cohen, and while Josh should pursue this angle in his recording, his live show wouldnโ€™t be the same without the more kazoo blowing mockery of his macabre topics. For the finale Josh pulls in all resources. By title and topic, Satanโ€™s Bar one could imagine weโ€™re off in a similar style as Last Orders and Magpie, but no, mate, itโ€™s jump blues and off he goes with that kazoo again! I suppose, solving the dilemma on how to go out, Satanโ€™s Bar has both sides to JP Oldfield covered nicely.ย 

If I tend to relate baritones to Jim Morrison, and his ability to induce his crowd hypnotically, (taking into account their probable intoxication!), one can suggest JP Oldfield has a similar commanding voice, and thatโ€™s a high compliment, but deserved on the strength of this EP alone.

Oliver Stone projected this well in his 1991 biopic, though those who knew Morrison criticised his persona as deeper layered than that which was represented. They claimed while Morrison was the unbalanced and sometimes vexatious character portrayed, that Stone missed his more playful and humorous side. Josh undoubtedly has the capacity and skill to mesmerise a crowd, like Riders on the Storm, yet if those middle tracks on the EP proves this, the beginning and end ones suggest his favourite Doors track might be the more gamesome Alabama Song, showing Morrison to the way to the next whiskey bar.

Bouffon is released on 25th February 2025, it certainly wonโ€™t disappoint his live fans. With this original balance of melancholic delta blues with a sense of vaudeville satire, thereโ€™s deep personal reflection versus folklore and contemporary narrative, all encompassing and blended superbly.ย 

When I first heard Josh perform, I figured this needed the kind of guided hand only the legend Nick Beere at Mooncalf Studios could master. Coincidentally I bumped into him the weekend after Josh sent the album, and Nick not only confirmed he had recorded it, but agreed the kazoo and all JP Olfieldโ€™s gubbings were all part of the uniqueness of the act. 

โ€œNick’s not only very knowledgeable but also a great guy,โ€ Josh finished on. โ€œWe’d met a couple of times before, at open mics, and he already had a fairly good idea of what I sounded like. I left the production side completely in his hands, he’s the master, I just make the sound. It was the first time Nick had ever recorded a kazoo and a suitcase so I was happy to be the first!โ€

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Things to Do During Halloween Half Term

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

CrownFest is Back!

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

Six Reasons to Rock in Market Lavington

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

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Bradford-on-Avon Green Man Festival Returns In May

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 on Saturday 10th May 2025 (9.30am to 6pm). And the best part is, it’s free!

Witness over 50 dance groups, including 500 dancers and 120 musicians, featuring Morris dancing and diverse European styles.

Join the whimsical journey of our 10ft tall Jack in the Green and Jill in the Green, visiting 12 town centre venues with bands and fantasy beasts.

You’ll also discover the kid’s zone, artisan market, community hub, pagan arts and crafts.

Groove to a samba band, mummers’ play, Folk Club stage, Wiltshire Music Centre stage at Holy Trinity Church, a great venue with fantastic acoustics, Blues @ The Shoes stage, live pub music with English folk music in The Canal Tavern organised by the regular BoA session players, The Dandy Lion hosting an Appalachian session, French music outside in the sun at Timbrellโ€™s Yard, buskers and more!

A Friday night launch party at the Wiltshire Music Centre is always a great start to the festival. This year it is on Friday 9th May, and theyโ€™ve booked the fantastic John Martyn Project.

The full programme is available on the BoA Green Man Festival website: boagreenmanfest.org

The BoA Green Man Festival has something for everyone โ€“ so dress up for the day and really get into the swing of things.

Date: Saturday 10 May 2025

Time: 9.30am to 6pm

Location: Across Bradford on Avon

Website: boagreenmanfest.org/welcome/

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Oh Danny Boy!

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

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A Quick Shuffle to Swindon

Milkman hours with grandkids visiting it was inevitable a five hour day shift was all I was physically able to put into this year’s Swindonโ€ฆ

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REVIEW โ€“ Devizes International Blues Festival โ€“ Saturday 18th January 2025, Corn Exchange, Devizes 

Another Stunning Week-End For Live Music

Andy Fawthrop

Normally Iโ€™d be raving about just how good the live music was at The Southgate on Sundayย afternoon. ย And it was indeed brilliant, featuring the amazingly talented bluesman Eddie Martin, withย his band The 58s (the year he was born apparently). ย The band consisted of Tom Gilkes on drums,ย Jerry Soffe on bass, and the wonderful Patsy Gamble on saxophones. ย And normally Iโ€™d write a longย incoherent full review of that gig on its own, but thereโ€™s just too much other stuff to tell you about!

The previous day was the first Devizes International Blues Festival. ย And hereโ€™s the low-down.

Nobody could ever say that Long Street Blues Club and its wily leader Ian Hopkins (currently alsoย Lord Mayor of this parish) doesnโ€™t keep on trying to push the boundaries of live music in D-Town, andย to present some really top-notch entertainment. Not content with a full programme of events at theย mothership venue of The Conservative Club (see below), there was still ambition enough to doย something even bigger in terms of both entertainment and venue.

So, in the interests of blowing out the post-Crimbo and New Year cobwebs, I felt it was only fair to reward such bravado with my own presence on Saturday afternoon and evening (yes it was an all-dayer, not just the normal simple gig format of band + support).  This was altogether more than that with no less than five, yes five, headliners playing their way through the six hours or so of the two main sessions.

This is (as far as anyone knows) the first indoor Blues Festival Devizes has ever staged (if you donโ€™tย count the blues events at the club itself this time last year). Being January, it was cold, damp, and wetย outside, so I think everyone was pretty glad to be on the inside! This was definitely not the same as,ย say, Saddleback of a couple of years ago sitting outside at Devizes Rugby Club in the middle ofย summer! ย 

The team had attempted to create an intimate blues club in the Ceres Hall, using tables and seating,ย but with some room for dancing at the front near the stage. ย It was always going to be a big ask withย the high ceilings and the big windows and aircon units much in evidence, but they did a pretty goodย job, by closing the curtains and excellent use of both main hall and stage lighting. And the rewardย was a virtually-full room of music-hungry people.

First up the afternoon double-header was harmonica player extraordinaire Giles Robson. Although based in Jersey, and the only UK resident amongst this star-studded otherwise Chicago cast, Giles was entirely at home, having in the past played with all the American greats, and having toured with his own band all over Europe.  I think I last caught him a year ago at the Blues Club playing support to another of todayโ€™s line-up John Primer.  Giles, accompanied by only an acoustic guitarist, served up a portion of (somewhat unusual on the UK scene) acoustic blues.  His wailing, crooning, imploring style of playing, together with his laconic inter-song chat style, soon had the audience hushed and listening intently. His last offering, which Iโ€™m sure had to be a parody on a whole raft of suggestive blues songs, involved milk in the ice-cream mixer.  Donโ€™t ask. Seriously, donโ€™t ask.

After a suitable pause for stage changes and (ahem) refreshments at the bar, it was the turn of Oscarย Wilson. Here was the real deal (in my book at least). ย Although not great in physical stature, andย leaning heavily on his customised stick, this guy had a commanding presence and provided some bigย sounds, with deep gravel vocals right from the outset. ย Growing up in Chicago, his major influencesย were Muddy Waters and Howlinโ€™ Wolf, and there was plenty of that on show right here. ย Workingย with a โ€œhouse bandโ€ that he didnโ€™t know, Oscar soon built a rapport with his musicians, commandingย every move with subtle moves of the hand, a flick or a bounce of the stick, or a wry smile to the side.

They were winging it a bit but (honestly) you could hardly see the joins.  His set was a real switch from what weโ€™d just heard from Gilesโ€™ solo set.  It was instantly deeper, faster, and with much more intent.  There was more variation, changes in tempo and altogether much more heft.  Even with Giles himself joining the band and providing the frills and the infills, the full band sound was much more to my taste.  Weโ€™d definitely moved up a notch, and the crowd were loving it.

At this point there was a break in proceedings for a couple of hours, and we were tipped out into the D-Town afternoon to find what other pleasures we could discover.  I guess the gap had a sound logistical reason behind it, but it felt strange to kind of lose all of the atmosphere that had started to build up.  Maybe it was sound checks, but the โ€œhouse bandโ€ was still the same guys upporting the evening performers. So Iโ€™m not sure about that one.

Anyhow, after the break and the crowd had reassembled itself once more, the next four and a halfย hours gave us three cracking performers of the Chicago blues.

First up was Nora Jean Wallace, a Chicago blues singer with Deep Delta roots. ย A striking figure of aย woman, sporting a fine silver wig, Nora Jean delivered a set that was far funkier than what had goneย before, almost leaning towards Motown at times. ย Clearly unwell with a stinking head-cold, sheย declared โ€œbut ahโ€™m gonna give it ma bestโ€, she absolutely delivered on that promise. ย The singingย was strong and high-powered. ย Only between songs could you see that she was struggling a little, andย you had to feel a little sorry for her. ย Her detailed control of the now-regular โ€œhouse bandโ€ wasย slightly less tight than Oscarโ€™s had been, but with Giles once again on stage with the harmonicaย support, the overall sound was terrific.

Toronzo ย Cannon came up next, sporting a nice line in hats, and a guitar that he used withย devastating effect. ย His song lyrics (and indeed the inter-song patter that introduced them) was wittyย and truth-telling. ย His topics included sex, divorce, insurance, his various health issues (again, pleaseย donโ€™t ask), his mid-life crisis (pubes turning grey anyone?) and so on. ย These were all original songs,ย and topics not normally covered by the mainstream blues, but massively entertaining nevertheless. ย But it was his blistering and inventive guitar work that impressed more than his impassioned vocals. ย Like all the artists who preceded him on the bill, he worked hard at engaging the audience, crackingย jokes and engaging in plenty of call-and-response numbers. ย Giles did not join the band on this oneย occasion, and Toronzoโ€™s sound was all the better for it. ย I love blues harmonica, but weโ€™d had quite aย lot of it already by this stage in proceedings.

Almost finally, it was the turn of John Primer, another one of the kings of Chicago blues. Originally aย guitarist in Muddy Watersโ€™ band for many years, he also played with another Chicago legend, Willieย Dixon. Here was another of these great performers, having also played in Long Street club about aย year ago, which was where Iโ€™d last seen him. ย Compared to Toronzo, John seemed more focused andย down to it, a little more serious, with less chat and humour. ย And still the โ€œhouse bandโ€ were thereย with him, together with Giles Robson once more. ย There was more of a feeling of just cracking onย with the show now, but never in any kind of hurry. ย โ€œAhโ€™m jusโ€™ takinโ€™ ma timeโ€, he declared at oneย point, which was absolutely how it felt. ย He also described himself as โ€œan old man, but with youngย ideasโ€ and then cracked the broadest smile of the evening. ย He delivered (to my ears at least) superbย versions of โ€œGot My Mojo Workingโ€ and โ€œRainy Night In Georgiaโ€. ย What a great performer.

But there was one final thing still to enjoy when the whole ensemble hauled themselves back onย stage for a final encore, sharing vocals and guitar licks. ย And finally also โ€“ huge applause for theย โ€œhouse bandโ€ whoโ€™d managed to play backing band to four different headliners, staying on stage forย over four hours. ย Unfortunately, I couldnโ€™t catch all their names, but a definite hats off to those guys. ย 

Overall, it was a great day out, packed with some great performances and musical gems. ย My favourite? โ€“ย Oscar Wilson was the guy who really nailed it for me, but these things are often a matter of personal taste. All five headliners gave great performances, and difficult to fault any of them. So, well done,ย once again, to Ian and his team for putting on such a great event in our town. Brilliant.

Future gigs at Long Street Blues Club:

Saturday 1st Feb โ€“ the John Martyn project

Friday 21st Feb โ€“ Brave Rival (at the Corn Exchange as part of the Lord Mayorโ€™s Dinner)

Friday 14th March โ€“ Jimmy Regal & The Royals

Friday 4th April โ€“ Tommy Castro & The Painkillers

Saturday 12th April โ€“ Billy Walton Band

Saturday 3rd May โ€“ Alastair Greene

Saturday 17th May โ€“ Fullhouse, with special guest Innes Sibun

Saturday 9th Aug โ€“ Skinny Molly

But, as always, check with their websiteย www.longstreetbluesclub.co.ukย for all the latest information.

The Rise of Winter Festivals

Once upon a time it seemed to me, that folk would grin and bear the winter weather for the sake of a Christmas lights switching on type of event, then batten down the hatches and hibernate like hedgehogs until spring. Nowadays you need not wait till summer for music festivals; winterfests are a thingโ€ฆ..

For those who cannot wait for the blossoming, and need a big fix of music and arts right now, here’s some local winter festivals to unravel their scarves and remove their bobble hats:

Bradford Roots Festival

Firstly, a well established winter occasion, Bradford Roots Festival at the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon. This is happening as a Saturday only event this year, on the 18th January. Our Andy reported on this one some years ago, and I snatched coverage of it off him, realising the โ€œRootsโ€ in its title refers more to hosting local acts of a variety of genres, not just a folk festival as it might be wrongly conceived as. It has become something of an unmissable winter local music convention, especially feeling like this being housed under the one roof of this purpose-built venue.

Wiltshire Music Centre are leaking names for the lineup individually on their Facebook page, the incredible Becky Lawrence being the first reveal. You can rest assured, though, based on past experience, this will be a whoโ€™s-who of local acts, over five stages. WIth an open mic stage, late-night transatlantic folk sessions, a family-friendly daytime with Wassail and childrenโ€™s arts and crafts, food & drink, a mini makerโ€™s market, and more, this is a delightfully warming occasion. You can choose from an All Day ticket (11am โ€“ 10.00pm) or an Evening Session ticket (7pm โ€“ 10.00pm) ยฃ25 / ยฃ13.50 All Day, ยฃ12 / ยฃ7 Evening. U12 free with an adult.ย 

Devizes International Blues Festival

Same date, different town, if Devizes has a penchant for the blues, luckily supports the Long Street Blues Club which hosts international blues artists, and the current Mayor Ian Hopkins is the organiser of the club, you can trust when it comes to the compulsory organisation ofย Mayorโ€™s Appeal events itโ€™s going to be a blast.ย ย ย ย 

Saturday 18th January sees the first Devizes Blues Festival inside the Corn Exchange. It promises โ€œto create an intimate blues club in the Ceres Hall around tables and seating is just limited to 250 guests.โ€ One of the greatest contemporary blues guitarists hailing from the south side of Chicago, Toronto Cannon, Nora Jean Wallace, a Chicago blues singer with deep Delta roots, John Primer, one of the kings of Chicago blues and original guitarist in Muddy Watersโ€™ band, singer Oscar Wilson and harmonica genius Giles Robson, you can guarantee have been cherry-picked by the expertise of Long Street. Tickets on sale now. ยฃ50.00 in advance.

DOCA Festival of Winter Ales

If the Blues Festival is new to Devizes, of course the town has had a winter festival for a number of years, and surprise, surprise, itโ€™s all about booze! The DOCA fundraising WInter of Festive Ales is on Saturday 15th February, early bird tickets are up for grabs and itโ€™s vital to the future of DOCA to support this, if you can. There will be a massive selection of beers and ciders to try with some quality music and cabaret to entertain you, we just donโ€™t know what they are yet!

Figgle Winter Festival

While I confess, thereโ€™s still a lot of updating to our event calendar to be done to bring 2025 to full fruition, and no doubt details of more winter festivals will come to light. Events like Figgle Winter Fest on the 1st Feb at Figheldean Village Hall, with a great and varied lineup of All Floyd, Strange Folk, Break Cover, The P45s, Lump, The Zucchinis, and one of our favourite upcoming stars, Rosie Jay. 

Swinterfest

But itโ€™s over to Swindon where we really need to concentrate, for the Swindon Shuffle is saving one big Christmas cracker for the end of January! The Shuffle offers us a scaled down in quantity but not quality version of their annual fundraiser for Prospect Hospice, on the weekend starting Thursday 30th January. Swinterfest is now a thing, and it looks set to warm live music in Swindon. The Shuffle really is a blessing late summer, when you can wander Old Town and beyond and discover so much live music itโ€™s impossible to take it all inโ€ฆ and itโ€™s free too, save for collection buckets for the hospice. It is therefore a safe bet Swinterfest will be off the scale awesome too!

Swinterfest is scaled down to one pub per day, saves wandering the nippy night air. Thursday at the Tuppenny with Courting Ghosts, Canutes Plastic Army, Will Lawton and George Wilding starts it off in style; we love all this with cherries on. Friday, the 31st Jan and itโ€™s all down The Vic for a punkier gig with All Ears Avow, Modern Evils, Not Warriors, Adder and our personal pick of this bunch, I See Orange.

Saturday night at Swinterfest is down the Castle, with our picks Meg and Nothing Rhymes WIth Orange, and also new ones on us, Stay Lunar, Wild Isles, Oojah, The Vivas and more are promised too. Sunday is the Beehiveโ€™s turn to play host, with our recommendations being Subject A, SN Dubstation, Concrete Prairie, and Fly Yeti Fly, and newcomers to us, Joe Kelly, Carnival Saloon and Sebastian and Me. Swinterfest may be a new venture, but, well, look at the fantastic lineup, the choicest one of all; it beats a brown snowball in the chops, in my humble opinion!ย 

As I said, Iโ€™m sure more winter festivals will come to our attention as time moves on, so keep an eye on our event calendar, but for now I think thatโ€™s plenty to warm your cockles, and massively reduce those post Christmas winter blues.

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Talk in Code Down The Gate!

What, again?! Another article about Talk in Code?! Haven’t they had enough Devizine-styled publicity?! Are their heads swelling?!ย  Didn’t that crazy toothless editor catch themโ€ฆ

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It’s a Barrelhouse Here, Long Live The Southgate!

Hey look, I’m done playing nice. Been good all year, but if Santa’s list starts afresh from now, I’m on for a bag of coal next yule; all in the name of honest opinion. I’ve been venturing elsewhere for entertainment, else hibernating like a little hedgehog, Saturday night before the big C, working hard, and all I ask is for a good night in Devizes, wet me whistle, and for that we have The Southgate, accept no substituteโ€ฆ..

Caught an early bus into D-town, it’s been a while. I thought hey, check out this Pour House I’ve been hearing about; much ado about nothing, what a premature wank into a sock that place is. Boasts the widest selection of drinks in town, and toffs gather there in a corridor to waffle shite, but I fact checked the bar, only one brand of cider. Best part of seven quid into Jeremy Clarkson’s grubby billionaire fake-farmer mitts, which wouldn’t be so bad if the owner had a grasp of basic manners. 

In two words, legal tender. Young lad served my pint onto the bar and in turn I attempted to hand him a tenner. Grasping the glass as tight as he could, the owner intercepted and snarled โ€œit’s card only!โ€ With his other hand he thrusted his machine under my nose. Glaring at me like I’d murdered his family, he held his hand around the drink until the card machine accepted my payment and only then did he release it, without another word. Maybe someone inked the word โ€œpeasantโ€ on my forehead, regardless, it wasn’t particularly welcoming; I ended up sitting outside, feeling I’d be exiled by class, drinking quickly and listening to the sound of the town hall’s tarpaulin wafting in the December wind.

Compare and contrast to my final destination, The Southgate, a benchmark of how to run a pub and stalwart of creating a welcoming atmosphere. I’m fondly greeted by bar staff, landlord Dave, and even George the dog acknowledged my presence in his own subtle way! Then my hard-earned cash is accepted and I’m served scrumpy at just over half the price than that of The โ€œPoorโ€ House, with a smile. By past experience I expected nothing less. Despite my recent absence, I feel at home, reunited; everyone is made to feel at home here.

For seven years the Southgate has held the title of the best pub in Devizes in my personal opinion, and still nothing seems to be available to challenge this. And for those seven years, Devizine has been reporting their dedication to local music fondly, with the wobbliest out of focus images any blog has ever provided the world over! What? I’m too busy having a ball; they looked alright at the time!!

Hats must also be tipped, though, to the longstanding king of pubs in town, The British Lion, the diverse offering of the Muck & Dunder, and to that of Simon and his hardworking staff at the Three Crowns, for providing the perfect lively option for the millennials. The Southgate and all these fine establishments go above and beyond to create an environment far beyond the replication of a front room, challenging the newfangled fallacy you’d be better off buying drinks from the supermarket and staying at home. If economically you might, socially you wouldn’t, and that’s the cornerstone of public houses; if a landlord abuses this, their pub will unfortunately not survive these days. For example, I went into a pub once, and they were watching Eastenders on the big screen. That particular boozer is no more. I rest my case.

If my criticism of this poor house feels a smidgen unfair, you should note I reserve my right to express an opinion, which this is. A better angle would be to point out its popularity and welcome any drinking establishment to town. In part I do, yet it is with concern that to normalise a bar which is unwelcoming or cherrypicks clientรจle is damaging the reputation of the entire industry.

It sure is a busy week at the Southgate, but they retain their smiles. Wednesday saw likely the biggest turnout to the regular acoustic jam, virtually a whos-who of local musicians amassed. Thursday saw the monthly residency of the Jon Amor Trio shifted from its usual Sunday slot, whereas this Sunday sees groundbreaking local band Burn the Midnight Oil holding a charity fundraiser. This Saturday though, it’s โ€œvintage blues with a hard edged groove,โ€ from the simpatico Barrelhouse. If their style sounds niche, it’s apt to Devizesโ€™ penchant for blues, and besides, they deliver it in such a manner it’s got universal appeal. An appeal which has made them favourites on the Marlborough circuit, their home turf, which has over the past couple of years spread to Devizes too.

Barrelhouse is also apt here, because a barrelhouse is another name for a juke joint, an Afro-American blues shack, and while the Southgate’s musical programme is diverse, it is more often than not, hosting blues or blues related rock, as this is favourite with the regulars. As the drinks flow, Barrelhouse evokes an epidemic of dancing, and the whole Southgate can be best compared to a juke joint. There’s good vibes all round, an amazingly communal and hospitable atmosphere; precisely what I came out looking for.

In the seven years I’ve attended the Southgate as regularly as possible, I have never, ever, heard one cross word, or seen a scuffle. Everyone is there to enjoy themselves, and that’s made easy with good management. If the music appeases the elder regulars, like rock or folk or blues, or if they’re introducing alternatives which attract more sporadic punters, the positive ambience of the Gate encapsulates them all, and they act in accordance. Be those times like when Monkey Bizzle brought us agricultural hip hop, or Devizes hometown teenage sensation Nothing Rhymes With Orange reduced the age demographic here, and any other of the plentiful examples I could give, the result is always the same, that being, it’s a hassle-free great night.

It’s the most dependable tavern I’ve ever warmed to, live music every Saturday, most Sundays, occasionally Fridays, then there’s acoustic jam Wednesdays, quizzes, and other weekday events. A hat for tips might occasionally be passed around, but no one has ever been asked to pay for a ticket. The Southgate has a carefree ethos, everyone is welcome, treated equally, and nothing is ever a problem; all this earns respect. Reasons that, despite the squeeze, musicians are queuing to play in this now legendary alcove. Dave showed me the list. They’re booked up till June, with various names listed aside acts which Dave would like to see returning but is struggling to fit them in.

Even with a fantastic Christmas party at Long Street Blues Club, Adam Woodhouse at the Three Crowns, and a busy schedule this weekend at the Gate, the crowds sign in to this eccentric, electric and humble watering hole, to drink, dance and be merry. The band members of Barrelhouse tell me how they love playing here, but it’s a compliment to the Southgate I’ve heard many times before by near-on every talented performer who’s graced us with their presence.

Long live the Southgate, and all who sail in her! In Devizes, accept no substituteโ€ฆ..

Ian Siegal at Long Street Blues Club

Devizes is often spoiled for choice when it comes to live music. Swindon folk ensemble SGO at the Gate would’ve been an excellent decision for this Saturday night, and I considered dropping by at some point during the proceedings at Long Street Blues Club prior to the proceedings at Long Street Blues Club, but during the proceedings at Long Street Blues Club I concluded I’d have to be criminally insane to leave nowโ€ฆ..

I might be insane, but not criminally, yet! To a packed house, award-winning, and not one to shy away from jesting about it, UK blues legend Ian Siegal came, saw, and revisited his two debut albums as requested by Long Street Blues Club organiser and Devizes mayor Ian Hopkins, enthralling the crowd; including me.

Ian Siegal is a national treasure, his 2009 album Broadside made MOJO magazineโ€™s blues album of the year, but the theme tonight focussed on his debut album from four years previous, Meat & Potatoes, which received four stars in the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings and paved the way for Ianโ€™s sound, and its follow on, 2007โ€™s Swagger. With the original organist from Meat & Potatoes, Jonny Henderson, and drummer Tom Gilkes, he drove sublime Detroit, Chicago and Memphis blues fusions, authentic and raw, to the forefront of a deservedly ostentatious show. Thatโ€™s how you play it.

I’m not up on these albums, detected a chorus mentioning Swagger, but for the most part, I was simply soaking up the sublime moment joyfully and without overanalysing; too easy to go with the flow of Ian’s sound. There were nods to his influences in splices of covers, flamboyant banter, and skilled compositions. It was, in summary, divine blues. Devizes own, Jon Amor joined him for a couple, and Ian spun blues riffs like they were childsplay.

None of this before the support act, young Ruby Darbyshire, who for the first and last time she played here I called it to be the best support Iโ€™ve seen at the club; itโ€™s a double-whammy line-up tonight. Multi-intrumnetalist, Ruby was blowing her bagpipes for Remembrance in the Brittox earlier. Arriving a tad late due to a bus delay, I noted she was already underway, unusually behind a keyboard. Explaining she hadnโ€™t played piano live before, she made a grand job of it, and returned to her guitar where we know and love her best.

A few originals including her timeless Insomnia, and covers from Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone to Rag & Bone Manโ€™s Human, she puts her wonderful stamp on them all, rapturously expressive and soulful. To hear Ruby is a magic Iโ€™ll never tire of, sheโ€™s improved her confidence, which is tricky in this appreciation society, where thereโ€™s the silence of a library while performers do their thing. It may be respectful, but a smidgen daunting for anyone on the stage used to more clamorous venues. But hey, anyone who can make Queenโ€™s Is This The World We Created their own fully deserves the upstanding applause she received, from a matured audience who have witnessed many talented people come and go.

Blues stalwarts at the club may have been in the know much longer than me, but Devizine was a learning curve, and when I began it I had no clue how deep the rabbit hole went, this, what I dub โ€œMel Bush effect,โ€ the town’s association with UK blues. When blues supergroup lockdown project Birdmen became a live show at Long Street a couple of years ago, Dave Doherty invited me and it was my epiphany into how the club was continuing Devizes folk’s affection for the blues. This fantastic eye-opening gig was so due to the stellar lineup, in particular frontman Ian Siegal. 

In its review I summarised him as โ€œthe very definition of cool,โ€ but knew I’d have to expand on that next time, which was when he was a guest at the Jon Amor Trio monthly residency at the Southgate in March. So, the extended version was as โ€œcool on a barefoot Bruce Willis pounding through the glass of the Nakatomi Plaza level, he is the Steve McQueen leaping anti-tank obstacles on a stolen Triumph of UK blues!โ€ 

As a quote I was kinda chuffed with, I thought I’d attempt to recite it when I met him after the gig, but intoxication levels took control, and accepting I’d probably stumble out the word Nakatomi, I only mumbled I compared him to Bruce Willis. He didn’t seem impressed, assuming I was referring to the dire commercial album Willis launched in the eighties, trashing soul classics like Under the Boardwalk! Apologies to the man, for I’d archived that album to the back of my mind and wasnโ€™t referring to it at all!

I hope he reads this so I can correct the tit I made of myself! Because last night’s gig was sublime; I never had any doubts, and my concept Ian Siegal is cool, however I express it, sticks! Plus, of course, there will be plenty of other opportunities to make a tit out of myself, Iโ€™m sure!

As for Ian, he seems to be on a permanent tour, find dates on his website, and news of an new album, Stone by Stone, due in April, HERE.

For Long Street, John Otway & The Big Band arrives next Saturday, 16th November, promising to be something different, and with Billy in the Lowground in support. Then, Thomas Atlas Band plays with Two Smiles, A Bang, and a Legend in support, for a Christmas Party on Saturday 21st December.

Billy in the Lowground are Halfway Up The T-Shirt

Itโ€™s been on my to-do list far too long, overdue to tick it off. Foot-tappin’ West Country folk ensemble, Billy in the Lowground released this album at the end of August, apologies for not mentioning it sooner, but it is worth mentioning, very worth mentioningโ€ฆ.

Rather than baked bean stains halfway up most of my T-shirts, this seven track release Halfway Up the T-Shirt, refers to festival billing. โ€œWhenever we play a festival,โ€ they explained, โ€œwe always look for our name on the official merch, and after thirty-odd years, we’re finally working our way up, away from the bottom line.. Hooray!โ€ 

To be frank, we donโ€™t care where any festival organiser places them on the T-shirt, with an appealing brew of weighty Scrumpy & Western barefoot fiddles and banjo shenanigans, theyโ€™ll lift any T-shirt to expose a rotund hairy belly of upbeat Irish folk, and we love them for that here at Devizine Towers!

Ambiguous is the name, a phrase in a poem about William of Orange defeating the Irish Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne, knee-deep in a river, most likely, but other suggestions, like the poem being a parody of Hamlet’s soliloquy, a folk song about William the Conqueror, even “Billy” being slang for a Yankee soldier in the US Civil War, have been passed about, but you didnโ€™t need to know that!ย You only need to know Billy in the Lowground have been musically ploughing their field since 1991, and have consequently become hugely proficient at it.

Halfway up the T-Shirt is seven strong tracks of goodness, not quite an album length but longer than an EP, a novelette if it was work of literature. โ€œFact is, we could only afford to get seven tracks finished before we ran out of cash,โ€ they said, so buy this if only to get them more studio time, because itโ€™s a worthy seven tracks to leave you yearning for more.

Follow My Road is a ripping opening, with guest guitarist Rob Fawcett. Itโ€™s a hard rock groove, a blues theme, with the uplifting riff of The Levellers at their finest. All Hail the Clown follows suit, it rolls heavy with a healthy dollop of sublime fiddle. So the Story Grows, three tracks in, takes us in an irresistible, rootinโ€™-tootinโ€™ bluegrass melody. With Be It Good, Be It Bad the fiddles and twangy guitars of bluegrass continues, but this one really brings out the Dylan-esque rawness of Chris Hibberdโ€™s gritty vocals, uptempo and reminding me somewhat of Subterranean Homesick Blues, if it was recorded live at County Louthโ€™s Ti Chairbre. Unsure why, as the whole album has that raw energy; itโ€™s a Billy in the Lowground trademark, and itโ€™s beguiling.

The album is stylised and flows on a lofty level, given this, Billy should be at the collar of the shirt. Fallen Queen is a monster to hail along to, fire you up akin to The Poguesโ€™ Transmetropolitan, but paced. The penultimate Part of The Show builds in layers unlike the others, and for this itโ€™s the most epic. Already released as a single, the finale, No Chance for a Slow Dance does what it says on the tin. Billy in the Lowground at their finest, it bears all the hallmarks of a magnum opus. Itโ€™s rinsed with upbeat fiddle and banjo, it takes you on a journey similar to The Dropkick Murphy’s, and impossible to stay still to; yet the whole album is gold, sprinkled perhaps with some mud kicked up from the field youโ€™re dancing to it in.

I saw them at the Bradford Roots Festival, in that purpose-built breezeblock beauty. The acoustics in there are incredible, but next time I see Billy in the Lowground Iโ€™d favour it being in an ancient west country boozer where the carpet smells of wet dog hair and the odour of campfires drifts through the windows. Where the cider is passed around a packed crowd of steaming boaters, the band play stacked on top of each other in an alcove, knocking brass plates off the wall behind them! That said, they are at The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon on 11th October, not that Iโ€™m calling anyone names!


Chatting with Josh Oldfield on Blues, Inspiration, and Drums in Suitcases!

I was chatting to Josh Oldfield last week, a Devizes singer-songwriter I believe weโ€™ll be hearing a lot more of. Though this interview was pending before Iโ€™d had the opportunity to see him perform, coincidentally the Sunday before I was fortunate enough to, at a private partyโ€ฆ.

And it was worth a fortune, Josh has confident stage presence, a guitar soloist with soothing baritone vocals, white shirt and waistcoat, and a vintage suitcase foot-drum akin to a travelling Southern bluesman of yesteryear. ย Connoting retrospective style, the drum gives depth to an otherwise acoustic set, and the show is quirky, but oozing with professionalism, like a one-man skiffle band. Itโ€™s something different from the norm, locally, which was the starting point to our chat.

Josh amended my description as โ€˜slightly different,โ€™ โ€œit’s a fair bit different,โ€ he suggested, โ€œand I didn’t mean to do it on purpose, it’s just naturally how it came out.โ€ Fresh from Peggy-Sueโ€™s local showcasing Don’t Stop the Music Radio Show on Swindon 105.5, he said it went โ€œfantastic; there seemed to be people into it. And I don’t actually know what I’m doing, but it’s something different!โ€

Pinning his sound only for want of conveying it to you, I jested he caused me to think a โ€˜skiffle George Ezra!โ€™ Said with upmost respect, despite Ezraโ€™s commercial success, he never waivers his style, possibly opening a door to others with deep vocal range. Josh ducked the Ezra comparison, concentrating on the skiffle and deepness of his range. โ€œSkiffle’s perfect. It’s something I should have realised with gigs; people seem to like originally. Years ago I’d try and move away from how deep my voice is, because it’s not popular. Professionals and singing teachers will tell you, that because my voice is baritone, they’re like, oh, you got to learn higher range for popular music.โ€

I supposed that was the appeal. โ€œWell, yeah,โ€ Josh continued, โ€œturns out people like hearing the lower ranges, as it’s not so common, and maybe there’s a comeback now, where people are kind of picking that up a little bit more.โ€ We waffled for some considerable time on the templates and expectancies of modern pop vocals, compared to a unique time of yore when a voice was a personal signature. Josh cited Tom Waits and Nick Cave as influences, favouring โ€œobscure stuff,โ€ over contemporary pop.

He first picked up a guitar at thirteen. โ€œMy dad just had a guitar knocking around the house. He used to play a bit, but didn’t really play anymore,โ€ but stressed he didnโ€™t start singing until recently. A couple of months ago he sang at the open mic at the Cellar Bar, โ€œthe first time my mum ever heard me sing, and I’m like thirty now. Singing is not something I’ve been doing naturally throughout the whole thing.โ€

Josh comes across an earnest perfectionist, one who solitarily hones his craft and doesnโ€™t unleash anything until itโ€™s mastered, ergo heโ€™s new on the scene but โ€˜oven-readyโ€™ to give an impressive show. If now is that time to break the local scene, thereโ€™s a valid reason. Given the all-clear from being diagnosed with testicular cancer last year, at twenty-nine years old, Josh expressed, โ€œessentially that’s what ended up pushing me to want to pursue music. I was like, โ€˜I’ve kind of been given a second chance,โ€™ you know? That was the main drive.โ€

At the party Josh pulled some finely penned originals out of his bag as well as adapted covers of crowd-pleasing pop, such as Tainted Love; the set was instantly prodigious. On writing he expressed songs were, โ€œflowing out. They’re just coming. I was being asked last night, what’s this song about? I don’t really have a clue what they’re about. They’re just literally being put down on paper and then, there’s a meaning in there somewhere, you know? It’s more like transposing them. There was a song I wrote on Monday, and I played it on Tuesday on the radio, because it just kind of happened. But then, when I was trying to look at what it was about it, well, I mean, I was watching Clarkson’s Farm the day before. So, there was some stuff about a farm in there, so maybe it’s linked to that in some way!โ€

Capturing a moment no matter how inconsequential at the time, naturally crafting art sourced from it when inspiration strikes, and being as impossible to summarise how and why as it is to transmit a dream, is key to creative genius. That question put him under the spotlight, but he came up trumps!

Our conversation diverted to breaking the local circuits, the balance of adapting to certain venues and niches, as while many want cover bands, few prefer original acts locally, and I affirmed Joshโ€™s self-penned vintage style would suit the matured blues aficionados of Devizes. Though we covered the upcoming more youthful indie-punk scene and talked of Kieran at the Pump. โ€œThat’s more what I remember,โ€ Josh stressed after hearing me on the blues penchant of town. โ€œBack in the day, the whole Sheer Music thing in Devizes. When that disappeared, I thought music in Devizes had disappeared. I thought it was all just, you know, pubs getting cover bands. But getting into it, there’s quite a big scene. It’s just finding it.โ€

Thatโ€™s why we, and people like Peggy-Sue are here! Josh is sourcing all the right channels and appears on Fantasy Radio on the 10th of October.

We continued onto the one-man band thing, and that authentic suitcase drum. โ€œIt’s from America,โ€ Josh explained, โ€œit’s a suitcase with the basic drum built in. There’s a Pan American drum company, only two companies in the world that do it.โ€ I imagined axemen of yore stopping at the crossroads and selling their soul to the devil with it! โ€œWell, yeah, that’s the thing,โ€ he replied, โ€œI want to play instruments where I can take them anywhere. So I got the kazoo as well. I can take that anywhere. I can play acoustic guitar anywhere. I can sing anywhere. When I think blues, thereโ€™s electric, but then there’s the kind of, sitting on the front porch, playing kind; playing just cause you want play,โ€ which led us onto old-archaic bluesmen, of which there could be no doubt Josh has done his homework, alluding to RL Burnside and others. โ€œNo one knew about him until he was like sixty something. He was a sharecrop farmer, and he just lived out there. He had like sixteen children or something, you know? But he didn’t care. And that’s really for me where that kind of foundation comes from,โ€ he said, explaining the story of a blues song he played at the party.

โ€œThat old style of blues, I’m trying to lean towards, to be honest, has a lot in common with punk,โ€ he said and triggered a tangent on pigeonholing when roots intertwine, which developed onto open mic nights.

โ€œEveryone I’ve met has been through the open mics, and I like playing them,โ€ Josh reacted. โ€œThere’s this kind of community around it. Yeah, it can be a bit musician convention, and again, you mentioned Vince Bell, you know that’s where I met Vince. Me and him are looking to play a couple of shows together hopefully later this year.โ€

Playing with the ethos of taking music back to its roots makes Josh flexible, his music fits into folk and blues, so itโ€™s apt to work with acoustic folk singers like Vince, and Josh mentioned working with Jamie Tyler of The Worried Men too, electric blues, a different kettle of fish, but still fits like a glove. โ€œThe live reaction to stuff seems to be great,โ€ he added. โ€œIt’s that people like the music, to be honest, more than anything else that always surprises me. It’s like we were getting messages in while I was on the radio yesterday and people saying that they were really loving it and stuff and that’s surprising.โ€

If Josh Oldfield is modest and wears his heart on his sleeve, itโ€™s a common sign of a creative prodigy. He admitted, โ€œI’m very reserved, introverted. In fact, part of the reason I like playing music is because I don’t have to be in the crowd. I don’t like being in crowds. So if I’m playing the music, I’m not in the crowd!โ€ Thereโ€™s logic there, but in the brief time I saw Josh play, Iโ€™m convinced of what I said at the beginning, I believe weโ€™ll be hearing a lot more of him.

Book Josh Oldfield with Marland Music HERE.

Follow him on social media, links are here Facebook. Instagram

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Recommendations for when Swindon gets Shuffling

Swindon’s annual colossal fundraising event The Shuffle is a testament to local live music, which raises funds for Prospect Hospice. If you’re ever goingโ€ฆ

A Busy Week For Lunch Box Buddy!

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

Wither; Debut Single From Butane Skies

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

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Devizes International Blues Festival in January

Benefits of having a Mayor who runs a blues club! Devizes blues fans get a late but great Christmas present when Mayor Ian Hopkins brings us this peach, a Devizes International Blues Festival on Saturday January 18th at the Corn Exchange; this news should warm you up!

“This is the biggest show I have everย put on,” Ian told us, and he’s put on a few in his time! It promises to be an all-day festival, starting at 2pm and containing a great line-up of blues stars. Any profits will go to the Mayors Appeal.

“We will be creating a intimate atmosphere of a blues club limited to just 250 tickets. There is a special Early Bird of ยฃ45.00 prior to 1st November when price rises to ยฃ50.00,” he explained, seemingly and understandably excited, you probably are too! Book now at Long Street Blues Club website, or tickets are at Devizes Books and Sound Knowledge in Marlborough.

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The Juggernaut Delivers Back at The Southgate

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 โ€œthe juggernautโ€ returned from a break to deliver ten or more bulky pallets of sublime unadulterated blues to our own Sunday juke-jointโ€ฆthat’s how you do it, Devizes style!

Do we need to go further? Most Devizine writers have covered past sessions in our own individual ways, including myself, but equally in agreeance with anybody and everybody who’s ever attended one, this is where it’s at on a Sunday afternoon, this is the alternative Sunday roast.

I’ll keep it short, but have to say, you won’t find a more apt scenario for the idoim โ€˜time flies when you’re having fun,โ€ given the Jon Amor Trio residency at the Southgate is into its third year. And it’s become something of a town tradition; they’ll be throwing confetti at it next!

Said tradition usually comes with a special guest, many of whom return for gigs within their own right and band, but this month’s proved that’s just a bonus ball, as Jon did without this time, and with the best drum and bass duo Tom Gilkes and Gerry Soffe, they absolutely and undeniably shook the jammed joint.

If you’re still not in on this after us endlessly waffling about how good it is, that’s you’re perogative, but it’s not too late neither is it an exclusive club, you’d be welcome.

With the autumn season atย Long Street Blues Club pending, this was just what the blues aficionados of old Devizes town needed right now, therefore I feel confident to speak for us all when I sincerely thank Jon, Tom and Gerry for bringing us this monthly gem.ย  The formula is the first Sunday of each month, but keep an eye on our calendar or socials for any possible changes, and be there for the next one!

Mojo Workin’ fo’ Autumn: Long Street Blues Club’s Next Season….

Itโ€™s when you hear those American addresses, like house number 21,456 Park Avenue, you realise Long Street in Devizes is a long street only comparable with neighbouring streets! Even then itโ€™s only averagely longer, and seems quite short to walk along when you know three-quarters of the way down thereโ€™s world class blues acts giving it whatโ€™s for.

All hail Long Street Blues Club, home of a blues appreciation society as large as the town itself; letโ€™s have a gander at their upcoming season, shall we?

Iโ€™m not going to jinx the clement weather by saying it, hopefully, but it will be classed as the autumn-winter season for the established juke joint within a Conservative Club, so letโ€™s pretend the nights are not closing in and view this a preview of whatโ€™s to come when it does, okay, good for you? The fun doesnโ€™t end in summer here, yโ€™know?!

Thursday 10th October kicks it off, with some southern fried and heavily drunk Mississippi delta blues, when Heavy Drunk, Watermelon Slim and Leonardo Guiliani team up for an electrifying Trans-Atlantic tour and see here as why weโ€™re so fortunate to have Long Street!ย ย 

Multi-award-winning Watermelon Slim was perhaps best summed up by the late Jerry Wexler (co-owner Atlantic Records, producer for Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin) who described him as โ€œa one-of-a-kind, pickinโ€™ n singing Okie dynamo.โ€ Sons of the South soul outfit HeavyDrunk has made waves with their signature raspy vocals and Americana infused sound.

Their Mississippi delta blues, powerful gospel, and hard-hitting rock โ€˜nโ€™ roll energy charged their 2023 album You Donโ€™t Know Me, which was released to raise awareness and funds for the crumbling grave of music legend Robert Johnson.

UK based independent musician, guitar player, and singer-songwriter Leonardo Guiliani joins The Mississippi Delta Blues Experience 2024 fresh off the release of his 2023 album Rogue. Produced by four-time Grammy award winner producer Tom Hambridge, Rogue showcases Guilianiโ€™s talents inspired by the acoustic singer-songwriters and electric jam bands of the late โ€˜60s and the โ€˜70s.

It doesnโ€™t end with this Mississippi Delta Blues Experience, for little over a week later, on Friday 18th October, the legendary Wishbone Ash will play the Corn Exchange for a Mayorโ€™s Appeal fundraiser; thatโ€™s what you get when the mayor is the key organiser of a blues club!

Wishbone Ash embarked on the nascent progressive rock scene in 1969, far too long ago for me to be around, but if I was I like to think Iโ€™d be waving my bell-bottoms and freaking out to it with a flower in my hair. Theyโ€™ve a distinctive brand of melodic rock, inspired equally by British folk traditions and American jazz and R&B, and still do it fifty years on. 

If thatโ€™s not enough to twist your temptation, support comes from our one and only Johnny B. Goode, Ruzz’s Guitar Trio, and if youโ€™ve not heard of him youโ€™ve not been reading Devizine enough!!

Last gig of October is on Friday 25th, grandson of the legendary RL Burnside and legend within his own right, Cedric Burnside brings his new album Hill Country Loveโ€™s UK tour to Devizes. He has built up a formidable reputation as one of the most original blues performers of his generation, and was recognized with the 2024 Mississippi Governor’s Art Award for Excellence in Music, which should be quite enough accolades for us. As with most of them, demand for this gig will be very high indeed so early booking is essential.

Things are no slow train running when we look at November either, on Saturday 2nd, following a sensational support slot with Giles Robson last year, Mississippi MacDonald makes a return by demand from the clubbers.ย 

English soul-blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, fronting a four piece band, Mississippi MacDonald is a six times British/UK Blues Awards and three times US Independent Blues Awards nominee signed to APM Records and appearing on BBC Radio 2โ€™s Blues Show with Cerys Matthews. 

Yes, get in! Sunday 9th November sees Ian Siegal and band return to the club. No stranger around these parts, as part of the Birdsmen project with Jon Amor and the Docherty brothers, as a guest of Jon and within his own right, damn, Iโ€™ve mentioned it before, but Ian is the very definition of cool!

Heโ€™s the multiple British Blues Awards winner and hot tip of everyone from Mojo to Classic Rock. Heโ€™s the songwriter whose recent CD releases sound like career peaks, but are only the start. From one night to the next, he might be a solo acoustic performer or a blood-and-thunder bandleader. Siegal is known as a bluesman, but itโ€™s just one shade in the palette of an artist who slips between continents, eras and expectations.

Saturday 16th November is the date John Otway brings his big band, and hereโ€™s one I know so many cry at me to see, but Iโ€™m yet to tick off my must-see list. Pop’s most amazing eccentric English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona, Otway is punk essence, remembered for accidentally misjudging a step in order to jump on an amplifier and sent it and him tumbling on the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test!

Otway’s sixth single, the half-spoken love song Really Free reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart. An appearance on the BBC’s flagship music programme Top of the Pops, where Otway & Barrett were introduced by Elton John, Otway was finally a star!

Support comes from the foot-tappinโ€™ folk of Billy in the Lowground, a fine choice in my humble opinion.

And thatโ€™s it, save for the, (dare I say it while the sun is shining?!) Christmas Party onย Saturday 21st December with The Thomas Atlas Band. Garage funk in style, his band takes in members of The Brand New Heavies and The Brothers Groove. Heโ€™s no stranger to Devizes, guesting with Jon Amor Trioโ€™s regular Sunday session at the Southgate, returning to our answer to the O2 in his own right, and playing a gig at the club between them!

A Smile Two Bangs and a Legend support on this one, who Iโ€™ve heard about, love the name but not had the opportunity to witness for myself, but it will be Christmas party and a half, even if I donโ€™t like to even mention the C word until December and apologise to like minded others!

Long Street Blues Club is one of those strange things if you donโ€™t know it. Turn up, observe raffle ticket buying, check out the ham or cheese rolls on the bar, and think what have I done, is this a Saga excursion? Then correct yoโ€™ bad self, when you witness top class blues acts from both near and as far away as possible, and realise this is the Devizes Blues Preservation Society HQ; and they shoโ€™ got their mojos workinโ€™.

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Elles Bailey – at Sound Knowedge, Marlborough

by Ben Niamor

A first outing on Saturday to Sound Knowledge for Devizes favourite Elles Bailey, whose latest album dropped Friday, and this mini tour of a handful of record stores gave us a rare intimate opportunity to enjoy an artist whoโ€™s enormous growth and success has her playing a frequently different kind of larger venue, than the small venues I first saw her in some years ago nowโ€ฆ

Indeed she had played Cropredy the day before, and Glastonbury earlier this year..! I will be honest here, I am a fan.. have been for years. She has always surrounded herself with the most amazing musicians and today was no exception, Joe Wilkins and Demi Marriner, both close friends of hers and co writers and conspirators in the new album, and it showed, the happy ease with which they delivered the meaningful verses of a selection of fine songs from the new album, a real treat.

I already loved 1972, a stand out song partly I confess owing to my having watched the video many times.. that was shot in and around Devizes by some other incredible musicians and creatives, many of us are more than familiar withโ€ฆ the gorgeous humans over at Growvision.. aka Robin and Greta of Beaux Gris Gris fame. Itโ€™s a fantastic video even if you werenโ€™t a D Town native like me.

The song is about a time without mobile phones, and all the trappings of life we think we canโ€™t survive without though most of civilisations history has doneโ€ฆ

Another favourite for me, as Elles does open retrospective and human warmth and truth better than mostโ€ฆ Leave the light on – An open love letter to her husband . An open hearted reflection on how she can live her dreams, and if as the inspiration for this song dictates she arrives home late, her home will provide all the welcome and support imaginable, literally a light left on, like a home fire burning.

Thereโ€™s a theme in Elles entire being, certainly all my interactions with her, a real appreciation and gratitude for all lifeโ€™s opportunities, the love and support of everyone.. the record buyer and fan, of her amazing team and family.. the whole journey.

Perhaps thatโ€™s a marker, a lesson for many less wholesome people in todays music industry..? Be real and treat everyone with love and appreciation and karma will underpin your own growth..? Certainly seems to have worked here.

Anyhow, I digressโ€ฆ the album was gonna be called Silhouette Under a Sunset, originallyโ€ฆ Silhouette in a Sunset – a great new song about souls who you feel have known each other before we have met in this lifetimeโ€ฆ such is the immediate warmth or common ground.

Turn off the news – talks of being grateful for being able to lose ourselves in books, records, etcโ€ฆ a guilt of being able to escape the world at are worst.. summarised in being able to turn off the e-news, which of course sometimes many find they cannot.

Another truthful reflection on life.. Truth ainโ€™t gonna save us – When you have to call the end of a relationshipโ€ฆ the truth and conflicts of lifeโ€™s harder moments.. written with Matt Owens beloved of SK of course in his own right..

Of course all this very real subject matter is wrapped in such gorgeous music, and lighter moments that it connects you with the truth and reflection that makes much of Elles music resonate so strongly with us the listener.

I talked to some new listeners exposed by this local opportunity and hardcore fans alike in the throng, and many with shirts declaring admiration for Elles and other contemporariesโ€ฆ We are fortunate locally we have the incredible Sound Knowledge, and many great venuesโ€ฆ we are considered very well in this area for the love and support of it all.

To quote something Elles shared.. โ€œ โ€œThereโ€™s no destination.. only dreams to realiseโ€ Of course store appearance limited coloured vinyl and deluxe albums were flying out the door.. check out the album and catch Elles on tour, join the ride. Thankyou once again to Elles and Sound Knowledge for all they do.

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Ruzz Up The Gate!

I was intending to start this along the lines of โ€œyou don’t need me to provide another reason why I love The Southgate,โ€ but this is Devizes. Being I overheard a conversation between a person by the ticket machine in the carpark, and their friend at their car three yards away, which went: โ€œgotta put yer registration in, int ya,โ€ to the reply โ€œyou can get it off the number plate,โ€ I reconsidered, maybe some do need a reminder!

Thing was, festival after festival, I was supposed to have a weekend off, grandkids visiting, but the temptation of Ruzz Guitar standing in for Jon Amor for his monthly residency was too great to resist, coupled with the fact I needed a break from drawing Paw Patrol characters, litter-picking Harbio off the sofa and being a human climbing wall.

In no time at all I was sighing relief at our dependable Gate, replacing Peppa for aย pint of Rosie’s Pig; my guilty pleasure. Oh yes, you wanted yet another reason why I love the Southgate, at least a reminder; because even if you’ve stayed in for the weekend, it’s never too late to have a change of heart, Sunday afternoon sessions from 5pm are equally as satisfying as those of the Saturday night.

You knew this, I’m sure. Jon, with the fantastic drum and bass duo, Tom Gilkes and Jerry Soffe have turned this faithful and friendly tavern into a divine monthly juke-joint for many moons now, with guests the calibre you’d gladly fork out a ticket for. They’re also the kind of gig which appeals to the guests, nearly always returning within their own right to the Southgate.

So with Saturday a guaranteed hoedown with Marlborough’s blues giants, Barrelhouse, for a Sunday with Jon unable to attend, the cavalry was called in. There’s some great guitarists in the south-west, there’s the sublime few, and then there’s Ruzz, so good they named the guitar after him. In America they’re calling our regular Johnny B Goode the “Pistol from Bristol,” and the boot fits.

They got our mojo working for an encore, preceded by the perfect execution of Ruzz’s slide guitar interpretation of Armstrong’s Wonderful World, and my personal favourite original, Sweet as Honey. It was a superb finale to a spellbinding set, the likes you can always rely on with Ruzz, fronting his trio, Blues Revue or, evidently, Tom & Jerry too.

The guitar is what Ruzz is a virtuoso of, Gretsch knows this and endorsed him. If he was a chocolatier he’d be endorsed by Teuscher, if he was a stamp collector it would be a stamp collection worth seeing! What a fantastic afternoon at the Southgate, again!

Ruzz is back in Devizes Friday October 18th with his Trio, in support of legends Wishbone Ash at the Corn Exchange, it’s the first gig with profits going to the Mayoral Appeal; a welcome advantage to having a Mayor who runs a blues club!! Tickets here.

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 10th – 16th July 2024

Jam-packed July! If thereโ€™s always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so!ย ย 

Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโ€ฆ.

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so check in later in the week too!

Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.

The Frome Festival is underway, and ends on 14th July. Cheltenham Music Festival also, ending on 13th July. 

Marlborough Open Studios is running until 28th July. 

Wednesday 10th

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Three Choir Showcase Concert at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, featuring BCG Choir, PSG Choir and the Horizons Choir. Jam at the Boathouse.

A Lunchtime Recital with flautist Klio Blonz at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Cheritang at the Bell, Bath. The Dreamer Live at The Rondo Theatre.

Scott Mickelson at The Beehive, Swindon. Chocolate Theatre presents The Full Monty at Swindon Arts Centre. Infant Voice Festival at the Wyvern Theatre.

Paul Masonโ€™s The Bob Morris Lecture at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

2000Trees festival opens near Cheltenham.

Thursday 11th

James B Partridge Presents: School Assembly Bangers at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Fly Yeti Fly at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Erin Bardwell & Friends at The Castle.

Richard Herringโ€™s Can I Have My Ball Back at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 12th

โ€˜Steve Davisโ€™ and โ€˜Kavos Torabiโ€™ at the Barge Inn Honeystreet.

Marlborough Festival opens and runs all weekend. Comedy Night at the Town Hall. El Toro at The Bear, Marlborough. Luke Gittins with Ash Smith at The Green Dragon. 

Double Bill at Pound Arts, Corsham with Ben de la Cour & Holysseus Fly.

Black Charade & Fell Out Boy at The Vic, Swindon. Funkinsteins at The Beehive. Viggo Venn at the Wyvern Theatre.

One Chord Wonders at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon. Future Plan and Lindup Brothers at the Three Horseshoes.

Faith at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Peatbog Faeries at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. An Dannsa Dub at the Tree House.

Saturday 13th

Devizes Beer & Cider Festival. Humdinger at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Thomas Atlas at The Southgate, Devizes.

Josh Kumra and Mica at the Bear, Marlborough. On Remand at the Crown. 

Reading Dub Club at The Barge, HoneyStreet.

Everything Changes at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Adrenaline Stompers Festival at Club Venom in Westbury.

Characters Stage Schoolโ€™s Annie at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Innes Sibun Trio at The Boathouse. 

John Hegley: An American in Luton at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Bar Tape at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. The Spirit & Sound of Steely Dan โ€“ Nearly Dan in concert at Chapel Arts. Salt Beef Reuben & Friends at the Bell, Bath.

Hooch at Royal Oak, Bishopstone. Phantom Droid, Thrakian and Hora at The Vic, Swindon.

Miss Kelโ€™s Academy Of Dance: Stars And Stripes at the Wyvern Theatre.

Flash Harry at the Corner House, Frome. Gary Davies Sound of the 80s at the Cheese & Grain.

And Somerset Kaya Reggae Festival at Caryford.

Sunday 14th

Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week is Picnic in the Park at Hillworth Park, Devizes from 12-5pm; hope to see you there! Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective at The Southgate, Devizes straight afterwards.

Wiltshire Young Musicians Summer Festival from 1.30pm at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Tom Cornnell at The Boathouse. Luna Barge at the Three Horseshoes.

Jon Amor Trio at the Bell, Bath.

Richard Wileman & Amy Fry at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon from 1pm. Kitty Langan Studio โ€“ Schoolโ€™s Out at the Wyvern Theatre.

Frome Symphony at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

The Godney Gathering in Somerset opens.

Monday 15th

B D Lenz at the Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 16th

Alex Vietch Quartet at Jazz Knights in the Royal Oak, Swindon.

Ben de la Cour at the Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s your lot, for now!

Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week!

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IDLES’ at Block Party

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

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A Junco Shakinโ€™ Finale for Devizes Arts Festival at The British Lion

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, reopen under new management, and try something else, while the British is steadfast and loyally imperishable. Ask anyone in Devizes their favourite pubs, and they’ll have different answers, then add The British Lion to the list for good measureโ€ฆ.

What better setting for the last day of a most memorable Devizes Arts Festival than their extensive suntrap beer garden?ย 

Old timey rhythm and blues blessed the full house, delivered with unique flavour and proficiency from a family Southampton come Birmingham (apparently) quartet, called The Junco Shakers.

These free fringe events provided by the Arts Festival are them at their rawest, letting their hair down and attracting the Devizes bohemians, alongside regular punters and everyone in-between. For this notion and the uniformed venue, the timeless Junco Shakers were a perfect match. I’d consider it skiffle. At least they used a washboard and percussion brushes, though over time, this has become a vague description. It felt bone-shaking blues of yore. At times, an upright double-bass gave it a rockabilly edge. It was jumpy and infectious, immutable enough to not warrant pigeonholing, so I’ll shut up!

With a barbecue sizzling bangers, the sun with his hat on, and just about everyone who’s ever sunk a pint in the British in attendance, it was the epitome of the Devizes spirit. While many here desire a political change and excuse me for getting political, in divertissement, the formula of this free house is unchanging; reliability, and a cracking selection of cask ales and ciders.

For those now with a taste of poison, The Three Crowns had Pat and Ben’s Matchbox Mutiny at 3pm, the Southgate hosting Jon Amorโ€™s favourite guest LeBurn Maddox at 5pm, and the Devizes Arts Festival itself polish off with a free poetry slam at the Wharf Theatre. You can see now why I had bitten off more than I can chew when highlighting what’s happening in Devizes, as for a market town its size, this is just a typical sunny summer Sunday here, and we’re spoiled for choice. Me? I went home for tea and bed; those pintas won’t deliver themselves!

As for the British Lion, it rarely puts music events on, but when it does, the population rise to the occasion, remembering with fondness nights of yore in this award-winning pub, who gave them โ€˜Black Rat Monday,โ€™ the Saturday quiz, and the eminent stalwart landlord Mike Dearing. 

We thank the team at Devizes Arts Festival. It’s been another fantastic year, and we look forward to many more.

REVIEW โ€“ Devizes Arts Festival โ€“ The Sound Of Blue Note @ Assembly Room 13th June 2024

Cool, Man

Andy Fawthrop

Devizes Arts Festivalโ€™s programme continued on Thursday night, and it was time for a little jazz.ย  As I often say (apparently) thereโ€™s nothing like sax in the evening….

Terry Quinneyโ€™s Sound Of Blue Note features some of the most prominent jazz musicians in the Southwest whose main aim is to accurately recreate the music and aesthetic that defined the Blue Note Records sound of the 1950s and 1960s.ย  Their repertoire features music from Blue Note legends like Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Horace Silver and more, all directly transcribed from the original recordings and performed with all the swinging intensity that is synonymous with the legendary record label.

The band last night consisted of Andy Urquhart (trumpet), Terry Quinney (saxophones), Ben Taylor (double bass), Andy Chapman (drums) and Phil Doyle (piano).  And they turned up, fully suited and booted, very much looking the part of what (I imagine) a 50s/ 60s jazz club band ought to look like. 

Iโ€™d been hoping that weโ€™d have more of a club atmosphere and aesthetic, with a tables-and-chairs layout, but we had to settle for a more traditional cinema seating arrangement.  No matter โ€“ the band and the audience settled right in.  Describing themselves at one point as a โ€œBlue Note covers band, or tribute bandโ€, the mood and the swing were soon established.  I prefer the word โ€œhomageโ€ myself, but I might then be justifiably accused of being a tad pretentious.  No matter.  Back to the jazz.

This was a bunch of guys who were clearly very comfortable with their material, with their arrangements, and with playing in each otherโ€™s company.  They sounded absolutely great, tight when they needed to be, but with that wonderful ability to fall back and give space to the many solos and improvisations.

I was not personally familiar with much of the material, but fortunately I was accompanied by someone who knew what they were listening to and was able to explain some of the finer points to me.  Added to Terry Quinneyโ€™s between-numbers commentary, I picked up more of the background.  But it really didnโ€™t matter โ€“ the quintet delivered what, to my ears at least, was a great night of jazz.  Through two 50-minute sets, the band held the audience enthralled and entertained.  The applause was warm and frequent, and an encore was fully deserved.

I just wish, as Iโ€™ve said before, that we had more frequent opportunities to catch some jazz in D-Town on a more regular basis, rather than having to wait for a year for the Arts Festival to book artists of this calibre.  Thereโ€™s an opportunity there somewhere!

You can find out more about The Sound Of Blue Note at terryquinney.wixsite.com/sobn

The Devizes Arts Festival is moving towards its end now, but there are still several events on Friday night and over the weekend, with tickets available, until Sunday 16th June at various venues around the town.ย 

Tickets can be booked at Devizes Books or online at www.devizesartsfestival.org.ukย 

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 22nd- 28th May 2024

Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week, with a bank holiday in the mix!

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated, so check in later in the week.

Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here.

Ongoing: Bath International Music Festival: 17th – 26th May

Wednesday 22nd

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

The Wizard of Oz at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-onAvon.

Starting a run until the 25th May, I Love You Because at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. The Barefoot Bandit at the Bell, Bath. And the Mission Theatre begins SparkFest with two shows, The Sofa and Dead End.

Big Jam Sessions at The Vic, Swindon. Irish House Party at Swindon Arts Centre.

Thursday 23rd

Runny Snotts Acoustic Sessions at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Nick Helmโ€™s Super Fun Good Time Show at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Here Come the Crows at The Vic, Swindon. Luke Combs at The Wyvern Theatre. Confessions Of Sweeney Todd at Swindon Arts Centre.

SparkFestโ€™s Independent Digital Screenings at The Mission, Bath.

And the last Shindig Festival opens at Dillington Park, have a great time if youโ€™re going to that.

Friday 24th

Chippenham Folk Festival opens and runs until 27th May.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange at Devizes Street Festival

Nothing Rhymes With Orange are back on their home turf, playing The Three Crowns, Devizes, which we make Edโ€™s pick of the week. Full on Fridays at the Exchange in with resident DJ Stevie Mc in the mix.

Shilts & Friends at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Jessica Fostekewโ€™s Mettle at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Capโ€™N Rustyโ€™s Skiffle City Rockers at The New Inn, Amesbury.

Hatepenny at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Call The Shots at The Boathouse.Bach Week: at Wiltshire Music Centre, with Quartetto di Cremona The Art of Fugue.

Biggles Sound System is at St James Wine Vaults, Bath. Fleetwood Mad at Chapel Arts. MacPlebs is the SparkFest show at The Mission.

Tyrants at The Vic, Swindon. Nick Helmโ€™s Super Fun Good Time Show at Swindon Arts Centre. Rock It at The Queenโ€™s Tap. And thereโ€™s a Beer and Cider Festival at Swindon & Cricklade Railway.

Be Like Will at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.

Carsick are at The Tree House, Frome.

Cursus Festival opens in Dorset.

Saturday 25th

Chris Free at The Southgate, Devizes. Sam Briggs joins Stevie MC in the mix at the Exchange.

Capโ€™N Rustyโ€™s Skiffle City Rockers at the Crown, Bishops Cannings.

Mick Jogger and The Stones Experience at Edington Charity Ball at the Three Daggers.

Family Fun Day at Spencerโ€™s Club Melksham from 11am-4pm.

80s Disco at the Talbot, Calne.

Lonely Road Band at Gloucester Road Cons Club, Trowbridge.

Molly Chambers at Hawkeridge Village Hall near Westbury.

The Reason at Prestbury Sports Club, Warminster.

D-State at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.

aKa Dance: A Real Fiction at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Larkhall at Kington Langley Village Hall.

Steve Backshall begins a few dates at Longleat running until 2nd June.

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

Chris Moyles 90s Hangover Festival at Swindon Town FC Rockabilly Rumble at the Vic. The BeatRoutes at The Queenโ€™s Tap. Sonic Alert at Woodlands Edge. Daliso Chaponda โ€“ Feed This Black Man Again at Swindon Arts Centre. Daniel Oโ€™Reilly: Out Of Character at The Wyvern Theatre.

The Ciderhouse Rebellion at Chapel Arts, Bath. SparkFest at The Mission has Stage Fright, CYCLOPS: More Than Meets The Eye, and The Chipping Norton Incident.

Love Saves the Day at Bristol.

Jeremy Healy at The Cheese & Grain, Frome. The Hammervilles at the Tree House.

Sunday 26th

Muddy Manninen & Pasty Gabble at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm. People Like Us at The Three Crowns.

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Pete Lane and the Sailing Stones at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Luke Philbrick & the Solid Gone Skiffle Invasion at the Bell, Bath. Bath Fringe Festival shows
The Demeter by Lewis Cook at The Mission.

Could Be Real Tribute Festival at Swindon Town FC. Lonely Road Band at the Richard Jefferies Museum, free entry. Mrs Smith โ€“ See Me! at Swindon Arts Centre. Punt and Dennis at The Wyvern Theatre.

Bank Holiday Monday 27th

The Popup Youth Cafe will be on the Green in Devizes from 2-4pm. Funked Up at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Tom Odell โ€œBlack Fridayโ€ at The Memorial Hall, Marlborough, check ahead I think this may be cancelled.

Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Wonder Gigs: Sky at Pound Arts, Corsham, followed by John Robbโ€™s Do You Believe in the Power of Rock n Roll.

Bruton Packhorse Fair.

Car Show at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.

Big Chimney Barn Dance at the Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 28th

Half Term Reduction Linocut Workshop at Hannah Cantellow Studio, Devizes.

Exhibition on Screen โ€“ Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matis at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Pop Princesses at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Fleur Stevenson Quartet at Jazz Knights in the Royal Oak, Swindon.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now; fill your boots! Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.

Do check ahead with our ever-changing events diary. Isnโ€™t it high time you snapped up some tickets for the Devizes Arts Festival at the end of the month running into June?

Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week!

Trending……

Clock Radio Turf Out The Maniacs

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

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Thieves Debut EP

Adam Woodhouse, Rory Coleman-Smith, Jo Deacon and Matt Hughes, aka Thieves, the wonderful local folk vocal harmony quartet of uplifting bluegrass into country-blues has aโ€ฆ

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Dirt Roads, A Plastic Army, and a Ruby; Saturday Evenings in Devizes Still Rock!

A joint effort of Darren Worrow and Andy Fawthrop

Buses, huh? Last time I strolled to the dual carriageway to catch one it was four minutes early and didnโ€™t hang around for listless fogies with an appetite for entertainment. I glumly watched it blur past from fifty yards down the lane. This time I hotfooted it, my ageing heart pushed to its limits, and the delayed bus left me standing there for fifteen minutes! Once in Devizes, although far from Broadway, options for quality music and drink still overpowers those of neighbouring market towns; something we should be proud ofโ€ฆ.ย ย 

Post vegan market and a craft fair at the Corn Exchange, as evening sets in The Pelican prepares for its beloved karaoke, a couple of hobos strum a ditty by the fountain, and the amazingly talented Adam Woodhouse arrives at The Three Crowns. Yet I must bypass such significant options, itโ€™s over to Long Street Blues Club, because when Ruby Darbyshire is in town, thereโ€™s no compromise from me.

I give a nod to Joe Hicks, likely the best support act Iโ€™ve witnessed at Long Street to date, yet at seventeen-years old, Ruby Darbyshire, I believe mayโ€™ve topped it. Her first time at the legendary club, she practised two blues songs to play them, one by Beth Orton, another more classic, although by subject her own composition Insomnia could be perceived as blues, and her overwhelming vocals blessed the club with these and a sprinkling of popular covers.

Thereโ€™s a double-whammy of congratulations to organisers of Long Street, councillor Ian Hopkins who this week became Mayor, and his now wife, Liz, for their marriage in the same week. We wish them many happy years together. But dilemma dawns for me; though keen to hear a group composed of legends Horace Panter, Steve Walwyn and Ted Duggan, by name alone itโ€™s fair to suggest accolades as standard, whereas itโ€™s the first time Swindonโ€™s gypsy-folk Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army are in town. Theyโ€™re down our trusty Southgate, and since hearing a handful of their most impressive singles, and our ethos of supporting local acts, I must depart the club with haste.

Much as I would love to pretend this was all part of careful planning, it wasnโ€™t! Believing our fantastic regular reviewer and part of the furniture at Long Street, Andy Fawthrop was still on his holibobs, I endeavoured to stay as long as possible in order to give fair praise to The Dirt Road Band, when all the time he was hiding behind me! So, it gives us an opportunity to merge our words and be comprehensive about a typically great Saturday night in Devizes.

After Ruby did her thing, which never fails to leave me suspended in awe, I stayed for two songs from The Dirt Road Band. Ruby rinsed beautiful versions of Joni Mitchellโ€™s Big Yellow Taxi, and Princeโ€™s Nothing Compares 2U, as regulars in her set, yet again, itโ€™s in jazz renditions such as Erroll Garnerโ€™s Misty and Nina Simoneโ€™s Feeling Good, where her sublime vocal range is let loose, is something to behold, and the very reason Iโ€™m here at the club. Crowds flock this shy prodigy during the interval with congratulations, clearly itโ€™s not just me who thinks this.ย 

The Dirt Road Band came on all guns blazing, in an impressive electric blues-rock fashion. I favour my blues rootsy, though tip my hat for their aptness to the Clubโ€™s favoured mode. Here below, is Andyโ€™s take on them; I salute plus thank him for his expert thoughts, as ever.ย 

A recently-formed modern (super-)group, consisting of gig stalwarts Horace Panter (The Specials) on guitar and vocals, Steve Walwyn (DR. Feelgood) on bass, and Ted Duggan (Badfinger) on drums, these guys had all been around the block a few times. They knew how to play, how to drive a set-list and how to work the audience. 

They took a couple of numbers to really get going, but once they hit their groove there was nothing stopping them. Playing a single ninety-minute set they ripped through both original material and a few great covers. It was rock, it was blues, it was boogie-woogie, and they shifted these styles around with seemingly no effort.

Keeping the audience to a chit-chat to a minimum, they frequently segued from one number to another. There were some great riffs on the new songs, and there was a definite Feelgood vibe going on at times. It was no-nonsense, professional stuff, highly enjoyable. A cheering, standing ovation was rewarded with Get Your Kicks on Route 66.  By comparison to Beaux Gris Grisโ€™ near three-hour performance the other week, ninety minutes felt very short, but it was quality not quantity that was on offer here. Good gig, good value. Definitely a band worth checking out.

Eyes back on me, then; thanks Andy! Without cloning technology I missed this, hot footing it again, this time to the Southgate. Dirt Road Band originally asked to play here, landlady Deborah thought theyโ€™d be better suited to Long Street, and so we are blessed with the presence of Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army, I understand itโ€™s their inaugural visit tour trusty answer to a Devizesโ€™ O2, though the guitarist plays also with welcomed regulars Sโ€™GO.

Based upon both the Army part of their name, and the strength of a few singles Iโ€™ve heard from them, such as the incredible Wild, I was first surprised to see they were but a duo! Nevertheless, through Anish Harrisonโ€™s intense and consuming vocals and the intricate guitarwork of Neil Mercer, they build layers through loop pedals and sheer expertise, to produce the euphoric gothic folk one would expect a full band to have produced.

There were a few technical hiccups with the PA, yet through warts and all, the duo gifted us with an inspiring, beautifully accomplished and unique sound. Whimsically gliding like fairies in mist, ringing out choral from just one voice, or bittersweet, they were reciting influences in subject from folklore and mythical prehistory in breathtaking splendour. I changed my mind, they are indeed an army, armed with allegory and an elated passion to deliver it.   

Itโ€™s Anglo-Saxon, or Celtic Pagan, reverberations of times of yore, wrapped punk and pirate-like. At times I likened them to Strange Folk, at others The Horses of the Gods, but mostly it was individual expression, and thatโ€™s the icing on their cake worthy of our perusal.

And thatโ€™s a wrap with dirty roads, a plastic army, and a gemstone. Through unforgettable acoustic goodness to an exclusive gothic folk duo, via a legendary supergroup of blues, you have to award Devizes, weโ€™re still punching above our weight when it comes to valid options for a great night of live music, and, sadly, I didnโ€™t even get the opportunity to head over to The Three Crowns for Adam; cloning technology, see? Get to it scientists, now!

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 15th-21st May 2024

Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโ€ฆ

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated, so check in later in the week.

Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August; review here. 

The Thrill of Love is currently running at the Wharf Theatre until Saturday, hereโ€™s a review.

Wednesday 15th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Patsy Gamble Jazz Trio at St Nicholas Church in Bromham, preview here.

Jonathan Leibovitz at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Mohamed Errebbaa at the Bell, Bath

Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre, for those suffering with dementia and their carers, screening The Lavender Hill Mob (U). Latin funk jazz with Starlings at Jazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon.

Thursday 16th

Royal Wootton Bassett Carnival & Fun Fair starts and finishes at the weekend.

Courting Ghosts at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Rusty Goatโ€™s Poetry All-Stars at Twigs Community Gardens. Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. Pete Allenโ€™s Jazz Band at Swindon Arts Centre. Antiques and a Little Bit of Nonsense at The Wyvern Theatre.

Friday 17th

Full On Fridays at the Exchange, Devizes, with DJ Stevie MC.

Medium Nikki Kitt is at Melksham Assembly Hall .

Mosquito at the Aldbourne Social Club.

Pat Sharp Party Night at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Ion Maiden at The Vic, Swindon. Simplicity at the Queenโ€™s Tap. Ashley Blaker at Swindon Arts Centre. Julian Clary โ€“ A Fistful Of Clary at The Wyvern Theatre.

Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Karport Collective at The Boathouse.

Bath International Music Festival begins today, running until 26th May. Bootleg Bee Gees at Chapel Arts. Daliso Chapondaโ€™s Feed this Black Man Again at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Dutty Moonshine DJ Set at The Tree House, Frome.

The Chilled Out Motorhome and Camper Weekender in Cirencester opens.

Saturday 18th

Devizes Vegan Market at The Market Place from 10am-3pm. Mynt Image Craft Fair in the Corn Exchange. The Dirt Road Band at Long Street Blues Club. Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army at The Southgate, Edโ€™s pick of the week this one. Adam Woodhouse at The Three Crowns. Caztro is in the mix at the Exchange.

White Horse Soapbox Derby in Westbury.

Mosaic Dogs at The Lamb, Trowbridge.

Talk in Code at The Kings Arms, Amesbury.

Rachel Newton at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Black Wendy at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Vocal Works Gospel Choir โ€“ live at 21 at the Wiltshire Music Centre.

Shelf is at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, with a kids version, then teenage men version. Roxy Magic at Chapel Arts.

The Bowie Experience at The Vic, Swindon. Awakening Savannah at The Queenโ€™s Tap. 

The Soul Strutters at the Woodlands Edge. Drew Bryant at the New Inn. The Blackheart Orchestra at Swindon Arts Centre. eMotion Dance Competition at The Wyvern Theatre.

Frome Memorial Theatre Open Day followed by Jive Talkinโ€™. John Lydon is at the Cheese & Grain. ZZ Toppd at the Tree House.

Sunday 19th

The Hoodoos at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Shot by Both Sides at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Eddie Martin at the Bell, Bath.

Lee Hurst โ€“ Sweet Sorted Lovely at Swindon Arts Centre.

The Frome International Climate Film Festival at the Cheese & Grain.

Monday 20th

Tony Remy, James Morton & Anders Olinder at the Bell, Bath.

Steeleye Span at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Tuesday 21st

Letโ€™s Walk โ€“ Caen Hill & Jubilee Wood

Crazy Bird Comedy Night at The Piggy Bank Micropub, Calne.

Gareth Williams Trio for Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon.

Ash Mandrake & Jenny Bliss at the Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now; fill your boots! Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed.

Do check ahead with our every-changing events diary. 

Shindig Festival at Dillington Park begins next week, the last Shindig festival, have a good one from me.Also find upcoming Chippenham Folk Festival 24th-27th May. Love Saves the Day in Bristol. Beer and Cider Festival at Swindon & Cricklade Railway. Cursus Festival 2024 Dorset. Chris Moyles 90s Hangover Festival at Swindon Town FC. 

In Devizes Nothing Rhymes With Orange makes a homecoming at The Three Crowns on Friday 24th. And isnโ€™t it high time you snapped up some tickets for the Devizes Arts Festival at the end of the month running into June? 

Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week!

Trending…..

You; Lucas Hardy Teams With Rosie Jay

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

Keep reading

Bands At The Bridge

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

Keep reading

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Ooh La La Ya Beaux Gris Gris in Devizes!

Ben Niamor

A triumphant album release party last night for one of the hottest, rapidly growing talents in the blues/rock scene; Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypseโ€ฆ..

Guitarist supreme Robin Davey hails from the shire, and was once in The Hoax, a genre-defining UK blues band with Jon Amor, one of the guests we witnessed absolutely blow the roof of the Corn Exchange last night.. so, no stranger to our town. Louisiana-born powerhouse Greta Valenti, also married to Robin, brings the most incredible energy and voice to this band.

They always handpick the most amazing musicians; with this lineup of Sam on keys, Tom on drums joined by additional keys from the incredible Emma Johnson, a horny brass section (as introduced!) and two more local musicians, Jon Amor and Ruzz Evans, bringing some more incredible sounds of their own to the proceedings.

No surprise thereโ€™s an intuitive connection with the band, always playing with the most incredible musicians, these guys are among the most professional outfits you could ever hope to see. Whether raising the roof, running straight out onto stage with Whatโ€™s my Name? a fan favourite anthem, and getting all singing within the first song, or winding down the tempo to captivate the audience with the soul quenching Bungalow Paradise, whether itโ€™s the Queen herself or the musicians doing the talking, they have new and old fans alike eating out of their hands.

New material like Mama Cray, written from Gretaโ€™s childhood family memories including accordion accompaniment from Sam to sound like the true Cajun singalong anthem it isโ€ฆ 

Or from previous records like Thrill Me, a track that has the previously indoctrinated singing at the top of the voice and in silent deference to the whims of Robinโ€™s guitar inside one song!

Donโ€™t take my word for it, friends have taken to social media today having experienced their first full band stage show spreading superlatives stating โ€˜absolute classโ€™ , โ€˜ AMAZING!โ€™ These are from seasoned gig-goers having experienced something much more powerful than anyone could generally expect from a town gig.

The Corn Exchange was filled with over three hundred people, from the seasoned music addict (one notable and passionate couple Pat & Maria marking this gig a milestone of 50 Beaux Gris Gris gigs!) to first timersโ€ฆ Many of them have declared an instant connection, this was nearly double the crowd of the previous outing in the Corn Exchange, some two years ago, which shows the growth of the band and the desire of potential fans to connect with such a talented ensemble.

The new album, Hot Nostalgia Radio, has an even wider spectrum of material and influences than ever before, and is very much more radio friendly , and even more accessible without genre pigeonholing.

The incredible thing being this is nothing to do with record labels, etc, as is sadly all too common, it’s a drive from a band who are truly independent, to widen their appeal, to explore more ideas from their own life stories, and above all have a ball!

I confess to being of the opinion this band are truly amongst the best live bands anywhere right now, they have a fanatical following, which can only grow.

No matter what you think your bag is rock and roll, blues, whatever give this band a few minutes, if you like something you hear go seek out their records, or better yet feel the force of a gigโ€ฆ truly the same quality runs through everything they do.

Totally incredible performance, and for me I am proud that our town showed them so much love, we are blessed with incredible venues like the Southgate, Long Street Blues Club, etc, that are so well respected in the wider music community, that Devizes can punch so massively above its weight bringing these opportunities to our door.

I think I can safely speak for the vast majority of that hall last night in thanking the promoters, the band and their incredible team, and of course their guests for one of the very best gigs of my life, right here in my hometown! For many thatโ€™s something appreciated as being truly amazing to get involved with. 
Hot Nostalgia Radio by Beaux Gris Gris is out now, search any platform you care to mention  and go hit them up; letโ€™s keep them touring and do this again soon!

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Wiltshire Music Awards Website Goes Live

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

Soupchick in the Park

And there was me thinking nothing good comes out of a Monday! Today local bistro Soupchick, popular in the Devizesโ€™ Shambles opened their second branch,โ€ฆ

Family Easter Holiday Events

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

Blessed are the Toolmakers – Mark Harrison at the Queens Head, Box April 28th 2024

by Ian Diddams
images from Mark Harrison Facebook

Last summer I was lucky enough to see Mark Harrison play at the โ€œTangled Rootsโ€ festival over Radstock way (highly recommended that is too, for a laid back weekend of camping, workshops, and americana/roots music!). So when I saw him appearing on a Sunday night card at the Queens Head, Box it was too good an opportunity to miss.

It was my first visit to the venue which clearly sets itself up as a genuine music venue with its dedicated performance room, aided and abetted by โ€œSchtummโ€ the promoter of music events here; a good space reminiscent of โ€œThe Tree Houseโ€ at Frome, “The Pump” at Trowbridge and nostalgically โ€œThe Foldโ€ in Devizes.. A quick word here too for the pub โ€“ a free house offering last night St. Austell ales. Most acceptable.




Mark โ€“ a.k.a by his blues monicker โ€œMoroseโ€ Mark Harrison โ€“ has a relaxed, laconic persona with a lightly cynical view of life. Right up my street. His music is loosely โ€œbluesโ€ – though he himself says โ€œbut itโ€™s not stuck in the past. Iโ€™m tapping into the timeless quality of the early blues to produce music totally relevant to the present day.โ€ Mark plays a 1934 National Trojan resonator guitar, previously owned by Eric Bibb, and he uses a finger plucking style rather than strummed chords.

It was a bijou, intimate crowd at the Queens Head โ€“ which as the other act of the night, Jinder, jokingly opined just means โ€œsmall room, small crowdโ€. Well, how lucky were WE at such a bijou, intimate gig? Mark played a 75 minute set which might have been 80+ minutes had he not forgotten how one of his own songs started ๐Ÿ˜Š; I’ll cut him some slack… he has another 98 he can remember to choose from after all… Markโ€™s lyrics are not so much about his own life โ€“ โ€œI donโ€™t want to hear about my life, I have to bloody live itโ€ (or words to that effect!) โ€“ but about his view on society and the changes he has seen in it in his lifetime. He grew up in Coventry surrounded by car manufacturing, went away for a weekend and on his return the car factories had been replaced by garden centres. People that did real jobs replaced by Marketing Consultants. People with … irritating haircuts… Real activities replaced by twitter โ€“ oh sorry Mr. Muskโ€ฆย  โ€œXโ€. In this vein his numbers โ€œThe Wild Westโ€, โ€œThe Great Stinkโ€ and โ€œToolmakerโ€™s Bluesโ€ encapsulate this exasperation and incredulity.

This is not a political standpoint though, to be clear. Just a reflection of one manโ€™s interpretation of a few decades through the medium of blues influenced music. Songs are interspersed with humorous and/or pointed stories and anecdotes. Often with a pithy, short epithet at those responsible for societyโ€™s illsโ€ฆ


Mark’s songs are in many ways stories in themselves, drawing you in with clever lyrics and the haunting finger plucking – simple stuff but (lest this sound damning with faint praise) so skillful yet easy on the ear. Its not until you start watching his fingers dance over the strings you see how there are two patterns going on simultaneously by his thumb and index finger, using the strings as two separate areas while his left hand works the frets on the higher strings.

All too soon the show was over. Eleven songs, eleven chats. A view of life and death in Bognor, the tribulations of late night driving and route diversions, social historyโ€ฆ covid and lockdown as a metaphor for 21st century life.

He also has a phenomenal memory; whilst chatting to him after the gig and buying his latest album he asked me if Iโ€™d met him also at โ€œTangled Rootsโ€ last June!  I canโ€™t remember what I had to eat this morning!

If Mark is playing near you, go and see him.

If he isnโ€™t, buy his music.

In fact โ€“ do both!

Mark Harrison Music
Web: www.markharrisonrootsmusic.com
Twitter/X : @mharrisonmusic
Facebook: markharrisonmusic
Instagram: @markharrisonbandofficial
Youtube: markharrisonband
Bandcamp: https://markharrison.bandcamp.com/music

Setlist
Tribulation Time
Ain’t No Justice
Black Dog Moan
Road Ahead Closed
The Wild West
The Great Stink
More Fool Me
Go Nice
Highgate Hill Blues
Toolmaker’s Blues
Easy Does It

Familiarity: Barrelhouse Take The Southgate, Roughcut Rebels in The Three Crowns

Familiarity was key for me last night, if last weekend was new, trekking to Swindon for their soul and jazz festival, watching an amazing Gambian musician play a string instrument made from a cow skin covered pumpkin. Cue the theme to Cheers, sometimes I simply want to get down to my local, see a band I’ve seen umpteen times, and love, make no notes, take a few blurry snaps, and naturally, blow off work-day stress by sinking a few ciders too many, and when I do, The Southgate or Three Crowns in Devizes are my go-tosโ€ฆ.

Apologies if we’ve covered this ground before, a number of times, but Devizine is a hobby. Therefore, I reserve my right to enjoy doing it! Not forgoing, I enjoy the adventure of finding acts I’ve not seen before and exploring new venues equally to the comfort of familiarity, so when Barrelhouse are in town the temptation is too much to resist; I’m legging it in the April drizzle to catch the bus!

There were two free live music options in D-town last night, both as valid as each other, as usual for a Saturday. The trusty Three Crowns had a new look Roughcut Rebels, those established mod to Britpop local favourites. I’ve had some reservations about recent lineup changes, but I’m aware there’s a new guy fronting the team. I must poke my nose in to investigate. So, too, did former members Finley and Mark, I jested to them that they were on the bench, but substitutions were unnecessary.

Only original lead guitarist, Weller-mod-cut John Burns remains, yet with proficiency cool as a cucumber, the new frontman, Jake Lockhart is unpretentiously smooth, bassist on cue, and a stickman who clearly knows his way around a drum kit. They roll out Kinks and Stones classics delightfully, I’m guessing this is going to go Britpop before long, and while I’d personally favour the setlist works in reverse, I’m not of the millennial majority in the Crowns the Rebels need to appease. I can ascertain they did, from their opening alone.

It only took a few songs to accept these guys had it in the pocket, and it was impendingly obvious the Three Crowns will explode into party mode post-haste, it always does by providing the best tried and tested cover bands. Like I say, familiarity. Time for me to grab my zimmer frame and join my own age demographic down at the Southgate; those Marlborough purveyors of sublime vintage blues must’ve soundchecked by nowโ€ฆ

And so it was, The Southgate, as warm and welcoming as ever; found a place in the blossoming crowd of elder gig bunnies, and let Barrelhouse do their thing. If I do local circuit analysis and Marlborough comes up decidedly post-punk new wave and gothic, Barrelhouse better appeal to Devizes, perhaps; the Mel Bush effected blues aficionados. Although Barrelhouse is best served on hometurf, you should see the crowds turn out at Mantonfest; it’s a Marlborough blues phenomenon.

I’ve been telling Devizes this since they first appeared at our trusty Gate, to play to a slight crowd, an attraction which builds with each visit they make. Tonight was no exception. It was medium busy as they presented their wonderful show, squashed into the famous alcove, but with the passion and gusto they possess and input into every gig.

Turning the Southgate into a juke-joint is an easy feat, punters love their blues above all else. Though the Gate strives to bring a wider range, you only need to be there for the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency to confirm this. Barrelhouse is apt here, then, but it remains to be that some regulars still need to take heed of just how much these guys will rock them. Those present know the score now, Barrelhouse came, saw, petted the pub dogs, hung T-shirts over the toilet sign, and entertained superbly, again!

When they come your way, do check them out, I don’t fib, not about this anyway! The band are tight, the blues is vintage, with a fiery modern rock twist, in their calculated, balanced setlist of Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and other Americana covers, their own compositions which have become as anthemic as the classics to fans, and the brillant rock adaptations such as Motรถrhead’s Ace of Spades.

Frontman Martin Hands is hands-free, with no instrument other than his confident and convincing gritty delta blues vocals. The band complimented him, Tim is a guitar enthusiast, and his skills shine through. Stuart equally on bass, who acts as compรจre too. Nick adds to authenticity with harmonica, but it’s no secret he’s an authority both on, backstage, and in music production. 

Even Martin’s fiancรฉ Heidi sporadically guests backing vocals, as do others affectionately dubbed โ€˜Barrelettesโ€™ when available, giving the band a real family feel.

Encoring Solomon Burke’s Everybody Needs Somebody to Love is standard protocol for Barrelhouse, and they’ve achieved their aim; the pub is pumping, and everybody is dancing. Another memorable evening at the Southgate, you can bet your home most nights are. Check our event calendar for upcoming gigs, but rest assured, thanks to them and the Three Crowns, Devizes remains punching above its weight when it comes to showcasing live local music and while our ticketed events only add to this, there’s gemstones to be found here freely. And we love it!

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 17th-23rd April 2024

Here we go with what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week, exciting stuff, I know!

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.….

Wednesday 17th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Emmanuel Coppey and Antoine Prรฉat at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Two times BBC Folk Award winner Daoirรญ Farrell is at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Memory Cinema, for those with dementia, at Swindon Arts Centre are showing A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Tom Houghtonโ€™s Itโ€™s Not Ideal at Swindon Arts Centre. Peppa Pigโ€™s Fun Day Out at The Wyvern Theatre.

Show Of Hands โ€“ Full Circle Farewell Tour at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Thursday 18th

Quiz Night at the Peppermill, Devizes in aid of The Cotswolds Dogs & Cats Home.

PSG Choir taster session at the King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.

Thieves & Skiddy at The Tuppenny, Swindon. The Big Fat Monthly Quiz at the Vic. 

Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. Primary School Assembly Bangers Live! at Swindon Arts Centre. Peppa Pigโ€™s Fun Day Out at The Wyvern Theatre.

Fretn Keyz with Dave Howell at Rude Giant Beerhouse, Salisbury.

Friday 19th

Youth Work Auction Fundraiser at John Oโ€™Gaunt School, Trowbridge.

Take the Stage at the Neeld, in Chippenham. Chippenham Beer Festival too.

Bradford Roots Special at The Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon with Billy in the Lowground, Daisy Chapman and Thieves; Edโ€™s pick of the week, that one is! Preview here.

The Droogs & John E Viztic at The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon.

People Like Us at Prestbury Sports Bar, Westbury.

Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival, preview here. Draining The Swamp at Swindon Arts Centre. Barrelhouse & The Leon Daye Band at the Vic.

Winginโ€™ It at The George & Dragon, Salisbury. A Murder Mystery at Salisbury Cathedral.

Johnny Cash Revisited at Chapel Arts, Bath.

ex Wishbone Ash, Martin Turner  is at The Tree House, Frome.

Saturday 20th

Roma Antoine Exhibit and Art Sale at Tonka Bean, Devizes. Devizes Swap Shop at St James Church. The Bren Jones Big Band at the Wharf Theatre. Strange Folk at The Southgate. Down the Hatch at The Three Crowns. DJ Tappa Tappa at the Exchange.

Oriental Antiques Indigo Antiques Open Day at Manningford Bruce, Pewsey. Dutty Moonshine at the Barge on HoneyStreet. @59 at The Woodborough Social Club.

Martyโ€™s Fake Family at The Pilot, Melksham.

The Future Sound of Trowbridge #8 at the Pump in Trowbridge; preview Here.

Mighty Magic Animal at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Griff Rhys Jones: The Catโ€™s Pyjamas at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Pop-Up Bowie at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Driftwood at Tuckerโ€™s Grave Inn, Faulkland.

Junkyard Dogs at The Kingโ€™s Arms, Amesbury. Are You Worthy & Grant Sharkey at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury. Salisbury Pride Fundraiser at The Hope & Anchor, Salisbury.

Rosie Holt โ€“ Thatโ€™s Politainment! at Swindon Arts Centre. Wrong Jovi at the Vic. The Worried Men at The Queenโ€™s Tap. The Tin Shack Band at The Woodlands Edge.

The Shires at the Cheese & Grain, Frome is sold out, so too is Bare Jams at the Tree House. Try the 41 Fords at The Sun; we love the 41 Fords!

Sunday 21st

Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm. Devizes Town Band Showtime Sensations at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.

Open Mic at Red Lion, Lacock.

Jazz on Sunday Afternoon at Little Cheverall Village Hall.

The Dirty Weather Blues Revue at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

VW Campfest begins at Stonehenge.

Mini Ravers โ€“ Spring Tour at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd

I got nothing, yet; keep a keen eye on our updating event calendar, as Iโ€™m way behind updating it, and still got the front garden to sort out! Weeds, huh? I used go out to the garden to smoke de grass, nowadays I just go out to the garden to cut de grass!!

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some technical gubbings to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week!

Trending…..

Situationships With Chloe Hepburn

A second single from Swindon Diva Chloe Hepburn, Situationships was released this week. With a deep rolling bassline, finger-click rhythm and silky soulful vocals, thisโ€ฆ

Sax in the Country; Patsy Gamble Jazz Trio Comes to Bromham

After an inaugural midweek gig with local legend Andrew Hurst this month, it seems Bromham’s St Nicholas Church could be the unexpected new rural music venue worth talking about, as jazz saxophonist Patsy Gamble arrives on Wednesday May 15thโ€ฆ..

If brass is class, Stroud’s Patsy Gamble comes with an impressive rรฉsumรฉ. A British Blues Award finalist in 2011 and 2012, Patsy plays soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones and has performed across Europe and the Middle East. As a session saxophonist with one of the UKโ€™s top horn sections, The Little Big Horns, there’s a hall of fame of names she’s worked with, from Steve Winwood, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller and Suggs, to Jasper Carrott.

Patsy performs freelance and with her own bands, The Patsy Gamble Blues Collective, and both as a jazz trio and quartet, is a vocalist, composer, and somehow even finds time for some art on the side!  You may have seen her working with the incredibly cool Eddie Martin, a regular axeman on our circuit, and a particular favourite at our trusty Southgate in Devizes. You can also catch Patsy with her Blues Collective onย Sunday, 26th May, at The Southgate.

But it’s the jazz trio appearing in Bromham, with Tristan Watson on guitar and bassist Duncan Kingston, and there’s nothing better to cure those midweek blues than a touch of jazz, but you knew tgat already….

Tickets are ยฃ15 from HERE

Only Thursday! Jon Amor Trio Special at The Southgate, Devizes with Ian Siegal

Legend has it, as a child Elvis Presley sneaked into gospel churches and juke joints, surely the spark of rock n roll. Given a flux capacitor, that’s one point in time I’d beeline; love to have witnessed what he saw there. But it’s unlikely, Doc Emmett Brown doesn’t give them out freelyโ€ฆ..

So I ponder at the door to the Southgate, this is as close as dammit I’m going to get to a rowdy postwar Mississippi juke joint in 2024 wilds of Wiltshire! You could argue the point, but I believe I’m right; it’s rammed to the rafters in there, and it’s only a Thursday night! If you were there you would accept it’s not open for debate.

Valid reason, homemade blues legend Jon Amor shifted his trioโ€™s monthly residency from the usual Sunday to Thursday to fit the schedule of his guest, and what a dynamite guest it was. Devizes hasnโ€™t seen Ian Siegal since 2022, part of the lockdown supergroup Birdsmens at Long Street Blues Club, with Jon, Dave Doherty, bassist Rob Barry and Jonny Henderson pushing the keys. A most memorable gig for Long Street, either not forgotten by the blues hunters of Devizes, or theyโ€™ll rightfully take Jonโ€™s recommendations as red.

Classic Rock Magazine described Portsmouth-born Ian Siegal as โ€œa national treasure.โ€ He’s picked up thirteen British blues awards, three Mojo blues albums of the year, four European blues awards and three USA nominations. He is, as proved last night, cool on a barefoot Bruce Willis pounding through the glass of the Nakatomi Plaza level, he is the Steve McQueen leaping the anti-tank obstacles on a stolen Nazi Triumph of UK blues!

He came to our humble tavern, and between him and the Jon Amor Trio, sparks flew, pounding blues riffs reverberated, and crowds gyrated in harmony to a free gig youโ€™d happily pay top dollar for. So, if weโ€™ve said a number of times just how unmissable and phenomenal this monthly residency is at the Southgate, which we have, many times and by our many writers, itโ€™s always worth reminding, and because of last nightโ€™s, this is a particularly appropriate time to do so.

There were people on Jonโ€™s Facebook page commenting they were trekking up from Southend-on-Sea for this gig, ergo, we should consider ourselves so lucky to have it on our doorsteps, and thank Jon, Tom and Gerry, along with Debroah, Dave and staff at the Southgate, for maintaining Devizes as a blues town and providing us with talent on this level. It was one of the most memorable and historic nights Iโ€™ve witnessed at that tavern, and thatโ€™s pushing the boat out.

Thereโ€™s dogโ€™s bollocks accolades I could award Ian with, donโ€™t want to flatter the guy, but damn, the vibes from that fella replicate all which makes blues the root of all pop music genres, the growling and screeching Howilnโ€™ Wolf vocals, the nimble guitar picking, the very construction of the blues is in his hands, and he delivers it with a passion and virtuosity of the greats, of Muddy Waters, of BB King; hot dang, that guy can play! 

They did some originals between them, the ground thumped through Jonโ€™s Juggernaut, the heavens opened when Ian lead the Rolling Stones cover You Can’t Always Get What You Want, long hair was swished around, the booze flowed and people came to party united in a sublime vibe of happiness, it really was the kind of scorcher Iโ€™m not sure how Jon and the Gate can top.

Trending……

Devizes to Host New County-Wide Music Awards

I’m delighted to announce Devizine will be actively assisting to organise a new county-wide music awards administration, in conjunction with Wiltshire Music Events UK. Theโ€ฆ

Ruby, Sunday at the Gate

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

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

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

Hells Bells! AC/DC tribute in Devizes

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 28th February- 5th March 2024

Come on spring! Oh well, hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, thereโ€™s lots to get throughโ€ฆ.

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโ€™s jump right into the weekโ€ฆ.

Find a podcast of everything listed, sprinkled with some great local music below. Itโ€™s only a half hour long, trial thing, see how it goes, give it a listen, let me know what you think, especially if youโ€™re the kind of person who cannot be bothered to read this! Music comes from Ruby Darbyshire, Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army, Fly Yeti Fly, Ruzz Guitar with Peter Gage, and the Birdsmens.

Wednesday 6th

Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.

Eldermirth, the elderly daytime comedy show at The Neeld,Chippenham.

Cantaloop at The Bell, Bath.

Swindon Old Town Comedy Club at The Hop Inn with: Alex Kitson. Ross Noble at the Wyvern, Swindon. The Western Players โ€“ Outside Edge at Swindon Arts Centre, running until 9th March.

Thursday 7th

Editor’s Pick of the Week; Jon Amor Trio Special with Ian Siegal at The Southgate, Devizes. Rum & Records at the Muck & Dunder.

PSG Choirs free taster session at King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.

Junkyard Dogs at The Old Bell, Warminster.

Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army at The Beehive, Swindon. Mark Harrison at The Tuppenny. Taylormania at the Wyvern.

North Sea Gas at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Mobius Loop at 23 Bath Street, Frome. Sam Sweeney Band at The Tree House. Paul McKenna: Success For Life at the Cheese & Grain.

Friday 8th

Devizes Ghost Walk: with John Girvan. Cobalt Fire at The Southgate, Devizes. Palooza house night at The Exchange.

Seend Village Get Together at Seend Community Hall.

Frankisoul at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Syncopation Station.

Take the Stage at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Rewind to the 90โ€™s โ€“ Kevin and Perry lookโ€“alikes at Venom Nightclub, Westbury.

Brasher, Eat Your Own Head, & Bad News First at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Junkyard Dogs at The Boathouse.

Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra at Chapel Arts, Bath. The Living Room, Jim Godfrey at the Grapes.

Shepherds Pie at The Vic, Swindon. At-It at The Queenโ€™s Tap. Showaddywaddy at the Wyvern.

Saturday 9th

Wiltshire Climate Alliance’s Green Open Homes event opens and runs until 17th March. It is an opportunity to ask a local resident about an energy saving improvement that theyโ€™ve made, and see if it might work for you. On an event day, people who have made energy saving improvements open up their homes to share their experiences.

Matt & Tom at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Southgate. Matchbox Mutiny at the Moonrakers.

Fly Yeti Fly at Keevil Folk Club.

Pancho & Bear at Woodbrough Social Club.

Static Moves at the Lamb, Marlborough.

Scott Doonican at the Pump, Trowbridge. Martyโ€™s Fake Family at The Greyhound. 

Back to the 80s party night at Spencerโ€™s Club, Melksham. Twice Bitten at The Pilot. 

Phantom Lymb at The Talbot, Calne.

North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra at St Andrewโ€™s in Chippenham. Abba Sensations at the Neeld, Chippenham.

The Saga Louts at the Swiss Chalet, Swindon. Ghost UK with Phantom Droid at The Vic. 

Black Rose at The Woodlandโ€™s Edge. Dear Zoo at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Full Tone Orchestraโ€™s The Queen Symphony at Bath Abbey. Mumma Quiche and LC Hammered at The Bell, Bath.

Baskery at the Tree House, Frome. Mad Dog Mcrea at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 10th- Motherโ€™s Day – donโ€™t forget!!

Kate at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

The Worried Men at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Motherโ€™s Day Jazz concert feat. trumpeter Laura Jurd & WYJO at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Joli Blon at The Bell, Bath

RPA Level Up Present โ€˜Actually I Canโ€™ at Swindon Arts Centre. Dear Zoo at the Wyvern, Swindon

Monday 11th

Chippenham Film Club March feature.

Escher Steps at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 12th

Dom Franks Quartet at Jazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon.

The Spoonful at The Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week, and please listen to the podcast, itโ€™ll be fun, pinky promise!

REVIEW โ€“ Cinelli Brothers ย @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Friday 1st March 2024

Two Great Bands

Andy Fawthrop

This is getting to be a regular thing now.ย  Ian Hopkins puts on a band that Iโ€™ve never heard of, so I trust him and buy a ticket.ย  Then I wander up the hill to the Con Club and find myself in a room thatโ€™s already packed to the rafters, with queues at both bars.ย  Then I have a great night out, and I write a review about what a great band Iโ€™ve just seen.ย  Too good to be true?ย  Nope โ€“ it just seems to work every time, and Iโ€™m not complaining!

Only slight difference this time was that I got two great bands for the price of one.  Support acts come and go, some are good and some are less so.  But last night was one of those really good nights where the support act were really excellent.  You can tell theyโ€™re pretty good and getting through to folks when the idle chatter at the back of the room slowly subsides, and people really start listening.

And so it was last night with first-timers at the club Sons of the Delta.ย  Consisting of Mark Cole ย (vocals, harmonica, guitar and mandolin) and Rick Edwards (guitar & vocals), these guys delivered some real no-nonsense stuff โ€“ a great blend of electric and acoustic blues, featuring both traditional blues plus some originals. ย They were chatty, stripped back, relaxed and completely on top of their performance.ย  It was mostly harmonica-driven, backed by gravelly vocals.ย  Their set seemed all too short and, as Ian said at the end over the enthusiastic applause, hereโ€™s hoping that we get to see these guys again.

And after our starters, we were onto main course and pudding โ€“ two sets from the US-based Cinelli Brothers.ย  The band is a project born out of a common passion for the electric Chicago and Texas blues from the 60s and 70s.ย  Brothers Marco (guitarist and lead singer) and Alessandro (drummer) decided to form an explosive team showcasing original repertoire in the style of Chess, Stax and Motown.ย  Last night on stage they were joined by Tom Julian-Jones on harmonica, guitar and vocals, and by Stephen Giry on bass, guitar and vocals.

This band won the UK Blues Challenge in September 2022, and were ranked number 2 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis USA in January 2023, so they arrived with plenty of pedigree.  And their latest album is only a couple of months out of the packaging, so obviously there was plenty of material from that source.

There was lots of cool, down-tempo, laid-back stuff –  I particularly liked โ€œLast Cigaretteโ€, which they described as their โ€œbig fuck-up songโ€, and โ€œFoolsโ€™ Paradiseโ€.  There was some blues, there was some funk, and there was some Motown.  Most of all though, there was a damn good show, featuring near on two hours of superb musicianship.  The stage banter, and inter-song rapport with the audience, were both good.  They were commanding, they were engaging and, most importantly, they were utterly entertaining.  Full marks from me.

If you get chance to see these guys in the future โ€“ donโ€™t hesitate.  Definitely recommended!

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Friday 5th April 2024                                       Ben Poole Band

Saturday 4th May 2024                                  Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse

Saturday 18th May 2024                               The Dirt Road Band

Saturday 22nd June 2024                              KOSSOFF The Band Plays On

Thursday 10th October 2024 ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Heavy Drunk, Watermelon Slim & Leonardo GuilianiFriday

Friday 18th October 2024ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  Wishbone Ash (Corn Exchange)

Saturday 9th November 2024                     Ian Siegal Band

Saturday 16th November 2024                   John Otway & The Big Band

Trending…..

Cracked Machine at The Southgate

If many space-rock acts have more band member changes than most other musicians change their socks, Hawkwind are the exemplar of the tendency. There mightโ€ฆ

Geckoโ€™s Big Picture

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

Park Farm; New Music Festival in Devizes

A new music festival is coming to Devizes this July. Organisers of the long-running Marlborough based festival MantonFest are shifting west across the downs andโ€ฆ

Results of Salisbury Music Awards

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 21st-27th February 2024

Hey, teacher! Leave those sausage rolls alone. Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, there be lots more than your average sausage roll to get through, yer filthy muckersโ€ฆ..

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week. Nothing ongoing on our list, so, letโ€™s jump right into the weekโ€ฆ.

Wednesday 21st

Green Grub Club at St James, Devizes. Regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate.

Carducci Quartet at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon.

Jessica Fostekewโ€™s Mettle at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Amadou Diagne & Group Yakar at The Bell, Bath.

Lunchtime Recital at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thursday 22nd

Open Mic at the Crown, Bishopโ€™s Cannings.

Devizes Film Club at the Wharf Theatre, screening Official Competition.

Runny Snotโ€™s Acoustic Sessions at the Neeld, Chippenham.

Fin Taylor at Swindon Arts Centre. Adam Rowe at the Wyvern Theatre. Stone Soup, Modern Evils and Phantom Droid at The Vic. Larkham & Hall at the Beehive. Oxbowlake and Jess Marie at The Tuppenny.

Avalon Comedy Network’s Pierre Novellie, Tessa Coates, Huge Davies and Jake Baker at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Paul Cowley at Chapel Arts, Bath. Cindy Stratton Band Everything Changes album launch at the Rondo Theatre. 

Rob Newman at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 23rd

Devizes Ghost Walk: with John Girvan. White Horse Operaโ€™s Top of the Ops at St Joseph’s School.

Mark Morriss plays the Pump in Trowbridge with Sound Affects in support. Sax Man โ€˜Shiltsโ€™ at the Civic.โ€™

Drink and Draw at 31.Co.Work in Chippenham, opening the fringe February events across the town this weekend. Instant Wit โ€“ A quickfire comedy event at The Constitutional Club. Heat 2 of Take the Stage at the Neeld Hall.

Thatโ€™ll Be The Day at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. The Retro Rock Show at Swindon Arts Centre. The Hamsters from Hell and the Vooz at The Vic. Jay Styles is Michael Jackson at The New Inn. 

Shoun Shoun & Venice Treacle at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Nanny Folio Theatre and The Amazing Bubble Man at Pound Arts, Corsham.

CharmType at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Rock the Tots Family show at Rondo Theatre, Bath. The Jake Leg Jug Band at Chapel Arts.

Eddie & The Hot Rods at The Tree House in Frome. Absolute Bowie โ€“ Greatest Hits at The Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 24th

Seed Swap at St Andrewโ€™s, Devizes. Editor’s Pick of Week: Deadlight Dance arrives in Devizes with an instore at Vinyl Realm from 11am, and they play The Southgate in the evening. The Wharf Theatre has The Lonnie Donegan Story. Kennet Gateway Club has the Rockinโ€™ Bandits at Devizes Conservative Club.

@59 at The Lamb, Marlborough.

Wet Franc at The Pilot, Melksham. The Fabulous โ€™59 Ford at Melksham Rock n Roll Club

Toodles and the Hectic Pity,  Charlie Gillman and Luke De-Sciscio at the Pump, Trowbridge. Adult Panto Alice in Wonderland at the Civic.

The REAL nursery rhymes and songs โ€“ toddler to KS1 at Wiltshire Swindon History Centre, Chippenham. Clareโ€™s Circus at King Alfred Hall. Hidden Canvases โ€“ โ€˜Street Art and the Cityโ€™ A talk by Doug Gillen at the Platinum Hall. Letโ€™s build LEGO Chippenham! at Wiltshire Swindon History Centre, Chippenham. Rock the Tots: Baby Boogie atThe King Alfred Hall. Toddler Tango at The King Alfred Hall.

Steppin Thruโ€™ Time โ€“ Mary Lou Revue at The Yelde Hall, Chippenham. The Rosellys at Rivo Lounge. Daft Laffs โ€“ A night of comedy greats at The King Alfred Hall. The Old Road Tavern has a Mega Fringe fest, see poster below.

Louise Farrenc plays Symphony number 3 at Corsham Town Hall. Martyโ€™s Fake Family at The Royal Oak. Shake It Up Theatre presents The Improvised Shakespeare Show at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Holy Popes, Shin Splintz & Big Byrd at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Adriano Adewaleโ€™s Cataplufโ€™s Musical Journey at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Mollyโ€™s Chamber at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.

Science Museum: The Live Stage Show at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Straighten Out at The Vic. World Music Club at the Beehive. Danny & The Randoms at The Queenโ€™s Tap. 

Glamarama at The Woodlandโ€™s Edge. MetSon at the Swiss Chalet.

Martin Rowsonโ€™s Giving the Gift of Offence at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Phoenix River Band at Chapel Arts, with Sophie Rose in support.

The Sunbirds at the Tree House, Frome. The Beat featuring Ranking Junior at the Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 25th

Vince Bell at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Melksham Record Fair at the Assembly Hall.

Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. Shed-ache Dance Theatre at The Constitutional Club Chippenham. Elvis in Blue Hawaii at the King Alfred Hall.

Bandeoke at Prestbury Sports Club, Warminster.

Schtumm presents DG Solaris & Courting Ghosts at the Long Room in Box. 3 Daft Monkeys Duo at The Bell, Bath.

Garth Marenghiโ€™s Incarcerat at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

CSF Pro Wrestling: Showdown at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 26th

Rock the Tots Family at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Josienne Clarke at Swindon Arts Centre,

Ben Tunnicliffeโ€™s Nowhere Ensemble at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 27th

Valuation Day with Paul Martin at The Athenaeum in Warminster.

Sophie Stockham Quartet at Jazz Knights in the Royal Oak, Swindon. The Ronnie Scottโ€™s All Stars โ€“ Soho Songbook at the Wyvern Theatre. Connor Burns at Swindon Arts Centre.

Sam Thomas at The Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week! 

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 14th – 20th February 2024

Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, letโ€™s lots to get throughโ€ฆ..

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.

Look, if itโ€™s all the same to you, I cannot choose an Editorโ€™s Pick of Week; too much great stuff happening. Iโ€™m doing a Chocolate making workshop at HollyChocs in Poulshot on Friday (see here,) then off to see Gaz Brookfield at West Lavington Village Hall, (Preview) which has to be one. Saturday, if you loved Adam & the Ants, you need to get to The Vic, Swindon for Ant Trouble (previous review) and if you love hip hop get down the Pump in Trowbridge for the Scribes (preview) but saying all this, when SGO come to the Southgate, Devizes, which they are on Saturday, itโ€™s always a pleasure (past review.) Huge dilemma, ergo, can I have five Editorโ€™s Picks of the Week this week?!!

Ongoing until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes,ย Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed HERE.

Potterne Pantomime presents Robin Hood at the Potterne Village Hall, running until Saturday. 

Wednesday 14th

Seed Bomb Making at Hillworth Park, Devizes, and the regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate. 

Glad to hear The Charlton Cat at Charlton St Peter has a grand reopening on Wednesday.

Counterfeit Sixties Show at the Neeld, Chippenham. Love Stories in Chippenham, don;t know where, One Chippenham your website seems to be down! 

A lunchtime recital with violinist Madeleine Mitchell at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Sterling Elliott at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Ghost The Musical at The Athenaeum, Warminster.

Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre screens Miss Potter (PG.) The Big Jam Session at The Vic.

Carrie the Musical at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Diddy Sweg at The Bell, Bath.

Thursday 15th

Open Mic nights return to The Cellar Bar, Devizes.

Seend Fawlty Players Presents Aladdin at Seend Community Centre, opening today, running up till Saturday.

Kid Carpet and the Noisy Garden Centre at Pound Arts, Corsham.

B-Sydes, Heartwork & Ed Poole at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Bob Porter Project at the Beehive. The Magic of Terry Pratchett at Swindon Arts Centre. Frankie Boyleโ€™s show opens at the Wyvern Theatre and runs until Saturday.

Bath Bachfest opens and runs until Saturday with lots of concerts across the city.

Friday 16th

Innes Sibun Trio at The Southgate, Devizes. Disneyโ€™s Frozen Jr runs at the Wharf Theatre on Friday and Saturday.

Gaz Brookfield plays West Lavington Village Hall.

Ward Thomas at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Collateral with Zac & The New Men at The Vic. Soulphia, new name for Sophia Bovellโ€™s Soul Rebels, plays The Cow in Swindon.

Classic Rock American Highway Show at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Bootleg Blondie at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Liam Helm & The Hang Ups at The Tree House.

Saturday 17th

The Melksham & Devizes Primary will be in Melksham town centre from 10am-noon.

Sorrel Pitts will be signing copies of her new novel Broken Shadows at Devizes Books. Reviewed HERE. Thereโ€™s a Devizes Town Hall Ghost Hunt. The Truzzy Boys are at The Three Crowns, and Sโ€™GO at The Southgate, reviewed here. Oh, and of course, itโ€™s DOCAโ€™s Festival of Winter Ales.

The Devilโ€™s Prefects Album Launch at The Barge on HoneyStreet.

Operation 77 at The Lamb, Marlborough.

The Scribes Boombox reaches the Pump in Trowbridge, preview here.

The George Ward School Reunion Disco Class of the 1970s, at the Spencer Club, Melksham.

Wiltshire Police Band at St Andrewโ€™s Church Chippenham. Valentines Concert in Chippenham, at the Neeld, perhaps? One Chippenham, your website is down.

Gwilym Simcock Trio at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Framed! And Help! I Think Iโ€™m a Nationalist! at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Fleetwood Mac & Tom Petty The Legacy Show at Swindon Arts Centre. Apache Cats at Queens Tap. 12 Bars Later at Swiss Chalet. Ant Trouble at The Vic.

Deadlight Dance & Steve Mercy are art Chapter 22 Roots & Records, Bath. Joe Wilkinson 

At the Rondo Theatre. This Flight Tonight โ€“ A Tribute to Joni Mitchell at Chapel Arts.

Cover Stories at Salisbury British Legion Hall. The Wiseguys at the Rising Sun, Wimborne.

Even N Song at The Ship, Shipton Bellinger.

Judge Jules is at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Sunday 18th

Chantelle Smith is with Richard Wileman & Valve at The Vic, Swindon. Brian Conley at the Wyvern Theatre.

The Woodlanders at The Bell, Bath.

Monday 19th

Buffy Revamped at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

Swingle-Tree and Whistling Treason at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 20th

Ian Bateman Quartet plays Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon. Miles Jupp at the Wyvern Theatre.

POETIKA poetry slams at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week- thatโ€™s the last important thingy to say!!   

Trending……

Static Moves at The Three Crowns Devizes

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

The Emporium in Devizes to Close

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

Mental Rot; New I See Orange Single

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

Errol Linton Band at Long Street Blues Club, Devizes

London-based Errol Linton and band made a welcomed return to Devizesโ€™ Long Street Blues Club last night. In June I was surprised to label it my personal best night at Long Street. Catching them again equally did not disappoint, despite knowing what I was letting my mojo in forโ€ฆ..

If Flo’s recent review of the Devizes Youth Action club night expressed a need for gigs for local youngsters, we’re not ageist here and tonight I’m at the other end of the spectrum; yeah, say it, I can take it – where I belong!

Long Street Blues Club welcomes all, but largely attracts older middle-classes with a collective passion for the blues, implanted via the historic Mel Bush effect. Ticket prices also play a part in governing clientele, but you certainly get value for money. All the tried and tested acts booked on their seasonal programmes are of a superior class and quality. Long Street should be proud of the  landmark they’ve created. It’s enough to pull devotees from Cardiff to London.

In its present-day form, Long Street Blues Club turns sweet sixteen this year, though with his brother Rick, town councillor and ex-mayor Ian Hopkins revived Devizesโ€™ fixation with the blues mid-nineties.

Typically monthly, it offers the diverse range within its blues tagline its regulars crave. While others may favour British electric blues, prog-rock, or country blues, and these are readily available, I’m smitten for precisely what Errol and his band lay down, an irresistible mesh of Memphis, Delta boogie and jump with the wonderful twist of Errol’s Jamaican roots. Yeah, it’s going to switch to an offbeat, and set the Devizes Conservative Club to skank!

Likely the most prominent example of this in his set is a cover of Howlinโ€™ Wolf’s Howlinโ€™ for my Darlin‘, in which, after an explanation of the blues legend’s time in Jamaica, it rolls off with a one-drop reggae riff to make Joe Higgs blush.

Much is the set, a sublime and highly polished blues act with this resplendent reggae hook. I believe in my last review I waffled on a tangent about offbeat jump blues and shuffle rhythms influencing post wartime Jamaica via American radio stations, and the accidental hook creating the ska sound at an alleged Prince Buster recording session at Duke Reid’s Treasure Island studio. While I cited Jamaica’s first national sound, ska, as a major influence on Errol’s original output, tonight I felt a larger portion was ska’s successors rock steady and reggae. Maintaining the rootsy Delta boogie throughout, even tastes of dub was hinted at, as the pace steadied to hypnotic riddims; now, that’s right up my street and knocking on my door.

The crowd felt the vibe too, and while Long Street is a seated music appreciation society where idle chit-chat is frowned upon during a performance, folk felt the irresistible urge to shake their thang for the finale. For me, while happy it’s hardly stage-diving, mosh pit country here, I don’t know how anyone could’ve kept still last night!

It was a full house for this amazing five-piece, natural entertainer Errol on vocals and harmonica, pounding upright bassist Lance Rose, invigorating lead guitarist Richey Green, Petar Zivokvic wildly pushing the ivory, and devine drummer Gary Williams. Errol recounted tales of family ties, his parent’s immigration influencing a new song which came across decidedly dub in its initial King Tubby incarnation, whereas another memorable moment for me came with a country-tingedย ballad called Country Girl, so gorgeously delivered it could’ve come from Toots Hibbert’s songbook. It was that magical.

They played with skill, joy and gusto, but not before Oxford’s acoustic bluesman Thompson Smurthwaite pulled out an impressive support. A regular at the Southgate I’ve yet to have had the pleasure of hearing, though Andy has reported previously.

I don’t know if Thompson sold his soul to the devil at the Botley interchange, but there was something decidedly deeply-rooted in his enlightening set of relatable originals and prison-type narrative about life on canals, with casual scat vocals akin to Robert Johnson himself, and all the sublime harmonica and guitar picking of any Mississippi blues legend of yore. 

Another cracking night at Long Street Blues Club. I was content enough just to be back in Devizes with cider in hand, after hibernation, broken by teetotal stints at The Pump and Wiltshire Music Centre! Anything else would’ve been a bonus, ergo, Errol’s band, and Thompson too made it a bonus ball the size of the boulder chasing Indiana Jones!

Next Stops for Long Street Blues Club are…

Friday 1st March 2024 – The Cinelli Brothers

Friday 5th April 2024 – Ben Poole Band

Saturday 4th May 2024 – Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse (Corn Exchange)

Saturday 18th May 2024 – The Dirt Road Band

Saturday 22nd June 2024 – KOSSOFF The Band Plays On

Thursday 10th October 2024 – Heavy Drunk, Watermelon Slim & Leonardo Guiliani

Friday 18th October 2024 – Wishbone Ash (Corn Exchange)

Saturday 16th November 2024 – John Otway & The Big Band

Trending…..

RowdeFest 2025!

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

Events This Weekend; January Into February!

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

The Turnaround; New Album from The Jon Amor Trio

Devizes is a blues town, fact. Iโ€™ve dubbed its origins as โ€œThe Mel Bush Effect,โ€ in the past; via Long Street Blues Club and down to The Southgate, the tradition continues and the label sticks. Music promoter Mel Bush would later go onto be a prominent organiser of some of the countryโ€™s most memorable concerts, but he cut his teeth here in the early seventies, bringing top acts to the Corn Exchange, at a time the town only had a population of approximately ten thousandโ€ฆ..

Knock on effect, while upcoming nineties bands modelled themselves on Madchester or grunge, from a local village five footballing teenagers formed a band inspired by Dire Straits, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dr Feelgood, the latter playing a particularly significant gig at the venue, which we need not recount now; if you know, you know! Concentrating on The Hoax, those youngsters, the Davey brothers Jesse and Robin, Hugh Coltman, finalised drummer Dave Raeburn, and of course, Jon Amor, raised the bar on the UK blues scene with the vigour of youth in an otherwise largely considered matured genre.

Pushing new boundaries post-Hoax, Jon has explored many guises, from Amor, with Wayne Proctor and Matt Beable, to the Jon Amor Blues Group and King Street Turnaround, solo, and collaborating projects like Birdmens, with Ian Siegal, Joel Fisk, and Dave Doherty,  prolifically producing albums throughout. Here, heโ€™s our lovable living legend, never failing to turn up at the Southgate for a monthly Sunday residency, set in concrete in December 2021, and with renowned guests to boot. Such splendour of the recurring occasion, many of whom return in their own right.

Jonโ€™s backing for said residency and various other venues on the circuit comprises of astounding bassist Jerry Soffe and celestially-sited drummer Tom Gilkes, dubbed aptly as The Jon Amor Trio, and theyโ€™ve been into Swindonโ€™s Crescent Records studio. While a Jon Amor album is no new thing, The Turnaround is the first for the trio, and being as itโ€™s such a high pedestal Iโ€™m popping them onto, I take a listen to it with a tinsey hint of scepticism they can recreate the magic of their live gigs. Because itโ€™s the improv moments, the atmosphere, warts and all of a pub gig which grasps the magic, see? I found myself wondering if they couldโ€™ve released a live album instead, but who am I to kid, I shouldโ€™ve known better!

Eleven original tracks strong opening with the title track, it wastes no time in recreating said magic. Regardless of any particular setup, this is another Jon Amor gold album, enhancing their live performances and creating a little piece of it you can take home with you. The electric blues held in esteem here is not cut short, there is no wild tangents of experimentation, The Jon Amor Trio never try to be something theyโ€™re not; just wild and highly accomplished archetypal blues riffs wavering in tempo, exciting and invigorating.

Itโ€™s when I arrived at Rideau Street any doubts melted. With a subtle hint of rockabilly, it rides to the bridge as any good Jon Amor tune does, and you know, youโ€™re in capable hands. Mrs James adopts a firmer delta blues riff, and from there Iโ€™m immersed in its gorgeous and thick layers of sublime blues. A downtempo number, I Know What Youโ€™re Using sounds direct from the Hoax songbook, and onwards we journey through an album which has definitely got Jon Amor all over it, enveloping the brilliance of this new Trioโ€™s live shows, with bells on. Fans will not be disappointed, and so the shows must go on. Find them at the Beehive in Swindon tomorrow, Thursday 8th Feb, and Sunday sees this monthโ€™s residency at The Southgate, Devizes, with Nat Martin as guest, guitar tutor at The Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford.

The album is only available at gigs and on Bandcamp; streaming isnโ€™t good enough for this beauty, and rightly so!

Trending….

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 7th -13th February 2024

Hey you lovely lot, bit warm for Feb, innit? I wouldnโ€™t do anything too daring, like break out your mankini yet, I expect there will be at least one more wintery blast to come. Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshireโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info. It may be updated with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.

Ongoing until 17th February, two enlightening exhibits at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed HERE.

Wednesday 7th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Thereโ€™s a screening of The Royal Ballet Manon at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Whitney; Queen Of The Night at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Peter Knight & John Spiers at Chapel Arts, Bath. Suntou Susso at The Bell.

Thursday 8th

Instalment 6 of the Comedy Loft at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Omid Djalili at Pounds Arts is listed, but sold out, sorry.

The Kahunas at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Jon Amor Trio at the Beehive. A Memory Move at Swindon Arts Centre, Jody And The Jerms play the evening there.

Josh Pughโ€™s Existinโ€™ La Vida Loca is at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 9th

All Floyd make a welcome return to The Bell on the Green, Devizes.

The Future Sound of Trowbridge #5 at the Pump, The Sunnies headline, with Ignotis and Cult Python in support.

Counterfeit Sixties Show at the Neeld Hall, Chippenham.

Syd Lawrence Orchestra: Big Band Brass at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Band of Others at the Boathouse.

Wizards of Oz and Black Rose play The Vic, Swindon. Limehouse Lizzy at Swindon Arts Centre. Rave On โ€“ The Rise Of Rock And Roll at the Wyvern Theatre.

Ed Tudor Pole at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Alfie Moore at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Martin Harley at Chapel Arts.

Andy C has sold out the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 10th

Music for Meninggitis at Seend Community Hall.

Courting Ghosts have had to cancel the gig at The Southgate, Devizes, find Grizzly Rhys Morgan there instead. Editorโ€™s pick of the week takes us to Long Street Blues Club, where The Errol Linton Band makes a welcomed return. One of my best nights ever at Long Street last time they played, see a review Here. 

The Kast Off Kinks at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Jaz Delorean at the Pump in Trowbridge, with Swingletree in support. And Sound Knowledge hosts Declan McKenna at the Civic.

Cultural Assembly; the Art of the Sustainable and A Family Business at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Purple Fish play Westbury Cons Club.

Max Output at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.

The Makings of a Murderer at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Nabil Abdulrashid at Swindon Arts Centre. Nervendings, Toast and Arizona Law at The Vic. Mojo at the Swiss Chalet.

Love is Enough at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Wifi Wars at Rondo Theatre, Bath

Billy in the Lowground at The Sun Inn, Frome. Ruzz Guitarโ€™s Blues Revue at the Cheese & Grainโ€ฆoh yes!

Sunday 11th

March for Palestine at Regent Circus, Swindon at 12pm.

Jon Amor Trio & Guest at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Nโ€™Faly Kouyatรฉoโ€™s Rรฉ-Gรฉnรฉration at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Coyote Country at Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.

Bill Smarme Rock’n’Roll Trio at the Bell, Bath.

Ukrainian National Opera โ€“ Madama Butterfly at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Monday 12th

Filskit Theatre: Wonder Gigs at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Cameron Pierre at the Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 13th

Potterne Pantomime presents Robin Hood at the Potterne Village Hall, running until Saturday.

Paper Moon Quartet plays Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon.

Maddie Storvold at the Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for now, other than some important things to say: Events listed here are subject to change, we are not responsible for cancellations, errors or postponements in anything listed. 

Important note two, events which come to our attention from now on in, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.

Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโ€™s not that we donโ€™t like you, itโ€™s because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโ€™ve added it and let me know if not!

Have a good week- thatโ€™s the last important thingy to say!!   

The Worried Men Take the Pump

And Morpheus said unto Neo, โ€œunfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.โ€ Funny cos, I kinda feel similar about The Worried Men! So much so, it’s worth forgoing my weekend cider ration to drive down to the Pump to catch themโ€ฆ

Fast becoming our flagship grass roots music venue, enough for Wiltshire Councilโ€™s area board to reward them with a grant, Kieran and his team have transformed The Pump in Trowbridge from its origins as a folk club, through offering a diverse programme, and we love it here at Devizine Towers. It’s quirky, quaint, and most importantly, it’s impressively welcoming.

The grant was used to purchase some new equipment for The Pump that will enhance the artist and customer experience. There is no need to up their game with the programme of events though, in my honest opinion. Every show is a gig in heaven already, if heaven has an antique pitcher pump as a feature! Kieran said, โ€œwe’re really trying to contribute to our community and thank you for joining us along the way!โ€ The pleasure is all ours, thank you Mr M.

Their worthy Future Sound of Trowbridge project to promote youthful upcoming bands at the Pump may well be in full momentum, but was put on hold for this Saturday night to make way for experienced, marginally older musicians! One thing you could be certain of, Worried frontman Jamie Thyler handles his guitar like Michelangelo handled his paintbrush. Cruising that well-oiled machine through a medley of every known Renaissance blues and rock guitar riff, with the ladders of his highly accomplished bassist and drummer, moulds them into one beautiful Sistine Chapel ceiling.

The Worried Men show consists of a few originals from their extensive discography, which sound like rock classics anyway, meddled with this cascade of known riffs and only pauses to allow some time for Jamie’s quick-witted, Gilbert Shelton humoured quips. They’re not wholly covers, per say, more improv homages and nods to his influences, the guitar heroes of yore, the blues master axemen from Muddy to Howlin Wolf and Hendrix to prog-rock’s Deep Purple or Zeppelin. Enthusiastic trainspotters will pick out Mungo Jerry, Spencer Davis, The Stones, but never will Jamie simply re-enact, it’s simply acknowledged in a beautiful mesh.

Opening with a decidedly Muddy Water’s version of Just Make Love to Me, and ending with a Jumpinโ€™ Jack Flash encore, it truly was a breathtaking barrelhouse of delta to electric blues, with enough psychedelic swirls to overspill a sugarcube at Woodstock, but more importantly, it was delivered with sublime passion and exceptional skill.

First time I caught the Worried Men was at our trusty Southgate in Devizes last April, I made an odd but fitting oral hygiene comparison, โ€œJamie holds an expression of concentration, occasionally looking up at you through these spellbinding Hendrix fashioned excursions, as if to ask โ€œis that alright for you?โ€ Like a dentist with his tools stuck in your gum, you feel like responding, โ€œyes, fine, thank you doctor.โ€

But none of this magic occurred until after newly-formed indie-punkers Future Plan gave us a grand support. With an attention to the heady dawn of punk, Future Plan attacked an indie set with ferocity and fire, making for a wild ride of originals. It was confident, rocking, and having it. Particularly entrapping was a track they called Rinky Dink, Future Plan might just be the most bookable pub punk band, if the landlord wants drinks to fly off the bar. With a debut EP in the pipeline, and some singles pre-released from it, find them on Faceache here, and I look forward to catching them again on the local circuit.

Another, what might be usually fantastic night at The Pump, and a most agreeable double thumbs-up from me. Though, Iโ€™m still none the wiser as to what worries the Worried Men to call themselves such, if anything Iโ€™d say if itโ€™s not ironic, it should be.

Trending…..

Discovering Swindon Story Shed

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

The Rise of Winter Festivals

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

REVIEW โ€“ Amazing Double-Header @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Friday 12th and Saturday 13th January 2024

What A Way To Start The New Year!

Andy Fawthrop

Long Street Blues Club didnโ€™t allow the excesses of Christmas and the New Year to slow anything down, and kicked off 2024 in grand style with two amazing, but very different, ย gigs on the same week-end.….

First up on the stage, on Friday night, we had the 4-piece Pete G & The Magnitones as a very worthy and hugely enjoyable support act, with their interpretation of the Chicago Blues.ย  But this was only the taster for the real thing to come,ย John Primer with the Giles Robson Band. ย 

This guy, an absolute legend, and King of the Chicago Blues, was back โ€œby public demandโ€ and that was no empty boast, as the room was rammed for a completely sold-out show.  Heโ€™s been Grammy nominated three times, and was inducted to the National Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis last year. As the bandleader and lead guitarist for Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Magic Slim & The Teardrops, this guyโ€™s virtuosity as a blues musician was forged by real blues legends.  Heโ€™s recorded more than 87 albums, with 17 of those in his own name. Heโ€™s written and produced more than 55 songs on more than six record labels including his own, Blues House Productions.

What a pedigree!  So there can be no doubting that this guy is the real deal, an absolute Chicago Blues icon, and here he was playing in our town.

Featuring Pascal Delmas on drums, Antoine Escalier on bass, and Giles Robson on harmonica, the 4-piece band delivered a single two-hour plus set of stunning Chicago blues.ย  Giles Robson is no slouch either.ย  Heโ€™s a multi award winning, internationally recognized Blues harmonica virtuoso, singer and masterful showman. He was the only UK or European artist to appear on Chicagoโ€™s legendary Alligator Records (who described him as โ€œA blues giant, absolute master of the formโ€). Heโ€™s only one of three UK blues artists (alongside Eric Clapton and Peter Green) to win a coveted Blues Music Award in Memphis (the Grammys of the Blues). His albums are in the top of the worldโ€™s most prestigious music magazines criticsโ€™ polls.

No disrespect to Pete G, but this main bandโ€™s sound was just so much fuller and more solid.  Primer delivered gravelly vocals and some simply stunning guitar licks.  The atmosphere and feeling injected into the material was superb, particularly I thought on Rainy Night In Georgia and Hoochie Coochie Man.  The pace varied from fully-leaded driving blues, down to more sedate walking blues numbers.  And it never seemed to stop โ€“ interspersed with only minimal chat, the numbers just kept on coming.  Robson, meanwhile, played some beautiful, powerful, emotional and timeless blues with a deep groove and laden with intense feeling. His howling, growling, squealing sound, was imbued with rhythmic power and sensitive emotional expressiveness. Standing like a pair of giants at either side of the stage, and letting the rhythm section do their thing with great accomplishment in the middle, these two great artists played off each other, varying between a healthy competiveness and at other times a complementary tonal harmony.

The guyโ€™s slogan is โ€œYou canโ€™t paint the Blues without the Primerโ€ and you could certainly see why.  Primer was indeed the real deal, and he delivered a fantastic show that went on long into the Devizes night.  Eleven out of ten on my Happy Scale!

So that was Friday done and dusted.  But there was still Saturday to go!  And so it was that Ian Hopkinsโ€™ LSBC combined with Paul Chandlerโ€™s Longcroft Productions to bring us another amazing, but completely different, show on the very next night.

Damian Wilson and Adam Wakeman were touring their brand new studio album, and Devizes was only the second stop on that tour.

Introductions first – Damian Wilson is an English songwriter and vocalist whoโ€™s known for his exploration into different genres and is considered one of the most versatile singers in rock.  To date heโ€™s released six solo albums and three albums as a duo with Adam Wakeman. He balances his career as a singer-songwriter with being an energetic frontman for rock bands and guest vocalist. Heโ€™s toured all over the world fronting bands such as Rick Wakemanโ€™s ERE and Threshold. Heโ€™s performed on the most prominent stages in the UK, during his two-year tenure as the lead in Les Misรฉrables.

Adam Wakeman  is best known as the keyboard and guitar player with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath.  Heโ€™s also released nine albums with father Rick Wakeman, and five solo albums.  As a classically trained pianist, his albums cross many genres and styles from classical to rock.  He co-wrote the 2010 platinum selling album Scream with Ozzy Osbourne and has also toured extensively with Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Rick Wakeman, Travis, Annie Lennox, Will Young, Slash, 10CC and many more. And, as a further feather in his well-decorated hat, he recently stepped in at short notice to play keyboards on tour for Deep Purple.

So yet again โ€“ a couple of impeccable pedigrees.  And yet again two guys who absolutely lived up to their billing as brilliant composers, musicians and singers.  Right from the opening piss-take chords of Smoke On The Water from Adam, and the belated comedy walk-on from Damian, we were in for a great night.  If anybody was in doubt, this was all very different from the previous night โ€“ the Blues it certainly wasnโ€™t.  What we got instead was two hour-long sets of superb original songs, interspersed with an easy-going laddish banter between these two stars.

There were delicately-structured songs, soaring vocals from Damian, with sympathetic harmonies and fills from Adam.  There were romantic and uplifting melodies from Adamโ€™s keyboard which permeated every song, and provided musical background to the chatty interludes.  The tracks they featured from the new album each had a backstory.  I was particularly struck with Can We Keep The Light On Longer and Multiplicity โ€“ fabulous songs. I was absolutely loving this.

What I liked slightly less โ€“ and this is my only note of old manโ€™s carping criticism โ€“ was the frequent use of an old skool cassette recorder (with its own back-story) as a comedy device, and the sometimes overlong, extended rambling chatter.  I found it a bit self-indulgent and caused the occasional loss of momentum and atmosphere.  What I kept wanting them to do was to do what they did superbly โ€“ play/ sing the songs!  At times it felt a bit incoherent and under-rehearsed, but there were elements of a double-bluff as the comedy riffs ended and the next belting song came along.

But thatโ€™s a very minor criticism of what was overall a stunningly good performance from two very talented artists.  I was kept amused and well-entertained โ€“ a cracking night out.

So โ€“ once again โ€“ hats off to Ian Hopkins and to Paul Chandler for bringing what can only be described as world-class talent to our town.  This is why you should support live music and our music venues.  Brilliant.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Saturday 10th February 2024                       The Errol Linton Band

Friday 1st March 2024                                    The Cinelli Brothers

Friday 5th April 2024                                       Ben Poole Band

Saturday 4th May 2024                                  Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse

Saturday 18th May 2024                               The Dirt Road Band

Saturday 22nd June 2024                              KOSSOFF The Band Plays On

Trending now…..

In Retrospect With Gary Martian

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

Christmas Greetings From Devizine!

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

Bumper Christmas Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 20th – 31st December 2023

Stop for the Noddy Holder moment, itโ€™s Christmas! Our weekly roundup of what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire is a bumper edition this week, taking us right up to New Yearโ€™s Eve, cos Iโ€™ll be a busy as Santa on a mission this yule, and only get the standard two days off work to be with the fam, which the equivalent to you posh lot is a year off to find yourself in Goa!

Please be aware this is not comprehensive and new events can and might yet still be added to our blossoming, occasionally updating EVENT CALENDAR; they might not be added here, so do check in regularly. You can also find links to everything mentioned there, and plan aheadโ€ฆ..to 2024!

One other really important thing before we get going, we need donations to fund this, so, if you can this Christmas, please donate a little stocking filler to keep us going; awl, thank you, For info on how, see HERE. Please and thank youโ€ฆ

Ongoing: Two exhibits at Wiltshire Museum in Devizes: Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed Here.

The Kenavon Venture Santa Cruise at Devizes Wharf continues running until 23rd December.

Wednesday 20th

I assume the regular Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes is on as normal.

Panto at the Civic Trowbridge with Goldilocks & the Three Bears, two shows 4pm and 6pm.

Gav Cross: After Supper Ghost Stories at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Craig Crofton Quartet at the Bell, Bath.

Thursday 21st

Playtime! Christmas Special: A Winterโ€™s Tail and Father Christmas Storytelling at Pound Arts, Corsham.

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

Claire Martin and the Jim Mullen Trio at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Matt Owens & the DVP at the Tuppenny, Swindon.

Sladest at the Tree House, Frome has sold out.

Friday 22nd

Christmas & New Year Meals at The Memorial Pavilion in Seend with Chef Eric Lepine Seend runs until 29th December, with a Christmas Dinner special on the 24th.

Funked Up Christmas Party at the Pelican, Devizes, One Trick Pony fundraiser at the Southgate.

The Parsonโ€™s Nose in Melksham has Plan of Action.

Winter Concert at St Michaelโ€™s Church in Axford by Music for 1-4 voices, and Piano, with Emilia Lederleitnerova-Spriggs, Alice Simmons, Brian Parsons, Gilbert Simmons. A cappella 4 part carols, seasonal songs both old and new, festive piano duets and a few jazzy Christmas favourites. And some warming winter refreshment!

Hooch at The Coopers Arms, Pewsey.

Christmas Sing-a-Long at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Peloton are at The Vic, Swindon.

Karport Collective at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon. Far Cue at The Three Horseshoes.

The Pโ€™hogues at the Tree House, Frome has sold out.

Saturday 23rd

Illingworth at the Three Crowns, Devizes. Barrelhouse at The Southgate.

Apache Cats at The Lamb, Marlborough.

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

Drama Tots Christmas Special at Kington Langley Village Hall.

Filskit Theatre: Breaking The Ice at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Fuzz at The New Inn, Swindon. Shepherd’s Pieโ€™s Xmas Rock-Off The Vic.

The Sweet play the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Sunday 24th

Swing Into Christmas with Terry Franks at the Crown, Bishops Cannings.

Sing-a-Long with Jim at the Beehive, Swindon.

Leon Hunt, Jason Titley, Gina Griffin at the Bell, Bath.

Monday 25th

I havenโ€™t got anything for Mondayโ€ฆ.oh, hold on, Noddy, come in!! I wish you all a very merry Christmas, Brussel sprouts all round!

Tuesday 26th

Xmas Rave at 23 Bath Street, Frome.

Wednesday 27th

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes, possible, not sure.

The Shudders at the Beehive, Swindon.

Kโ€™Chevere at the Bell, Bath.

Thursday 28th

Experimental Blues Orchestra at the Beehive, Swindon

Friday 29th

Jon Amor Trio Christmas Special at The Southgate, Devizes. Mick Jogger & The Stones Experience at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.

SexJazz at the Beehive, Swindon. Rotten Aces at the Vic.

Saturday 30th

The Acrustic Badger Band & The Iโ€™s at The Southgate, Devizes. Sound Hog Disco, Karaoke at the Three Crowns.

Pop-Punk Disaster at The Vic, Swindon

Sunday 31st

Right, here we go: eyes down for a full house, itโ€™s New Yearโ€™s Eve. Iโ€™m not going to type New Years Eve for every entry, so take it as red, itโ€™s New Years Eve, okay?! New Years Eve parties at:

Devizes Scooter Club at The Cavalier, Devizes.

The Reason NYE Party at Seend Community Hall.

Reggae Party with Razah I-Fi at the Royal Oak, Marlborough.

Siren at The Consti Club, Chippenham.

End of Story at The Talbot, Calne.

Blue Soul at the Wiltshire Yeoman, Trowbridge. Train to Skaville at Westwood Social Club.

Party Night at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Parties at The Tuppenny, Swindon, the Beehive, and The New Inn. Rave Against the Regime plays one at The Vic.

Junkyard Dogs are the Winterbourne Arms in Winterbourne Dauntsey.

One Chord Wonders at The Sun, Frome.

Phew, Iโ€™m sure thereโ€™s more, do let me know and hopefully Iโ€™ll get time to add them. Obviously, because this is a bumper fortnight edition, Iโ€™m sure lots more will be added, so do keep your eye on the Event Calendar, as this might not be edited, cheers.

Have a great Christmas, and New Year, one and all!

Trending….

Chapters, New Single From Kirsty Clinch

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

REVIEW โ€“ Chicago Blues @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Friday 24th November 2023

Hot Blues On A Cold Night

Andy Fawthrop

You canโ€™t get away from the fact that this town continues to punch way above its weight.ย  Firstly, we have DOCA, who organised a simply brilliant Lantern Parade last night, including a switch-on of the Christmas lights and a firework display.ย  The Market Place and surrounding streets were absolutely packed with people, and many pop-up food stalls and local businesses were doing a roaring trade.ย  It was great to see the town enjoying itself so much.

But we also have Ian Hopkins and LSBC โ€“ Long Street Blues Club.ย  And last night we had an absolutely knock-out gig that just couldnโ€™t be bettered.

Again, the crowds had turned out, and the room was absolutely packed with blues fans.  And, boy, were they royally entertained.  First up in the support slot were two UK bluesmanโ€“ Giles Robson on harmonica and Mississippi MacDonald on guitar. They delivered a 40-minute set that was solidly bluesy, stripped-back, and absolutely top-notch.  These were two great, award-winning musicians, totally in synch with each other, acting as great musical foils for each other.  The vocals were hard, gritty, and throaty.  The rhythm was relentless, and the inter-song chat was witty and good-humoured.  The audience loved every minute, and I wasnโ€™t the only one thinking that these guys might have been headliners themselves and were worth the ticket price alone.  A stunning start to the evening, which couldnโ€™t possibly get any better.  Or could it?

Pleased to report that it did, as Ian welcomed three legends of the Chicago blues scene to the stage. 

Starting the first couple of numbers as a duo were the awesome Chicago-born Jimi โ€œPrime Timeโ€ Smith on guitar and vocals, and harmonica wizard Bob Corritore.  Both these guys have more than been around the block, producing an enormous catalogue of recordings, contributing to countless othersโ€™ records, and winning a slew of awards over the years.  It wasnโ€™t difficult to see why.  The quality of the music coming from these guys was simply awesome.  The vocals were gritty, the harmonica howling and growling, filling out the vocal phrases.  It was cool, inspired, and haunting, and just so, so good.

But there was yet another gear to be engaged, as the full trio got together with the entrance of the stick-leaning, white-capped Oscar Wilson.  If the vocals had been good before, they just got better.  What a voice this guy had!  Now there was even more feeling, more colour, more depth.  In a near two-hour set, the trio worked their way through a whole collection of great โ€œwalking bluesโ€ numbers, including their own compositions, as well as a few blues classics to leaven the mixture (Bright Lights, Big City and Walking By Myself, and Got My Mojo Working).

Proceedings were enlivened by the chatty between-song banter, the audience participation, and the swap-rounds in personnel as first Giles Robson, and then Mississippi MacDonald were invited up on stage to join in the fun.  The trio on their own were all stars, but there was no single star, no ego on show.  With no drums, no bass and no keys, the driving steady rhythm was provided throughout by Smithโ€™s superb virtuoso guitar work, and the lighter and deeper colours were filled in by Corritoreโ€™s soaring harmonica and Wilsonโ€™s huge growling and emotive vocals.  And then there was the step down.  Not only did Wilson walk out into the audience, but he slowed his delivery to a talking drawl, drawing out the lines and the meaning.

There was no dancing tonight โ€“ this wasnโ€™t fast, beat-heavy blues.  This was walkinโ€™ anโ€™ talkinโ€™ Muddy Waters style blues.  The audience responded with massive enthusiasm.  There was plenty of love in the room, and deservedly so.  If the phrase โ€œmusic connects everyoneโ€ (as quoted during the evening) is true, then there were plenty of connections made tonight.

This was the real deal Chicago blues, featuring three (or was it five?) world-class musicians, and they were playing in our town.  Yet again, Ian Hopkins did a great job in bringing such entertainment right to our very doorstep.  Absolutely top nightโ€™s entertainment.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Saturday 16th December 2023                   Fullhouse play Frankie Miller

Friday 12th January 2024                              John Primer Band

Saturday 13th January 2024                        Damian Wilson and Adam Wakeman

Saturday 10th February 2024                      The Errol Linton Band

Friday 1st March 2024                                   The Cinelli Brothers

Friday 5th April 2024                                      Ben Poole Band

Saturday 4th May 2024                                 Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse

Saturday 22nd June 2024                             KOSSOFF The Band Plays On

Trending….

Devizes Writers Group Win Silver Award

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

Hansel & Gretel: Panto at the Wharf!

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

No Worries; Worried Men at The Pump

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

Ian Siegal at Long Street Blues Club

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 22nd – 28th November 2023

Everything to do in Wiltshire this coming week, right in one handy listing, you know the drill, jump to it, preferably before putting your Christmas tree up, it is, after all, only mid-November; take a chill pill!

Okay, please be aware this is not comprehensive and new events can and might yet still be added to our blossoming, occasionally updating EVENT CALENDAR; they might not be added here, so do check in regularly. You can also find links to everything mentioned there, and plan ahead.

One other really important thing before we get going, the thing everyone seems to brazenly browse past pretending it didnโ€™t apply to them, we need donations to fund this, so, if you can, please donate a little something to keep us going; awl, thank you. If you love it, donโ€™t lose it, like Bez on a nineties dance floor. For info on how, see HERE. Please and thank youโ€ฆ

Ongoing: Dark, the latest exhibit at the Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham runs until 26th November.

Two exhibits at Wiltshire Museum in Devizes: Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed Here.

Wednesday 22nd

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre showing Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Running until Friday 24th Voices for Life Extraordinary at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Kroke at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Clusterfunk at The Bell, Bath. Former ELO 2 Frontman Phil Bates Up Close And Personal Solo UK Tour at Chapel Arts.

Thursday 23rd

Kim Emery at La Bobina, Marlborough.

Dead Man’s Whiskey with  Wicked in support at Underground, Swindon. A Christmas Carol at Swindon Arts Centre, Jake Leg Jug Band at the Beehive. Luna Barge at the Tuppenny.

Entertaining Angels at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Hear my Voice, the LGBTQ+ poetry night at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Passenger Club at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Friday 24th

Continuing into Saturday but the main show is Friday, folks, the DOCA Winter Festival in Devizes is always a wonderful evening. With the lantern parade, light switch on, Devizes Town Band and market, itโ€™s my obvious choice for editorโ€™s pick of the week!

Staying in Devizes, Chicago Blues Trio at Long Street Blues Club, Stones Throw at The Three Crowns, and a lantern parade Karaoke Party at The Pelican.

But itโ€™s Marlboroughโ€™s light switch on and market too, and Mean as Custard plays the Bear. 

Writing and Researching a novel with Keith Stuart at Chippenham library, music cafรฉ at the Cause, and Kate Lomas, with Laissez Faire and others play a fundraiser in support of the new Chippenham Arts Centre, No.7.

Sad Dad Club at Stallards, Trowbridge. Parker plays the Pump, with A Bottle of Dog and Happy Dogs in support. And thereโ€™s jazz with the Stilts at the Civic.

Carmen Co at St Michaelโ€™s Church, Mere.

Red Light at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, The Remnants at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.

Running to Saturday, The Bean Spillersโ€™ Improvised Musical at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Sheer Music is at Moles with Pet Needs, the Glitchers and Nothing Rhymes With Orange in support.

Oasish Vs Stereotonics at The Vic in Swindon, Phantom Lymb at the Beehive.

Frome Lantern Parade and Christmas Light Switch on too, with The Membersโ€™ โ€œSound of the Suburbs tourโ€ coming to the Tree House.

Saturday 25th

Thereโ€™s a lecture at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes called The Hunt for Stourton Castle.ย ย Adam Woodhouse is at The Three Crowns, The Worried Men at The Southgate.

Alex Roberts is at The Barge on HoneyStreet. Trash Panda at The Lamb, Marlborough,ย 

Static Moves at the Burbage Legion Hall, The Crofton Stokers at the Woodborough Club, 

Billy & Louie at The Crown in Aldbourne, and the Ramsbury Christmas Food and Artisan Market .

The Heart Beats at Melksham Rock n Roll Club. 

Freepeace at The Red Admiral, Trowbridge, Ed Byrneโ€™s Tragedy Plus Time tour at the Civic.

Chippenham parkrun at Monkton, Wiltshire College & University Centre Chippenham Campus Open Day also in Chippenham. Chippenham Christmas Market at the Old Road Tavern. Spotlight 3: Modern & Contemporary Art from the Collection of Chippenham Museum, and a Pre-loved Clothes Event at Hardenhuish school. 

The Fairytale Ceilidh: A Fantastical Dance Party at Pound Arts, Corsham, and Carmen Co at Grittleton Village Hall.

Bradford-on-Avon Floating Winter Fair today, with Bath Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, and Borrowed Time & The Sinictones plays The Three Horseshoes.

Justin Adams & Mauro Durante at The Bell, Bath.

Moon at The Vic in Swindon, the World Music Club at the Beehive. Stephen K Amos at Swindon Arts Centre, Swindon Old Town Comedy Club has a Winter Showcase, Gaz Brookfield is at The Hop, Post 12 at the New Inn, and The Flashback Band hold an 80โ€™s night at The Woodlands Edge.

Craig Charles Funk & Soul House Party has sold out at the Cheese & Grain, so has Depeche Mode tribute The Devout at the Tree House, Frome.

Sunday 26th

James Oliver Band at The Southgate, Devizes.

The Stu Henderson Trio: Jazz at the Horseshoe, Mildenhall, Marlborough.

Melksham Record Fair at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Mark Simmonsโ€™ Quip Off The Mark at Swindon Arts Centre.

Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra Concert with Steve Banks at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Ruzz Guitar Trio makes an appearance at The Three Horseshoes.

Schtummโ€ฆ. presents Sarah McQuaid at The Queenโ€™s Head, Box. The Schmoozenbergs are at The Bell, Bath.

Frome Vegan Fair at The Cheese & Grain.

Monday 27th

David Celia at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 28th

Sarah McQuaid at Swindon Arts Centre, and thereโ€™s a bebop blowout for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, with special guests Ian Bateman & Alex Clarke, to remember the great Jazz promoter David Knight on what would have been his birthday.

And thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got so far, but more stuff is added all the time, so keep a beady eye on 

THE EVENT CALENDAR!!!!

Have a great week!

Trending……

Wiltshire Music Centre Announces New Joint Leadership

Wiltshire Music Centre is delighted to announce the new appointments ofย Danielย Clark as Artistic Director, andย Sarahย Robertson as Executive Director.ย Danielย andย Sarahย join Wiltshire Music Centre in a new co-leadershipโ€ฆ

What’s Happening During November in Devizes?

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

REVIEW โ€“ Russ Ballard @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Saturday 18th November 2023

LSBC Gave Rock n Roll to Ya!

Review by Andy Fawthorp

The LSBC gigs are coming round thick and fast as the new season gets into full swing.ย  And there was another packed house last night to welcome the Russ Ballard Bandโ€™s first appearance at the club…..

First up was new boy Matt Prior to fill the early support slot.  This was his first outing on stage, and he looked and sounded pretty nervous.  Using guitar, keyboard and backing tracks, Matt worked his way gamely through his set.  Iโ€™m not sure that everything worked as well as he might have hoped.  His versions of Bowieโ€™s Life on Mars, Henleyโ€™s Boys of Summer and Elton Johnโ€™s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road were not really to my taste, but the audience gave him good support and a warm round of applause.

Then on to the main offering of the evening.

Russ Ballard has appeared with several bands over the years (the Roulettes, Unit 4+2 and, most famously, heading up Argent in the late 70s).ย  But his real claim to fame is the large number of hit songs heโ€™s written and recorded, and which have also been hits for other artists (The Shadows, Argent, Rainbow, Kiss, Hot Chocolate, Hello). Itโ€™s actually quite surprising just how many famous songs heโ€™s written.

In a single nearly two-hours long set, backed by a tight 4-piece band, he demonstrated his showmanship, and much of his back catalogue.  In among the less well-known, but still highly catchy and sing-alongable numbers, were many of the rock classics โ€“ Back In The New York Groove, Hold Your Head Up, Since Youโ€™ve Been Gone and (the ultimate singing the house down encore number) God Gave Rock & Roll To Ya.

The whole set was built on a solid, no-nonsense rock and roll-heavy platform, leavened with keyboard flourishes, and some great throaty vocals.  Every number had its catchy riff, and its strong vocal hook.  It was almost impossible not to sing along and join in the party.  The dance floor at the front filled up, and the band looked and sounded to be really enjoying themselves.  There were no long songs, no rambling improvisations, no drum or bass solos โ€“ just straight-up pop-song format short rock & roll songs.  The intros were informative, humorous, and short and punchy.  The band were slick, polished and well-drilled.

Another great booking, and a cracking night out.

Future Long Street Blues Club Gigs

Friday 24th November 2023                        Chicago Blues Trio

Saturday 16th December 2023                    Fullhouse play Frankie Miller

Friday 12th January 2024                              John Primer Band

Saturday 13th January 2024                         Damian Wilson and Adam Wakeman

Saturday 10th February 2024                       The Errol Linton Band

Friday 1st March 2024                                    The Cinelli Brothers

Friday 5th April 2024                                       Ben Poole Band

Saturday 4th May 2024                                  Beaux Gris Gris and the Apocalypse

Saturday 22nd June 2024                              KOSSOFF The Band Plays On

Trending……

YEA Devizes: DOCA New Youth Project

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

The Mist; New Single from Meg

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 18th – 24th October 2023

Gliding through October at colossal speed, with temporary bursts of cold spells hinting winter at us, and some, some I repeat, faintly whispering the C word; we’re gathered here today not in anticipation of the yule but to look at what’s going on this coming week and weekend, as we usually doโ€ฆ..ย 

Okay my little poppets, please be aware this is not comprehensive and new events can and might yet still be added to our blossoming, occasionally updating EVENT CALENDAR; they might not be added here, so do check in as regular your digestive system after a vindaloo throughout the week, or you might miss something really up your street. You can also find links to everything mentioned there, and plan ahead.

One other really important thing before we get going, the thing everyone seems to brazenly browse past pretending it didnโ€™t apply to them, we need donations to fund this, so, if you can, please donate a little something to keep us going; awl, thank you. If you love it, donโ€™t lose it, like Bez on a nineties dance floor. For info on how, see HERE. Please and thanking youโ€ฆ

Wednesday 18th

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

An Evening With Harry Redknapp at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, Fiona Allenโ€™s On The Run at Swindon Arts Centre.

Monkey Chuckle at the Bell in Bath, and award-winning youth theatre company Merriman Theatre Group presents Six Teen Edition, a full-length adaptation of Toby Marlow and Lucy Mossโ€™ international phenomenon SIX, modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences, opens at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, running until 21st October. 

Wrecking Ball: A Nashville Experience at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Thursday 19th

Kevin Bloody Wilson at The Wyvern Theatre, and Tom Stadeโ€™s Natural Born Killer at Swindon Arts Centre. Dark Prophecy and Ritual Divide at The Vic, and Kid Carpet & Grasslands at the Tuppenny, Swindon.

Wildlife photographer Doug Allanโ€™s Itโ€™s a Wrap at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 20th

Tom Harris and Pat Wardโ€™s new venture No Alarms & No Devizes at The Barge on HoneyStreet.

Yes, Scouting For Girls are in Marlborough on Friday, thanks to Sound Knowledge, but it sold out like ages ago; youโ€™ve got to be quick on these things! Though you can find the duo Stripped at The Lamb. 

Willow Hill at the Civic Hall, Trowbridge. 

A relaxed and BSL Interpreted performance of The Gruffaloโ€™s Child at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Fleetwood Mac & Tom Petty Legacy at Chapel Arts, Bath. Bluesoul are at the Boathouse in Bradford-on-Avon.

Genesis Visible Touch at the Cheese & Grain, So Toto at The Tree House, Frome.

Saturday 21st

Matchbox Mutiny at The Three Crowns, Devizes, The Will Edmunds Trio at The Southgate, Big Blue This at The Crown.  CSF Pro Wrestlingโ€™s Deadly Draw 2023 at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange play The Bell, Great Cheverell.

Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week goes to The Female of the Species, local super-groupโ€™s annual outing at Seend Community Centre, this year is for Alzheimer’s Supportย  and has the theme, the MTV Years, and will be a-maze-zing! Tickets are ยฃ12.50 and selling fast, from HERE.

Colin Paul & The Persuaders at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.

Itโ€™s also Trowbridge Carnival, and thereโ€™s a Pipe & Slippers Rave at the Civic.

Women In Rock at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Rhys Jamesโ€™s Split Milk at Swindon Arts Centre, Matty One Man with The Forgetting Curve and Here Come the Crows at The Vic, 2-ToneAllSkas at The Woodlands Edge, Metaprism, Drallion and Grove Warden at Underground, Homer plays The Bakers Arms, Post 12 at North Swindon Club, and One Trick Combo t the Queenโ€™s Tap.

Ward Knutur Townes Trio at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Mini Ravers Lil Monsters Halloween Party at the Cheese & Grain, followed by The Freddie and Queen Experience. Junkyard Dogs play The Sun in Frome.

Sunday 22nd

Manos Puestas at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Sound Knowledge presents Bombay Bicycle Club at St. Peterโ€™s Church, Marlborough.

Sunbirds play The Neeld, Chippenham.

Knives, LagunaGoons, Modern Evils and Viduals at The Vic, Swindon, Legends of American Country at The Wyvern Theatre, Rockabilly Rumble at North Swindon Club.

Jake Leg Jug Band plays the Bell in Bath.

Independent record store Raves from the Grave in Frome have a mega “we’ve run out of space” sale at the Assembly Rooms from 10-3pm with DJs and refreshments.

Monday 23rd

Based on John Godberโ€™s Yorkshire grandparents, and other members of his family, Happy Jack is a memory play, which examines the relationship between Jack and Liz, and opens at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes on Monday, running until October 28th. We hope to bring you a review on this prior to the opening on Monday.

Flibbertigibbet Theatre: Babble at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Hot Club of Avon at the Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 24th

Half Term Tennis Holiday Camp starts at Devizes Tennis Club, running until 26th October.

John Law Re-Creations at Jazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon, Lilโ€™ Jimmy Reed with Bob Hall & Hilary Blythe at Swindon Arts Centre, and La Bamba at The Wyvern Theatre.

Sue Harding is at The Bell, Bath.

Thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for you so far, but remember to keep an eye on our event calendar for updates. Iโ€™m delighted to rap stats with you, and announce Devizine is flying over the record-breaking annual hits from last year, and thereโ€™s still two and half months to go. Devizine is going out to over 100,000 local folk and listing your event will remain free, all you have to do to insure it is here is to tell us about it!

Have a great week!

Trending…..

Autumn-Winter Comedy in Devizes

Comedy in Devizes is a rare thing, unless you count visitors turning right at the Shaneโ€™s Castle junction, reading opinions on the Devizes Issues (butโ€ฆ

REVIEW โ€“ Blood Brothers @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Friday 13th October 2023

Lucky For Some

Andy Fawthrop

We donโ€™t believe in all that Friday The 13th unlucky malarkey, do we?ย  Still it was unusual to be at Long Street on a Friday night, rather than the usual Saturday, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow when the big names like this are on tour.ย  Ianโ€™s agent gave him the shout for a gig in Devizes amidst a crowded Autumn/ Winter tour schedule, and so โ€œyes please, weโ€™ll have some of thatโ€ was the obvious answer.

Ianโ€™s confidence in booking these guys was amply rewarded with an absolutely packed house, providing a great atmosphere.

The evening opened with special guest Adam Giles Levy.  His opening blast was a powerful acapella version of Vera Hallโ€™s โ€œTrouble So Hardโ€ (as made famous by Moby).  Unfortunately this was the best thing he did in his 40-minute set.  Once he took up his guitar and started singing his meandering songs, things went rather downhill.  The style was loud and brash, and the songs seemed formless and open-ended, whilst his loose vocal and guitar styles sounded discordant and self-indulgent.  The inter-song patter was rambling and only audible to those at the front.  There was some perfunctory audience participation, but I didnโ€™t feel that he ever had the crowd actually with him.  Applause was polite and perfunctory, rather than enthusiastic.  To me it was just a noise, and I was glad when it finally stopped.  I really donโ€™t like giving a bad review to anyone, but I just couldnโ€™t warm to this guy, and I wasnโ€™t enjoying my evening.  I felt the big crowd deserved better than this.  Asking around I got a lot of mixed reviews โ€“ some thought he was OK, but the majority gave him a firm thumbs-down.  Not just me then.

Fortunately things bucked up considerably after that as Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia, playing as the band Blood Brothers hit the stage.

Mike Zito (53) is an award-winning American blues guitarist hailing from St. Louis.  His career is one of playing with multiple bands, collaborating with other great musicians, and recording and touring frequently.  He writes most of his own material.   His label-mate Albert Castiglia (54), hailing from Miami, is one of Mikeโ€™s many collaborators, and the pair have teamed up for this โ€œBlood Brothersโ€ tour, for which they recorded an eponymous album released back in March earlier this year.

From the first number the mood picked up considerably, and the place came alive.  Announcing their intention to โ€œplay every damn songโ€ off the record, they did exactly that over two glorious 50-minute sets.  Two lead guitars, two contrasting vocalists, with bassist Douglas Byrkit and two drummers (Matt Johnson and Ephraim Lowell) was the recipe for a very high energy performance.  The crowd were completely onside, with massive appreciative applause right from the very first number.  Like all good bands they varied the pace, alternating fast and slow tracks, light and shade in the vocals, and mixing up some great driving boogie-woogie numbers with more nuanced and subtle songs.  Both guitarists took their solos, introducing some blistering and catchy riffs, but it was obvious from all the body language on stage that these guys obviously enjoyed playing together, complementing one another perfectly, trading licks and grinning broadly all the while.

There was chat, there was inter-song banter, there were humorous stories about the genesis of some of the songs.  And it provided just the right leavening between songs so you could get your breath back.

A standing ovation and encore were the only conclusion possible to such a great night.  And the final number of Neil Youngโ€™s barn-storming โ€œKeep On Rocking In The Free Worldโ€ was probably the best live version of that song that youโ€™re ever likely to hear.

A great night and a really stonkingly-good gig from a real powerhouse band.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Friday 3rd November 2023                           Susan Santos & Alastair Greene

Saturday 18th November 2023                   Russ Ballard Band

Friday 24th November 2023                        Chicago Blues Trio

Saturday 16th December 2023                    Fullhouse play Frankie Miller

Trending……

Forestry Operations Due to Start at West Woods

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 Marchโ€ฆ

Swindon Gets Shuffling!

Despite the population of Devizes throwing confetti and paint at each other in their most celebrated annual ritual, I believe I picked the right weekendโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 11th – 17th October 2023

Here I am again, like Huey Lewisโ€ฆ..with the news. No national headlines though, no, thatโ€™s all too depressing, just the lowdown on things to do this coming week across our gurt lush county of agricultural rolling downs, neolithic monuments, and a seemingly endless succession of Greggs bakeriesโ€ฆ..

Okay my little sausage and bean melts, please be aware this is not comprehensive and new events can and might yet still be added to our blossoming, occasionally updating EVENT CALENDAR; they might not be added here, so do check in as regular your digestive system after a vindaloo throughout the week, or you might miss something really up your street. You can also find links to everything mentioned there, and plan ahead.

One other really important thing before we get going, the thing everyone seems to brazenly browse past pretending it didnโ€™t apply to them, we need donations to fund this, so, if you can, please donate a little something to keep us going; awl, thank you. If you love it, donโ€™t lose it, like Bez on a nineties dance floor. For info on how, see HERE.  

Final days to pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE, this ends on October 15th.

Oh, and this above, and this below, clowns, in Chippenham, a must-see!

Wednesday 11th

Regular Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Calne Music & Arts Festival continues. The Avebury Vocal Ensemble, and a Calne Wordfest Writersโ€™ Group at Marden House during the afternoon, and standup comedy with Graham Coulam introducing Paul Ricketts and Steve Gribbin in the evening.

Thereโ€™s a lunchtime recital at Pound Arts, Corsham with pianist Simeon Walker.

Opening at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon and running until the 15th, Salos Presents Elf, The Musicalโ€ฆtoo early? Too late! 

Thursday 12th

Calne Music & Arts Festival has The Primary School Choirs in concert at Kingsbury Green Academy Hall, and Calne Speech and Drama School present โ€˜Sea, the Fool, the Devil and the Catsโ€™ by Ted Hughes at Marden House, followed by some jazz with The Nick Sorensen Trio.

Sean Collinsโ€™ Smokin Funny arrives at Swindon Arts Centre, Andy Oliveri & Kizzie at The Tuppenny, Swindon.

Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeriโ€™s The Long Ride Home Tour comes to Chapel Arts, Bath.

Friday 13th

Join Devizes OpenDoorsโ€™s Big Sleep Out and help raise funds to support homeless and vulnerable adults in our community. You can sleep out at St Jamesโ€™ Church in Devizes, organise your own sleep out at work, at school, even in the garden at home, or pay to stay in bed by making a donation. Find out more and register at devizesopendoors.org.uk

Thud and Adam Woodhouse at the Southgate, Devizes, Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia with Band @ Long Street Blues Club.

Calne Music & Arts Festival has Ukrainian Jazz Harpist Alina Bzhezhinska in Concert at Marden House, followed by The Lost Trades.

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust Quiz Night at The Neeld, Chippenham.

My Octopus Mind plays the Pump in Trowbridge, with The Message in support.

Jazz at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, with Dario Napoli Hot Club. Start the Sirens & Ophella Waiting at The Three Horseshoes. 

An Evening Of Mediumship With Nikki Kitt at Swindon Arts Centre, Soulweaver Reigniting The Fire at Underground, formerly Level III, Bedrock at The Queens Tap, Evanescence of Fire at The Vic.

Rusty Shackle, Ninotchka and Concrete Prairie play Komedia, in Bath, Damien Oโ€™Kane & the Ron Block Band are at Chapel Arts. 

Saturday 14th

Marlborough Mop Fair. The Magnitones play St Michael’s in Aldbourne. 

Itโ€™s the Lions Arts Coaching Day in Devizes, and a first, I believe, for Danny & The Randoms who play at The Three Crowns, and The Unpredictables, Finely Truslerโ€™s new ensemble play the Moonrakers.ย The Jack Grace Band is at the Southgate.

Pig Race night at Erlestoke Golf Club! Bring your own ketchup!

Dub roots reggae at The Barge on HoneyStreet with Jah Lion Movement.

Be Like Will play Stallards in Trowbridge.

Editor’s Pick of the Week is Amelia Coburn is at the Pump in Trowbridge, with Ruby Darbyshire and MEG in support.

Thereโ€™s seven acts playing Hullavington Live at The Village Hall, and itโ€™s free entry.

At Calne Music & Arts Festival, โ€œFlowers in art from Botticelli to Hockney,โ€ a talk by Gail Brown followed by โ€˜Meet the Artistsโ€™ with Cathy and Nick Pearce and โ€˜HMS Pinaforeโ€™ โ€“ presented by Opera Anywhere. 

Taylor Swift tribute Katy Ellis at The Pewsham, Chippenham.

Back to the eighties party night at Spencerโ€™s Club, Melksham.

Iโ€™ve Every Whitney at Kingsdown Golf Club, Corsham.

Brodsky Quartet 50th Anniversary of the Shostakovich Cycle at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Dreamwave at The Three Horseshoes.

Happy Dogs at HMV Bath at 3pm.

Carl Hutchinson โ€“ Watch Till The End at Swindon Arts Centre, David Flynn Memorial night at The Vic, Swindon, Concrete Prairie at Rodbourne Cheney Social Club, The BeatRoutes at The Castle, Rockabilly Rumble at The Queens Tap, Homer at the Rolleston, Dimensions at North Swindon Club, Vicky Jackson is PINK at Underground, and Swindon Ska Fest at The Moonrakers.

Sunday 15th

All About The Music Record Fair at Devizes Conservative Club from 10am-4pm.

PSG Choirs are at Marlborough Town Hall for an Autumn Concert. Starts at 6pm, tickets are ยฃ8.

Gothic Acoustic Matinee with Deadlight Dance at the Blue Boar, Aldbourne.

Calne Music & Arts Festival has Evensong at St. Maryโ€™s Parish Church, and a Photographic Talk โ€“ โ€˜Arcticaโ€™ with Pam and Eddy Lane at Marden House.

Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon have Groove Baby Grooving With Pirates!

Below the Salt at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Waterlines at Underground, Swindon, an Elvis tribute at The Castle, and Damn at the North Swindon Club, and SGO at The Tuppenny.

Monday 16th

Sounds of the 60s Live with Tony Blackburn at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Tuesday 17th

Do You Believe In Ghosts at The Wyvern Theatre, while the Eric Mylod Okafo Quartet take the Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon.

Thatโ€™s all weโ€™ve got for you so far, but remember to keep an eye on our event calendar for updates. Iโ€™m delighted to rap stats with you, and announce this week Devizine has hit level on the record-breaking annual hits from last year, and thereโ€™s still two and half months to go. Devizine is going out to over 100,000 local folk and listing your event will remain free, all you have to do to insure it is here is to tell us about it!

Have a great week!

Trending….

Deadlight Dance New EP Chapter & Verse

Marlborough gothic duo Deadlight Dance are due to release an EP of new material. Itโ€™s called Chapter & Verse and itโ€™ll be out onโ€ฆ

Billy Walton Band Rock Long Street Blues Club

If my Saturday’s entertainment at The Pump was decidedly offbeat and a tad bizarre, what with chap-hop, pith helmets and vintage jazz played through a washtub and kazoo, back in Devizes vast crowds turned up at Long Street Blues Club for something altogether more traditional, east coast US rock, of the highest gradeโ€ฆ.. 

While, yes, the set up was much more run-of-the-mill, a bluesy-rock six piece with drums, guitar, bass, keys and a saxophone, with New Jerseyโ€™s Billy Walton Band on their final tour date in control, it was anything but humdrum. Glad I raced back to town to catch the final glimpses of another outstanding night at Long Street, this much was obvious from what little I managed to digest, but then, when has our townโ€™s celebrated blues club ever let us down?!

Never to my knowledge. Yes, roving reviewer Andy is usually on this, and thankfully provided us with his far more knowledgeable tuppence on Billy Walton and his band last time around, back in April, but being he was at the White Horse Opera, it fell to me to poke my snout in, and I returned home wishing Iโ€™d heard more.

Reason being, The Long Street Blues Club honours said customary working formula, but what it lacks in diversity it makes up with quality, and besides, they know what their audience wants, itโ€™s a given. Bringing international blues acts of this calibre to Devizes is venerative of the foundation laid by Mel Bush in the seventies, but it not only harnesses the upshot of it and aptly supplies those who remember it with class entertainment, it has built its own legendary status and, in turn, put Devizes on the blues-map, rather than reside in its slipstream.

You only have to wander past the Cons Club on a blues club night to realise this, the immense ambience, the pure bliss reverberating through the carpark. It was so this time, I hurried in. Reminiscent of everything groundbreaking on the seventies Asbury Park scene, of the Stone Pony, where Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Patti Smith, and Southside Johnny cut their teeth, the latter Billy earned his stripes playing lead guitar in. And as a lover of the early outpourings of the boss, I must say, there was something undeniably E Street Band about his posture, the bandโ€™s delivery and stage presence. Their originals perhaps a tad more sprinkled with blues, and with lots of psychedelic swirls for good measure, but it really was that monumental and accomplished.

They toiled with the crowd, false starting a few ambiguous or cliche covers like Sweet Caroline, or Stairway to Heaven, which they jested to perform in a reggae style, similarly as is the stage banter of Springsteen, but when they were in motion it was a beautiful thing. Female vocalist Destinee Monroe held the audience in awe with her sassy and sensual sounding voice, saxophonist Zack Sandler standing on the tabletops to individually serenade punters, the band tight throughout, wowzers, it was something to behold.

They stretched their encore to the max, put so much energy into it, as if they didnโ€™t want to catch their flights home, and even suggested they deliberately missed them. I was glad and grateful for this being I arrived so fashionably late, and though I wish I could tell you more, about the support and the beginnings of this energetic and proficient performance, at least this goes once again to prove you can be sure of one thing, Long Street Blues Club is worthy of your hard earned cash, and never fails to pull a rabbit from its hat.

Next nights at the club are Friday 13th October with Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia with Band, and Friday 3rd November 2023 with Susan Santos & Alastair Greene.

Trending…..

Fulltone Confirmed For 2025 in Devizes

The Fulltone Orchestra has confirmed today that their annual festival will take place on The Green in Devizes from 25th โ€“ 27th July 2025โ€ฆ. โ€œItโ€™sโ€ฆ

Get ‘Lifted’ by Chandra

Chandra, Hindu God of the Moon, with his own NASA X-ray observatory named after him, and also frontman of a self-named friendly Bristol-based four-piece pop-punkโ€ฆ

Local Book Review: Dadโ€™s New Dress

Spent most of Pride month, and the following month too (what? Iโ€™m a slow reader and a busy chap!) reading an apt book, given toโ€ฆ

Some Days with Paul Lappin

Paul’s self-made cover to his latest single, Some Days depicts a fellow sitting under a tree pondering life, while an autumn zephyr blows leaves aroundโ€ฆ

A Typical Saturday of Live Music in Devizes is a Beautiful Thing!

If Devizes was a woman, my patient and understanding wife would be livid because I’m smitten, and I’m about to explain my reasoning. Please humour me best you canโ€ฆ..

Starter for ten, ignore the sensationalising of a few roadworks by the local press, it’s having no negative effect on congestion, and ignore political sway, for the corruption is nationwide. I’m about entertainment in our humble market town, of which comparatively we’re punching well above our weight, on any atypical evening such as this.

Such causes me the dilemma of what pub to pick and what live music to enjoy. A problem I sought to solve by attempting to trundle between all three, though with questionable repercussions; I don’t get to witness and report on an entire set for any of them. A personal niggly I’m willing to shoulder, for the average punter either choice saw a great night of talented musicians doing their thing. Devizes is open for business, and is highly flammable!

Yes, I’d have loved to have dropped into the Pump in Trowvegas, Wiltshire Music Centre, and the Crown in Bishops Cannings, where they hosted a free all-dayer with Talk in Code and Purple Fish, but this takes driving, and occasionally, I want a cider, or four! There’s a thing, doing this is a hobby, you wouldn’t deprive me of sticking around the Vizes and enjoying a jar, would you?!

There is no grand public event in town tonight, as often there is, just three honest and wonderful pubs putting on free live music. My starter was the Southgate, where, after guesting at a particularly memorable Jon Amor Trio residency, Philadelphia-born axeman LeBurn Maddox made a welcome return. Justified as my top choice, because while I’ve witnessed the other two more local acts in The Lamb and Three Crowns before, the chance to catch this bluesman doing his thing is far rarer. And boy, can he play the electric blues with passion and plentiful saucy banter; a sublime performance in our lively juke joint, a longstanding blessing to Devizes.  

Another outstanding night at the trusty Southgate, which despite having the most varied and regular music programme in town by a country mile, predominantlyย remains favourable to the Mel Bush effect of Devizes being a blues town, appreciated by the regulars and reverberating this afternoon when Jon Amor makes his regular residency.

But though I coulda-shoulda stayed for the duration, I gotta dust my broom and make haste for The Lamb. Once the go-to pub in town, the birthplace of Sheer Music in the Fold, and historically simply a functioning and aesthetic tavern, it’s recently waned in popularity, but while it’s certainly true tonight, they’ve attempted to bounce back and have the breathtaking gothic-folk-rock four-piece Strange Folk to assist. Hailing from Hampshire, this proficient band we’ve seen playing these backwaters at the Gate, and on the Vinyl Realm stage at a DOCA street festival of yore, still, they’re not widely known here, ergo attracting wider appeal to a pub rarely providing music was never going to be a simple task.

Strange Folk are tight in performance, unified in sound. With the hauntingly impassioned vocals of Annie, a kind of PJ Harvey or Kate Bush, they polish covers with uniqueness, such as the apt Stones’ Gimmie Shelter, and have a repertoire of epic, mind blowingly emotive original pieces. Think Fairport Convention doing a Siouxsie and the Banshees tribute in the vein of Pink Floyd with Evanescence, if your imagination stretches that far!

Bottom line, Strange Folk deserved a bigger audience. Getting a foot on the first runner of live music in a small town with two other venues renowned and currently trending for it is no easy task. I suggest The Lamb books acts popular locally to attract a returning crowd before an outside chance such as Strange Folk, wonderful as they are.

Leaving the Lamb with reservations, if we don’t use this iconic tavern do we risk losing it to another antique shop?! I’m not willing to let it happen, not the Lamb, it’s legendary.

With the night coming to its cumulation, I hotfooted it across the carpark to the rear of the Three Crowns, echoes of Illingworth covering Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here growing as I approached, upset this is usually the outro to their set, but too steadfast to check the time! 

It unfortunately was, my consolation being I’ve seen the Illingworth duo play a number of times, and you can guarantee the creme de la creme of acoustic era-spanning covers, the kind of setlist to appease the broad demographic of the Three Crowns. Here’s a town pub currently winning the race, deservedly. Food served late, efficient cashless bar, its spacious, comfortable, covered, and heated yard has an epoch of supporting wider-appealing local live music acts. The benchmark for booked bands is literal here; blast nostalgic Britpop covers to attain tabletop dancing!

It was as rammed as expected there, my only reservation being I only caught the finale of Jon and Joylen, a duo you cannot fault. Still, I downed a Thatchers haze, got a cuddle and good chat with them both, and blagged a haven for eating the best chicken sandwich in town, from the most excellent Kebab House, in Jon’s van, which he gratefully dropped me home in; what an utter legend!

In conclusion, even if there’s no grand ticketed event at the Corn Exchange, Devizes is happening, and is the perfect town for a great night out, thanks to wonderful pubs like the Southgate, the Three Crowns, encompassing other lively options such as karaoke in the Pelican,ย  and I sincerely hope and pray, The Lamb rejoins the list too, we simply have to support it. Please keep an eye on our event calendar and weekly roundup articles .The next music night there will be advertised, and I hope to catch you there then.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th – 19th September 2023

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 aboveโ€ฆ..ย ย 

Not comprehensive, as I tell you each time, more will be added to our event calendar as we move through the week and they come to our attention, so check in on it from time to time. If you donโ€™t let us know about your event you cannot expect it to be here, drop us a line and guarantee itโ€™s listed here, it costs nothing.

Please, if you can donate a little something to keep us going, do, thatโ€™s 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.  

Abigailโ€™s 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, weโ€™ve 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.

Editorโ€™s Pick of Week made easy this time, Swindon Shuffle not only raises funds for Prospect Hospice, itโ€™s free, and a virtual cathedral of our local live music circuit. In the words of the great Zaphod Beeblebrox, โ€œeveryone who’s anyone is going to be there,โ€ albeit he was referring to Millways the restaurant at the end of the universe, weโ€™re 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, Iโ€™m not going to list them all, because hereโ€™s the poster and that says it all.

Elsewhere in Swindon, The Story of Guitar Heroes  at The Wyvern Theatre, and Andrew Birdโ€™s Taken Seriously at Swindon Arts Centre.

The Annie Keating Band at Chapel Arts, Bath, plus support from Steady Habits. Markus Birdmanโ€™s 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 Collierโ€™s 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 Zeboโ€™s Wheezy Club at The Southgate, Devizes.

Live Music and Family Funday for Wiltshire Mindโ€™s 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

Thatโ€™ll 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.

Thatโ€™s all folks, but there are lots more to come!! Let the sunshineโ€ฆ..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!

Trending…..

Imberbus is running this Saturday !

Following on from last monthโ€™s email, this is a final reminder that yearโ€™s Imberbus service will be running this coming Saturday โ€“ 17th August 2024.โ€ฆ

Marlborough, I’ve Seen Your Pants

โ€œWe can’t stop here. This is Tory country,โ€ I chuckled while fiercely yanking the handbrake, as if Dr Gonzo was in the car. We canโ€ฆ

Ruzz Up The Gate!

I was intending to start this along the lines of โ€œyou don’t need me to provide another reason why I love The Southgate,โ€ but thisโ€ฆ

REVIEW โ€“ Ian Parker Band @ Long Street Blues Club, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Saturday 9th September 2023

In The Heat Of The Night

Andy Fawthrop

It must be that time of the year.ย  Summer is going out in a blaze of heated glory, and Autumn is about to come calling.ย  Weโ€™ve already had the last Bank Holiday of the year and, apart from the ankle-biters being back at school, last night was also time for the annual singalong frenzy of The Last Night of The Proms.ย  After this you know itโ€™s all downhill to the clocks going back, Halloween, Bonfire Night, and The Big C.ย  But no point getting miserable and all teary-eyed just yet.ย  Before we get to the fake-Dickensian marketing exercise that forces the first mince-pies to hit the supermarket shelves, weโ€™ve got plenty to look forward to in D-Townโ€™s music scene.

And last night was just typical with competing gigs at The Cavalier, The Corn Exchange, and The Southgate to choose from.ย  Or there was always Twilight Cinema in Hillworth Park.ย  But I couldnโ€™t find my Ray-Bans, so I decided that the best way to start things off was at the Con Club, with the new Autumn/ Winter season of concerts lined up by Ian Hopkins and his team at Long Street Blues Club.ย  First guest of the new season was the Ian Parker Band.

It was hot and sweaty in there, but that just suited the music.  A goodly crowd had ignored the various other blandishments on offer, including Englandโ€™s opening game in the rugby World Cup, and turned out to welcome two great guests back to the club. 

First up was support from local boy Joe Hicks. Heโ€™ll be touring with his band in November and December in the UK & Germany, but for tonight it was just the man, his guitar, and a few pedals.ย  Last time I saw Joe was here in the club just before Covid and I remember enjoying his performance.ย  Since then, he and his songs have matured.ย  Introducing self-penned songs from his debut album of last year โ€œThe Best I Could Do At The Timeโ€, Joe produced an engaging and accomplished performance.ย  The songs, delivered with understated guitar, and his tell-tale falsetto voice, were mesmerizingly good.ย  The inter-song chat, self-deprecating humour and snatches of audience participation easily won people over.ย  Joe is well above yer average troubadour, and definitely worth checking out.

Then we were onto two helpings of the four-piece Ian Parker band.  Ian is a 20-year blues band veteran and has played as a session musician with much of UKโ€™s blues royalty.  His sets contained mostly self-penned material, leavened with just the right amount of covers.  Leading from the front on guitar and vocals, we launched straight into Muddy Watersโ€™ Hoochie Coochie Man, then settled down into a bluesy groove.  Again, there was great inter-song chat, the clear connection with the club, and with the enthusiastic audience.

The guitar work was clean, sparkling and inventive, with the band behind him providing just the right platform for his inspired and meandering solos.  We were in blues territory, but there was plenty of wandering off into something more inventive and reflective.  There were nods to BB King (Help The Poor), Willie Dixon (Weak Brain, Narrow Mind) and a really stunning reworking of Dylanโ€™s All Along The Watchtower.  Cue huge applause, a great finish, and a well-deserved encore.

So, the new season is up and running, with some great talent lined up to play (see the clubโ€™s website).  Tickets available online, at Devizes Books and at all the usual outlets.  Do yourself a favour and get along to some of these gigs.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Saturday 7th October 2023                          Billy Walton Band

Friday 13th October 2023                            Blood Brothers – Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia band

Friday 3rd November 2023                           Susan Santos & Alastair Greene

Saturday 18th November 2023                  Russ Ballard Band

Friday 24th November 2023                        Chicago Blues Trio

Saturday 16th December 2023                   Fullhouse play Franki

Trending…..

Sing Another Love Song with Rosie Jay

Second impressive single from young Salisbury singer-songwriter Rosie Jay is released today. Sing Another Love Song; a sound of the summerโ€ฆ.. Her debut breakup trackโ€ฆ

Cotswold Water Park to be Renamed

Here’s a prime example as to why I could never be a councillor….. Cotswold District Council will vote on changing the name of Cotswold Waterโ€ฆ

Devizes Scooter Rally Rules, OK?!

If it’s been a fantastic weekend on Devizes Green with the orchestral Full-Tone Festival, further out of town scooterists, mods, skins and anyone else withโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 6th – 12th September 2023

Schools are back, summer has finally arrived, hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve got this coming week……

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 6th.

The regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Ruby Darbyshire at The George, Lacock.

ShakShak at The Bell, Bath.

Thursday 7th.

Priscilla, Queen of the Disaster at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Robyn Hitchcock at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

InAir and Kotonic at The Vic, Swindon.

Gavin Osborn is at The Tuppenny, Swindon with Meg in support.

The Serial Killer Next Door with Emma Kenny at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Friday 8th.

Burbage & Easton Royal Cricket Club has a beer and cider festival  with Kova Me Bad and The Zoots.

Goatfest opens at Goatacre, Calne.

Lewis Poole plays the Pump in Trowbridge with Start The Sirens and Work Experince.

Peloton at The Vic, Swindon.

The Wonder of Stevie at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

The Tannahill Weavers at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Grace Petrieโ€™s Butch Ado About Nothing is at the Rondo Theatre, Bath

Shindiggers have a Shimmy Discotheque at Club Lomah, Bath.

Lou Coxโ€™s celebrated Having A Baby โ€“ The Sh!t They Donโ€™t Tell You In Books comes to the Frome Memorial Theatre.

The Sunbirds are at the Tree House, Frome.

Saturday 9th:

Trowbridge RFC V Devizes RFC at Trowbridge Rugby Club

King Alfredโ€™s Tower Charity Abseil for SOS Africa is taking place on the 9th, 10th 16th & 17th September.

Bit hot for cosplay, but thereโ€™s a Sci Fi Day at The REME Museum, Lyneham.

Thereโ€™s a Twilight Cinema at Hillworth Park, Devizes, screening Top Gun Maverick.

Autumn Fabric Pumpkin Making Workshop at the St Johnโ€™s Parish Rooms, Devizes.

Grizzly Rhys plays The Southgate, Devizes.

Chloe Jordan and Pete Lambโ€™s 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.

Bristolโ€™s 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.

Bobbiโ€™s 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, Queenโ€™s Head, Box.

Old Baby Mackerel at The Bell, Bath.

Swindon Recital Series at Swindon Arts Centre.

Bridget Christieโ€™s 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.

Abigailโ€™s 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.

Thatโ€™s all folks, but itโ€™s early days for September, and there is lots more to come!! Let the sunshineโ€ฆ..but do check in on our event calendar too, as updates will be on there, not here, this is just a guide.

Trending….

The Next Season at the Wharf Theatre

Featured image byย Chris Watkins Autumn, finish your ice lolly, as we need to to start thinking about it! Our wonderful, one and only, theatre inโ€ฆ

A Perfect Picnic in the Park

A perfect sunny(ish) Sunday at Hillworth Park in Devizes, if not to overcome one’s fear of public speaking while dressed in a giraffe onesie andโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 30th August – 5th September 2023

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; hereโ€™s a roundup of events this coming weekโ€ฆ..

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:

Thereโ€™s 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:

Thereโ€™s an Open Mic at the Barge on Honey Street.

Too Complicated at The Wellington, Marlborough.

Letโ€™s 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 Beerโ€™s 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, itโ€™s Devizes Carnival: The parade departs from the Green at 5:45pm, with an environmental theme.

Julien Biddulphโ€™s trio, Work Experience debut at the The Southgate, thereโ€™s karaoke at The Three Crowns, and a Carnival Disco Party at the Pelican.

Swindonโ€™s 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 Oโ€™Toole from 10pm.  

Trash Panda plays Great Bedwyn Cricket Club.

And itโ€™s 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 Yanniโ€™s 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.

Swindonโ€™s 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 Maryโ€™s 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.

Thatโ€™s all folks, but itโ€™s 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!

Trending…..

The Pleasure was all Minety!

Broke my Minety Music Festival cherry, and it was gurt lush! When it comes to live music and festivals, I initially set a high bar.โ€ฆ

DOCA Picnicing in the Park!

With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Park nextโ€ฆ

Michelle Gonelan Makes History

Last political rant from me for a while, given all that happened today, pinky promise! Hitler shot himself, then, as requested, he was doused inโ€ฆ

MantonFest Magic, Again

With the danceable penultimate act attracting a packed crowd, I observed a young teenager, who, on spotting a disregarded beer bottle, picked it up andโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Ruzz Guitar’s Blues Revue & The Mike Eldred Trio

Ah, I reckon weโ€™ve had Ruzz and the Revue up here for song of the week more than once before, but hereโ€™s a decidedly syncopated five-accent hambone rhythm of Bo Diddley beat the like youโ€™ve never heard him play beforeโ€ฆ.at least Iโ€™ve not! Must be their recent US tour rubbing off, all that playing in the desert malarkey!

Hailing from LA, The Mike Eldred trio consists of Mike on guitar and vocals, Chris Smith on bass and drummer Brian Fahey. Casting a spell alright!

Find Ruzz doing his birthday show at the Cheese & Grain, Frome on 10th February, but if you can’t wait that long, how’s about The Southgate, Devizes, where the Ruzz Guitar Trio will be there to entertain you on the big bank holibobs, Saturday 26th August….yes, that is a fortnight away!

Trending….

Devizes Arts Festival Rules, OK?!

Alas, it’s been a long week since the Devizes Arts Festival called time. It feels a little like when my Dad would take the Christmasโ€ฆ

When William the Conqueror Came to Marlborough

By Florence Lee

William the Conqueror might not be a band known by everyone, but quite simply should be. With Ruarri Joseph on vocals and guitar, Naomi Holmes on bass and vocals and Harry Harding on drums and vocals, their heavenly harmonies, beautiful music and captivating performance quite literally conquered all expectations the audience walked in with….

Their newly released album โ€˜Excuse Me Whilst I Vanishโ€™ was mixed by Barney Barnicott (Arctic Monkeys, Stereophonics, Sam Fender) and recorded on vintage equipment to create a sound unlike other Indie Rock artists. Their idiomatic approach to music is refreshing to your ears, especially when being played in the beautiful venue of St Peters’ Church in Marlborough.

It is obvious to see that all band members are and have been friends for a very long time by the ease in their music and performance, but it also clear to see the individual influence on certain songs and performances. With influence coming from all over the music industry, their albums take on a sound unlike others. Mixing blues, folk, punk and groove music hints to artists like Saint Etienne or Joe Bonamassa. Personally, I think the vocals sounds like a slow Antony Kiedis song.

Thanks to Sound Knowledge, I was lucky enough to be able to interview these talented musicians. Read below:

Why are you called William the Conqueror?

โ€˜A combination of being supremely confident and stupid. Sort of what I was like as a child โ€“ so it just to represent that youthful confidence with also youthful idiocy. I was very brave calling us William the Conqueror, but very stupid as well.โ€™

How and why did you come together as a band?

โ€˜That was quite a natural thing that happened. We were all in Cornwall at the same time. We sort of met each other on the Cornish music scene many years ago and started playing together. It was all quite natural. Kind of accidental. Started playing together and then it just became a band โ€“ It is the best way.โ€™

How do you go about writing you music and do you have any tips?

โ€˜Just always have a pen in your hand; you donโ€™t know when some idea might come to you. Late at night generally, on my own with nobody interrupting me. Tired and about to go to bed and suddenly an idea will come and I will stay up for the night. Though, they are usually finished in a soundcheck.โ€™

Where does your inspiration come from?

โ€˜All over. No one place. We are like a Frankenstein band. Naomiโ€™s comes from a kind of disco, groove background. Harry more like funk and soul, mine some blues and folk. We try to chuck it all in and see what happens.โ€™

How did each of you get into music?

โ€˜Just listening. I have always just loved it since I was small. You just react to music and have a love for it. It just takes you over and consumes you and before you know it, you are doing this.โ€™

โ€˜I donโ€™t ever remember thinking โ€˜right I am going to become a musician.โ€™ If you are passionate about it, it just happens.โ€™

If you could play with one band or artist who would it be?

โ€˜Tom Waits โ€“ I would love to play with Tom Waits.โ€™

โ€˜I would like to just be friends with a lot of people. I am not sure I would love to play with them as it would be a bit terrifying. Being around that process would be very interesting, you would learn so much. But I would just sit behind them and worry the whole time.โ€™

One for the drummers: What drum sticks do you use? [Editor’s note: essential question from our wonderful new writer, Florence is drummer for local upcoming band Paradigm – so please, shower their insta with follows!]

โ€˜Well, I use 7aโ€™s, because they are lighter and you can then play light. I like 5aโ€™s because they are a bit more like explosion sounds. I donโ€™t ever use nilon tips, I only use wooden tips because I prefer the sound. Anything I like the feel of really. I use Vic Firth a lot. Tonight I used Vaterโ€™s.โ€™

Thank you very much Sound Knowledge to let me meet these incredible artists,

Florence.

Forthcoming Events and InStores at Sound Knowledge:

Sunday 22nd October 2023 – BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB @ St. Peter’s Church

Friday 1st September 2023 – HANNAH GEORGAS Instore

Saturday 26th August 2023 – WILLIE J HEALEY Instore

Thursday 17th August 2023 – TOM SPEIGHT Instore

Trending…..

Talk in Code are All In for New Single

Swindon indie pop virtuosos Talk in Code released their brand new single, All In, Yesterday, via Regent Street Records. And We. Love. Talk in Codeโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 2nd – 8th August 2023

August already, Christmas before you know it. I bet youโ€™ve done your Christmas shopping already, havenโ€™t you?! Me? I canโ€™t remember what I had for dinner yesterday. But I do have whatโ€™s happening across wonderful Wiltshire this coming week, and here it isโ€ฆ..

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.

Wednesday 2nd:

The regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Blackberry Wood at The Bell, Bath.

Thursday 3rd:

It is the annual Lawrence Art Society Exhibition at Devizes Town Hall, and congratulations to them, for it is their 70th year. Running until Saturday 5th August.

Emergency Awareness Training from Wiltshire Air Ambulance at Hillworth Park, Devizes.

Wilderness Festival near Chipping Norton opens, likewise does the Outcider Festival near Bristol.

Friday 4th:

Sound Affects are at The Pelican, Devizes.

Open Mic at the Barge, Honey Street.

Post 12 at the Queenโ€™s Tap, Swindon.

A paw-fect open-air theatre show for all the family, Dr Dolittle is at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, followed by The Great Gatsby in the evening.

Whitesnake UK is at The Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 5th:

Curious Kids at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes

Womenโ€™s World Cup โ€“ Girls Football Tournament at Wiltshire FA Green Lane, Devizes

6 Oโ€™clock Circus at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Chaz Thorogood Trio at The Southgate, Devizes.

People Like Us at The Lamb, Marlborough.

Cooperโ€™s Creek at the Crown, Aldbourne.

Jive Talkin Perform The Bee-Gees at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week, The Embrace All Festival at Old Town Bowl, Swindon, a festival open to all, but designed especially for people with disabilities. See the poster, previewed HERE, theyโ€™ve got some great acts and wow, it is such a wonderful idea too!

Rotten Aces at Queenโ€™s Tap, Swindon.

Fall From Ruin plus Our Last Goodbye at  the New Inn, Stratton, Swindon.

Rave Against The Regime at the Woodland Edge, Swindon.

The Dung Beatles at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Sunday 6th:

Jon Amor Trio at The Southgate, Devizes

Flats & Sharps at The Bell, Bath.

Courting Ghosts at The Electric Bar, Bath.

Monday 7th:

Devising Drama workshop at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, and a Rock The Tots Summer Party too!

Summer at Queenโ€™s Park, Swindon has The Jabberwocky & Other Nonsense! From 2:00 pm โ€“ 4:00 pm.

Lady Noir at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 8th:

Fidgety Feet Dance & Drama at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Robin Hood at Old Town Bowl, Swindon.

The Kim Cypher Quartet are atJazz Knights in The Royal Oak, Swindon.

And thatโ€™s all I have so far, folks, but more will be added to the calendar throughout the week, Iโ€™m sure; have a great week!

Trending…..

Simply the Best, CrownFest!

If last year I trundled off the 49 at Bishops Cannings in a blazing heatwave alone, this time things were different; the bus was heaving with revellers, mostly unprepared for the torrential rain forecast, enough to warrant me query out loud if anyone onboard wasnโ€™t going to CrownFest, and if not, did they have a pac-a-mac I could borrow?!

Attendance figures made for a vast improvement to last yearโ€™s inaugural festival at this wonderful village watering hole, which although was a thoroughly smashing occasion, due to a date clash with Devizes carnival could have been better attended. In fact, the unavoidably unpredictable British summer time climate could possibly be my only whinge this time around, as the rationale maintained “might as well make the most of it,โ€ rang through the beer garden of the Crown, and everyone, it seemed, had a fantastic time.

And to add importantly, downpours were sporadic and at better times the sun poked his head around the gloomy clouds to say hi. Dapper in country attire, Capโ€™n Rastyโ€™s Skiffle City Rockers were already underway, with highly entertaining skiffle variations of classic pop covers, a few traditional folk singalongs thrown in for authenticity. New to me this one, they were utterly proficient with an air of timeless cool.

Nonchalant was the vibe in general, though, in the face of adversity; a possible landslide to the next village, or trench-foot at the very least. Lesser in sidestalls, perhaps due to the forecast, the arrangement of tables and chairs which last year caused an elongated divide between the stage and bar had been realigned and by design everything was tickety-boo.

But it has to be awarded, the medal of honour for service and total dedication to the cause, to all the young staff at the Crown who worked tirelessly under mounting pressure to serve everyone their poison and tucker with a smile. Basically, gen z staff retained decorum, ironed every trivial issue, and restlessly served their elders, generation x, who generally fell drunkenly into marshland and partied like they were sixteen again and never saw Abba or Tina Turner!

And for want of a better nutshell there it is. Anyone there, lucky enough to have seen the originals of any of these triple billed tribute acts in their prime, would’ve been in the minority, for all intents and purposes, I couldn’t pick a more skilled one between them. This retrospective appeal is why tribute acts are a welcomed trend, and after every new one I witness I’m convinced of their worth and place in live entertainment that bit more.

If three succeeding tributes was a good move by music organiser Tunnel Rat Studio’s Eddie Prestidge, I call allowing all acts an extended ninety minute set a risk which also paid off. Band changes were fewer and swiftly operated; birthday boy Fantasy Radio DJ Marc Anthony was there anyway.

Personal favourite goes without saying, taking the finale, The Marley Experience was everything I could have wanted and more, truly a dedicated and precise homage to Bob Marley and the Wailers of the highest quality and sublimely executed entertainment. They marched through the classic discography, and saved time for a few lesser known tracks, like Soul Rebel. I know my reggae, and this was irie dread-I to the highest heights.

On the other hand, despite Abba not being my cuppa, I was converted by the Abba All Stars even in the most torrential section of the day; imagining how beguiling the Swedish innovators of pop would have been in their heyday was made easy with these confident young band looking and sounding every bit the partโ€ฆWaterloo, or portaloo, it didn’t matter now, we were soaked to the skin, and we didn’t care, and this was mostly thankful to the Abba All Stars. Quote me on this at your own risk, as it’s something I’d never thought I’d say; “I loved this Abba tribute!”

Nestled between though was my most negative preconception, having seen in the past the kind of Tina Turner tribute to put you off of Tina Turner tributes for life, and forgoing the wealth and power of a voice like Tina’s is near impossible to effectively pull off, but Kinisha Morgan-Williams did, with bells on. The Tina Turner tribute known as Simply the Best was indeed as advertised. It was nothing short of phenomenally accurate, even on those soulful ballads, Kinisha absolutely rinsed it and wowed the crowd. Particularly memorable was Kinisha’s Nutbush duet with Eddy Armani; what a dynamic show blessed in realism and excitement.

But, simply the best part of CrownFest was this insatiably friendly festive vibe with an air of enthusiasm and unification from staff, volunteers, punters to performers there was the underlying notion this is the start of an annual landmark in local feelgood festivals in which the villagers welcome revellers and assign themselves to good times. After the success of this weekend, we hope CrownFest will continue; you should consider yourself extremely unfortunate if you miss next year’s.

The sum of all these parts meant CrownFest was nothing short of the kind of superb spirit drizzle couldn’t dampen. Though if locally sourced acts were shorter in billing, those Junkyard Dogs can bark up enough wattage for three bands, with their irresistible electric blues covers. Oh yes, the Dogs did their thing and rocked the show prior to this plethora of tributes and is always an unmissable hoedown. Leon Daye Band unfortunately I arrived too late for, could still taste the toothpaste, soz.

Time to summarise, if I have to accept it’s all over for another year. On our doorstep, a small pub-run festival only in its second year which packs far more punch than this definition, and far beyond the average of its kind. We could debate musically it’s geared towards generation x, against the notion the eighties produced timeless acts legendarily to all, but as, proudly, I’m of that era, CrownFest 2023 was an awesome all-rounder, with or without an umbrella.

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Lady Nade at Devizes Arts Festival

If the opening Friday evening of Devizes Arts Festival was amazing for lively pirate-punk craziness, Saturday night was too for precisely opposite reasons. Bristol’s soulstressโ€ฆ

LilyPetals Debut EP

One of many young indie bands which impressed me at Bradford Roots Festival, and proof thereโ€™s more than the name suggests at The Wiltshire Musicโ€ฆ

Courting Ghosts Debut Album: Falling My Friend

Images used with kind permission of Pacific Curd Photography West Wilts and Somerset folk-rock collective Courting Ghosts are about to release their debut album, Fallingโ€ฆ

Onika Venus is Back with a Midnight Remedy

Unbelievably two years have nearly passed since Onika Venus gave me a convenient excuse to poke my nose into what Sheer’s Kieran was doing up at Trowbridge Town Hall. Billed as reggae, arm twisted, I took a listen to the debut album, and have been infatuated since; now, we have a follow-upโ€ฆ..

Because while the term roots is bounded around within reggae music, progression never levels, and retrospection rarely arises, save perhaps within the skinhead/scooter culture. Contemporary reggae strives forward endlessly, millennial slackness dancehall has waned to charter a reunion with RnB, and this is where Onika fills a gap on the UK scene.

Onika Venus at Trowbridge Town Hall 2021

But there was more in the melting pot than met the eye, yes, Onika has a sublime voice, rich with Jamaican heritage, but her marriage to Mark, with a penchant for Americana roots meant the debut album, Everything You Are, stretched back into an association with country music not seen since roots reggae days of yore. Though the album is best described as experimental as opposed to retrospective. Still, those tracks serving a Jamaican offbeat were likely the most memorable.

So, I’m content the follow-up Midnight Remedy, released today (7th July) bursts straight into a reggae riff. Turn it Up is bold and brassy, this element breathing a subtle nod to rock steady. Thumbs up so far for pulling off the tricky sequel, for if it rides this train it wouldnโ€™t be a bad thing.

This rock steady riff does continue for the following tune, Who’s Sleeping in my Bed? Topically, it reminds me of the Dawn Penn classic Are You There? With an air of “nah fuss” jollity within it, this is best classed as sunshine reggae; if someone else is sleeping in her bed, she’s not going to let it rain on her parade.

With a broken love theme, Faded Rose still rides a more tenuous offbeat, but this cleverly placed RnB element, which we saw in the debut album, comes back into play and we’re off, stirring the melting pot, equally as refined as the debut album.

Not long to wait to return to rock steady, though with a chatty dancehall vocal placement, and a one drop riddim, the title track Midnight Remedy, chants on the groove, probably the most beguiling yet, especially when that hammond organ plays it to fade; boss reggae gets some attention and I’m smitten.

Heart in a Bubble carries on from the good work of Midnight Remedy, blossoming romance is a tried and tested subject for the rock steady style, arguably the most creative period of the Jamaican recording industry, and this salutes such output.

Gravity, though, is the most experimental yet. Blues by any criticโ€™s pigeonhole, in mood and sound, offering a welcomed darker side to Onika. The offbeat returns for a topically rainy day blues again with Teardrops, only to be proceeded with Something’s Gonna Break, a ballad with a fair slice of eighties-fashioned stanzas, and sax solo. Save Whitney, vocally superior, though, to said pop hits, this drifts along sublimely.

There’s pressures of lockdown themes, with electronica undertones in an eighties soundclash style, but retaining the silkiness of Onika’s house style, followed by a chugging train-themed soul smoothie, aptly Runaway Train. And the finale sees us back with these hints of eighties power ballad again, but whatever the flava, this is one absolutely beautiful album, soulful and uplifting throughout, truly a welcome return for Onika and her proficient band; melancholic when required, bouncy and joyful otherwise, but always wrapped in this most wonderous rich voice it couldn’t be anything less than a winner!

Trending…..

Poppy Rose, Ready Nowโ€ฆ.

Not being able to hold a note myself, I tip my hat to any musician in a band. Yet thereโ€™s something so much more valiant,โ€ฆ

No Need for Medicine Men – Elles Bailey Will Lift Your Spirit

Elles Bailey at The Corn Exchange, Devizes; part of Devizes Arts Festival.

By Ben Niamor. Images by Andy Fawthropย 

Elles Bailey made a welcomed return to Devizes this week, her sixth appearance in town by my count since local luthier and at that time promoter Mirko Pangrazzi booked this emerging talent some years ago now. Elles was great then, but has grown hugely as an artist, partly through being so fiercely independent and keeping things on her own termsโ€ฆ..ย 

This visit for the Arts Festival saw an appreciative crowd, many enjoying Elles live for the first time, packed into a blissfully air conditioned Corn Exchange on blisteringly hot summer school night. 

A multiple award winning artist, Elles always surrounds herself with the finest musicians in one of the hardest working live touring bands in the genre.Among them Joe Wilkins, on guitar, a long time friend and collaborator, co-writing with Elles on tracks like Riding Out the Storm in the set here. The wealth of touring translates into a cohesive, relaxed band supporting Ellesโ€™ trademark stage presence and flare. 

A great mix of songs in this set from across her albums and some heartfelt selections of covers from her inspirations. Mixing Muscle Shoals, Medicine Man, Whatโ€™s the Matter With You and more with her fantastic song writing, with covers of some of the incredible characters of her inspiration, such as Levon Helms – When I Go Away (particularly well suited to Ellesโ€™ distinctive vocal sound if you listen to the original). 

For me personally, a sensational cover of Creedence Clearwater Revivalโ€™s – Long as I Can See the Light. Ellesโ€™ explained she cannot remember a time in her life when she didnโ€™t know and love their music, fuelled just, as in my case, by an upbringing with a father whoโ€™s huge record collection was full of these kinds of incredible records. Truly made the hair on my neck stand up to hear her belt this out, sublime. 

In penning Cheats and Liars, a song about and fuelled by the rage at our so-called chancellor of the time, back in the COVID darkness of October 2020โ€ฆ when asked what struggling people in arts and music occupations should do? He quipped โ€˜they should retrain and find other jobsโ€™. Thank you for the excellent song that prompted Mr Sunak. 

Thankfully, lovers of arts and music like myself were worrying that might actually happen through necessity to some degree, at the time buying merch, etc. If we were in a better position and talking to artists etc, letting them know they were loved and supported and meant so much to us.. I had pushed much of this to the back of my mind as we got back to gigs etc. and thankfully lost very little of what I feared, the scenes coming back to life as they did in the end.

I am hard pushed to think of a better example of a journey followed, for many in the audience have been on the journey with Elles, and many others and look forward to a lifetime of continuing to do so.  A good artist can do that, remind us of bad times and lift us into good times.

You will have probably realised already I am something of a fan, a true lady of the blues and one so connected with her fans how could you not?!

Thank you Elles and band, and the wonderful arts festival for putting this superb gig on, in walking distance for us. 

We are lucky to call this place homeโ€ฆ..

Elles Bailey Website

Song of the Week: Ruzz Guitar Blues Revue

Showing off in the desert, we love Ruzz Guitar and his Blues Revue, and being we haven’t done our midweek feature song of the week this week, wowzers, here goes…..Ruzz, still in Palm Springs!

While I’m still at one thousand feet from the fact they came to my 50th birthday party at the Three Crowns, and I’ve barely made it to Lidl since, Ruzz Guitar, so good they named the guitar after him, and his Blues Revue have been touring the USA, and have drifted this absolute desert scorcher to us, 10-31.

Get in! Photobomb opportunity too good to miss. Ruzz Guitar Trio at the best birthday party EVER! And I hadn’t touched a drop, officer!

The track features the amazing Chris Smith on bass and Brian Fahey on drums, and is a sneak peak at a new album that’s currently being worked on, due early 2024; amazing, exciting and I hope the tour is going well, Ruzz, but all I keep thinking is “y’all come back now ya hear!”

Trending…..

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 7th – 13th June 2023

Trouble, troublemaker, yeah, thatโ€™s 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; hereโ€™s the lowdown on everything weโ€™ve found to be doing around these backwaters this coming weekโ€ฆ.

Donโ€™t forget thereโ€™s more info on these, ticket links and irregular updates on our sparkly Event Calendar, so plan ahead. But this week we haveโ€ฆdrum rollโ€ฆ..

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 Brownโ€™s Little Big Band, running until Saturday 10th.

Also running until the 10th, The Marlborough Players Presents Ian Hislop & Nick Newmanโ€™s 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 Fletcherโ€™s The Doctor Will See You Now is at The Wyvern Theatre.

Comedy Drag Bingo with Charlie Hides from Ru Paulโ€™s 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 Cremonaโ€™s 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. Thereโ€™s 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.

Itโ€™s 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 Clubโ€™s annual car show and fun day at Devizes Green. Devizes Arts Festival, Festival Walk โ€“ Wansdyke Wanderings. Briefing at 10.20am. Thereโ€™s 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 Berryโ€™s 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 BBCโ€™s 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 Festivalโ€™s Lois Pryce: Revolutionary Ride โ€“ One Womanโ€™s 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.

Thatโ€™s all I got for you, trouble, troublemaker. I know youโ€™re no good, but youโ€™re 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.

Trending….

A View to a Thrill

“The Thrill of Love” at the Wharf Theatre by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Media Just over a year ago, the Wharf theatre performed aโ€ฆ

Ajay Srivastav at Devizes Arts Festivalย 

“Do you know of anyone else doing something similar to what you’re doing?” I asked him as he crouched by the Cellar Bar’s vinyl banner, packing his resonator back into the guitar case.

He looked over his shoulder in contemplation and shook his head, “no.”

To think the only thing unusual this day and age about this is that I hinted there was live music Sunday evening at Devizes’ Cellar Bar, I’d say you’ve a point. The new owners of The Bear Hotel have yet to utilise the Cellar Bar to its former glory. Their prerogative, we can only encourage, being speculative articles published about the slight possibility the bar might reopen as a music venue tends to gain monumental attention, that the venue is clearly cherished by the natives, therefore it would surely be in their best interests.

It wouldn’t help my case much either if I told you the musician is a bluesman, as many a bluesman has graced our town. We could coin it, “The Mel Bush effect,” the influence of bringing big names to the Corn Exchange in the seventies gained Devizes a blues reputation and inspiring homegrown talent from The Hoax’s Robin Davey, Jon Amor, Doherty brothers, Innes Sibun, et al.

But there is something distinctively unique about this bluesman, Ajay Srivastav. With Indian heritage and Hindu faith he incorporates into his sound, writing and ethos, while still not definable as all-out bhangra akin to sitar virtuoso Ravi Shanker,  a dash of its spices are generously added to his melting pot; the main ingredient being delta blues. The result is something wonderful and uncomparable; the Devizes Arts Festival fringe event I’ve been holding out for.

The performance, in a word, was sublime. With a rich voice, Ajay sure knows how to handle that guitar, and was joined by proficient tabla player, Vinod Kerai, injecting the Eastern influence into these devine self-penned songs. Geniusly awash with thought-provoking prose and backed with verbal explanations, the delivery reflected the skill of Paul Simon, archetypal blues subject matter, of life lessons, contemplating intrapersonal and relationships, yet subtly incorporating Hindu ideology, even mythology, and still reflecting more generally so all could relate. For example, Ajay not only had teaching of Itihasa and Vedas, but even contrasted the fable of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads with the order from chaos of Maa Saraswati, Hindu goddess of education, creativity, and music. This said, a majority of thought applied here was of his own observations and musings, which was earnest when it needed to be, and amusing equally.

Far from this feeling rather preachy, it was presented in such a charismatic and western manner. It was casual yet informative, gracing the songs with context. The songs were constructed with love and attention to detail, so none stood out rather a gentle flow throughout which with squinted eyes took me on its desired journey. So some tunes summed his angle, Karmic Blues, others like Between the Cracks were personal reflections of fitting into society’s pigeonholes, and by the finale the pace picked up, replacing the contemplative for slightly more lighthearted content, like a romanticised devotion to Vasudhara called Six Arm Goddess.

If second generation Asians in dance music culture, like Asian Dub Foundation, Apache Indian and my personal favourite, Black Star Liner, have borrowed extensively from their roots, musically,  dance music is, in general, not the genre for placing your thoughts, and in this Ajay Srivastav is the whole deal, exceptionally unique and put simply, a delight to listen to. 

The Devizes Arts Festival continues. Our team are out there assessing its progress, but as lover of world music equally in key with our homegrown fashions, this topped both and now I fear I might struggle to find something to better it; time will tellโ€ฆ.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 31st May –ย  6th June 2023

Moving swiftly into June, with bank hols and street festival done and dusted in Devizes town, this weekend is all about arts and organs; let’s see what’s going down in our hood over the next week shall we?

Bearing in mind, this list is never comprehensive and events will come to our attention  throughout the week, which is why you need to check in with our updating event calendar HERE, to get ahead of the game and also for more info and links.

Ongoing: Hail the Curious at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham. Do check this out, previewed here.

Wednesday 31st:

The regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes; bring your instrument.

Seas of Mirth at The Bell Inn, Bath and The Rabbitts at Chapel Arts, and Jack & Jordan’s Sketch Show is at the Rondo Theatre.

Zoo Co: Bossy at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Thursday 1st:

Another fabulous booking at The Tuppenny in Swindon where The Blue Highways go back-to-back with one our favourites, Concrete Prairie. Alternatively, Swindon’s mind-blowing guitar virtuoso, Webb is at the Vic, with Them Bloody Kids and Land Captains, which you can also catch at the Pump in Trowbridge on Friday. TJ Klune is in conversation with Bertโ€™s Books at Swindon Arts Centre.

David Gibbs-Family-Jukebox at Pound Arts, Corsham.

SuRieโ€™s Cover Me tour comes to Chapel Arts, Milo Edwards is at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Friday 2nd:

The popular open mic night at the Exchange in Devizes, plus it is time for Devizes Arts Festival to open its doors; our editor’s pick of the week. Running until 17th June, today starts off with An Evening of Tango Calor, 8pm at the Assembly Room of the Town Hall. Tickets are ยฃ12, Tango Calor is one of the most exciting tango bands performing in the UK. The trio was started by bandoneon player Mirek Salmon in Bristol in 2016 with jazz pianist and film composer Daan Temmink and Cuban vocal sensation Indira Roman.

Tom Davies & the Bluebirds pull into the Barge on HoneyStreet. As I said Webb is with Them Bloody Kids at the Pump, Trowbridge. Find Illingworth at Brown Street, Salisbury.

Jack Macโ€™s Funk Pac at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon; love the name! Will Dugganโ€™s Iceberg comes to the Rondo Theatre, Bath, while Chapel Arts has Cool Britannia – a ride through the swinging sixties.

Find Cooper’s Creek at The Queens Tap, Swindon, and Enjoy the Silence UK at the Vic.

Saturday 3rd:

Itโ€™s the annual Southern Organ Festival on the Green, Devizes on Saturday and Sunday, and Canon House have a summer fete.

Devizes Arts Festival presents polar adventurer and motivational speaker Sue Stockdale โ€“ A Life of Adventure, 1pm at St John’s Church, and An Evening with Sir Willard White with the Kymaera Duo at the Corn Exchange at 8pm; one of the best-loved and most versatile opera stars of the last 40 years, Sir Willard Whiteโ€™s illustrious career has taken him to the most prestigious opera houses and concert halls throughout the world.

People Like Us are at The Three Crowns, and the 41 Fords at The Southgate; spoiled or choice again Devizes!

The Boot Hill All Stars play The Barge, Honey-Street, Static Moves are The Bear, Marlborough, with Barrelhouse at The Lamb, and the Elcot Festival at Marlborough Town FC.

Great Free Live Music Festival at Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, with Concrete Prairie and others, see the poster below. LP Swing Orchestraโ€™s 100 Years of Big Band at Wiltshire Music Centre, and Mikey Ace & The Wild Cards in the evening.

Patrick Duff at Rondo Theatre, Bath, The Fleetwood Mac Songbook at Chapel Arts, and Roots Reggae Culture night at the Weston Hub.

Wilkes Academy Under 16s at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, We Are What We Overcome at Swindon Arts Centre. Old Friends play the Woodlands Edge, Shepherd’s Pie at The Queens Tap, and Midlife Krisis have Diversify 23 at The Vic; rave on.

Picnic the Park at Alderbury in Salisbury, with Train to Skaville headlining.

Sunday 4th:

Devizes Arts Festival have a Festival Walk across Roundway Down, and two free fringe events, Texas Tick Fever, 2pm at Three Crowns, and one Iโ€™m looking forward to, Ajay Srivastav, 7pm at the Cellar Bar, of the Bear Hotel.

Having said this, itโ€™s also time for the Jon Amor Trio โ€˜s monthly residency at The Southgate, and heโ€™s doubling up the guestlist this time around.

It is Calne Pride and Castlefields Park, and a Cherished Vehicle and Family Fun Day, from 11am in the fields at Meadow Farm Nurseries, Langley Burrell, Chippenham.

Kavus Torabi at The Vic, Swindon, with The Blackheart Orchestra at Swindon Arts Centre.

Monday 5th:

Devizes Arts Festival presents Graham Short: My life as a Micro-Artist, 8pm at the Assembly Room. Graham Short is the world’s most talented living micro-artist. His pieces take between three and nine months to make, and the work is so tiny, itโ€™s indiscernible to the naked eye.

The Longplayer Monthly Album Listening Club at The Vic, Swindon.

Airbourne at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Tuesday 6th:

Devizes Arts Festival presents Onarole Theatre: Jesus, My Boy! 8pm at the Merchant Suite, Corn Exchange. This is the story of Jesus seen through the eyes of Joseph, an ordinary and down-to-earth man, dismayed about how his image is later portrayed in Christian art work! Both humorous and moving, it is a beautifully-written one-man one-act play originally performed by Tom Conti.

We have weeks of Devizes Arts Festival, so please take a look at our calendar where itโ€™s all listed, and/or their website, and get ahead of the game, some great stuff on offer there. 

What with Pride Month and just well, well, being June, we are going to be busy but will try to keep up with all thatโ€™s going on. If you can help pen a preview of review of something, please do, thanks and have a great week!

Trending……

Kyla Brox; Throw Away your Blues

By Ben Niamorย 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Superb musicians all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Mic night at the Barge on Honey Street.

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

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

Sour Apple at The Kings Arms, Amesbury.

Blues Jam at The Vic, Swindon.

Magpie Market at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

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

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

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

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

Trending…..

The Tap at The Peppermill to Host Open Mic

Two local musicians have joined forces as Nightingale Sounds to host their first Open Mic Night at the new Tap at the Peppermill in Devizesโ€ฆ.โ€ฆ

The Wiltshire Gothic; Deadlight Dance

With howling, coarse baritones Nick Fletcher, the main vocalist of Marlboroughโ€™s gothic duo, Deadlight Dance chants, โ€œhere comes the rain, and I love the rain,โ€ฆ

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

A Trip To New Jersey

Andy Fawthrop


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trending….

The Drum n Bass Huntr/s of Old Devizes Town

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Like a Fine Wine; Jon Amor’s Southgate Residency

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

41 Fords are Not Dead Yet!

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

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

coincidently, wristbands have just gone on sale for this!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Little Women runs at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sour Apple play The New Inn in Winterbourne Monkton.

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

The Beggar’s Bash at Salisbury Rugby Club.

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

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

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

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

Blue Moon Band at the Wheatsheaf in Chippenham.

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

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

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

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

Monday 10th I got nothing, yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sour Apple play The Castle & Ball in Marlborough.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sour Apple are at The Rose & Crown, Warminster.

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

Long For the Coast at Chapel Arts in Bath.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Date Set for Devizes Pride

Hear ye, oh, hear ye, with much yet to plan for the event, we’re pleased to announce the date of Saturday June 29th has beenโ€ฆ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ignore the date here, it is on Saturday!

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

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

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

Find the wonderful Kirsty Clinch at Suave in Westbury.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ruth Blake plays The Bell in Bath.

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 15th- 21st March 2023

Windy but warm, no, not me, the weather, I mind my manners, I thank you! Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s going down this coming week across our green and (mostly) pleasant landโ€ฆ…

You should know the score by now, adding links here, ainโ€™t nobody got time fer dat! You can find all that, details, links for tickets and stuff over on our main event calendar, and you can use it to plan ahead, good huh?

Wednesday 15th Memory Cinema, wonderful idea, dementia friendly film screenings, at Swindon Arts Centre, this one is Dad’s Army.

New Yorkโ€™s musician and writer Franz Nicolay, member of cabaret-punk orchestra World/Inferno Friendship Society, the Hold Steady, Balkan-jazz quartet Guignol, and co-founder of Anti-Social Music, comes to the Pump, Trowbridge with Aimless Arrows in support.

Acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Original music at The Bell, Bath with world-folk into jazz artist Solana.

Thursday 16th is comedy night at Trowbridgeโ€™s Civic.

Dirty Sound Magnet at The Vic, Swindon, while the The Rosellys play The Tupenny.

Will Page plays Chapel Arts in Bath.

Friday 17th find Sour Apple at the Condado Lounge in Devizes, and The Truzzy Boys play The Bridge Inn, Horton.

Damn! at The Bear in Marlborough, with Al Jenkins at The Green Dragon.

Melksham Assembly Hall prepares for Giants of Rock.

Sound Affects play for St Patrickโ€™s Day at The Talbot in Calne.

Junkyard Dogs at Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Upcoming local punk-based Foxymoron are at the Pump, Trowbridge; you need to see these guys rock, and theyโ€™re with The Easy Peelers and Lonely Daughter. Be Like Will play the West Wilts Conservative Club in Trowbridge.

Hacksaw & Hot Pink Sewage & Altermoderns at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while Karport Collective are at The Boathouse, and Ineza Womenโ€™s Words, Sisters Stories is whatโ€™s in store at Wiltshire Music Centre.

House Above the Sun at Chapel Arts, Bath, and our Full Tone Orchestra are at Bath Abbey Churchyard with Karl Jenkins Adiemus.

The Unravelling Wilburys at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Come What May is the play at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. The Pre-Fab Four Beatles tribute at the Vic.

Saturday 18th is the opportunity for families to see what the fabulous Calne River Warriors get up to, and join in raft making and a woodland hunt, see poster below. In the evening, Six O’clock Circus take over The Rec Club in Calne.

The Hoodoos are at The Southgate, Devizes, with Rev at The Three Crowns, Ben Borrill at The Moonrakers, and Southern Ruin at The Dolphin. Smackdown at The Corn Exchange with CSF Superstar Wrestling, and DJ Flash is in the mix at the Exchange.

Pink Floyd night at The Barge on Honey-Street.

Songwriterโ€™s Circle at the Pump in Trowbridge provides us with Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week; with Annie Dresser, Lucy Grubb, Dan Wilde, and Luke James Williams.

Find Custyard Pye at Stallards, also in Trowbridge.

Orange Skies Theatre offer some riotous, narrative cabaret with Wild Onion at Swindon Arts Centre, while the musical theatre concert tour of Beyond The Barricade is at the Wyvern Theatre.

The awesome Barrelhouse play the Queens Tap in Swindon, Chop Suey bring nu-metal vibes to the Vic.

Some Indian classical music with Pooja Angraโ€™s new project Creative Unity, with vocalist Karan Rana, sitar player Baluji Shrivastav OBE, and tabla player Mitel Purohit, at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Ragged Union play The Three Horseshoes.

Jenny Colquitt plays Chapel Arts in Bath.

Blur tribute Blurd at The Tree House in Frome, with Hayseed Dixie at The Cheese & Grain, and Be Like Will at the Artisan Pub & Kitchen on Christchurch Street.

Sunday 19th sees Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra play Wiltshire Music Centre, in Bradford-on-Avon, and find Bob Bowles at The Three Horseshoes.

The FOS Brothers play The Bell in Bath.

Arch Garrison at The Vic, Swindon.

And a record fair at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 20th and Sue Harding & Gabriel Morenoโ€™s Troubadour Bandits play The Bell in Bath.

Tuesday 21st and the regular spoken-word open-mic Poetika is on at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury, every third Tuesday of the month. This session with guest poet, Claire H has a Through The Looking Glass theme.

Thatโ€™s all folks, but remember do check ahead for those ticketed events, keep on scrollinโ€™ our event calendar and watch out for updates. Have a fantastic weekend. Tell us if we missed anything, it’s free to list here, but you must send me some details, I’m not mystic Meg.

Trending……

Mantonfest 2024

Images: Gail Foster Whilst festivals around us come and go Mantonfest has been a constant of the Wiltshire music calendar since 2009….. The 29thโ€ฆ

The Lost Trades to Release Live Album

To international acclaim on the folk circuit, weโ€™ve loved to follow the progress of the Lost Trades since day dot, when Phil Cooper enthusiasticallyโ€ฆ

The Jon Amor Trioโ€™s Residency at The Southgate Shows No Signs of Letting Up for 2023

Once fed a feeble excuse for not booking a local act on the circuit because they gigged in town so often it was becoming timeworn and monotonous; I wasnโ€™t swallowing the smallest chunk, it smelt sour. This is Devizes and we cherish the dependable, the analogous; itโ€™s not boring, because we know what we like, and we like what we get. Probable the best example I could give happened again this Sunday, and is something which has fast become as traditionally Sunday here as the aroma of roast potatoes. ย ย 

Homegrown blues legend Jon Amor, with the outstanding bassist Jerry Soffe and celestially-sited drummer Tom Gilkes, who make up the other two-thirds of the trio, again took up the monthly residency at Devizes Southgate Inn, and showed no signs of the consistency faulting this coming year.

Erm, not too much to add, only because weโ€™ve covered this regular occurrence often. Andy has reviewed it, and Ian and myself have had our tuppence too, but itโ€™s worthwhile to mention if only to act as a reminder. Yeah, those who know, know, and Iโ€™d go as far to suggest, when Jon labels the event as โ€œJon Amor & Friends,โ€ it extends further than the trio and his guest. So, for others, you do realise youโ€™re seriously missing out, donโ€™t you? Thereโ€™s something so tremendously communal about the experience you could probably wear your slippers to it.

Iโ€™d wager this is how Jon sells it to the regular guest, and Iโ€™ve yet to note one which doesnโ€™t thoroughly relish in the causal, informal demeanour. This last weekend was Brummie guitarist Thomas Atlas, who found it highly amusing the dogs would unperturbedly wander through the musicians as they played. Yet Thomas is as cool as this, cool as a cucumber, making his contribution solid throughout accompanying, and boy, when his time came to lead on a few self-penned songs, it was sublime, as well as locking in anticipation for the occasion he returns to town with a full band at Long Street. Oh, yeah, you need to know; that is on Saturday 25th March.

Yes, through Juggernaut to audience-participating banter, four-to-the-floor improv, and the occasional but amusing timing blunder, it was as it always is, the superb display of delta and Chicago electric blues we love! Donโ€™t take my word for it, Iโ€™ll pop a YouTube link to Richard Whiteโ€™s filming below, and leave you with the desired information, this is a regular feature at the trusty Southgate, who, not content with supplying our Saturday nights in Devizes with an assortment of free live music, adds this cherry to the cake every first Sunday of the month. Youโ€™ve officially been reminded; there is no better way to while away your Sunday in Devizes……

Recent….

Wormwood; Cracked Machineโ€™s New Album

A third instalment of space rock swirls and cosmic heavy duty guitar riffs was unleashed in January from our homegrown purveyors of psychedelia, Cracked Machine.โ€ฆ

The Worried Men Take the Pump

And Morpheus said unto Neo, โ€œunfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.โ€ Funny cos, Iโ€ฆ

Daisy Chapman Took Flight

Okay, so, if I praised the Bradford Roots Festival last weekend and claimed to have had a fantastic time, itโ€™s all as true as Harrisonโ€ฆ

New Nothing Rhymes With Orange Single

Friday is over, I’m a day late to the party, but there’s a new single from Devizes-own Nothing Rhymes With Orange, and you’ve not heardโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 8th โ€“ 14th February 2023

February, not hotting up much temperature-wise, nevertheless plenty of stuff going on across the county and beyond; hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to satisfy your soul this weekโ€ฆ.

You know the score, no links here, find them on our event calendar โ€“ something you need to keep an eye on as it has been known to get updated from time to time! If we missed anything you told me about, I apologise, let me know and I can add it. If I missed anything you failed to tell me about, thatโ€™s your own lookout, but still, if youโ€™re nice I might add it, but it will cost you a cupcake.

Letโ€™s not mess about, Wednesday 8th sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes, an over 60s event at The Neeld, Chippenham, Macie J Kulakowski at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Chris McCauslandโ€™s Speaky Blinder at Komedia, Bath, and a folk open mic at Brown Street, Salisbury.

On Thursday 9th we welcome back Devizes Film Club, who are setting up camp at The Wharf Theatre, tickets for the film, Minari have sold out, please note upcoming screenings, here.

Pound Arts in Corsham have a triple bill of folk, Flo Perlin, Daisy Chute and Fern Maddie.

The Tuppenny, Swindon, have one on my hitlist, Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army, with the wonderful Harmony Asia in support.

Phil Beer plays Chapel Arts, Bath, and Terence Blacker presents The Shock of the Old at Rondo Theatre.

Opening night for How The Other Half Loves at Salisbury Playhouse, running until 4th March.

Friday 10th sees the acoustic folk-indie project of now London-based but former Devizes resident Neil Phillimore, Brave New Broken Hearts Club come to St Johns in Devizes for a one-off gig with London folk poet-singer Pearl Fish. Previewed Here.

Upcoming bands battle it out for heat two of Take the Stage 2023 at The Neeld, Chippenham.

The Corsairs play The Bear in Marlborough.

Emily Breeze plays the Pump in Trowbridge for Sheer Music. You need to get in quick on any events at the Pump, they will sell out before you know what’s-what!

Guitar enthusiasts head for Swindon Arts Centre for a show celebrating 50 Years of Fender, while The Shudders play The Vic, with Celtic folkers Liddington Hill and Death is a Girl.

Aaron Azunda Akugbo plays Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Sara Pascoe appears at Bath Forum, while thereโ€™s a free indoor fest at Komedia, featuring Year of the Dog, Nookee, Drop in the Ocean, Ryan Dโ€™Auria and Bohosapiens, and at the Rondo Theatre thereโ€™s a play called Thirst, running over the weekend.

Jolyon Dixson & Steele play The Royal George in Salisbury, Break Cover are at Brown Street, and Jarlath Regan and Garrett Millerickโ€™s Work in Progress at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Henge at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Start your Saturday 11th with some deliberation, as the Devizes Town Council Roadshow meets at The Market Place, 10am-1pm! In the evening, find Ben Borrill at The Three Crowns, and Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate.

Big Mamaโ€™s Banned play the Pilot, Melksham, Be Like Will play The Wiltshire Yeoman in Trowbridge, while The Worried Men are at the Pump.

Dave B & The Bop Wonโ€™t Stop presents The Ultimate Shakinโ€™ Stevens Tribute at Chapel Arts, Bath, and thereโ€™s a West End Winter Show at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

If thatโ€™s not enough difficult decisions already, Don Letts is guest at The Cheese & Grain in Frome, as the Dub Pistols headline.

Find Six Oโ€™clock Circus at The Phoenix in Wotton Bassett, Thickcut play The Swiss Chalet in Swindon, and Bella Notte features Bel Canto, Belle Voci and Bella Musica in an evening of songs from shows and popular music in Everybody Sing at Swindon Arts Centre.

However, Editorโ€™s Pick of Week will see us trek to Swindon, unless a serious hurricane-blizzard-tornado hits, where Adam Ant tribute Ant Trouble play the Vic. If you want a lift from Devizes, give me a shout, but you’ll have to help with my war-paint! Iโ€™ve been looking forward to this for ages, rekindling my youth with some ant music… we are the family!

Sunday 12th sees Bee-Gees tribute Jive Talkin at the Wyvern, while Tom Stade takes The High Road at Swindon Arts Centre.

Phil Cooper is live in Session at The Electric Bar, at Komedia in Bath, while comedian Lloyd Griffithโ€™s One Tonne of Fun play the main hall. Eliza Carthy & The Restitutionโ€™s 30th Anniversary tour comes to the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

On Monday 13th Strictly Come Dancing champion Giovanni Pernice invites you to join him on a journey to his homeland for his production of Made in Italy at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Tuesday 14th sees The Classic Rock Show at the Wyvern, Swindon. Bath Phil & Jeneba Kanneh-Mason at Bath Forum and Future Cavemen at Komedia.

Into The Future…..

Thatโ€™s all for this week folks, should be something to please everyone there, I think, but nothing will beat some kings of the wild frontier in my honest opinion!

Do scroll through the event calendar, some things you should take note of; Devizes Winter of Festival Ales is near-sold out, you best hurry. Seend Community Centre sees it 43rd village pantomime, The Princess & The Frog start on Thursday 16th and runs the Friday and Saturday.

Friday 17th in Frome, though, with birthday boy Ruzz Guitar at The Cheese & Grain, featuring The Real John Lewis and Peter Gage, and over the road, The Lost Trades play The Treehouse; wowzers! Talking of birthdays and Ruzz, don’t forget, Devizes people, not only is Ruzz playing his own birthday, he’s playing mine too! All welcome on March 4th to the Three Crowns where we’ll have a daytime open mic, the fantabulous Talk In Code will playing too and you can laugh at me reaching the half-century mark.

Spoiled for choice in Devizes on Saturday 18th, Thin Lizzy founder and guitarist Eric Bell arrives at Long Street Blues Club, head-to-head with Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, fantastic improv comedy with Instant Wit at The Wharf Theatre; decisions, decisions, but you need to make your mind up and get tickets, though if you fail, Black Nasty is at our trusty Southgate.

Trending….

Learn the Art of Chocolate with HollyChocsย 

Devizes-based chocolate engineer Holly Garner, 2023 Chocolate Champion for the Southwest, has launched her new chocolate classes for the first half of 2024โ€ฆโ€ฆ From learningโ€ฆ

Beating January Blues, Bradford-on-Avon Roots Style

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, Iโ€™ll be glad.

I believe itโ€™s 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. Iโ€™m letting the cat out the bag, you canโ€™t 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 didnโ€™t love, itโ€™d be quicker, but blank! The only way to do this, is to get chronological, but before I do, itโ€™s 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 yearโ€™s 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 โ€˜nโ€™ 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 mayโ€™ve 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 Complicatedโ€™s 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. Didnโ€™t 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 Slimโ€™s Praise You medlied with that Elvis breakbeat rework, wouldnโ€™t fit at a folk festival, they did Bowieโ€™s Letโ€™s 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. Letโ€™s 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, weโ€™re 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 Juliaโ€™s 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.

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Richard Wileman on the Forked Road

Fashionably late for the party, apologies, the fellow Iโ€™m not sure if he minds me calling โ€œthe Mike Oldfield of Swindon,โ€ though itโ€™s meant asโ€ฆ

Lego Club at Devizes Library Announced

Everything is looking awesome at Devizes Library as they announce the Lego Club for six to twelve year olds will begin on Saturday 27th January!โ€ฆ

Rootless; New Single Ushti Baba

Bristolโ€™s fine purveyors of idiosyncratic folk-raving, Ushti Baba, who if youโ€™re in Devizes you might recall played Street Festival in 2022, have a new singleโ€ฆ..โ€ฆ

Timeslips; New Single from Sienna Wileman

With an album review in the pipeline for Dad which includes vocals from Sienna, our Swindon princess of melancholic poignancy has a new single, Timeslipsโ€ฆ..โ€ฆ

Gazelles: Follow-up Album from Billy Green 3

Our favourite loud Brit-popping local Geordie and gang are back with a second album. Theyโ€™re calling it Gazelles, after the previously released single opener Endlessโ€ฆ

The Magic Teapot Gathering

Okay, so there must be a truckload of local social and political ranting to cover, but itโ€™s new yearโ€™s day, Iโ€™m going to waffle aboutโ€ฆ

Devizine Review of 2023

Here we are again with another year under our belts and me trying to best sum it up without restraint; I reserve my right toโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 11th-17th January 2023

Well into new year and things are building up again slowly, letโ€™s have a little looky at whatโ€™s going on locally over this coming week, if you fancy going out to beat the January bluesโ€ฆ.

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 donโ€™t 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. Itโ€™s a tribute to Frankie Howerd, called Howerdโ€™s End.

Staying in Swindon, Canuteโ€™s 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. Editorโ€™s 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 Spitโ€™s 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 Brodkinโ€™s 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 80โ€™s. Obviously, Iโ€™m far too young to remember that!

Oh, and Absolute Bowie at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Saturday 14th and youโ€™ll 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, thereโ€™s 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 Voslooโ€™s Uphill Game play The Bell, Bath.

And Tuesday I got nought, so far, save the first councillorโ€™s 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. Thereโ€™s also The Neeldโ€™s Take The Stage happening next weekend. At the end of the month The Wharf Theatreโ€™s production of Ladies Day, and lots more good, good stuff happening as ever, but youโ€™ll only find them all collated and neatly folded together as one on Devizine!

 Have a great weekend!

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New Single from Billy in the Lowground

The third single from Billy in the Lowground in as many months was released today, they’ve been ploughing their own furrow since 1991, been meaningโ€ฆ

The Closing of Cooper Tyres

By T.B.D and D Rose for Devizine.The author can be reached at housetyg@gmail.com This month the historic Cooper Tires factory in Melksham which began theโ€ฆ

Nothing Rhymes With Orange Storm The Southgate

If The Southgate is Devizesโ€™ finest and most reliable pub music venue, it’s usually favoured by an adult crowd. Yet it’s without doubt that Nothingโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 7th-14th December 2022

Itโ€™s beginning to look a lot likeโ€ฆ. another week in early December; bar humbug! Therefore, hereโ€™s whatโ€™s doing in and around Wiltshire, all of which can be found on our event calendar, with further info and ticket links.….

If we missed your event, did you tell us about it? Itโ€™s free to be listed on Devizine, just drop us a message.

Ongoing, is Sustainable Devizesโ€™ Advent{ure} Reuse Christmas on The Little Green, Devizes, where you can be part of a living Advent Calendar! So many organisations have gathered for this, itโ€™s all very festive, and running until Christmas Eve.

Wednesday 7th is the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes, while White Horse Opera hold their Christmas Concert at St Johnโ€™s.

Thursday 8th, thereโ€™s Craft and Chat at Chippenham Library, and the 14th Annual Pound Arts Open Exhibition at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Find a Vocation Naughty & Nice Drink-a-Long at The Snuffbox, Devizes, Oxbowlake & Shedric play The Tuppenny, Swindon, while Boo Hewerdineโ€™s Understudy Tour happens at Chapel Arts, Bath, with The Wurzelsโ€™ Christmas Tour comes to Komedia.

Friday 9th Southbroom St James Academy in Devizes have a Christmas Fayre from 5-7pm.

Little Red Riding Hood โ€“ The Panto opens at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, running until December 17th, sorry, this has sold out.

Elsewhere in Devizes though, find a Christmas Celebration Concert with Devizes Good Afternoon Choir at St Andrews, and itโ€™s the grand evening for Longcroft Productions with Lachy Doley at The Corn Exchange. Sour Apple play The Three Crowns, and The Muck & Dunder have a Ten Hides Distillery Tasting session.

Sandi Thom plays Pound Arts in Corsham, Courtney Pineโ€™s Spirituality is at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, while Severance plays The Three Horseshoes there. The Super Skas at Chapel Arts, Bath. On my must-see list, Ant Trouble, Adam & His Ants tribute plays The Tree House, Frome.

The Guns & Roses Experience at The Vic, Swindon, while The Britpop Boys takes Level III, Behind Bars at The Rolleston, and the Tuppeny has The Electric Kool-Aid Audio Test. Night one of The Great Gatsby at MECA.

Saturday 10th, regular Lego Club at Chippenham Library from 3-4pm.

Mark Smallman plays The Southgate, Devizes, while Illingworth are at The Crown, Bishops Cannings.

Be Like Will play The Talbot, Calne, while Old Friends are at The Wheatsheaf.

Homer plays The Lamb, Marlborough, while its sound system night at The Barge on Honeystreet, with the Jah Lion Movement Sound System, a fiver on the door.

Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood by The Cabaret Geek at Pound Arts, Corsham, while The Choir of Clare College Cambridge are at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Untamed Burlesque at Chapel Arts, Bath.

While The Great Gatsby continues at MECA in Swindon, ZambaLando are live at Baristocats, and ravers flock to Level III for the Midlife Krisis Crew will be in effect.

Sunday 11th Devizes Town Band have a Christmas Party at The Corn Exchange.

Wiltshire Young Musicians Christmas Festival at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, while Cydernide & Tharsis play The Three Horseshoes.

A Winter Union at Chapel Arts, Bath, and Frome Vegan Fair at the Cheese & Grain.

Monday 12th and Saint Michael and All Angels in Hilperton have a concert; Follow the Star โ€“ Doves Peace Choir & Ebonite. And thereโ€™s the Rock the Tots Christmas Show at Pound Arts, Corsham

Tuesday 13th and find Beer & Carols at The Southgate, Devizes, and some Christmas Memories at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Wednesday 14th regular acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes, a lunchtime harp recital by Lise Vandermissen at Pound Arts, Corsham, and Chuckles Comedy Club at MECA in Swindon.

And thatโ€™s all I got so far, folks, but we do update regularly, so keep one eye on our event calendar. Itโ€™s also good for future planning, just keep on scrollinโ€™, dude!

Things you need to be thinking about for the following weeks ahead: starter for ten, the Butch Hopkins Memorial Gig at The Corn Exchange, Devizes Friday 16th and youโ€™ll be hard pressed for tickets to Bublรฉ at MECA or The Sweet at the Cheese & Grain on that day.

Breathtakingly amazing local soprano Chole Jordanโ€™s Classical Christmas on Saturday 17th at Devizes Town Hall, in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, but Iโ€™m planning be at Marlborough Memorial Hall for MantonFest are having a Christmas party with Barrelhouse and Slade tribute Slyde, and you know itโ€™s not Christmas until Noddy calls it! Do join me for that one.

Have a great weekend but behave; he knows if youโ€™ve been bad or good!

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Waiting for M3Gโ€™s new Single…..

So yeah, I thought Iโ€™d be funny by commenting โ€œcanโ€™t waitโ€ on Chippenhamโ€™s upcoming folk singer-songwriter Megโ€™s Facebook post announcing her latest single, because, youโ€ฆ

Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival

Featured Image: Colin Rayner Photography If Iโ€™ve recently been singing the praises of arts diversity in Bradford-on-Avon, centred around the Wiltshire Music Centre and notโ€ฆ

Viduals Release New Single

Is that ex still playing on your mind? It’s been an age, mate, but no amount of friendsโ€™ attempts to console you will help, orโ€ฆ

12 Bars Later Pop into The Badger Set

Mustโ€™ve been a sweaty August night last year at our trusty Southgate, when I turned up on the off chance, and staggered home mightily impressedโ€ฆ

Bopping Up Alfredโ€™s Tower; A New Chippenham Band Stronghold

See, Iโ€™m not sure olโ€™ Alfred the Great wouldโ€™ve approved of the whopping gurt folly erected in his name near Bruton. He was there to rally Saxon troops for the Battle of Edington, and if youโ€™re planning to go kick some Viking butt you need to be inconspicuous, not have a hundred-and-sixty-foot redbrick tower sticking out like a sore thumb. He might well have liked this though, a new Wiltshire four-piece named after the tower; because good tunes can be a real morale boost when going into battleโ€ฆโ€ฆ

And good tunes they are, though the group cite from Chippenham on their Bandcamp page, substantial mileage from the Stourhead estate where Alfredโ€™s Tower is situated. Perhaps itโ€™s the connotations of Alfred being the founder of English liberty, as these four tracks they sent us have a Brit โ€œmodโ€ tinge, and mods are patriotic at best. I didnโ€™t like to ask, through fear of coming across all history teacher, and Iโ€™m all out of leather elbow patches for my Tweed jacket. The important part is thereโ€™s some beguiling original songs on offer here, uplifting in a manner Paul Weller, at his most optimistic.

Parachute Baby is a prime example, itโ€™s sauntering along on the sunny side of the street of a crazy world, where only the attention of the object of his desires matters to this character, and itโ€™s got that apt harmonica riff to lighten the darkest of moods. Though, if itโ€™s got it, Roy Orbison style, switching to the next tune, Nothing Good and weโ€™re foot-tapping on an offbeat, bouncy one-drop reggae melody, which counteracts the more dejected romantic theme; Iโ€™m smitten.

Though weโ€™re getting ahead of ourselves now, for these two tracks are forthcoming, the first one out around Christmas time and the latter in the new year, but their Bandcamp page has two other songs equally worthy of your attention. This World is their inaugural release, and while uplifting too, itโ€™s tender and mellowed. With a soulful piano intro, itโ€™s certainly anthemic, with an allowance to note the astute writing, and showy in Alfredโ€™s Towerโ€™s potential.

It is however in the amalgamation of all these tunes which displays their diversity, an EP is a necessity, I feel. The second released single, So Long, is soulful again, along similar lines to This World, but balancing a poignant electric blues element, akin to a meld of The Who at their smoothest and Pink Floyd does pop. And perhaps thereโ€™s a clue to the chosen name in this; itโ€™s a tower of variety, influences wise, reaching for the skies in uplifting narratives, strengthened by some skilfully executed original designs. Catchy within a rock classic formula, oh yeah, if this is foundational, the construction of Alfredโ€™s Tower is one to watch. Like โ€˜em up on Facebook for updates on said progress. We NEED to see them live!

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REVIEW โ€“ The Alex Voysey Trio & Hardwicke Circus @ LSBC, Con Club, Devizes โ€“ Saturday 19th November 2022

Double-header, Double the Fun!

by Andy Fawthrop

In yet another busy musical weekend for Devizes, it was hard to choose where to go, with gigs all over the place.ย  A nice problem to have I guess, but on Saturday night I threw my money into the Long Street Blues Club hat to see two bands that were completely new to me.…

First up was the Alex Voysey Trio. Alex had previously played the club back in February as support to Mike Zito.ย  On that occasion he played a solo acoustic set and impressed enough to be invited back with his full trio.ย  Alex has worked as a session and support musician to many big names in the business, and in many musical genres.ย  Heโ€™s a passionate advocate for blues music, and used his trio to great effect here, covering both traditional numbers and to his own modern compositions.

With Paul Arthurs on drums and Ben Hands on bass, Alex hit the stage with a range of snappy and upbeat blues/ rock numbers.  He soon had the crowd on-side, and used the opportunity to mix it up a little with a couple of slower, more laid-back numbers.  His one-hour set was sound, competent and thoroughly professional, featuring some nice flourishes on lead guitar.

The second half featured the first D-town appearance for Carlisle-homed five-piece Hardwicke Circus who, quite rightly it seems to me, are being tipped for big things. They’ve already opened for mega stars such as Bob Dylan at Hyde Park and for Southside Johnny.  Paul McCartney allegedly persuaded Glastonbury festival to get them to play, which they duly did.   And it didnโ€™t take long for everyone last night to see why theyโ€™re so well thought-of.

The band featured Jonny Foster (lead vocals and guitar), Tom Foster (drums and vocals), Joe Hurst (bass and vocals), Lewis Bewley-Taylor (keyboards), Jack Pearce (saxophones).  This combination provided a great solid and multi-dimensional sound.

Theyโ€™re a hard-working, hard-gigging band and it showed.  Theyโ€™re young, sparky, almost punky, occasionally poppy, accompanied by some healthy doses of attitude.  But theyโ€™re very good, and they know it.  Their sound is strong and fresh, and has brought comparisons to all sorts of bands.  For me that included Dexys, Wilko Johnson, Madness, Fratellis โ€“ a little bit of something for everyone.

Straight from the off we knew we were in for a great set.ย  Lots of heft and drive, fast numbers, no messing about.ย  Loads of healthy banter with the crowd, and some well-placed audience participation in some of the choruses (โ€œHands Up, Donโ€™t Shootโ€ springs to mind).ย  There were plenty of good tunes, catchy hooks.ย  No long intros, just plenty of songs packed into their 90-minute set.ย  The crowd absolutely loved it, and an encore was never going to be in doubt.ย  But what an encore! ย The band were joined on stage by Texan Joe King Carrascoa, guitarist and vocalist, and proceeded to deliver a six-song masterclass in how to play a crowd.ย  In among there were a solid rendition of The Bandโ€™s โ€œThe Weightโ€ and a stonking version of Gerry Raffertyโ€™s โ€œBaker Streetโ€.

If the future of music is in the hands of bands like this, we really have nothing to worry about.ย  This was an old-fashioned rock band in very capable young hands.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Friday 23rd December 2022                         Gee Baby I Love You

Friday 13th January 2023                              Chicago Living Legends

Saturday 18th February 2023                       Eric Bell Band

Saturday 1st April 2023                                  Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames

Saturday 15th April 2023                               Billy Walton Band

Saturday 6th May 2023                                  Kyla Brox Band

Saturday 27th May 2023                               Gerry Jablonski Band

Saturday 24th June 2023                               Earl Slick Band

Saturday 28th October 2023                        Susan Santo

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Skanking Up The Muck with The Omega Nebula

What an electric and energetic night of dub-fuelled goodness at the Muck & Dundar in Devizes, with Omega Nebula; I need a historical rewind toโ€ฆ

Wiltshire Music Centre; Proper Job!

Devizes celebrated rum bar, The Muck & Dundar are hosting a dub reggae night with Omega Nebula on Saturday, and received this weekโ€™s prestigious awardโ€ฆ

Snakebite Tune From The Dirty Smooth

Snotty nose, change of weather, otherwise Iโ€™d have dragged my sorry ass down to Underground, formerly Level III in Swindon for last weekendโ€™s Children inโ€ฆ

Review: Is this the Blues? Beaux Gris Gris & the Apocalypse at the Corn Exchange

by Ben Romain and Victoria Stanley

We cannot pretend we didnโ€™t approach this gig with keen anticipation based on previous times this band has graced Devizes with a spot on their tourโ€ฆ…

As ever they did not disappoint; line ups over the years have seen a few faces, but the core of the group, Robin and Greta, steers the band with a note-perfect delivery, showing their experience and musicianship. With a quality band, as always, backing them up, they launch into every song with a knowing smile, many assembled being familiars, the floor is filled with participation, dancing and joining in, especially with crowd pleaser โ€˜donโ€™t let the bastards get you downโ€™; rarely have we seen the roof raised in such style in Devizes.

Is this the Blues? Well yes, the contemplation of both the good, and bad in life in the well-crafted lyrics certainly say so. In its delivery, thereโ€™s showmanship, an ability to hold a crowd, to raise a roof, or usher in near silence at will. We would go with Blues-rock, if pressed for a genre, as itโ€™s accessibility would please the ears of many who would not classify themselves as fans of traditional Blues.

What makes the tangible feeling of a real connection with the band? Perhaps this being Robin Daveyโ€™s hometown? Or his musical journey with game changing band, The Hoax, who formed in Devizes? Audiences are now treated to guest appearances on Beaux Gris Gris tours from the best musicians in the U.K. Blues scene from all the links and friendships that come with such a rich history as a professional musician.

For this gig Robinโ€™s often-time stage mate Jon Amor was away with his band, and so we were treated to the incredible guitar playing of Scott McKeown. A new name to us, but more than impressive enough to warrant investigation in his own right.

This gig was a great example of the capacity of our town to draw top bookings. Perhaps we shall enjoy a return to form for our once popular venue in the Corn Exchange? Thank you to everyone who makes it happen and if you didnโ€™t catch this one, check them out, you might just discover this is the Blues for you.

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Barrelhouse Rams The Gate!

When Barrelhouse visited the Southgate last easter, it was a great affair, though I was surprised to have been among a lesser crowd than a typical night down Devizes’ ever-dependable tavern. Given our blues obsession and this largely Marlborough based five-piece’s exceptional talent for providing exactly that, a clashing evening at Long Street Blues Club, if memory serves me well, is the only logical explanation. This time made up for itโ€ฆโ€ฆ

See, Iโ€™ve witnessed the crowd-pulling ability of this band on their home-turf, as residents of MantonFest, and was pleased to strut headlong into the rammed mosh pit, even if it meant accidently tripping over a dog, who got their own back with a nip of my badly executed apologetic hand! Rammed in there for birthday-boy landlord Dave, indeedy, but also, I confirm Devizes has awakened to how good these guys are. So rammed, even, I gave up trying to get a decent photo.

The dancefloor proved my point, Devizes has cottoned onto the Barrelhouse fanatical, and last night they took the packed boozer on their magical journey. Squeezed into our legendary alcove, it’s a good job they’re only barrel by name, otherwise it could’ve gone all Popup Pirate! I arrived fashionably late, plastered in badly grafted zombie makeup, but in time enough for the signature tune, and the one which attracted me to their most brilliant originals, Mainline Voodoo, a track they submitted to our first Juliaโ€™s House compilation. And being this was followed by their delta-version of Ace of Spades, I was happy to be there.

Itโ€™s when they slide in a cover of The Weight, you know youโ€™re in good company, bassist Stuart jesting to me they only run it so Jim Morrison fashioned frontman, Martin Hands can sing the word โ€œfanny.โ€ And there it is, see, not a band with a standout character, but a real tight teamworking collective, they bind and entertain like clockwork, and the sound they produce is as it says on the tin, โ€œvintage blues with a hard-edged groove.โ€

An encore was demanded, after Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, they only went and did Honkytonk Woman, and rinsed it with the skill they put into every one of their originals. Much so, you cannot see the seam, there is no wandering off to the bar when they call it, โ€œhereโ€™s one of our originals;โ€ no; crowd be like, okay, Iโ€™m happy with that. Especially at The Southgate; we like it like that.

It only leaves me to direct your eyes to the poster below, a kind of interim MantonFest, where alongside a Slade tribute, youโ€™ll get the full impact of Barrelhouse on their home turf, and unless you hold out until theyโ€™re at the Gate again, you should make a beeline for this Christmassy offering.

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Devizes Library Hopes To Start Lego Club

Everything is awesome upon hearing that Devizes Library is hoping to start a regular Lego Club, and they are asking folk to donate unwanted Legoโ€ฆ

Shakespeare Live – Autumn Tour

An early and rarely-performed play, ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ has feisty heroines, lovelorn & bickering young men, dictatorial parents, foolish suitors, cross-dressing, letters galore, wildโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 26th Oct โ€“ 2nd Nov 2022

So, Rishi Sunak is prime minister, eh, how about that for diversity? Last time, a woman, of sorts, now an Asian chap. A tax-avoiding billionaire Asian chap with a name which sounds like a brand of orange fizzy-pop, but one nonetheless. You’ve got to wonder who it’ll be next week.

My money is on a Klingon, but I must commend the Tories, seems they’re not quite as prejudice as Nazis after all. It doesn’t matter, age, gender, race or religion; providing you’re working class they’ll shit on all of us from a-high, but with a degree of equality.

It would’ve been nice if Liz Truss could’ve stuck around for another week, if only for topical pumpkin carving purposes, because yes, it is the ancient American-over-commercialised Gaelic feast of Samhain, or Halloween to Christian cultural thieves.

After a family outing to pick our own pumpkins on a farm near Rowde in torrential rain last Saturday, confirming I married into a rural family, and kids who consider themselves too matured to trick or treat, I’d like to go out on creepy tiles (see editor’s pick of the week) but tickets are being grabbed fast, and I’m not sure how I’ll feel by the weekend after being brutally attacked last Saturday by a hanging basket.

Where were Wiltshire Police when the attack took place, you cry? Nowhere to be seen, that’s where. Typical, and that hanging basket is still at large somewhere, be warned. Needless to say, I sustained a surprisingly substantial head injury, though not the reason I’m talking complete toilet; I’m always like this.

I did manage to see a doctor. After a reply I pre-empted to be a telephone appointment sometime in May 2023, going by social media rants, I was invited to Southbroom surgery faster than I could change out of my Paddington jimmy-jams, and within the hour I was let back on the street. Not forgoing I retain a sore head with bolts of pain shooting through it upon the slightest of movement, but I’m after no sympathy. It’s the worry of 50 coming like a rocket over the hill at me. Any previous age and I’d have been, like, ah, just a bump to the noggin, be right as reign come morning. But now, any slight aliment and I’m drafting my bucket list; though I’d suspect Kylie Minogue won’t respond favourably in any case.

Onwards with what’s happening this creepy weekend, before I dose myself in more paracetamol. As usual the only link you need for more info and tickets is our event calendar HERE. If thereโ€™s stuff going on Iโ€™ve not mentioned below, stay tuned to the guide as I might yet update it through the week, and if itโ€™s your event I missed, thatโ€™s likely because you didnโ€™t tell me about it.

Wednesday 26th, and itโ€™s the White Horse Operaโ€™s opening night of Lโ€™elisir dโ€™amore at Lavington School, which runs until 29th. And the Rondo Theatre, Bath has Female Transport, also running the same dates.

On Thursday 27th Devizes Lgbtq+ hold their Drag Queen Bingo, Halloqueen Edition at The Exchange in Devizes, which was a sell-out last time, so get in quick.

Find reggae at Level III, Swindon with the Erin Bardwell Three, and Grim Slickers at The Vic.

Friday 28th, Halloween Family Disco at The Neeld, Chippenham. LGBTQ+ Halloween night at The Exchange, Devizes.

Violin, rapper and loop artist, Mike Dennis is at The Pump, Trowbridge.

Bit confused as Iโ€™ve a poster from the Specialised Project, advertising Monkey Ska at the Vic, Swindon, but listings show Getrz, Vicuals and I See Orange playing there too, so perhaps the first one has been cancelled, unsure. The Terraplanes Blues Band play the Rolleston Arms, though, that much I do know!

Also find Barnstormers Comedy at Salisbury Arts Centre, Muze at The Tree House, Frome, while The Freddie & Queen Experience are at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 29th, everything is awesome at Chippenham Museumโ€™s Lego Club, 3-4pm every Saturday. Itโ€™s Autumn in the Park at Hillworth in Devizes, see poster, and St Johnโ€™s Michaelmas Fayre too.

Getting very Halloween now, with Halloween Karaoke at The Pelican Inn, Devizes, Devizes Scooter Clubโ€™s Skalloween at the Cavalier, a Halloween party with DJ James Therelfall at the Muck & Dunder, Thriller Halloween party at the Exchange, and The Monster Ball at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Kind of optional creepy fancy dress at Editorโ€™s Pick of The Week: The Female of the Species 7th Annual Fundraising Gig at Seend Community Hall.

Tickets are going like hot cakes for this annual extravaganza from our lovely all-female local supergroup, now packing a punch at Seend, so get in quickly, it is always an amazing show.

Away from Halloween vibes, those masters of vintage blues, Barrelhouse play The Southgate, Devizes, Trash Panda, The Bastard Son of Humdinger & My Mateโ€™s Band play The Coppers Arms, Pewsey. Strange Folk at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Stop Stop at The Vic, Swindon, Judas Rising at the Rolleston.

Congress at Salisbury Cathedral, Spritato โ€“ Inspiring Bach at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Oh, and The Lightning Seeds play The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Sunday 30th, The Innes Sibun Band arrive at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, guaranteed knockout.

Spooky stuff continues as Monday 31st is the opening night for Picnic at Hanging Rock at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes; of which Iโ€™m hoping to get a review of out by Monday, or Tuesday latest. Running until 5th November, preview here.

And weโ€™re into November, Wednesday 2nd donโ€™t forget, acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes, and Jordan Bak is at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Keep on scrolling for future fings to do, hopefully Iโ€™ll join you real soon, hanging basket though, I ask you, evil hanging basket; why canโ€™t they just plant flowers in the ground like normal folk? They should be brought to justice! Have a good week, the doctor told me to stay off devices and screens, so Iโ€™m outta here, going to take up badminton instead, which is an extreme sport to me!

Trending……

Retro Relics Games Cafe Opening In Lavington

With a wide selection of family-friendly and retro board games, RPGs such as Magic the Gathering, Warhammer and Pokรฉmon,ย and serving tea, coffee, cakes and, oh,โ€ฆ

As Cool as an Eddie Martin; Blues at The Southgate

It was a typical, standard Saturday night at Devizes Southgate, but a typical and standard night at the Gate equates to an absolutely blinding night in most other pubsโ€ฆ…

Amidst friendly faces, welcoming staff and warm familiar surroundings, the unpredictable drizzling autumn was set aside for Mr Eddie Martin to group with the finest drum and bass section to grace the alcove, Tom Gilkes and Jerry Soffe respectively. And together they blasted us full in face with some sublime three-piece electric blues. An unchanged formula for decades, because it works.

Though Eddie himself is diverse, the last time I saw him he was solo, filling gaps between bands in at The Wiltshire Blues and Soul Club’s grand evening at the Corn Exchange, where clad in golden suit he executed vintage blues akin to Muddy Waters. A high accolade it may well be but fully deserved. With full horn section he went for the big band style recently at the Long Street Blues Club, but here at the Gate, he’s truly rocking the electric blues, in DMs, black jeans and one too many shirt buttons open. He can do this, with apt blue shades and shaved head he looks the part, and certainly sounds it.

With a few blues covers, but nothing immediately recognisable or clichรฉ, Eddie mostly rolled out original tracks from his plethora of albums, in a suitcase at his feet. This matched the appreciation of the slight but blossoming crowd. It was, in short, electrifying yet cool as a cucumber; an electrified cucumber, if you will. In fact, I could skewer the idiom to cool as an Eddie Martin!

Nimble on the strings, with extended instrumental breaks of mesmerising proportions, he polished those songs right there before our very eyes, and it was something to behold. I believe, if memory serves me well, my top drunken exclamation was a rather Punch and Judy, “that’s the way to do it,” because it is.

Not that this was the night I had planned, intentions were to get to Bath for a bit of ska and boss reggae with Ya Freshness, but difficulties with non-existent public transport meant I’d have to drive, and being I’ve galivanted elsewhere the past few weekends, sometimes one desires a few too many ciders, where everybody knows your…erm, cue classic American sitcom theme, because it’s apt. The Southgate is that dependable tavern, which hasn’t failed me yet, and neither on this occasion either.

Eddie, a local bluesman of international calibre knows exactly what he’s doing, Devizes renowned blues circuit love him for it. Not only does he know his way around a guitar, but he also even attaches his harmonica holder stylishly and he knows how to rouse a crowd. Which means I donโ€™t make comparisons to blues legends lightly, but justifiably, and the thought hangs on the Howlinโ€™ Wolf. Needless to say, I had a great night, and even flagged a taxi home with ease, cool as an Eddie Martin, what is this now, 2019? No one gets an unbooked taxi in a rank at midnight in Devizes anymore; luck is a lady!

Trending…..

Swindon Rocks for Children In Need

Saturday 4th November Underground, 73 Commercial Road, Swindon, SN1 5NX Swindon’s biggest indie pop Talk In Code are working alongside Underground, based on Commercial Road in Swindon, ourโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 19th- 26th Oct 2022

Hereโ€™s 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; thatโ€™s the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like itโ€ฆ… oh, Iโ€™m doing it again arenโ€™t I?!

Onwards, not forgetting further details and links can be found on our event calendar, itโ€™s too time consuming adding them a second time, and besides, there you can scroll away until your heartโ€™s content, planning future weekends.

Best way to kick off live music early is Swindonโ€™s 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 thatโ€™s still going ahead.

Friday 21st and Trowbridgeโ€™s 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 youโ€™ll 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 isnโ€™t 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, itโ€™s Trowbridge Carnival, plus Lego Club at Chippenham Museum, free and at 3-4pm every Saturday; everything is awesome!

Thereโ€™s 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 thereโ€™s 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! Itโ€™s 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 Woodlandโ€™s Edge.

But if you want to boss the night away with some serious skanking, I cannot recommend Bristolโ€™s 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, letโ€™s make this one Editorโ€™s 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 Andrewโ€™s, 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 Juliaโ€™s 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 Iโ€™m 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 Lโ€™elisir Dโ€™amore at Lavington School, which is running until 29th October, and also running on the same dates, Female Transport at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.

And thatโ€™s your lot for this week, can I go now?!

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Song of The Week: Meg

Quick one from me today, you’ll be happy to hear! Song of the week comes from Meg, dreamily expressing her romantic thoughts, hidden from theโ€ฆ

Devizine Podcast Sept 23

Pinky promise or idol threat? I’ll let you decide, but the aim is to produce a monthly podcast after prototypes at the end of lastโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Canute’s Plastic Army

Swindon Celtic folk at it’s finest, Anish Harrison and Neil Mercer smash it again, this one is sublime, it’s called Wild, no spoilers, just listen,โ€ฆ

REVIEW โ€“ Eddie Martinโ€™s Big Blues Band (with The Little Big Horns) @ LSBC, Devizes โ€“ Saturday 8th October 2022

Big Band Blues

Andy Fawthrop

The Long Street Blues Club season continued last night with some great music.

First up was Kelvin Davies (guitar) and Gary Jones (harmonica), a duo making their first visit to the club.  They delivered an absolutely charming set of upbeat numbers, wandering around blues, folk, country and ragtime.  Kelvinโ€™s guitar-picking was first rate, and he was ably supported by some haunting and expressive harmonica work by Gary.  The audience absolutely loved them, and I wouldnโ€™t be surprised if Ian had them back again in the future.  Great entertainment.

Then onto the main business of the night, and we were treated to a rare, if not unique performance. ย Not that Eddie Martin is any kind of stranger to Devizes audiences, having played at a number ofย local venues over the past few years. ย What was unusual this time however was the format. ย Weโ€™veย seen him play solo, and weโ€™ve seen him play fronting his own trio and supporting various blues-based combos, but last night we were treated to a run-out in a โ€œbig bandโ€ format. ย Eddie shared thatย had actually done this before, but many years ago, but as far as I was concerned, this was a veryย special โ€œone-offโ€ show.

And how great it was.  Setting up as a 7-piece, fronted by Eddie on guitar and harmonica, the band featured drums, bass, keyboards, trumpet (Phil Storer), trombone (Andy Wrathbone) and saxophone (Patsy Gamble).  And what a lovely fat, rich sound they produced.  It was funky, it was full-on and it carried some real heft.  Paying his usual tributes and homage to such masters as Elmore James, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Johnny โ€˜Guitarโ€™ Watson, Muddy Waters and Pee-Wee Ellis, Eddie led the band through two superb sets of funky blues, with some great early 60s dance rhythms.  I was put in mind at times of Southside Johnny & The Asbury Dukes, which in my book is a big compliment.

We had some quite jazzy sections, the musicians playing off each other and taking their well-deserved solos, and all the while looking as if they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. ย Eddieย himself, turned out in his usual dapper style, with his trademark gravel voice, absolutely led from theย front, chatting with the audience between songs and working the room with some call-and-responseย material.

We had some great-titled songs โ€“ โ€œTough Timesโ€, โ€œSomeoneโ€™s Making Money, But I Know Itโ€™s Not Meโ€, โ€œThe Birds And The Beesโ€ and โ€œWith A Big Enough Lever You Can Lift The Worldโ€.  The set concluded with a standing ovation and a fully-deserved encore.  Cracking stuff, and a great nightโ€™s entertainment.

And if you want to catch Eddie again, heโ€™s playing The Southgate, this time as a trio, on Saturday 22ndย October. ย I suggest you get yourselves along there โ€“ you wonโ€™t be disappointed.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Friday 14th October 2022  Black Sabbitch (Corn Exchange, Devizes)

Saturday 5th November 2022  Robbie McIntosh Band

Friday 11th November 2022   Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse (Corn Exchange, Devizes)

Saturday 19th November 2022   Hardwicke Circus and The Alex Voysey Trio

Friday 23rd December 2022 ย Gee Baby I Love You

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 6th -12th October 2022

Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do round and about Wiltshire this coming week, unless you like staying home, scowling at your electric smart meter as it ticks down pounds like a stopwatch attached to a timebomb.…..

In a week where our illustrious MP Danny Kโ€™s words of reassurance blazed a rim-job op-ed in the trustworthy journal Gazelle & Herod, that we need not worry, he doesnโ€™t think the illusory budget car-crash will affect votes for the Conservative Party next election, and heโ€™s probably right too, thereโ€™s much slander of opposition to be done, lots of backhanding persuasive mainstream media to convince you starving to death is all for the best for Britain.

One point I would like to make, for all in Devizes, is we are saddened to hear about the violence last Saturday. Devizine is not here to report such incidents, but we wish the victims well. I was shocked, though, by the Gazetteโ€™s completely superfluous reasoning to use a stock image of the British Lion free house, as the event did NOT even happen there, rather further along the road.

If a bike was nicked in the same area, would they post a piccy of Bikes N Boards, or if a dog bit a cat, would they pin it on the vets? What if a Hawaiian pizza started chucking its pineapple onto an unsuspecting pepperoni one, would they launch an attack on Dominoes?! I hope you get my point, The British Lion is a wonderful pub, and for numerous times Iโ€™ve visited, over decades, and I donโ€™t know about you, but Iโ€™ve never once seen the slightest bit of trouble there, not so much as one fellow tickling another inappropriately with a feather! The British is a great and safe pub, donโ€™t be persuaded by wonky journalism, they didnโ€™t even get the name right and called it the Red Lion, for crying out loud into a sick bucket!     

These days, provided you take Shanksโ€™s pony, itโ€™s probably cheaper to go out than heat your home, so on we go. Donโ€™t forget all details and links can be found on our magical updating event calendar, HERE.

And just to note, my plug-in crystal ball is whacking up leccy bill, so excuse me if I didnโ€™t have a premonition of your event, perhaps tell me about next time, eh?! Itโ€™s free to be here, weโ€™re all friendsโ€ฆ. most of the time. Of the few Karens I did joyfully nark on Facebook this week, one had the audacity of calling me a snob, which was so funny I had to get all Iain Wallis on her!

Now Iโ€™m waffling, donโ€™t mind me. Thursday 6th October, find Jambon Chapeau, a new duo of Mike Pickering and Derrick Jepson of Paradox at the Three Crowns, Devizes for a Fantasy Radio Live Lounge from 7-9pm.

Chippenham Community Conference in the Neeld. Two days of guest speakers, networking, priority setting and celebrating the work of the community and voluntary sector in the Chippenham area.

If not, The Moscow Drug Club play The Cheese & Grain, Frome; you mayโ€™ve seen these guys at Devizes Arts Festival.

Friday 7th and Calne Music & Arts Festival opens, a fortnight with lots going on, and ending next Saturday with the amazing Concrete Prairie, more on individual events with this as we go.  

 The London Philharmonic Skif๏ฌ‚e Orchestra play at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes, and staying in town thereโ€™s options, options, people.

Sheer Music is back in town with a freebie at The Exchange, our very own NervEndings with Lucky Number 7; that will be loud, and Iโ€™ve rumour you might be able to remain hiding in a corner when the nightclub kicks in afterwards!

Meanwhile the wonderful Sour Apple play at The Pelican, a gig postponed after the Queenโ€™s Funeral.

Over in Trowbridge, Jol Rose supports the Often Herd at the Pump, while The Soul Strutters strut to The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, tribute All Floyd play Salisbury Arts Centre, and Beatles tribute the Prefab Four play The Vic, Swindon.

Staying in Swindon, Coleview Music Festival has sold out for the Saturday, but thereโ€™s still some Friday tickets and Sunday is pay on the door with familiesโ€™ welcome. Friday has Go Span Duran, Tasha Leaper as Madonna and Talk in Code, Sunday find Pink Mac, Splat the Rat, Disco Dollz and Busy Fools.

Saturday 8th, and Chippenham Museumโ€™s Lego Club is from 3-4pm, every Saturday. Happy 40th to The Royal Wotton Bassett Orchestra, who play at St Bartholomewโ€™s Church.

The first Mop Fair in Marlborough, the following is next Saturday 15th.

Time for some Long Street Blues Club in Devizes, when Eddie Martin brings his full Big Blues Band to the Conservative Club. Over the road, the wonderful The Hoo-Doos play The Southgate. Things promise to get ska, a little way down the hill, at Potterne Social Club, when Andy McGowan does his One-Man Nutty Boys Tribute.

The Britpop Boys are booked to play The Consti Club, Chippenham, but do check ahead on this one, The Consti Club have been going through some changes, have sadly axed some event organisers from their books, and Iโ€™m not to speculate the reasoning, but some events might not be going ahead. Back to Calne Music & Arts Festival, they have a Family Day, and Opera Anywhere presents The Magic Flute.

In Trowbridge the Pump presents the Finn Collinson Band, and Sonic Alert are at Stallards. The Blunders at the trusty The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, and if youโ€™re in Bath, well, Iโ€™d highly recommend Rosalie Cunningham at Bath Arts Centre.

The Rondo Theatre has an Andrew Oโ€™Neill tour, with the strapline, โ€œwe are not in the least bit afraid of ruins; we carry a new world in our hearts.โ€ Jen Brister tour, The Optimist at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Mad Dog McRea at The Cheese & Grain, and Sweet Machine at Tree House, Frome.

Operation 77 @ The Woodland Edge, Swindon, and staying in Swindon, do check FatFest at Level III. Fatfest rock event is in support of Fatboyโ€™s Charity, raising money to help kids dealing with cancer and leukaemia. Confirmed to appear so far are Dan Reed Trio, Revival Black, Twister and local band Fall From Ruin.

Onto Sunday the 9th, and Pewsham Scarecrow Trail begins, The Worried Men play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, and Herman Dune plays The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

For Calne Music & Arts Festival, thereโ€™s The Serenata Guitar Trio, and Even Song at St. Maryโ€™s Parish Church. The festival continues Monday, with The Yehudi Menuhin School In Concert, The Kassia Trio, Louis Stephenson Piano Recital, and a Drink & Draw.

Tuesday 11th and find the regular Improvers Art course at The Cause, Chippenham. Calne Music & Arts Festival brings you Music Scholars of Marlborough College In Concert, and Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow at Marden House.

Bird watchers might like RSPB: Pura Vida โ€“ Costa Ricaโ€™s Magical Birds at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Wednesday 12th, Calne Music & Arts Festival has the Calne Singers โ€˜Songs from the Shows,โ€™ and The Roaring Trowmen.

Donโ€™t forget Wednesday night is acoustic jam night at the Southgate Devizes.

Salisbury Playhouse has The Wellspring, and Rondo Theatre, Bath has The Greatest Magician, and no, thatโ€™s not Kwasi Kwartengโ€ฆ. A snob, honestly, did you see them call me that, on the book of Face?! Oh, my years, could you get any less snobby than me, Iโ€™m picking my butt crack as I write this shit?! Hey, you have a good weekend now, take care out there.

Trending….

Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time

SYNDICATED INTERVIEW By Jason Barlow Images: Roslyn Gaunt Is there no end to the manโ€™s talents? A staple of revered panel show Mock the Week,โ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Meg

Chippenhamโ€™s folk singer-songwriter Meg gets our early song of the week this week, and The Cycle is only her debut single…. Iโ€™ve spoken twice toโ€ฆ

Atari Pilot are Waiting for the Summer

Kempston joystick! There’s a new single from Swindonโ€™s sonic indie-rock blasters Atari Pilot, and it seems theyโ€™re waiting for the summer to fall. Hint, guys,โ€ฆ

Donโ€™t Give Up Now, Ruby Darbyshire

As discoveries of young local talent never seem to wane here at Devizine, hereโ€™s one with a difference, weโ€™ve not featured yet; you may haveโ€ฆ

Some Work Experience At The Southgate!

Not as the title might suggest…. Since I peaked too soon over the bank holiday, coupled with working it, yeah, I sadly missed Monday’s entertainmentโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Becky Lawrence

Song of the week, on a Saturday, yeah I know, but this oneโ€™s just been released yesterday, and Iโ€™m a little behind, and opening myselfโ€ฆ

20’s Plenty Says Devizes Town Councillors

Let’s face facts, they’re not referring to their average age here, are they?! Todayโ€™s topic is belting through town like a headless chicken escaping Colonelโ€ฆ

Devizes to Falafel Out Loud!

Here’s a Devizes foodie top secret I’m about to spill the chickpeas about; Anya of that delicious kitchen in the Shambles, Soupchick is launching aโ€ฆ

The Best He Could Do at The Time, Joe Hicksโ€™ Debut Album

A little late for the party, as ever, Iโ€™ve been procrastinating, and my computer is equally as listless; failing to save my original words on this. Meanwhile Newbury good guy, but welcomed regular on our circuit, Joe Hicks has been busy with a debut album launched yesterday, worthy of a rewriteโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Titled The Best I Could Do at The Time, Joe is seriously playing it down, like the nerd at college who tells you they โ€œhavenโ€™t done muchโ€ for their assignment, so you follow suit only to find them offering a feasible cure for all known diseases in a presentation with U2 providing the soundtrack, while the best you can offer is a scribbling of your pet cat, which you did on the bus journey there.

The opening tune, Sail Away, for example, is far punchier than David Grayโ€™s appellation of the same name, and we wonโ€™t contemplate sailing down the Rod Stewart route. Though itโ€™s best pigeonholed like Grayโ€™s, as folktronica, thereโ€™s a whole lot more going on here from this stalwart who could just as easily fit comfortably into a blues dance as he could a folk festival, and does.        

The blurb suggests The Best I Could Do at the Time is โ€œa journey through many of the emotional peaks and troughs we go through as humans,โ€ Joe explained, โ€œand more specifically me as a musician in such uncertain times. Itโ€™s about acknowledging them, living in those feelings for a while and ultimately finding the hope we all have within us to take control and rise above the worst of them. Itโ€™s about doing the best we can with the tools that we have.โ€

The first thing to hit you is the sheer production quality, a euphoric yet upbeat anthemic joy from the off, Sail Away, sustains the timeless pop formula, making him balance on the edge between aforementioned folk and blues, and allowing this album to flow tidy, but traverse any given pop subgenre at will, while retaining originality and stylised inimitability.

If One More Step, the timeless pop second track is a prime example, it builds on layers like a contemporary hit of say a George Ezra-Bruno Marrs hybrid, Maybe When Itโ€™s Over follows, and this stretches back further, reeking of unruffled seventies soul, like Curtis Mayfield.

Four tracks in and youโ€™re safe in knowledge to accept anything, Pieces is sublime acoustic fluff, and there was a line in the subtle skank of Lost in Love, โ€œoh, such a reckless emotion,โ€ where I paused for thought on a comparison which I couldnโ€™t quite put my finger on, until it came to me; the velvety vocals of Paul Young, especially when he sang Come Back and Stay.

Mirror Mirror reflects an indie side-order, while Out of My Mind surprisingly nods of township jive, designating a hint of Paul Simonโ€™s Graceland. Hand in Hand settles the pace once again to this euphoria, so that even if the narrative traverses the downhearted at times, itโ€™s always a musical ride with the glass half full. And herein is my point; this is ageless pop goodness, borrowing from what went before, but fresh and contemporary throughout, which is the even balance of magnitude.

The final trio of tracks on this eleven-strong album returns to the early eighties pop formula with, Alive, folktronica goodness with the inspiring Make It Home, and Weightless polishes it off with the pop roll of The Corrs, or something along those lines, though the whole shebang holds itself in its own pocket.

Itโ€™s a wonderful album, deservedly to be considered a remarkable achievement; The Best I Could Do at The Time huh? Well, the time is nigh. Having made a name for himself as a session guitarist, Joe Hicks was ‘BBC Introducing Artist of the Weekโ€™, directly from his first solo single in 2017. Since heโ€™s built up a sizable online following, touring the UK and Europe, appearing at CarFest, The Big Feastival, Are You Listening? Festival, Pub in the Park, over thirty Sofar Sounds shows and slots supporting Sam Fender, James Walsh and Starsailor.

Here in Devizes, heโ€™s regularly appeared at Long Street Blues Club and Saddleback, and is always a delight to chat with; just a genuine modest talent, of which this album truly blows the lid off his cover. I got your number, Hicks; bloomin’ amazing album, my son!

Link-Tree to Buy

Trending…..

As Sweet as HoneyFest!

Imagine, it’s only just eight pm on the opening day of Honey-Fest at the legendary Barge on HoneyStreet, and the haystack-filled marquee is already positivelyโ€ฆ

Meg at The Neeld in Chippenhamย 

Yeah I know, those Nothing Rhymes With Orange lads were pepping up the Crown in Devizes for a Fantasy Radio live lounge last night, andโ€ฆ

Song of the Week: Paul Lappin

Another wonderful nugget of lonely contemplation from the chillaxed Britpop kahuna, Paul Lappin, formerly of Swindon now residing in the South of France. Unfortunately Youโ€ฆ

All Aboard for Imberbus on Saturday !

Since sending out our last Imberbus email earlier this week, we have had several new subscribers to our mailing list, partly due to some advanceโ€ฆ

Dylan Smith: Cruel to be Kind

Yeah, the title of Dylanโ€™s debut album, Cruel to be Kind could be an insight into how we conduct our reviews, but being as Iโ€ฆ

Ace-High Debut Album from Concrete Prairie

Some albums are an immediate love at first listen, but as time passes you start to see holes. Others take time to digest, growers; you learn to love them. Going in blind on this one, I’ve seen the Swindon-based band name floating around locally, favourites at The Tuppenny, Trowbridgeโ€™s Pump, and they knocked it out of Town Gardens at My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad. I’ve listed them on our event calendar, and well, guess I just liked the ironic rootsy name, Concrete Prairie, reminding me of Marley’s Concrete Jungle. I was more than pleasantly surprised.…..

It did both, an immediate love, ever-growing. Thereโ€™re no holes here, their self-titled debut album, out tomorrow (2nd September) is made from solid rhinestone. Solemn when needed, indignantly peppy otherwise, but always chiaroscuro and earnest. Americana, folk noir, of the like of Johnny Cash, vocally akin, with the depth and command of Jim Morrison, and, I kid you not, dammit it’s on that greatness level too.

There are secret treasures buried here, though lyrics chant, โ€œyou know when shit hits the fan, I’ll be the man who’s picking up pieces,โ€ its humble Nashville-esque beginnings doesn’t prepare you fully for the finale. The Devil Dealt the Deck is an ambitious tragedy-come-rhapsody ending, it is their Stairway to Heaven, bronc-riding Othello, sublimely moreish.

Betwixt them are eight other solid and lengthy tunes, caringly crafted, exceptionally well delivered. Ballads of Bakersfield backbeat like I Wish you Well roll into the particularly Cash sounding Day by Day, merging into acoustic fingerstyle backwood blues rock by the haunting Hard Times, when things suddenly head foot-stomping bluegrass. By the upbeat People Forget youโ€™re fully immersed in its evocative depictions, as it weaves and blends all subgenres in-between, wonderfully wrapped in this aforementioned dark prose.

Astonished I messaged them, to confirm this was their debut album, all too easy to perceive this as the project of legendary rock stars who hoisted in the best producer to reconnect their roots after decades of golden discography. They did in fact, find the ears of John Reynolds, producer for The Indigo Girls, Damien Dempsey and Sinead Oโ€™Connor.

Take the forlorn howl of Guthrie in his darkest moment, there’s broken characters of Springsteen’s Nebraska in the narrative too, yet somehow those desperate nuances here rise above both their melancholic murmur; it’s got edge but at best times it rides it frenetic and fierce; rootinโ€™, tootinโ€™ and a-shootinโ€™!

Joe, from the band tells me, โ€œItโ€™s been a few years in the making due to some somewhat global delays!โ€ But comparable to an artist who cannot leave a painting alone for finishing touches, it’s obvious after a listen, there’s a serious amount of work gone into this. Yet no one creates their magnum opus so early, surely? I confess I liked Springsteen’s inaugural The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle, or Floyd’s Meddle better than the matured Born to Run or Dark Side of the Moon, but I accept their place is lesser popularly; if this then is the par of those, I want to be around when they do their masterwork.

There’s a fair bit of clichรฉ Americana around and about, wishy-washy mediocre, but these guys aren’t sitting around a campfire with a can of beans playing the fart game here, this is concentrated, solid material, a real sheriffโ€™s badge. This is how it should be done, if you catch my drift, and its equal distance away from Achy Breaky Heart as acid-techno is!

Launch day is tomorrow, across streaming platforms. CDs are up for pre-order on Amazon and the album will also be seeing a vinyl release: link here.

They’re play Swindon Shuffle, and thereโ€™s an album launch at Moles, Bath, Saturday 3rd September with Barney Kenny in support. Tickets here, are just a fiver.

Trending….

Song of the Week: Ruzz Guitar’s Blues Revue & The Mike Eldred Trio

Ah, I reckon weโ€™ve had Ruzz and the Revue up here for song of the week more than once before, but hereโ€™s a decidedly syncopated five-accent hambone rhythm of Bo Diddley beat the like youโ€™ve never heard him play beforeโ€ฆ.at least Iโ€™ve not! Must be their recent US tour rubbing off, all that playing inโ€ฆ

My Dad’s Festival overcomes the rain and raises nearly ยฃ9,000 for Prospect Hospice

Featured Image ยฉAnthony Hunt Photography The team behind Swindon’s popular all-day music extravaganza, My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, have revealed that nearly ยฃ9,000 has been raised for Prospect Hospice following this yearโ€™s event….. MDBTYD 2023, organised in association with South Swindon Parish Council, was held at The Old Town Bowl on Saturday 2ndโ€ฆ

Wharf Writers’ Group Release First Podcast

Folks at the Wharf Writers’ Group, based in Devizesโ€™ Wharf Theatre, release a new series of podcasts, Where’s The Cat? the first one published todayโ€ฆ. There will be twelve weekly episodes, each a short play written and performed by members of the group. In this inaugural episode by John Osborn, a man is looking toโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 16th – 22nd August 2023

Last week I predicted summer 23 had finally arrived, now, well, it doesnโ€™t look smashing now, does it?! Ah, hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found this coming week to do in wonderful Wiltshireโ€ฆ.. Usual gubbing, all the info and ticket links are on our jam packed event calendar, HERE, and you can plan ahead too. Any updatesโ€ฆ

Michelle Donelan Out of the Chicken Run for New Devizes-Melksham Constituency, But What Difference Will These Changes Mean?

So, the Boundary Commission for England’s final recommendations for new Parliamentary constituencies, which carves the Devizes constituency into three unequal parts, was submitted to the House of Commons for their perusal in June, and it’s time for MPs to scramble for the safest seats, which Westminster dubs “the chicken run.” But what, at great taxpayer’sโ€ฆ

Junkyard Dogs are Let off Their Leashes

If I’ve spent some days now, highlighting a wealth of local talented teenagers, forming new bands, and creating a blossoming scene, this isn’t one of those days. And if I’ve reviewed musical releases breaking new ground, this isn’t it either. This is about the Junkyard Dogs, a popular Trowbridge based blues band who kindly postedโ€ฆ

Beyond Chippenham Streets

It’s the second exhibition at Chippenham pop artist Si Griffiths’s Forbidden Carnival gallery, and if the previous was an overall of the curiosities of alternative art we can expect to see there, this has a more specific theme of street art and graffitiโ€ฆ. It’s been a long rocky road for graffiti to be accepted byโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 9th – 15th August 2023

Donโ€™t hold your breath, but is โ€ฆ .isโ€ฆis that summerโ€ฆ. coming? Ah, hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found this coming week to do in wonderful Wiltshireโ€ฆ.. 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 onโ€ฆ

ยกViva La Devizes Salsa; Eso!

Looking back over the years of Devizine, Iโ€™ve engaged myself with more ‘loco’ undertakings than I care to count, things I wouldn’t have otherwise considered attempting; all part of the fun. More often than not I come away thinking it was alright, but seldom follow it up with a burning desire to continue, itโ€™s sadlyโ€ฆ

The Fulltone Music Festival – Wiltshireโ€™s Own Iconic Festival in its Own Words, with Additional Waffling From Me!

Introducing the rising star of the south west music scene – The Fulltone Orchestra. This dynamic ensemble comprises a rotation of over 90 exceptionally talented musicians from across the region, led by fantastic musical director, Anthony Brown. Their performances are nothing short of extraordinary, defying genres and taking audiences on a captivating musical journey โ€ฆ…โ€ฆ

12 Bars Later at The Southgate

Could be a pub crawl, more likely the chord progression of blues, but my drunken jesting query met with a shrug from the guitarist, the name 12 Bars Later means either, whatever!

I might not have been so far from a truth, in that over this bank holiday 12 Bars Later nail four bars; played the Crown at Bishop’s Cannings Saturday afternoon, switched to The Southgate later, and Sunday it’s over to Calne to play the Talbot’s mini-fest at 2pm, and the Gurkha Baynjan Restaurant at 8. Given a few more days I reckoned they could’ve shaken the rafters of a further eight!

Why is this narrowboat three-piece Wiltshire blues band fully-booked for gigs this weekend? Proof in the pudding, arm twisted, I nipped to the Gate to find out for myself.

Arriving late due to FullTone, it was immediately obvious, jigging up to the bar like the crows in Dumbo, their sound in its simplicity is irresistible, their stage pressence is immediately likeable. Confident Female fronted bassist, Helen Carter, banters well with the slight crowd and has the gritty vocal range of Joan Jett, while drummer and guitarist work in unison,ย  and we’re grinding to some down and dirty electric blues.

Yet there’s something more universally appealing here, 12 Bars Later will hook any classic tune duck, and ease it out of the pool with a blues makeover. The prize on the butt of said duck for anyone who books them will be enthused and delighted punters. This could be because they were once known as The Blue Rose Band, a seemingly more function band type name.

So yeah, while Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters and obviously apt Rolling Stones covers were adroitly delivered with passion and a deserved hard-edge, they applied the same ethos to some well-crafted originals, of which they’ve recently recorded for a forthcoming debut, and what was more for the supportive audience, sing-along covers like Elvis’ Burning Love, You Never Can Tell by Chuck Berry, and even Eddie Floyd’s Knock on Wood. The latter of which they amusingly claimed was “as close to disco as we get!”

It’s an appropriate rebranding, for a highly entertaining pub band; certainly floated my boat, and likewise the blossoming crowd at The Southgate, as FullTone closed and folk headed over. For me, as acomplished and professional the sound of a full orchestra pushing pop hits is, it was of a generation next, for me, and I couldn’t nostalgically relate to Britney and Spice Girls covers any more than I did at the time. The Southgate was my safe haven, and boy, 12 Bars Later fit there like a glove, cumulative to another fantastic night at our dependable best pub in Devizes for the down-to-earth music aficionado.

REVIEW โ€“ Skinny Molly @ LSBC, Devizes โ€“ Saturday 20th August 2022

What A Sell Out

Andy Fawthrop

Seems ages since we were last turning up at the Con Club for Long Street Blues, but last night the new Autumn/ Winter season began, and there we all were again.  And what a way to start, with a cracking US band and a ticket sell-out….

The place was, therefore, obviously packed out. Whilst it might suit the music โ€“ hot & sweaty โ€“I think itโ€™s time that the Con Club looked into installing some air-con.  Just like the The Homingโ€™s gig back in June, as part of the Devizes Arts Festival, the room was really stifling and airless.

Nevertheless we had some great entertainment to distract the huge crowd. ย First up were Koerie &ย Andy, a duo new to me, introduced by host Ian Hopkins as recently discovered busking. ย As might beย expected with such a heritage, they were a little raw and rough around the edges, but very effectiveย and entertaining for all that. ย Using guitar, vocals and harmonica, they delivered a string of covers,ย including โ€œWild Thingโ€ and โ€œShould I Stay Or Should I Go?โ€ ย The crowd gave them a good listen and aย good welcome, and hopefully weโ€™ll see them again.

But that was as nothing to the roar that went up went Skinny Molly finally hit the stage to start their 75-minute one-set performance.

This band, hailing mostly from Tennessee, is a major force on the US Southern Rock scene.  They were formed by guitarist/vocalist Mike Estes (formerly of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blackfoot), original Molly Hatchet guitarist Dave Hlubek (who has since left the band) and drummer Kurt Pietro (who also played drums for Blackfoot).  By 2008, the line-up was solidified with the addition of Blackfoot guitarist/vocalist Jay Johnson and  Grand Ole Opry stalwart bassist Luke Bradshaw.  And this was the line-up featured last night.

Skinny Molly’s mantra is apparently “Never let one fan leave a show disappointed” and they set about trying to fulfil this promise right from the outset, with a string of rock-infused blues and country numbers. There was newer SM material, mixed in with some older Skynard classics, and some covers.  Freeโ€™s โ€œWishing Wellโ€ was perhaps a surprise, less so Steve Earleโ€™s โ€œCopperhead Roadโ€, but the biggest cheer of the night of course came about an hour in when they launched in to probably their biggest hit โ€œSweet Home Alabamaโ€.  But there was nothing one-dimensional about their material โ€“ we had a good old Southern gumbo of different ingredients, including southern rock, old country, blues, hard rock, and general Americana.

They built up the mood and the atmosphere, and there were soon plenty of folks rocking along and dancing. They kept the inter-song chat to a minimum, instead focusing of packing in as much music as possible, culminating in a standing ovation and well-deserved encore. I donโ€™t think anyone went home disappointed, so I guess they did exactly what they said on the tin.

Future Long Street Blues Club gigs:

Saturday 8th October 202-   Eddie Martin’s Big Blues Band

Friday 14th October 2022  Black Sabbitch (Corn Exchange, Devizes)

Saturday 5th November 2022  Robbie McIntosh Band

Friday 11th November 2022   Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse (Corn Exchange, Devizes)

Saturday 19th November 2022   Hardwicke Circus and The Alex Voysey Trio

Friday 23rd December 2022  Gee Baby I Love You