Tag: Chippenham

Chippenham’s New Venue, The Ruze Opens with The Showhawk Duo

It could be bigger than Diggers! See what I did there? Okay, you youngsters might need Google, but while you’re researching Chippenham’s hedonistic past, a new music venue and studio is preparing to open its doors at the end of Februaryโ€ฆ..

The Ruze on Union Road opens on Friday, 27th February. It’s a daring era to be opening a new venue, but this looks rather special. I believe it’s captured a gap in the market, and we wish them the very best of luck.

James Humphrys, Mac Lloyd, and Beth Thornton kick off the proceedings on Friday night, while Saturday the 27th sees The Showhawk Duo perform their unique take on club classics, acoustically.

These guys remain toppermost on my must-see list. I should’ve known better to question festival organiser and Boot Hill All Star Flounder Murray when he spoke of โ€œacoustic raveโ€ some years ago. โ€œAcoustic rave?โ€ I responded, โ€œhow does that work then?โ€

โ€œVery well,โ€ was his reply, with a mindblowing Showhawk Duo video attached; I’m still at odds comprehending how these guys manage to pull off such a stunt, to recreate those floorfillers with just two guitars.



Supporting the duo are Lucca Mae, John Fairhurst, Kane Pollastrone, and Seren. Other than the brilliant Mac Lloyd, these are all new names to me; looks like The Ruze has a quality vetting process with an ethos lending to supporting upcoming local acts, and I like that in a venue!

If daytime clubbing is a thing now, Sunday March 1st from 3-8pm, The Ruze turns into Club Kudo, with some dance anthems and Ibiza classics, finalising their grand opening weekend.

Tickets for all nights are limited, and go on sale at 6pm today, Friday 6th Feb. HERE.

Rooks; New Single From M3G

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โ€œEโ€) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes on hold for a moment, because this is a beautiful, epic journeyโ€ฆ.

M3Gโ€™s seventh release, Rooks, poignantly pulls on the heartstrings when presented by the rise and fall of a romance, rooks often being a slang for cheating someone. It runs into six minutes, and reflecting the heartbreak of the subject, the song rises and falls accordingly. It creates a spellbinding ambience of both hope and worry equally, and is of magical vocal and acoustic guitar composition, with a gentle cajon drum subtly placed.

Inspired by the likes of Florence Welch and AURORA, Meg was open about her autism in our interview from 2023, and claimed it as the backbone to her creativity. In this, what she creates is completely original, unique, and unequivocally personal. Meg doesnโ€™t just sing, she projects her innermost thoughts and expresses them, angelically. In Rooks, you can literally feel the characterโ€™s heart breaking, causing yours to inevitably go with it.

The hyphen in the term singer-songwriter has never been so apt with another. Sure, I hear lots of brilliant expressive singers and lots of songwriters who can pen a marvel, but no one merges them so seamlessly and forgoes any fear theyโ€™re exposing too much of their innermost thoughts, dreams or desires. You only need to venture ten seconds into Rooks to observe what I mean, and if Meg constantly strives for improvement, causing me to say this is her best song yet each time, here we go again; this is awe-inspiring, her magnum opus to date.

Recorded and mixed by Phil Cooper, his genius registers on it, yet still, itโ€™s Just M3G; layering her backing chants over her main vocals like choral had a singular tense, and who even designed the cover. She says working with Phil is โ€œa massive step above my other releases. I am so proud of it.โ€ It is on a next level, Iโ€™m uncertain what she could do to top it, but assured she will, and Iโ€™m certain Rooks will appease her fans and make her find new ones.

Rooks streams tomorrow, 19th December 2025.

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Rowdefest 26 Lineup Reveal!

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

Keep reading

Five Years in the Cotswolds: Lawton & Mackโ€™s Breathtaking Debut Album

When I put together the 4 Juliaโ€™s House compilation albums a few years ago I decided I shouldnโ€™t pick favourites out of the eighty-one songs donated, but if I had to, it wouldโ€™ve indisputably been Atlantic O by Will Lawton and Ludwig Mack. With the ambience of the gods, this track is such a soothing sentimental earworm it makes you go all tingly as it drifts like a lost ship on the sea. Now the duo have released a debut album, matching the sublimity of Atlantic O. The story behind it is of an absorbing coincidence, and its unique marketing is equally as genius as the musicโ€ฆ..ย 

At the time I was aware of the virtuosity and diversity of Malmsbury musical magician, Will Lawton, from solo performances and fronting The Alchemists. At the time he sent the tune for the project he briefly explained Ludwig was an Argentinian musician he had been working with, but their connection is far more complex and is explained in the book to the album, which is in turn, currently the only way to hear it.ย 

A story of serendipity expressed earnestly through a 36-page hardback, which continues to detail the thought processes of the album, each individual song, and the musicians which accompany them along the titled journey Five Years in the Cotswolds. Then, on the back cover thereโ€™s a QR code to scan, leading you to streaming options; I suggest you do, your ears will love you forevermore.

Enticed by the lure of English music, and his European travelling plans cut short by the pandemic, Argentinian musician Ludwig Mack arrived in the UK from Spain a day prior to lockdown. He had already connected with Will via Instagram, not realising when he settled in Hullavington he was coincidently only a few miles away from Willโ€™s home. They jammed together, the song Atlantic O, and within a year produced the EP Heroes.  

Ludwig explored the UK, and found work whether he could, whilst Will continued with family life, his band the Alchemists and his employment as a music psychotherapist. But Ludwig often dropped in to see Will, and it was inevitable this project would blossom like the opening tune, aptly Blossom, a tender springtime daydream contrasting aging with memories. Itโ€™s as majestic as the morning chorus, and includes a naturally sourced one too.

The fabric of this album continues on this theme, indeed Songbird follows suit into the most gentle flow of concentrated bliss. Itโ€™s the first single released this Friday (10/10) of the goodness of nature rather than societyโ€™s machine, unhinged and timeless piano-based folk, and celebratory of the glory wildlife in all its splendour, wrapped in the warmest serenity. By its very composure it defines the sum of all this goodness and shapes a heart in your mind; if an album was a wander through a springtime meadow, this is a stroll to remember.

It comes as no surprise Will is a music psychotherapist, if the vocation is to improve wellbeing, increase happiness and overcome issues. One listen to Five Years in the Cotswolds is the best remedy. Ten solid tunes, all the like to make the little hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention. Thereโ€™s few artists able to accomplish this, I could cite many, from Bill Withers to John Denver and you will contemplate your favourites when this caresses your senses.

The album lifts with euphoric pace at Godโ€™s Plan, and Iโ€™m left thinking of Marvin Gayeโ€™s What’s Going On as its aperture opens the album to a similar width of beauty. From the guitar chimes of November to the quirkiness of the bluegrass-esque Walk Each Other Home, and from the amorous ambience of Clouds to Freya Everestโ€™s haunting vocal range on I Noticed, this album continues flowing on the theme as a paragon, never meandering off course.

Its production is as crisp as autumn leaves, the arrangements are like sunlight. The composition is a Vivaldi, its versification is W. H. Daviesโ€™ Leisure, the musical expression of a Monet, a pilgrimage to a Constable masterpiece, or all of these wonders capturing the beauty of nature equally combined and consumed, it really is this breathtaking. Devizine

Its production is as crisp as autumn leaves, the arrangements are like sunlight. The composition is a Vivaldi, its versification is W. H. Daviesโ€™ Leisure, the musical expression of a Monet, a pilgrimage to a Constable masterpiece, or all of these wonders capturing the beauty of nature equally combined and consumed, it really is this breathtaking.ย 

Bathโ€™s producer and musician, Rob McLeod, aka Mac Lloyd, Spanish multi-instrumentalist Guillem Mitchel, London based jazz singer-songwriter and producer Freya Everest and drummer Tony Partridge who met Will at Schtumm in Box, are the other collaborators behind this enchanting project, alongside composer and arranger Benjamin Lawton, Willโ€™s son.

Streaming platforms are held off until next year on this, the book to Five Years in the Cotswolds is the albumโ€™s only current access point, and is available on their website, and at upcoming gigs, The Castle, Swindon on 16th October, and Pound Arts in Corsham on 6th November, details of which are also on their website.

Will Lawton & Ludwig Mack

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Revealing the Line-Up For The Wiltshire Music Awards 2025

As a result of probably the most productive meeting yet, yesterday, about The Wiltshire Music Awards, we can now reveal the most amazing line-up of local music acts who will be performing between the announcements at our grand ceremony on Saturday 25th October at Devizes Corn Exchange, and a few other points we should mention tooโ€ฆ..

Easy bit first for our glitzy and glamorous night, there will be professional sound and lighting provided by Brian Mundy and his team at BSM Stage Tech, and a bar, in which you wonโ€™t have to buy me a drink because Iโ€™m hosting and I donโ€™t want to slur my words, word my slurs or anything along those silly lines!ย 

It makes us all very proud to announce this wonderful lineup. Devizes own Burn The Midnight Oil will open the eveningโ€™s entertainment. Theyโ€™ve come so far in such a short space of time with their own brand of breezy blues-rock, weโ€™re excited to see them perform.

Our lovable legend George Wilding is a name most of you should know, and heโ€™s coming to play a few songs, of course he is! Award winning Lucas Hardy is coming too. Loved on the Salisbury circuit, Lucas will delight you, for what will be, I believe, his first time playing in Devizes; I could be wrong!

Ben Borrill and Pat Ward, aka Matchbox Mutiny, will be there, the lively Devizes-based duo who never fail to charm. Then thereโ€™s Salisbury-based Joylon Dixon and Rachel Sinnetta – a duo who raised the roof off the Three Crowns recently, but I knew it was coming as Rachelโ€™s supreme vocal range and Joylonโ€™s professional accompanying will enthral all.

Thereโ€™s a champagne supernova trip back to the nineties with The Britpop Boys, renowned for blasting those sing-a-long anthems across the county and beyond.ย 

And hereโ€™s our last big secret exposed, Devizes homegrown indie-rock phenomenon Nothing Rhymes With Orange will polish off the evening. They created a storm locally a few years ago as a teen sensation, the likes of which I claimed to be the โ€œBeatlemania of Devizes!โ€ Now studying together at Bristol Uni, their popularity has spread nationwide. Back home they have inspired a new generation to form bands, and we welcome them back delighted.

Image: Gail Foster

Make no mistake, all these acts have had a tremendous year, and deserve to be nominated for awards, as are the many other names hiding in our golden envelopes too. Myself, DJ Mark Anthony and possibly a few guest names will be announcing the winners and runners-up, and these wonderful acts will perform just two or three songs each between the announcements; itโ€™s going to be a show!

A show which, we hope, showcases, highlights and celebrates the wealth of musical talent we have here in Wiltshire, in a manner more celebratory than competitive. While many others and not just those performing have high chances of bagging a trophy, by no means is it exhaustive. There are so many others, producing music, promoting, hosting and creating amazing initiatives to fundraise and to teach, we know this, and I intend to highlight as many as I can at the ceremony, because the list is lengthy enough already to cram into one evening, making it comprehensive is a minefield!

The results of the awards was set by public votes and a panel of expert judges, which we genuinely believe to have been a fair system, causing it to be agonising for us to see the entire county trimmed to this much, but if everyone supports this we hope there will be subsequent years of Wiltshire Music Awards to follow. Years in which we will continuously review in order to improve on.

One point, whilst feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive, one niggly raised was tickets. We have to fund this one way or another. We are asking for sponsorships, many have helped and we thank them. In order to make this work, yes, we are asking everyone who wishes to attend, including those nominated, to buy a ticket, of which we have made as reasonably priced as possible. If you have been nominated for an award within our top ten, you are cordially invited to attend, but along with everyone else we do ask you to please purchase a ticket; there is no other expense asked of you other than this.

As much as we would love to see all the winners and runners-up in person, or a representative on your behalf, on the night to be presented with an award, if you cannot make it due to other commitments we understand, and your award will be given to you at a suitable date thereafter. Important point then: You DO NOT need to attend the ceremony to receive the award if you do not wish to, but please consider that we have to fund this, that we have worked hard on getting this off the ground, and would appreciate your support with it. Wiltshire Music Awards has been created by a genuine team dedicated to the local music scene. Allow me to get all Charles & Eddie on your ass at this conjunction, โ€œwould I lie to you, baby?!!โ€

Whoa, back on the positives; thankfully I wonโ€™t be singing but the experts will, this is going to be cracking night, one for the history books, and I hope to see you there! Saturday 25th October at Devizes Corn Exchange, tickets HERE.

Wiltshire Music Awards 2025

Announcing The Top Ten Nominees of Wiltshire Music Awards 2025

Yeah, I hear you! An update on our inaugural Wiltshire Music Awards is overdue. So my partner on this monumental project and the guy doing all the work while I take the credit, Eddie Prestidge of Wiltshire Music Events, has taken off his shoes and socks and provided a top ten shortlist for each categoryโ€ฆ.drum roll, and perhaps a generous spray of Febreze!

Excited? I know I am, but then I’m easily excitable. Firstly you should know by now, despite the umpteen โ€œwhere can I voteโ€ questions still fired online at us daily, that the voting has closed; closed, people; pay attention!

We are now in the process of collating those thoughtful public votes, and handing the top three winners of each and every category to an expert panel of judges either selected for their keen involvement in the Wiltshire music scene, sporting a purple goatie, or both.

We thank those who took the time to cast their votes. We had over 700 votes, proving the music scene of Wiltshire is vast and enjoyed by many, has more talented people than a night out with The Venga Boys, and there’s a few Swifties and generally silly people who didn’t get the memo that this is Wiltshire Music Awards and not the Pennsylvania oneโ€ฆ.unless you can find me a suitable connection between Wiltshire and Taylor Swift?! 

Hey, look, let’s be honest, I’d be happy to hand her an award, perhaps in exchange for her phone number, but we have to keep things in perspective.

On our Facebook group over the past week or so, Eddie has been listing the results, precisely as they were written in the boxes by the voters, so you can see, warts, spelling mistakes, and those spoiled ballots by a minority of silly sausages were included. We’re aware, due to stage names, variations, and the state of the education system, some names appear twice or more, and it’s been a task to collate them.

The thing is, and always was, that the voting boxes should be left blank rather than those annoying drop-down option thingies. While the combined minds of Ed and I is both something to behold, and a virtual encyclopedia of the Wiltshire music scene, we can’t pretend to know everyone, and therefore some of the choices made by you, the voters, we were unaware of. And that’s the beauty and ethos behind these awards, networking foremost. Making the scene competitive is the bottom of our priorities, Wiltshire Music Awards is about recognising and celebrating local talent, and showcasing it.

Personally I reckon anyone with the guts to get out there and entertain Wiltshire folk deserves a big shiny medal of bravery, and perhaps one of those right posh giant Toblerones! Thereโ€™s a number of artists and bands missing that Iโ€™d personally liked to see up there, I guess thatโ€™s the way the cookie crumbles.

So, enough of my warbling, cue the Gregory Isaacs song, โ€œThough she isn’t in my top ten, still she is on my chart, Sitting in the back bench still she’s a student of my class,โ€ or not perhaps; political correctness! Here, anyway, is the Top Ten from each category; fill yer boots, no squabbling, and the very best of luck to everyone mentioned belowโ€ฆ.

Listings are alphabetical. Those eagle-eye Action Men might notice not all categories contain ten; where the final one or two contains multiple entries with the same amount of votes, they’ve been omitted.

Come and help us celebrate the winners and runners up with a star-studded lineup of music, announcements, perhaps even yours truly as host (a polished turd in a tuxedo,) and a special celebrity guest or three, by grabbing some tickets for the grand ceremony at Devizes Corn Exchange on Saturday 25th October. 

Best Male Solo Artist

Vince Bell

Giles Halski

Lucas Hardy

Josh Kumra

JP Oldfield

John โ€œIllingworthโ€ Smith

George Wilding

Adam Woodhouse

Best Female Solo Artist

Harmony Asia

Ebony Bell

Chrissy Chapman

Sammi Evans

Ruby Darbyshire

Chloe Hepburn

Rosie Jay

Tamsin Quin

Rachel Sinnetta

Best Originals Band

All Ears Avow

Be Like Will

Burn The Midnight Oil

Dark Prophecy

Deadlight Dance

Cephid

The Jon Amor Trio

Nothing Rhymes With Orange

Talk in Code

Best Covers Band

Be Like Will

The Britpop Boys

Martyโ€™s Fake Family

The Midnight Hour

No Alarms And No Devizes

Pinky & The Slapcats

Static Moves

The Unpredictables

Best Duo

Deadlight Dance

Fly Yeti Fly

Illingworth

Jolyon Dixon & Rachel Sinnetta

Lauren & Hardy

Matchbox Mutiny

Millers Daughter

Rackham

The Sylvertones

Best Rising Star/Newcomer

Sam Bishop

Burn The Midnight Oil

Cephid

Chole Hepburn

Sammi Evans

Fran Daisy

JP Oldfield

Koerie Willsdon

Rosie Jay

Best Tribute Artist/Band

The Bowie Show

BC/DC Breakcover

The Britpop Boys

50 ft Queenie

Mick Jogger & The Stones Experience

Just Elton

Painted Bird

Plastic Fantastic

Rebjorn 

Best Music Venue

The Pump, Trowbridge

Qudos, Salisbury

The Royal Oak, Pewsey

Stallards, Trowbridge

The Southgate, Devizes

The Three Crowns, Devizes

The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon

The Victoria, Swindon

Best Original Song

The Bitter Mass – Iโ€™ll Wrap You

Burn The Midnight Oil – Lock Up

Butane Skies – Innocence

Gaz Brookfield – Hook Village Hall

Lucas Hardy – The Below

Rob Sadler – I Wrote a Country Song

Rosie Jay – I Donโ€™t Give a Damn

Talk in Code – All In

The Vivas – Saint Swithens

Best Vocalist

Amber Coleman

Tom Corneill

Elijah Easton

Lucas Hardy

Chloe Jordan

Rachel Sinnetta

Chris Stevens

Tom Thornton

Best Guitarist

Jon Amor

Nick Beere

Joe Burke

Jolyon Dixon

Andy Hill

Howard Hughes

Jack Lowe

Innes Sibun

Alister Sneddon

Best Bassist

Mark Turner

Nick Gowman

Nick Beere

James Hinsley

Lucianne Worthy

Jerry Soffe 

Ed Docherty

Richard Hunt

Thomas Noke

Best Drummer

Dean Creighton

Ed (Solar Bird)

Tom Gilkes

Andy Naish

Jamie O’Sullivan

Thor Porter

Callum Rawlings

Jane Truckle

Best Instrumentalist

Mike Barnett

Nick Beere

Jolyon Dixon

Claire Hopkins

Cailien Hunt

Andrew Hurst

Chris O’Leary

JP Oldfield

Sara Stagg

Wade (from Brakelight)

Best DJ

Paul Alexander

Mark Anthony

Chloe Grist

Guy Griffiths (DJ Bong)

Kevin – (Odstock Radio)

Mark Lister

Maurice Menghini

Andy Saunders

James Threlfall

Lifetime Achievement Award

Jon Amor

Nick Beere

Vince Bell

Jolyon Dixon

Colin Holton

Ruth Jones

Michael Johnson

Pete Lamb

Darren Simons

Talk in Code

Outstanding Contribution to the Wiltshire Music Scene

Jo Baines

Nick Beere

Colin Holton

Ian Hopkins

Tom Mallard

Solstice Sound Music Studio

Talk in Code

The Three Horseshoes

Darren Worrow

Outstanding Contribution to Music in the Community

Jo Baines

Robb Blake

Jemma Brown & Fulltone Orchestra

Saun Dobson & The Three Horseshoes

Ross Gooding

Colin Holton

The Royal Wottonn Bassett Dementia Choir

Talk in Code

West Wilts Radio

Darren Worrow

That’s all folks, save the most important part for you; come and help us celebrate the winners and runners up with a star-studded lineup of music, announcements, perhaps even yours truly as host (a polished turd in a tuxedo,) and a special celebrity guest or three, by grabbing some tickets for the grand ceremony at Devizes Corn Exchange on Saturday 25th October. 

To make this as glitzy as we want it to be, you can help us also by sponsoring a category, more information about this and everything else to do with Wiltshire Music Awards, see HERE.

Wiltshire Music Awards 2025

Schools Out For Summer: Here’s Some Things to Do in Wiltshire!

Schools out for summer, yelled a man called Alice, but that was in 1972. We’re about what you can do THIS school summer holiday with those little munchkins; here’s what we’ve found…

Please note as soon as we publish this we’ll be bombarded with events we have missed; at least that’s what usually happens! So, bookmark this article as it will update, as will our event calendar, as soon-(ish) as they come to us! Do not fear, we’ll help you through this period, parents, and prevent you having bored kids and compulsory wine-o’clock!

WC says school hollibobs begin Thursday 24th July and parents are freed on Monday 1st September, but we’ve found stuff from Monday 21st, so let’s get this ball rolling from there…..

Ongoing throughout the summer hols….

Boomerang, Melksham

Kids Activities at Bowood House

Longleat Summer Carnival

Friends of Jesus Children’s Summer Holiday Club @ Southbroom School, Devizes

Mon 21st July

Wed 23rd July

BSO On Your Doorstep Concert @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Fitzgraham Academy of Dance โ€“ Mythos @ The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

(26th July)  The Jungle Book @  Salisbury Playhouse

Fri 25th July

Sat 26th July

Mon 28th July

Tues 29th July

Summer Chocolate Experience (Adult & Child/Teen) @ HollyChocs, Poulshot

Thurs 31st July

Wiltshire & Bath Air Ambulance Teddy Bear’s Picnic @ Semington Base, Trowbridge

Fri 1st August

Kidโ€™s Summer Art Club @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

Threads: Clothing, Memory and Identity

Origami Aeroplanes Workshop @ Trowbridge Museum

(-6th Aug) Devising Drama @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

(-8th Aug) PLUK Song-Writing Club @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

(-8th Aug) LEGO Stopframe Animation Workshop @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avo

The Most Perilous Comedie of Elizabeth I @ Old Town Bowl, Swindon

Sat 2nd August

Brick Creative Club with Trowbridge Library

The Arc Open Day
Ice Cream & Bubbles Festival

Circus Skills Workshop @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Friends Summer Tea Party @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Mon 4th August

Lights Up, Sounds Down – Quiet Opening

Tues 5th August

COOKERY CLASS FOR ADULTS & TEENS WITH COMPLEX NEEDS
Summer Holidays: Autism Friendly Quiet Time
Trio Paradis Family Concert: Planes, Trains & Automobiles
ATBShop Warminster Skate Park Event

Craft Day @ The Shires, Trowbridge

Wed 6th August

Drama Tots @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Little Piccolos @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Exhibition On Screen: Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition

Thurs 7th August

Summer Pirate Cruises From The Wharf, Devizes

COOK TOGETHER (ADULT & CHILD) – ITALIAN FEAST

Kidโ€™s Summer Art Club @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

Childrenโ€™s Tie Dye T-shirt Workshop @ Trowbridge Museum

Rock The Tots Summer Party @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Fri 8th August

Kidโ€™s Summer Art Club @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

Mermaid Dance Party @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Paddingtonโ€™s First Concert @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Sat 9th August

Curious Kids: Under the Sea @ Wiltshire Museum, Devizes

Seend Fete

Story Time @ Trowbridge Library

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride

Tues 12th August

Make your own musical – (14-18’s) with Emily Malcolm
Writing (and performing?) your words – (11-14’s) with Saili Katebe

Wed 13th August

Junk Modelling (ages 5+) @ Trowbridge Museum

Thurs 14th August

Kidโ€™s Summer Art Club @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

Balloon Modelling @ The Shires, Trowbridge

Pewsey Moviola at the Bouverie Hall

(-14th-16th Aug) Annie @ The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

Fri 15th August

Kidโ€™s Summer Art Club @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

Fearlessly Taylor @ Town Gardens Bowl Town Gardens, Swindon

Sat 16th August

Colour Rush
Confetti Battle

Sun 17th August

Mon 18th August

Holiday Club at Southbroom St James Academy, Devizes

A Churches Together in Devizes Holiday Club is taking place from Monday the 18th to Friday the 22nd of August at Southbroom St James Acadamy in Nursteed Road. The sessions are from 9.45am to 12.30pm each day, and itโ€™s for children going into school years one to seven in September. Go along and make new friends this summer. Thereโ€™ll be Bible stories, games, activities, crafts, songs, drame, and much more. Thereโ€™s a suggested donation of ยฃ1 per day. Email devizeschurches.holidayclub@gmail.com for further information and booking details.

(-22nd Aug) Musical in a Week! @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Tues 19th August


Crafting with Leather @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

11+ 2 DAY COOKERY CAMP – AUGUST
Make-up for stage – (11-14’s) with Anna Randall

Wed 20th August

Horrible Histories: Gorgeous Georgians and Vile Victorians @ The Wyvern, Swindon

Thurs 21st August

Kidโ€™s Summer Art Club @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

COOK TOGETHER (ADULT & TEEN 14+) – ASIAN FEAST
Comedy writing (and performing?) – (14-18’s) with Angie Belcher
Costume design/making – (11-14’s) with Lottie Bywaters

Fri 22nd August

Meet Stitch & Bluey at Hillworth Park! | Fri 22nd August

Kidโ€™s Summer Art Club @ Wiltshire Scrapstore, Lacock

https://thefarmcookeryschool.co.uk/event/cook-together-adult-child-pastry/
Bat & Moth Evening at Baydons Meadow
Vicky Jackson as Pink

Sat 23rd August

Summer Fete at Devizes Scout Hall

The Last Baguette: Bin Rat at The Corsham Almshouses

In The Night Garden Live@ The Wyvern, Swindon

Sun 24th August

Crofton in Steam – August Steaming weekend

Mon 25th August

Balloon Modelling @ The Shires, Trowbridge

Tues 26th August

4+ SUPERSTARS
7+ SUPERCOOKS
Acting improvisation and creating scenes (14-18’s) with Deepraj Singh
Instruments and DJ’ing – (11-14’s) with Mark Lodge

Wed 27th August

11+ HOLIDAY CLUB

Flowers And Friendship Bracelets โ€“ The Ultimate Pop Concert @ The Wyvern, Swindon

Thurs 28th August

COOK TOGETHER (ADULT & CHILD) – SUMMER TREATS

Fri 29th August

Hot Air Balloon Weaving (ages 5+) @ Trowbridge Museum

Sat 30th August

Devizes Carnival Parade

Kennet & Avon Summer Floating Fayre @ the Barge, HoneyStreet

MELKSHAM FOOD & RIVER FESTIVAL

Calne Food Festival

Malmesbury Carnival

West of England Youth Orchestra with Leia Zhu @ Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

The Amazing Bubble Man

That’s all Folks! Back to school. Parents, breath out and relax!

One Week Left to Cast Your Votes for Wiltshire Music Awards

Thatโ€™s right, lovers of local live music countywide, you have less than a week now to cast your votes for your favourite acts in our prestigious, one-of-a-kind Wiltshire Music Awards!

The closing date for voting is Tuesday the 10th June, so get your thinking caps on and VOTE HERE NOW.

Whoโ€™s tickled your fancy the most? Whoโ€™s brought tears to your eyes with their self-penned ballad? Whoโ€™s dragged you off your seat and commanded your feet to the dancefloor, like nobody’s watching?! Whoโ€™s provided that ideal space for you to shake a tailfeather? And who deserves to be recognised for their outstanding contribution to local live music in your honest opinion? We need to know, but donโ€™t tell us here- keep it secret and cast your votes now!

We’ve already had way over seven hundred ballot papers sent into us, and I’ve not taken one sneaky peek yet, but I’m informed the results are close to call, so your vote might yet tip the balance.

So don’t procrastinate on me now, will you? Not for your favourite musicians’ finest hour. They need you; this is important, dammit!

And hereโ€™s an added special message to all musicians, bands and promoters, we love you all, so, please help us to help you, by sharing this news with your fans, as thereโ€™s nothing wrong with shameless self-promotion; order them to vote for you, offer them custard creams if they do, tell your mum you want her to vote for you, tell them all you wanna win a shiny medal for all youโ€™ve done to entertain them. You deserve this, goddammit, everyone creating music around these backwaters does, but thereโ€™s only so many awards we can give out on the night – make sure one of them is yours, yay!

I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, and I am officially about to lose control…and, guess what? I think I like it. At least, those are my inspirational words to motivate you into the groove.

Wiltshire Music Awards 2025

PREVIEW โ€“ Chippenham Folk Festival โ€“ Friday 23rd May through to Monday 26th May 2025ย 

One of Wiltshireโ€™s Best

by Andy Fawthrop

Looking for something to do next weekend? One of Wiltshireโ€™s biggest festivals is happening just up the road in Chippenham all over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.ย  Itโ€™s also one of the largest folk festivals in the UK, and one of the longest running โ€“ this year theyโ€™re clocking up their 52nd festival……

The festival happens over four days at venues all over the town, and provides several streams of entertainment to suit most tastes.ย  With over 650 performers already confirmed covering music concerts, workshops, dance/ ceilidhs, Morris dancing, storytelling and spoken word, and a wide range of childrenโ€™s and other entertainment, thereโ€™ll be something going on in every town-centre street and pub, to say nothing of the thirteen dedicated stages and dance venues.ย ย 

And the good news is that, aside from all the ticketed camping and music/ dance events, thereโ€™s plenty of FREE stuff too.ย  Down at Island Park thereโ€™ll be community stages, a session beer tent (run by Moongazing Hare this was highly popular last year, and Iโ€™d thoroughly recommend it!), lots of pop-up food vendors (crepes, churros, Sri Lankan, vegan, Mexican, Japanese, ice cream etc), and craft stalls โ€“ allย  located alongside the beautiful River Avon. Itโ€™s got a great vibe and is a good family-friendly place to relax, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy a session and entertainment with children, family and friends.ย 

But with so much going on โ€“ you should see the bulging programme with its literally hundreds of events – we thought weโ€™d take the chance before all the fun starts to preview and pick out some of the best stuff, and to highlight some of our favourite picks. 

Overall, thereโ€™s a brilliant line up of music concerts featuring over 75 different acts, including: 

  • The East Pointers – hailing from Prince Edward Island in Canada. Their dancefloor-shaking, electro-trad glorious combination of folk/ pop sounds has already seen them acknowledged as musical trailblazers internationally. Their debut album Secret Victory won the 2017 JUNO Award for Traditional Roots Recording of the Year. Their 2023 EP House Of Dreams was nominated for a JUNO Award, and won Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year, Group Recording of the Year and Pop Recording of the Year at the 2023 East Coast Music Awards. Their headline show is on the Sunday night;ย 
  • Phil Beer & Paul Downes โ€“ two of the stalwarts of British folk music, and truly great musicians both.ย  Their shows are not only musically entertaining but always delivered with great bantering humour.ย  Their headlining set is on the Saturday night;ย 
  • Miranda Sykes โ€“ another of the folk worldโ€™s all-time great performers, Miranda has played bass with countless bands and line-ups, and has worked for over 20 years with folk royalty Show Of Hands. In 2024 she toured with Hannah Martin, paired a new Baring-Gould Centenary project with Jim Causley, and has toured a wide range of summer festivals. Catch her on the Monday night;ย 
  • Seth Lakeman โ€“ will be playing material from his new album The Granite Way.ย  Catapulted into the spotlight after his album Kitty Jay received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005, since then heโ€™s produced multiple albums, toured worldwide and participated in several high-profile collaborations, most recently with Robert Plantโ€™s band The Sensational Shape-shifters.ย  His fiddle playing is simply stunning, and a joy to behold in live performance.ย  Heโ€™ll be doing his thing on the Monday afternoon.

And then thereโ€™s a nearly forty different bands, including a great calling team for the dances and ceilidhs, with bands including Banter with Fee Lock, Sawney White Bird, Doug Eunson & Sarah Matthews, Portmanteau, Hinny & Joe Wass with callers Andrew Swaine, Bernie Culkin, Geoff Cubitt, John Stewart, Susanna Diamon, and more to meet every style.  

Add to this nearly seventy different Morris sides from all over the UK, and over twenty-five childrenโ€™s entertainers (including the simply hilarious and highly-talented Keith Donnelly), featuring music, dance, puppets, dressing up, play, workshops, meet-the-entertainer sessions, and youโ€™ve got plenty to choose from, with different things for all members of the family. 

Apart from the main venues and stages, thereโ€™ll be stuff going on in just about every pub, in the main streets, and anywhere else the performers can find a space. Thereโ€™ll be some open mic sessions too. 

Having been to many Chippenham Folk Festivals over the years (and indeed performed at a few!), I can highly recommend a trip out to one of Wiltshireโ€™s best events โ€“ itโ€™s colourful, itโ€™s noisy, itโ€™s busy, but most of all, itโ€™s entertaining! 

Thereโ€™s still a limited number of day and event tickets, as well as full weekend season tickets (with or without camping) available. Or thereโ€™s also still time to volunteer to help with stewarding and venues (which qualifies you for a FREE ticket). All the information is on the festivalโ€™s website, together with ticketing information at www.chippfolk.co.uk/Tickets

Progress Made for the Wiltshire Music Awards

A week into the voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards and things have been moving forward fast. Weโ€™ve had the best part of 500 voting forms already submitted and weโ€™re busy spreading the news about these new awardsโ€ฆ

The voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards went live on the 1st May, and if it was overshadowed by some other voting thing going on that day too, this far more important election is gradually gathering pace. And unlike the other elections, no one is jumping on anyoneโ€™s back, making up stories to derail other candidates!

Cast Your Votes HERE

Eddie Prestidge of Wiltshire Music Events UK and I have been busy promoting the concept, and weโ€™re delighted and extremely grateful to everyone who has helped us with this. From visiting Castledown FM to meet Kev Lawrence and waffle on his drive-time show, and future such gigs like Peggy-Sueโ€™s Donโ€™t Stop the Music Show on Swindon 105.5, to features in Swindon Link and Salisbury Radioโ€™s blog, and everyone who has shared our news on social media, word is getting around thanks to you all. 

Of course individual musicians, bands and studios have taken to their social media platforms begging for their fans to vote for them, and, donโ€™t worry, this is encouraged! Itโ€™s also our most treasured venues such as The Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon who are sharing our news. I believe this is all vital, to ensure weโ€™re making it comprehensive and spanning across the entire county. If you can help us with this, please do get in touch.

Nominations will close on 10th June 2025, so we need your picks by then! Itโ€™s not easy, I know; Eddie messaged me a few hours into the voting process to say he hadnโ€™t seen my submission yet, and I had to tell him I was still making my mind up!

Thereโ€™s so many talented musicians around here, it is difficult to decide whoโ€™s name to put in those boxes. But, in this I feel is a point worth making about the Wiltshire Music Awards; we are doing this to promote, encourage and celebrate everyone creating music locally, from DJ and cover band to original artists and sound engineers. This isnโ€™t intended to make our circuits competitive in any way, as we all enjoy the communal and friendly ethos of our local circuits, and vow to maintain this. The hard work they all do to entertain us is recognised and appreciated; while some of our many friends on the music scenes in Wiltshire might not pick up an award, it doesnโ€™t mean weโ€™ve forgotten them!

Eddie says, โ€œthese awards recognise the individuals and groups whose efforts make a real difference. If you know someone who deserves recognition, or want to showcase your group, now is your chance to give them the spotlight they deserve.โ€

Weโ€™ve just opened a Facebook group for the Awards you can join HERE. People have joined and are making connections there already, which is great and exactly what we want to achieve with this venture; itโ€™s not the Oscars!

Thereโ€™s loads of questions which have been fired at us over the week about how the awards work, despite many of them being answered on the FAQs page of the website! Some others have come up, and we thank you for raising some valid points. One good one I had by Rich of Minety Music Festival, who asked if we could have a category for festivals. We pondered how we could do this as the categories have already been set, thereโ€™s 17 of them already, and feeding it into the venues category might not be fair on the smaller grassroots venues. So, we decided to add festivals as a category for next year, and make a list of festivals in Wiltshire for the judgesโ€™ perusal. I mention this to say, hey, weโ€™re open to ideas and things we might have overlooked.

The most frequent question Iโ€™ve been asked is โ€œcan I vote for myself?!โ€ To which the simple answer is a big fat YES! Why not? Show off your ego, youโ€™ve earned it, go for it! The less frequent but similar question Iโ€™ve had is, surprisingly, โ€œcan I vote for you?!โ€ The answer is, yeah (blush,) if you must!

Weโ€™ve been browsing trophies and medals from a catalogue by Avon Trophies like weโ€™re kids drooling over the lingerie section! And over the next couple of weeks we will be sending invites for people to be judges. Choosing experienced people with dedication to promoting music in the county and trying to set one in each area, we have a list of possibles, but if youโ€™re interested in this let me know this coming week. It is also vital that this event receives sponsorship in order for it to work as well as whatโ€™s in our minds. Please contact us if you would like to sponsor an individual award or the whole shebang!

The award ceremony will take place in Devizes at the Corn Exchange, on Saturday 25th October 2025, tickets are here. We hope it will continue annually, this all depends upon your input and support, which has so far been so encouraging I might even be moved wear a dickie-bow at the event, and that’s worth the ticket price alone! Please vote and share our news, thank you!

Voting Now Open for the Wiltshire Music Awards

The voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards goes live today; there might be some other voting thing going on too, but this is far more important!

In conjunction with Wiltshire Music Events UK, Iโ€™m delighted Devizine will be actively assisting to organise this new county-wide music awards. Weโ€™ve mentioned it a few times now, but today the moment has finally arrived for you to cast your votes. Nominations are open for the ceremony from 1st May 2025, and will close on 10th June 2025.

Cast Your Votes HERE

Please Share this News

The award ceremony will take place in Devizes at the Corn Exchange, on Saturday 25th October 2025, tickets are here. We hope it will continue annually, this all depends upon your input. Please get voting, and we call upon everyone actively involved in music scenes across the county to get involved too.

Hereโ€™s some FAQs about the process, and other than to say Iโ€™m mega-excited about it all, and to please share this news far and wide, thereโ€™s not a lot else I can waffle on about it for now; everything relies on you all to help us find the talented in Wiltshire, so get voting!

Who can be nominated?

Anyone involved in music based in Wiltshire or primarily active within the county can be nominated. This includes solo artists, bands, DJs, instrumentalists, music promoters, and venues.

Can I nominate in more than one category?

Yes, you can submit nominations in multiple categories. However, each artist, band, group, DJ, or venue may only be nominated in one category overall, so please choose the most suitable one.

Who decides the winners?

A panel of music professionals from across Wiltshire will review the shortlisted entries and select one winner per category. The panelโ€™s decision will be final.

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. The public will be asked to vote, and the award ceremony will take place in Devizes at the Corn Exchange, on Saturday 25th October 2025, with hope it will continue annually…..

Wiltshire Music Events UK in conjunction with Devizine, have decided it is overdue to acknowledge and celebrate the creativity, innovation and dedication of musicians, music promoters, and venues in Wiltshire. Therefore, we have created The Wiltshire Music Awards, an annual award ceremony reflecting and commemorating musical talent within the county.

Nominations are open for the ceremony from 1st May 2025, and will close on 10th June 2025. We are excited to unveil the categories, which reflect the diverse ways people bring music to life within their respective communities, county-wide.

These awards will recognise the individuals, groups and organisations whose efforts make a real difference. If you know someone you believe deserves recognition, or want to showcase your group, this is your chance to give them the spotlight they deserve.

Wiltshire Music Events calls for anyone promoting music locally to get involved and help create diversity and coverage for their own communities. A panel of professionals from across the county will be elected to assist in judging the nominations. With a finale date of Saturday 25th October, when an award ceremony will take place, central to the county, at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.

I have pushed for this event to take place in Devizes, for while it’s geographically central to the county, I’m sure you’ll agree, there is also a powerhouse of talent emerging in this area and it will be a positive attribute to Devizes and hallmark its rightful place in the arts scene of Wiltshire.

Why get involved?

Music has the power to unite communities, foster creativity, and change lives. The Wiltshire Music Awards will honour those who make this possible and provide a platform to showcase to local talents. Whether youโ€™re a performer, organiser, or supporter, these awards are an opportunity to highlight the hard work that often goes unseen.

To receive an award will bring more than just a trophy. It will elevate profiles, help with funding applications, and energise the community.

There is plenty of time to recognise the people and projects that inspire you. Nominating will be easy and online, and we will release the website in which to do so nearer the time for voting. There will be categories. The public can nominate their choices in all of the categories. Once the nominations process is completed, the top three of each category will be presented to the judges, who will then decide the winner of each category. The judges decision will be final, and we shall then announce to the public the top 3 of each category with the result announced at the ceremony.

The 2025 Categories:

Best Solo Male Artist – Best Solo Female Artist

Best Covers Band – Best Original Band

Best Duo – Rising Star Newcomer

Tribute Artist /Band – Music Venue

Best Original Song – Best Vocalist

Best Guitarist – Best Bassist

Best Drummer – Best Instrumentalist

Best Original Song – Best DJ

Lifetime Achievement Award


Outstanding Contribution to the Wiltshire Music Scene


Outstanding Contribution to Music in the Community:

Whatโ€™s Happening New Years Eve in Wiltshire 2024

With the big C ticked off, thereโ€™s one big push for the final night of 2024. Time to throw off all your aggravations, like who keeps putting the empty wrappers back into the Quality Street container. The busiest Tuesday of the year is coming up fast, and we have thirty-five options in Wiltshire of where to celebrate it, and countingโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Devizes

Starting off at our base, Devizes with a jam potato at the Southgate, where Jamie Hawkins, Tom Harris and Pat Ward are taking them into the New Year. Soundhog Karaoke takes over The Three Crowns. Thereโ€™s a Back to Skool New Yearโ€™s Eve Party at the Pelican. All of these are free. DJs The Original PJ & Mister M have a party at The Bear Ballroom, ticketed. Also on the door, The Exchange has a fancy dress party with DJ Maggs. The Conservative Club has DJ Andy Saunders and live music from The Saga Louts, ticketed.

Around and about Devizes, find a party at Seend Community Hall. The Reason plays The Green Dragon in Market Lavington.

Pewsey

Pewsey area, thereโ€™s a New Years Eve Party at Woodborough Social Club. Woodbridge Inn has the Muddy Drifters, plus guests and a free buffet. And Rich the Ditch is on decks at The Barge on HoneyStreet. Find No Middle Ground at the Royal British Legion Hall in Burbage.

Marlborough

An acoustic NYE at The Bear in Marlborough with Bodge It And Scarper, free. At St Peterโ€™s, thereโ€™s a Great Gatsby New Yearโ€™s Eve Party, ticketed. 

Calne

Six Oโ€™Clock Circus plays the Talbot in Calne. Plan of Action at The Jenny Wren. DJ Caztro at The Wheatsheaf, all free.

Melksham

Free at Melksham Cons Club, The Blue Moon Band. Raindrops at Spencerโ€™s Club, tickets from the club. New Yearโ€™s Eve Party at the Forresters. Band of Others at The White Hart, Atworth. 

Chippenham

Burbank at Old Lane, Chippenham. Opera Sulis presents Opera Pops and Broadway Beats with DJ Bobbi for a New Yearโ€™s Eve Extravaganza at Wine Monkey.

Trowbridge

Be Like Will are at The Gloucester Road Cons Club in Trowbridge. Thereโ€™s a NYE party at the Civic Hall. And a Boaty Extravaganza at The Twelve Bells, see poster below..

Hungerford

Static Moves play the Hungerford Town Football Club.

Swindon

In Swindon, if youโ€™re a metaller be at the Vic, where Nu-Call have A Nu-Metal New Years. And ravers head to Levels.

Salisbury

George Wilding is with Jolyon Dixon & Rachel Sinnetta at The New Inn, Amesbury.

In Salisbury, Total Recall is at the Coach and Horses. Lucas Hardy & Paul Furtado at The George & Dragon. Ribble at the New Inn. Tom & The Clementynes at Qudos. Linz Sutton at the Anchor & Hope. Karaoke with Evie at the Greyfisher. The Treblemakers at Laverstock & Ford Sports Club. The Deloreons at  Salisbury Arts Centre.

Frome

 New Years Eve Party at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, with The Hammervilles.

And thatโ€™s a wrap. I think thereโ€™s plenty to choose from there, but Iโ€™m sure there will be more, so keep your best eye on our ever updating event calendarโ€ฆ.and have a Happy New Year! There’s all the info and ticket links you need on the calendar.

Didn’t find your event here? Did you tell me about it?! Ah, there you are then, new year’s resolution, tell Devizine and get your gig listed FREE!

El Toro Fundraiser at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham

Over to Chippenham for my dose of live music this Saturday. I didnโ€™t see any chips nor ham, there were some pasties passed around a lively and hospitable โ€œproperโ€ pub, and whilst meeting some favourites old and new, there were also opportunities to cross some must-sees off my list. It was a fundraiser for El Toro, Chippenhamโ€™s music suppliers faced with a fire which destroyed their premises in July. Henry Ray, the shop owner, completed the eveningโ€™s entertainment with his own band, also conveniently called El Toroโ€ฆ..

But letโ€™s get chronological, for itโ€™s unusual for me to head Chippenhamโ€™s direction for a night out, of which Iโ€™m apologetic to the natives for; unintentional, que sera, sera. Though itโ€™s been widely brought to my attention that if I ever was to tread water in the Ham, The Old Road Tavern, aptly on Old Road, is the best place to bookmark; regulars corrected me that it was, apparently, the โ€œonlyโ€ place.ย ย 

Supportive of grassroots music, home of Chippenham Comedy Club, and Brain Reidโ€™s popular open mic session, itโ€™s akin to Swindonโ€™s Beehive, or Devizesโ€™ Southgate, a tucked away treasure, a promiscuously welcoming and traditional watering hole with a nonchalant ethos; fits me like a glove. That was, after Iโ€™d fussed with parking. Iโ€™m not paying six quid or downloading an app when thereโ€™s free on-street a walk away, though Iโ€™m flustered at the fiasco, hoping to catch Will Lawtonโ€™s set already underway.

Eloquently poised at his keys, without backing from The Alchemists Willโ€™s sound is obviously rawer than usual, yet equally as euphoric and harmonious. It is, undoubtedly, always a pleasure to hear his original outpourings in whatever setup he delivers them with. In contrast to the next act, Chippenhamโ€™s young folk singer-songwriter Meg, whoโ€™s divine and insightful observations are so utterly unique, only she could deliver them the way she does, solo with guitar in hand. Itโ€™s a wholesome listenerโ€™s show, delving deeply and honestly into her psyche, identifying her audience with meditative reflections.

This is all taking place in โ€œThe Barn,โ€ exterior to the pub, amidst a fitting outside area, the Barn is a modest venue with low stage, one comfy sofa and school chairs, in fitting with the causal attitude of the boozer. Again in contrast to occurrences at the Barn, a bulky chap called DD is entertaining the troops at the bar with banjo-led ditties and drinking singalongs of the scrumpy & western variety. And he does so with bells on. The lively bar will be central to the event hereafter, at least while El Toro set up their full band in the Barn.

Sharpie, aka, Ollie Sharp, was up next in the bar. Pleased to catch up with Sharpie, itโ€™s been years since mentioning him on Devizine, as frontman of the now defunct indie-popsters Longcoats, from Bath. We fondly reviewed their releases at the time, but never actually caught them live, so it was good to finally meet him. Sharpie records and tours the local circuit with a backing band, but tonight, being a volunteering fundraiser, heโ€™s solo, still equally as engaging. Fusion of indie covers and originals, Sharpie delivered them with passion and professionalism, adding essential banter and stage presence amidst a crowd of regulars seemingly accustomed to having original musicians play their splendid pub.

The showstopper for me was Harmony Asia Thomas, Chippenham singer-songwriter key to organising this event. Though said regulars appeared to know what they were letting themselves in for; this is her local too. Much praise Iโ€™ve heard for Harmony, seen a rather aged video of her performing in Trowbridge, and have been looking forward to catching her live. None of these fully prepared me, as while Harmony passed off a few technical guitar hitches with good banter in a familiar environment for her, and in the excitement at how well the event had traversed, coupled possibly by drinks sheโ€™d had for Dutch courage, she absolutely held me spellbound! Her guitar is an accompaniment, the thrill is in her voice.

The subject matter of her self-penned songs are defined and thoughtful prose, if somewhat customary in comparison to Meg. They involve relationship worries, and tales of fatigue working a busy bar, yet they are never without an inspiring twist. Vocally, itโ€™s as if Ella Fitzgerald came after Kate Nash. I humbly and honestly declare, Harmony can hit those powerful and soulful notes of jazz greats like Nina Simone, loudly and proudly, expressively and defined, yet it is not without the contemporary twist, accented in the kind of feminine pseudo-rap akin to Nash or Lilly Allen. Delivered so utterly passionately, it becomes a joy to hear her, as she glides through expressive vocal arrangements like they are childsplay.

Harmony is young, with time on her hands, telling me she has pinned an albumโ€™s worth of songs down, which is due out shortly, yet I cannot help but attain high hopes for her after finally seeing her perform; as, if she was located in London, sheโ€™d reach an Amy Winehosue level, at least front a professional funky band. But here we are, in Chippenham, and right now Harmony is rightfully loving the attention. If our county contains these small local circuits in which one may be central in one but merging into others isnโ€™t so simple, I tumbled into a Chippenham one last night, and it contains boundless potential talent, friendly bonds and devoted fans, talkative and lovable crazy ones, but devoted nonetheless!

Once unbinded from the spell, I made my way back to the Barn, driven by the accomplished blast of a doubleheader of Led Zeppelin covers. Are El Toro a Zepp tribute, I pondered, as they appeared to have nailed Rock and Roll and Immigrant Song sublimely? Crowds gathered inside, seemingly expectant of greatness, and as far as pub circuit rock bands go, El Toro is on a pegging way above average. Matured rockers against the plethora of younger talent earlier, felt theyโ€™re doing it for the love, and have been for many a year.

Ah, teasing me in, I reckon, as they then delivered a great original next, which could have slipped into the eraโ€™s driving electric blues scene unnoticed. It was within the hard-rock homage, El Toro shine, simply and effortlessly. Their matchless ability to rouse a crowd was paramount, with comical timing set against a tight four-piece which set the ball rolling by fusing a medley of Lynyrd Skynyrdโ€™s crowd-pleaser, Sweet Home Alabama with Warren Zevonโ€™s Werewolves of London, though they adapted the location to Wiltshire, and plonked in an amusing and unsuspected nod to Will Smith, with Getting Jiggy With It, and the theme from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, being a prime example; it had quickly become obvious, El Toro wasnโ€™t a Led Zepp tribute, nor tribute to anyone particular, rather legends on their own circuit, who know precisely what buttons to press to create a great night for tipsy revellers, and such it was.

Unsure if donations made much of an effect to the campaign, kind of think now, by the culmination it didnโ€™t seem so important as hosting a lively party in a pub, and the Old Road Tavern is the perfect place for it. Open mics here happen on the last Sunday of each month, 7:30-10pm. Devizes-own JP Oldfield supports those banana washtub bassist, kazoo-tooting boaters Devilโ€™s Doorbell next Saturday, 9th November. Comedy Club is monthly, most weekends thereโ€™s something going on here, and even if there wasnโ€™t, it still feels like the place to be for the mild-mannered, open minded alternative in Chippenham; bloody loved it! 

Trending…..

Devizes Issues Wants You!

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

Keep reading

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

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Chippenham Musicians Gather For El Toro Fundraising Gig at the Old Tavern

The end of autumn shows no signs of preventing there being lots of events locally. We move into November still with a packed event calendar, do check it out. One good way to kick the month into action is a fundraiser at the Old Road Tavern in Chippenham, the first Saturday of November, (2nd.) Itโ€™s raising funds for the townโ€™s El Toro Music Shop which was destroyed by fire damage in Julyโ€ฆ..

Owner Henry Ray reported his music shop had to be closed until further notice in July when fire from a neighbouring property caused a significant loss of products and damage to the building. El Toro was a much loved music store and was an invaluable asset to local musicians. While Henry continues to provide guitar lessons, from a temporary location, he has also had to take on temporary work to cover himself, due to not having fire insurance.

Henry has been fundraising with a new plan to move forward with rebuilding the shop, albeit it may be smaller, but incorporating other products and services to generate maximum footfall. He looks towards the possibility of a partnership, allowing music instruments and accessories to be aligned with anotherโ€™s existing business.

It makes sense Chippenhamโ€™s music community would get behind the project, and the venue will be split into two stages to accompany all those willing to provide a great day of music. I believe much of the organisation for the fundraiser has been done by Harmony Asia, who headlines the pub stage, whilst at the Barn stage the owner of the shop, makes a guest appearance with his band, also aptly named El Toro.

The fun begins at 6pm, with Ben & The Cowboy in the Barn, half hour later music begins in the pub with Chris Tucker. Then the pub venue has DD, and Sharpie, headed by Harmony. The Barn has a solo set by Will Lawton, Meg, and Mac Lloyd. A few names Iโ€™m aware of and all of which I highly recommend, and some acts Iโ€™ve yet to cross off my must-see list, particularly Harmony herself.

Harmony Asia

Tickets are a tenner, from HERE, all proceeds go towards El Toro and bringing back a vital service of music products to Chippenham. If you cannot make it but would still like to donate, there’s a Go Fund Me page HERE.

Chippenham folk singer-songwriter Meg said, โ€œit’s great to be part of an amazing community,โ€ and itโ€™s a sentiment which illustrates how this event will be played out, with a real sense of community spirit; and those are the best kinda gigs! We wish Henry all the very best with his fundraising efforts.

Meg

Trending….

Rooks; New Single From M3G

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

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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, and itโ€™s got me thinking about the film Rain Manโ€ฆ.

Showing my age, I saw it at the flicks in 88! Tom Cruise was everywhere in the late eighties, and this film began like any other. Cruise, an egomaniac businessman, but in his reassociation with his lost brother, played by Dustin Hoffman, surprisingly bucked the trend of Cruiseโ€™s Hollywood template. For the masses it was an awakening, raising awareness of and offering a fascinating insight into autism.

In an interview for Devizine conducted by my daughter, this celebrated upcoming singer-songwriter was comfortable discussing her autism. โ€œI honestly donโ€™t think I would be doing this if I wasnโ€™t autistic, in a weird way,โ€ Meg explained, โ€œAll of my songs are about me in some respect and itโ€™s a part of me I canโ€™t escape.โ€ The Mist echoes this sentiment, precisely and wholeheartedly.

At the time of the 2023 interview, Meg figured the single they were discussing, Together was the only song she had written about autism, but connoting her later tunes, I believe others are, perhaps none more than The Mist. It is the most evocative and poignant on the subject, and being, as Meg said herself, โ€œitโ€™s part of who I am and I really value that part,โ€ Iโ€™ll boldly declare this is the best of her singles to date.

Weโ€™ve come so far since Rain Man in understanding, identifying, and accepting autism spectrum disorder. The most important factor, I believe, is that everyone is an individual. Ergo, while at the time we may have considered Rain Man this insight into the autistic mind, it was, actually, only ever an insight into the character of Rain Man.

This song is on a similar level, as Meg opens up and expresses her deepest thoughts on sociability and correlation versus serenity and solitary, angelically. The line in the song, โ€œmy piece of mind got up and left my side, said Iโ€™d be better off without them,โ€ is a haunting example. It is also a fascinating insight, to Megโ€™s sentience, yet in essence, it too is a beautifully crafted song with powerful ambience.

In thoughtful prose it drifts, still as the night air, and candidly as chilly, as if Meg invites you into the depths of her consciousness. It is a tested formula, astute honestly in songwriting, to leave a listener believing theyโ€™ve taken a piece of the singerโ€™s life with them, and in turn, identified with it. Yet Meg does this so utterly uniquely it could only be her thoughts done her way, thatโ€™s the only hook needed; weโ€™ve all put a square peg in a round hole. The solitariness of her delivery matches the theme and it combines into something wholesomely composed, yet sublimely forsaken.

Even the production matches the solitary of the sound, Meg provides her own backing vocals, to create layers of angelic voice, choral, like her thoughts reverberating, questioning or venerating her meaning. She will also produce and master her own work, so it is solely her outpouring, untainted by anotherโ€™s input. And that is what makes it work so wonderfully. That is why Meg can hold a crowd willing to intensively listen, spellbound; Iโ€™ve witnessed this first hand, first time at the Pump, last time at the Tuppeny, it is something worth savouring timeover. If The Mist is a metaphor for the hindrance which obscures Meg from relating to others, it is also our musical Rain Man, a fascinating insight to how oneโ€™s personal autism conducts their innermost thoughts. And that, my friend, is how you write a masterpiece!

The Mist is out Friday 18th, check in then, on M3G’s Spotify page to hear it!

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The Light at the End of The Bottle of Dog

The Light at the End of The World is a fourteen tracks strong album which scores a goal directly from the kick-off with the aptly titled opener Letโ€™s Go. Released at the beginning of the month (August 2024) the timeless goodness of hard rock is firing off on all cylinders, and it doesnโ€™t wait for the opponent to tie their shoelaces. What did you expect? This is a band called Bottle of Dog, who use a logo design adapted from the Newcastle Brown Ale labelโ€ฆ.

Lady Red follows, then Push Up Push On, and this Chippenham three-piece indie self-defined raw powerhouse shows no sign of letting up. Thereโ€™s something ZZ Top about all this love at first sight monster. The band was accidental; formed from a one-off gig, now on their two-hundredth, a splendid accident.

Their Facebook blurb pigeonholes it as indie, combining โ€œseventies classic rock sounds with modern day indie,โ€ yet I find it takes four tunes to meander from the outright frenzy of early eighties hard rock. The riff of Chancing hints at mod rock of the same era, something that reminds me of the Undertones, or and especially, Secret Affair. Better Than Me, which follows immediately after tingles with a goth rock edge. Clearly thereโ€™s more going on here than the initial blast, but through influence nods it never loses its frenetic, loud and proud edge.

Okay, The Light at the End of The World doesnโ€™t dare to experiment, opting for the tried and tested rock template, and only moving from subgenre to subgenre, but it does so thunderously and with the โ€œif it brokeโ€ notion; hard not to like unless youโ€™re George Gershwin! And anyway, before you know it, Loveable Idiot at the halfway point has taken us back to hard rock, and you wonโ€™t be complaining. Itโ€™s authentic noise, lyrically felicitous and admissible for the bill.

Three quarters through the album you consider yourself safe from getting a slushy or moody angled track, Bottle of Dog give it their all throughout. Break the Page perhaps the pre-eminent, a rolling riff to make to hurry your fag and get back inside the pub to headbang! The penultimate Captainโ€™s on Board, has an anti-establishment yell, providing adequate narrative over the rolling drums and a โ€œHey!โ€ chorus, which leaves you confident the audience of a live gig will be singing back to them no matter how unaware of these confident originals they are, or pissed they happen to be!

And we finish with Zombie Town, which quotes London as the inspiration, alien to the communal Chippenham, yeah, keep your nose out, pal! Unsure if any inner meaning to this, or if this is quite a light at the end of any road, or album, as the title may suggest, but it sure is fiery fun, quality blaring and doesnโ€™t come up for air. If a metaller went to a boozer expecting covers of Ace of Spades and Hallowed Be Thy Name, or punk wanting White Riot and Teenage Kicks, neither would go home disappointed if Bottle of Dog simply runs off this album.ย 

They play the Fleece in Bristol 8th September, The Royal Oak, Corsham 2nd November, Colerne Liberal Club on 7th December.

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 14th-20th August 2024

Hereโ€™s our bitesize look at whatโ€™s happening 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.

Wednesday 14th

Quidditch is the sport for Kids Summer Sports at Hillworth park, Devizes this Wednesday.

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Devising Drama  for 7-11 Years, and LEGO Stop-frame Animation for 8-14 Years at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Mizizi at The Bell, Bath.

ArcTangent Festival in Bristol opens.

Thursday 15th

Opening day for the Lawrence Art Societyโ€™s Exhibition at Devizes Town Hall. Running until Saturday. 

The Ripples & Jol Rose at the Beehive, Swindon. The Little Mermaid at The Wyvern Theatre, runs until Saturday.

Friday 16th

Lost Pubs of Devizes guided tour. Devizes Camerados are at the Cheese Hall with Wiltshire Museum; help them to design a carnival banner.

Apache Cats at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Meat Loud at the Neeld, Chippenham.

Exhibition on Screen โ€“ My National Gallery at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Band X at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Daybreakes at The Vic, Swindon. Lonely Road Band at the Beehive. Liddington Hill & King Attitude at the Castle. Men in Vests & Adrianaโ€™s Keys at Underground. 

Saturday 17th

Lego & Toy Fair at The Melksham Assembly Hall. Martyโ€™s Fake Family at the Grapes, Melksham.

Killertones at the Southgate, Devizes.

Seend Summer Village Breakfast at Seend Community Centre. Sausage & Cider Day at the Brewery Inn, Seend Cleeve.

Famous Hangover Sessions at the Lamb, Marlborough: Rave Against the Regime, All Ears Avow, Trash Panda, Band U Like, Hooch.

Floaty Boaty Event at The Barge, HoneyStreet.

Dโ€™Ska Assassins at the Bouverie Hall, Pewsey. 

The Piggy Bankโ€™s 3rd Birthday, Calne.

Unlock Reset Festival near Chippenham.

White Horse Military Show, Westbury

41 Fords at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Midlife Krisis Summer Family Fete in Swindon. Stop Stop at The Vic.

This Is The Kit at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Sergeant Thunderhoof at The Tree House.

Sunday 18th

Heritage Walk of Devizes. Hen House Brides will host a pop-up shop in Devizes Town Hall giving brides-to-be a rare opportunity to browse the entire White Studio London and White Studio Curve collections and discover the dress of their dreams.

Will Edmunds at the Southgate, Devizes from 5pm.

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Fly Yeti Fly at The Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon from 1pm. Zambalando at GWR Park, Swindon from 3pm

Will Edmunds Band at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Blues Cafรฉ Orchestra at The Bell, Bath

Monday 19th

DOCAโ€™s youth filmmaking project Selfievaultion begins, see the poster for details on this. 

Sliders at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 20th

Ian Bateman Quartet for Jazz Knights, the Royal Oak, Swindon.

Kiefer Sutherland at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

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!

โ† Back

Thank you for your response. โœจ

Have a good week!

Trending…

The Lost Trades Float on New Single

Iโ€™ve got some gorgeous vocal harmonies currently floating into my ears, as The Lost Trades release their first single since the replacement of Tamsinโ€ฆ

Ruzz Guitar Swings With The Dirty Boogie

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

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 7th – 13th August 2024

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.

Get Your Event Listed Here FREE โ€“ Please Donate If You Can

Wednesday 7th

Acoustic Jam @ The Southgate, Devizes

Chippenham Museum Creative Writing Group – Maud’s Way
Little Piccolos (3 Months-5 Years)
Pottery Painting (12-19 Years)

TRAGEDY: ALL METAL TRIBUTE TO THE BEE GEES + SURREAL PANTHER @ The Vic, Swindon

LGMX @ The Bell, Bath

Thursday 8th

Family Workshop: Victorian Portrait Photography brought to life! @ Wiltshire Museum, Devizes

Sparkly Singers
*SOLD OUT* SASS Circus Skills Workshop (5-13 Years)
A Different Thread – Trio

Friday 9th

Summer Crafts 4 Kids โ€“ run by Wiltshire Museumโ€™s Youth Panel, Devizes

Rock the Tots – Summer Party! (0-10 Years)

The Corinthian Causals @ the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon

The Navigator (U) with live piano score by Meg Morley

CREATURE CREATURE @ The Vic, Swindon

Echo Den @ the Beehive, Swindon

Pete Allen’s Jazz Band – CANCELLED

Tangled up in Blues Festival @ Radford Farm, Somerset

Hillbilly Hootenanny
Ion Maiden – LIVE AT THE TREE HOUSE

Saturday 10th

Camera Amnesty @ Wiltshire Museum, Devizes

Family Workshop: Victorian Portrait Photography brought to life! @ Wiltshire Museum, Devizes

Rabbit Rabbit | A Tribute to Chas & Dave

Muddy Manninen & Patsy Gamble Band @ The Southgate, Devizes

James Mitchell @ the Three Crowns, Devizes

Seend Fete

The Vooz & Pants @ the Lamb, Marlborough

Mid-Life Krisis @ The Barge, HoneyStreet

https://thecivictrowbridge.co.uk/tc-events/fleetwood-shack/

The Radio Makers @ the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon

WIZARDS OF OZ (THE OZZY OSBOURNE TRIBUTE) @ The Vic, Swindon

Progressive @ the Beehive, Swindon

Luke Philbrick & the Solid Gold Skiffle Invasion @ the Castle, Swindon

Kavus Torabi & The Witching Tale – Live At The Tree House

Sunday 11th

Innes Sibun Trio @ The Southgate, Devizes 5pm

Cooper Creek @ The Richard Jeffries Museum, Swindon 1pm

Swindon Palestine Solidarity March: Regent Circus, Swindon, 11:30

HORIZON LINE @ The Vic, Swindon

Innes Sibun Trio @ the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon

Rag Mama Rag @ The Bell, Bath

Monday 12th

Chippenham Film Club August feature

Piotr Jordan @ The Bell, Bath

Tuesday 13th

Singing Day (7-16 Years)

CALLUM SMITH ORGAN TRIO @ Jazz Knights, the Royal Oak, Swindon

Lonely Tourist @ The Bell, Bath

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!

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 17th- July 2024

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

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.

Marlborough Open Studios is running until 28th July. 

Wednesday 17th

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre screening Kind Hearts And Coronets. Big Jam session at the Vic, Swindon.

Fromage en Feu at the Bell, Bath

Thursday 18th

Amadeus Orchestra at Wilthsire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

National Theater Live: Present Laughter (Encore Screening) at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Memory Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. Chicago Blues Brothers at the Wyvern Theatre.

Lonely Tourist at The Tuppenny. Larkham & Hall at The Beehive. Preacher Son & Sons of Liberty at The Vic.

Back to Moo Moo at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Friday 19th

Event by Babois Eats the Lizard at the Dog & Fox, Bradford-on-Avon. 

Avalon Comedy Network: Michael Odewale, Grace Mulvey, Sahib Singh & Luke Honnoraty at Pound Arts, Corsham.

I Know the End at Swindon Arts Centre, repeats Saturday. 4ft Fingers & Slagerij at The Vic, Swindon.

Upton Blues Festival opens.

Saturday 20th

New Moon โ€“ A Psychic and Spiritual Fayre at Devizes Corn Exchange from 11-4pm. The Roughcut Rebels at The Three Crowns. Talk in Code at The Southgate.

Market Lavington Vintage Meet Family Fun Weekend

Living Among… Reflections on Solitude and Nature: An evening of classical and folk music for violin and voice, with new work from composer Dylan Fixmer, also guest on piano and guitar at St Peter’s, Marlborough. Glamarma at the Bear. Rom 101 at The Lamb.

Reggae at the Pelican, Froxfield with Razah I-Fi.

Classic Ibiza at Bowood House

Glenn Darren & The Krewkats at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.

Cider, Reggae & Rum Festival in Trowbridge.

Ultimate Floyd – Pink Floyd Tribute Show at The Neeld, Chippenham.

The Thomas Sladden Quartet at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Malin Lewis Trio at Pound Arts, Corsham.

SGO at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon from 1pm. Rammied at The Vic. World Music Club at The Beehive. There’s a rally for Plastine at Faringdon Road Park. Julie Scott’s Academy Of Dance – Let Us Entertain You Again at the Wyvern Theatre.

But, Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week is in Swindon this week, itโ€™s My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival for Prospect House at the Old Town Bowl; Ian despatched to find out more and report back!

Carpenters Tribute โ€“ Rainy Days, Mondays & Good Old Dreams at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Frome Record Fair at the Cheese & Grain. The Guns N Roses Experience afterwards.

Sunday 21st

Fantasy Radio is at Hillworth Park, Devizes with Andrew Hurst from 2pm-5pm. Jerry Crozier-Cole Trio at The Southgate, Devizes 5pm. Apparently, thereโ€™s a Family Fun Day at Avon Road Park, Devizes; Deadlight Dance are playing but Iโ€™ve heard nothing more about it. Sunday Sounds at the Muck & Dunder, free entry.

GM Dance Academyโ€™s Summer Showcase at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Schtumm X-tra Presents Sarah Gillespie & Chris Montague at The Queens Head, Box. 

Kirris Riviere & Delta du Bruit at the Bell, Bath.

Jol Rose & Rachel Birkin at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon 1pm. Embrace All Festival, Swindon. Emma Doupe at The Vic. JHS Dance – Seasons Of Dance at the Wyvern Theatre.

Frome Childrenโ€™s Festival at the Cheese & Grain.

Monday 22nd

Wonder Gigs: Seasons at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Kevin Dempsey at the Bell, Bath.

Later with Frome College at the Cheese & Grain.

Tuesday 23rd

Rob Lear Band at The Piggy Bank, Calne.

Karen Sharpe Quartet at  Jazz Knights, Royal Oak, Swindon.

Week one of Devizes Tennis Clubโ€™s Summer Tennis Camp begins.

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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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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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

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 26th June – 2nd July 2024

July is around the corner, the sun has his hat on, hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโ€ฆ.

And note we have well over quadruple the amount of events listed than the new and rather expensive looking official council events website for this weekend, and ours has cost you, the taxpayer, only your time in reading this and supporting us. The very idea for it was, coincidentally, put forward by a councillor with a personal grudge on me for some unknown reason. The only reason I could guess why the council does not support us is because we will bring you events which may be unwelcomed by them, such as protests and rallies. All rather silly really, as it is rare for our area to have such happenings anyway, go figure!

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.

Wednesday 26th

Devizes Books Presents: A tribute to Brigid Harpham, at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at The Southgate.

Melksham General Election Husting at Spencer Sports & Social Club.

Open Mic at Stallards, Trowbridge.

Richard Herringโ€™s Can I Have My Ball Back? at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Ria Linaโ€™s Riawakening at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. Helele at the Bell, Bath.

And of course, Glastonbury opens its gates for all you lucky, lucky people!

Thursday 27th

Wharf Writersโ€™ Group perform Whereโ€™s The Cat live at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. Preview Here.

Open Mic at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.

Sayers & After Knights at The Tuppenny, Swindon.

M4F June Open Mic and Jamming Session at The Rude Giant, Salisbury.

London Calling at The Tree House, Frome.

Friday 28th

Liam Merrigan Band, John E Wright & Josh Oldfield at the Cellar Bar, Bear Hotel, Devizes.

Chippenham Food & Drink Festival begins.

Mother Vulture at the Pump, Trowbridge, with NervEndings and Worlds Best Dad. The Soul Strutters at the Civic.

Dr John Cooper Clarke with special guests at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Lone Sharks and Head Noise at The Three Horseshoes. El Toro at The Boathouse. The Karport Collective at the Seven Stars, Winsley.

Avalon Comedy Network: Aurie Styla, Caitlin Powell, Kieran James Boyd & Dom Hatton-Woods at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Kerrangโ€™d at the Vic, Swindon.

Rock the Totsโ€™ Jungle at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Saturday 29th

Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week is rather obvious, itโ€™s MantonFest near Marlborough, a wonderful little festival, so kind they let me choose an act to play this year, which is Chippenham folk singer-songwriter M3G. Grab your tickets and I might see you there.

Devizes Pride at Hillworth Park, second Devizes Pride in the park all day. Crammer Watch 2024 Launch Event, at the Crammer, Devizes. Plan of Action at The Three Crowns. The Worried Men at The Southgate.

Poulshot Village Fete. BBQ with the Mangled Wurzels at Erlestoke Golf Club.

The Vox Beatles at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Calne Summer Carnival. 41 Fords at The Talbot, Calne.

The Stories at the Three Crowns, Chippenham. Brave Rival & Sloetrain at the Pewsham. Living Spit: Adolf & Winston at the Neeld.

The Junkyard Dogs launch their new album at The Pump, Trowbridge; (need a review of the album, guys, let me know?)

Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Ragged Union at The Three Horseshoes.The Hot Juice Project at The Boathouse.

Matthew and the Atlas at Pound Arts, Corsham.

REME Museum Extravaganza in Lynham. 

Italia Conti at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Tony Scothern at the Packhorse, Larkhill.

The Hengehogs at the Kings, Amesbury.

Dave Howell at the George & Dragon, Salisbury.

Don Giovanni at the Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Sunday 30th

Seend Fawlty Players presents Thatโ€™s Life at the Seend Community Centre.

Sunflower Events Summer Craft Fair at The Corn Exchange, Devizes. Wilts V-Dub Club Meet at Devizes Market Place. Mr Griff at The Southgate (?)

Open Mic at The Barge, Honeystreet. Music on a Sunday Afternoon with the Little Big Band at St Johns, Pewsey.

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

June Open Mic at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

The James Oliver Band at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Coyote Country Band at The Boathouse.

Schtumm presents Sebastain & Me and Kotonic at The Queenโ€™s Head, Box.

Peter & The Wolves at the Bell, Bath.

Open Mic at the Boot Inn, Tisbury.

Everybody Sing at Swindon Arts Centre. The Vipers at the Vic.

Monday 1st July

Lawrence Art Society: Live Art Demonstration, Sketching for Summer at Devizes Conservative Club.

Tuesday 2nd

Open Mic at The Royal Oak, Bath.

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….

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

Keep reading

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 12th – 18th June 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.

Devizes Arts Festival got off to a great start, it continues through the week, individual events are listed as normal below.

Wednesday 12th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Two Devizes Arts Festival events, Kate Webb and Jon Stock โ€“ The Darker Side of Wiltshire at the Peppermill, and Martin Simpson at the Corn Exchange.

Lunchtime Recital: Meg Morley (Piano) at Pound Arts, Corsham. 

In The Night Garden Live at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Memory Cinema, for those with dementia, is showing Annie Get Your Gun at Swindon Arts Centre.

The Archive of Dread Revisited at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Solana at the Bell, Bath.

Wheatus plays the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Thursday 13th

Duo Tutti at the Town Hall, and The Sound of Blue Note, also at the Town Hall, make up Devizes Arts Festival for Thursday. John Lawson’s Circus opens on the Green, Devizes and runs until 16th June.

In The Night Garden Live at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Ma Polaineโ€™s Great Decline at The Tuppenny, Swindon.

Jonny & The Baptists presents the Happiness Index and Ten Thankless Years at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

An Evening With Harry Redknapp at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 14th

Chocolate Truffle Masterclass at HolyChocs in Poulshot.

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at Devizes Arts Festival in the Corn Exchange.  Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes.

Tom Davis & The Bluebirds at The Barge, HoneyStreet.

The Carrivick Sisters at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. BuckFest over the weekend at The Three Horseshoes, Friday with Kitchen Lover,, Mimi & the Miseries and Bucky Rage.The Karport Collective at The Seven Stars, Winsley.

Jacob & Drinkwater: 10th Anniversary Tour at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Carpenters Story at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. An Evening of Mediumship with Psychic Medium Nikki Kitt at Swindon Arts Centre. Oasish & The Stereotonics at the Vic, Swindon.

Jonny & The Baptists presents the Happiness Index and Ten Thankless Years at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Toyah & Robert at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Saturday 15th

Summer Fayre at Bishops Cannings School from 12-4pm.

Huw Williams โ€“ St Johnโ€™s Church Organ Recital at St Johnโ€™s Church Devizes, part of Devizes Arts Festival. Bone Chapel at The Southgate. 6 Oโ€™clock Circus at The Three Crowns.

Pianist Tony James with a lineup you can see the poster below, at Market Lavington Community Hall for a Mathieson Music Trust 30th Anniversary.

The Parade Festival, at the Parade Cinema, Marlborough, with The Vooz and Zoots headlining. Room 101 at the Lamb, Marlborough.

Cacti & Succulent Show at Melksham Assembly Hall

Daliso Chaponda: Feed This Black Man Again at the Neeld, Chippenham. NWSO Summer Concert 2024 at St. Andrewโ€™s Church. Grease and Dirty Dancing tribute night at the Pewsham.

Trowbridge Midsummer Festival at Trowbridge Town Park. Free this one, with the incredible Frankisoul on at 8pm! Dead Zebras and Diversion at the Pump. A roller-disco at the Civic.

Bath Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. BuckFest at The Three Horseshoes continues with Bucky Rage, Bully Bones & The Pressure.

VRรฏ at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Shepton Mallet Prison Charity Abseil.

Holding Back The Years at Swindon Arts Centre. Judas Rising at the Queenโ€™s Tap. Shepherdโ€™s Pie at the Vic, Swindon. Thereโ€™s a Wanborough Beer Festival too.

Neuroheadz Festival 2024 at Brokenborough opens.

The Vintage Bazaar at the Cheese & Grain, Frome is followed by The Blockheads.

Sunday 16th

Matchbox Mutiny at The Three Crowns, Devizes from 3pm. LeBurn Maddox & Friends at The Southgate, Devizes from 5pm. The Junco Shakers at The British Lion at 2pm, a FREE Devizes Arts Festival fringe, and a The Poetry Slam from 6pm at the Wharf Theatre is another free fringe event which sadly closes the arts festival for another year.

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Perfectly Frank, Frank Sinatra tribute at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

BuckFest continues at The Three Horseshoes.

Western Players โ€“ Dead Reckoning opens at Swindon Arts Centre, running until 26th June. Kavus Torabi at the Vic, Swindon

Hodmadoddery at the Bell, Bath.

Monday 17th

Devizes Election Hustlings at Devizes School, see poster.

Troy Redfern is at The Tree House, Frome.

Tuesday 18th

Jon Pearson at Crazy Bird Comedy Club in The Piggy Bank Micropub in Calne.

Lost Songs of Scilly: Piers Lewin & John Patrick Elliott at Pound Arts, Corsham.

QOW Trio for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon.

Saskia Maxwell & Sam Sweeney 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.

Summer Solstice next Thursday 20h June, and thereโ€™s lots to do over the rest of the month, HERE> 

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……

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

Keep reading

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

Keep reading

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 5th -11th June 2024

Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming week. Donโ€™t forget your sunscreen and a nice party umbrella!

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.

Devizes Arts Festival got off to a great start, it continues through the week, individual events are listed as normal below.

Wednesday 5th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Mike Dilger โ€“ One Thousand Shades of Green and An Evening with Adam Rutherford, both at Devizes Arts Festival.

Ignas Maknickas at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Big Monthly Jam at The Vic, Swindon.

Dot, the Faun and the Elfin Child at Rondo Theatre, Bath. SKANKt at the Bell. 

Thursday 6th

80th anniversary of D-Day, there will be lighting of beacons across the county. One on Marlborough Common, another one Roundway Hill Devizes.

Rum & Records at the Muck & Dundar, Devizes. Hollie McNish โ€“ The Lobster Tour and Lucy Porter at Devizes Arts Festival. Fantasy Radio will be at the Pelican for a live lounge, featuring Andrew Hurst.

Death is a Girl, Ritual Divide & The Belladonna Treatment at the Vic, Swindon. Splat The Rat at The Tuppenny.

Friday 7th

RNLI Lifeboats Event, Polperro Fishermenโ€™s Choir at The Assembly Rooms, Devizes Town Hall. Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls at Devizes Arts Festival. 

Open Mic at The Barge on HoneyStreet.

Textiles and Stitch around Marlborough are in Lockeridge, see poster below.

CarmenCo: A Pocket Opera at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Ant Trouble at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Rotten Aces at the Queenโ€™s Tap, Swindon. Bring me the Horizon Party at the Vic.

Meltdown by Tom Hardman (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, Bath. The Collected Grimms Tales by Tim Supple and Carol Ann Duffy (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, Bath. Letโ€™s Unpack That at the Rondo Theatre.

Tangled Roots Folk Festival, Radford Farm, Somerset.

Skinny Lister at The Tree House, Frome. The Buzzcocks at the Cheese & Grain. Not Fragile at The Sun.

Saturday 8th

Cable Street Collective at Devizes Arts Festival, Corn Exchange 8pm. The Unpredictables at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Tom Davies & The Bluebirds at The Southgate. Braeside Summer Extravaganza โ€“ Devizes, free entry, for fun activities, delicious food, live music, artisan market and more. 

The Monkey Dolls at The Lamb, Marlborough. RNLI Concert at St Peterโ€™s Church.

Parker, Youngest of 3 and Butane Skies at the Pump in Trowbridge. Donโ€™t forget, Youngest of 3 drummer Flo is also a regular contributor to Devizine, reporting on the youth scene, so please show them some support if you can! Sounds of Seattle at the Civic.

Bradford-on-Avon Food & Drink Festival. Fist Full of Rage at The Three Horseshoes.

Magic & Marvels at Swindon Arts Centre. Rockabilly Rumble at The Queenโ€™s Tap, Swindon.

Masa at The Tuppenny. The Chaos Brothers at The Vic.

Catherine Bohartโ€™s Again, With Feelings, at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Little Pickles Market followed by Paul Jones & Dave Kelly at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Sunday 9th

Lions on the Green at Devizes Green. Tamsin Quinn & Vince Bell at The Southgate, from 5pm. Devizes Arts Festival Walk : Sarsens, Soldiers and Sawpits, and two free fringe events, Rumour at the Three Crowns at 2pm, and Annie Parker Trio at St John’s Church at 7pm.

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Matt Bragg & Seb Cooper at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Destination: Old Hag by Bridget Hardy, Penny Rossano and Samantha Houston (Bath Fringe Festival 2024) at The Mission, Bath. The Saint Melonians at the Bell, Bath.

Monday 10th

Ida Pelliccioli at Devizes Arts Festival.

Rock The Tots: Jungle at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The University of Bath Minerva Lecture Series at The Mission, Bath. Scott Lavene at the Bell, Bath (we love Scott here at Devizine, go see this, and if you do, please write back to tell us about it.)

Tuesday 11th

Devizes Arts Festival: Belinda Kirk and The Life-Changing Power of Adventure. And Discovering Antarctica : Heroic tales of Shackleton, Crean and Scott ~ Play on Words Theatre.

Peter Jones & Tom Berge Trio for Jazz Knights at 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 every-changing events diary. Isnโ€™t it high time you snapped up some tickets for the Devizes Arts Festival?

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…..

I See Orangeโ€ฆ.And Doll Guts!

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

Talk in Code Down The Gate!

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

Recommendations for when Swindon gets Shuffling

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

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Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 8th-14th May 2024

Itโ€™s beginning to look a lot more like spring now; you are officially cleared to go outside! Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do outside, 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 with even more things to do than listed here, 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.ย 

Wednesday 8th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes

Trowbridge Job Fair.

Nick Helmโ€™s Super Fun Good Time Show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. O. Love & The Affair at the Bell, Bath. Nurse Georgie Carroll: Sista Flo 2.0 at Komedia.

Big Jam Session at The Vic, Swindon. And the Swindon Festival Of Literature opens with Anne-Marie Oโ€™Dwyer at Swindon Arts Centre,  and Jessica Fostekew: Mettle.

Thursday 9th

Devizes Film Club at the Wharf Theatre, screening The Quiet Girl.

Comedy Loft 9 at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The TigerFace Show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Hayseed Dixie and The Zipheads at Komedia.

Butcombe Festival Of Laughs At The White Hart, Wroughton. Coopers Creek at The Beehive, Swindon. Swindon Festival Of Literature: Elizabeth Oldfield and Mark Rutterford at Swindon Arts Centre, followed by The Metamorphosis at Swindon Arts Centre.

Friday 10th

People Like Us at The Condado Lounge, Devizes. Palooza are back at the Exchange nightclub, great night of house music, great vibe, last time. 

The Future Sound of Trowbridge #9 at The Pump, with FLAM and Artoid. TrowFest at Trowbridge RFC. 

Miss Kill at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Counterโ€™s Creek at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Warming up for the Green Man Festival on Saturday, I Smell Burning at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Full Motley at The Boathouse. Lindisfarne at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Benji Kirkpatrick at Chapel Arts, Bath. My Secret Sister at The Rondo Theatre. Craig Charles Funk & Soul House Party at Komedia.

Jordan Red, Webb and Boss Cass at The Vic, Swindon. Peloton at the Queenโ€™s Tap.

Swindon Festival Of Literature at Swindon Arts Centre โ€“has Marcus Du Sautoy, Hilary Bradt, and Felice Hardy.

New Purple Celebration โ€“ The Music of Prince at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Gary Stringer of Reef at The Tree House.

Saturday 11th

The Stert Country House Collectables and Car Boot Sale in aid of Cancer Research at Stert near Devizes. Kirris Riviere & The Delta Du Bruit at The Southgate. 

Five Lanes Summer Fete in Worton. The Unpredictables at Potterne Social Club.

The Famous Hangover Sessions atThe New Lamb Inn, Marlborough. Open Mic at The Barge on HoneyStreet.

Martyโ€™s Fake Family at Gloucester Road Club, Trowbridge. Rural France, Ravetank, Clock Radio and Fela Dekota all at The Pump.

The Fureys at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, Preview HERE. Also find Strange Folk at The Three Horseshoes. Be Like Will at The Boathouse.

Westbury Food & Drink Festival

โ€˜The Mystery Guest Tour Featuring Lady Nade, Daisy Chute, and Izzue Yardley at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Talk in Code at The Castle, Swindon with KGB and The Racket. Here Comes the Crows at the Queenโ€™s Tap. Rush Hour at the Woodlands Edge. Faux Fighters at The Vic. Swindon Festival Of Literature at Swindon Arts Centre has Tony Hawks and a Flash Fiction Slam!

A rally for Palestine in Bath. Sherlockโ€™s Excellent Adventure at The Rondo Theatre. Ma Bessie and her Pigfoot Band at Chapel Arts.

Kings of Lyon and The UK-Strokes at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Sunday 12th

Devizes Lions Sponsored Walk. Jack Grace at The Southgate, from 5pm.

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Melksham Record Fair at Melksham Assembly Hall.

The Ultimate Commitments and Blues Brothers Experience at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Mustard Allegro at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Cantamus Chamber Choir Chichester Psalms at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Schtumm presents AQABA at The Queenโ€™s Head in Box. Mambo Jambo at the Bell, Bath.

Legacy at The Kings Arms, Old Town, Swindon. Swindon Festival Of Literature has a Children & Families Day at Swindon Arts Centre, and the Festival Finale.

Tellison at The Tree House, Frome.

Monday 13th

The Thrill of Love opens at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. Preview HERE. It runs until 18th May.

Rock The Tots: Movies at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Jack Grace at the Bell, Bath.

Teenage Sequence at The Tree House, Frome.

Tuesday 14th

The Black Feathers at The Piggy Bank Micropub, Calne.

Pale Blue Eyes at the Tree House, Frome.

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

Snap up tickets time: we recommend on Wednesday 15th, the Patsy Gamble Jazz Trio in Bromham, preview HERE. Jonathan Leibovitz at Wiltshire Music Centre.

And the weekend sees Bath International Music Festival begin, The Chilled Out Motorhome and Camper Weekender in Cirencester, Devizes Vegan Market at The Market Place, Dirt Road Band at Long Street Blues Club, with Ruby Darbyshire in support, and Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army are at The Southgate. White Horse Soapbox Derby, Westbury and Talk in Code make their debut at The Kings Arms, Amesbury. John Lydon, yes, John Lydon is at the Cheese & Grain, and thereโ€™s lots more on our event calendar to boot!

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, and don’t forget, the Devizes Arts Festival box office is open and waiting for you!

Trending…..

A Busy Week For Lunch Box Buddy!

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

Wither; Debut Single From Butane Skies

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

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 10th-16th April 2024

Spring has sprung! There were two snails on my milk-float this morning, opening โ€œdoing it,โ€ without shame; absolute filth! โ€ฆ. I should have filmed it (in a jealous rage!) there might be a gap in the market for mollusc porn! Birds, bees, now snails, theyโ€™re all getting some!

Okay, letโ€™s get you out and about, and you never know your luck, you too can be like those snails! 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 with even more things to do than listed here, so check in later in the week.

Ongoing: Devizes RAF Squadron still have their Easter Egg Hunt running across Devizes, until 14th April; Iโ€™d have eaten the lot by now!

And then There Were None runs at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes until Saturday; review HERE.

Wednesday 10th

Crafty Kids at Hillworth Park, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at The Southgate. White Horse Operaโ€™s La Boheme at Lavington School opens and runs up to Saturday.

Runny Snotts Open Mic at the Three Crowns, Chippenham.

Dom Martin Solo Tour with special guest: Demi Marriner, at Chapel Arts, Bath.

 Easter Panto, Beauty And The Beast at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Pop Kids Mini Rave at the Vic, with a Big Jam Session in the evening.

Thursday 11th

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

Boo Hewerdine plus support: Vlado Nosal at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Tommy Hale & the Magnificent Bastards at the Beehive, Swindon. Lost Revellers at The Tuppenny. Tanwood Youth Theatreโ€™s Frozen Jr. opens at Swindon Arts Centre, runs until Sunday. An Evening Of Burlesque at The Wyvern Theatre.

Friday 12th

Karaoke Night with Karl Maggs at the Exchange, Devizes. 

Open Mics at The Barge on HoneyStreet, and The Parade Cinema, Marlborough.

Americana Beer Festival at The Bell, Bowden Hill, Lacock.

Sound of the Sirens at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Bluebeard in support.

This Carpenters Masquerade at Melksham Assembly Hall.

West of England Youth Orchestra Relaxed Family Concert at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Heavy For the Tropics at The Three Horseshoes.

Jon Amor Trio at The Ram, Bath. Emma Stevens Bandโ€™s โ€œBloomโ€ Tour plus support from BLรNID at Chapel Arts.

Barrelhouse at The New Inn, Swindon. Motorheadache at the Vic. Plucking Different at the Beehive. 12 Bars Later at The Village Inn, Shaw. Sir Bradley Wiggins at The Wyvern Theatre.

The Scribesโ€™ Boombox at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Saturday 13th

Museum Explorers Club โ€“ Animals in the Museum at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. Museum Explorers club is for 5-7 year olds and is an introduction to popular topics such as the Romans and Ancient Egyptians. The Great British Yarn Crawl at Pins & Needles on Snuff Street, Devizes.

Humdinger at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Cooperโ€™s Creek at The Southgate. Dreamettes at Devizes Conservative Club. And Stevie MC is in the mix at the Exchange.

But, Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week is The Marley Experience at the Corn Exchange, Devizes. Iโ€™ve been looking forward to this since CrownFest last summer; hope to see you thereโ€ฆjamminโ€™ โ€˜til the jam is done!

Meatloud at Melksham Assembly Hall. The Corsairs at The Grapes. The Singing Herdsman at The Pilot.

The Chaos Brothers at The Talbot, Calne.

The Monkey Dolls at the Lamb, Marlborough.

The Exact Opposite at the Pump, Trowbridge.ย 

The Idle Silence, Cult Python, & Otterman at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Fire & Rain & American Pie at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Stockers Street Food Festival at The Hop, Swindon. The Daybreakers at the Vic.

The Good Old Fashioned Lover Boys at Tuckers Grave Inn, Faulkland.

The JB Conspiracy at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.ย 

Top Secret โ€“ The Magic of Science at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. Mother Vulture at The Tree House.

Sunday 14th

CSF Wrestling at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.  Jon Amor Trio Special with guest Stevie Watts at The Southgate.

Open Mic at Red Lion, Lacock.

Deadlight Danceโ€™s The Wiltshire Gothic Album Launch at The Blue Boar, Aldbourne. Album reviewed HERE.

Murder Trial Tonight at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Barney & Kelly at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Monday 15th

Macbeth at Swindon Arts Centre, also runs on Tuesday.

Tuesday 16th

The Lost Trades at The Piggybank, Calne.

Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe event for Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon, A celebration of Herbie Hancock, with Tom Berge.

Poetika at the Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

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.

And, while we’re planning ahead, April is hotting up, believe me, loads of good, good, even gooder stuff and stuff gooder than them! Have a look at the coming month HERE.ย ย 

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, One Love.

Trending…..

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 27th March – 2nd April 2024

The first Kamikaze moth of the year dive-bombed my face the other morning. Forget blossoming trees and tulips, that’s a milkmanโ€™s sure sign of springโ€ฆbecause we wear a headtorch, you see? Oh, never mind, what do you care?! You just want me to tell you whatโ€™s happening over the eggtastic week in the wilds of Wiltshire; suppose so, if I must! Happy Easter one and all!

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.ย 

Wednesday 27th

Last day to catch Vowvas film screening at Parnella House, Devizes, see poster for details.

Devizes Books Presentsโ€ฆThe Island Continent; A trip through the history and culture of Australia at Wiltshire Museum. From the achievements of early Aboriginal tribes, through visits from European explorers, the inhabitants of the Red Centre and finally to the work of Australian imports to this country, they celebrate all that is great about the Antipodean life and culture. With contributions from Thomas Keneally, Nevil Shute, Clive James, Germaine Greer and Billy Connolly. An evening devised and introduced by Lewis Cowen. 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets, ยฃ6, includes a glass of wine or soft drink and nibbles. Tickets available from Devizes Books cash only please. Or book by phoning 01380 725944 and pay cash on the door.

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

Opening night of Editorโ€™s Pick of Week, Devizes Musical Theatre brings Sister Act to Daunstyโ€™s School in West Lavington.

Siรขn Dicker: Waltonโ€™s Songbook and Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, both at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Rondo Variety Show at The Rondo Theatre, Bath. Bethlehem Casuals at The Bell, Bath.

Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard at The Tree House, Frome.

Thursday 28th

Starting Thursday and running all weekend, Wadworth have open days at the Wadworth Brewery & Tap Shop, Devizes, promising a โ€œWeโ€™ll Meet Again Big Weekend.โ€

Regular PSG Choir workshop at King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.

Stuart Rolfe and Becky Lawrence at The Old Bell, Warminster.

Robert Brown at The Beehive, Swindon. Flo Parker Bombosch & Sienna Wileman at The Tuppenny. And itโ€™s Vic Fest 2024 at the Vic, celebrating its tenth year, music all Easter โ€œBandโ€ Holiday Weekend: eggs opening at 7:30pm with Chasing Dolls, Ritual Divide, Kotonic, Trashed and Falls On Deaf Ears.

Luisa Omielanโ€™s Bitter at Swindon Arts Centre, and The Best Of Queen at the Wyvern.

Friday 29th

Easter Bunny Hunt across Devizes by the Devizes RAF Cadets, all weekend.

People Like Us at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Some reggae and soca with David Brewster at the Bear, Marlborough.

Future Sound of Trowbridge #7 at the Pump, Trowbridge with Nothing Rhymes With Orange, SOAK and Feedback. Junkyard Dogs at The Red Admiral, Trowbridge.

Martyโ€™s Fake Family at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. Regular Music event at the Cause Cafe in Chippenham.

Iain Ballamyโ€™s Fascinada at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. The Boot Hill All Stars at The Three Horseshoes.

Funkkinsteins at The Beehive, Swindon. The Chaos Brothers at The Ashford Road Centre. A Country Night in Nashville at the Wyvern. Vic Fest continues at the Vic, with Truck, Nervendings, Men In Vests, The Belladonna Treatment and Fluff.

Tool Shed: A Tribute to Tool at The Tree House, Frome. General Levy at the Cheese & Grain – amazing, and it doesnโ€™t look sold out yet!

Saturday 30th

Melksham Lions Easter Egg Hunt.

Tom Davis & The Bluebirds at The Southgate, Devizes. Funked Up at the Pelican.

Nick Harperโ€™s Tempus Fugitive tour at St Peterโ€™s, Marlborough. Barrelhouse at The Lamb. And a reggae party with Razah-Hi-Fi at the Royal Oak.

Josh Kumra at the Barge, HoneyStreet.

The Unpredictables at The Bell, Great Cheverell.

Brad Stevens at The Consti Club, Chippenham.

The Lost Trades at The Pump, Trowbridge, sold out Iโ€™m afraid. Be Like Will at the West Wilts Con Club in Trowbridge. Miss Bridy & The Two Notes at Gloucester Road Conservative Club. The Ultimate Retro Disco Party at the Civic.

Be Like Will

The Buttmonkeys at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. The Mix at St Margaretโ€™s Hall.

The Blue Moon Band at Tuckerโ€™s Inn, Faulkland.

The Jukebox Graduates at The Swiss Chalet, Swindon. SGO at The Beehive. The Chaos Brothers at The Ashford Road Club. Awakening Savannah at The Woodlands Edge.

Marquee Square Heroes at Swindon Arts Centre. Bowie Live at the Wyvern. And Vic Fest at the Vic has Modern Evils, Life In Mono, Bluntnose, Sebastian & Me, Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Colour of Bone.

Reubenโ€™s Daughters at the New Inn, Bath.

Junkyard Dogs at The Sun, Frome. The Wurzels at the Cheese & Grain. Viva Morrissey at The Tree House. 

Junkyard Dogs

Sunday 31st

Scrambled Eggs Easter Hunt at Hillworth Park, Devizes. Illingworth at The Three Crowns. Adam Woodhouse’s Thieves at The Southgate, highly recommended if you like your Americana.

Thieves

Open Mic at the Red Lion, Lacock.

Junkyard Dogs at Calne Liberal Club.

Rob Clamp at The Barge, HoneyStreet.

Open Mic at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Sunday at Vic Fest, Swindon sees Kid Klumsy, Visceral Noise Department, AnyMinuteNo, Mr Badaxe, Rebel Station, Disruptive Influence, Bear Noir and Dangermind, from 5:30pm.

James Hollingworth at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Authentics at Tuckerโ€™s Inn, Faulkland.

Moonlit Poachers with Jake Puntis at the Long Room in Box.

Carmina 3 at The Bell, Bath, and a Palestine fundraiser with DJs Goodgroove, JayCee, and others, see poster. 

Monday 1st April

Canal & River Trustโ€™s Letโ€™s Walk through Caen Hill & Jubilee Wood. South Western at The Three Crowns, Devizesfrom 3pm-5pm.

Junkyard Dogs at The Red Lion, Lacock.

Tuesday 2nd

Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe presents at Celebration of Stan Getz with Terry Quninney, for Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon

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.

And, while weโ€™re on about planning ahead, April is hotting up, believe me, loads of good, good, even gooder stuff and stuff gooder than them! Have a gander at the coming month HERE.ย ย 

I would recommend Andrew Hurst at St Nicholas Church in Bromham Thursday 4th, Brian Poole at Long Street Blues Club Friday 5th, Mick Jogger at Seend Community Hall on Saturday 6th and the John Hackett Band at the Pump, or Cara Dillon at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Following week, you can find And Then There Were None opening at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes Monday 8th, and the Marley Experience on 13th April at Devizes Corn Exchange; unmissable. 

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 FB 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!

Tell Us About Your Event

Please make sure we’ve not already picked it up and listed it before submitting, it saves me a lot of time; thank you!

โ† Back

Thank you for your response. โœจ

Big up the Easter weekend, remember Easter is a time for celebrating the coming of spring, the beauty it encompasses, and the bringing of new life to the worldโ€ฆ. by all means cover yourself in melted chocolate and ask your partner to get licking, but unless youโ€™re prepared for all the gubbings bringing a new life into the world personally presents, be sensible and pop a Johnny on it! Filth, I know, but only the headstrong read this far!!

Trending….

FullTone Festival 2026: A New Home

It’s been a wonderful summer’s weekend, in which I endeavoured to at least poke my nose into the fabulous FullTone Festival, despite being invited toโ€ฆ

Devizes Dilemma: FullTone or Scooter Rally?!

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

Goodbye to The Beanery but Hollychocs Lives On

Popular award-winning artisan chocolate business Hollychocs has announced that its Beanery Cafรฉ will close on Saturday 23rd August, marking exactly two years since its openingโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th – 19th March 2024

Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, thereโ€™s lots to get through! And I’ve not had time to run off a weekly podcast, though the thought was, cos I like doing them, but ainโ€™t nobody listening to themโ€ฆ. probably must be my jokes putting them off! I can understand that!

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 13th

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

Runny Snotts Open Mic at the Three Crowns, Chippenham.

Los Gusanos at The Bell, Bath. And running until 16th March, Rent at the Rondo Theatre.

Big Jam Session at The Vic, Swindon. Memory Cinema โ€“ Peter Pan at Swindon Arts Centre.

Junior Voice Festival โ€“ Songs From Our Song Book at the Wyvern.

Thursday 14th

Make your own Easter Egg Masterclass at HollyChocs, Poulshot.

Fantasy Radio live Lounge at the Pelican, Devizes: Jambon Chapeau.

Comedy Loft at The Civic, Trowbridge.

Ruby Darbyshire at The Old Bell, Warminster.

PSG Choir workshop at the King Alfred Hall, Chippenham.

Foregate Brothers at The Beehive, Swindon. Alex Taylor at The Tuppenny. Jeff Woodhouse Medium at Swindon Arts Centre.

Howlinโ€™ Ric & the Rocketeers at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Friday 15th

The What 4โ€™s at The Black Horse, Cherhill.

The Groomโ€™s House Party at The Town Hall, Devizes.

Tom Davis & the Bluebirds at The Barge, HoneyStreet. Trash Panda at the Cooperโ€™s, Pewsey.

The Soul Strutters at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Be Like Will at The White Hart, Atworth.

Richard Wileman & Amy Fry, Phil Mercyโ€™s Blind Convergence at Baristocats, Swindon. Jon Amor Trio at The Beehive. Penfold at The Vic. Cirque โ€“ The Greatest Show at the Wyvern.

Sam Kellyโ€™s Station House at Chapel Arts, Bath. Beatsenders Episode 3 at Nowhere.

Nine Below Zero at The Tree House, Frome. Limehouse Lizzy at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 16th

CUDS; Letโ€™s Clean Up Devizes, on the Green. Wiltshire Air Ambulance Free Valuation Day at The Corn Exchange, Devizes. The Starlight Concert Series with the Full-Tone Orchestra at St Andrews. The Tricks at The Three Crowns. Lightninโ€™ Hobos at the Southgate. Devizes Rugby Club has the ladies v Amesbury, 2nds V Amesbury, screening of Six Nations and Six Oโ€™Clock Circus in the evening.

Charity Event in Aid of Dorthey House at St Nicholas Church, Bromham.

The Blue Moon Band at Woodborough Social Club.

Josh Kumra at The Bear, Marlborough.

Start the Sirens at The Grapes, Melksham.

Beetlehead at the Pump, Trowbridge with Charmtype in support.

The Gesualdo Six: The Wishing Tree at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Asha McCarthy at The Manu Centre. Radiation Sickness at The Three Horseshoes.

The Honky Tonks at Tuckerโ€™s Inn, Faulkland.

Alan West & Friends at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Depeche Mode tribute, Enjoy the Silence at The Vic, Swindon. Tundra at The Woodlands Edge. Cirque โ€“ The Greatest Show at the Wyvern.

Livewire AC/DC at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 17th

Craft Fair at West Lavington Village Hall 10-4pm

March Sighthound Stroll, Devizes: Meeting at the car park right at the top of the road leading to Caen Hill Locks and Cafe. ยฃ3 parking fee applies.

Stones Throw at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Howlinโ€™ Matt at the Southgate, with a cigar box guitar making workshop beforehand.

Pewsey Players at St Johnโ€™s, Pewsey.

Ruby Darbyshire at The Red Lion, Lacock: 12-2pm.

Bob Bowles at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Schmoozenbergs at The Bell, Bath.

Dom Jolyโ€™s Conspiracy Tourist Tour at Swindon Arts Centre.

Monday 18th

Jonah Hitchens at The Bell, Bath

The Mousetrap opens at the Wyvern, Swindon, runs until 23rd March.

Tuesday 19th

Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival Fringe, a Celebartion of Nancy Wilson with Victoria Klewin & Adam Stokes Trio at Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon.

Poetika (poetry slam) 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, donate to us if you can, 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!

Trending……

Park Farm; Mantonfest Came to Devizes!

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

Ann Liu Cannon’s Clever Rabbits

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

Ashes of Memory; New Single From M3G

The fifth single coming out from Chippenham singer-songwriter M3g on Friday, Ashes of Memory, and if Iโ€™ve said in the past what separates Meg from the average singer-songwriter is her stark individuality, this one stands out as the perfect paragonโ€ฆ.

Thereโ€™s a choric aura in the undertones of this acoustic dream, evocatively expressed as ever, but perhaps more ambient and succinct than any of Megโ€™s previous winsome outpourings. Itโ€™s rich with poignant and lucid definition, hope in turning a metaphorical new page in her life, and the sorrowful trajectory which succeeds fades into tears, literally.

Itโ€™s one of those three-minute marvels that leaves you breathless and in a dilemma of quite what to do now itโ€™s over. Meg played many local festivals, and has supported the likes of Gaz Brookfield and Amelia Coburn; any musician following her better pray she doesnโ€™t finish on this one!ย 

Find her Spotify page below, follow, or at least return here on Friday to hear it and judge for yourself, I think it’s a beauty!

Trending…..

Live in Pewsey, at the First Oak-Fest

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

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

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

Bit Wintery, innit? Calendars are going forward, weather is going backwards! Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats…..

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.

Okay, all being well, below, find a podcast of everything listed, sprinkled with some great local music. 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! Also, I thought it might be good for anyone with sight or reading issues, but they will have to put up with me waffling! Music comes from Meg, Jol Rose, Phil Cooper, The Worried Men and Junkyard Dogs.

Wednesday 28th

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

The Importance Of Being Earnest at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, running until 11th March. Big Jam Session at The Vic.

Earl Okinโ€™s Legend at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Buffoโ€™s Wake at The Bell, Bath.

National Theatre Live at the Merlin, Frome, with Vanya.

Thursday 29th

Open Mic at The Crown, Aldbourne

Phil Cooper at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Alan Clayson & Chanson at the Beehive. Frank Carducci & The Fantastic Squad at The Vic. Daniel Foxx at Swindon Arts Centre.

Keith James โ€“ โ€˜Solid Airโ€™ โ€“ The songs of Nick Drake & John Martyn at Chapel Arts, Bath. Tam Lin Retold at the Rondo Theatre.

Leaps of Faith at the Merlin Theatre, Frome.

Friday 1st March

The Cinelli Brothers at Long Street Blues Club, Devizes.

Technicolour Steam Train & Ed Dyke at The Pump, Trowbridge. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran Tribute at the Civic.

Jennifer Pike and Martin Roscoe at The Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Samantics at The Three Horseshoes.

Green Haze- Green Day Tribute at The Vic, Swindon. The Worried Men at The Queens Tap. Static Moves at the Deerโ€™s Leap.

FearFree Fest 2024 at The Bell, Bath with DreamCaster, Kane Pollastrone, Mobscure, Louie Greensmith and Sharpie helping to support FearFree, a local charity breaking the cycle of abuse.

Free Community Festival at Komedia, Bath.

Saturday 2nd

CapFest at St James, Devizes. Plan of Action at The Three Crowns. Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate. The Music of Simon & Garfunkel at The Wharf Theatre.

Sam Cronin at The Barge, HoneyStreet. Open Mic at The Kings Arms, All Cannings.

Apache Cats at The Bear, Marlborough. Homer at The Lamb. Chuckle at the Church โ€“ Comedy Night at St Peterโ€™s.

The Chaos Brothers at The Grapes, Melksham

The Future Sound of Trowbridge #6 at the Pump, Trowbridge with Nobodyโ€™s Dad, Sharpie and Sebastian & Me.

Spiers & Boden at The Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. The Derellars at The Three Horseshoes.

Mid Life Krisis, Diversify at The Vic, Swindon. Trios Amigos at the Swiss Chalet. Sonic Alert at The Queens Tap. Post 12 at The Woodlandโ€™s Edge. 

The Saviours Collective at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Witchfest Market at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, followed by Maniac Street Preachers Vs StereoIronics. The Blink 182 Show has sold out at the Tree House. Martha Tilston at Rook Lane Chapel.

Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th Iโ€™ve got nothing, but do keep a check on the event calendar for updates.

Update: Just in, there’s an open mic at the Lamb in Marlborough from 8pm on Monday 4th March.

Tuesday 5th

Jazz Knights presents Alan Barnes Quartet at The Royal Oak, Swindon.

ADHD and Women with Dr Samantha Hiew at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

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, I promise you!!

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……

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!!   

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 31st January -6th February 2024

Hey you, Feb already, 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. Oh, and accept no substitute, this is the definitive guide to what’s really happening around these parts!!

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.

The Importance of Being Earnest is currently running until Sunday at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. This is sold out, Iโ€™m afraid, reviewed HERE.

Wednesday 31st

Modern & Contemporary Art from the Collection of Chippenham Museum.

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

โ€˜Full Circle Part IIโ€™ โ€“ Phil Beer & Steve Knightley at Chapel Arts, Bath. Tight Lipped Combo at The Bell.

Truck at the Vic, Swindon, with the Belladonna Treatment and Nostomo. Viggo Venn at The Wyvern Theatre.

Thursday 1st Feb

The Tap Opening Night in Devizes.

Pound Arts, Corsham are screening Sherlock Jr. (1924) with live piano score by Meg Morley.

Cousins, Skiddy, Blair, Lynch at the Tuppenny, Swindon. Sebastian & Me, Talk in Code and Mirrored Faces feature at the Vic as part of Live Music Venues Week. Beyond The Barricade at the Wyvern Theatre.

Allโ€™s Well That Ends Well at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Nigel Wearne (AUS) at Chapel Arts, with support from Simeon Hammond Dallas.

Open Mic at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Friday 2nd

Devizes Youth Action Group has their first event at the Devizes Corn Exchange. U18โ€™s only, all-teen bands, Shox, Steatopygous, and BellaDonna play, with DJ Flam. Well done for organising, we fully support this initiative, and our own youngest reporter, Flo, will be there to give us the lowdown on it. Karaoke starts up at the Exchange nightclub below for the so-called grownups(!), with Karl Maggs on the wheels of steel. This will be a regular thing, the first Friday of each month.ย 

Also on upcoming bands, check the first heat of Take The Stage at Chippenhamโ€™s Neeld Hall, only costs a fiver entry.

Travis Waltons at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Martyโ€™s Fake Family and The Earth & Me.

One Chord Wonders at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.

IVW 2024 Double Bill: Nuala Honan & Stevie Toddler at Pound Arts, Corsham.

All Ears Avow, Death is a Girl, Fluff and Ritual Divide all play the The Vic, Swindon. Thereโ€™s a Swindon Old Town Comedy Club at Christchurch, Old Town. Calling Planet Earth, Duran Duran tribute at the Wyvern Theatre, Dire Streets at Swindon Arts Centre.

And the In-Cider Festival begins at Weston-Super-Mare! Weston-Super-Mare, Eddie!

Saturday 3rd

The Thomas Atlas Trio takes over from the postponed LeBurn Maddox at The Southgate, Devizes. A darn good replacement, expect some amazing blues. Our trusty duo, Funked up will be at The Three Crowns, guaranteed good night at either. DJ Stevie Mc is in the mix at the Exchange.

Kieran doesnโ€™t know it yet, weโ€™ll see if he reads this religiously, but Iโ€™m invited to the Pump by frontman Jamie, so for this reason and for many others, this gets my Editorโ€™s Pick of Week!ย ย 

The Worried Men play the Pump, Trowbridge, with FuTuRe PlaN in support; anyone going up from Devizes? I needs me a lift!!

From the European Union Chamber Orchestra, Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon presents Yuzhang Li.

Still Marillion at the Vic, Swindon. Apache Cats the Rat Trap. The Thinking Drinkers at Swindon Arts Centre, and The ELO Show at the Wyvern Theatre.

Itโ€™s Duckfest at the Duck in Laverstock, a Salisbury Live Beggar’s Bash thingy.

Phoebe Troup is at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Dylan tribute The Bob Villains at Tree House Frome Retro Electro at the Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 4th

All-family bike ride, Kidical Mass, from Hillworth Park, Devizes. Lewis Clark at The Southgate from 5pm.

Chasing Dolls, Lucky Number Seven, Better Heaven, Liddington Hill, and Oui Legionarries at The Vic, Swindon. Whitney Queen of the Night at the Wyvern Theatre. Ania Magliano at Swindon Arts Centre.

Monday 5th

Open Mic at the Lamb, Marlborough.

An Evening With Jasper Fforde at Swindon Arts Centre.

Tuesday 6th

Daniel Newberry Trio for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon. An Evening With Jeff Stelling at the Wyvern Theatre.

The Rob Auton Show at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

fOR WEEKLY RECURRING EVENTS CLICK HERE!

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……

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 24th- 30th January 2024

Hey frozen duckling, 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,ย Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed Here.

Wednesday 24th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Big Jam session at the Vic in Swindon. Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit at The Wyvern Theatre.

Apricity Theatre Turns Ten The Rondo, Bath. John E Visticโ€™s Country Club at The Bell, Bath.

Screening of The Old Oak at the Athenaeum in Warminster.

Thursday 25th

Runny Snotts Acoustic Sessions at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Mark Simmons: Quip of the Mark at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Ellis Evason at the Tuppenny, Swindon, Adult Panto โ€“ Beauty And The Big Beast at The Wyvern Theatre.

Andrew Birdโ€™s tour Taken Seriously is at The Rondo, Bath. Gordon Giltrap at Chapel Arts.

The Farewell Tour โ€“ An Evening With Sir Geoff Hurst at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 26th

Lucky Number Seven are the Pump, Trowbridge, with LXRDVIRS and Notre Dame of Tokyo. John Lawโ€™s Re-Creations at the Civic.

BlueSoul at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.

Avalon Comedy Network: Stuart Laws, Lucy Pearman, Heidi Regan & Josh Weller at Pound Arts, Corsham.

This is Your (Improvised) Musical at The Rondo, Bath. Reggae vibes at St James Wine Vaults with the Biggle Sound System. Australiaโ€™s Ernest Aines at Chapel Arts.

King Awesome at The Vic, Swindon, Texas Tick Fever at the Beehive. Stranger Sings at The Wyvern Theatre.

Saturday 27th

Phereakers at The Southgate, Devizes, Donโ€™t Frett at The Three Crowns.

Josh Kumra at the Bear, Marlborough. Broken Dolls at the Lamb.

Bo Walton Band at Melksham Rock n Roll Club.

A Big shout out to organiser John McConnachie, as Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week is at Calne Liberal Club for the annual 7 Bands in 7 Hours. The Killertones, Real Cheesemakers, Mike & the Misfits, People Like Us, 6 O’clock Circus, Homer and the Chaos Brothers join forces for this fundraiser. This year itโ€™s supporting two young children Hartley, diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome and Fletcher who suffers bowel disorder. The mini-festival comes with a suggested ยฃ5 donation, and starts at 4pm. If you canโ€™t make it you can still donate here.

Martyโ€™s Fake Family at Gloucester Club, Trowbridge. Samantics with Devilโ€™s Doorbell at The Pump.

Junkyard Dogs are at The Consti Club in Chippenham.

Shakespeareโ€™s Fool at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Band of Others at Warminster Conservative Club.

Stranger Sings at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. Papa Shango at The Vic with Here Comes The Crows in support. 

Ukrainian Benefit Evening at The Bell, Bath. Ania Maglianoโ€™s I Canโ€™t Believe Youโ€™ve Done This at The Rondo.

Snuff at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury. Wilton Live all dayer at Wilton Community Hall, see poster. Sam Fraser is at Follow Comedy at Qudos.

Hugh Cornwell and special guests The Primitives at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, Bruce Juice, Bruce Springsteen Tribute at The Tree House.

Sunday 28th

Vince Bell at The Southgate, Devizes.

Screening of The Royal Operaโ€™s Rusalka at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

South West Hotel and Careful Spider play a Schtumm at the Long Rooms in Box. Andy Burden Band at The Bell, Bath.

An Evening with Glenn Hoddle at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Monday 29th

Is the opening night of The Importance of being Earnest at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes. This is running until Feb 3rd, and we will bring you a review of it before it opens; watch this space!

Rock The Tots โ€“ โ€˜The 1990sโ€™ at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Most Haunted Live at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Brooks Williams & Aaron Catlow at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 30th

Stop Making Sense at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Tom Clarke-Hill Quartet plays Jazz Knights The Royal Oak, Swindon. I See Orange at the Vic. Most Haunted Live at The Wyvern Theatre.

Pete Morton at The Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s your lot! Let me know if we missed anything, we can list events for free, but a chocolate muffin works better to persuade me! Lots to look forward to this month, Iโ€™ll lob a few posters below, but keep your best eye on theโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Event Calendar!!

Trending….

Thieves Debut EP

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

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

V busy week ahead, too busy to type the word โ€œvery,โ€ (though I just did type the word โ€œvery,โ€) despite the cold spell, nothings gonna stop us now, reminding me somewhat of Ollie & Jerryโ€™s theme โ€œBreakinโ€™, thereโ€™s no stopping us.โ€

Not that it takes me much to be reminded of Ollie & Jerry – I think about them all the time, I wonder where they are and what theyโ€™reโ€ฆ..okay, letโ€™s push on, we donโ€™t need you to be like Turbo, no one to dance with other than a broom, (youngsters pipe down and Google it!) 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,ย Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire, and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire. Reviewed Here.

Artist Clifton Powell with Eric Walrond portrait at Wiltshire Museum

Wednesday 17th

The Melksham & Devizes Primary have a new year meet at the Kings Arms, Melksham; we recently did an interview with them, a really important issue, check it out here.

The regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Lunchtime Recital Series at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, with Babatunde Aleshe in the evening.

Opening night of The Wind in the Willows at The Rondo, Bath, running until Sunday the 21st. Meanwhile, Starlings play The Bell in Bath.

British Lion are at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Thursday 18th

M3g plays The Tuppenny, Swindon, Zamba Lando at The Beehive, John Otway at The Vic, a memory sing at Swindon Arts Centre, and Get It On at The Wyvern Theatre.

Friday 19th

Borrowed Atlas plays the Pump, Trowbridge, with Ravetank in support.

Cara Dillon is at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Forbidden Nights at Melksham Assembly Hall, ladies!

Stompers at The Boat House, Bradford-on-Avon.

Littlemen at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Dark Prophecy at The Vic, Swindon, UK Pink Floyd Experience at The Wyvern Theatre. 

Saturday 20th

Day course: Wood Engraving with Robin Mackenzie at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes.

An album launch gig for Cracked Machine at the Southgate, Devizes, with Clock Radio in support. Siren at The Three Crowns. Real Music are at the Bear, with a Soul, Motown Disco.

Open Mic at The Barge Honeystreet.

Chippenham Record Fair, at The Citadel on Bath Road; free entry.

Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week is Bradford Roots Festival at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon; Iโ€™ve been saving myself since new year for this! Incredible line-up, all day Saturday and Sunday, preview here, hope to see you there?

Cara Dillon is at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Ian Diddams and Wendy Dopheide take Happy Jack to the Athenaeum, Warminster for a two night run, Saturday and Sunday; hereโ€™s a review from when this show was at the Wharf in Devizes.

The Korgis โ€“ Time Machine at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Apache Cats at The New Inn, Swindon, The Rolling Clones at The Vic. Abba Forever at The Wyvern Theatre, and an RPA Golden Ticket Show at Swindon Arts Centre.

Sunday 21st

Manos Puestas at The Southgate, Devizes.

Bradford Roots Festival continues.

Sing-A-Long-A Matilda The Musical (PG) at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane at The Bell, Bath.

Monday 22nd

Giovanni Pernice at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

The Swing Vote at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 23rd

Vasilis Xenopoulos & Tom Berge Trio for the regular Jazz Knights The Royal Oak, Swindon.

Giovanni Pernice at The Wyvern Theatre.

And thatโ€™s your lot, let me know what we missed, we can list events for free, but a chocolate muffin works better to persuade me! Lots to look forward to this month, Iโ€™ll lob a few posters below, but keep your best eye on theโ€ฆโ€ฆEvent Calendar!! Also note, we have a new page for weekly events including clubs and activities, here: it’s new so we need to list some more, tell us what you know!

Trending……

You; Lucas Hardy Teams With Rosie Jay

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

Bands At The Bridge

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

The Big Ones: Local Festivals Part 1: January to May 2024

Featured Image: Colin Rayner Photography

It wonโ€™t be long before the only Quality Street left in the tin are empty wrappers and those toffee pennies no one likes, youโ€™re swapping your Santa hat for your festival jesters one and thinking what a mess you can get yourself into in local fields. Yep, bar humbug, for just a moment, thereโ€™s the locally based big ones to think about spending your Christmas bonus on a ticket forโ€ฆ.itโ€™s festival time 2024!

January

20th & 21st: Bradford Roots Festival, Bradford-on-Avon

Not hanging about, and if youโ€™re thinking itโ€™s likely to be a tad nippy for a festie in January, note the iconic winter Bradford Roots Festival is all under the roof of the fabuloso Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon.

Yet to reveal a lineup, but you need not concern yourself, I guarantee it will host the crรจme de la crรจme of local talent and many from further afield. The organisers say, โ€œAfter the success of last yearโ€™s festival,โ€ which it truly was a wonderful thing (you can read my tuppence on here) โ€œweโ€™re bringing Bradford Roots back bigger and better with a full weekend of events and activities. Roots is synonymous with community spirit, local talent and an inclusive atmosphere.โ€ And therein lies my surprise last year; the diversity of the program with lots of upcoming bands as well as ones in the spotlight. Ergo, Iโ€™ll leak Devizes-own Nothing Rhymes with Orange, Melkshamโ€™s finest, the Sunnies, and the most wonderful Ruby Darbyshire are all booked, and hope I donโ€™t get into too much trouble for doing so!

ยฃ22 for a Saturday ticket, ยฃ32 for the two-day pass, students or under 18 go half price. I cannot think of a better way to start your festive-filled new year!

27th: 7 Bands in 7 Hours, Calne

Calne Liberal Club plays host to this fantastic fundraiser on Saturday 27th January. Itโ€™s a suggested fiver donation on the door and youโ€™ll get an hour each of Homer, People Like Us, Six Oโ€™Clock Circus, The Chaos Brothers, The Real Cheesemakers, The Killertones and Mike & the Misfits.

February

2nd-4th: InCider Festival, Weston-Super-Mare 

โ€œItโ€™s Weston-super-Mare, Eddie, Weston-super-Mareeee!โ€ Sand Bay Holiday Village plays host to this crazy goodie, established over for a decade, the InCider festival in Feb is only the beginning, with the Cursus Cider & Music Festival running from  24th – 26th May, and the main hoedown, the OutCider Festival from 1st – 4th Aug 2024.

OutCider Festival is an old school, no nonsense weekend of fantastic live music, cider and madness in the Mendips. Organisers clearly state, โ€œno tribute bands. No X-Factor. No Carling lager. No tossers!โ€

OutCider Festival features 30+ acts over two alternating, barn-covered stages. The mix of music is eclectic, energetic and definitely not anything mainstream. The camping field is lush and spacious and welcomes live-in vehicles.

3rd: DuckFest, Salisbury

Ducking fagic Salisbury Live fundraiser at the Duck Inn in Laverstock. Beggarโ€™s Bash hosts this one-day introduction to the best of live music Salisbury has to offer. 

15th-17th: Bath Bachfest, Bath

Bathโ€™s 13th annual celebration of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries. The festival was founded in 2012 as a complement to Bath Mozartfest and successor to the long-established Bath Bach Festival founded by Cuthbert Bates and later directed by his daughter, patron Elizabeth Bates.

17th: Devizes Festival of Winter Ales

Raise a glass and celebrate with DOCA at Devizes Festival of Winter Ales on 17th February at Devizes Corn Exchange. Renowned and vital DOCA fundraiser this, in collaboration with Stealth Brew Co. Another double wintery session with a hearty selection of ales and ciders from the countryโ€™s best independent breweries, alongside music and entertainment.

This 18+ event comes in two sessions, Fraser Tilley provides music for the early session, 11am-5pm, and Manos Puestos at the late session, 5:30pm-11pm, plus cabaret from Able Mabel at both.

Tickets Available online at tinyurl.com/winterales2024 Physical tickets are also available to purchase at Devizes Books and the British Lion, Devizes.

April

21st: VW Campout, Stonehenge

The multi-award winning family run park, Stonehenge Campsite and Glamping Pods, situated close to Stonehenge hosts this gathering of all things VW!

May

The Magic Teapot Gathering, Mendip

This is a late addition to our listings, but looks so lovely I had to add it! Full preview Here.

11th: Westbury Food & Drink

Leigh Park Community Centre in Westbury hosts this inaugural free festie for all things foodie!

11th: Bradford-on-Avon Green Man Festival

A free one-dayer, the festival is organised by the town council, a vibrant, family-friendly community gathering featuring traditional dance, music, song, and folklore which runs throughout the town centre on Saturday 11 May 2024, from 9.30am to 5pm. We preview in full, HERE.

17th-26th Bath International Music 

The Bath Festival returns for 2024. Click here to sign up to email updates and latest news.

23rd-26th: Shindig Festival, Dillington Estate, Somerset

Celebrating its tenth year, Shindig is the most contemporary festival of performing arts in the UK, and renowned for being gurt lush! It particularly focuses on dance music, lineup is yet to be announced but tickets are selling out already, based on the festivalโ€™s first class reputation rather than acts, but I can say Sister Sledge, De La Soul and many other legends of disco and soul have graced the stage at the Dillington Estate in the past.  

24th-27th: Chippenham Folk Festival

The 50th Anniversary for Chippenham Folk Festival Folk Festival thai year was an amazing success, enjoyed by huge audiences with talented performers from across the UK and beyond. Time is now running out to buy EARLY BIRD TICKETS.

Cursus Cider & Music Festival, Weston-Super-Mare

Continuing from the InCider for OutCider Festival, Sand Bay Holiday Village plays host to this second crazy goodie!

25th: Love Saves The Day, Ashton Court, Bristol

Massive names in pop and dance, Love does indeed Save the Day. Fatboy Slim, The Sugarbabes and Years & Years headlined 2023, how they top it this year time will tell! 

26-27th: Devizes International Street Festival

Goes without saying, DOCA’s International Street Festival is over this Sunday and Monday bank holiday, it’s free, it’s officially the best day you’ll have in Devizes!

26th: Could Be Real Tribute Festival, Swindon Town FC

Swindon Town FC hosts ‘Could Be Real’ Tributes Festival, bringing together the UK’s finest tribute artists and bands for a huge all day festival to celebrate a whole era of music and culture and this family friendly festival will be available for those aged 12 years and older.

31st- 16th June: Devizes Arts Festival 

Thereโ€™s been a few leaks about acts at Devizes Arts Festival this year, my favourite so far is to catch the wonderful Lady Nade. But hold onto your hats, thatโ€™s enough for now, being as this wonderful Arts Festival reaches mainly into June, weโ€™ll feature it again when we come back for the second half of this annual roundup of festivals type thingy, which I will bring you as soon as possible. 

All links to all festivals are on our event calendar, and I am sure many will be added over the coming months. For now, hold tight and we will bring new of the big ones over summer and autumn, but I must say, 2024 is already looking rather special!

Trending…..

Phil Cooper is Playing Solitaire

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

No Alarms No Devizes, Aptly in Devizes!

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

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….

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th – 19th December 2023

Itโ€™s beginning to look a lot likeโ€ฆ. our weekly roundup of what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this weekโ€ฆ.. How many sleeps are left? I cheat, I have two sleeps a day, itโ€™s an age thingโ€ฆ..

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, 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.

Wednesday 13th

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Every second Wednesday of the month, itโ€™s Runny Snotts Open Mic at The Three Crowns, Chippenham.

Lunchtime Recital at Pound Arts, Corsham, Flight of the Firebird with violinist Matthew Taylor and Peter French on piano.

Swindon Arts Centre screens The Muppets Christmas Carol as part of their Memory Cinema, for those suffering dementia.

Winter Wonderband at Chapel Arts. Ya Freshness & The Big Boss Band at the Bell, Bath.

Thursday 14th

Owyado Theatre presents a Twisted Christmas at Seend Community Centre.

Open Mic at The Crown, Bishops Cannings.

Junkyard Dogs at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Ben Poole is at The Tree House, Frome, Abba Reunion at the Cheese & Grain.

Friday 15th

Book Launch: Marking Time by Sir Mathew Thorpe at Seend Community Centre.

Carols at the Wharf with Devizes Town Band from 6:30, courtesy of the Kennet & Avon Trust. Edโ€™s pick of the week, Nothing Rhymes With Orange at The Southgate, Devizes. Devizes Public Living Room Christmas Shindig at the Town Hall.

Alex Mendham and his Orchestraโ€™s Vintage Christmas Party at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Severange @ The Three Horseshoes.

Green Matthews โ€“ A Christmas Carol, at Pound Arts, Corsham.

โ€˜Rockinโ€™ & โ€˜Swinginโ€™ Christmas Evening with Peter Gill & The Good Time Charlies Band at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Diverse Disco, a disco for anyone with disabilities, at Tree Nightclub, Swindon. Cut the Mustard at the Beehive. XSLF at The Vic with Borrowed Time and the Deckchairs in support.

An Intimate Evening With Glen Matlock at The Tree House, Frome. The Jive Aces โ€“ โ€œThe Not Quite Christmas showโ€ at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 16th

Kenavon Venture Santa Cruise sets sail at Devizes Wharf, and trips are daily until 23rd December. Breakfast with Santa at Devizes Fire Station. Christmas Market at Hillworth Park. The SODs Charity Christmas Gig 2023 at the Town Hall. The Big Sound Christmas Concert at St Johns. The Coco Club Christmas Ball at the Corn Exchange. Christmas Family Ravers at the Exchange. Fullhouse play Frankie Miller at Long Street Blues Club. Phase Rotate at The Southgate. And Sour Apple play The Three Crowns, for Simonโ€™s birthday, happy birthday Simon!

The Vooz play The Lamb, Marlborough.

6 Oโ€™clock Circus at The Talbot, Calne.

The Artisan Fundraiser for No7 Creative Space, Chippenham. The West End comes to Chippenham at Christmas at St Pauls. A Christmas Spectacular: Here we come a-carolling at St Andrewโ€™s. 70โ€™s 80โ€™s Disco at The Consti Club.

March for Palestine in Swindon. Swindon Palestine Solidarity (SPS) invites the community to join in a peaceful march on December 16th to call for justice and raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Participants will gather at The Lawns entrance on Old Town High Street, on the corner with Charlotte Mews, at 11 am and begin the march at 11:30 am.

Santaโ€™s Christmas Wish opens at Swindon Arts Centre, running until 24th. Apache Cats at the Queenโ€™s Tap. Mark Valentine Band at the Beehive. Bedrock at The Woodlands Edge. The 12 Bands of Christmas at the Vic, see the poster below!

Rock the Tots Christmas Concert at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Franky & The BuzzCatz at The Three Horseshoes.

The Scribes at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Sense Recordings Free Party at The Queenโ€™s Head, Box. The Marching Skaletons at the Bell, Bath.

The Foxes Presentโ€ฆA Cool Yule at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Rhythm Of The 90s & Dave Pearce at the Cheese & Grain, Frome is sold out.

Sunday 17th

Devizes Young Farmers Tractor & Tinsel Christmas Market at the Market Place, Devizes. Andrew Hurst at The White Bear from 5pm.

Santaโ€™s Christmas Wish at the Neeld, Chippenham.

GBH Big Band with Claire MartinIG at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Mark Greenโ€™s Blues Band and others from 3am, free admission at the Mount Pleasant Social Club.  

ยฃ20K by December 2023 Fundraising Appeal at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Clyveโ€™s Funky Christmas Party at Chapel Arts, Bath. The Blues Mercenaries at the Bell.

Splat the Rat at the Beehive, Swindon.

Cara Dillon โ€“ Upon A Winter’s Night at the Cheese & Grain, Frome. A Dannsa Dub at the Tree House.

Monday 18th

Rock The Tots: Christmas at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Messy Carols at the Beehive, Swindon.

Shing-a-Lings at the Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 19th

Kids Inflatable Christmas Party at The Civic, Trowbridge.

Christmas with Kim Cypher for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon.

Filskit Theatre: Wonder Gigs at Pound Arts, Corsham.

And thatโ€™s all I have so far. Saturday 21st is winter solstice, to plan ahead for events over Christmas keep an eye on our event calendar!

Trending…..

Situationships With Chloe Hepburn

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

Devizes to Host New County-Wide Music Awards

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

Ruby, Sunday at the Gate

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

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, you see, itโ€™s called Waitingโ€ฆ. okay, Iโ€™ll get my coatโ€ฆ.

Released tomorrow, Friday 8th December, thereโ€™s nonsense in my comment because, perks of Devizine, Iโ€™ve already heard it, and promise, youโ€™re in for a pleasant surprise. Reason I say this is, it showcases everything I love about what Meg, sorry, M3g is producing. Itโ€™s solemn, solitary, and distantly unique.

Infatuation, admiration from a distance, fearing a possible negative outcome should the object of your desires find out, but the aching of knowing, are emotions present in Waiting, not only in subject but in the innocent and irreproachable way Meg expresses them. The conclusion is poignantly beautiful, personal, and touching. Meritoriously uncommon, Megโ€™s discography is building into something she should be proud of, and Waiting is a great example.ย 

If I drop her Spotify link below, do listen to the past songs, and return to it tomorrow, when the Waiting for this new one is over โ€ฆ.dammit, I did it again, my life is one big pun! Follow M3G on Insta, Facebook.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 6th – 12th December 2023

Itโ€™s beginning to look a lot likeโ€ฆ. our weekly roundup of what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this weekโ€ฆ.. 

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: 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.

Jack & The Beanstalk at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes, is wonderful, and runs till Saturday, but tickets are sold out, join the waiting list online, itโ€™s worth it.

 Wednesday 6th

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Christmas Afternoon for Over 60s at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Old Town Comedy Loft at the Hop Inn, Swindon.

Thursday 7th

The Real Cheesemakers & Tom Veck at The Tuppenny, Swindon, Lucky Thief play the Vic with Life in Mono and Ritual Divide. Geoff Marsh Panto Caped Avengers at Swindon Arts Centre. 

A Winter Union at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Friday 8th

Fun Quiz Night at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. Devizes Public Living Room: has a Singalong with Sian & Rob at Devizes Town Hall, Strange Folk play The Southgate, People Like Us at The Condado Lounge.

Michele Stodart is at the Pump, Trowbridge with DG Solaris in support. Soul Strutters are at the Civic Cafe and Be Like Will at The Red Admiral, Hilperton.

Sons of Town Hall at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Leon McCawley at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, the Boot Hill All Stars Christmas Party at The Three Horseshoes.

The Superskas at Chapel Arts, Bath. The Jon Amor Trio play The Ram.

Riskee & The Ridicule play the Vic, Swindon, with 2 Sick Monkeys and Street Outlaws. The Jake Leg Jug Band at The Queenโ€™s Tap.

TV Smith at the Tree House, Frome, while Complete Madness tribute are at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 9th

Young Curators Club, and the Museum Explorers Club for December at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. A Wreath Making Workshop at The Parish Rooms, on Long Street, Devizes Lions Christmas Fair at The Corn Exchange, from 9am-2:30pm.

White Horse Opera Christmas Concert at St John’s Church, Devizes. SoupChick has a โ€œShow & Sleighโ€ feast in the Shambles. Black Nasty at the Southgate, James Mitchell at the Three Crowns.

Barrelhouse plays The Lamb, Marlborough, Homer are at The Bear.

The Blunders play the Barge on HoneyStreet with Dissident Noise Factory in support, there’s a Christmas market there during the daytime with Father Christmas and Mad Pete’s Magic.

Legendary local folk band, Stonegallows reunite for a final gig at the Pump, Trowbridge. The 12 Bells offers a more grungy evening with โ€œTerrors From The Deep.โ€ 

The Chaos Brothers play The Talbot, Calne.

Triple JD at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. A Ratpack Night at The Consti Club. Christmas Show at The Cause.

The 80s vs. 90s Christmas Party at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Wiltshire Jazz Academyโ€™s December concert at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, also, Martin Cathy and Jon Wilks. Kitchen Lover at the Three Horseshoes.

Attic presents: Learning to Fly by James Rowland at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Good Times at The Woodlands Edge, Swindon, Diversify Xmas Special at the Vic.

Untamed Burlesque at Chapel Arts, Bath.

L1nkn P4rk & Foo Fakers at the Tree House, Frome. Jon Gomm & Jo Quail at the Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 10th

Matchbox Mutiny are at the White Bear, Devizes from 5pm.

The Jon Amor Trio are at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Swindon Recital Series at Swindon Arts Centre

Flash Harry @ The Cornerhouse, Frome. Frome record fair at the Cheese & Grain.

Monday 11th

Stay at home and watch Courting Ghosts, a live stream courtesy of Visual Radio Arts. Visual Radio Arts: Courting Ghosts Live Stream

Tuesday 12th

Carols and Morris dancers at the Southgate, Devizes.

The Scummy Mummies at the Civic, Trowbridge. 

Ooh, Beehive at the Beehive, Swindon, and Eric Mylod-Okafo Quartet for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak.

Steeleye Span at the Cheese & Grain.

That’s all folks, unless you know different? Drop me a line to tell me what I missed. It’s free to be listed here, but I’m partial to a chocolate cupcake now and then!

Next week is getting really Christmassy, I’ll drop some posters for stuff coming up below, but don’t miss a trick by keeping up with our updating Event Calendar.

Trending…..

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

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 29th November –ย  5th December 2023

To look around our beautiful landscapes youโ€™d be understanding of visitors who assume itโ€™s a barren outback with nothing going on, but we know different; look and thee shall find. Weโ€™ve a packed week ahead as we move into December, the fun never stops! Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do in the wilds of Wiltshire this weekโ€ฆ.. 

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: 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.

Artist Clifton Powell with his portrait of Eric Walrond, on display at Wiltshire Museum

Wednesday 29th

NHS Blood Donation Clinic at The Corn Exchange in Devizes, between 1:30 and 7pm. The regular acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Roy Chubby Brown is at The Civic, Trowbridge.

Keith Jamesโ€™ Every Human Heart at Swindon Arts Centre.

Piano Phase Project Sound Meditation at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Ushti Baba at The Bell, Bath. Opening at The Rondo Theatre, A Streetcar Named Desire, which runs until Saturday 2nd.

Far From Saints at the Cheese & Grain, Frome is now sold out.

Thursday 30th

Open Mic at The Crown, Aldbourne.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance Christmas Market, Trowbridge. Open Mic at Stallards.

Adele Cliff at Chippenham Comedy Club at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Christmas Memories at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Jam Night at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon.

FitkinWall: Harpland at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Grubb & Eedens at The Tuppenny, Swindon.

Chris Diffordโ€™s โ€˜Not Only But Alsoโ€™ at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Voodoo Room at the Tree House, Frome.

Friday 1st December

Friday sees a Christmas market and Santa’s grotto at The Pelican Inn, Devizes, from 4pm to 9.

Itโ€™s the opening night of Jack & The Beanstalk at the Wharf Theatre, running until 9th Dec. Youโ€™re going to be hard pushed to grab a seat for this now, but do try Devizes Books or join the online waiting list on their website. We look forward to reviewing this on Thursday. 

Vamos is at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham, bringing you the fantastic Will Lawton & The Alchemists with Mac-Lloyd in support, this will be one cool gig, highly recommended; please pay what you can for it. Living Spit: A Christmas Carol at the Neeld Hall.

Tribute to Dire Straits, DS:UK at the Melksham Assembly Hall.

Operation 77 at The Talbot, Calne.

My Fair Lady opens at the Civic in Trowbridge, running up to Sunday.

I Fagiolini Angels & Demons at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. The brilliant Monkey Bizzle at the Three Horseshoes with Cara Means Friend.

Chris Difford is at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Alice Armstrong is a Chapel Arts, Bath.

Ed Tudor Pole at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Jon Amor Trio at the Beehive, Swindon.

Ozric Tentacles & Gong at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, now sold out, but The Specialised are at The Tree House.

Saturday 2nd

Calne River Warriors’ Wreath-Making Workshop at the Pocket Park, Calne.

Christmas Market at Avebury Barn.

Devizes LunaBarge at The Southgate Inn, Devizes. The Unpredictables at the Three Crowns, and the Moonrakers 80s Disco at The Moonrakers, Devizes.

Marlborough Concert Orchestra at St Marys, Marlborough.

Splat the Rat at The Barge Inn, HoneyStreet.

Christmas Light Switch on in Melksham with Plan of Action, on at 5:30pm.

Gary Stringer and Ella Clayton at The Pump in Trowbridge are sold out, and find the 41 Fords at Stallards. 

The Dynamos at the Consti Club in Chippenham.

The Reason at Prestbury Sports Bar, Westbury.

FitkinWall: Harpland at Pound Arts, Corsham.

For Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week we head over to the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon for some African drumming with Kasai Masai in concert, and a drumming workshop beforehand.

Hell Death Fury at the Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon, with support.

Oye Santana at Chapel Arts, Bath, and Junction 18 have a 100th gig fundraiser for Bath Foodbank at St Mark’s Church.

Panto time at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, Snow White runs until 31st December. Charlie Baker at Swindon Arts Centre. One Trick Combo at The Woodlands Edge. Operation 77 at The New Inn.

Salisbury Music Awards at The Winchester Gate. 

The Lanky Divas have an album launch at The Sun, Frome. Billy In The Lowground at The Tree House. The Counterfeit Beatles at the Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 3rd

Chirton School has a wreath making workshop.

The monthly residency of the Jon Amor Trio at The Southgate, Devizes. The Groom Familyโ€™s Houseparty at Devizes Town Hall.

Christmas Market at Avebury Barn.

Charity Christmas Fair & Santaโ€™s Grotto at The New Inn, Winterbourne Monkton.

Christmas Fayre & Santaโ€™s Grotto at Chippenham Sports Club.

Really Big Really Clever plays the Pump, Trowbridge with NervEndings in support.

Budapest Cafe Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Mike Hoddinott Trio at The Three Horseshoes.

My Darling Clementine at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 4th

Mark Watson at Swindon Arts Centre.

Tuesday 5th

Callum Smith organ Trio, for Jazz Knights at the Royal Oak, Swindon

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!!!! And PLAN AHEADโ€ฆ..

Get your tinsel out and have a great week!

Trending……

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

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

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……

The Emporium in Devizes to Close

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

Mental Rot; New I See Orange Single

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

RowdeFest 2025!

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 15th – 21st November 2023

Everything to do in Wiltshire this coming week, right in one handy listing; you might need wellies, or a small sailing vessel!

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 thanking 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 15th

Devizes Flower Club presents A Classic Christmas, a festive floral evening at the Corn Exchange, Devizes. The regular Acoustic Jam at the Southgate.

Fashion Reimagined at The Parade Cinema, Marlborough.

Marmen Quartet at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

James Mortonโ€™s Groove Den at The Bell, Bath. Caught n the Hop begins at The Rondo Theatre, running up to Saturday.

A Lunchtime Recital with pianist Helen Farrar at Pound Arts, Corsham, followed by Gerard Loganโ€™s Hauntings.

Uncanny: I Know What I Saw at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thursday 16th

Open Mic night at the Crown, Bishops Cannings, with Jamie R Hawkins, Will Foulstone and Chrissy Chapman. 

Jol Rose & Friends at The Tuppenny, Swindon.

Elf Lyonsโ€™ Raven at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Tubular Bells Plus extracts from Dark Side of the Moon for the Moog Synthesizer 50th Anniversaries at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Massive Wagons at the Cheese & Grain.

Friday 17th

Running from today until Sunday, Devizes Eisteddfod. James Hollingsworthโ€™s Pink Floyd Night at The Southgate, Devizes.

Folk Club at the Barge, HoneyStreet. Open Mic at The Parade Cinema, Marlborough. Josh Kumra at the Bear.

Rock for Heroes at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Christmas Market at the Civic, Trowbridge. Trowbridge Lantern Parade & Light Switch on.

Siren plays The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon. Really Good Band at the Three Horseshoes.

Tom Robinsonโ€™s Up Close and Personal at Pound Arts has sold out.

25 year reunion gig for Roundabout at the Castle, Swindon, Editor’s Pick of the Week.

Tailgunner, Heathen Kings and Ambrius at Underground, Shades of Seattle at The Vic, Funkinsteins at the Beehive, Swindon. Phoney Towers at Swindon Arts Centre, Genesis Connected at the Wyvern.

The Roy Orbison Experience at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Dr Beatroot at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Splintering Heart plays Marillion at the Tree House, Frome, while The Orb are at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 18th

Saturday sees a Christmas Country Fair at Market Lavington Community Hall.

Window Wanderland begins across Devizes. The Russ Ballard Band at Long Street Blues Club, Devizes, Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate, and Drew Bryant at The Three Crowns.

@59 are at the Barge, HoneyStreet. Broken Dolls at the Lamb, Marlborough.

Sonic Alert at The Pilot, Melksham.

Kevin Brownโ€™s Shackdusters at the Pump, Trowbridge.

Josie Field at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham. Get Carter atThe Consti Club. 

Wonk Unit, 2 Sick Monkeys and Anyminuteno at The Vic, Swindon. Rave Against The Regime at The New Inn. Everybody Singโ€™s One Day More at the Wyvern, and Chloe Petts โ€“ If You Canโ€™t Say Anything Nice at Swindon Arts Centre.

Eco Fest at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, with Saltlines Raynor and Gigspanner. Birdman Cult, Charleston Lane, and Future Plan at the Three Horseshoes.

Takeshi Matsumoto: Club Origami at Pound Arts, Corsham, and Goldust Productions: The Mayhem Cabaret 2023.

The Kate Bush Songbook at Chapel Arts, Bath

Brian Bilston at the Cheese & Grain in Frome, plus From The Jamโ€™s โ€˜All Mod Consโ€™ 45th Anniversary Tour, and Supalung at the Tree House.

Sunday 19th

Sunflower Events; Christmas Fair & Craft Market at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.

Wiltshire Soul & Blues Club Monthly Jam in Lacock.

Courting Ghosts at Stallards, Trowbridge.

Kentwood Christmas Cracker at the Wyvern, Swindon. The Bootleg Shadows at Swindon Arts Centre. Strays Without Borders fundraiser at the Vic, and David Celia at the Beehive.

Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Dry White Bones at the Three Horseshoes.

Rev. James and the Swingtown Cowboys at The Bell, Bath. 

100 Years of Silents: Salomรฉ at Pound Arts, Corsham.

An acoustic set from Snuff at The Tree House, Frome.

Monday 20th

NHS Blood Donation Clinic at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.

Rock The Tots: Numbers at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Leburnicus at The Bell, Bath.

Sally-Anne Haywardโ€™s Egg Shortage at Swindon Arts Centre.

Tuesday 21st

Exhibition On Screen: Klimt And The Kiss (Encore Screening) at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Glen Manby Quartet at Jazz Knights in the Royal Oak, Swindon.

Annie Gardiner at The Bell, Bath.

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…..

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 8th – 14th November 2023

Everything to do in Wiltshire this coming week, right in one handy listing, all you gotta do is grab a warm coatโ€ฆ.

Okay my little poppies, 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 thanking youโ€ฆ

Remembrance this weekend, Iโ€™ll pop the agenda for Devizes below.

Ongoing, check out the Dark exhibit at the Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham. 

Wednesday 8th

Thereโ€™s an online talk with Francis Kilvert and tales of Langley Burrell, courtesy of Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes, and its opening night  for the Invitation Theatre groupโ€™s Pirates of Penzance at the Corn Exchange, running up to Saturday 11th.

Ad Hoc Theatre: Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Arman Djikolum and Iyad Sughayer at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Hegemono Quartet at The Bell, Bath, while Bloody Medea!!! Is the play at The Rondo Theatre.

Women In Rock at Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thursday 9th

The Importance of Being Earnest opens at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, and is running until Saturday 11th.

Drag โ€˜nโ€™ Drop at Rondo Theatre, Bath. Guy Davis at Chapel Arts.

Hannah Rose Platt and Sienna Wileman at the Tuppenny, in Swindon. Mad by Mourning with Abstraction Engine at The Vic, and the Bon Jovi Experience at the Wyvern.

Ruby Wax โ€“ Iโ€™m not as well as I thought I was, at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 10th

Sour Apple plays the Kings Arms, Hilperton.

Open Mic at the Barge, HoneyStreet from 8pm.

Moroccan evening with guest Chef Peter Vaughan at The Parade Cinema, Marlborough.

Free entry at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Ed Dyke, Becky Lawrence and Rich Onyett; nice one!

Fulltone Festival: Becky Lawrence. Image by Gail Foster

Nota at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon. 7 Crowns and Scene Killers at The Three Horseshoes. Bristol Ensemble at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Moscow Drug Club at Newton Tony Memorial Hall.

Pierre Novellieโ€™s Why Canโ€™t I Just Enjoy Things? at the Rondo Theatre, Bath. George Harrisonโ€™s Music, โ€˜All things must passโ€™ Duo at Chapel Arts.

Abstract Engine at The Castle, Swindon, Furlined at The Beehive, The Achievers & Greg Brice at The Hop Inn, and Ruby Waxโ€™s Iโ€™m Not As Well As I Thought I Was, moves onto the Wyvern.

The Bonsai Pirates at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Chris Jagger Band at The Tree House, Frome, Huey Morganโ€™s 50 Years Of Hip Hop at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 11th

Wiltshire Museum, Devizes opens a double-whammy exhibit, running until the 17th February, Lest We Forget: the Black Contribution to the World Wars in Wiltshire and Eric Walrond: A Caribbean Writer living in Wiltshire, of which I hope to be at the preview evening to bring you news about as soon as.

There is also the monthly Young Curators Club at Wiltshire Museum, and the Museum Explorers Club too.

The Last Post at the Wharf Theatre for one night only, please see our preview HERE.

The fantastic Courting Ghosts make a debut at The Southgate, Devizes. And there’s a last minute booking at the Three Crowns. Blues band The Zac Schulze Gang have a huge national following and have recently moved to Devizes from Kent; let’s welcome them to town!

But my Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week goes to The Muck & Dundar in Devizes who have a dub reggae night with the awesome Omega Nebula. If youโ€™ve been reading our review or seen the posters wrongly listed as the Eskimo Nebula instead, that is because the duo have recently changed their name. Tickets Here.

Static Moves at The Barge, HoneyStreet, The Chao Brothers at The Lamb, Marlborough.

Life in Mono with Ophelia Waiting at the Pump, Trowbridge. Be Like Will at The Kings Arms, Hilperton. Endless Love, The Lionel Richie and Diana Ross Story at the Civic.

The Lollypops & Moptops Show at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Corsham Christmas Market.

Wiltshire Jazz Academy at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, and Sansara Traces of White Rose. Bucky Rage, The Kosher Pickles, and the Reverse Cowgirls at The Three Horseshoes.

Room 101 at The Castle, Swindon, Sons of Liberty at Underground, Cydonia Knights at The Vic, Rich Hallโ€™s Shot From Cannons at the Wyvern.

Jon Amor Trio at the Royal Oak, Bath. A Life in the Theatre at The Rondo Theatre, Martha Tilston with support from Nathan Ball at Chapel Arts.

Amy Winehouse tribute at the Tree House, Frome, Oas-is at the Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 12th

The Museum of Marvellous Things at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Frankie & The Buzzcats at the Three Horseshoes.

The White Top Mountain Band at The Bell, Bath.

Sensational 60โ€™s Experience at the Wyvern, Swindon, Juliette Burton at Swindon Arts Centre and Dirty Sound Magnet at The Vic.

Frome Chocolate Fair at the Cheese & Grain.

Monday 13th

Kirris Riviere Blues Band at The Bell, Bath.

Thatโ€™ll Be The Day Christmas Show at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Tuesday 14th

Filskit Theatre: Wonder Gigs (Weather) at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Wyvern, Swindon.

Thatโ€™s all got this minute, but more will be added, Iโ€™m sure, to the event calendar as the week goes on. Didnโ€™t see your event here, maybe you didnโ€™t tell us about it, and if you did, my apologies, do give me a nudge, or a Cadbury’s Fudge and Iโ€™ll make sure itโ€™s amended; have a groovy kind of love week!

Trending……

You Wonโ€™t Believe What Happened to Me in Chippenham!

Hoping to bring you a review of the Beatles tribute in Bath last night, but I thought I’d explain the strange thing which happened on the way back home, because while I accept there’s some weird people in Chippenham, this guy was off his rockerโ€ฆ.

I suppose there’s a lesson to be learned. I’m not getting any younger, and trekking from one gig to review to another is taking its toll. I’m tired, but was keen to catch the last few songs at a gig in Devizes, so I confess, I was putting my foot down. The road was wet, and though usually I’m a careful driver, I guess I just had a momentary lapse of reason. I can’t explain why, I just lost control of the car I guess, on the Bath Road near Rowden Hill.

In those split seconds when fear grips you, I was careening off the road. A lampost abruptly came into my headlights and I was heading straight towards it. There was a moment when I assumed I would hit it and braced myself. That’s when this white figure of a young man stepped out from nowhere, like, from behind the lampost. Noting him there, though he surprised me, I yanked the steering wheel with one final hope to serve away from both him and the lamppost.

The thing was he didn’t seem too alarmed, or particularly concerned I nearly hit him. Oddly upon noticing me he kind of waved his arms, as if willing my car away from the imminent collision. The car spun suddenly, far further than I expected given the full lock, skidding away from the guy and post, I managed to regain control to brake to a halt. It was kind of hard to explain, but as if the guy’s kinetic energy willed the car to safety.

At least I was okay, but really shaken. I felt a chill run through me. Regaining my senses I figured I should find the man, thank him, and check if he was okay. By the time my shivering hand went to open the door he had approached it. A good looking fellow, I guess early twenties. He wore a brown leather jacket with a fluffy collar and underneath it I noted a rather neat pin-stripe suit. His blonde quiff blew as if in a zephyr, even though it didn’t seem windy out there. As I rolled the window down he put two ice cold hands on the descending window and protruded his head into my vehicle.

He seemed understandably agitated and a little confused, I mean I get that, right, given the circumstances, but before I could ask him if he was okay, he asked me if I’d seen someone called “Sheeley,” with a desperation in his rich, Northern American accent. Confused, I said no, being there was no one else around. In this he asked again, for two people called Pat, or Gene, but it was obvious Sheeley was the one he was most concerned about.

He wasn’t happy with me at all, there was frustration in his tone, claiming I had hit his taxi, but there were no other cars involved, or even nearby. It didn’t help that I pointed this out to him, as he expressed a need to get to Heathrow for an early flight home. I know and accept, anyone hanging around this area just outside Chippenham at this time of night is likely a weirdo, right, I mean there’s no clubs or pubs nearby, but there was something eerie about this whole guy’s persona, a lost, almost ghostly presence.

Frustrated, he told me it was his last gig here, he had just played the Bristol Hippodrome, in what he deemed “a backward country which wouldn’t know rock n roll if it slapped you in the face.” I disagreed, and told him I had just seen a great tribute act to the Beatles, who although weren’t exactly the originals, were pretty good. All I recieved was a confused reply; can you believe it, clearly he’s a musician and even if he’s American, he said, “who?” The guy hadn’t even heard of The Beatles! He quipped it was a stupid name for a band, so I asked him who he played for, thinking he might like a gig at Melksham’s rock n roll club. 

He didn’t answer, clearly not the time nor place for smalltalk, he continued to look around him, occasionally turning his head to yell, “Sheeley!” Sauntering around he left my car and continued his imaginary search, kicking into the bracken looking for them and desperately calling their names, adding “c’mon everybody,” almost in hollow chanting melody, he cried out, “let’s get together tonight, I got some money in my jeans, and I’m really gonna spend it right!” Like I said, totally off his rocker.

Clearly he was either drugged up or schizophrenic, and blaming me for, apparently, hitting his taxi. I felt obliged to humour him, lest he might get dangerous, so I called the Chippenham police.

Sorry I did now, I mean I know the force is under pressure from cuts and so on, and Chippenham is hardly state-of-the-art, but this Rover P6 police car turned up with some long-haired youngster who’s uniform belonged in a museum! Calling himself “Dave Dee,” of all things, he didn’t even engage with the Yankie nutjob, it was as if he couldn’t see him. He just searched the bushes, unbelievably pulled out a broken Gretsch guitar, and, chuffed with himself, told me how he was going to fix it up and start a band, then got in his battered panda and drove off. Typical, useless copper!

If something’s worth doing it’s best to do it yourself, right? There’s no help from the police these days, so as Dave the copper’s rear lights faded into the night, I thought I’d have to see if I can settle the mind of this American crazy youngster. I mean, he seemed like a great guy, very interesting, and someone I could’ve easily got along with if we’d met under different circumstances. Maybe I could appeal to his better nature?

I sighed and crossed my fingers, opening the car door to find him, but he had gone, completely vanished. I looked everywhere, took my phone torch to the area, there was no sign he was ever there. The bracken he was rumbling in was undisturbed, which is more than can be said for me! I shivered as finally, a cold wind blew down the street, and so I hurried back to my car.

I got into the driver’s seat, feeling frozen and spooked. Gripping the wheel with white knuckles I started the engine and looked out to the road ahead. Slowly I pulled out of there, telling myself repeatedly it was just some prankster playing a joke on me. When I get home I’ll just draft up a review of the gig and try to forget this happened.

Until I got to the bottom of Derry Hill I drove in silent contemplation, but feeling lonely and a tad afraid, I thought I’d bluetooth my phone to the car stereo and just shuffle some tunes. The first song sang out, “Well, when you hear that music, you can’t sit still, If your brother won’t rock, then your sister will, Ooh, c’mon everybody!”

I recall this song, from one of my mum’s rock n roll compilations, but I’ve never downloaded it to my phone, and checking my playlists when I got home, it wasn’t on there. So I checked what was on at the Bristol Hippodrome last night too, there’s no rock n roll show at all, they’re hosting Pretty Woman the Musical!

Freaked out, I went straight to bed, the better half was sound asleep next to me. She suddenly woke up, screamed, “the house’ll be shakin’ from the bare feet a-slappin’ the floor!” And then she promptly went back to sleep. Me, I couldn’t sleep a wink, and she had no recollection of saying anything of the sort in her sleep. And oh, by the wayโ€ฆ. Happy Halloween; Muahahaha!!!!

Of course, I ‘m full of bull, a little spooky fun on Halloween! But the idea came from an eerie blogpost from the Horses of the Gods, taking an article by Albie Morris, first published in the July 1980 edition of โ€œThe Delirium Curiosumโ€ a now defunct, Wiltshire based underground cultural newspaper which started in 1971 and was dedicated to avant-garde poetry, wyrd folklore, ghost stories, hippy philosophy, Eastern mysticism and other ideas associated with the counterculture.

It suggests a few people have witnessed the ghost of Eddie Cochran at his tragic accident spot in Chippenham, including a chap called Mick Harris from Devizes. Do give it a read, fascinating stuff, and spooky too!

โ€œHereโ€™s to Windwhistle and places of dread, is there nothing to fear from the living or dead?โ€

The Horses of the Gods are West Country folk duo, Mike Ballard and Matty Bane, and they are remembering their debut album, We Wish You Health which was released on 31st of October 2020. We fondly reviewed it HERE, and it makes the perfect Halloween listen! They told Devizine a while ago they were working on a second album, which had some folklore references to Devizes, and we very much look forward to hearing it.

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…..

Discovering Swindon Story Shed

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

The Rise of Winter Festivals

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

In Retrospect With Gary Martian

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

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, wild outlaws, witty servants, a big fight, and a lugubrious clown with a dog, and Shakespeare Live are touring Wiltshire with it, So buyeth thy ticket f’r the p’rf’rmance….

Shakespeare Live, best known for over 30 years of outdoor productions in Wiltshire, have been touring their popular annual autumn show for several years, focusing on plays less often performed or on original Shakespeare-based pieces. This year, as often before the pandemic,  the production was picked by the RSC for performance at their open-air Dell space in Stratford upon Avon in August.

Directed by Gill Morrell. featuring well-known Shakespeare Live actors together with some talented newcomers, including Bernard the golden retriever, and featuring fabulous medieval costumes and live original music, Shakespeare Live promises ninety minutes of fast, furious, and very, very funny entertainment.

The autumn tour starts on Saturday 14th October at The Cause in Chippenham, then The Merlin in Frome on Sunday 15th, two nights at The Mission (Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th), The Town Hall in Corsham on Thursday 19th, and the final show at The Marden House Centre in Calne on Friday 20th. All shows start at 8pm and tickets are ยฃ14 from www.shakespearelive.com.

Trending…..

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!

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….

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€™sโ€ฆ

Devizes Writers Group Win Silver Award

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 4th – 10th October 2023

Righty-oh, no time for messing about, weโ€™ve lots to get throughโ€ฆ. What have I become?!! Thereโ€™s always time for messing around. Hereโ€™s a snapshot of Professor Elemental last time he was in Trowbridge to prove it; heโ€™s back at the Pump this Saturday, you wonโ€™t find another hip hop gig quite the same!

But we do have lots of things to do this weekend in wonderful Wiltshire, hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found, but do check in the event calendar, as it will be updated whereas this wonโ€™t. So, to make it clear to all:

HERE IS THE EVENT CALENDAR!

Please, if you can donate a little something to keep us going, do, thatโ€™s all I ask. We need to fund this, people. For info on how, see HERE.  

Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE, this ends on October 15th.

Oh, and check out Si Griffiths’ Clown Soup at the Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham too!

Wednesday 4th:

The Edward Twohigre exhibit at Katharine House Gallery in Marlborough opens on Saturday, but thereโ€™s a walk and talk session today, see the poster. 

The Regular Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes

Swindonโ€™s Old Town Comedy Club at The Hop Inn has headliner Louise Leigh. Swindon Music Service presents A Night at The Proms at The Wyvern Theatre.

George Mabuza Group at The Bell, Bath.

Nik Kershaw at the Cheese & Grain has sold out.

Thursday 5th:

Ruled by Raptors at The Vic, Swindon, Quo, Fish, Boazard at The Tuppeny. Geoff Norcott  plays Swindon Arts Centre, and Sarah Millicanโ€™s Late Bloomer is at The Wyvern Theatre.

Friday 6th:

Friday sees the opening of the Calne Music & Arts Festival running from 6th-15th October. Thereโ€™s a private view opening for the Art Exhibition at Marden House. From thereafter the Open Art Exhibition will be on display throughout the Festival.

Wilswood Buoys play the Pump, Trowbrige, with Meg, Ed Dyke and Henshaw in support.

Plan of Action play the Parson’s Nose in Melksham.

An Evening of Mediumship with Nikki Kitt at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Platform 4: Triffids! At Pound Arts, Corsham, Iโ€™ve no idea what that is but it sounds interesting!

Coleview Music Festival begins in Swindon, elsewhere in the town, Giselle at The Wyvern Theatre, and Swan Lake. KERRANGโ€™D at The Vic, Fleisch at Underground, Texas Tick Fever at the Beehive, and Bazooka Joe at The Queens Tap.

Ant Trouble play a free gig at The Royal Oak, Bath; this is one of the best, if not the best tribute acts Iโ€™ve EVER seen, Adam & the Ants fans be warned, you will mislay the last forty years! Also, find the Titus Reggae Band at Chapel Arts.

Nicky Blackmarket is up for a banger at 23 Bath Street, Frome, Mik Artistikโ€™s Ego Trip is at The Tree House, Laurence Jones at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 7th:

I believe I have the right date this time around! Itโ€™s Marlborough Mop Fair, and find @59 at The Lamb in Marlborough.

Grizzly at The Barge, HoneyStreet.

In Devizes, thereโ€™s the Fantasy Radio screening Faith, Hope & Charity at the Wharf Theatre, but I believe this is sold out, Iโ€™m not 100% sure. But, get on those tabletops, People Like Us play The Three Crowns, Split Whiskers at The Southgate, and Rockhoppaz at The Crown. 

Staying in Devizes, the White Horse Operaโ€™s Gala Concert at Devizes Town Hall, and calling all honey lovers & bee enthusiasts, The Annual Wiltshire Bee & Honey day is at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.

But Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week goes to Long Street Blues Club, theyโ€™ve got The Billy Walton Band.

Grief Operaโ€™s Love Goes On at St Andrews in Chippenham.

Free Family Day at Calne Music & Arts Festival from 11-4pm. There will be a 360-degree immersive Theatre Dome experience, Calne Samba Band, Clareโ€™s Circus, a variety of activities by Calne Wordfest, Music and Art workshops throughout the day, an Art treasure hunt, Stilt walker and more! Refreshments and light lunches will be available. Children must be supervised at all times. 

Calne Choral Society kick off the music, performing Faurรฉโ€™s Requiem at St.Maryโ€™s Church, and itโ€™s onto Truckstop Honeymoon at Marden House, Calne.

41 Fords are at the Pilot, Melksham.

Frank Zappa tribute, Burger & The Beast at Stallards, Trowbridge, while Professor Elemental is at the Pump, with Devilโ€™s Doorbell in support, that has to be editorโ€™s pick of week, or have I done that already? Can I have two?! I think I can, Iโ€™ll just check with my legal department! 

Kirsty Clinch at Suave in Westbury.

REME Museum, at MOD Lyneham has an Annual Model Show.

Sam Avery at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, Tool Shed at The Vic, Fuzz at The Woodland Edge, Jim Blair at the Castle, Last Train Smoking at The Queens Tap, DV8 at North Swindon Club, and Sonic Alert at The Wine Bar, Highworth.

October Live at the New Inn Amesbury is looking good, with Illingworth, Becca Maul, Tipsy Gypsies, and The Duskers.

Harvest, what an album! The Songs of Neil Young from the album are performed by Orange River Remedy at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Frome record fair in the daytime at the Cheese & Grain, Think Floyd in the evening, and 

The Sums (Sum 41 Tribute) & Riot! (Paramore Tribute) at The Tree House.

Sunday 8th

TwoManTing at The Southgate, Devizesโ€™ I love those guys!

Triple JD at The Red Lion, Lacock.

Darts tournament at the Civic in Trowbridge.

Calne Music & Arts Festival has Jemima Palfreyman โ€“ Piano Snapshots from Mussorgsky to Broadway and everything in between and Life Drawing workshops.

Scott Bennett at Swindon Arts Centre, Corsairs at the North Swindon Club.

Monday 9th

Visual Radio Arts has a live stream, free to view, of The Honey Pot.

Calne Music & Arts Festival has a Guitar Recital from Mark Willcocks, rising star Sammy Till-Vattier in concert, Iโ€™ve seen this St.Johnโ€™s, Marlborough prodigy at MantonFest, and itโ€™s something amazing. Thereโ€™s a Drink & Draw at the Lansdowne Strand Hotel too.

Filskit Theatre: Wonder Gigs at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Tuesday 10th

Pewsham Scarecrow Trail starts at Kingโ€™s Lodge School, running until 14th October.

Calne Music & Arts Festival have Yoga in Art, Music Scholars of Marlborough College In Concert, and Jazz Club โ€“ Introducing Amadou Diagne in concert with the Touki Trio

Talking Jazz, the only other thing Iโ€™ve got on Tuesday so far, is the regular Jazz Knights sessions at The Royal Oak in Swindon. Theyโ€™ve got Bluprint, which is Daniel Newberry Saxophone, Guy Shotton Organ, and Alex Goodyear, Drums.

But we will have updates as the week goes on, so check in on theโ€ฆ.

EVENT CALENDAR!

You need this to plan ahead too, so do yourself a favour and bookmark that page! Have a great weekend and donโ€™t even utter the C-word, itโ€™s only October for crying out loud! I know, youโ€™re excited, me too, nearly wet my knickers thinking about those jingle bells!

Trending…..

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

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 27th September-3rd October 2023

Summer is done and dusted, youโ€™ve got to lower yourself onto the toilet seat that little bit steadier, as we move into autumn. Still, the silver lining is thereโ€™s always lots to do locally; hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found coming up this weekโ€ฆ.

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.  

Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE, this ends on October 1st.

Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour.

Clown Soup exhibit by Si Griffiths at the Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham. 

Devizes Food & Drink Festival is up and running, until 1st October.

Wednesday 27th

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Subject A at The Bell, Bath.

ZambaLando at โ€œMoose Hallโ€ Old Town, Swindon, Lunchtime Recital at The Wyvern Theatre, with Ed Byrneโ€™s Tragedy Plus Time in the evening.

Thursday 28th

Devizes Film Club Presents Lunana at The Wharf Theatre, and thereโ€™s a Murder Mystery Dinner at The Corn Exchange.

Marlborough Literature Festival opens, running until 1st October.

The Unravelling Wilburys at Melksham Assembly Hall.

The Last Baguetteโ€™s Playtime! at Pound Arts in Corsham, with the The Jackie Oates Trio in the evening.

Zambalando plays Savernake Street Hall, Swindon, Guy Tortora at The Tuppenny, Cooper Creek at The Beehive. Big Drink, One Man Boycott, Liddington Hill and the Starkers at The Vic. Magic Of Motown at The Wyvern Theatre, and the Phoenix Players โ€“ โ€˜I Thought I Heard A Rustlingโ€™ at Swindon Arts Centre, running until Saturday 30th.

Ed Byrneโ€™s Tragedy Plus Time goes to the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Friday 29th

The Unpredictables are at The Churchill Arms in West Lavington.

Autumn Beer Festival at The Bell, Lacock.

Open Mic at Marlborough Town FC. El Toro at The Bear, Marlborough.

Sice Boo from The Boo Radleysโ€™ โ€˜The Secret of Happinessโ€™ at The Pump in Trowbridge.

Martin Kempโ€™s Back to the 80s at The Civic.

Thereโ€™s a 24 hour Danceathon at Cumberwell Park Golf Club in Bradford-on-Avon, for the Fearless charity.

The Unravelling Wilburys at The Athenรฆum, Warminster.

Diverse Disco, a party for disabled and learning difficulties, at The Tree, Swindon. The Britpop Band at the Vic, The Heretic Order and The Self Titled at Swindon Underground (formerly Level III,) Devizes Road Oktoberfest at the Tuppeny in Swindon continues all weekend. Echo at the Queenโ€™s Tap. Tea & Tour of the Spotlight Room at Wyvern Theatre, followed by Babatunde Alesheโ€™s Babahood.

LGBTQ+ poetry night, Hear my Voice at Rondo Theatre, Bath, The Alter Eagles at Chapel Arts. 

The Tom Petty Legacy at the Tree House, Frome, with Graham Parker & the Goldtops at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 30th

Leburn Maddox at The Southgate, Devizes, Illingworth at The Three Crowns, Strange Folk at The Lamb.

Thereโ€™s also a grand lineup at The Crown, Bishops Cannings, with music from 4pm, Steve Morano Band, Talk in Code and Purple Fish. they’ve a fire-dancer between the acts, BBQ and pizza, free entry, splendid pub, twist my arm, why don’t you?!

Thereโ€™s the Hillbillies at the Barge on HoneyStreet, and The Monkey Dolls at The Lamb, Marlborough.The Monkey Dolls @ The Lamb, Marlboroug

Josh Kumra @ The Bear, Marlborough

Pete Lambโ€™s Heartbeats play an Alzheimerโ€™s Support fundraiser at The Spencers Club in Melksham. Seriously Collins at The Melksham Assembly Hall.

Truckstop Honeymoon at the Pump in Trowbridge, with Swingletree in support, The Jon Amor Trio at The Red Admiral, Hilperton. Scout Killers at the Civic and Be Like Will at The Greyhound.

Ultimate Meatloaf at The Consti Club, Chippenham.

Six Oโ€™clock Circus at Calne Liberal Club.

Sarah-Louise Young: The Silent Treatment at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Lone Sharks at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. And a Bradford Roots Sessions evening at the Wiltshire Music Centre, with Concrete Prairie, Courting Ghosts, and Fly Yeti Fly, proper job, ed’s pick of the week that one right there be, oo-argh!

The Spooky Kids and Korn Again at The Vic, Swindon, Tundra at The Woodlands Edge, And Solo at North Swindon Club, Click at The New Inn, Hush at The Queens Tap, and Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare โ€“ Much Ado About Nothing at The Wyvern Theatre.

Celebrate Zappa : Treacherous Cretins at The Tree House, Frome, Motรถrheadache at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 1st

Monthly residency for the Jon Amor Trio at The Southgate, Devizes, with guest Ruth Hammond.

Fireman Sam is at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and Victorius at Underground.

Interstate Express at The Bell, Bath.

Monday 2nd

Ope

Billy Billingham MBE โ€“ Always A Little Further at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

Orfic at The Bell, Bath

Tuesday 3rd

Calne Music & Arts Festival starts with the Nonpareil, a Local Photography Group Exhibition. It runs across the festival until 28th October, at the Heritage Centre, Calne. Open 10:00 โ€“ 16:00 Tuesdays to Saturdays (closed Sundays & Mondays) Visit the Heritage Centre to see the exhibition of photography by โ€œNonpareilโ€, a small group of very experienced local photographers. It includes Award Winning Images from their Exhibitions and Salons that have been exhibited around the country. The festival lineup is in full on our event calendar.

100 Years of Silents: Our Hospitality (1923) with live musical score, at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Queenz โ€“ The Show With Balls! at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, with 

The Haunting at  Swindon Arts Centre.

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!

And hey, we’re doing a monthly podcast again now; a bit of fun and some great local music on there, please take a listen…. at your own risk!

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 the rain; how apt for today!

Okay, we’ve mentioned Meg quite a bit recently, she got song of the week for the last single, saw her perform at the Neeld, and my daughter interviewed her prior, see here; I believe it’s thoroughly deserved, have a listen and decide for yourself….

Link Tree

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…..

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

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

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 to Meg, and she expressed her excitement at going to the studio, both times! This builds in layers and composition, again as in her live performances, thereโ€™s some empyrean prose, delivered with a certain unique charm. It’s great Meg, we love it here.

To find out more about Meg, check out our interview with her, and a later live review at the Neeld.

Link to streaming sites HERE

Trending….

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: 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….

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

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 entertainment at our trusty Southgate. Deborah plonked a cheap-as-chips scrumpy on the bar for me, to cure my Southgate withdrawal symptoms, and rubbed salt into the wound by telling Well Hung Heart was her “gig of the year.” Never would’ve guessed!

Across Devizes pubs sought to cater for the dregs of carnival-goers with discos and karaoke, no other thought live music might be an idea, and on those justified grounds attending the Southgate was a no-brainer.

I assumed the Gate might bring in something more generalised, but punk was promised from a Chippenham trio called Work Experience, (who I’d yet to witness,) and punk we got. Though playing to a majority regular who was around for the punk era, mixed verbal reviews came across, because the contemporary pop-punk pigeonhole is a far cry from its roots, and I get that, time moves on, but they were proficient, beguiling and more importantly, loud!



They bought an entourage to lower the age demographic, which is (wink) no bad thing! Though it is The Southgate, and you’re guaranteed a great atmosphere even if Sir Patrick Stewart was reciting War & Peace.

While the band name is new, it’s a reformation of JCJ, brainchild of frontman Julien Biddulph, alongside him, drummer Theo Lender-Swain and bassist Charlie Gibbons. They’ve recently supported Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Lucky Number Seven in two sold-out shows at The Pump, and that’s all I got on them, but never doubt Kieran of Sheer’s word on such matters.

Julien came across well-mannered and passionate about his craft, but behind the instruments, they belted out some refined and (what sounded like) intelligent originals with the hook in perfectly coordinated steady riffs. Yet as common to the genre, the rather subdued vocals could’ve been notched up a bit, nothing a good technician couldn’t solve. It’s the Gate dammit, and we like it rawer than Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and there’s a joke in there to boot; don’t make me spell it out!

They sprinkled the set with some covers, too, few of which I knew, but if Stacey’s Mom is the Wonderwall of pop punk, they delivered it without clichรฉ, and it never fails to amuse.

Okay, so holding onto the bar at the end badly preaching history on Don Lett’s Roxy was at least done subtly to someone of equal age and I didn’t embarrass myself by thickly layering my Uncle Albert moment on the band. You’d be fooling yourself, hoping for a Clash cover, for Blink 182 is an equal classic to this generation, and I’m fine with that, honest, guv.

One surprise was Work Experience stripping back for a fantastic acoustic Tom Petty cover. Yeah, Free Falling, doesn’t matter who covers it, always will love it. And this point leads me neatly onto the support who simply introduced himself to me as Jonah, unnecessarily twisted my arm with a pink shot like a mini McDonald’s shake, as he blessed the Gate with some thought-provoking self-penned acoustic magic.


Honestly, sweet liquors don’t sit on the palate well while drowning oneself in scrumpy, but it was only in the absence of tequila, we did what we did! Nevertheless, like the shot, Work Experience was a gamble for a carnival night, and it paid off in my opinion.

You can catch them this Friday at The Pump with Start the Sirens supporting Lewis Poole, but full praises to the Southgate, as ever, felt so good to be back after venturing the summer festivities. They played a wildcard, introduced and hosted an enthralling, young upcoming band, and aside from being the friendliest boozer in town, I support that notion and their dedicationโ€ฆ me? I’m vegging out for the rest of the day!

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…..

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

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€œtheโ€ฆ

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 on Rayโ€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, and we’re devoted to singing their praises, but over in Chippenham young folk singer-songwriter Meg was doing an intimate set in the Neeld bar, and since my daughter Jess did a fantastic interview with her a few months ago, I was eager to cross Meg off my never-ending must-see live listโ€ฆ.

Glad I did, Meg was everything I’d expected and a tad more. Self-penned marvels of whimsical contrasts, between abstract prose of youthful dreams and harsher realities, make for a mostly melancholicus muse, thoughtful and delivered so utterly beautifully it encapsulates you like every good folk singer should, but Meg most definitely does, and Meg most definitely is only at the beginnings of a fascinating journey and one I suspect she’ll document diary-like in song.

Bags of potential here, for her audience to mature with her words, as Potterheads have with Rowling’s, in which Meg is often
quizzically humble, as if asking her audience the kind of questions your teenage self might’ve pondered alone on a ruffled duvet. It causes it to connote honesty, opening her innermost thoughts and desires to you, and the result is spellbinding. So much so, there’s times you assume the song has ended and she’s breaking the fourth wall with customary annotations, but Meg will smile a special smile, and continue the piece, and it’s touching in a unique manner; I’ve never seen another blur the lines between song and chat as well as this.



Yet the most engaging element is the passion in which she performs. In Jess’s interview, Meg was keen to express the connection between her music and her autism, suggesting it was part of her, so she didn’t think she would have one without the other. It equates to a channelled joyful passion, which unavoidably rubs off to her audience.

Look out for Meg, regularly support act at Trowbridge’s Pump and a keen open mic participant at The Old Road Tavern’s.

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 23rd – 29th August 2023

Righty-ho then, this weekโ€™s rodeo roundup of all the lovely fings to Scooby-Doo across Wiltshireโ€™s rolling landscape is rather like when you went on holiday as a nipper and your folks bought you your chosen comicโ€™s summer specialโ€ฆ a bumper edition!

Okay, millennials and gen z, youโ€™ll need Google to make any sense of that. The rest of us greying lot will remember spilling Ready Brec on their oversized Beano, Dandy or Nutty summer special while listening to the rain hammering onto a caravan roof, but everyone knows with the bank holiday looming, thereโ€™s a lot to get through, so here goesโ€ฆโ€ฆ

Oh, one quick thing while I remember, as these roundup posts are getting more popular, (we had over 10K hits for last weekโ€™s) you can see from below itโ€™s too much to stick on a Facebook post, so we do it this way because those not on Facebook can also see whatโ€™s happening, but more importantly, this list is published early in the week for ticketed events, events which come to our attention, like those smaller pub gigs which pop up on Facebook or Twitter(if we can still call it that) during the week will NOT be listed here, but they will be on the updating event calendar HERE. So, DONโ€™T take this preview piece as comprehensive, DO check the calendar later in the week.

 Pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed HERE.

Also The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham has a street art inspired exhibit, Reviewed HERE.

Ongoing until 29th Sept, The Incredible Quizzical Bath Pub Tour. 

Wednesday 23rd:

The regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon kick off their weekend earliest, with โ€œsummer of loveโ€ festivities, thereโ€™s spoken word and The Cleverly Brothers tonight.

Joe Pasqualeโ€™s The New Normal: 40 Years Of Cack comes to The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Fromage en Feu at The Bell, Bath, Iago Banet, The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar at Chapel Arts.

Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are at the Tree House, Frome.

Thursday 24th:

Nothing Rhymes With Orange are part of a Fantasy Radio Live Lounge at The Crown, Devizes, with poetic interludes by Gail Foster. You can cheat and listen to it on Fantasy, or come down the pub!

The Undercover Hippy at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

James Kirbyโ€™s The Honest Man Tour at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Mr Love & Justice at The Tuppenny, Swindon. Ghosts of this Town  Album Launch Party at The Vic, Horrible Histories โ€“ Barmy Britain at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Friday 25th:

Emergency Awareness Training! Wiltshire Air Ambulance at Hillworth Park, Devizes, but also the chance for the kids, and parents of course to meet Bluey from 12-2pm. 

Yeah, Iโ€™ve no idea who Bluey is, but I know these guys will rock, Plan of Action at The Three Crowns, Devizes, and these guys will skank, Blondie & Ska at The Pelican, and well, we just love People Like Us who are at the Condado Lounge; spoiled rotten for choice Iโ€™d say, Devizes!

Honey-Fest over at the Barge on Honey-Street starts, and what a great lineup there; Mr Tea and the Minions! Further afield, it’s the Reading Festival.

Radiation Sickness at The Consti Club, Chippenham.

Riff Raff Aurora at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford on Avon. West of England Youth Orchestra at the Wiltshire Music Centre.

Jurassic Earth at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

And music in Swindon is coming up roses: Stop Stop & Studded Rose at The Vic, Black Rose at the New Inn, Stratton, and Sonic Alert at The Queenโ€™s Tap.

โ€˜Shadowing Hankโ€™ Justin Daishโ€™s tribute to Hank Marvin & The Shadows is at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Dr Beetroot heads another glamping live music sesh at the Baa, near Salisbury.

Saturday 26th:

Continuing on Sunday, itโ€™s time again for the FullTone Festival on the Green in Devizes; yay! And if youโ€™re not going to this, or fancy popping out for a stroll, the fantastic Ruzz Guitar Trio play The Southgate.

Humdinger plays The Coopers, Pewsey.

Forest Fest at The Foresters Arms, Melksham has Manhattan Nights, This Way Up, and Martyโ€™s Fake Family, kicking off at noon.

Cooperโ€™s Creek are at The Wheatsheaf, Calne. Zero Hour at The Wiltshire Yeoman, Trowbridge.

Bradford-on-Avon have Castlefest at the Castle, and the fun continues at the Three Horseshoes with cabaret and circus acts. Ocean Blue, a relaxing duo of sax-based pop classics, jazz, blues, Boassa nova, and funk at the Boathouse.

In Swindon, 12 Bars Later at the Wroughton Club, Comedy at the Bowl at the Old Town Bowl, Apache Cats at The Queens Tap. The Little Mermaid at The Wyvern Theatre.

Sunday 27th:

Jim Blair at The Southgate, Devizes, while FullTone continues on the Green. The Potterne CC Festival is on, thereโ€™s a bus to the village from the town centre.

Talbot-Fest at the Talbot in Calne, see poster.

Start the Sirens play The Grapes, Melksham.

A happy 16th anniversary to the Open Mic night at the Old Road Tavern in Chippenham. This one kicks off at 7pm.

Starry Eyes, a charitable trust based in Trowbridge, which provides an opportunity for people of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds to get involved in music, has a Disney Day at Studley Green, Trowbridge. Tickets will be available on the door with a range of activities and entertainment available.

The Summer of Love festival comes to a Reggae Reggae Sunday finale, with Troy Ellis with Hail Jamaica at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Itโ€™s Sazz at the New Inn, Stratton, Swindon, 21st Century ABBA & Elton at the Old Town Bowl.

The Original Mike Hoddinott Blues Allstars at The Bell, Bath.

And The Hammervillesโ€™ Bank Holiday Beach Party at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Monday 28th:

Unmissable should the headline read; Well Hung Heart at The Southgate, Devizes. But thereโ€™s more, The Reason plays The Three Crowns, and The British Lion holds its Black Rat Monday, with a BBQ and the amazing Be Like Will.

Box Rocks at the Queenโ€™s Head in Box, is the fundraising smasher of bank holiday Monday, previewed HERE, fantastic lineup yet again!

Another outdoor all-dayer at the Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, see poster.

Kid Hyena at The Bell, Bath.

Tuesday 29th:

Bank holiday over, back to work! I chant this because Iโ€™ve forgotten what a bank holiday is; no rest for the wicked (and I mean wicked in eighties ironic slang, cos Iโ€™m of that era. Nowadays they say โ€œsick,โ€ whatโ€™s wrong with them?!)

But thereโ€™s still Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon with Swing From Paris, and Rob Clamp plays The Bell, Bath.

And weโ€™re not slowing down when we delve into September, you know? The Deadnotes play the Pump, Trowbridge with The Sunnies in support on Wednesday 30th, The End of the Road Festival kicks off in Salisbury the day after that.

Into September, thereโ€™s lots to look forward to from the off, The Future Sound of Trowbridge series starts with Nothing Rhymes With Orange at The Pump on Friday the 1st, with our wonderful new writer Florence Leeโ€™s band Paradigm in support.

Then thereโ€™s Devizes Carnival, Pewsey Pride, Swindon Paint Fest, the infamous Party on the Drive 3 in Chippenham, Hillworth Park Proms in Devizes, Burbage Beer Festival, a Sci Fi Day at The REME Museum, Calne, Chloe Jordan and Pete Lambโ€™s Heartbeats at the Corn Exchange Devizes for an Air Ambulance fundraiser, the new season of Long Street Blues Club begins, boss reggae with the arrive of Ya Freshness at Devizes Scooter Club, Nothing Rhymes with Orange play the Exchange, Pewsey carnival, The Wharf Theatreโ€™s Di, Vi and Rose, Swindon Shuffle, Devizes Food & Drink Festival, and so much more to come!

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

Open Mic at the Bell, Great Cheverall, and Other Local Open Mic Nights

Who is Mike anyway, and why is he so open?!

If I said these four words, in this order: open, mic, cellar, and bar, lots of Devizes folk will be evoked with fond reminiscences of Alan Jones and Richard Ben’s regular sessions down in the basement of the Bear Hotel. Many local musicians cut their teeth there, else if already established, rung out their labour of love, and that, in a nutshell is what open mic nights are all aboutโ€ฆ.

But with the event being kaput, I get asked time over, here at Devizine, if I know of any still operating. So last night I popped along to see Nick Beere of Marlborough’s Mooncalf Studios, hosting one at the Bell in Great Cheverell, and off the back of it thought today we could talk about it, and present a more general piece on local open mics; double-whammy.

“I don’t know why I got started doing it,” Nick tells me, as he sets up for the next act. Far from karaoke, Nick is tweaking technical bobs, engineering the sound and advising newcomers, to make them both comfortable and sound professional. There’s a communal feel about open mic nights without pretence. Vince Bell is there, no stranger to an open mic, explaining their importance as a bridge from practising and playing to your friends and family, to getting out gigging. Indeed, there’s an unplanned duo playing tonight, Lisa the singer, and though it’s a nervous start for them, the applause received sent them brewing with deserved confidence.

While you can take it as red Vince delivered his sublime acoustic goodness, he’s here with Devizes singer-songwriter Sorrel Pits, coming across as one of those artists to make excuses, prior to pulling off some beautiful songs adroitly self-penned with meaningful prose.

Guitarist Steve Nicholls and bassist Troy Orourke are also present, uncertain about the future of their band Alfred’s Tower since the singer left, but accompanied on cajon they produced some wonderful instrumental pieces. They asked me if I knew of any singers in need of a band, so if you’re on the hunt get in touch with us and I’ll hook you up. And within this here’s another notable point about open mics, they’re convention-like for networking, a social get-together of like minded talent, and new connections will undoubtedly be made at them.

The Bell at Great Cheverell makes for a hospitable village free house, catering for diners more so, yet often hosting live music; those Truzzy Boys being a particular favourite. No one seemed bothered by being treated to a selection of songs after their meals. Nick runs the open mic here on the second Tuesday of the month, the first Monday of the month he does similar at the perhaps more apt Lamb in Marlborough, and the third Thursday at the Horseshoe in Minal. 

To get involved with open mics, a quick Facebook search is all you need to do to get the ball rolling. Though there’s lots of said groups inactive though, especially post-lockdown. I’ll stick a few groups and pages which we’ve discovered and are currently running at the bottom of this piece. For if you want to break into the local scene, open mic could well be your route. 

Other local open mics worthy of your perusal are Tom Harris’s at the Barge on HoneyStreet. The next one being 22nd September. Join HERE for updates.

In Devizes I only know of one, The Exchange nightclub runs. The next one is Thursday 7th September, and thereafter the first Thursday of each month. HERE is the group you need to join. Though another similar thang, even more communal than open mics are acoustic jams, a particularly popular one being each Wednesday at The Southgate.

Stallards in Trowbridge have open mics on the last Thursday of each month. This group is HERE.

The Old Road Tavern in Chippenham has regular open mics on the last Sunday of the month. Group is HERE. Next evening is Sunday Aug 27th, 7pm to 10.30pm, their 16th anniversary. Chippenham FM’s Brian Reid has been running it since 2014. “We regularly get thirty-forty people each month,” he told us.

Another crucial point Brian made was the Old Road’s is open to poetry and comedy too, as others are likewise. “We have a space which I am proud to say is welcoming and attentive and supportive of newcomers,” he explained, “and a lot of experienced participants come too.”

In Bath Connor McLeod has a regular Monday evening at Belushis, and there’s a general open mic group for Bath, HERE.

Similarly Salisbury has one HERE.

Delaney’s in Wantage have open mics the first Thursday of the month, next up also 7th September. 

For Open Mics across Wiltshire, HERE, and For Open Mics throughout the Southwest, HERE. Have mic will travel!

And if I missed your favourite one, let us know, and we’ll add, provided you don’t expect me to sing personally, as there’s a government health warning on that!

Trending….

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

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

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 by the art world, and while in the UK Banksy’s popularity has swayed opinion, the legalities of the practice hinders the gap from walls to gallery, as much as renowned street artists are celebrated. Yet graffiti has a solid history, from slogans on ancient civilisations to the competitive nature of New York gangland borders blossoming into wild-style typographic designs at the dawn of hip hop culture. Such was the vying essence of an emerging scene which took dadaism to the next level, questioning where art should be rather than what art is, artistic flare took the movement away from typography to complex โ€œburners,โ€ or depictions influenced by pop art and underground comix artists such as Vaughn Bode.    

Still, Si seemed a tad scuppered when I met with him, with attempts to engage local street artists to contribute. An underlying fear of identification and cred may well be the cogitate pattern, though while their concerns are understandable, Si wants to encourage and work with street artists, as it functioned party to Swindonโ€™s inaugural Paint Fest last year. For itโ€™s the very model for the alternative ethos The Forbidden Carnival is about; quirky, unorthodox and counter-culture. For this much, the exhibit fits like a glove, though it is largely works by Siโ€™s circle of artist associates inspired by the street art movement.

For a taste of something different this exhibit is still worth your while, thereโ€™s some amazing pieces on show here. Artists Rae Melody, Sarah Christie and of course Si himself contribute some zany compositions in their own style, some of which are printed, some of which are hand-painted onto skateboards for purchase. Not for me, with no sense of balance, but I would undoubtedly have the coolest board around!

One particularly interesting artist on display here is Dave E See, aka Guts, with the freaky surreal comix style you could scan forever and still miss something, thereโ€™s clear influences from S Clay Wilson, Victor Moscoso and Rick Griffin, to Dr Adolf Steg and Jamie Smart, yet with a defined and distinctive graffiti-fashioned line theyโ€™re likely the artist who most fits the bill for this particular show, if it wasnโ€™t, perhaps, for Jimmer Willmott.

Beyond the Streets has Jimmerโ€™s name all over it, bristol-based artist who borders street and gallery, and goes the extra mile to mischievously perpetuate his work into unsuspecting places. Hereโ€™s the artist’s answer to Simon Brodkin, who hilariously defaces Tony Blairโ€™s face on the cover of his autobiography and slips on a primely located window display at his local waterstones. An artist who depicts American cops with donuts-for-heads and hidden messages in alphabetti spaghetti, and front-of-centre of this exhibit thereโ€™s an example of Jimmerโ€™s sully men-at-work signs, which he often puts back into society.

In my opinion Jimmerโ€™s work is precisely the kick in the backside the art establishment needs to note street artโ€™s value and place as a contemporary movement. It leaps off from the groundwork of Banky with mirth and comical impishness. Putting such works which espouses the outdoor tenet of street art in a gallery is a bold move for a city gallery, to have this in Chippenham is simply exciting and enthrallingly different. 

The Forbidden Carnival is open to view over weekends from 10am to 3pm, or you can request a private view by contacting the studio. Beyond the Streets runs until 27th August, but Si has plans for more thrilling exhibits in the future, including a Halloween themed one, which I hope to tell you more about nearer the time. For now, go check this outโ€ฆ..

Trending……

Ruzz Up The Gate!

I was intending to start this along the lines of โ€œyou don’t need me to provide another reason why I love The Southgate,โ€ but thisโ€ฆ

Sing Another Love Song with Rosie Jay

Second impressive single from young Salisbury singer-songwriter Rosie Jay is released today. Sing Another Love Song; a sound of the summerโ€ฆ.. Her debut breakup trackโ€ฆ

Cotswold Water Park to be Renamed

Here’s a prime example as to why I could never be a councillor….. Cotswold District Council will vote on changing the name of Cotswold Waterโ€ฆ

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

Another summery week ahead of us, and our weekly report on all the stuff weโ€™ve found to do. We will continue to support all local events and we wonโ€™t succumb to petty squabbling about any of them, by anyone.

It seems unfair that we seem to get minimal respect for what we do by a few local councillors, perhaps it is because of this reason, I really donโ€™t know. Devizes Town Council posted on their Facebook page last week, asking for suggestions to improve the free local council-run pamphlet โ€œThe Messenger.โ€ I was the only one who offered an idea, being the events list in it only promotes those events governed by the council, that it would be helpful to both us and their readers if they could include a kind of โ€œfor more information on local eventsโ€ link to Devizine, but they have not bothered to even respond.

It begs the question why Devizes Town Council would ask for suggestions and not reply to those few who do; a simple yes or no would have sufficed! Now that I’ve said it Iโ€™m sure it will get political, Iโ€™ll be witch-hunted and banned from social media pages again when all Iโ€™m guilty of is telling people about events going on, so here we go; do let me know if anything below offends you or is any way โ€œbullyingโ€ someone, wonโ€™t you?!

Donโ€™t forget nothing is comprehensive, other events might well be added during the week as and when we discover them, so check in on our event calendar, for more info and links on these, updates and planning ahead.

Ongoing through the month, Marlborough Open Studios, countywide artist open studios, where you can invite yourself  into many artistโ€™s homes for free to see their work and what biscuits they have! Open Studios runs on the first four weekends in July between 11am and 5pm.

Do pay a visit to Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, for the Anna Dillon exhibition; reviewed here.

Wednesday 12th:

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Jarman at Swindon Arts Centre.

Amadou Diagne & Group Yakar at The Bell Inn, Bath.

Sophie Duker at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Thursday 13th:

Mark Thomas: England and Son (Work In Progress) at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Chris Murphy at The Tuppenny, Swindon.

Ghosts of this Town album launch at The Vic, Swindon.

Friday 14th:

Lost Monkey Productions presents Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Foxymoron and Overstory at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.

The Unpredictables at The Peppermill, Devizes.

Wrestling Night at Marlborough Town Hall.

Slageri & Kimng Alias at The Barge Inn, Honey-Street.

Sour Apple at The Pig and Whistle, Melksham.

Nervendings and Mosaic at the Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Jazz at the Cafe with Jacqui Hicks at The Civic, Trowbridge.

The Carrivick Sisters at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Barrelhouse at The Vic, Swindon.

Sara Petite (4 piece) plus support: Savannah Gardner at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Heathen Apostles  at the Tree House, Frome.

Asian Dub Foundation at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Saturday 15th:

Arty Kids at Hillworth Park, Devizes.

Wiltshire FA Wildcats Festival at Green Lane Playing Fields, Devizes.

Italian Auto Moto Festival in the Market Place, Devizes.

Devizes District Wargames Group: Attack 2023 at Devizes School.

Chris Murphy & Barney Kenny at The Southgate, Devizes.

Roughcut Rebels at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Midlife Krisis Summer โ€“ Summer Dance at The Barge, Honey-Street.

Humdinger at The Lamb, Marlborough.

On Remand at The Crown, Marlborough.

Sour Apple at the Ship, Upavon.

Market Lavington Vintage Meet Family Fun Weekend

Family Fun Day at Woodborough Social Club from 12-4pm.

Pewsey Pride at the Coopers Arms.

The Passion of Joan of Arc at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Never 42 at Swindon Arts Centre.

Whole Lotta DC at The Vic, Swindon.

Nicki Leighton-Thomas โ€“ One Good Scandal at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Later with Frome College at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Newton Faulkner at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Gorilla Riot at The Tree House, Frome.

Sunday 16th:

Deadlight Dance & Reverence 80 at The Blue Boar, Aldbourne.

Characters Stage School: The Addams Family at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

GM Dance Academy Showcase at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Warmington, Lindley and Webb at The Bell Inn, Bath.

Monday 17th:

The Westbury Festival opens with lots of great events running until 30th July. 

Rock The Tots: Rock Gods vs Princesses at Pound Arts, Corsham.

BD Lenz at The Bell Inn, Bath.

Tuesday 18th:

Open Mic at The Angel, Westbury.

Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon with Roger Beaujolais & Tom Berge Trio.

Harri Mason at The Bell, Bath.

And thatโ€™s all we have so far, do check into our event calendar for updates, and have a great week!

Trending……

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

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

Just Meg; an Interview

by Jess Worrow

I confess a few nerves about my first interview, in a coffee shop in Chippenham, however after meeting folk singer-songwriter Meg, it became more like a chat between two friends. Meg is appearing on the line-ups of many local festivals and venues, from Trowbridgeโ€™s Pump, Chippenham Pride and Folk Festival, to MDBTYD festival in Swindon.….

I asked her which gig she was most looking forward to, โ€œthe Minety Festival is where most of my focus is, as it’s the closest,โ€ she explained. Meg is playing the Minety stage on Friday night alongside other upcoming artists such as Boston Green and The Sunnies, and amidst legends like Dodgy, Reef and Scouting For Girls.

But which are her favourite venues and most memorable gigs? โ€œIt’s a difficult question, I find gigs better when there are friendly people and a good environment. I did a gig with Boston Green at Newark Hall in Chippenham; they were amazing!โ€ Meg was passionate about the Pump in Trowbridge, which presents opportunities to upcoming and diverse musicians. โ€œKieran,โ€ she said, โ€œwho runs it is really involved in helping young musicians.โ€

I was keen to understand the difficulties for younger people getting local bookings, at sixteen it must be hard to get gigs being many venues are pub-based. โ€œAt times it can,โ€ Meg said, โ€œI’ve had a few venues whoโ€™ve said no because theyโ€™re 18 plus, so, like bars and clubs, as legally it would be very difficult. Then getting the fan base in because many of them are younger as well.โ€

Whatโ€™s Megโ€™s favourite thing about performing? โ€œThe fact I can do it and that there’s an audience who cares enough to actually listen, and who will come up and talk to me afterwards; itโ€™s really sweet. And of course, I love it! I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it.โ€

Glastonbury is a dream gig for any artist, Meg included. โ€œThough I don’t think I’d like to go there unless I was playing,โ€ she remarked. Meg cited Florence and the Machine and Aurora as influences, โ€œthey have been hugely influential on my personal style. When I was first going out, I didn’t have many originals, mainly doing Florence and Aurora covers.โ€ But now Meg is a prolific writer. โ€œAt this point,โ€ she expressed, โ€œI’m doing all originals, but this time last year I only had two and was doing mainly covers. I actually wrote a bunch of songs whilst doing my GCSEs! Itโ€™s a good way to relieve stress. So, I have a lot more material now.โ€

Enough for an album, and at such a young age? Meg was thrilled about an opportunity to record her songs, โ€œI mean thatโ€™s got to be exciting, right?โ€

โ€œI’m so excited for that!โ€ Meg expressed, โ€œI’ve got two days booked, so hopefully I’ll get all the songs I’ve got going at the moment recorded. Yess, there’s going to be an album! We are going to aim to start releasing around September, and then the album will probably come out between then and Christmas.โ€

โ€œI feel like the music industry isn’t always that accessible to become successful in, but at my age, I think I have the freedom to put a lot of time into it, and I’m obviously still supported by my parents, and I love them so much; they help me a lot with it!โ€

I wondered where Meg got her inspiration. โ€œInspired by the work of Aurora and Florence and the Machine,โ€ she began, โ€œI love nature so that can sometimes help. And rain, whenever it rains I seem to get ideas! A month ago it was really misty and I wrote a song which is called Mist, which is one of my favourites. When inspiration strikes you just have to write; I often find Iโ€™ll be writing songs in the back of my school books!โ€

Where did it all begin? โ€œThis probably sounds cliche,โ€ Meg replied, โ€œbut it’s always been there, as soon as I could talk I started singing! I was four when I wrote my first little song. I would always sing with my mum when I was younger which really helped get me into it and my dad played musical instruments so that helped too.โ€

Mist being her personal fav, Meg continued, โ€œThere is this one that’s a calm one; some people say it’s sad, but it’s very nostalgic for me. It’s called Hide in the Rain. There is also another one that’s really helped me through a lot of things, called Together, because Iโ€™m autistic the song has helped remind me I can unmask, I don’t have to pretend to be someone else and it’s fine to be me.โ€

Mentioning Together, about her autism, I asked Meg when she is writing her songs does she try to represent autism? โ€œI think Together is the only song I’ve written about it. But I do quite openly talk about it and I don’t think it should be something people are scared to talk about. For me personally it’s part of who I am and I really value that part of me. It’s made some parts of life difficult but it’s made parts of my life better. I honestly don’t think I would be doing this if I wasn’t autistic, in a weird way. All of my songs are about me in some respect and it’s a part of me I can’t escape.โ€

Does Meg get performance anxiety? โ€œSometimes, it often depends on the gigs. At new environments like a festival Iโ€™ve never been to, or when I’ve got a lot of new songs I haven’t performed, I found then that it can be very nerve-racking.โ€

It was lovely chatting to Meg, I asked her what her proudest musical accomplishment was, so far. โ€œI’m not sure. It’s hard to say, but coming second in Take the Stage in Chippenham, when I was fifteen has to be up there!โ€ And Iโ€™m sure there will be many more!

You can find Meg performing at Minety, Trowbridge Festival, MDBYTD and The Shuffle and regularly at The Pump. 

Follow MEG on Instagram Facebook

Trending……

A Perfect Picnic in the Park

A perfect sunny(ish) Sunday at Hillworth Park in Devizes, if not to overcome one’s fear of public speaking while dressed in a giraffe onesie andโ€ฆ

The Pleasure was all Minety!

Broke my Minety Music Festival cherry, and it was gurt lush! When it comes to live music and festivals, I initially set a high bar.โ€ฆ

DOCA Picnicing in the Park!

With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Park nextโ€ฆ

Michelle Gonelan Makes History

Last political rant from me for a while, given all that happened today, pinky promise! Hitler shot himself, then, as requested, he was doused inโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 28th June – 4th July 2023

Hey, busy week this week, hereโ€™s what’s happening across the county. Donโ€™t forget thereโ€™s more info on these, ticket links and irregular updates on our fantabulouso Event Calendar, so get ahead one step ahead of the game!

Ongoing, Hail the Curious, the inaugural exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham; check it out by the end of the month. Devizes Tennis Club starts week one of their Tennis Holiday Camp at Devizes Tennis Club; book here.

Wednesday 28th:

Ah, the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Jo Brand: Work In Progress at Swindon Arts Centre.

William KZ at The Bell, Bath, The Beat featuring Dave Wakeling at Bath Forum. 

Thursday 29th:

Open Mic at Stallards, Trowbridge.

B-Sydes & Old Man Boom at The Tuppenny in Swindon, while Something Underneath and Chasing Dolls are at the Vic, Drew Bryant is at Timmyโ€™s Bar, and Coldplay tribute Coldplace at The Wyvern Theatre.

Comedy at Komedia in Bath with Phil McIntyre presents Danny Bhoyโ€™s Now is not a Good Time, Danielle Ward and Tread Softly Productionsโ€™ hilarious, intelligent and seriously moving, no-holds-barred look at being a woman in comedy, The Half at the Rondo Theatre.

Friday 30th:

The acclaimed Welsh film, Translations gets a screening at Melksham Assembly Hall, Helen gave us a preview, HERE.

Drew Bryant is at The Pelican, Devizes, with Illingworth at The Three Crowns. And we look forward to Devizes first Pride on Saturday with Drag Queen Bingo at The Wyvern club and an LGBTQ+ Club Night at The Exchange.

Thereโ€™s an Open Mic at Marlborough Town FC, Swipe Right play the Bear, and Reading Dub Club with the Jah Lion Movement visits the Barge on Honey Street.

B-Sydes at the Pump, Trowbridge, with Old Man Boom in support.

Opening is the amazing Minety Music Festival, nr Malmesbury, and happening all weekend.

Chippenham Comedy Festival starts at the Old Road Tavern, and continues until Sunday 2nd July.

Modern Evils, Viduals and Trippy Kicks at The Vic, Swindon, while Moon and Truck are at The Castle, and Jon Amor Trio at the Beehive. Comedy at The Wyvern Theatre with Phil McIntyre presents Danny Bhoyโ€™s Now is not a Good Time.

Iona Lane with Malin Lewis at Pound Arts in Corsham.

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

The Ministry of Burlesque cabaret at Komedia, Bath, while the Rondo Theatre have Eleanor Higgins and Bush Productions queer cult sensation, In Pursuet, following two sell-out runs at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. And โ€˜Your Songโ€™ โ€“ a Celebration of the Songs of Elton John at Chapel Arts.

Keith Brymer-Jones is at The Memorial Theatre, Frome, with Led Zep tribute Coda at the Cheese & Grain.

Saturday 1st:

Marlborough Open Studios starts, and runs over the first four weekends in July between 11am and 5pm. This is a countywide open studios extravaganza where you can visit many different local artists in their studios. 

It is Mantonfest near Marlborough time again; yay! Nothing Rhymes With Orange are at The Barge on Honey Street.

Free to take clothes, swap and donate at Devizes Swap Shop at St James Church from 11am-2pm. It is Devizes first Pride at Hillworth Park, and of course, the 22nd Devizes Beer & Cider Festival. To finish, Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective will continue from the beer fest over to the Southgate.

Thereโ€™s the Heddington and Stockley Steam Rally and Country Fair. 

Becky Lawrence & The Reason play The Green Dragon in Market Lavington.

Saucy Jack at The Pilot, Melksham.

Barney Kenny & Chris Murphey at The Pump in Trowbridge.

Matt Woosey at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Trowbridge Symphony Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, and highly recommended Adam and the Ants tribute Ant Trouble at The Three Horseshoes, with The Sylvertones at The BoatHouse.

Italia Conti at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon. My Chemical Romance and Fallout Boy tributes at the Vic, The Black Charade and Fell Out Boy!

Figgle Fest 10th Anniversary, at Figheldean Village Hall Salisbury.

Tribute to Small Faces, the Small Fakers Band has sold out Chapel Arts, Bath.

Gordie Mackeeman & His Rhythm Boys at Frome Memorial Theatre, with An Evening with Simon & Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene at The Cheese & Grain, and Foo Fakers & Nirvanot at the Tree House.

Sunday 2nd:

Carmelaโ€™s Wiltshire Wonder Wheels 100km & 10km Charity Cycle Ride.

Jon Amor regular session at the Southgate in Devizes, increibley with the Gris Gris, Robin Davey and Greta Valetni; just wow!

Inspire 2023 free music festival at Warminster Pleasure Grounds.

Zone Clubโ€™s Summer Celebration Concert at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Regular first Sunday of the month Blues Jam at the Vic in Swindon.

Monday 3rd I got nought, yet.

Tuesday 4th:

Running until 8th July, the Bradfordiansโ€™ Amadeus at the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak in Swindon brings you the Alex Goodyear Quartet.

That’s your lot for this week, unless you know any different? It’s free to have your event added to our EVENT CALENDAR and feature on our weekly rodeo roundup, so don’t make me come chasing after you, do let us know about them. Have a sixties style fab and groovy weekend!

Trending……

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

Devizes Arts Festival Rules, OK?!

Alas, it’s been a long week since the Devizes Arts Festival called time. It feels a little like when my Dad would take the Christmasโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th -19th June 2023

Another summery week ticked off, and our event guide just keeps getting bigger. This week is huge, people, huge โ€ฆโ€ฆI mean the week is huge, not the people, Iโ€™m not one to body shame as, I believe, is the appropriate gen z term; pass my pronouns, thereโ€™s good fellow.ย 

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.

Tuesday 13th

Floral Display at Hillworth Park, Devizes, continues Wednesday too. Devizes Arts Festival still going strong, they have Lois Pryce: Revolutionary Ride โ€“ One Womanโ€™s Solo Motorcycle Journey around Iran at 3pm in the Bear Hotel, and the fantastic Elles Bailey Band, 8pm at the Corn Exchange.

Nick Beere has an inaugural Open Mic Night at The Bell, in Great Cheverall, which hopes to become a regular second Tuesday of the month thang.

McCartney โ€“ The Songbook at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Free-movement dance session 60โ€™s to 80โ€™s music at Salisbury Methodist Church.

Wednesday 14th

Poulshot Green Gathering.

Devizes Arts Festival has Clive Andersonโ€™s Me, Macbeth and I. 7:30pm at the Corn Exchange.

Acoustic Jam at the Southgate, Devizes.

Memory Cinema at Swindon Arts Centre for those with dementia and their families, showing

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Menopause The Musical 2 at The Wyvern Theatre.

Charlotte Sauste-Bridoux at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon.

Lunchtime Recital with cellist Idlir Shyti at Pound Arts in Corsham, and a double bill in the evening with Fly Yeti Fly & Pound Sound.

Thursday 15th

Devizes Arts Festival has folk duo Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow, 12pm at St Andrews Church, and the Chris Ingham Trioโ€™s The Jazz of Dudley Moore, 8pm at theTown Hall. 

Paul Henshaw plays The Tuppenny, Swindon. An Evening with Brian Bilston at Swindon Arts Centre, and Phil Wangโ€™s Wang In There Baby! at The Wyvern Theatre. Liddington Hill EP release party at the Vic, with Lucky Number Severn & Dark Prophecy, EP reviewed here.

Folk Open Mic Meets From the Book, at Brown Street, Salisbury, A Night of Folk Music and Poetry, and continues on Saturday.

AC/DC tribute, Hellโ€™s Bells at The Cheese & Grain, Frome. 

Friday 16th

Devizes Arts Festival has Gaelic folk anthems with Christian Garrick and the Budapest Cafรฉ Orchestra, 8pm at Corn Exchange.

John Langan & Maxine Ria at The Barge, Honey-Street.

Park Lane at The Civic, Trowbridge.

Radiation Sickness at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham.

Longleat Summer Party.

John Bramwell & The Full Harmonic Convergence at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Swindon Folk Club Guest Night: Patakas at The Hop, Swindon, Pink Mac at The Vic, 

21st Century Abba at Meca, Oye Santana at Swindon Arts Centre, and In Conversation With Stacey Dooley at The Wyvern Theatre.

Second night of the Folk Open Mic Meets From the Book at Brown Street, Barbar Luck at The George & Dragon in Salisbury.

Band X atThe Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Isabelle Farahโ€™s Ellpsis at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, and The Alex Voysey Blues Band presents โ€˜Faux Bonamassaโ€™ at Chapel Arts.

Legends, Bob Marley & the Wailers kick off a ska and reggae weekender at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Saturday 17th

Maps for Devizes Open Gardens are ready and on sale now from Devizes Books, Hillworth Park Cafรฉ, Devizes Town Hall and The Giving Tree in the Little Brittox. ยฃ7 in cash per map, continues on Sunday.

Devizes Sustainability Fair in the Market Place from 10am-4pm. 

Devizes Arts Festival has a free fringe event, Carrie Etter Poetry Workshop and reading, atย 2pm in the Cheese Hall of Town Hall. Limited numbers so book your place. And 8-piece reggae Latin funk powerhouse Malavita! 8pm at the Corn Exchange, makes the grand finale of what has been a fantastic year for the festival.

Elsewhere in Devizes, find Will Edmunds Trio at The Southgate, and Humdinger debut at The Three Crowns. 

Keevil Summer Roots Festival, a first for the village, preview here.

Stonehenge Campaign Festival, free, at the Barge on Honey-Street.

The Plough at Shalbourne has a FREE Ale and Sausage Festival, with Two Complicated, Deadlight Dance, @59, Reuben Medlin Band and more.

Chippenham Pride has a great lineup, but you will need to register your interest online.

The Rider are at the Pilot in Melksham.

Shaw Summer Family Music Fair.

X-Factor winner Steve Brookstien at The Civic in Trowbridge.

Debut Dance Company: Bodies of Water at Pound Arts, Corsham, followed by Iona Johnson: Musical Storytime and Bella Hardy in the evening. But check out the poster for Corfest at Corsham Rugby Club, what a lineup, loads of my favourites from Train to Skaville, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Plan of Action and Splat the Rat; nice one!

Barrelhouse play The New Inn, Swindon, Hannah Rose-Platt & Adam Giles Levy at The Tuppenny, Wizards of Oz and Judas Rising at The Vic. Patti Boulayeโ€™s Iโ€™m Coming Out at Swindon Arts Centre. Swindon Music Trust holds a Party in the Park at Town Gardens, tickets are ยฃ11.50, great lineup, see here.ย 

Bath Symphony  Orchestra are Across the Pond at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, find Stanchions at The Three Horseshoes.

Peter Gill โ€“ Piano Legends at Chapel Arts, Bath, with John William Richardโ€™s Almost Hollywood at the Rondo Theatre.

An evening with Logical Park at The Swan near Barton Stacey, Salisbury.

G4 Live at The Memorial Theatre, Frome, with the Cheese & Grainโ€™s second night of their ska and reggae weekender, featuring the Neville Staple Band. 

Sunday 18th

DOCAโ€™s Picnic in the Park at Hillworth Park in Devizes, a must!

Max & Ivan: Life Choices (Work In Progress) at Pound Arts, Corsham, with Gav Cross: Snack and Stories too.

GBH Big Bandโ€™s I Got Gershwin at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, while the amazing Dry White Bones play The Three Horseshoes.

As Fanning at Komedia, Bath

Paul Burlingโ€™s Big Daddy Variety Show at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Monday 19th

Declan Gaynor @ The Tap & Barrell, Swindon

And I got nuthin for Tuesday, yet But if I missed anything out let me know, feed me cake and I can update this and our calendar, but if you donโ€™t tell me donโ€™t come crying! Have a great week, remember, sunscreen, people, sunscreen.

Look out for our incoming next article, as we reveal the music lineup at Devizes Beer Festival on the 1st July!

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: 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……

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 24th-30th May 2023

OMG, OMG, another bank holiday weekend coming up, whoโ€™s excited, who’s coming out to play?! Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found this week, find the info and links, and for planning ahead, here, on our event calendar. No prizes for guessing Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week this week!

Obviously more stuff will be added to our event calendar as and when it comes to our attention, this is not comprehensive, so do check in later in the week, and let us know what we missed, we charge one cupcake to add an event, but it must be a chocolate one! 

Donโ€™t forget to check out Hail the Curious, the debut exhibit at The Forbidden Carnival in Chippenham, running until 30th June. 

Wednesday 24th:

Regular acoustic jam at The Southgate in Devizes.

Skimpy & The Triniti Band at The Bell Inn, Bath, where Little Shop of Horrors runs until Saturday at The Rondo Theatre.

Emmanuel Sonubiโ€™s Emancipated at Swindon Arts Centre, and Gretchen Peters at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

The Mead Community Primary School presents Forever Treasure Island at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon.

Pierre Novellie and Huge Davies, Comedy Previews at Pound Arts in Corsham.

Thursday 25th:

Shindig Festival opens its doors, have a great weekend to all at Shindig, you lucky lot; have a boogie for me!

Open Mic at Stallards in Trowbridge.

Lady Maisery at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Soap Girls play The Vic in Swindon, I say, ding-dong! Reverend Ferriday is at The Tuppenny, Jen Bristerโ€™s The Optimist at Swindon Arts Centre, and itโ€™s all soul at The Wyvern Theatre with the Luther show.

Octopus Dream Theatre presents I Love You, Mum, I Promise I Wonโ€™t Die at  The Merlin Theatre, Frome.

Friday 26th:

Lou Coxโ€™s n o holds barred one-woman show, Having a Baby and the S**t They Donโ€™t Tell You, at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes for Friday and Saturday; highly recommended from us, but not for the faint hearted!

Meanwhile, 12 Bars Later make a welcomed return to The Three Crowns, Devizes, with the incredible Mark Coltonโ€™s solo show at The Pelican.

John Wattersonโ€™s celebrated tribute to Jake Thackray, An Evening Without Jake Thackray comes to The Bouverie Hall in Pewsey. Billy & Louie at The Castle & Ball, Marlborough. 

Running until the 29th, itโ€™s the opening of Chippenham Folk Festival, while the fantastic Triple JD Band plays The Old Road Tavern.

Find Castro at The Wheatsheaf, Calne.

The most amazing young soul singer Iโ€™ve heard for an era or four, Franki Soul is at Trowbridge Town Hall. While Fly Yeti Fly have a double-bill at The Pump with Alex Roberts and Graeme Ross.

The Karport Collective are the Seven Stars, Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon; fantastic these guys are. Dervish, legends of the Irish folk scene at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Break Cover are at Brown Street in Salisbury.

Tapped at the Theatre Royal, Bath, and The Lynne and McCartney Story Theatre Show at Chapel Arts.

We Were Promised Honey at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Here Come The Crows at The Vic in Swindon, while Rosie Jonesโ€™ Triple Threat is at Swindon Arts Centre, and The Roy Orbison Experience comes to The Wyvern Theatre.

Ultimate Coldplay at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, and The Urban Voodoo Machine at The Tree House.

Saturday 27th:

You know it has to be Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week, The Devizes International Street Festival is free, itโ€™s the best weekend in Devizes, and it starts on the Green on Saturday and continues on the Sunday in the Market Place; see you there!

Street Festival after parties, then, find Jonah Hitchens Band at the Southgate, Devizes, Ben Borrill plays at The Moonrakers, andย Gerry Jablonski Band plays at the Long Street Blues Club. The Snuff Box has an International Craft Beer Festival, and The Exchange hosts guest DJ, Castro.

Direct from the Pump, Fly Yeti Fly, Alex Roberts and Graeme Ross fly over to The Barge on HoneyStreet, while the Chaos Brothers are at The Lamb in Marlborough. 

Be Like Will & Band Of Pilgrims are at The Pump in Trowbridge.

End of Story at The Talbot, Calne, while Band-X play The Wheatsheaf.

A fundraiser for Swindonโ€™s Ukrainian community at Swindon Hub, Rave Against The Regime at The Vic, The Black Hole Sons at the New Inn, Walk Right Back at The Wyvern Theatre, and Tom Davisโ€™ Work in Progress at Swindon Arts Centre.

Ma Bessie and her Pigfoot Band at Chapel Arts, Bath, with You Are The Sun at Theatre Royal, running until 29th May, and A Shining Intimacy at The Egg.

Triple JD are at the Sun in Frome, the Cheese & Grain have Lindisfarne while The Burning Hell are at The Tree House.

Sunday 28th:

Devizes International Street Festival continues, in the Market Place this time, too much to mention here, but do look out for our homegrown upcoming talent Nothing Rhymes With Orange on the main stage at 2:30pm. 

The Barge, Honey-Street are Celebrating 50 years of Dark Side of the Moon with Atom Heart Floyd.

Jon Amor Trio at The New Inn, Bath, Jolie Blon at The Bell Inn.

Last Call at The Vic, Swindon.

Fromeโ€™s Spring Vegan Fair at the Cheese & Grain.

Monday 29th:

Bank holiday goodness then, arty kids will be pottery painting at Hilworth Park, find Kate and The Unpredictables at The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Swindonโ€™s famous duck race, see poster below.

Mono at the Cheese & Grain, Tryani Collective at The Bell in Bath.

Tuesday 30th I got nought, unless you know better; always tell us if weโ€™ve missed something! Mind you, I think thatโ€™s enough for one week, have a day off, stay home and make beans on toast; you can add a little chilli powder to fully clear your system if you so choose! Have a great weekend, stop me and give me grief if you spot me at the Street Festival, I donโ€™t biteโ€ฆ..not on the nipple at any rate!

Trending…..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Place at the Rondo Theatre in Bath.

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

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

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

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

The Mark Harrison Band at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mara Simpson at Pound Arts, Corsham.

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

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

Jaywalkers at The Bell Inn, Bath.

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

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

Monday 22nd:

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

Tuesday 23rd:

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

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

Trending……

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dilton Marsh Scarecrow Trail continues Sunday too!

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

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

Alasdair Beckett-King at Swindon Arts Centre.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hail The Chippenham Circus of Curious Artists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trending……..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Open Mic night at the Barge on Honey Street.

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

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

Sour Apple at The Kings Arms, Amesbury.

Blues Jam at The Vic, Swindon.

Magpie Market at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

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

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

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

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

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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

Chippenhamโ€™s Forbidden Carnival Gallery

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Check out the website HERE, for more info.

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

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

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

Tuesday 25th April:

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

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

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

Wednesday 26th:

Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

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

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

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

Thursday 27th:

 Open Mic night at Stallards, in Trowbridge. 

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

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

Friday 28th:

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

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

A Moroccan Banquet at Trowbridge Town Hall.

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

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

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

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

Saturday 29th:

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

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

The Duskers at The Barge on Honey-Street.

Barrelhouse plays The Bear in Marlborough.

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

From Jovi & Dragoneye at The Wheatsheaf in Calne.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday 30th:

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

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

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

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

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

Monday 1st:

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

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

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

Trending….

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Little Women runs at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sour Apple play The New Inn in Winterbourne Monkton.

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

The Beggar’s Bash at Salisbury Rugby Club.

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

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

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

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

Blue Moon Band at the Wheatsheaf in Chippenham.

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

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

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

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

Monday 10th I got nothing, yet.

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

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

Trending…..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sour Apple play The Castle & Ball in Marlborough.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sour Apple are at The Rose & Crown, Warminster.

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

Long For the Coast at Chapel Arts in Bath.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trending…

The Drum n Bass Huntr/s of Old Devizes Town

In true Royston Vasey style, unfortunately due to time and resources we donโ€™t review international music as we did during lockdown, choosing to focus moreโ€ฆ

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……

Let’s Clean up Devizes!

You’ve got to love our CUDS, the Clean up Devizes Squad, hardworking volunteers who make the town look tidy and presentable. Here’s your chanceโ€ฆ

Ashes of Memory; New Single From M3G

The fifth single coming out from Chippenham singer-songwriter M3g on Friday, Ashes of Memory, and if Iโ€™ve said in the past what separates Megโ€ฆ

Never Changing the Rules With Atari Pilot

Swindonโ€™s sonic indie popsters Atari Pilot are a prolific bunch, and have a new single out called The Rules Never Changeโ€ฆ. And, they donโ€™t.โ€ฆ

Here Comes the Girls; Celebrating International Womenโ€™s Day with our Local Musicians

Opps, it didnโ€™t occur to me until afterwards, we only had the lads play for us at my birthday celebration at the Three Crowns on Saturday. Not intentional, just the way the cookie crumbled, but itโ€™s no coincidence that today, my actual birthday, falls on International Womenโ€™s Day!

Like any other industry, the history of the music bizโ€™s treatment of women may be questionable, but itโ€™s fair to say as far as creative output goes, girls have been at the forefront since pop begun. There are so many talented females on our local circuit, so boys, go vegetate with your X-Box for a moment while we give a deserved roll-call to as many of our favourite girls on the scene as I can think of…โ€ฆ (in alphabetical order so there’s no arguments or hair-pulling!)

Annalise

Oh, for the haunting vocals of Annalise, fronting Salisburyโ€™s purveyors of folk-gothic rock, Strange Folk. So captivating, so evocative; think Amy Lee of Evanescence, and youโ€™re not far off the mark.

Becca Maule

Promising Salisbury teenager Becca is an acoustic singer-songwriter who has been known to occasionally strap a band of friends together. Coming from a post-punk angle, thereโ€™s some chatty punk-rock Kate Nash-fashioned vocals on some astutely self-penned songs and covers. Themes include contemporary teenage anguish, climate change and mental health.

Becky Lawrence

Drifted from the shores of the Isle of Man to anchor in Wiltshire, I first heard country singer-songwriter Becky Lawrence supporting the annual Female of The Species fundraiser. A young Becky started out in musical theatre, then trekked to London to attend London School of Musical Theatre. This training shows in her confident and accomplished solo show, and within powerful original compositions. Again, themes of maturing and relationships are key, and if you think this is somewhat clichรฉ, Becky puts her stamp on them with poise and exquisiteness. Her first single You Say reached the number 1 spot in the UK Country Music Charts on iTunes, her second gained over 90K streams on Spotify, but her latest my favourite, Loud and 17 is what kept me in awe of her performance.

Belinda Lee

Fronting Bristol soul four-piece Belle Day, this is a new one on me though theyโ€™ve been on the southwest circuit for some years, and Iโ€™m happy to report being blown away by these breath-takingly powerful vocals, of the classic Stax-Motown era. Itโ€™s smooth blues flavour is ballroom jazzy with a hint of R&B.

Charmaigne Andrews

Melkshamโ€™s premier rock soloist, tattoo artist, and one-fifth of The Female of the Species, Charmaigne is a force to be reckoned with. Powerful, soulful vocals enrich either solo performances or her newfound rock covers four-piece, Siren.

Chole Jordan

Perhaps the odd one out amidst these pop performers, but when you hear music teacher and classically trained soprano Chloe sing, angels will come down from the heavens to listen, officially!

Claire Connor

Show me a female-fronted Muse trump card, and Iโ€™ll raise you Trowbridge based acoustic trio Be Like Will. Popular on our pub circuit, theyโ€™ve already got some originals under their belt, as well as their popular rock covers. Claire controls the lads, and will hold you captivated too! Book these guys.

Claire Grist

Formerly of People Like Us, Claire now performs with six-piece function band LiveWired.

Claire Perry

Self-described as โ€œbarking!…daft…loyal…technophobic…achey chunk!โ€ we love Claire, for her outrageous onstage banter, and her contribution to Female of the Species. Find this devilish diva fronting Melkshamโ€™s most popular cover band, Big Mammaโ€™s Banned.

Evie Halpin

Iโ€™m yet to catch Evie play live. Pewseyโ€™s resident Joss Stone, she brings soulful vocals to her solo show, the like you wouldnโ€™t believe; ergo, Evie is on top of my must-see-list. A singer-songwriter citing Billy Holiday and Nina Simone as influences, so expect some blue soul. You can find Evie regularly at the open mic nights at The Exchange in Devizes, often playing the Moonrakers in Pewsey.

Harmony Asia

Folk with a touch of soul for this knockout singer-songwriter and acoustic musician from Chippenham, look Iโ€™ll leave you a YouTube link from Mr Mooreโ€™s days at Trowbridge Town Hall, and you can make your own mind up, but we think Harmony Asia is really something special!

Helen Carter

One half of husband and wife Devizes blues trio, 12 Bars Later, this wonderful couple can hold the kind of crowd spellbound which would usually take a six piece supergroup of legends!

Julia Hanratty

Frome-based Julia Greenwood is probably the vocalist of the Female of the Species Iโ€™m least familiar with, but through her soul ballads she wows me every year. Lead singer from Soulville Express, it is as it says, Julia can hold the note of Aretha Franklin with remarkable ease.

Julie Morton

Ah, our Jules, jewel in the ska crown of Wilsthire. Train to Skaville is the longest-running, chugging along since 2011, bestest ska and reggae cover band in the county, and let the lord Walt Jabsco strike me down if it isnโ€™t so. Also, key member of charity fundraising supergroup, Female of the Species, Jules skanks and we love her for it!

Katie Mills

Be it as a solo performer or with acoustic guitarist Sue in the duo Sour Apple, Katie commands any generation-spanning cover with all the power and finesse of the original. Breath-taking to think Katie will attribute a Whitney Houston set with certain ease, and her powerful vocal range I liken to Alison Moyet. Yet through her work in Sour Apple, the duo has set about creating many a sublime original, and works them into a set with equal passion. Prolifically gigging locally theyโ€™re the up-coming name which can accommodate any kind of venue or pub, and bring their shine to the punters.

Listen to their recent interview with Peggy-Sue of Swindon 105, here.

Kirsty Clinch

What can we say about Westburyโ€™s finest musical export, Kirsty Clinch that we havenโ€™t already? Concentrating on her childrenโ€™s music school First Melodies primarily these days, on the rare occasion our wonderful country singer-songwriter and music teacher is performing, you need to be there when she does. Kirsty is prolific in releasing some of most beautiful songs to bless my ears, and is astute with her business plans, self-managed, self-promoter and recently launching her own brand of clothing and merchandise.

Lorraine

Chippenham based duo, David and Lorraine take tribute acts to the next level. Lorraine makes the perfect Blondie, but theyโ€™ll add popular two-tone ska covers in too, making for a highly entertaining show. Blondie and Ska will liven your pub up, and get everyone up dancing.

Lucianne Worthy

Plan of Action are the Wiltshire rock, blues and alternative band which pack a punch. Itโ€™s loud and proud, and for every loud and proud rock band you need a killer bassist, the only girl in the group, Lucianne is the personification of rock bass!

Naomi

Lead singer with Salisburyโ€™s nu-cool indie sovereigns, Timid Deer. Arguably the most underrated local band, Timid Deerโ€™s unique sound is enchanting, Naomiโ€™s vocals are stunning, and this band does to indie-rock as Morcheeba did to trip hop.

Nicky Davis

Last but by no means least, we come to our final contributor to fundraising supergroup Female of the Species, Nicky Davis. Whether upfront vocalist or behind her landmark red keyboard, Nicky is a powerhouse. Fronting function band The Reason and lifetime member of our celebrated covers band, People Like Us, entertaining our pubs since 2016, Nicky, we love you!

Sally Dobson

Havenโ€™t heard from Sally for a while, I know she moves about a bit and believe she resides closer to Oxford. Still her wonderful acoustic sets a few years ago justify her presence on this here hall of fame, and her work with the gothic duo Strange Tales, which seems a little inactive of recent. Still, I never forget a talented musical lady when I meet one!

Sarah C Ryan

The Sarah C Ryan Band describe themselves as โ€œmelodic low slung rock pop with a country/folk tinge,โ€ and I always feel they sell themselves down, unaware of how completely mind-blowingly fantastic they are. This, if you perchance to see them at a gig adds a delightful element of surprise. If the name comes over a tad โ€œfunction bandโ€ too, you should take heed, theyโ€™re far from run-of-the-mill. Recently did one of the best Visual Radio Arts features Iโ€™ve seen, I see if I can drop the link to it……

Sara Vian

Frome based Welsh hippy-chick singer/songwriter Sara Vian is in her element singing jazz, soul and blues with a fabulous sunny vibe which charms and disarms with a distinction all her own, and she rides this with bells on.

Collaborating with the Graham Dent Trio, Sara has also released a number of singles over the Lockdown, and wonderfully acoustic goodness they are too!

Sienna Wileman

Daughter to Swindonโ€™s answer to Mike Oldfield, Richard Wileman, an incredibly prolific composer of pre-symphonic rock band Karda Estra, where there is nothing vertical or frenetic about his musical approach, the apple doesnโ€™t fall far from the tree. Though where singer-songwriter Sienna differs is theme, we hear topics of adolescence, youthful relationships, and perhaps their collapses, in this angelic voice of reason. Siennaโ€™s music is experimental too, easy-going, and ambient, and I predict great things from one the most promising young artists locally.

Sophia Bovell

Sophia & Soul Rebels

Swindonโ€™s astounding and versatile singer of soul, Sophia has many guises, as lively five-piece soul, Motown, disco, and reggae band, Sophia & The Soul Bothers, formerly Soul Rebels, and more recently a jazz ensemble simply called Sophia Bovell โ€“ Jazz. Sophia can hold that note like the great soul divas, and with skilled backing can put the funk into any event.

Sue Harding

I first met Sue as an interviewer at the now based in Devizes, Visual Arts Radio, but soon came to realise she is a magnificent Celtic and Americana acoustic folk singer-songwriter too, of the Wilts-Somerset border.

Tamsin Quin

Last in our alphabetical hall of fame, but certainly not least! One third of our beloved acoustic modern country vocal harmony trio, The Lost Trades, Tamsin is the stalwart female acoustic singer-songwriter on our circuit, and her flair partly the reason for me starting Devizine as this voyage of discovery into the mostly undocumented wealth of local talent we have here. It should be pointed out the combo was created out of their many collaborations with each other in the past, and each of them, Phil, Jamie, and Tamsin, have had and continue to pursue solo careers aside The Lost Trades. Since highlighting all the individuals of this fantastic trio, The Trades continue to go from strength-to-strength, and are bonded so specially I cannot now visualise life without their wonderful harmonies in it! And Tamsin is the connecting link between the guys, and long may be so.

I do ask Tammy about a second solo album, since the amazing Gypsy Blood debut, and while she never brushes off the notion, her dedication to the Trades is paramount; yeah, I totally get that!

Thatโ€™s about all I think of, and I like thinking about girls! But I know a few are going to say, hey, you missed me out! Iโ€™m sorry if I did, and can edit it if you let me know! Have a great International Womenโ€™s Day, and to everyone listed on this โ€œhall of fameโ€ just keep it up, girls, continue the amazing contributions to our music circuit, for without you the guys would probably just be hanging around a kebab van wondering if theyโ€™re on yet, and asking where is the gig anyway!

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 1st โ€“ 7th March 2023

March on! Letโ€™s say no more about the impending spring other than YES!!!! As you might be able to tell, Iโ€™m not a winter person. Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to be doing this coming week.…….

Find details and tickets links at our event calendar, and plan your month ahead. Watch out though, itโ€™s always updating and more stuff is added all the time!

Wednesday 1st March, finds Harriet Burnsโ€™ ballads, bards and minstrels at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilson & Wakeman at Chapel Arts, Bath, and Spirit Of The Dance at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Regular acoustic night at The Southgate was amazing last week, just as they get everyone organised in a circle, another musician comes in the door! Happens every Wednesday.   

Thursday 2nd and thereโ€™s this Wiltshire Council Devizes drop in event to update on work to reduce anti-social behaviour in the town at the Corn Exchange. I had a whinge about this the other day, read here. Good idea as it sounds, itโ€™s on during the morning when the people it really affects will be at school or college. I really feel our younger generation should be included in this, if Iโ€™m honest.

Anyway, find Magical Bones at Swindon Arts Centre, Paul McClure & Black Sheep Apprentice at The Tuppenny. Over in Bath, Brooks Williams & Boo Hewerdineโ€™s State of The Union is at Chapel Arts.

Friday 3rd and The Exchange club in Devizes has its second open mic night, some talent down there last time. Well done to Ian for sorting this out, and heard good things about it.

Soul Strutters play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, with Blazinโ€™ Fiddles at the Wiltshire Music Centre.

Larkham & Hall feat: Charlie Rose at Chapel Arts, Bath, and the Shindig lot, always up for a party, have their Shimmy Discotheque with Cโ€™est Chic at Walcot House; squidgy house fun!

โ€œZambaLandoโ€ are live at Fiesta de Cuba in Swindon, where the Vic has Phantom Droid, Modern Evils and Froglord, and Sophie Dukerโ€™s Hag plays at Swindon Arts Centre.

Saturday 4th sees a Sustainable Devizes swap shop at St James Church.

Then, did I tell you about my 20th birthday?! Is it fair to make this Editorโ€™s Pick of Week? Executive decision; ermm, letโ€™s think, Ruzz Guitar, Talk in Code, Vince Bell, Deadlight Dance, Ben Borrill, yes, I think itโ€™s perfectly fair!

Editorโ€™s Pick of Week this week is the editorโ€™s own inflated ego birthday bash at the Three Crowns, Devizes, but in fairness we have got free live music all day, where Iโ€™m hoping Ben will kick us off at around 4pm, and from there Vince is on at 5pm, Deadlight Dance at 6pm, Talk in Code at 7:30pm and Ruzz Guitar Trio from 9pm. Hopefully there will be some other guests, you are all welcome, bring cake. Note the pub is open as usual, this is NOT a private invite, you are welcome. Note, they serve food until 9pm, and itโ€™s card-only at the bar, but bring some cash and weโ€™ll have a whip round for the Devizes & District Opportunity Centre.

Over at the Wharf Theatre theyโ€™ve Olive Oatman for one night only, the story of an American woman celebrated in her time for her captivity and later release by Native Americans in the Mojave Desert region when she was a teenager.

Sad to have to miss Barrelhouse who play The Southgate. And DJ Stevie MC is at the Exchange.

Heading southwest, Triple JD Band play The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon, and Jason Rebello & Tim Garlandโ€™s Life to Life is presented at Wiltshire Music Centre.

The Saviours Collective at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Sour Apple are at The Phoenix, Wotton Bassett. A karaoke warm-up for the My Dad festival, My Dadโ€™s Wackier Than Your Dad! at The Castle, Swindon, Will Lawton & the Alchemists at The Hop Inn, Just Floyd at The Vic, Homer at The Sun in Coate, Showaddywaddy at the Wyvern Theatre, Eshaan Akbar: The Pretender at Swindon Arts Centre, Swindon

Thereโ€™s an intimate evening with Zion Train at the Tree House in Frome, with The Beat featuring Ranking Junior at The Cheese & Grain.

Sunday 5th Avebury Spiritual and Psychic Fayre at Avebury Sports & Social Club from 10:30-4pm, free entry.

Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs plan a protest at Devizes Police HQ from 1pm, to protest about the promotion of alleged fox hunter Cheryl Knight into the rural crime unit.

At 5pm, if Iโ€™m still standing, Iโ€™m invading The Southgate for 5pm, for the regular monthly Jon Amor residency with Jim Crawford as guest of honour.

Talis Kimberly plays The Tuppenny in Swindon.

The awesome Junkyard Dogs are at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while WYJO with Jason Rebello and Tim Garland play at Wiltshire Music Centre.

Monday 6th Iโ€™ve found nothing, but you know, it is Monday! Whoa there, Nellie: update, a brand new open mic session at The Lamb in Marlborough has been announced, first one Monday 6th at 8pm. Facebook group here.

Tuesday 7th Blood Brothers at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Thatโ€™s your lot, have a great week and I hope to see you Saturday; you are permitted to buy me a pint, as long as itโ€™s not semi-skimmed.

Looking forwards, you need to snap up a ticket for the Open Doors charity night at the Corn Exchange on Saturday 11th, support this great cause, and if youโ€™ve never heard Chloe Jordan sing before youโ€™re basically missing one of lifeโ€™s most extraordinary occurrences.

Trending….

Peace, Love, Americana and Jol Rose

I trouble procrastinating upon being gifted a previously released CD from an artist for review, unfortunately they land on the backburner, prioritising upcoming news items.โ€ฆ

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 February 2023

Last week of February, then; winter, do one! Lots going on as ever, so letโ€™s not beat around the bush, because left to my devises I know I tend to waffle, and no one ever just stops me and gives it, โ€œjust get on with telling whatโ€™s happening, for crying out loud, man!โ€

I do need to say this though, as usual, more information and ticket links can be found at our ever-updating event calendar. If your event is not on there you didnโ€™t tell us about it, no fault of mine! I do this shit for free, but I ainโ€™t going to chase you up! Tell us about it next time, bring cake.

Wednesday 22nd and Visual Radio Arts stream one of our favourite bands on the circuit, Concrete Prairie, into the comfort of your own front room. If youโ€™ve not seen this band before, do not miss this. Meanwhile itโ€™ll be the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Theatre Accord in association with The Production Exchange Ltd. Presents She at Swindon Arts Centre, charting the experiences of different women from childhood to old age, these stories, each with an intriguing twist, are visceral, poignant, and laced with humour.

Prue Leithโ€™s Nothing in Moderation is at Bath Forum, with Grace Campbellโ€™s A Show About Me(n) at Komedia.

Thursday 23rd sees an open mic at Stallards in Trowbridge.

National Theatre Live with Othello at Pound Arts, Corsham.

Concrete Prairieโ€™s name crops up again, theyโ€™re with Cooperโ€™s Creek at The Tuppenny, Swindon, while Kotonic and Failstate play the Vic, with a debut tour for comedian Chloe Petts at Swindon Arts Centre.

Tribute Local Cohen play the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, while Eleanor McEvoy is at Chapel Arts, Bath, โ€œSwiftogeddon,โ€ Taylor Swift club night at Komedia, and Michael Jackson tribute show at Bath Forum.

Regular childrenโ€™s Music 4 Fun session at Brown Street, Salisbury.

Friday 24th Always a great night with the Celtic Roots Collective, who play The Pelican in Devizes.

Over in Trowbridge, chap-hopper Thomas Benjamin is at the Pump.

Native Harrow: Old Magic Tour at Pound Arts, Corsham.

The Jerry Lee Lewis Story at Chapel Arts, Bath, while The Fleetwood Mac Story is at Bath Forum, and cabaret night at Komedia with The Ministry Of Burlesque.

Riot Ensemble at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

Gary Delaneyโ€™s Gary in Punderland comes to the Wyvern, Swindon, while tribute Dire Streets play Swindon Arts Centre, and Rush tribute Moving Pictures are at The Vic.

AC/DC tribute Livewire at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, and an intimate evening with Will Varley at The Tree House.

Saturday 25th and itโ€™s Devizes Lionsโ€™ Fashion Show at the Devizes Conservative Club, Gardna arrives at The Muck & Dunder, Bone Chapel are at The Southgate, Scott Browne is at The Three Crowns, and Sour Apple play at The Lamb. The Wharf Theatre hosts the Apollo Theatre Companyโ€™s Ode to Joyce, about the songs and monologues of Joyce Grenfell.

As if there wasnโ€™t enough to choose from in Devizes, Iโ€™m out of town for our Editorโ€™s Pick of Week; Will Lawton and the Alchemists are at The Pump in Trowbridge, and itโ€™s a double-whammy if Iโ€™ve correctly sussed the anagram of the support act; โ€œSlotted Hearts!โ€

Hairy Stars at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Mickey Ace & The Wildcards play Melksham Rock n Roll Club, and Mixed Bag play The Pilot.

Phoenix River Band play Chapel Arts, Bath, while Suzanne Vega is at Bath Forum.

Ravers head for The Vic, Swindon, where Midlife Krisis crew are in effect, with a Diversify night.The Blind Lemon Experience play The Swiss Chalet.

Salisbury Arts Centre have Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood.

And a Retro Electro night at The Cheese & Grain, Frome completes our Saturday.

Sunday 26th sees Ronnie Scottโ€™s Jazz Club at the Wyvern, Swindon, while thereโ€™s a secret session at the Vic, with Mickelson.

Simon Brodkinโ€™s Screwed Up is at Komedia, Bath.

Monday 27th sees Gigspanner Big Band play Swindon Arts Centre.

Tuesday 28th and KT Tunstall is at Bath Forum.

Thatโ€™s all I got folks, tell us about anything we missed and Iโ€™ll slip it in! Donโ€™t forget Iโ€™m getting close to 50, and that might mean it takes a little longer, but youโ€™re all invited to laugh at me at the Three Crowns in Devizes on March 4th; oh yeah, weโ€™ve got some amazing live music too, naturally.

Trending…..

Mantonfest 2024

Images: Gail Foster Whilst festivals around us come and go Mantonfest has been a constant of the Wiltshire music calendar since 2009….. The 29th ofโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 15th โ€“ 21st February 2023

Happy Valentineโ€™s Day, hopelessly romantic yet gullible consumers. If youโ€™ve any money left after your overpriced chocolates and cut-off plants purchases, here is whatโ€™s happening this coming week in Wiltshire.….

Snowdrops, though, to do my usual weather comment, Iโ€™ve seen snowdrops, and moths; is this spring already, or am I asking too much? But we can confirm, moth-action, sir, moth-action, bring on the warmer weather.

Also, as usual, details and links to everything listed here can be found on our event calendar, which scrolls through the future like a plutonium-fuelled DeLorean, so do go with it as if your name was Marty, for if you wait for this weekly update tickets for ticketed events might well have sold out.

Wednesday 15th sees the regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Recommended for children aged 5+ and their families, Squashbox Theatre presents a cosmic Journey to the Stars at The Neeld, Chippenham, while ex-special forces soldier and star of TVโ€™s SAS: Who Dares Wins, Jason Foxโ€™s talk, Life At The Limit is at the Wyvern, Swindon. This show also plays Bath Forum on Thursday.

Scottish band acclaimed for their dynamic, sonically adventurous post rock, Mogwai play Bath Forum, with comedy from Hal Cruttenden at Komedia; Itโ€™s Best You Hear It From Me.

Some Irish folk at Brown Street, Salisbury with Sharon Shannon.

Thursday 16th is opening night for Seend Fawlty Playersโ€™ production of the Frog Prince at Seend Community Hall. Their 43rd village pantomime runs till Saturday.

Fantasy Radio will be at The Three Crowns, Devizes. Comedy night at the Civic, Trowbridge.

Splat The Rat play The Tuppenny, Swindon, and Prue Leithโ€™s Nothing In Moderation comes to the Wyvern; who knows you might be sitting next to baby-face Danny Kruger, nudging you and telling you itโ€™s his mummy up there!

Ah, anyway, (Iโ€™m sorry, couldnโ€™t resist it!) Over at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon we have The Bradfordianโ€™s presentation of Fantastic Mr Fox. And staying on foxes, the aforementioned Jason Fox is at Bath Forum, Lissie at Komedia.

Friday 17th Trash Panda play The Bear, Marlborough, Bob Bowles at The Green Dragon.

Duran at Swindon Arts Centre, Dreamboys, ladies, Dreamboys I say, at the Wyvern!

Itโ€™s a big happy birthday to Ruzz Guitar, who plays at The Cheese & Grain, Frome with his full Blues Revue, Pete Gage, and The Real John Lewis as support; that will be something else; got to be editorโ€™s pick of the week! All roads lead to Frome, though, as The Lost Trades play The Treehouse as well.

Alex Carsonโ€™s The Idiot Tour at Chapel Arts, The Musical Box at Bath Forum. Fleetwood Bac @ Salisbury Arts Centre.

Saturday 18th and itโ€™s DOCAโ€™s Festival of Winter Ales at The Corn Exchange Devizes; youโ€™ll be like Charlie Bucket to find a golden ticket to this now, but good luck anyway! Staying in Devizes, The Eric Bell Band, due to play Long Street Blues Club has been postponed, and the amazing talent we witnessed as guest at the Southgateโ€™s Jon Amor monthly residency last Sunday, Thomas Atlas brings his band from Birmingham, and that will be a brilliant swap. Talking Southgate, Black Nasty plays there.

Improvised comedy for one night only at the Wharf Theatre with Instant Wit, a bunch of very Unusual Suspects, forever on the run from the Comedy Police!

Find Ed Cox at Woodbrough Social Club.

Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth 20th Anniversary Tribute tour is screened at Melksham Assembly Hall. Sarah Keyworthโ€™s Lost Boy at Pound Arts, Corsham. Homer play Westbury Cons Club. Tequila Mockingbird at Stallards in Trowbridge. Junkyard Dogs play The Three Horseshoes in Chapmanslade.

Stranglers tribute, Straighten Out at The Vic, Swindon, Click at The Swiss Chalet, and Six Oโ€™clock Circus at the New Century Club. Babatunde Alesheโ€™s Babahood at Swindon Arts Centre, Buddy Holly tribute show Thatโ€™ll Be The Day at the Wyvern.

The Korgis Last ever complete performance Kartoon World at Chapel Arts, Bath, with Fairport Convention at Bath Forum, Clare Hammond at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

A Salisbury Live 2023 fundraiser, The Beggars Bash at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Judge Jules on the wheels of steel at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Eagles tribute The Alter Eagles are at The Tree House.

Sunday 19th sees Mr Griff at The Southgate, Devizes.

The Amazing Bubble Man at Swindon Arts Centre, Tap Factory at the Wyvern. Babatunde Alรฉshรฉโ€™s Babahood tour moves over to Komedia, Bath.

Monday 20th Lord of the Rings in Concert at Bath Forum.

Tuesday 21st Iโ€™m Sorry I Havenโ€™t a Clue at Bath Forum.

And thatโ€™s a wrap, folks, unless I missed anything, do let me know. Have a good week, donโ€™t worry, be happy!

Recent….

Swindon Palestine Solidarity Hold Charity Dinner

On Saturday, people from across Swindon came to Swindon Palestine Solidarityโ€™s charity dinner to raise funds for Medical Aid Palestine and raise awareness of theโ€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 enthusiastically toldโ€ฆ

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

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….

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

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 1st โ€“ 7th February 2023

Thank the heavens we can kick January out of the door! Itโ€™s been a warmer week though, hasnโ€™t it? Still wouldnโ€™t reach for the Hawaiian shirts and straw sunhats just yet. The weather is a tease, loves to give you a taster of the potential of the coming season, then reverts without warning or the slightest concern that you risked lobbing your thermal long-johns in the wash!

Some people prefer winter though, apparently; weirdos! Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve found to do in Wiltshire for the rest of us; hermits stay in, covered in blankets, re-watching Wednesday and praying into a bag of cheesy puffs for season two! Get a life, Wiltshire is not a cultureless void, see below if you donโ€™t believe me!

Links and details can be found on our event calendar: here. Just takes ages adding them in here a second time; ainโ€™t nobody got time fโ€™ dat!

Ladies Day continues at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes until Saturday 4th all sold out now, but the next production hosts improvised comedy Instant Wit, for one day and that day being 18th February. Not forgoing the welcome return of Devizes Film Club showing the 2020 film Minari, about a Korean-American family moving from California to a remote Arkansas farm in search of their own American dream. That is on Friday 9th February.

Pinch, punch, Wednesday 1st February it will be then, and Trowbridgeโ€™s Pump celebrates Independent Venue Week with The Howlers, Langkamer and Mumble Tide.

Regular acoustic jam at The Southgate, Devizes.

Seventh Avenue Arts presents Simon & Garfunkel Through the Years at Pound Arts, Corsham. Danny Bakerโ€™s Sausage Sandwich Tour comes the Wyvern, Swindon.

The Greatest Magician continues until 4th at Rondo Theatre, Bath, and staying in Bath, Monkey Bizzle meets The Scribes Komedia, Flats & Sharp at Chapel Arts, and Junior Bill at The Bell.

Thursday 2nd Quiz Night at The Devizes Literary & Scientific Institute in aid of Devizes & District Food Bank by Devizes Labour Party.

Moon plays The Vic in Swindon, Truck at The Tuppenny. Ben Portsmouthโ€™s This is Elvis 2023 Tour at the Wyvern, and Limehouse Lizzy at Swindon Arts Centre.

Brennan Reeceโ€™s Crowded come to Rondo Theatre, Bath, and for music, find Del Barber & Band at Chapel Arts.

Still Moving DJs at Salisbury Arts Centre, Open Mic at The Winchester Gate, and Jamie Linghamโ€™s regular From The Book at Brown Street, Salisbury.

Friday 3rd and itโ€™s Potterne Cricket Clubโ€™s Quiz Night at Potterne Village Hall.

While revellers descend on Weston-Super-Mare for the Incider Festival, Jaz Delorean is at The Pump, Trowbridge, but I believe is near sold out, youโ€™ll need to be quick, or own a time machine for this one!

A new regular feature at The Barge on Honey Street, open mic session continues Friday.

Sophie Dukerโ€™s Hag at Pound Arts, Corsham, Phoenix Dance Presents โ€˜We Are Connectedโ€™ at The Neeld, Chippenham.

In the top three flamenco guitarists in the world, Juan Martin is at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Malaya Blue Band at Chapel Arts in Bath, some Impromptu Shakespeare at Rondo Theatre, and David Oโ€™Dohertyโ€™s Whoa is Me at Komedia.

Wow; Fairport Convention play the Wyvern in Swindon, with Lucy Porterโ€™s Wake Up Call at Swindon Arts Centre. Dohny Jep headlines a triple at The Vic, with Nervendings and Riviera Arcade.

Cressers Last Standโ€™s The Growing up Tour at Brown Street, Salisbury, while The Jonny Phillips Trio play the Winchester Gate.

Saturday 4th, The Shudders come to The Southgate, Devizes, (Update: The Shudders canโ€™t make it on Saturday. To the rescue, they have laid back dude Grizzly Rhys Morgan at The Southgate instead,)while Devizes Scooter Club hold a Back to the 80โ€™s Party at The Cavalier. But the concentration in Devizes should focus on The Corn Exchange, where we are thinking green. Make a hot-water bottle at Devizes Library during the day, and bring it to the Wiltshire Climate Alliance fundraiser with Seize the Day; preview here. Editor’s Pick of the week? Could be!

Damm! play The Bear, Marlborough, meanwhile it will be Vyv & Jackieโ€™s farewell at The Lamb, after over an incredible 43 years theyโ€™re retiring and we wish them all the very best. A solemn occasion it refuses to be, as Pants will out! If you donโ€™t know what that means, I suggest you read undoubtedly the funniest interview weโ€™ve ever done, with Pants, last week. Got to be Editorโ€™s Pick of The Week, if Seize the Day is too, I can’t decide this week!

Phoenix Dance presents a second night of โ€˜We Are Connectedโ€™ at The Neeld, Chippenham.

Still Marillion play The Vic, Swindon, with One Chord Wonders at the Queens Tap, The Bellflowers at The Tuppenny, Homer at The Swiss Chalet, and Six Oโ€™clock Circus at Coleview Centre. Troy Hawkeโ€™s Sigmund Troyโ€™d at the Wyvern, and Paul Foot at Swindon Arts Centre.

Stray Dogs will be โ€˜Unleashedโ€™ for a Charity Gig for The Music Man Project at Burdallโ€™s Yard, Bradford-on-Avon.

The Roy Orbison Experience at Chapel Arts, Bath, with Akasha at The Bell.

From 11am, Drag Queen Story Time at The Winchester Gate, while the evening in Salisbury gets punked, with Carsick headlining at foursome at Brown Street with Who Ate All the Crayons, Lucky Number Seven, and Seaside Glamour.

Staying punk, The Cheese & Grain hosts the Frome Punk Fest.

Sunday 5th and if youโ€™ve achieved nothing over the weekend all is not lost, the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency at The Southgate, Devizes at around about 5pm, with guest Thomas Atlas.

Also, Julian Gaskell & His Ragged Trousered Philanthropists are at The Bell, Bath, while Stephen Lynchโ€™s The Time Machine Tour arrives at Komedia.

The Psychology of Serial Killers at the Wyvern, Swindon, wraps up our weekend, but do keep a check on the calendar, for updates and planning.

Monday is Monday, not a lot going on. Do a jigsaw puzzle or something.

Tuesday 7th is the Wyvern Theatre Swap Shop at the Wyvern in Swindon, Randy Feltfaceโ€™s Feltopia at Komedia, Bath, and Wiltshire College FE Student Showcase Samphire at Salisbury Playhouse.

Have a great week, behave yourself, within reason, and donโ€™t forget to keep up-to-date with our calendar, for next week sees aforementioned return of Devizes Film Club, now based at The Wharf Theatre, a triple bill of folk at Pound Arts, Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army & Harmony Asia at The Tuppenny, Swindon, Emily Breeze at the Pump, the second stage of Take the Stage 2023 at The Neeld, in which we wish Nothing Rhymes with Orange the best of luck, 50 Years of Fender at Swindon Arts Centre, Ben Borrill at The Three Crowns, Devizes with Junkyard Dogs at The Southgate, and Big Mamaโ€™s Banned at the Pilot, Melksham, Adam Ant tribute Ant Trouble at the Vic, the Dub Pistols with Don Letts The Cheese & Grain, Frome, and so much more!

Trust other websites or Facebook pages with whatโ€™s to do and youโ€™ll miss truckloads; Devizine is the only one around these darkened backwaters to collate them all; give the man a Twix.

Trending….

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 25th-31th January 2023

Oh, hey there, itโ€™s me, here to tell you what weโ€™ve found to do in Wiltshire this week, leading us nicely until the end of January. Second winter month nearly down, one more to go, shorter one, then spring, yay! My feet were so numb from the cold after getting in from work this morning I couldnโ€™t tell if my slippers were on the right feet!

As usual I cannot be bothered spending an age posting links here, you can find them all, with further details on our event calendar: here.

Wednesday 25th Wiltshire Museum in Devizes has The Bookshop Quiz, presented by Devizes Books, where Iโ€™m guessing youโ€™ll find tickets! Staying in the Vizes, donโ€™t forget, regular acoustic jam at The Southgate.

The Shing-a-lings play The Bell, Bath, while thereโ€™s a Queen Extravaganza at Bath Forum.

Thursday 26th find Jules Hill & Charlie Bath at The Tuppenny, Swindon, and Jim Blair at The Beehive, and the regular Chuckles Comedy Club at Meca.

Stallards in Trowbridge have an open mic night.

National Theatre Live film of Othello, at Pound Artsโ€™ The Crucible in Corsham.

And in Bath we see the opening night of The Greatest Magician at the Rondo Theatre, running until 4th February. A dazzling new magic show, presented by James Phelan, the magician most famous for jamming the BBC switchboards after he correctly predicted the lottery, still heโ€™s charging for tickets! This astonishing, enigmatic, five star rated magic show will leave you aching from laughter and dizzy in disbelief, apparently. Directed by the late Paul โ€œthatโ€™s magicโ€ Daniels, the enigmatic show comes to the stage for the first time.

Friday 27th the RSPB will be at Hillworth Park, Devizes, until Sunday, for a Big Garden Bird Watch.

Always great fun, Blondie & Ska play The Pelican in Devizes.

Find the ever-popular Kova Me Bad at The Lamb, Marlborough, while Marlborough Town Football Club has an open mic night from 6pm.

The wonderful Sour Apple are at Old Lane, Chippenham, while thereโ€™s one of those grownup pantos of Aladdin at The Neeld; really, though, has anyone been to one of these? Do let us know if itโ€™s any good!

The incredible Jaz DeLorean features at Chapel Arts, Bath, while The Magic of Motown comes to Bath Forum, and Edward Bourne presents Sketchbook, at Rondo Theatre. A play where songs become sketches and sketches become songs as he embarks on his first gig as a jazz keyboardist, only to find the hour overrun by an hour-long string of sketchy flashbacks.

Flow & Hustle play The Winchester Gate in Salisbury.

In Swindon, find Texas Tick Fever at The Beehive, The Jukebox Graduates at The Swiss Chalet, and a triple punk bill at The Vic with Drag Me Down, Mad by Mourning and I See Orange. T-Rextasy tribute at the Wyvern.

Saturday 28th sees Sustainable Devizes at the Corn Exchange for a Think Energy talk from 10-2pm.

The Worried Men play The Southgate, and is quite simply unmissable for you rock fans, whereas B-Sides are at The Three Crowns, and though Iโ€™ve not heard these guys before, youโ€™re always in for a great night there anyway!

Find Rob Childs at Woodbrough Social Club, and Josh Kumra at The Bear, Marlborough.

The annual charity 7 Bands in 7 Hours at Calne Liberal Club is happening Saturday, with End of Story, Six Oโ€™clock Circus, Homer, Apache Cats, Boston Green, Ukey Dukes and Lonely Daughter; a fiver recommended donation on the door. Think we should make this Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week.

Melksham Rock n Roll Club monthly dance features The Rads, while Sonic Alert play The Pilot.

World Music Club at The Beehive in Swindon, Dury Duty, Mark Coltonโ€™s famed tribute to Ian Dury at The Vic, and the most amazing Bob Marley tribute, Legend is at Meca.

From Melbourne, Australia, sister duo Charm of Finches play Pound Arts, Corsham; haunted indie folk, about love, grief and whispering trees, with support from Luke De-Scisco.

Tim Baker plays Chapel Arts, Bath, while a Lucy Lucy and Pameli Benham comedy play, Itโ€™s the Hope is what youโ€™ll find at the Rondo.

At Salisbury’s Brown Street find the P45s and Break Cover for a Salisbury Cat Protection fundraiser.

A tad further out, Rage Against the Machine tribute The Machine Rages On play Fromeโ€™s Tree House, and thereโ€™s the WinterFest at Clevedon.

Sunday 29th and Melksham Assembly Hall have a record fair.

The Film Orchestra play Blockbuster Movie Themes for an audience on Springfield Campus in Corsham.

Comedian Lloyd Griffith presents his One Tonne of Fun tour to Swindon Arts Centre, while at the Wyvern, Buffy Revamped is an Edinburgh Fringe smash-hit fast-paced parody for Buffy the Vampire Slayer aficionados, told through the eyes of Spike.

Rev. James & The Swingtown Cowboys play The Bell, Bath.

Monday 30th is the opening night of Ladiesโ€™ Day at Devizesโ€™ Wharf Theatre, running until 4th February, Amanda Whittington play, Directed by John Winterton, previewed here, and tickets selling out fast!

Meanwhile, find Aaron Catlow & Brooks Williams at The Bell, Bath

Tuesday, I got nothing, yet, but do keep a check on our event calendar as updates come in, and check ahead for events in February, here. You need to start thinking about tickets for Wiltshire Climate Allianceโ€™s benefit at the Corn Exchange with Seize the Day, of course, The Festival of Winter Ales, Sheerโ€™s Emily Breeze at the Pump on 10th Feb is another one youโ€™ll need to be quick on, and I like the sound of Adam & His Ants tribute Ant Trouble, who play Swindonโ€™s Vic on the 11th. Seriously though, guys, thinking of trying to bring these guys to Devizes, good idea? Just need a venue, any suggestions?

Have a great weekend, wear an extra pair of socks!

Trending…..

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

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

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!

Trending…

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

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 21st December 2022 โ€“ New Yearโ€™s Eve!

Okay letโ€™s get this out there before the kids munch through all the Quality Street, and have a double whammy Christmas and New Year run down of everything (weโ€™ve found so far) happening around these parts over the yuletide; I feel like the Radio Times for live local entertainment!

But first, allow me take to take this opportunity to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Yearโ€ฆ. I hope you are all on the good list. Find all links and further details on our event calendar, and keep scrolling to plan ahead and scan for updates, they do occasionally happen!

Sustainable Devizesโ€™ The Advent{ure} Reuse Christmas continues at The Little Green, Devizes until Christmas Eve.

Wednesday 21st is Winter Solstice, for sunset at 16:00, and sunrise on Thursday at 7:30. See here for advice if visiting Stonehenge or Avebury. Meanwhile Andy will be on the piano at The Barge on Honey-Street for some carols.  And you’ll find The Hammervilles at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Thursday 22nd Melksham Assembly Hall hold The Polar Express Pyjama Party.

Fin & Mark entertain at The Condado Lounge, Devizes, while Matt Owens & The Delusional Vanity Project play the Tuppenny, Swindon, and Far Cue attend the Three Horseshoes Bradford-on-Avon.

Friday 23rd Illingworth play The Three Crowns, Devizes, while One trick Pony takes over the Southgate for a Ugandan Children Centre fundraiser, with the promise of an afterparty with nibbles and funky disco. Talking funky, Funked Up play the Pelican Inn, while itโ€™s the Long Street Blues Clubโ€™s Christmas party with Gee Baby I Love You. Any of these options can be washed down with a stint at The Exchange nightclub, where Stevie MC is behind the wheels of steel for an Ugly Christmas Jumper retro party night till 2am.

Outside of Devizes Iโ€™ve not got much to offer you, Rave Against the Machine play The Vic in Swindon, ska punk outfit Operation 77 will be at The Lamb in Marlborough, while Marchella are down The Wellington.

Pogues tribute, The Pโ€™Hogues are at Fromeโ€™s Tree House, Frenzy at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Saturday 24th, Christmas Eve finds 12 Bars Later at The Crown in Bishops Cannings, (UPDATED: Blondie & Ska have stepped in last minute as 12 Bars couldn’t make it) and a Christmas Eve party with DJ Lynx in the mix at The Exchange, Devizes. Illingworth play Old Townโ€™s The Royal Oak in Swindon.

Sun 25th is Christmas day, and all silent night, enjoy your Brussel sprouts!

Our calendar from Monday 26th to Friday 30th has also drawn pretty much a blank to-date, hence while Iโ€™m getting the fortnight over and done with one big shebang today! Play it safe if protesting against Boxing Day fox hunts in Lacock or elsewhere. Find details for the protest at Lacock HERE.

Live music can be found at The Beehive in Swindon on Wednesday 28th with the Experimental Blues Orchestra, and on Thursday 29th with The Shudders, both start at 8.30pm.

Kick back into the live music action in Devizes on Friday 30th when Jon Amor plays The Southgate, and then itโ€™sโ€ฆโ€ฆ

New Yearโ€™s Eve, Saturday 31st, and weโ€™ve lots to get through, obviously. Seend Community Centre win my Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week, even if itโ€™s a fortnight special, where the Train to Skaville will be boarding. You need to get tickets for this steaming New Yearโ€™s Eve ska social.

Meanwhile in Devizes, DJ Andy Saunders is at The Conservative Club, thereโ€™s Glitzy New Yearโ€™s Eve Karaoke Party at The Pelican, and Plan of Action play The Crown at Bishop’s Cannings. Then, itโ€™s all fancy dress at the Exchange with DJ Lynx.

Hereโ€™s what weโ€™ve also found round-and-about for seeing in 2023, Get Carter play the Consti Club, Chippenham, while The Salutation Inn have a NYE party.

NYE disco party at The Civic in Trowbridge, and a party at The Wiltshire Yeoman too.

The Tuppeny in Swindon hos a New Yearโ€™s Eve Party, and thatโ€™s all we know about in Swindon.

Shindig Festival takes over Club Lomah in Bath for a Shimmy Discotheque.

No Middle Ground play The Burbage British Legion, the reBBels play Mere Social Club. Paul Jude Wilson is live at The George Inn, Middle Wallop.

New Yearโ€™s Eve Parties at The Lord Nelson, Marshfield, Players Traditional Carvery, Westbury, and The Packhorse, Larkhill.

Subgiant at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury, while The Deloreons play Salisbury Arts Centre, and find Miss Chief and the Makers at The Old Ale & Coffee House, and a NYE party at Ox Row.

In Frome the Foo Fakers and Nirvanot tributes play the Tree House, while The Hammervilles take the Cheese & Grainโ€™s New Yearโ€™s Eve party.

If we missed something, let us know, for now though, weโ€™re into 2023, happy new year, see you on the other side. Event organisers, your new year’s resolution should be to inform Devizine of your events, and don’t make us come looking for you!

Trending…

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th-21th December 2022

What is this life if, full of jostle, we have no time to stand and waffle? A truckload of stuff to do this coming week, donโ€™t let me ramble on pointlessly, you know how it works, more info and links can be found on our event calendar, HERE.

Sustainable Devizesโ€™ Advent{ure} Reuse Christmas continues at The Little Green, Devizes, and runs until Christmas Eve. Little Red Riding Hood continues at the Wharf, but alas, is sold out.

Tuesday 13th there will be beer & carols at The Southgate, Devizes, and some Christmas Memories at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Wednesday 14th and itโ€™s the regular Acoustic Jam at The Southgate, Devizes. Also, a lunchtime harp recital by Lise Vandermissen at Pound Arts, Corsham, and the regular Chuckles Comedy Club at Meca, Swindon.

Thursday 15th and Kairo Beats, Chloe Hepburn and PX do the Tuppeny, Swindon, while Christmas by Candlelight is happening at Meca.

Friday 16th sees the Butch Hopkins Memorial Gig at The Corn Exchange, Devizes.

Humdinger play The Cooperโ€™s Arms, Pewsey.

80s-90s Christmas Party at Melksham Assembly Hall.

Highly recommended Monkey Bizzle play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, while youโ€™ll find Bluesoul at The Boathouse, and Swinging at the Cotton Club at Wiltshire Music Centre, after a related swing dance workshop.

Thereโ€™s a Rockinโ€™ & Swinginโ€™ Evening at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Over in Swindon, find Barrelhouse at The Queenโ€™s Tap, Bublรฉ at Christmas is happening at Meca, but donโ€™t get over excited, Bublรฉ fans, heโ€™s not there, rather itโ€™s some of the countryโ€™s top musicians celebrating the music, the arrangements, and the tours that the man himself has made so successfulโ€ฆ. apparently!

The Sweet play the Cheese & Grain, Frome, with Abba tribute SOS at the Tree House.

Saturday 17th and itโ€™s Lego club at Chippenham Library from 3-4pm.

Christmas in the Park at Hillworth Park, Devizes, though tickets to see Father Christmas are sold out now. Sustainable Devizes will be at St James for a toy and book swap (details) until 2pm. The Corn Exchange has the Devizes Christmas Vegan Fair.

Near sold out, itโ€™s everyoneโ€™s favourite soprano, Chloe Jordan, who is at Devizes Town Hall with a Classic Christmas concert in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Devizes Community Choir are at St Johns, for a Big Sing Christmas Concert in aid of Dorothy House and Open-Doors. Highly recommended, Dr Zeebos Wheezy Club play The Southgate.

Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week

Itโ€™s Chrrriissssssmmmasss at Marlborough Memorial Hall, when MantonFest hosts a Christmas Concert with Slade tribute Slyde, and naturally, the fantastic Barrelhouse. Despite all the amazing stuff going on this weekend, itโ€™s not Christmas until Noddy, or least a Noddy-a-like calls it, so Iโ€™m thinking this should be Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week.

Meanwhile, Pete Lambโ€™s Heartbeats play Woodborough Social Clubโ€™s Christmas Dance, and throw in a free ploughmanโ€™s lunch on the deal!

In the Sham, the Assembly Hall has The Rock-A-Toons for a Melksham Rock N Roll Club dance, and The Beverley May Band plays The Milk Churn.

Double-header at The Lamb, Trowbridge with Lucky Number Seven & The Foundations. John Kirkpatrickโ€™s Carolling & Crumpets at Pound Arts, Corsham. Itโ€™s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year show at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Danny and the Randoms do The Swiss Chalet in Swindon, while itโ€™s the annual 12 Bands of Christmas at The Vic, and the Tuppeny has a DJ set from Random Rules, โ€œIโ€™ll Make You a Tape.โ€

Shy FX featuring Stamina MC at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, with The Ramonas at The Tree House, and Flash Harry plays The Cornerhouse.

Sunday 18th The Christmas Celebration of Music for Miniatures will be at Devizes Corn Exchange. Itโ€™s Christmas Party time with Itโ€™s Complicated at The Southgate, and Jamie R Hawkins does an afternoon set at The White Bear.

St Agnes Fountain play Marlborough Folk Roots club, at Marlborough Town Hall.

GBH Big Band at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, while The Worried Men plays The Three Horseshoes.

Christmas Sunday Swingout Social at Meca, Swindon, finishes off our weekend listings, and if I have to type the word โ€œChristmasโ€ one more time, Iโ€™m going to come over all Uncle Scrooge! Note though, this list is NEVER exhaustive, more events are coming to our attention, so keep one eye on our event calendar and the other on our social media pages.

Monday 19th, find Scratchworks Theatre at Pound Arts, Corsham with a show Wild, Wild Woods. Tuesday 20th and Iโ€™ve got nothing; hide under the duvet!

And you know what, events for New Yearโ€™s Eve are looking pretty thin at the moment, perhaps you need to send us details of what youโ€™re doing for the big one?!

Latest…

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

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!

Trending….

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

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!

Trending….

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 22nd โ€“ 29th November 2022

Heads down for the last week of November, and thereโ€™s so much to get through. As usual, links and details to all events mentioned here are listed on our event calendar HERE, so check it out, as it may yet be updated before the week is through.…

The observant among us (Iโ€™m told there are some!) will notice Iโ€™m deleting past dates now, so todayโ€™s date will show at the top of the calendar, hopefully making it easier to follow. Iโ€™m looking at better ways to present this info, but to be honest, Google calendars are impractical for storing the vast amount of info we have here, and the site is restricting on what we can do. Iโ€™m working on it but finding a method which is easy and quick to put up the information and equally user-friendly is tricky.

Anyway, lots to get throughโ€ฆ Tuesday, I got nothing, the regular acoustic jam night down The Southgate Devizes on Wednesdays, and on this Wednesday, 23rd, Richard Robbins presents Passage of Time at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Matt Deighton plays The Tree House, Frome and thereโ€™s a Willow Reindeer Festive Workshop starting at Salisbury Arts Centre, running until 30th.

To be honest, thereโ€™s so many craft fayres and Christmas events happening itโ€™s impossible to keep track and also keep sane! Do look out for them on your local social media groups.

On Thursday 24th Milton Jones brings his Milton Impossible tour to the Cheese & Grain. Thereโ€™s open mic at Stallards, Trowbridge, while their town hall has The Iโ€™s Have It, a pre-Christmas celebration of Italian and Irish, with music from Luca Rossi and Ruairi Glasheen, plus a delicious three-course Italian feast.

With the theme โ€˜Cold Weather, Warm Heartsโ€™ the week ends with DOCA in Devizes, starting Thursday Devizes Window Wanderland 2022 will be go! DOCA are inviting our local community to create something special in their windows to show just what an amazingly creative place Devizes is. Anyone with a window can create a display, but you should have registered for this already. All the public now need is the interactive map of Devizes highlighting all the different window locations.

And onto Friday 25th, the Devizes Winter Parade will light up the town, need I say more? Only to wish all the DOCA volunteers the very best, and Annabel and Ashley especially for their maiden voyage at the helm! Thereโ€™s been a few social media posts about what to expect, such as the Celestial Sound Cloud; an interactive sound art installation from Pif-Paf Theatre, to be installed in the grounds of St. John’s on Friday and Saturday. They all look breath-taking, and the Shambles will be open late for shopping, and all this is leading me to believe this is going to be the most memorable one yet. Lanterns assemble!

Atop of this, The Pelican holds a Christmas Lantern Parade Festive Karaoke Party, and it might be your last chance to catch the highly recommended People Like Us before Christmas; theyโ€™ll be at the Three Crowns, Devizes; tidy!

Elsewhere on Friday, John Otway plays the Pump, Trowbridge. Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment presents The Moon Hares at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, and Matt Owens & The Delusional Vanity Project play out their album โ€œBeer For The Horsesโ€ at its launch at Chapel Arts, Bath.

Fossil Fools play The Vic, Swindon, while Fort Boyard & SexJazz do the The Rolleston, and its soul night at Meca, with an evening called Lost in Music.

Barnstormers Comedy at Salisbury Arts Centre, and thatโ€™s Friday done.

Saturday 26th is big, and itโ€™s not just Lego Club from 3-4pm at Chippenham Museum! Winter Festival in Devizes continues, plus…….

I believe theyโ€™ve sold out now at SoupChick, who hold their second feast in the Shambles, Light of Kashmir promises to be beguiling, exclusive evening celebrating Kashmiri Cuisine and Couture, hosted by Angela Cave of The Parrot Cage and Anya Toropov of Soupchick. I attended the first one of these fabulous feasts, my tastebuds are still loving me for it. I am so sorry to miss out, but I will be at our Editorโ€™s Pick of The Week!

Editorโ€™s Pick of the Week: The Sribes at the Muck & Dunder

Despite Fridayโ€™s Lantern Parade, which should in most reasoning be my pick of the week, Iโ€™m certain there will the entire population of the Devizes area attending, ergo thereโ€™s no need to plug it anymore. No, what Iโ€™m talking about is the evening at the Muck & Dunder Rum Bar in Devizes Iโ€™ve been waiting for an age for, when hip hop sensations The Scribes bring boom bap to town; this, I tell you now, will go off. Tickets are running low, get in now, theyโ€™re only a fiver, and I hope to see you there, with one hand in the air! I did a poster for it, but they didnโ€™t use it, I thought it quite good, and being theyโ€™ve not done another poster for it, Iโ€™m using to highlight it here, but you should note, itโ€™s not the official poster!

Rockport play The Southgate, Pink Mac at the Barge, Honey-Street, Chaos Brothers at the Lamb, Marlborough. Melksham Rock N Roll Club have The Delray Rockets, and thereโ€™s the 20 Things for 20 Years Big Ball at Spencerโ€™s Club.

Oh, and donโ€™t forget The Toy Pig Race at Erlestoke Golf Course, which sounds too much fun for me!

The Moscow Drug Club, another disappointed missed gig for me after reading Andyโ€™s superb review when they came to Devizes Arts Festival; they play the Pump, Trowbridge. Meanwhile find The Reservoir Hogs at The Wiltshire Yeoman, on Chalk Road.

Lonely Road Band play Colerne Liberal Club, Alter Eagles at Chapel Arts, Bath. Also in Bath, the interactive Alice in Wonderland Experience begins. Calan at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, also there, Bath Camerate presents Mother & Child.

In Swindon, thereโ€™s a Sahara Trek Fundraiser for Prospect Hospice with Slagerij, Death is a Girl, and Buswell & Nyberg, plus DJ Dust at Level III, while State of Quo play The Vic; they might be a tribute act, but Iโ€™m not certain of whom!!

Panto time, of course, Wharf Theatre announced theyโ€™ve sold out for Little Red Riding Hood, though we may yet be able to bring you a review of the night. So, find Cinderella starting at Salisbury Playhouse, opening Saturday, and running until January 23rd. Staying in the Spire, The Spitfire Sisters play Salisbury Arts Centre.

Thatโ€™s Saturday dusted, from hip hop to panto, and rock n roll to pig racing! Last but by no means least, lucky ones get to see Turin Brakes play the Cheese & Grain, Frome; where else?!

Sunday 27th and Jon Amorโ€™s residency at The Southgate, Devizes has been shifted from itโ€™s usual spot, first Sunday of the month to this Sunday, donโ€™t say I didnโ€™t warn you!

The fantastic N/SH plays Avebury Music Night, and the Bath Symphony Orchestra are at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon; weekend over, unless youโ€™ve heard something we havenโ€™t; then why did you not tell us about it?!

Nothing on Monday and Tuesday, yet; get some shopping done, donโ€™t be like me and wait to the last minute because youโ€™re too busy telling everyone else what they should be doing!! See you at The Muck? Hip hop hooray!

Trending….

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

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 17th โ€“ 23rd November 2022

Got a proper soaking this morning, fat lot of good it is whinging to you about it, you are here only for the lowdown on autumn happenings this coming week, so Iโ€™ll waste no time waffling, donโ€™t worry about me, yeah, yeah, Iโ€™ll be fine!

Currently up and running, until Saturday, is TITCOโ€™s Dinner Party at The Wharf Theatre.

Staying in Devizes, Thursday 17th sees the opening of the historic event, Devizes Eisteddfod. Hereโ€™s the place to find future local stars of the arts, a five-day festival of over 400 classes of music, speech, drama, dance, writing, art, photography, and composition, for people of all ages, who may enter individually or through a school or group. There are competitive and non-competitive classes. The Music, Speech and Drama classes will be held in Devizes Town Hall. Find out more HERE.

Over in Bradford-on-Avon, check out Dylan Smith who has an official launch gig for his Cruel to be Kind album at The Boathouse.

Also find Ezio playing Chapel Arts, Bath. And for some doom metal and stoner rock, try a double-header at The Vic, Swindon, with Phantom Droid and Dark Prophecy.

Friday 18th is Marlboroughโ€™s Christmas Light Switch-On.

After The Rocky Horror Experience, Soul II Soulโ€™s Feel Free Tour comes to Meca. Yes, I said Soul II Soul, wowzers! But if youโ€™ve no tickets get in or check the alternatives in Swindon; The Beverley May Band at The Sun Inn, Coate, Splat the Rat play The Hop Inn for Swindon Folk Club.

In Devizes, itโ€™s pub quiz time in aid of Arts Together at the Cavalier, and Iโ€™ve got to recommend the highly entertaining Blondie & Ska duo, who play The Pelican. Chippenham duo, as it says on the tin, do Blondie covers but also include those Two-Tone classics, in a kind of fashion youโ€™d wished Blondie covered them; itโ€™s lots of fun. In fact, it was going to be editor’s pick of the week! UPDATE: sorry to hear this has been cancelled. Postponed until 3rd February.

Drag Show at the Neeld, Chippenham, with The Dazzling Diamonds. Limehouse Lizzy at Salisbury Arts Centre.

After Nโ€™Famady Kouyate at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, theyโ€™ve got something on my hitlist, the acclaimed Moments of Pleasure, a Kate Bush tribute. Meanwhile, itโ€™s bonkers at The Three Horseshoes with a triple bill of Hell Death Fury, Lone Sharks, & Monkish.

Craig Charles is on the wheels of steel at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Richard Norris plays sister venue, The Tree House.

Saturday 19th, kids, Lego Club, at Chippenham Museum from 3-4pm. I know I keep mentioning this regular event, but I love the sound of it, wish there was a Lego club when I was a kid, and well, I might go one day anyway. My own kids will be like, โ€œdad, I need a lift to my science book writerโ€™s guild annual general meeting,โ€ and Iโ€™ll be like, โ€œfat chance, Iโ€™m off to Lego Club!โ€

Find handmade jewellery, woodwork, hand-poured candles, scented soap, artwork, and handbags at the Mynt Image Craft Fair at Devizes Corn Exchange from 10am-4pm. And in the evening find the Hardwicke Circus and The Alex Voysey Trio at Long Street Blues Club; upcoming talent Saturday, sounds tempting, very tempting! UPDATE: being our Editor’s pick of the season has been postponed, this isnew Editor’s pick of week!

The Southgate promises folky blues with Sโ€™Go, a new one on me; Deborah tells me, โ€œTheyโ€™re an eclectic folky blues collective. They played a few crazy tunes in a circle in the middle of the pub once. Everyone loved it, we booked them!โ€ Cannot argue with that. Ye gods, that sounds tempting, very tempting too, what am I to do?!

Night Jar play Woodbrough Social Club, Miranda Sykesโ€™ Show of Hands is at Marlborough Folk Roots, at the Town Hall, and the local favourites, Humdinger play The Lamb, Marlborough.

Thereโ€™s a Trowbridge Weavers Christmas Market, and Gaz Brookfield plays the Pump, with Heartwork and Be Like Will in support, but I believe itโ€™s sold out, check their website, but be quick on the flux capacitor. You could always head to the Somerset Arms, Semington failing that, where youโ€™ll find The Beverley Maye Band, or The Buckly Rage at the Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

The wonderful seven-piece soul band, aptly named Blue Soul Band play the Contsti, in Chippenham, tributes The Faux Fighters at The Vic, Swindon and Coldplace at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Jessica Fostekewโ€™s Wench runs at Salisbury Arts Centre, and thatโ€™s your Saturday night.

Sunday 20th. Iโ€™ve checked this over and over, and it definitely says, Jazz Sabbath is at the Corn Exchange, Devizes on Sunday, are we sure itโ€™s not Saturday, people? Damn your eyes, thatโ€™s a school night!

Also occurring, Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra with Huw Warren at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, Clinton Baptiste tour at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, after a record fair, and tribute L1nkn P4rk at The Vic, Swindon.

And thatโ€™s your lot, I got nought for Monday and Tuesday, but donโ€™t forget itโ€™s the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate Devizes on Wednesday, 23rd, and Richard Robbins presents Passage of Time at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, thereโ€™s a Willow Reindeer Festive Workshop beginning at Salisbury Arts Centre, which runs until 30th, and Matt Deighton is at The Tree House in Frome.

The biggies next week are of course, the Winter Festival and lantern parade in Devizes, Friday, and the start of the Window Wanderland. Saturday sees the second feast at Soup Chick, of Kashmir cuisine, and The Scribes come to Devizes, at the Muck & Dundar. We love the Scribes here at Devizine and are thoroughly looking forward to this; get a ticket!

John Otway at the Pump, Trowbridge on Friday, and The Moscow Drug Club on Saturday, both worthy of your attention. Then, gawd blimey, itโ€™ll be December. Iโ€™m trying to keep up and update as regularly as possible, including getting the biggies up for next year. Have a great weekend, keep a check on our event calendar for updates, and planning ahead.

Trending….

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……

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

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

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?!

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

Lou Trigg, and Some Flowers

Uplifting and sentimental, Flowers is the new song by Chippenham singer-songwriter Lou Trigg very worthy of your attention and playlist. A chorale delicacy, it trickles along sublimely, like staring thoughtfully through a rain-drenched window, nice and cosy, perhaps with a hand painted chipped-mug of lukewarm but earthy tea.……

Lou is a new one on us here at Devizine, and a welcomed blessing, explaining the idea for Flowers is โ€œabout loving someone in a long-distance relationship. Like my other songs, itโ€™s very honest and close to my heart.โ€ Which is precisely the way it comes across, if only one good reason to give it a listen.

Long distance relationships, though, do they ever work out, I mean, really? Any parallels from my own life I reminisce as infatuations only! But itโ€™s the thought is, here, more than anything; the fervency of passion is expressed exquisitely through Louโ€™s hauntingly acute vocals. There’s a touch of folk, reminding me of Daisy Chapman, somewhat, but this euphoric orchestral ambience is the kingpin.

Thereโ€™s a further five angelic and orchestrally ambient ballads up on Spotify ranging from 2019, unsure if theyโ€™ve all been bought to life by Martin Spencer of Potterneโ€™s Badger Set, but Flowers has, and itโ€™s a little piece of gorgeous.

Trending….

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

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

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 13th -19th October 2022

Here we are again, happy as can be, but slightly older, opps, soz, missed a C, slightly colder! Though we are a week older too, but that means nothing, only as old as you feel. Quite aggravated by chipping ice of the car windscreen this morning though, itโ€™s only October for crying out loud; who do I need to write to about this diabolical travesty?

Still, going out is the new going out, and hereโ€™s a lowdown of local stuff to do this coming week. The link you need is HERE, our ever-updating event calendar; you know the score by now.

Thereโ€™s Craft and Chat at Chippenham Library on Thursday 13th October, and Beauty the Beast: The Guardians of the Forest at the Neeld.

Meanwhile lots still happening at the Calne Music & Arts Festival, with the Music Scholars of St. Maryโ€™s School, Calne, The Primary School Choirs present: โ€˜Songs from Disneyโ€™, Kingsbury Green Academy Music Department in Concert and Tim Hughes presents โ€˜120 years of the Blues.โ€™

Dick and Dom, yes, I did say Dick and Dom, are in Da Bungalow at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Mitch Bennโ€™s Itโ€™s About Time tour takes to the Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Friday 14th, thereโ€™s an instore session at Sound Knowledge, Marlborough with Rachael Dadd. Sour Apple at The Condado Lounge, Devizes, while Illingworth play The Three Crowns, and Funked Up funk up the Pelican. But all eyes will on the Corn Exchange in Devizes when Longcroft Productions presents the all-female Black Sabbath tribute, Black Sabbitch; if it’s good enough for Dave Grohl it’s good enough for us!

DJ Stevie Mc holds the afterparty at the Exchange below, Friday nights is retro 80s,90s,00s night, free entry before 11pm.

Calne Music & Arts Festival has a piano recital from Helen Davies, and an evening of traditional Andalusian guitar and flamenco dance.

The astounding acoustic rave act, The Showhawk Duo plays Salisbury Arts Centre, while Erlestoke Golf Club has Barry Paull as Elvis!

Billy in the Lowground at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, The Derellas & Liabilities at The Vic, Swindon, The Chesterfields & Mighty One at the Tree House, Frome, while the Rhythm of the 90s bang out at The Cheese & Grain; sorted.

Impromptu Shakespeare at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

Moving on up to Saturday 15th, when the big Marlborough Mop Fair hits, with Grey Smith at The Bear.

Rockhoppaz at The Southgate, Devizes. Exchange has resident DJ Stevie Mc in the mix. Mick Jogger & The Stones Experience are at Steeple Ashton Village Hall, tickets ยฃ15 from their village shop.

Lego Club, never forget Lego Club at the everything-is-awesome Chippenham Museum, 3-4pm, every Saturday. While Wiltshire Museum, Devizes has a Building Materials conference on Industrial Archaeology.

Trowbridge has their annual Apple Festival at Emmanuelโ€™s Yard, while NerveEndings play the Pump, with support from The Sunnies; ah yes, loud and proud.

Over in Swindon, the long-awaited Swindon Paint Fest begins; really good this looks, for all street art fans, head into Swindon Centre over the weekend. And The Moonrakers has The Specialized Project holding a ska fest too. Peloton play The Vic, and Hip Replacements at The Woodland Edge.

Tributes in Chippenham, The Tom Petty Legacy at the Neeld, and The Beatles for Sale at The Pewsham.

Siren plays The Talbot, Calne, which leads me nicely onto my editorโ€™s pick of the week, in a minute, because the Calne Music & Arts Festival reaches its crowning, after Chris Dunn and Genevieve Sioka have a โ€˜Meet the Artistโ€™ session, and a Photographic Talk titled โ€˜Down the Mekong, Cambodia and Vietnamโ€™ the grand finale is my editorโ€™s pick of the weekโ€ฆ…

Editorโ€™s pick of the weekโ€ฆ…

Concrete Prairie at Marden Hall, Calne

My new favourite thing, Concrete Prairie will be at Marden Hall, Calne as part of the Calne Music & Arts Festival, for a full set. Itโ€™s a tenner, seated event, which is going to be tricky if I go, I might just break into my jig down the aisle! Review of their album here.

Anyway, Apache Smoke at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, Ion Maiden at The Tree House, Frome, while eighties electronica band Blancmange play The Cheese & Grain; no, never heard of them, far too young!!

Mitch Benn is at Salisbury Arts Centre today, and Rob Autonโ€™s The Crowd Show is at Rondo Theatre, Bath.

I mean, there might be more added as time goes on, but thatโ€™s all I got for now; smaller venues, please submit your event listings to us asap, as you are the important ones which we really need to get the information out about. If you make me come find you on social media it never works, because I donโ€™t know about you, but Iโ€™m getting really narked off about social media at the moment!

Sunday 16th, then, and Wiltshire Soul & Blues Club have their exclusive monthly jam at the Owl Lodge, Swindon Paint Fest continues, and sax lovers, do check Guinea Lane Saxophones, Pewsey Players and Take Five at Pewsey Heritage Centre.

Highly recommended, Jack Grace Band at the Southgate, Devizss and The James Oliver Band plays The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, and Blackbeardโ€™s Tea Party and Imprints at The Winchester Gate, Salisbury.

Frome Wessex Camera Fair at The Cheese & Grain, with Ned Boulting in the evening.

Monday, I got nought, but nobody likes Mondays anyway. Ban them, ban them all now!!

Tuesday 18th, Assassins opens at Rondo Theatre, Bath, runs until 21st October, Good Luck, Studio at Salisbury Playhouse, and legendary folk at The Cheese & Grain, Frome, with Steeleye Span.

Wednesday 19th, and Swindonโ€™s dub reggae outfit Subject A are live at the Bell on Walcot Street, Bath, Beth Nielson Chapman at The Cheese & Grain, Frome and donโ€™t forget, Wednesday evening acoustic jam at the Southgate, Devizes, ah, yes.

Have a good week, donโ€™t work too hard; that is a direct order!

Trending….

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

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.โ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 28thSeptโ€“ 4th Oct 2022

Here we go for this coming week, excuse me for not waffling, really not in the mood. Oh, okay, just one whinge then, if you insist!

Itโ€™s just the power-hungry draconian admin of Facebook groups, again. Now Iโ€™ve been banned from โ€œThe Devizes Issue,โ€ not to be confused with โ€œDevizes Issuesโ€ which Iโ€™ve been banned from for yonks, and โ€œDevizes Issue,โ€ โ€œDevizes Issues (but better,)โ€ โ€œDevizes Got Issues,โ€ โ€œThe Issues in Devizes,โ€ or any other originally titled local Facebook group. One has to wonder if thereโ€™s really that many issues in Devizes which warrants so many Facebook groups with the words โ€œDevizesโ€ and โ€œIssues,โ€ or perhaps, just perhaps, that there is the very issue in Devizes; canโ€™t we all just get along?!  

I was banned for sharing our article about an upcoming comedy show by Devizes Arts Festival, likely because the headline comedian was the guy who handed Theresa May a P45. With the Gazelle & Herod concentrating on The Jeremy Kyle Show returning to some TV channel no oneโ€™s heard of, media here highlighting all the good stuff going down locally is becoming increasingly limited, and Facebook groups are untrustworthy, ask the town council! So, stick around, and Iโ€™ll get onto whatโ€™s happening shortly.

First you should know, is, more info and ticket links to everything listed, and for planning ahead, the one link you need is our updating event calendar, or least two links this week as we delve headlong into October.

Wednesday 28th thereโ€™s a Lunchtime Recital at Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.

Sustainable Devizes will at St Andrewโ€™s Church for a free community film screening on the story of plastics. Starting at 7, Iโ€™ll drop the poster below.

Thursday 29th and thereโ€™s a Jazz Social at Salisbury Arts Centre, the ultimate music quiz at The Cheese & Grain, Frome. The Lawrence Society of Art begins an art exhibit at Devizes Town Hall, free entry, running until Saturday 1st October.

Friday 30th September, the exceptionally talented Adam Woodhouse is at the Pelican Inn, Devizes, while those Somerset crazy folked up hip hoppers Monkey Bizzle bring the noise to The Southgate; this is a hilarious show, throw preconceptions aside and join the fun.

Jen Bristerโ€™s The Optimist is at Pound Art in Corsham, while you can find The Music of Carole King at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and the regular Barnstormers Comedy at Salisbury Arts Centre.

Stay Lunar play The Vic, Swindon, The Toasters play The Tree House, Frome, with Toyah at The Cheese & Grain. Illingworth play The Royal George in Salisbury.

Pinch punch and build, Saturday 1st October sees the regular Lego Club at Chippenham Museum from 3-4pm, but real Lego enthusiasts should head to Steam, Swindon, for The Great Western Brick Show. Happening Sunday too, and always amazing!

The Brook Street Band come to St Maryโ€™s Devizes for some Kaffeehaus Culture, expect some Bach, Handel & Telemann.

Meanwhile, editorโ€™s pick of the week comes from Icarus Theatre Collective, who bring a touring, award-winning dark comedy to The Wharf Theatre, called The Lesson.

Icarusโ€™ blistering, magical and award-winning production of Eugene Ionescoโ€™s classic dark comedy returns to the stage, following sold out runs at Teatrul de Comedie in Bucharest, among others. A mild-mannered professor takes on a new pupil, and swiftly descends into tyranny, becoming bent on her destruction. A comically surreal exposรฉ about power, knowledge & those who hoard bothโ€ฆ. but thatโ€™s not only why Iโ€™m picking this as my pick of the week.

Performances are enhanced by a bold projection design that features exciting new Creative Captioning Technology, which is supported by Arts Council England. It ensures that every performance is now accessible to deaf and hard of hearing audiences as well as enhancing the creative story and encapsulating the beating heart of Ionescoโ€™s text; which is a fantastic initiative I hope will find its way to more productions.

If some mod covers are more your thing, Devizions, check Six Oโ€™clock Circus live at The Three Crowns, always kicking up a stink, and the Roughcut Rebels are at The Churchill in West Lavington.

Sheer Music is at Trowbridge Town Hall with The People Versus, Pecq and Fly Yeti Fly in support, will be amazing.

Regular fav, Faze is at the Bear, Marlborough, Fire Gazer at the Barge on Honeystreet.

Thereโ€™s writer Jim Read and performer Louise Jordanโ€™s afternoon of memorable monologues exploring what it is to use paths and pavements at Salisbury Arts Centre, with Pavement Life.

Homer are at The Phoenix Bar, Wotton Basset, Shepardโ€™s Pie play The Vic, and Barrelhouse at the Rolleston in Swindon, with Mortellica next door at Level III, while Devizes Road Oktoberfest goes off at The Tuppeny, Swindon, while the Bell in Bath also has an Oktoberfest.

Junkyard Dogs at the Bear in Bradford-on-Avon, Bully Bones at The Three Horseshoes, and CHK CHK CHK play The Cheese & Grain, Frome. The Zucchinis play Brown Street, Salisbury.

Sunday 2nd and find Melksham Climate Fest at the Assembly Hall, The Great Western Brick Show continues at Steam, Swindon, Magpie Market at The Cheese & Grain Frome, and Saba Douglas-Hamiltonโ€™s In The Footsteps of Elephants shows later there too. Funky MH at The Three Horseshoes Bradford-on-Avon, Chai For All & Radio Banska at The Queen’s Head, Box.

But itโ€™s all down to the Southgate in Devizes, where Jon Amor holds his monthly residency, this time featuring guest Dan Moore, whoโ€™s played keys for everyone from Tom Jones to Massive Attack; ding dong!

Monday 3rd, sees the regular dream club at the Vic, Swindon, Tuesday find Improvers Art Sessions at the Cause, Chippenham and Spike at Salisbury Playhouse.

And thatโ€™s your lot for this week, enough to keep you amused for a weekend?! Keep an eye out for updates, I do do them, occasionally! And donโ€™t forget, support Devizine with all your might! Times like this we need you sharing, caring and sending us your event details too, donโ€™t make me come find you! Have a great week.

Trending….

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 ofโ€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 alternativeโ€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 consideredโ€ฆ

Atari Pilot New Single

A drifting retrospection of sonic electronica new wave from Swindon’s purveyors of cool, Atari Pilot, is out today. A single with a Peter Pan fashionedโ€ฆ

The Lucky Stars of The Radio Makers

Bristol-based The Radio Makers have laboured over their forthcoming album Lucky Stars (Got My Radio) for four years, and it shows; youโ€™ll find out forโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 8th-14th September 2022

Slight seasonal changes, wetter but still warm, slight Prime Minister changes, dryer but still a narcissistic numpty; ah well, letโ€™s see, a day later than usual I know and apologise, whatโ€™s happening in Wiltshire over the next weekโ€ฆ…

The one link you need as usual, is our event calendar, where itโ€™s all listed with ticket and info links, and itโ€™s updated (fairly) regularly, so bookmark the beast and remain as you will be after reading this; in the know. ย 

Thursday 8th and thereโ€™s the Swindon Comedy Club at Kioki, with headliner Abi Clarke.

Friday 9th Hedda Gabler begins at the Wharf Theatre, Devizes and runs until 24th September. Hedda Gabler is recognised as one of the worldโ€™s great plays written by one of the worldโ€™s great playwrights and is generally regarded as Ibsenโ€™s masterpiece. Hedda, on the face of it, is not your archetypal tragic heroine. Starting quietly, and quite humorously, the drama builds to its terrifying and riveting climax, involving the presentation set of pistols that Hedda inherited from her father.

One to watch, Sour Apple play the Pelican in Devizes on Friday, and look out for a new music program called Vamos, at The Old Road Tavern, Chippenham, theyโ€™ve got the wonderful Harmony Asia supporting Hoggs Bison. And find Illingworth at The Royal Oak in Marlborough, all free gigs.

โ€œHurrah, they are back to Schoolโ€ runs the tagline of the end of summer barbeque at Seend Community Centre.

Our renowned house DJ, George G Force is at Marston Park, Frome, while tribute The Smyths play The Cheese & Grain. Festival season hasnโ€™t quite closed yet, itโ€™s The Mucky Weekender Festival at the Winchester Bowl.

Meanwhile, In Swindon, Dangerous Kitchen play The Vic, The Salts at Swindon Arts Centre, and A Country Night in Nashville at the Wyvern Theatre.

Saturday 10th and back by popular demand, the start of the legendary Pewsey Carnival, yay! Procession is next Saturday 17th, with the Wheelbeero race on Thursday 15th, but this Saturday is Pewsey Carnival Wine Race.

Our editorโ€™s pick of the week; Party for Life, Melksham

A world suicide prevention day fundraiser in the Sky Bar at Melksham Town FC. The Soul Strutters, Blind Lemon Experience and Roughcut Rebels play this big one, with DJs and pizza and others; sounds fantastic, we did preview it a while back, and I believe a few tickets are still up for grabs, follow their Facebook page for more details.

Staying in the Sham, The Pilot has a Family fun day with music and, fundraising for MIND, see the poster for details.

Crafts, stalls and entertainment are promised at Devizes Rotary Clubโ€™s Health & Wellbeing Showcase on the Small Green from 11am-3pm on Saturday, and for a musical evening in Devizes, rock covers band Black Nasty are at The Southgate, while People Like Us do their awesome thing at the Three Crowns.

Time also, for the Burbage Beer, Cider & Music Festival.

Another upcoming local band to watch is Salisbury indie-kids Carsick, who plan to blow the lid off of Trowbridge Town Hall.

Contrasts in Swindon as Rage Against the Regime play The Vic, while Shape Of You brings the music of Ed Sheeran to the Wyvern Theatre.

You might have caught him at Devizes Arts Festival this summer, Alfie Mooreโ€™s show Fair Cop Unleashed comes to Salisbury Arts Centre.

No prizes for guessing who Motorheadache is attributing, theyโ€™re at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, while Dana Gavanski plays their sister venue the Tree House, with Cornelia Murr in support.

And unfortunately, The International Comics Expo, ICE in Birmingham which Iโ€™ve still got listed, has been cancelled, Iโ€™m just being too lazy to delete it!   

Sunday 11th, after terrible weather last Sunday postponed Devizes Town Bandโ€™s Childrenโ€™s Proms in the Park at Hillworth, it will be combined this week with the planned main Proms in the Park.  

And save a Recital Series at Swindon Arts Centre, also on Sunday, that about wraps it up for the weekend, unless you know different? Unless you dare to tell me that I missed something?! Please do, I donโ€™t bite, at least only a nip, on the bum; itโ€™s free to list stuff on Devizine, just message us, weโ€™re in it for the love.

Through the week Iโ€™ve not got much, but you know updates of the event calendar occasionally happens, though Iโ€™m currently undergoing the arduous task of getting next yearโ€™s calendar up and running, so bear with, bear with.

Tuesday 13th, Iโ€™ve got Kaleidoscopic at Salisbury Arts Centre and a RSPB: A Victorian Birderโ€™s Wiltshire at the same venue.

Next week though you can look forward to Pewsey carnival, Swindon Shuffle, and the White Horse Opera is back too, along with lots more events to get your teeth into; Iโ€™ll catch you around at one sometime, maybe? What else are you going to do, โ€œSimpsoniseโ€ yourself with a phone app; get real?!!

Trending…

Devizes Scooter Rally 2023

Have rally will travel; seemingly the scooterist’s motto, chatting to various friendly clubs nationwide, and individuals too, such as a dapper lone mod who rodeโ€ฆ

Devizes Scooter Rally Revs Up

First day back from my holibobs and though duties are to unpack and cut the flying ant infested grass, twist my arm, I reckon Iโ€ฆ

Weekly New Songs Roundup

Ah, let us have a shiny new feature, being Iโ€™m trying to keep up with all the lovely new songs coming out, and failing becauseโ€ฆ

Who Knows, RAE?

With my boat sailing unchartered territory on this voyage of discovery for local talented youth, the rabbit hole continues deeper the further we network andโ€ฆ

Subject A Takes us to Paradise

Whatโ€™s four years between releasing new material?! We fondly reviewed Subject Aโ€™s album Writerโ€™s Eyes back in 2019; theyโ€™ve a new single out this week,โ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 1st-7th September 2022

It might not be bank holiday, but itโ€™s not blank holiday, if you see what I mean? Nah, forget it; hereโ€™s whatโ€™s happening over the next week in Wiltshire.

Pinch punch, Thursday is the first of September, and Iโ€™ve got nothing, yet! Do keep a check when updates come into our event calendar, the one link you need for info on all the stuff below and for planning future events.

Friday 2nd is the Wax Palaceโ€™s Kaleidoscope Festival in Erlestoke, ravers, thereโ€™s also the End of the Road Festival, Salisbury way on the Dorset border, and the Punchbowl Festival in Codford.

Closer to us, The Devizes Living Room has a โ€œbloc-party,โ€ on the Green, all welcome. Potterne Social Club has People Like Us, The Roughcut Rebels play The Barge Inn at Seend Cleeve, Navajo Dogs are at The New Inn, Winterbourne Monkton.

Comedy at The Boathouse, Bradford-on-Avon with Sally-Anne Heywood.

And over in Swindon, youโ€™ll find the Groove Club Collective at The Vic, Mac N Cheese at the Queenโ€™s Tap, and The Total Stone Roses playing Level III.

Saturday 3rd, and itโ€™s the start of Salisbury Art Trail, running until 18th September.

Itโ€™s Malmesbury Carnival, the Melksham Food & River Festival, and Tripwire Presents Bristol Comic Con over the weekend. Lego fans check out The Cheese & Grain, Frome where thereโ€™s a Lego show and market, Brickinโ€™ It!

Editorโ€™s Pick of The Week

In Devizes itโ€™s Confetti Battle time, and the Colour Rush, yay! No tokens this year, so you will just need to line up to buy you confetti so arrive early to avoid the queues. Youโ€™ll still need to line up to collect your confetti prior to the 8pm kick-off.

As far as we know Devizes is the only town in the world that has a Confetti Battle tradition. No one can remember the first official battle but we know its roots date back to the old Devizes Carnival in 1913, where confetti and rose petals were thrown by the crowd at people in the procession. The tradition evolved into a fully-fledged battle around 1955 when it was started by Jim Jennings; should make it my editorโ€™s pick of the of the week really.

This year the Confetti Battle continues to grow and the colourful chaos has been added to with the introduction of the Colour Rush, an amazing 5 km mixed terrain fun run โ€“ what better way to arrive at a Confetti Battle than covered in multi-coloured powder!

There is no โ€˜battleโ€™ as such, just a very silly half-hour during which a lot of fun is had, and a lot of confetti is thrown about. Expect to get โ€˜attackedโ€™ by complete strangers throwing paper!  The Battle continues to gain popularity and 2017 saw over 3500 people take part. The event takes place at the finish line of our new Colour Rush 5k run so expect to see some exceptionally colourful visitors in the crowd.

Jennings funfair is in the Market Place on Friday 2nd September until Sunday 3rd of September operating between 5.30 pm until 11.00 pm.

The DOCA website says โ€œkeep your eyes peeled when collecting your confetti as one lucky person will receive a Golden Ticket in a confetti bag,โ€ it continues so say, โ€œthis will entitleโ€ฆโ€ and then it ends, so Iโ€™ve no idea what the golden ticket entitles you to! Maybe they need to keep their eyes peeled on their typos, but I guess theyโ€™re too busy making fun for us all, and I, for one, bless them for it.

Staying in Devizes for confetti free events, Jamie R Hawkins will be at The Southgate, while Paradox plays The Cellar Bar of the Bear Hotel. Tamsin Quin plays the Barge on HoneyStreet.

Wiltshire BKA Honey Bee Health Day at Market Lavington, some Carnival Music by Jenny Bracey at The Crown in Aldbourne. Local Heroes Inc play Prestbury Sports Bar, Warminster.

In Swindon Moonwire and Lung at The Vic, Dragon Eye at The Rolleston, Larkhill at the Queens Tap, Echo at Coleview Community Centre and Dreuw & Will Killen at The Hop Inn.

Sunday 4th September, and thereโ€™s a RSPCA fun dog show on the Green in Devizes, and the monthly residency of Jon Amor at the Southgate at 5pm, featuring guest Nat Martin.

Composer-pianist and creative coder, Larkhall will be taking his innovative live show to venues across the UK this year, he comes to Schtum in Box on Sunday, and playing Pound Arts in Corsham on the 9th.

White Horse Classic and Vintage Vehicle Show in Westbury, and Minety has a Beer & Cider Festival.  

Rainbow Fest at The Olive Tree Cafe in Swindon, promises crafts, live Music and poetry for ยฃ2 entry (under 12 free) with all funds going to charities supporting LGBQIA+. Meanwhile, local acoustic duo Sweet Nightingale play Queens Park.

And thatโ€™s your weekend, folks. Monday 5th sees a live art Demonstration by Artist Paul Oakley at Devizes Conservative Club, organised by the Lawrence Society of Art. And that for now is all I have for midweek, but I promise to do some digging and update the event calendar more often, pinky promise.

Okay, that leaves me with stuff to get prepared for, that means buying tickets, dammit! September 10th sees the Party For Life fundraiser at Melksham Town FC, details here, get yourself a ticket for this, raising funds and awareness of Suicide prevention.

Also, the Wharf Theatre opens for its Autumn/winter season with Hedda Gabler running from 9th to the 24th. Bath Children’s Literature Festival, Devizes Food & Drink Festival, Swindon Shuffle and Swindon Folk & Blues Festival; itโ€™s still happening, summer isnโ€™t throughโ€ฆ. yet!

And if you’ve still found nothing to interest you, stay in and listen to our new volume of the 4 Julia’s House compilation album, which we released last week. 35 amazing, locally-sourced songs, and all the proceeds go to Julia’s House Children’s Hospices; thank you!

Trending…

Nothing Rhymes with Orange at Devizes Corn Exchange

By Florence Lee. Images by Kiesha Films. Booking Devizesโ€™ most prestigious venue, The Corn Exchange was mighty ambitious for newly formed promoter Lost Monkey Productions,โ€ฆ

Becca Mauleโ€™s Teenage Things

I mean, yeah, press releases can be as handy as sitting next to Einstein in a physics test, but reviewing music isnโ€™t an exact science,โ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 24th โ€“ 31st August 2022

We canโ€™t wait until roundup Tuesday, when we usually roundup the weekly roundup, itโ€™s the last big summer blowout bank holiday, so weโ€™re simply too excited and thought you might wanna plan early, so here it is, hold on to your horses… or just let them run wild, I’m not worried, just too excited, did I say I was too excited?!

Repetition is fine, but there’s no links here, too time-consuming, so please us this link to our event calendar, and you can grab details and ticket links from there, but you knew that already, I hope. Oh, did I say, repetition is fine?

All quiet on Wednesday 24th, but if youโ€™re eager to get the ball rolling, 41 Fords play the Kilminton Home Guard Club in Warminster, entry by donation, and donโ€™t forget Wednesday s are the regular acoustic jam night down our trusty Southgate in Devizes, and is always a wonderful night.

Thursday 25th then, and Honey Fest kicks off at the Barge on HoneyStreet, and banging out the whole weekend; I believe thereโ€™s a few tickets up for grabs.

Meanwhile, unmissable rock soloist Adam Masterson plays The Tuppenny in Swindon with Jules Hill in support. Bath Forum have The Billy Joel Songbook, and lots of lucky people will be making their way to either Reading Festival or GoatFest; have fun!

Warming up to Friday, the 26th August, when our brilliant Irish folk duo, the Celtic Roots Collective are at the Pelican in Devizes.

Over in the land of chips and ham, thereโ€™s an August Bank Holiday Beer & Cider Festival at the Three Crowns, and ska-punkers Operation77 play The Black Horse, Chippenham.

Illingworth takes on triple gigs this weekend, catch them at Flan Oโ€™Brianโ€™s in Bath on Friday, where Komedia have a night with The Ministry of Burlesqueโ€™s Cabaret; ding dong!

Mod band Peloton plays The Vic, Swindon, and wow, the Cheese & Grain, Frome have Morcheeba, yes, I said Morcheeba; show offs!

Saturday 27th, is the big one. Shall I start it with theโ€ฆ.

Editorโ€™s Pick of Week: The Full Tone Festival, The Green, Devizes

Yep, you probably guessed it, itโ€™s time for the hills of Devizes to come alive with the sound of music. It is the Full Tone Festival Weekend. Hurry and get your ticket, and say hi if you see me wandering around like a lost puppy. Said what needed to be said about this corker, let the show begin.

Over in Devizes Market Place from 9am-1pm thereโ€™s a Mind, Body & Spirit Market. Thereโ€™s free live music all day at the Crown Inn, Bishops Cannings, with 12 Bars Later, Plan of Action, and Itโ€™s Complicated. Later, 12 Bars Later nip across to the Southgate, Devizes!

And where do I even begin elsewhere? Holt Scarecrow Trail begins, itโ€™s Aldbourne Carnival, a Rod Stewart tribute at The Pewsham, Near Chippenham, thereโ€™s a Summer Party at Westbury Cons Club with Wade Merritt and Jay, followed by People Like Us, and the West of England Youth Orchestra perform at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon.

A debut performance, at the Gloucester Road Conservative Club in Trowbridge for soul band Dimensions, and thatโ€™s free entry. Kurt Vile & The Violators at Bath Forum, Apollo Ghosts at the Cheese & Grain, Frome, and in Swindon, the wonderful The Daybreakers are live at The Vic, while The Tin Shack Band play the Woodlands Edge. Oh, and The Swiss Chalet has a Harryโ€™s Heroes fundraiser.

Sunday is where things usually start to calm down, but not this weekend. The 28th sees the second day of Full Tone, Great Cheverall Soap Box Derby and Potterne Festival.

Illingworth play The Churchill Arms in West Lavington today, and a young local band to watch out for, Nothing Rhymes With Orange are in support.

Thereโ€™s a mini fest at the Talbot in Calne with Six Oโ€™clock Circus, People Like Us, Wet Frank, End of Story and others.

LodgeFest aptly at Warminsterโ€™s Lodge, an M4 Classic Car & Bike Show in Chippenham, and the Hammervilles have a bank holiday beach party at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Swindon is gearing up for the Shuffle next month, but in the meantime, Shades of Seattle plays the Vic, highly recommended Atari Pilot are at the Castle, and for the kids, thereโ€™s always Milkshake live at the Wyvern.

If youโ€™re still standing in Devizes on Monday, 29th August, hereโ€™s what to doโ€ฆ. Black Rat Monday, down The British Lion, with the Celtic Roots Collective and a jam to follow. Or Finley & Mark support The Reason at the Three Crowns; nice either way!

From 5pm Illingworth will be at the Waterfront, Pewsey, and the Beverley May Band play The Milk Churn, Melksham. Itโ€™s the Chippenham River Festival, thereโ€™s a massive line-up for a free music festival across the entire village of Box, it is Box Rocks. The Lost Trades and Dolly Mavies headline a mini-festival at The Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, and Abba tribute 21st Century ABBA play The Bowl in Town Gardens, Swindon.

Iโ€™m sure thereโ€™s going to be more added as the week goes by, so keep up-to-date with our event calendar. Thatโ€™s the weekend forecast to date, though.

Tuesday 30th and Gently Tender play The Royal Oak in Marlborough, the regular Jazz Knights at Swindonโ€™s Royal Oak has the Kevin Figes Quartet, during the day thereโ€™s a Farmyard Circus at Queenโ€™s Park, and Russell Brand comes to the Wyvern.

Wednesday 31st, look out for the Wind in the Willows at the Corsham Almshouses, and phew, thatโ€™s me done, dusted and ready for a nap; have a great weekend!

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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 heavingโ€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 upโ€ฆ

Mantonfest 2023; Best One Yet!

All Images by Gail Foster One of the fundamental elements which makes Mantonfest such an absolutely brilliant festival, aside its beautiful location and friendly atmosphere,โ€ฆ

Devizes Hosts First Pride

Okay, god knows I need my beauty sleep more than most, and on a promise to attend the wonderful Mantonfest, it was only ever goingโ€ฆ

Weekly Roundup of Events in Wiltshire: 17th-24th August 2022

Ah this is more like it, the English summer we know and love! Tad wet, but hereโ€™s what we have to do this week and the last weekend before the big summer blow-out which is the August Bank Holiday.….

Donโ€™t forget, more info and all links for bookings are on our event calendar, where you can also plan ahead, so long as it keeps updating, which Iโ€™m trying my best to, honest!

Thereโ€™s a floral demonstration at Devizes Town Hall on Wednesday 17th August, by the Devizes Flower Club; opens at 7pm, ยฃ5.

Parents head for the Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon where thereโ€™s a messy art session and a singing day ahead.

Manchesterโ€™s noughties art rock band Everything Everything play the Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Thursday 18th, and again, kids can visit The Musical Zoo at the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon. Three bands at The Beehive, Swindon on Thursday, The Acoustic Buzz 52, Larkham & Hall and Jol Rose. Also, at The Vic the have Monasteries, Creak, Persadian & Chasing Dolls. The Summer Youth Project performance of Legally Blonde is at the Wyvern.

Onto Friday 19th, and itโ€™s the Wine Tasting event at St Maryโ€™s Devizes, previewed here.

If youโ€™re lucky you can still book a fantastic Survival Camp for any young adventurous children who are aged between 10 years old and 12 years old, with the Wild Edge Survival Camp at West Lavington.

Folk duo Fly Yeti Fly are at The Bear Inn, Bradford on Avon, The Beverley May Band at The Kings Arms, Melksham, Hayden Lloyd at Komedia, Bath. @59 play The Wellington in Marlborough.

In Swindon, Judas Rising plays the Vic, while Bobbi Nicholles is at Woodlands Edge.

Saturday 20th, itโ€™s my pick of the week; the Bath Comic & Gaming Festival at Bath Uni. Full of UK based comic artist guests, some film and tv guests and cosplay guests, a dinosaur zone, Stranger Things, Ghostbusters and Star Wars props, and lots of stuff for kids to empty fanboy dadโ€™s wallet! Lord, help me!

Roots and folk at the Southgate Devizes, with Barney Kelly, and the welcome return of Long Street Blues Club with Skinny Molly, I believe is a sell-out. Worth checking though, I might be wrong, as, I sometimes am; I said sometimes!

Dutty Moonshine Big Band play The Barge, HoneyStreet, Emily Barker is at The Pump in Trowbridge, and another successful Pipe & Slippers Rave at Trowbridge Town Hall goes off; I have to see this for myself; dust off the old whistle and white gloves! Oh, and if Sausage & Cider is more your thing, thereโ€™s a Day of it at The Brewery Inn, Seend Cleeve.

Shame Live at Lydiard had to cancel, but People Like Us play The Swiss Chalet, Swindon and Click! are at Woodlands Edge.

Sunday afternoon on the 21st August then, has another Fantasy Radio Lark in Hillworth Park, Devizes, though Iโ€™ve no idea whoโ€™s playing, because they never say. But Chaz Throughgood is at the Southgate.

Itโ€™s the August Jam for the exclusive Wiltshire Blues & Soul Club, in their hiding place at Lacock, while the fantastic Sarah C. Ryan Band play a lazy afternoon at Richard Jefferies Museum, Swindon, and Jim Blackmann plays Komedia, Bath.

And thatโ€™s your weekend over. On Tuesday 23rd Radio Banska play Jazz Knights at The Royal Oak, Swindon, and at this moment in time Iโ€™ve nought else in the week until Thursdayโ€™s opening of HoneyFest at the Barge on HoneyStreet.

But it will be bank holiday next weekend, and thereโ€™s much to be looking into and planning. Weโ€™ll be at The Full Tone Festival on the Green in Devizes, and that one, I promise you, will be awesome, but not the same without you, so get your ticket as soon as possible!

But yeah, same weekend you can find Reading Festival, GoatFest, Potterne Festival, Holt Scarecrow Trail, the Great Cheverall Soap Box Derby, Mini Talbot Fest at The Talbot, Calne, LodgeFest at The Lodge, Warminster, an M4 Classic Car & Bike Show in Chippenham, Chippenham River Festival, a live music festival at the Lamb Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, 21st Century ABBA at The Bowl, Town Gardens, Swindon as well as multitude of smaller gigs at just about every local pub and venue you can mention; and itโ€™s all here on our event calendar, just hope the rain gives it a break!

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Just Meg; an Interview

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Time to be Thinking About CrownFest!

Itโ€™s time to be thinking about that nearby little village with a big punch and a spire. CrownFest at The Crown in Bishops Cannings isโ€ฆ

Song of The Week: Beskar

Quick one from me, a belated song of the week, The Prophecy by Beskar featuring Huntr/s. A debut single on RAM Records from Scottish musicโ€ฆ