Tag: festival

7 Hills Spring Festival Comes to Trowbridge

Is it time to start thinking about spring? I think so! Bath music promoters 7 Hills are moving their annual spring festival from the city to Trowbridgeโ€™s Old Town Hall. If youโ€™re already buzzing for the 2026 festival season to arrive, check this March offeringโ€ฆ..

7 Hills regularly organise music events at The Night Jar in Bath, a glorious bar upstairs at the Bath Pizza Company, part of the hip Green Park Brasserie close to the railway station. Many gigs there have a โ€œpay if canโ€ policy, and present the likes of Luke De-Sciscio, Elles Bailey and Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene. Their festivals are also usually held in Bath, but this coming year a spring one comes to Trowbridge.

Chris Hoar of Courting Ghosts explained he, โ€œreached out to them initially to say I was planning a festival in the newly renovated Old Town Hall, just to check it didn’t clash with them, and Matt said let’s do it together in Trowbridge as a spring festival.โ€

Concrete Prairie

Itโ€™s an all day folk-rock festival, happening on Saturday 21st March, tickets are on sale now at ยฃ39.50. Thereโ€™s a number of acts new to me on the lineup, which is good; The Delines, Our Man In The Field, Joseph Arthur, Hannah White, Leander Morales Music, Chris Greenhalgh, Bluebeard and the Desperate Hours and Biff Country. Some to tick off my must see list, like AQABA, and others which I will never tire of witnessing, particularly Concrete Prairie, Thieves, Fly Yeti Fly and Matt Owens, with Chrisโ€™s band Courting Ghosts, of course!

Courting Ghosts

Following an extensive and transformative refurbishment, the historic Old Town Hall will host this inaugural 7 Hills Spring Festival, a landmark cultural event marking a renewed era of artistic ambition for the region. Conceived as a celebration of world-class songwriting and contemporary creative excellence, the festival assembles an exceptional line-up of internationally esteemed performers and compelling new voices.

The Delines headline, widely regarded as one of the most evocative and accomplished bands of their generation. Praised for their cinematic soul, lush arrangements and profoundly humane storytelling, critics have called The Delines โ€œone of the finest Americana acts working todayโ€ and hailed their work as โ€œexquisite, elegant and utterly transportive.โ€ Their appearance at 7 Hills Spring Festival promises a rare opportunity to witness a band consistently described as โ€œamong the very best songwriters and performers on either side of the Atlantic.โ€

They are joined by Our Man in the Field, whose transatlantic Americana and increasingly acclaimed live performances have captured audiences across Europe and beyond; the distinguished American singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur, celebrated for his poetic intensity; Matt Owens & The DVP, whose dynamic blend of modern folk, rock, and richly crafted lyricism promises one of the nightโ€™s most electrifying sets; and multiple AMA UK Award Winner,  Hannah White, widely recognised as one of Britainโ€™s most profound contemporary songwriters. Rounding out the bill are Courting Ghosts, an emerging band whose growing reputation reflects a bold and distinctive artistic voice.

Fly Yeti Fly

Showcasing newly enhanced performance spaces, architectural restoration, and a revitalised artistic vision, the renewed Old Town Hall stands as a major cultural milestone. 7 Hills Spring Festival will not merely highlight the buildingโ€™s transformation, but also usher in a bold new chapter for Trowbridgeโ€™s cultural landscape.

With the absence of Bradford Roots Festival this coming year, usually in Feb at The Wiltshire Music Centre, I think I can pad it out until then; maybe go into hibernation until March!

Tickets HERE.

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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

Burning the Midday Oil at The Muck

Highest season of goodwill praises must go to Chrissy Chapman today, who raised over ยฃ500 (at the last count) for His Grace Childrenโ€™s Centre inโ€ฆ

St John’s Choir Christmas Concert in Devizes

Join the St Johnโ€™s Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th Decemberโ€ฆ

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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 to unfortunately miss Marlborough’s gem a fortnight agoโ€ฆ..

Weather and festival organisers aren’t besties. Organisers quiveringly check forecasts months prior, usual concern being moisture. Daytime at the inaugural Park Farm Festival just outside Devizes, where they positioned a professional looking stage some distance between where punters took shelter in beer tents and sun-shaded tables, Southwestโ€™s premier Chicago blues replicators, aptly named Chicago 9 blasted a wonderful set to distant onlookers whilst the zone between better resembled an African savanna where no man dare tread from fear of being frazzled!

I suspected many events this weekend subtly suffered from the heatwave despite the prospect favoured over torrential downpours, and one look during the day might suggest placing the stage so far away was an error. But by sunset that area will be filled with a selection of locals particularly from surrounding villages, heavy rock or grunge fans, regular Mantonfest attendees knowledgeable these guys have 25+ years of experience at hosting the most hospitable and welcoming local festival we could namedrop, or perhaps those who ticked more than one of those multiple choices. It was at this point you realised, despite July’s event clashes, a flooding of the festival market, and Park Farm being a first timer, numbers in attendance was averagely high and everyone was up for a good time.

I met with Mantonfest’s organisers some months ago where I was concerned replicating Mantonfest this side of Devizes might have a dubious impact, yet it seemed all was alright on the night, tribute acts are welcomed once the beer flows and Park Farm Festival set a high bar, recreating the friendly atmosphere expected at Mantonfests of yore, where everyone had an amazing day. It now takes me to blow the secret, this intends to return annually and I would seriously consider jotting it onto your calendar.

If Lower Park Farm will be a camping site for freewheeling soul and ska mods and skins in a fortnight, when the Devizes Scooter Club’s celebrated annual rally takes hold, this weekend is dedicated to a range of rock aficionados. Sadly I missed Essex’s finest Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective, welcomed regulars to The Southgate, though, I’m safe in the knowledge these guys know what strings to pull.

Barrelhouse followed Chicago 9, keeping the blues flow with the unique yet highly entertaining hoedown of  groovy vintage blues, standard issue at Mantonfest now adored throughout the county.

Double-booked as usual, at this point I took advantage of the free shuttle bus, headed into town to poke my nose into The Three Crownsโ€™ fundraiser, details set to follow. Meanwhile here, Josie & The Radiotones played and I returned for sixties heroes The Swinging Blue Jeans.

Seen these before, legendary rock n rollers who make universally entertaining a crowd look like childsplay, blasting their timeless hits and others which influenced them, as even the younger dared to dance under the beating sun.

Legends ticked it was time for the evening’s tributes, and judging the amount of Nirvana t-shirts against those of AC-DC ones was tight. A sudden quantum leap forward three decades and Nirvana UK did the most accomplished task of recreating those pioneers of grunge, loudly and proudly. Yet if you came here for authenticity in a tribute, AC/DC.UK mightโ€™ve thrown contemporary sound engineers with their usage of original eighties amps, but they sublimely recreated the heavy metal sound of the period and knocked it out of Park Farm!

Personally, heavy metal was never my bag, and through Swindon’s modern grunge scene, bands like I See Orange, The Belladonna Treatment and Liddington Hill have turned my head onto something I also sorely missed in the ravey nineties. Therefore my preference lay in Nirvana UK rather than the headliner, but judging on doing what it says on the tin, AC/DC.UK absolutely rocked that finale.

Yet the whole shebang must be hailed as putting this inguinal festival on the map for following years. For anyone who winces at the price tag, it’s standard in this era of hyperinflation, blame a government not organisers, and know, just like big sister Mantonfest, you’ll see where your money was spent if you attend; quality tried and tested acts, the highest quality production and nice touches like clean toilets and the shuttle bus.

For Grist and his team, financial risk is a thing in any competitive market and it can be surprising how narrow festivals can be; it’s a five-year plan minimal where research is crucial, and the reward is  you’ve created enjoyment. Hats off to them, for this was an amazing beginning.

Pitstop at Air Ambulance Fundraising Mini-festival at The Three Crowns Devizesย 

Rude to walk into an event sporting another event wristband but the welcome was friendly as ever at the Three Crowns in Devizes. It’s mid-afternoon, Park Farm Festival‘s shuttle bus took me into town, cheekily I used it to poke my nose into the Air Ambulance fundraiser here, their first real multi-act day, I believe, save perhaps my 50th birthday, which if you remember any details of, you could always fill me in!

It was a necessity, if only to see Ruby Darbyshire, as it’s been a while, not a long while, but long enough for me. First time playing the venue and she went down a storm, unsurprisingly. Such a rich, natural talent, vocals made from silk, expressive and  forever a joy to listen to; be they either covers, a Portishead one being a particularly breathtaking one, or her intelligently constructed originals, of which she dropped a couple of new ones I’m eager to review here in good time.

There were hugs all round upon my entrance; Ben Borrill and Pat Ward finished a set as Matchbox Mutiny, a shame to miss, because those gorgeously talented guys pull a crowd and hold them. At the moment I did arrive I was delighted to catch Rachel Sinnetta & Jolyon Dixon doing their thing with Andy Fellows accompanying on guitar, as itโ€™s always impressive and highly entertaining. It was a stellar lineup with cupcakes, lollipops, childrenโ€™s face-painting, and tried and tested acts at the Three Crowns, save Ruby, who Iโ€™m assured would be welcomed back.

Rumour was Devizes Male Choir was intending to do a flash mob bit between Ruby and the grand finale, the ever lively Funked-Up. Unsure if this happened, as unfortunately, I was duty bound to return to Park Festival, but you can rest assured Funked-Up got the crowds dancing the night away. I wish I could’ve stayed.

The spirit of The Three Crowns remains toppermost in town; the go-to pub in Devizes for a good night, an unpretentious, friendly atmosphere with the widest age demographic which never clashes. Itโ€™s trouble-free fun, itโ€™s live music program set to enthral, and not forgetting gourmet burgers; itโ€™s an all-round winner on any night, but more of this all-day stuff, please kind sir!  

Supergrass Headline Frome Festival to Support Local Community Action Group

Britpop icons Supergrass will headline Frome Festival as a fundraising event for grassroots community action group โ€˜People for Packsaddleโ€™ who are fighting to save a much-loved local green space from development…….

The Cheese and Grain made a last-minute announcement of the concert slated for Friday 11th July as part of the Festival, crashing their site with fans eager to find out more.

Toby Culff, spokesperson for โ€˜People for Packsaddleโ€™ explained, โ€œThe proceeds from this event are being donated to our local community action group, People for Packsaddle, to support us in our ongoing battle to protect the area known as Packsaddle Community Fields, in Frome, from development. Despite hundreds of objections and the planning application being refused by Somerset Council, the developers are taking it to an Appeal. For us to fight the Appeal and be represented by a full legal team comes with a significant financial cost.โ€

Culff continued, โ€œThe fields are a designated Asset of Community Value and a crucial, irreplaceable resource for local people and wildlife, and for Frome as a whole. By coming along to this gig, people will be supporting positive community action whilst also helping to protect the environment.โ€

The drummer of Supergrass, Danny Goffey, who lives in Frome, is a big supporter of this initiative and this offers the perfect opportunity to give something back to the community.

The indie rock legends are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their seminal chart-topping debut album โ€˜I Should Cocoโ€™ by playing it in full and then drawing from their endless greatest hits, proving they’re still at the top of their game. Bursting onto the scene in the mid-90s and channelling their iconic energy, Supergrass shot to fame with anthems like Alright, Caught by the Fuzz and Mansize Rooster. Three decades on, their live shows are as cool as ever, and fans can expect an unforgettable night from a band who helped define an era.

Support comes from Lumley, who describe themselves as โ€œlurking in the Indie pop bargain bin, Fromeโ€™s finest exponents of stealing all of your favourite hits and misses from the โ€˜90sโ€. Lead singer Micheal โ€˜Fordyโ€™ Ford, who is also a concert promoter, stated, โ€œFirst of all this show is for Frome and the ridiculous proposal to build at Packsaddle. We stand with our brothers and sisters of People for Packsaddle. Secondly, itโ€™s just awesome! Supergrass at Bath Moles in 1994 changed everything for me and I finally found MY band!โ€

In true Frome community spirit, the Town Crier, Martin Scott, will be acting as Master of Ceremonies at this one-night-only benefit. Attendees can expect some of his trademark humorous rhyming couplets. Scott shared on social media, โ€œWe are young, we run greenโ€ฆand weโ€™re running full speed towards a night of righteous revelry! Supported by the fabulous Lumley, it promises to be alright, alright, alright! So gather ye, good people of Frome โ€“ for common land, common good, and uncommon talent! Let the bell ring, the chords chime, and the wild ones ride again!โ€

People for Packsaddleโ€™s Toby Culff expressed, โ€œWe are enormously grateful to Supergrass, the Cheese and Grain, local band Lumley and Frome Festival for their support in ensuring this crucial fundraiser can go ahead, as well as to everyone who comes along and enjoys the gig and helps us achieve our goal of saving the fields from development. We wonโ€™t stand by and let developers ride roughshod over democratic, locally made decisions – this fundraising event is going to really help us achieve this aim!โ€

Frome Festival Director, Adam Laughton, explained, โ€œSupergrass headlining Frome Festival is further evidence of the cultural significance of this amazing town, continually punching well above its weight. Enormous thanks to the individuals who have made this happen, as well as Cheese & Grain and People for Packsaddle,โ€ adding, โ€œThis event is the cherry on top of a sensational 10 days of activity kicking off on Friday 4th July. Over 280 events in over 50 venues โ€“ thereโ€™s truly something for everyone.โ€

FROME FESTIVAL is taking place from 4th to 13th July 2025 with its most ambitious and wide-ranging programme to date. This much-loved annual celebration of arts, culture, and community continues to grow in scope and imagination, bringing together world-class performers, local talent, and a wealth of unique experiences across the town.

Additional musical highlights this year include performances from the Ronnie Scottโ€™s All Stars, acclaimed songwriter and producer Guy Chambers (most well-known for his work with Robbie Williams), Brodsky Quartet,  the Miki Berenyi Trio (formerly of Lush), Tom Moth (harpist with Florence + The Machine), Gary Stringer (Reef), Rokia Konรฉ (from Les Amazones d’Afrique), and the dynamic Hackney Colliery Band.

The comedy line-up features some of the UKโ€™s most distinctive voices, with headline sets from Lou Sanders, Andy Zaltzman, and the return of firm favourites Jarred Christmasโ€™ Pop-Up Comedy. Lou Sanders, Andy Zaltzman, and the return of firm favourites Jarred Christmasโ€™ Pop-Up Comedy.

This yearโ€™s Bob Morris Lecture will be presented by historian, author and broadcaster Professor Kate Williams, offering fresh insight into a thousand years of Britainโ€™s palaces, monarchs – and all the royal secrets.

The family-friendly programme includes free events for children, funded by Frome Town Council. Festival-goers can also enjoy the return of cherished community events such as the Hidden Gardens, the Frome Open Art Trail, and the Food Feast, featuring live music from up-and-coming indie rock band Nothing Rhymes With Orange, bluegrass with percussive step dance from Buffalo Gals, and soul collective Kaleida Wild. Entrance to the Food Feast on Saturday 5th July is free.

The theme for 2025, Fromeโ€™s historic textile industry, is woven through the festivalโ€™s branding, artwork, and a variety of textile-inspired events that pay tribute to the townโ€™s rich industrial heritage. These range from the traditional, for example weaving and woad dyeing workshops, to the contemporary, such as a themed AR (Augmented Reality) history quest and a silent disco comedy walk. The yarn bombing competition โ€˜Make Frome Knit Again!โ€™ seeks to decorate the public spaces of Frome for the duration of the Festival.

A free printed festival brochure is available from the Cheese & Grain and other local outlets. The full programme and ticket information can also be found online at www.fromefestival.co.uk

https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/events/supergrass/

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 over Bristolโ€ฆ..

Queens Square in Bristol will soon hold its first major live music event in 20 years. IDLESโ€™ lead singer, Joe Talbot, promised โ€œmusic we love for the people we loveโ€ and the two-day lineup will not and cannot disappoint.

Friday sees punk duo Soft Play take to the stage, after their thrilling comeback last year with critically acclaimed album โ€˜HEAVY JELLYโ€™, the Lambrini Girls, after the success of their debut album โ€˜Who Let The Dogs Outโ€™ and a set from dubstep artist SICARIA.

Then Saturday continues the party with Spanish duo Hinds, Bristolโ€™s โ€˜Black + Queerโ€™ pioneer Grove, Tash LC and leading the supporting lineup -also the band Iโ€™m most excited about- is The Voidz, fronted by Julian Casablancas (lead singer of The Strokes!).

Both days will, of course, also see sets from the IDLESโ€™ themselves, who have shot back to fame after their #1 album โ€˜TANGKโ€™ โ€“ which also led them to three (yes, three!) Grammy nominations. Theyโ€™ll be travelling all over the world on tour this year, but their only UK shows will be at Block Party.

So, two full days of live music โ€“ from an undeniably incredible line up of bands and artists, with the addition of local DJs and food and drinks from Bristolโ€™s favourites, whatโ€™s not to love?

I really advise grabbing tickets while you still can, theyโ€™re already running low and this definitely isnโ€™t a party to miss.

IDLESโ€™ future tour dates can be found here, and tickets to Block Party can be brought here

โ€œThe Last Actโ€, Devizes Arts Festival at The Wharf Theatre, June 4th and 5th 2025

by Ian Diddams
images by Ian Diddams and from Devizes Arts Festival

The pea souper smog swirls in the dark. A small light illuminates a bare room โ€“ hatstand bare but for a bowler hat, chair, side table with various bric-a-brac. A rug. Music plays in the distance. London, 1916. And The Wharf Theatre stage, 2025โ€ฆย  the lights drop to darknessโ€ฆย  and the show begins.

Such is the picture provided at the outset of โ€œThe Last Actโ€ by David Stuart Davies, on the first of two nightsโ€™ shows brought to us by Devizes Arts Festival, performed at The Wharf Theatre, Devizes by Fringe Management. A ninety-minute single hander performance by Nigel Miles-Thomas, directed by Gareth Armstrong, providing a potted history of the lives of Sherlock Holes, โ€œConsulting Detectiveโ€, and Dr. John H. Watson โ€“ formerly of the parish of Marylebone.

Nigel plays Holmes, of course, and also Watsonโ€ฆย  but into that also covers Inspector Lestrade, Stamford, Mrs. Hudson, Inspector Hopkins andโ€ฆย  arch enemy Professor James Moriarty.ย  This potted history, or timeline of Holmes and Watsonโ€™s friendship begins at the occasion of Watsonโ€™s funeral, followed by Holmesโ€™ recollections of their partnership marked by key stories in the Sherlock Holmes case history; โ€œThe Adventure of Abbey Grangeโ€, โ€œThe Speckled Bandโ€, โ€œThe Final Problemโ€, โ€œThe Hound of the Baskervillesโ€ and โ€œHis Last Bowโ€. Nigelโ€™s delivery skips nary a beat as his voice changes and facial expressions per character float in and out seamlessly from Holmesโ€™ character as the carefully woven tale even foreshadows itself. We gain an insight into Sherlockโ€™s childhood and brotherly relationship, of his mother and father mirroring the Abbey Grange lead characters, and his fatherโ€™s death mirroring in portrayal that of Moriartyโ€™s. A description of the wind โ€“ โ€œ…ย  cried and sobbed like a child in the chimneyโ€ is used both in Holmesโ€™ praise of Watsonโ€™s descriptive writing and that of his family home.

It is a story ultimately of loneliness and love โ€“ Holmesโ€™ solitary lifestyle – but also his attachment to his brother, but especially Watson. And a story written with affection for Conan Doylesโ€™ character, delivered with care by Nigel Miles-Thomas, packaged with fondness by director Gareth Armstrong. Truly a “Last Act” with love for the subject.

The Thursday 5th June performance of โ€œThe Last Actโ€ is already sold out, but Devizes Arts Festival continues until Sunday 15th June with a wide range of differing genres and arts to enjoy, with tickets just still available. To see what is available and tickets, browse https://www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk/events/

Send Your Camel To Bed! The Brand New Heavies Headline Sunday at Minety Music Festival

Heavenโ€™s holding a half moon tonight, a secret I’ve gotta spill, shining for all going to the Minety Music Festival in July….

Seeming not content with just awesome headliners The Fun Lovinโ€™ Criminals on the Saturday evening, Toploader and The Stereo MCs on Sunday, organisers of this, which I hailed the best local festival last year, have confirmed the UKโ€™s finest nineties soul ensemble, The Brand New Heavies will bless their stage on Sundayโ€ฆ.

Debuting in 1990, The Brand New Heavies may not be so new any longer, but theyโ€™re still the heavy, funky acid jazz pioneers who toured last year to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of their ground-breaking 1994 album Brother Sister. Propelled by the classic singles Dream On Dreamer, and Maria Muldaurโ€™s Midnight At The Oasis, the record achieved huge success (a #4 chart position, over a million sales and a BRIT nomination) as they cemented their position as the pioneers of Acid Jazz.

Featuring original members Andrew Levy and Simon Bartholomew, with the phenomenal vocalist Angela Ricci, the The Brand New Heavies continue today, and make for a brilliant end to what looks to be the festival worthy of your hard-earned cash.

Fun Lovin’!

Heavies, brand new or not, is not the reason I loft Minety on such a high pedestal. Yeah, they book universal big names to headline, but the whole community feel, affordable markets, food and drinks, so much for the younger attendees, and so much more so, their devotion to upcoming local live music is something to behold.

Set over four stages, thereโ€™s a plethora of great acts, from tributes to The Foo Fighters, Pink Floyd, Sex Pistols and The Police, to many of the original local artists weโ€™ve praised right here on Devizine; I See Orange, M3G, The Vooz, Jimmy Moore, SN Dubstation, Bottle of Dog, and those The Real Cheesemakers, naturally! Plus of course, many other bands new to us, which Iโ€™ll endeavour to catch as many as I can between chilling at the Incapable Staircase tent.

Midnight though, I hope thereโ€™s an international time zone between Minety and the Oasis, because the cider there is affordable, and Iโ€™m not sure if Iโ€™ll hold out for that long!ย 

Minety Music Festival runs over the weekend of 3rd – 6th July 2025. Itโ€™s a scorcher, tickets and more info HERE.

Trending……

For Now, Anyway; Gus White’s Debut Album

Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlboroughโ€™s singer-songwriter Gus Whiteโ€™s debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and itโ€™s moreโ€ฆ

Butane Skies Not Releasing a Christmas Song!

No, I didnโ€™t imagine for a second they would, but upcoming Take the Stage winners, alt-rock emo four-piece, Butane Skies have released their second song,โ€ฆ

One Of Us; New Single From Lady Nade

Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Ladeโ€™s latest offering of soulful pop. Itโ€™s timelessly cool andโ€ฆ

Large Unlicensed Music Event Alert!

On the first day of advent, a time of peace and joy to the world et al, Devizes Police report on a โ€œlarge unlicenced musicโ€ฆ

Winter Festival/Christmas/Whatever!

This is why I love you, my readers, see?! At the beginning of the week I put out an article highlighting DOCAโ€™s Winter Festival, andโ€ฆ

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Bradford-on-Avon Green Man Festival Returns In May

Experience the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival, a vibrant, family-friendly community gathering featuring traditional dance, music, song, and folklore throughout the town centre on Saturday 10th May 2025 (9.30am to 6pm). And the best part is, it’s free!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Date: Saturday 10 May 2025

Time: 9.30am to 6pm

Location: Across Bradford on Avon

Website: boagreenmanfest.org/welcome/

Trending…

My Complaint About Devizesโ€™ Full-Tone Festival!

Images Used With Permission of Gail Foster

Chief organiser of the Full-Tone Festival, Jemma Brown has always been high on my list of local folk of admiration, but went a notch higher Sunday upon delivering a sly quip on stage, in retaliation to a lone keyboard warrior inanely slating the festival on Facebook, while the majority of locals, and visitors from afar, basked in the sunshine and glory of what was the ultimate, (and possibly final of this kind,) showcase of our fantastic homegrown Full-Tone Orchestra, their momentous accomplishment, and all the gorgeous gubbings which went with it!

I was sunbathing on a Muck & Dunder deckchair at the time, enjoying one of their Piรฑa Coladas, the like only they seem to know how to create this side of the Atlantic Ocean, and a hearty chuckle impulsively launched from my cake hole. Oh my, the audacity of the ranting warrior caused a desire in me to march that silly sausage down to the breath-taking stage, allowing them to observe, even if momentarily, a sixty-piece orchestra harmoniously labouring sublimely, while a local youth sings their heart out at the most memorable, prestigious, and significant opportunity of their lives so far, to the tears of joy from their mum in the audience, overwhelmed with pride, and the smiles from those enjoying it, then ask this ranting nobody to confirm their complaint was not driven solely by selfish jealousy!

A neighbour of mine has a tendency to rev his motorbike in his garden. I cannot fathom why he needs to do this, neither appreciate the noise, but to ramble on about it on social media isn’t going to achieve anything but further verbal conflict. All I know is when you’re within the range of that stage, the divine acoustics immerse you, and even if it’s not your cuppa, you cannot deny the magnitude of the moment, just one weekend of it was all that was ever asked, the musical might of something you rarely get in Devizes, or anywhere for that matter.

Then, you turn away at your own free will, and note though it may have appeared so, you are not trapped in the Royal Albert Hall, you’re still on the familiar Green in Devizes, and deckchairs surrounds you like a day in a park, teetering with locals, spellbound and appreciating said moment. That is the magic of the Full-Tone Festival; go grab yourself a G&T or a Rowdy Cow ice cream, maybe get your face painted, return whenever you feel like it. It’s neither a sitting concert because of the freedom to come and go, nor a day in the park, because there’s a mahoosive and effective seamless programme of wonderful and varied music waving across the site; it is unique, iconic, and symbolic of everything great about Devizes.

All comes at a price, though, is another I hear plenty. Comparatively not so. Look around you, it’s over the pound mark for a Crunchie bar in a petrol station, and your average festival or a two-hour pop star’s gig will triple the price tag of Full-Tone’s three day extravaganza, if not more. You can only reasonably complain if your ears and eyes are shut.

Look! Look at that extravagant stage, wonder how many lines the technicians are juggling, watch the procession of musicians coming and going from the stage akin to the precision and order of an antโ€™s nest, though in pretty frocks! Consider every sidestall and those relentlessly working to serve you, the security, the first aid, the unison of everything coming together as it did, is both costly and executed with such professionalism I cannot fault it neither reason why anyone else would complain; it would be insanity to do so. Even conductor Anthony Brown waving his baton around for two solid days is enough to sympathise with any repetitive strain injury heโ€™s likely to have developed!

Though I must say again, it was a shame it clashed with the Devizes Scooter Rally, an event also dear to my heart. In such, there were large chunks of both I missed in a desperate attempt to attend the two. I missed the Friday night, when Jemmaโ€™s Devizes Dance Academy replayed their musical Six, accompanied by the fantastic Ruby Darbyshire and Devizes indie popsters Nothing Rhymes With Orange, but console myself safe in the knowledge based on past experience, this would be a guaranteed chicken dinner.

There were so many elements I sadly missed. I know our prodigy Jess Self knocked it out of the Green with Annieโ€™s Tomorrow, but I was made up by catching Six performers Ruby Phipps and Lisa Grimeโ€™s sublime solos during the James Bond theme section. Amidst the pro singers, these local youths held their own, and walked nervously but magnificently through it like it was butter on hot toast. There was the jazz big band on Sunday to make up for missing a Beatles tribute duo, and again, Talk in Code I know wouldโ€™ve smashed it.

Thereโ€™s simply too much to put every detail into words, but as an overall assessment based on what I witnessed or was gutted to be told how great what I missed was, The Full-Tone Festival again was a spectacular community event on a scale Devizes arguably hasnโ€™t seen since the Boto-X, and the Green looked once again as full as the first paid Full-Tone Festival was three years ago. It will be a shame to see the Green fallow next year, but we look forward to the prospect of it returning in whatever different shape it’ll be.

Notwithstanding the financial gain from visitors to the town and local businesses this attracts, alone for itโ€™s sheer capacity for not only providing a showcase for the orchestra, which will again venture out to the cities to perform at their prestigious venues, and attract the big names within the theatrical, classical and opera to grace our town, but also for showcasing upcoming local talent, Full-Tone receives no complaint from me, (the headline was just a sneaky clickbait trap, ha-ha!) Neither could I justify writing a single negative word about it. If I had to, it would be that we cannot do it bimonthly!

It was, as it has been each time, a fantastic event, and is loved by so many. Look again at dancers dancing, somehow, to the Chariots of Fire theme, kids in fairy wings, the old fellow napping in a deck chair with a bucket hat over his faceโ€ฆlook and take heed of everyone, enjoying themselves โ€ฆ.my hat would come off to everyone involved, if it didnโ€™t risk a sunburned bald patch!

Oh, go on then, everyone involved deserves a factor 50 sunblock, because you shine so bright!

See, Iโ€™m done and dusted with whinging; yep, that satirical rant column from many years ago, that I ask Jemma if she remembers, upon my request for more ammo, how she replied, rather I could highlight the positive things happening in town, and how that ended up with me meeting them at a rehearsal for a newly formed orchestra in Rowde school hall? Not that Iโ€™m blaming anyone for Devizine, I’ll take that rap(!!), more so thinking, wow, how far Full-Tone has come from that acorn, and how I’ve followed that inspirational progression.

Fantabulous and all and every synonym Microsoft Word will match it with, but whatโ€™s more to say? Please, if inclined, add your own thoughts to my waffle on the social media shares and Iโ€™ll transform them onto the bottom here. Help me create a fuller overview, tell me why you think Full-Tone Festival will be seriously missed from our event calendar next year and what you enjoyed about this one, thank you, and thank you Full-Tone and everyone who helped make this such a memorable occasion.

what else is going down?!

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“My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad” Festival, Old Town Gardens, Swindon July 20th 2024

by Ian and Paul Diddams
photos by Ian Diddams and MDBTYD Festival

The 4th iteration of MDBTYD Festival was held on Saturday at its home of homes, Swindon Town Gardens. Last year Devizine covered the proceedings with Darren venturing northwards, and his thoughts and explanations can be found here

My Dad’s Festival overcomes the rain and raises nearly ยฃ9,000 for Prospect Hospice

You can find all the background to the festival in Darren’s post, but I can add that this year in 2024 over ยฃ8000 will have been raised as I write this with other monies still coming in – in that vein itโ€™s not too late to donate!  Just follow the link here.

If you CBA to read Darrenโ€™s 2023 post, a summary is that the MDBTYD Festival seeks to raise funds for Prospect Hospice in honour and recognition of Dave Young, a mover and shaker in the Swindon music scene before his passing in 2021. This is generously aided by the primary sponsorship of “Future Planning” Independent Financial Planners as well as support from Jovie Grill, Funky Corner Radio, Swindon PA Hire, Jamaican Me Crazy, The Tuppeny, Holmes Music, Vibish Brewery, SPR Garage, The Castle, South Swindon Parish Council, C.P. Jeffries, LF, Mamas Events, T Marshall Services, Originzone, Scarrots fun fairs, Hills and Platinum Security services.


While not totally perfect, nonetheless the weather this year was better than last year’s it has to be said although that bar was pretty low! Nine hundred souls joined in the fun in Old Town Gardens, and as in previous years enjoyed acts both in the festival arena on the main stage but also in the Acoustic stage in the band stand in the main park, as well as the craft market and fair ground. In fact it must be said so incessant was the music offerings in the main arena that these correspondents hardly managed to get to the Acoustic stage but that is no slight on the acts there – and if “Plummie Racket” was anything to go by when we did manage to squeeze a couple of numbers in the quality was high! For future reference to the great Devizine readership, the acoustic stage, craft market and fairground is open to the public though Im sure anybody availing themselves of the “free” offerings would be chucking a suitable donation in a bucket online of course.


So – the main arena. What a cornucopia of delights! All Swindon/Wiltshire based bands with local followings and the standard started high and maintained itself throughout. Without going into glorious technicolour detail across the board (else we’d be here until Christmas writing and reading it all) our musical pleasure zones were in turn tickled by “Copper Creek” with Americana style folk to start the toes a-tapping, “Broken Daylight” & “JB and The Mojo Makers” each with their own brand of driving rock and blues, and then “I See Orange” – a quite excellent Grunge, hard edged band with on stage attitude par excellence…  sporting a bright orange bass…  what came first the band name or the bass we wondered?!  “Thud” blew us away with more driving bluesy rock and were followed by the stunningly vocalled “Joli & The Souls”.
And lets not forget the “surprise” visits from “Ministry of Samba” !!


Eventually as evening began the crowd got what many were here to see – “The Chaos Brothers” an eclectic mix of punk, glam and new wave covers from Calne and Dave Young’s last band. And thence to the total treat of “Gaz Brookfield and The Company of Thieves”.  Gaz is well known in these parts as a solo performer, but he has appeared for quite some while periodically with a bunch of assorted ne’er do wells “The Company of Thieves” and its becoming more common I have noticed of late for the full band experience to occur. But whether solo or a-Company-d (see what I did there?) Gaz’s tunes are a roller coaster of emotions from poignant, to laugh aloud, to reflective, to angry. He – and the Thieves – never disappoint.

Sadly our carriage awaited to return us to the depths of the county and Devizes so we missed SN Dubstation but their reputation precedes them and I have no doubt they were their spectacularly entertaining selves ๐Ÿ™‚

Now of course festivals are so much more than the bands of course. There is one area that is on the lips of seemingly every festival goer to every festival I discuss …  the LOOS! Well, the loos were sparklingly clean, delightfully fresh on the nostrils and plentiful – I never had to queue all day! The bar – another important aspect of festival days of course – did have queues but that is testimony to the excellence of the products available and it is always lovely to spend time chatting to other attendees. On a personal note, we both felt the beer offering was absolutely spot on …  a Vibish pale ale with a hint of Melon (a nod to Dave Young’s quote that he didnโ€™t want his beer to taste of melon!).  The bar was provisioned by “The Tuppeny” with some proceeds going to Prospect Hospice too.  That of course just leaves – the food! The usual popular array of burgers, hot dogs, and hog roast – and chips! – from “Jovie Grill”, but another personal hats off to “Jamaican Me Crazy” for their fantastic Caribbean food …  curry goat, jerked chicken, rice and peas etc. etc. etc. Simply great!


And so the day came to an end. It had flown by – a tribute to the high standard of acts and the enjoyment of the day. MDBTYD 2025 planning is already under way and it is sure to be even better if that is possible than this year’s.

See ya there ?

https://www.mydadsbiggerthanyourdad.co.uk/

And for more musical splendiferousness in the same vein for Prospect Hospice is the upcoming “The Shuffle” – Swindon’s biggest festival of unsigned grassroots music, 12th-15th September!

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

Devizes Chamber Choir Christmas Concert

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

Steatopygous go Septic

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

The Wurzels To Play At FullTone 2026!

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

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FullTone Festival and Scooter Rally; Big Weekend in Devizes

Next weekend (26th-28th July) is a biggie in our humble town, there’s the FullTone Festival on the Green, and Devizes Scooter Club revs up for their fourth Scooter Rally too. Which one is for you? Are they so obviously such vastly different events, your mind is made up already, or is it a dilemma of which to attend?

We cannot ignore the elephant in the room; do I think it’s a shame there’s a date clash on two of our best events in Devizes this summer? Yes, of course I do, but that’s the way the cookie crumbled, and here I intend in the order of fairness, to reason on both the differences and similarities between them, such that they attract different crowds.

Though both events differ, both also attract people into town therefore are financial assets, and most importantly whichever you attend you’re guaranteed a great time.

Me? I’m covering both, the idea is, at best, to hover between them, it could fail. I’m not ruling that out, but I’m too spontaneous for silly things like planning! Besides, I continually toil with what makes large events such as these good, you know? What are the perimeters on my scorecard when they differ so? It’s not as easy as you may think! 

A recent subsidiary of this thought process came via the Minety Music Festival a few weekends ago. I liked that, liked it a lot. It was a level above the โ€œaverageโ€ festival we hold here. Though neither the Rally nor FullTone can be described as average by any stretch of the imagination. Both punching above their weight and both are possibly the best time you’re likely to get in Devizes, until such a time Disney builds a theme park at Hopton!ย 

Fulltone Festival 2023 Image Gail Foster

The premise was that Minety provided three stages and so many other things going on between them. I raced from stage to stage hoping to take in as much as possible, but to see it all was impossible.

I once argued that while FullTone is a monumentally awesome event, it didn’t meet my criteria of being a festival as such, on account it is a single stage hosted by the orchestra though allowing a few other acts in between. It was surely defined better as a conglomerate of concerts. I come from the Glasto school of thought, whereby a festival is multiple elements coming together in one big mesh. But, that’s a pedestal.

I’ve changed my mind on this, as FullTone have extended the ethos of different acts over the years, plus the orchestra and all its elements is a country mile above a set group like a rock band gig. Plus again, it seems these days putting a man with a guitar under a gazebo and flogging undercooked hotdogs constitutes a โ€œfestival,โ€ and thus I must go along with that even if unwillingly!

You only need to look at the development of FullTone’s program over the past years to know this isn’t a true reflection. Look at the surprise Friday night add-on where Six will be re-enacted and popular youth acts like NRWO and Ruby Darbyshire play. And besides, the upside of the single stage format means you don’t miss any of what you’ve laid down your dollar for, and believe me, you’ll love Ruby, or Talk in Code equally as much as Kerry and Ricardo pulling out a Queen set, or dancing the night away to eighties reconstructions by a full orchestra; that diversity is something you’ll not find elsewhere, in Devizes if not internationally.

Fulltone Festival 2023 Image Gail Foster

Similarly the Scooter Rally is a single stage, but the class acts booked will see something of a rarity in town. You don’t find live reggae or ska acts on the pub circuit here, it’s costly. And being all the acts are tried and tested; All That Soul, for one example, will provide the ultimate tribute to the Motown sound on a level high above others locally, as they did at a Scooter Club night of yore. Overall The Rally is a godsend on our event calendar. Making it a given that both these events, while different, share success because they book the very best entertainers within their separate niches.

It can be the little touches which maketh the occasion. The Scooter Rally providing free transportation to and from the site to Devizes is something other event organisers should take heed of.

Both examples of the assurance quality acts is not something which has been skipped on, serves as mahoosive pros to the single stage format, because you’ll not want to miss any of it trudging from stage to stage. It’s an opinion, rather like a GCSE RE question; there’s no wrong answer.

Last weekend I was in the green room tent at Picnic in the Park, and it’s there which changed my mind on this opinion-based query. I met festival maker Sam, who looked exhausted, dropping off fire extinguishers at various locations, and I pointed out the fact that rarely do organisers get the opportunity to enjoy the event like a punter as there’s always something to be lugged around, moved, and catered for.ย 

I had a taste of this when volunteering for a Street Festival of yore, constantly running wheelie bins to and fro like a videogame character, while being asked the bleeding obvious by attendees!

Fulltone Festival 2023 Image: Gail Foster

At Picnic in the Park I also spoke to Simon the sound engineer, chatting about the last Scooter Rally he expressed the work involved in accommodating a ska band compared to the average four-piece rock band. There were so many more lines to collate, what with the usual brass section. This made me ponder the technical requirements of a full orchestra at FullTone, and singers and, crickey, I can’t imagine what else!

The reason I involve myself in events is partially because I’m in communication with the organisers and if they need a hand I’m willing to muck in. The second reason is to understand exactly what, and how much goes into organising such events we promote on Devizine, so I can sympathise with the hard work they do to provide us with such grand entertainment.

So I find myself evaluating between all parts; the punter, the organisers and the acts, trying to find middle ground. Sometimes bands get frustrated with organisers, and visa versa, sometimes punters get annoyed if not everything is perfect, but the reasons for any frustration at events is because bringing all the elements together, ensuring every loop has been tied, and every regulation is accounted for, is a mammoth process taking incalculable hours, intricate planning, and manpower, which punters simply don’t take into consideration at the box office.

True, cost is paramount to the punter, now more than ever. You look at the price and think, what am I getting for my money? I agree, I do this too, it’s only natural. But more and more, as I witness the inner workings of such large events, what efforts are put into them, mostly behind the scenes, or often taken for granted, it never ceases to amaze me, especially being for all their efforts organisers rarely get to sit back and enjoy the day as a punter would.

For example, take FullTone‘s stage. Its shape has become iconic in Devizes. The acoustics are absolutely incredible and unlike any other outdoor event locally. The cost of this, the construction and the managing of it, to bring you an experience you’ll remember forever, is worthy of the ticket price alone, and we’ve not accounted for the numerous site jobs, from the erection of the fence, securing the event to insuring food and bar stalls are rightfully placed, and so much more.

Take the campsite at the Scooter Rally as another example, you’ve got revellers drinking, vehicles moving to and fro, punters enjoying themselves, and everything they’ll not consider has to be considered by organisers, fire safety, first aid, and again, so much more. It’s a headache for the most hardened skinhead!

Conclusion, there’s more than meets the eye in arranging any event or working them, none more than these big ones, and that’s why they cost. You either meet such a cost or lose the opportunity, and then what? Are we reduced to living on Facebook?!

I also accept the idea, as you are a paying customer that it is your right to override such considerations, but hey, as a customer you’ll be the first to complain if things don’t go precisely to plan! I know I will; jump to it, organisers, do my bidding!!

The bottom line is, though for slightly different reasons, both the Scooter Rally and FullTone Festival will be amazing events, among the very best Devizes has to offer, and whichever you choose, the weekend looks set to be a cracker. 

Know that FullTone will be the last for a while, and if it does return it pledges to be something quite different. Know also, that, The Rally is highly enjoyable, a hospitable and solely unique event around these backwaters. It doesn’t even adopt the tagline festival, but compares to one in considering it’s way above your average scooter rally. You’ve got seven quality live acts over the two days, most other rallies struggle to provide one cheapest ska or Britpop cover band on their circuit.

But I’m not asking you to stand and stare, or shed a tear for the plight of the organisers, for they do it for the love of it, and if they didn’t they wouldn’t. All I’m saying is, the colossal labour, the attention to detail which goes into staging these occasions should be considered when deciding if you’re going, to either, or if you’re going to stay in with a bag of Lidl cheesy puffs, watching reruns of Come Dine with Me on the telebox, or another annoying show where other people, somewhere else, are enjoying themselves!

You don’t need to concern yourself in what’s in someone you don’t know, or never likely to knowโ€™s knicker draw, when you could be skanking up the Whistley Road like you’re Suggs on a day out in Camden, or lounging in your deckchair on the Green, immersed in the unmatchable acoustics of the FullTone Orchestra, like you’re King Charles in the royal box at The Albert Hall! 

Fulltone Festival 2023 Image: Gail Foster

Furthermore, while this particular article concentrates on events within the castle on the dividing line, further options are available to you outside that boundary. Trowbridge Festival, Potterne Festival and even a little occasion called Womad are also set on the same weekend. May this also suit to assure you we report such impartially, and as a labour of love rather than for financial gain. Therefore there is no just reason for us to be dishonest or biassed. Organisers and artists we may oblige, but the priority in retaining said honesty is aimed foremost towards the sake of the customers. Ergo, whilst we’re respectful of all the hard work which goes into event management, we might not condone our analysis of it to be deliberately or unfairly critical, we more simply won’t report on it, we will tell you, the customer, fairly, however, if it rocks our world and would also rock yours.

And now you know where we stand, I hope you can take heed when I repeat myself, which while I accept is a symptom of middle-age, it stands affirmed whatever event we’ve mentioned you should choose to attend, based on previous year’s experience, it comes guaranteed you’ll have a fantastic time!

Phew, I’m glad I’ve got that off my chest. Now, pass me my tie-dye t-shirt and festival jester’s hat, and let’s party!

For Tickets for the Devizes Scooter Rally, find Devizes Scooter Club on Facebook.

For Tickets for the FullTone Festival, find here.

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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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Last Remaining Tickets for Trowbridge Festival

The 50th Anniversary of the now legendary Village Pump Festival, which was brought back to the UK festival circuit in 2018 by director Nicholas Reed, are down to their last 100 tickets; be as quick as a quick thing being quickโ€ฆ.

Driven by the uk festival exclusive for the debut duo performance from long time British folk legends Maddy โ€œSteeleye Spanโ€ Prior, who graced Trowbridge’s Village Pump venue in the early 70s, prior to any fame and fortune and jon โ€œbellowheadโ€ boden. This incredible partnership gets its first live performance at a venue that kick-started their early careers in what is such a significant moment in the festivalโ€™s history.

Also on the line up are the fast becoming deeply respected The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, in what is surely a festival headline debut! The Barnsley trio offer up their usual wit and humour, but with recent new addition Jamie Roberts, brother of the wonderful Katheryn Robertโ€™s who will also be performing with her duo with her partner Sean Lakeman. 

Itโ€™s a true folkers line up, which includes โ€˜Gilmore-Robertsโ€™, โ€˜Sykes-martinโ€™, โ€™Stonegallowsโ€™ and festival stalwart โ€˜Keith Christmasโ€™. Ceilidh from โ€˜Spill the Whiskeyโ€™, and some world music from the Bath-based klezmer band โ€˜Ninotchkaโ€™ and โ€˜RSVP Bhangraโ€™.

Unmissable highlights recommended by us at Devizine, and to interfere with an otherwise fine press release with our own opinion, (as we care to do!) would include Gaz Brookfield, Mr Tea & The Minions, Concrete Prairie, Be Like Will, Billy in the Lowground, Fly Yeti Fly, Devilโ€™s Doorbell, The Lost Trades, Thieves, and of course, Ruby Darbyshire and Nothing Rhymes With Orange; this is stellar line-up of tried and tested local talent alongside the headliners.ย ย 

Unlike other festivals, Trowbridge offers free camping with their weekend tickets. This offers unrivalled value for money and set in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, basking in the shadow of Westbury White Horse.

Trowbridge Festival runs from 26th-28th July.

Those last few tickets are HERE, folks!

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Six Reasons to Rock in Market Lavington

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

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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. My first concert was Springsteen in โ€˜87, and aside from traveller’s free parties, my first festival was Glastonbury. These days hedonism is reduced to finding smaller local festivals to savour, enjoy a pint or four; I’m done with tired feet trudging acres of tents, and what’s more, paying a king’s ransom for a multitude of elements I’m unlikely to witness because it’s all going off simultaneously; my eyes were kaleidoscopic anyway.

Though I miss those heady days, finding middle ground is tricky. The disambiguation of โ€œfestivalโ€ today is such a pub putting a man with a guitar under a gazebo and flogging undercooked hotdogs off a barbecue constitutes a festival, apparently. No, I need at least a taste of the heyday; monumental fun yet diverse, hassle-free adequate attractions without the notion I’m being taken for a mug. If my want was an ice cream, sure I’ve found some single scoop cones of vanilla, some even plop a flake into it, but this weekend I found the ultimate brownie, millionaire rocky road sundae; everything I want and expect from a festival, topped in caramel and sprinkled with Space Dust, close by, and easy to access in a tall glass. It’s called Minety Music Festival, near Malmesbury, and they’re so amicable they even supply those long-handled spoons to dip right into the chocolate sauce at the bottom; meaning, it was good to the end.

The intention was only a taster, pop down on the Sunday, check it out, report my findings, but I got a scrumptious bellyful from this alone. Minety is undoubtedly the best all-rounder local festival I’ve seen, period. It’s unfortunate the previous years I’ve advertised this on our event calendar and thought, now there’s a thing, but I hadn’t plunged in. It all now seems so foolish to have passed it off. Nearly all the bands we love and promote on Devizine have graced a stage here. Of them those lovely indie popsters Talk In Code bunged me on their guestlist, and it’s hardly Timbuktu, rather a twenty-five minute drive away; arm twisted, it’s now for me to justify my reasons for telling you how bloody fantastic Minety is, but it is.

Starter for ten, everything is bound around the edges of one gigantic field, you cannot get lost in a maze of tents. Between three stages everything you could possibly want from a festival is there. Kids are spoiled, something often overlooked at others; climbing wall, circus workshop, arts/crafts tents, storytelling, inflatables, face painting, arty kidz, and a cosy tent called the Tree House with an abundance of instruments to try; I swear bands were formed in there. Youths tended to dance or chill at a wonderfully decorated DJ venue, hosted by an eclectic online radio station, the Incapable Staircase, me too; Peter Pan, me, y’know!

I chose to dine there, takeaway Thai curry from a stall with a restaurant in Purton, on cushions thrown outside, next to a bathtub once filled with free waffles, now just furry pillows. Which brings me to my next reasoning; value for money. Food options were incalculable, any street food you fancy, but Minety also supplied a cafรฉ flogging beans on toast for a pound fifty, or burgers for three quid, and pints at the bar were ยฃ4.50, cheaper than some pubs. There was never the archetypal downer you were open to being ripped off, leaving enough in your pocket to consider browsing the great festival stalls of gifts, cakes, or clothes.

Everything has its place at Minety, it’s their seventh year, subtracting those we don’t mention. They know what they’re doing, and the attention to detail was immaculate, equating to a tremendous vibe of positivity. The mammoth task of organising something on this scale was putty in their hands, and I salute them for this and the given concept of booking a handful of averagely known names for headliners and leaving the rest to supporting local acts; this is my third and final reasoning to why Minety is fantastic, and that should be plentiful to tempt you.

Ergo, our loveable poptastic indie darlings Talk in Code, who absolutely and definitely knocked it out of the farm, by the way, preceded a gorgeous set from reunited nineties giants Sleeper, who I favoured over the grand finale of Irish rock band Ash, but others might argue this and quite rightly so, as both rocked. And this was just Sunday, other nights The Feeling headlined, with Elles Bailey and The Chase.

But Minety is also smooth around the edges, as you wander tent to tent. There were a few must-sees for me, Swindon’s grunge newcomers I See Orange were awesome as predicted, in a tent hosted by Chippenham’s Kandu Arts, and The Sarah C Ryan Band were equal, euphorically cool at the Minety stage. Then there’s the discovery element, whereby a number of bands have now come to my attention, none more so than Arkansaw Jukebox, who play singalong pop classics from Spice Girls to Queen, albeit in a bluegrass fashion, and when it’s time to cover a country classic, Country Roads takes on a ska offbeat to make Toots blush! This tenet of jollification brought the tent down.

Others noteworthy were Hooch, blasting some danceable covers, reimagining the Faithless classic, a youthful semi-gothic four-piece called Pavilion, and nineties Seattle grunge-inspired The Rain City Project, with astute Pearl Jam and Nirvana covers. With the range on offer as vast as acts booked, and hurtling between them as fast as my ageing legs will take me, it’d need an essay length review to cover all, and you’ll be bored shitless before I reach my epic conclusion; festivals are a โ€œyou had to be thereโ€ thing, apologies to those I may’ve missed mentioning.

But if that popular shirtless tattooed entertainer Jimmy Moore covering the theme to Spongebob, Spice Girls on banjos, stripy stilt walk jugglers with bowler hats, or more upcoming young bands than you’d catch at a college talent show won’t satisfy you, or just this idea of wandering few steps to get from drum n bass at the aforementioned Staircase, to some middle-agers, Chippenham’s Free Spirits, in the Kadu Arts tent enjoy an enjoyable recital of Dire Straits doing the walk of life, and a conglomerate of kindly North Wilts and South Gloucestershire freakshow punters out to revel isn’t enough to rock your boat, you need to downsize your vessel, skipper, because Minety’s boot fits me; a blindingly stupendous do. I’m tempted, if not feel it compulsory to dust off my dome tent and do the whole shebang next year, even if it finishes me off for good!

Busy on the festival circuit Talk in Code are regulars here. Though they expressed a history of unpreventable technical mishaps, this year they were third from top billing, full of zest and gave the sublime show we love them for. The crowd were pumping along with their engaging and original poptastic stage show, โ€œTalkersโ€ or not, a presence improving with every appearance, and proving them far more than musical fluffers for the following headliners. But as the story goes, I didnโ€™t witness a single band at Minety which would make me look the other way.

In conclusion, if before Minety I held a dilemma of what’s best between coughing up dollar for multiple elements you’re unlikely to catch because they’re spread over multiple arenas miles apart, or a cheaper single stage plan whereby you get to see everything, if you wanted to or not, Minety is the middle ground. Centred in a single field, and averagely sized, it’s no trouble to saunter stage to stage, and being scheduled at different quarter of an hour timings, convenient should you have a change of heart. This, tripled with a buzzing aura, plentiful attractions, and a program delivered with clear intention of entertaining, and motivated by a desire to include local or upcoming acts, is cherries on the sundae, and for it Minety Music Festival is well worthy of your attention. If you only do one festival annually, Minety would make the perfect choice.

Trending….

Shearwater: New Single From Nothing Rhymes With Orange

Thereโ€™s a new single from Bristol-based Nothing Rhymes With Orange out tomorrow (Saturday 20th September) which takes the band to a whole new level, and it has got me thinking back to their Devizes rootsโ€ฆ..ย  You know, I really cannot remember how this thing started, if they contacted me or if I found them. Itโ€ฆ

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All Back to Sidmouth Street: The Olive Pizza & Grill

We are creatures of habit here in old Devizes. We’ll stand in the Market Place wearing a vacant expression, wondering where we can bag ourselves a good kebab in town now the Kebab House is sadly no longer. I urge you to think Sidmouth Street, think The Oliveโ€ฆ. Yeah, I get you. Save the longstandingโ€ฆ

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Oh Danny Boy!

Oh Danny Boy, oh, Danny Boy, they loved your boyish Eton looks so, but when ye was voted in, an all democracy wasnโ€™t quite dying, if itโ€™s now dead, as dead it well may be, ye’ll come and find the place where it was lying, and kneel and say an ave there for me aโ€ฆ

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A Quick Shuffle to Swindon

Milkman hours with grandkids visiting it was inevitable a five hour day shift was all I was physically able to put into this year’s Swindon Shuffle. Apologies, but it was plenty to tell they knocked it out of the park again this yearโ€ฆ.. They don’t even need a park. Just a selection of Old Town’sโ€ฆ

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Wiltshire Music Awards 2025 Partnership with Stone Circle Music Events

The Wiltshire Music Awards are delighted to confirm a new headline partnership with Stone Circle Music Events, who will sponsor the Awards for 2025 and into 2026. As part of this agreement, the event will be rebranded as: Stone Circle Music Events โ€“ Wiltshire Music Awards. This collaboration reflects Stone Circle Music Eventsโ€™ ongoing commitmentโ€ฆ

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Swindon Branch of Your Party is Growing

Following the excitement and success of the first meeting of โ€˜Your Partyโ€™ in Swindon, a second meeting has been arranged for 18th September 7.30 – 9.30pm at Broadgreen Community Centre….. Almost double the expected amount of people attended the first meeting. There was so much to discuss and the organisers ensured that everyone had anโ€ฆ

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No Rest For JP Oldfield, New Single Out Today

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

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Reflections From the  Costa Blanca to Amesbury!

There’s something to be said for the function duo route with universal appeal, you could be working somewhere hot! Powerhouse vocal harmony duo Reflections are back in the UK after ten successful years on the Costa Blancaโ€ฆ. Bringing the very best of the 60s, 70s & 80s, from Cher, Neil Diamond, Cliff Richard, The Carpenters,โ€ฆ

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DOCA’s Early Lantern Workshops

Is it too early for the C word?! Of course not, Grinch! With DOCA’S Winter Festival confirmed for Friday 28th November this year, there will be a number of creative workshops and makery sessions, not forgetting the creation of those wonderful handmade lanterns for the parade; here’s some early sessions in which you can getโ€ฆ

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Joyrobber: an anonymous songwriter releasing debut track

When I first heard about Joyrobber, a one man, faceless and nameless musical project itโ€™s fair to say my interested was piqued, and itโ€™s fair to say that the press release Iโ€™ve seen is only creating more questions… The project got underway in the summer of this year when the artist (whoever they might be)โ€ฆ

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Donโ€™t Impress Them Much, Online Rants at Glastonbury Line-Up!

Image: Czampal

Iโ€™m laughing, not at the Glasto lineup, but the incalculable comments of negativity it has encouraged in Facebookland. It should be said though, most disapproving remarks appear on shares of the post and not the original, and most of them were posted this morning when most ticketholders are likely at work, funding their forthcoming adventure to Pilton. Now theyโ€™re homebound, online anticipation and positivity has risen above the seething armchair critiquesโ€ฆ…

Then there is this โ€˜old photographs of Wiltshireโ€™ Facebook group I recently joined, where a picture of the Barge at Honey Street was posted today with the caption, โ€œThe Barge at Honey Street, near Pewsey.โ€ Some aging, caps-lock permanently stuck on gammon responded, โ€œIT IS NOT PEWSEY IT IS HONEY STREET!โ€

If caps-lock usually implies angered shouting, and the nearest large village to Honey Street is Pewsey, perhaps it suggests how nonsensically negative and overreactive your average Facebooker has become, and how much it exists for aimlessly irritated and amateur critics to vent their general disgust over first world problems. It says more about them and the tenet of Facebook than the thing theyโ€™re mocking. This much ado about nothing is amusing though, thatโ€™s why I like this particular social media platformโ€ฆ.

Glastonbury Festival released their main lineup poster today, and my gut reaction was similar to the priceless online onslaught of negativity in the comments. Being honest, itโ€™s not inane, itโ€™s not the best lineup weโ€™ve seen, but I restrained myself from passing comment, considering itโ€™s an age test; the older you get the less headliners you should expect to know at an event self-professed to be a festival of โ€œcontemporaryโ€ performing arts. No one online considered it might not be Glastonbury which has the problem!

And secondly, for the simple reason Iโ€™m not going anyway, and havenโ€™t attended for twenty-four years. I wonder how many of those feeding negative comments to the pitchfork assembly are going themselves. I hope and pray itโ€™s not many, for Glastonbury is not the place for decomposing strident and pessimistic cynicsโ€ฆ. like me, for example!

Glastonbury is and will always be an experience, you go to Glastonbury for going to Glastonbury, not whoever happens to be on a stage youโ€™re passing. Yeah, itโ€™s held some massive names in the past, pre-broken Brexit Britain, but does anyone commenting have an inkling how much and how hard it is to organise something on this scale? How much work goes on behind the scenes? Far more than typing your grievance in a text box, rest assured.

I can now count the acts Iโ€™ve heard of on the annual Glastonbury poster on my fingers, even less ones Iโ€™d actually like to see, this lessens with every year Father Time takes from me, itโ€™s an old dog new tricks scenario; Iโ€™m content with shit happens. Most of the names Iโ€™ve heard of are through my daughterโ€™s playlist, with a sprinkling of classics like Cyndi Lauper, to whet the appetite of grumpy old bastards who might yet turn up; itโ€™ll all come off in the wash!

I shouldn’t scratch my Uncle Albert beard and tediously spin a yarn of how I once failed to see the Mad Professor at the dance tent because of my genius navigation past the Pyramid Stage while Pulp was playing. A band who, being I was a โ€˜raverโ€™ and they were โ€˜indieโ€™ I wouldn’t usually beeline, but finding myself unable to gorge further through the masses, was forced to watch them, and forever became a fan through unexpected circumstance. But if I did, it would surely serve a purpose to illustrate a tale of the unexpected. Digest new things, you never know till you try. To moan this act doesn’t suit your whim is to misunderstand the concept of Glastonbury, or festivals in general. You need to open your eyes and ears to new things not just relish in the nostalgic era of your individual youth. But more importantly, the arts and entertainment industry at its knees, need you to do this more than ever before.

Yet, in this ocean of boiling ageist whimpering which is the comment section on Glastonbury’s Facebook lineup post, which one could summarise as a multitude of disgruntled whingers unlikely to even attend, who cannot accept they’re past it and are whinging for the sake of whinging, one gen-zโ€™s unintentionally amusing comment reversed the status quo, by calling the lineup, โ€œa load of old dinosaurs!โ€ (Assuming they meant the acts listed and not the other commenters!) They win the internet today for standing against the grain, still bleating bollocks, but for precisely the opposite reason to everyone else, thus proving if you can’t satisfy everyone, why bother trying with anyone? Who the heck is SZA and how did they get listed above PJ Harvey? I might have to sacrifice a cute furry pet over this atrocity!

Though, in this, you should note the universal appeal Glastonbury promotes and always has. I recall the nineties when attendees foamed from the mouth at the thought Robbie Williams got up there to do his thing; youth today would hail this classic, as they wouldโ€™ve done for Led Zeppelin. Because should a change of tide wipe you out or this upset you, there’s a billion retro festivals, eighties nights, tribute acts, et al, which are more niche, and likely kinder on your wallet too. Maybe take some time to research them rather than jump a bandwagon?

Yep, if Shania Twain is the calibre of Elton John or Springsteen now, a tear will undoubtedly trickle down my wrinkled cheek, but it is not my cheek Glastonbury needs to appease, neither is it the witch hunt of unsatisfied grumpy old keyboard warriors. Key here is the simple notion; Glastonbury is so much more than a main stage and congested campsite. Don’t fuss over mainstream or contemporary things if they’re only going to engulf you in flames of irritation, think of your blood pressure.

No buddy, saunter them there Somerset fields and find the bizarre, outlandish, the upcoming, the amateur, the underground, then, and only then will you understand the true ethos of Glastonbury.

Or simply retire, watch it on the telebox; you can fast forward. With a cardboard cup of Lidl cider, and undercooked hotdog. Stay home where you can take a piss behind the sofa without queuing, and maybe start a blog where, like me, you can hypocritically rant your niggles without spoiling a Facebook post! What have we becomeeeee?!

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

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 of June 2024 will once again see the Manton Water Meadow, near Marlborough transformed into a festival field providing an affordable family friendly music picnic by day and a more traditional music festival by night. Most people arrive and pick their spot between 11 am and 12 noon. The live music starts at noon and there will be something for everyone.

Unlike many music events, festival goers can bring their own food and drink or make use of the many food and drink facilities on site.  With an eclectic โ€˜marketโ€™ of local traders and of course the band merchandise tent this event has a real buzz from start to finish.  

Mantonfest 2023

The 2024 Line Up

This yearโ€™s line up is now complete. Headlining are The Bohemians a world class Queen tribute act. Badness return by popular demand (or should we say instance) after wowing everyone last year. Forever Elton and The Fab Four will get the whole field singing  across the afternoon and evening.  Local jumping blues band Barrelhouse will be getting the field moving with a blend of reworked classic and their own material and Jose and the Radio Tones plus The Bergamots will get the afternoon mood set perectly.

Mantonfest 2023

Young Talent Development Slots

Once again, this year Mantonfest is pleased to announce the continuation of its young talent development slot. Last year saw an impressive array of talent wow the audience and this year will continue the trend.

Mantonfest 2023

Chairmanโ€™s Comment

Chairman Roger Grant says โ€“ โ€œThis yearโ€™s event is one of our most ambitious and ticket sales are going very well. The event is managed by a volunteer committee who are supported by a range of villagers who help set up, steward and break down the festival. Without them we would be lost. Itโ€™s amazing that we have hosted the likes of Toyah, The Animals, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Katrina and the Waves, Dr Feelgood and many world class tribute acts across the years. As ever profits made will be donated to good causes including Cancer Research. The primary aim is to provide a great day out for those attending from near and far but we like to make donations where possible.“

Mantonfest 2023

More info and tickets, here.

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

First Line Up Announcement for My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival 2024

The organisers of all-day music extravaganza My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival have revealed the first acts on the line up for their fourth outing which is to be held at The Old Town Bowl, Swindon on Saturday 20th July 2024โ€ฆ.

First to be announced is the return of local legend Gaz Brookfield, along with his band The Company of Thieves.

Gaz is shortly about to embark on โ€˜The Almost all Village Hallsโ€™ tour, after allowing himself a quick breather following a successful run of dates promoting his most recent album, Morning Walking Club.

The album, Gazโ€™s ninth, was released in August 2023 and was this week named 37th Best Selling Album of 2023 after going straight in at #1 in the Official UK Folk Album Charts, #3 in the Official UK

Indie Breaker Charts, #6 in the Official UK Download Charts, #10 in the Official UK Indie Album Charts, and even #37 in the Official UK Album Sales Charts.

Co-organiser Ed Dyer said: โ€œItโ€™s our absolute pleasure to be welcoming Gaz and the band back to The Bowl, especially after his recent success, and pleased heโ€™s been able to squeeze us in around his busy touring schedule.โ€

In its first three years My Dadโ€™s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival has raised over ยฃ32,000 for Prospect Hospice in tribute to Dave Young, the former landlord of The Victoria and 12 Bar who died in early June 2021 at Prospect Hospice after a hard-fought battle against cancer.

Daveโ€™s last band, Calneโ€™s legendary punk covers outfit, The Chaos Brothers, are also joining Gaz on the day, along with the Swindon based bluesy THUD, whose debut performance was at MDBTYD 2021.

Ed added โ€œThis is only the start of things to come for MDBTYD 2024. We canโ€™t wait to show everyone who else we have in the pipeline!โ€

Festival tickets are available via the website mydadsbiggerthanyourdad.co.uk

MDBTYD Festival will again see plenty of activities for all the family, including the return of the popular indie market, as well as food and drink from a variety of locally based vendors. Prospect Hospice, based in Wroughton, provides palliative and end of life care for people across the region and has to raise the majority of its costs through fundraising.

For information about Gaz Brookfieldโ€™s upcoming โ€˜The Almost all Village Hallsโ€™ tour, visit gazbrookfield.com or check out his social media pages.

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 not yet touched upon the various other venues such as the Three Horseshoes and Boathouse, hereโ€™s something to wrap it up into one neat package, the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festivalโ€ฆโ€ฆ

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.

They hail โ€œthereโ€™s something for everyone,โ€ and that story checks out; with over forty dance groups, comprising three-hundred and twenty dancers and musicians, the Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival ranges from Morris dancing to European styles, and encourages you to have a go!

Homegrown Performance troupe, Ganderflankers presents Jack and Jill in the Green, a whimsical journey of a 10ft tall Jack and Jill with their bands and fantasy beasts, visits twelve locations across the town.ย 

Image Colin Rayner Photography

Wiltshire Music Centre stage hosts a stage at the Holy Trinity Church, and the festival launch party will be held at the Centre on Friday 10th May, ticketed, it features folk-rock legends Lindisfarne. A new addition for 2024 will be The Three Horseshoes hosting a blues stage, featuring the best local blues musicians. Thereโ€™s also the Folk Club Stage in St Margaretโ€™s Hall. The festival also boasts music sessions in town centre pubs, a regularly featured samba band at the Tithe Barn in the afternoon, a Mummersโ€™ play performed around town, and buskers too.

Pagan Arts & Crafts market with about a dozen stalls selling everything for the closet pagan, shopsโ€™ window dressing, and an Artisan Market with thirty or so local makers. With a childrenโ€™s fun zone with fairground rides, magical storytelling and face painters, The Community Hub for local groups and clubs to showcase their activities, and yet to be confirmed Saturday night party to polish it off, looks like the party is in Bradford-on-Avon in Mayโ€ฆ..twist my arm why donโ€™t you!!

More Information about Bradford on Avon Green Man Festival HERE

Trending……

Embrace All: Swindonโ€™s Festival For Disabled and Learning Difficulties

Envy being too strong a word, perhaps longing would fit how I felt when I saw Facebook photos of families excitedly packed in a car like they’re about to go on their holibobs, rather heading off to Glastonbury Festival instead. Festivals have trended to be family occasions, but I know a member of mine wouldn’t take to such an environment, no matter how I might enjoy them myself. It wouldn’t do for them to be squashed in like sardines, and all the goings-on would mean sensory overload.

If you identify with this conundrum, I might have found an answer. Embrace All is a fully accessible, inclusive one day festival, aimed at people with all disabilities, happening at the Bowl in Old Town Gardens, Swindon on Saturday 5th August. While many festivals cater for disabilities with varying degrees, this is the only event Iโ€™ve heard of specifically designed for such, and I have to say, what an absolutely wonderful idea.

The story behind Embrace starts with Rachael Chun and Katie Brown, who both work in social care. With them both on maternity leave back in February, they started a bi-monthly disco at the Tree nightclub in Swindon, Diverse Disco, for anyone sixteen plus with disabilities. โ€œWeโ€™re stopping the discos for now due to the hot weather,โ€ Katie explained, โ€œbut our next one is on the 14th of July.โ€

Taking this brilliant idea to the next stage, Embrace All will be the first of its kind, a festivalย open to everyone but tailored to adults and children with disabilities. โ€œIt’s aimed at all disabilities,โ€ Katie continued, โ€œbut a lot of the individuals that come to our events have learning difficulties and autism.โ€

Creating easy access into and out of the venue and ensuring they cater for all dietary requirements. A sign language interpreter will be onsite and they have a Revolootion (a toilet with a hoist.) โ€œWe are so committed to creating a more accessible and inclusive society and we hope that this will have a really positive impact on the disabled community,โ€ Katie expressed, โ€œit’s so wonderful to see so much happiness and them just having fun with not a worry In the world.โ€

Alongside a range of DJs for a party at the end, they have an impressive lineup, including I See Orange, Here Come The Crows, Joli and the Souls, and one I think will be particularly suitable, the Sarah C. Ryan Band. Sam Swancott, HoneyFunk, Adrianaโ€™s Keys, Chloe Hepburn, Jeanette Etherington, Joshua Heather, and The Carers in Harmony also have slots.

The Sarah C Ryan Band

Diverse Disco has had a number of other events ranging from Teddy Bearโ€™s Picnics to an Abba tribute night, beach and pyjama parties. Tickets for the Embrace Festival are ยฃ15 for adults, ยฃ12 for under 18s, free for one carer, ยฃ40 for a family ticket, plus booking fees.ย The Embrace Festival GoFundMe page is HERE.ย 

For more information on the Embrace Festival, and all other forthcoming events by Diverse Disco, thereโ€™s a Facebook group, HERE. Do check in with them for any questions you might have and book early as possible as spaces will be limited. As Katie expressed, โ€œit’s not too busy either, we try to keep minimalย  numbers so there’s plenty of space for everyone.โ€

We wish the team at Diverse Disco all the very best for this and other events, Iโ€™m still in awe at what a thoughtful and genuinely wonderful idea this is!

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

Summer Roots Festivalโ€ฆ.In Keevil?!

You may know the tiny village of Keevil, the name of which will never cease to remind me of Evel Knievel, for its airfield steeped in spitfire history, but there are some things in the village deeply rooted to the ground. One is a rather exclusive folk club regularly held in the village hall.…

It first came to my attention when the Lost Trades announced it as a date on their ambitious album tour, leading me to gulp, Keevil, you mean the Keevil, for like Christopher Lambert in Highlander, there can be only one? Yes, came their reply like a Facebook whisper, as if it was all as top secret as Area 51. A low key affair, I was told, hardly exploited on the social media sites Iโ€™m addicted to sourcing all known information from. And, if Iโ€™m honest, Iโ€™ve never had need to physically pass through there; for fear of treading on a Trowbridge patch, my milk-float turns around at Bulkington, which incidentally will never cease to remind me of the Lipps Inc disco classic, you know how it goes; โ€œwant to take you to, Bul-kin-town!โ€

However, away with such disco and American stuntman silliness, we did receive an email from Rachel Howe about next week’s Keevil Summer Roots Festival, which aside elucidating the folk nights were a, โ€œsmall affair; only 76 allowed in our village hall with tables and chairs,โ€ this event will be open to a larger audience, and itโ€™s free during the day, other than a fiver to park.

So, from 3pm next Saturday, 17th June, the village welcomes their inaugural Summer Roots Festival, on the Barnfield Recreation Ground. Find afternoon activities and entertainment on the Recreation Ground, completely free to enter, with happenings catering for all ages including children’s activities, tug-of-war, crafting corners, artisan gift stalls, food van, ice cream, Festival Bar, โ€œmuch more.โ€

That โ€œmuch moreโ€ includes the Wilshire Police Band, so behave yourselves, and Forest of Dean acoustic duo Jan & Ian.

Then from half-past five, thereโ€™s an evening of live music in the village hall, and tickets are ยฃ15 from HERE.ย 

Raymondoโ€™s food truck, the Festival Bar and doors open at the village hall, ready for the music to start at 6pm. The tried and tested at their regular folk club musical haul includes Wiltshire based foot-stomping five-piece Stoneโ€™s Throw, with a Keevil-own drummer they will be playing classic rock and pop anthems. Grassroots folk singer songwriter Alan Hinds. Westburyโ€™s easy-listening family duo MGB, Frome-based ukulele renditions of classical tunes marvels The Frukes, and Bathโ€™s lounge jazz duo, Body & Soul, local acoustic eyeopener Ian Rayney, ragtime and music hall aficionado, Hilary Pavey.

Keevil may be one of the smallest villages in Wiltshire but, thanks to the tireless efforts of a group of volunteers, it seems theyโ€™ve packed a punch. Wishing they could do more with theirย  Recreation Ground. They are excited to be bringing this festival-style celebration of local creative talent to the village, and we wish them all the best with it. So, put that in your pipe, Evel, who never did attempt the Grand Canyon jump!

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

The Bradford Roots Music Festival Returns

I know, itโ€™s hardly festival weather, but this one is all inside! Inside the glorious Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon that is, on Saturday 21st January 2023, and itโ€™s a whooper!

The popular Bradford Roots Music Festival returns kicks off at 11am, and runs until 10pm, for a day of great music to warm away the winter blues and celebrate all Bradford on Avon has to offer.

Building on Lisa and Chris Samuel’s brilliant work since founding the festival in 2012, Bradford Rootsโ€™ new team of community programmers will fill the Centre with folk, blues, pop, and rock, as well as workshops for all the family, great local food and drink and the famous Wassail. A true feel-good event, Roots is synonymous with community spirit, local talent, and an inclusive atmosphere.

Thereโ€™s a huge range of local artists performing across all three stages this year, including the returning Fly Yeti Fly, St Laurence rock band Foxymoron, a Big Sing Workshop to lead participants through the Wassail, and celebrated group and Bradford Roots regulars Holt Morris who will put on a special dance performance.

 Dee Way, one of the new festival programmers shares what makes the festival so special to her: โ€œRoots to me means a music festival under cover to cheer up the winter, to raise money for some very worthwhile charities, and to have a thoroughly good time with family and friends. This is a great opportunity to see and hear a wide range of musicians performing โ€“ all who have a local connection. It is also a brilliant opportunity to find out more about Wiltshire Music Centre and enjoy a family day out.โ€

 As well as music, Evieโ€™s Mac & Cheese will be pitched-up on the front lawn all day and serving delicious grub, sweet treats, and hot drinks. Vegan and gluten-free beers will be available from Bradford on Avon microbrewery Kettlesmith, and scrumptious ciders from Honeyโ€™s Cider โ€“ both local brands who are proudly sponsoring this yearโ€™s festival! Enjoy their flagship refreshments alongside the usual WMC Bar offerings.

 Attendees can also get involved in the famous Wassail, led by Holt Morris, where participants in the Creativity Area can show off their handmade glowing lanterns!

Tickets are now on sale โ€“ one ticket gives admission to all the events of the day, and under 12s go free! Price: ยฃ22 Adult / ยฃ12 U18s + students / Free U12s. Book online: wiltshiremusic.org.uk/whats-on/bradford-roots-music-festival-day-2023

Thatโ€™s the technicalities out of the way, letโ€™s feast our eyes on all thatโ€™s performing at Bradford Roots this year, and, as itโ€™s me and I like favouritism, point out my personal preferences!

To get the ball rolling, one you should never miss, Concrete Prairie are superb, and if youโ€™ve not heard about them yet you must be new to Devizine, cos Iโ€™ve been waffling on about them for a while now, and get tremendously excited whenever their name crops up!

Billy in the Lowground, Fly Yeti Fly, Itโ€™s Complicated and those Junkyard Dogs all go without saying, and although The Lost Trades arenโ€™t there this year, two-thirds are, the boys Phil Cooper & Jamie R Hawkins will be in attendance.

The ones I donโ€™t know about, but you might know different, are Karport Collective, Big Sing Workshop with Jane Harris & Clara Atkins, Graham Dent Jazz Quartet, Lodestone, Jazz Factory,  Doves, Peace Choir, Zone Club, Z O E, Caroline Radcliffe Jazz Trio, Westward, Timur Dersuniyelioglu, LightGarden, Joe Hunt, Adrian Long, Littlemen, Aqaba, Foxymoron, Mark Greenโ€™s Blues Collective, Terry Sheppardโ€™s Open Mic Hour and, and this is a big AND, an and I shouldnโ€™t try but, well, you never know, might have a natural talent for, Wafaa Powell Belly Dancing Workshop!!

ย Follow the Festival online: facebook.com/BradfordRootsFestival #BradfordRoots2023

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IDLES’ at Block Party

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Full-Tone Festival Announce 2023 Line-up

The Full-Tone Orchestra have released details of the 2023 line-up for their annual extravaganza, The Full-Tone Festival on Devizes Green, August bank holiday. Itโ€™s all on a rather smashing looking poster, unalike darker past posters with neon text, this time with a fresh use of pastel colours on white background, all very Degas I must say. While rain drizzles down our windows, letโ€™s have a nose at what it says on there, shall we, and think of summer?!

A couple of years ago I published one of many list-type articles on the topic of forthcoming local festivals. Ah, phooey, it sparked a debate on social media because I didnโ€™t include Devizes-own Full-Tone Festival, though the event did receive a sovereign preview of its own. My argument at the time was my definition of a festival was of multiple activities happenings across multiple sectors, therefore classing Full-Tone Festival, despite being named Full-Tone Festival, more in line with the word concert.

A technicality Iโ€™ve since altered my perspective of, and aside pigeonholing, for recent similar articles Iโ€™ve adopted the more causal, universal, and a smidgen double-entendre tagline, โ€œBig Ones,โ€ to encompass largescale events without categories, precisely so we can include things like Pewsey Carnival, and of course, The Full-Tone Festival. And in this, hereโ€™s the thing, who wants their event to be typecast and categorised? The Full-Tone Festival is what it is, and that โ€œisโ€ is something spectacular, annually happening now on our very turf, but mostly for point of this argument, something totally unique.

And of my technicality, Full-Tone acts as both sides of the debate, yes it shows off the incredible talent and togetherness of the Full-Tone Orchestra, an ensemble which will voyage to impressive venues like Wells Cathedral and Bath Abbey this year, but also showcases diverse local and national acts. Their social media posts boast โ€œit’s going to be SUCH an amazing weekend of music! 50 musicians and singers, over 100 rotating over the weekend, plus some pretty amazing guests!โ€ If you got it, flaunt it, darling! But honestly, itโ€™s a highly impressive weekend, and theyโ€™ve every right to show it off!

Full-Tone Festival opens on the Saturday, for example, showcasing a set of classical proms, and features Full-Tone chief organiser Jemma Brown with her new vocal quartet, The Four Sopranos, consisting of Lucia Pupilli, Tabitha Cox, and Teresa Isaacson too.

Local rock n roll legends and regulars at Full-Tone, Pete Lamb and The Heartbeats are the first guests, followed by the orchestra taking off again for the ever-popular โ€œbig TV and movie themesโ€ section, of which I always look forward to Jurassic Park the most, donโ€™t know why, just do. Any comments on social media suggesting it’s because I’m a dinosaur will be deleted!

If, so far critics could cough up the โ€œsameyโ€ tosh, Iโ€™d argue possibly, but certain elements of this event have become welcomed stalwarts, and why change it just to please them? We love it just the way it is! Besides, hereโ€™s a totally new one on me, The House Iguanas promises โ€œmassive bonkers brilliant sax, DJ and bongos,โ€ and with that, could you ask for anything more diverse?

Saturday night closes with the reappearance of the orchestraโ€™s The Ultimate Dance Anthems, which being they only scootered around last year with nineties pop hits, for me, personally, and literally from the sheer eruption of enthusiasm of the crowd of previous years, Iโ€™m sure will be a very welcomed return, with glowsticks.

If Saturdays showcases the orchestra foremost, I must say itโ€™s more diverse this year, and, Sunday tends to focus on other acts more, anyways. Though the orchestra opens the day with the โ€œBig Soundโ€ section of this remarkable concert manifold, North Wiltshire big band 41 Degrees take over straight after. Theyโ€™re the wedding function band of the wedding youโ€™d never forget, with a spanning repertoire from Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller, through Rat Pack and Weather Report, to the Killers and Oasis. Thereโ€™s nothing like big band pop covers, often showing shame to the originals, and this sounds cool as.

A highlight of last yearโ€™s Devizes Street Festival, those funky mavericks of Mardi Gras and New Orleans jazz, The Brass Junkies revisit our soil, and remember; brass is class.

Time for the Full-Tone Orchestra to finish off their pizzas and get back onto that notable stage for a section of West End Musical hits. It must be exhausting, blowing into that brass, precisely plucking those strings and whatever else they need to do to create these massive sounds, not forgoing conductor Anthony Brown must be at risk of repetitive strain injury over the weekend.

Wowzers, and Iโ€™ve not got to the best bit, least what I think is the best bit, because this info was leaked to me by the band, but sworn to secrecy I couldnโ€™t even blow my own trumpet and act all smarmy about, until now, so I will, thank you; Talk in Code play the finale guest set. A mighty local indie-pop band which, if you donโ€™t know you must be new to Devizine, and I urge you pay more attention in future! Yes, forgive my plug, but they are coming to my birthday party at the Three Crowns on March 4th, and YOU are all welcome, but again, and in summary to the Full-Tone Festival as a whole, playing up on that breath-taking stage, with matchless acoustics is something else, and well worth the ticket stub. There’s nothing else quite like it in Devizes.

If Talk in Code have that stylised knack of capturing something decidedly eighties within their original material, Sunday aptly closes with the orchestra one final time, giving it whooping eighties bangers, which by then if youโ€™re not completely satisfied, I suggest you urgently seek professional medical attention!

Early bird tickets are HERE, or at Devizes Books. Kids under 14 go free with a paying adult, ยฃ45 for the weekend (ยฃ35 before the 31st January), ยฃ35 for the day. And there it is, apologises for waffling, but it is all terribly exciting!

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Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts; A New Chapter

Threw my cards on the table, and pitched being Father Christmas at Devizes Winter Festival, but was informed that was arranged by the Town Council…. so, that’s that idea well and truly quashed! It was great, though, to meet Annabel, one half of the new management team of Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts, to chat on changes and new visions for carnival and the various other annual town events they organise……

It’s been an autumn since I quizzed former DOCA artistic director, Loz, on whether she had a say on choosing people for the role. I was glad her reply confirmed this, through fear fond events like the street festival might get all ‘village fete.’ Make no mistake, keyboard warriors on social media were quick to sound negativity on decisions taken by DOCA recently, but I’d argue Loz justified these rightfully, did an outstanding job stamping her own mark on DOCA. This came to an apex at this year’s street festival, with the mind-blowing Ceres display telling the Ruth Pearce story, something I’d dub Loz’s farewell gift to Devizes. Annabel was due to be production manager on the project, but caught covid, though she praised Baseline Circus who staged it, explaining sheโ€™d worked with them before and would use them again for DOCA.

Photo: Simon Folkard Photography

And thatโ€™s where we open said episode, continuing from Lozโ€™s input. Iโ€™m partly aware of Annabel’s past experience on the festival circuit, I was as pleased as punch to hear she’s taken on the role, and I came away from our chat at New Society positive this opens a new chapter for DOCA. If one reaction to changes made, such as moving the dates of summer events to spread the workload and effort, not forgoing allowing time for schools to participate better, was this rather insular notion Loz was not from the area. Rather I liked this aspect, Loz bought in acts we otherwise may never have known. Put your pitchforks away, Annabel really is Devizes born and bred. The role though has been split into two, as Bristol-based Ashley takes the artistic side responsible for booking acts; best of both worlds.

“Ashley and I really love that she split the job between us,” Annabel began, “you’ve still got the element of someone who’s got their finger on the pulse of the artists, and I’m from Devizes. But though I’m based here, I’ve got the experience of twenty years of doing different festivals!”

I asked her what festivals, Boomtown, Glastonbury, I knew of. “All of them really,” she responded, “Secret Garden Party, Leeds Festival, and over winter I’ve been working in Edinburgh, so, Hogmanay and their street party. So, quite a lot of variety, but I always come back here.”

Not beating about the bush, my first question was on Street Festival, because personally it’s my favourite! I love that we get these colourful and lively carnival type bands full of brass and blend of gypsy ska-folk type shenanigans, but I’m also keen to suggest the event also highlights local musicians too. I’ve also heard criticism of lengthy changeovers on the stage, where Loz expressed it was to allow for the circus sideshows, of which the sound of would be drained out by bands on stage.

This idea was met in 2019 when Vinyl Realm funded and organised a fantastic second stage, my vision is now driven towards getting local acts on the main stage, rather than it being a ‘bolt-on.’ My pitch suggests if we host a number of acoustic acts between main bands, it wouldn’t drown out the circus acts, would satisfy bar loiterers, and it would highlight our local circuit to an audience who perhaps doesn’t make it out to our pub-venues. Iโ€™m pleased she made a note of this, though it was perhaps better put to Ashley, who wasn’t present. “Ashley’s got some great ideas on that,” Annabel replied, “about bringing in different types of acts from different places, and also keeping it accessible locally as well.“

She toyed with this word, โ€˜accessibleโ€™ extending it to what’s important to her, โ€œparticularly in participation, whatever form that takes, whether it’s volunteering, attending, or performing, I want to make it accessible, finding out what will make it easier for people to enjoy it and in taking part as well.” Fire in the hole, golden opportunity for my summary on people’s, often passionate, feelings about the events, is it’s that delicate balance of pleasing everyone. โ€œThat’s the difficult bit,โ€ Annabel confessed, โ€œunfortunately you’re never going to please all the people all of the time, however I think by listening to people and communicating, would really help.โ€

And in fact, they’ve done precisely this, an online “carnival consultation” survey, which is still open, so too early to analyse results. Based solely on carnival, โ€œbecause,โ€ she explained, โ€œI think there’s a particularly strong feeling DOCA wasn’t always listening to the people of Devizes, which they were to a certain extent, but maybe the communication wasn’t there, so we’re trying to make it as clear as possible, by opening it up and allowing people to have their say.โ€ Annabel moved onto lower participation levels recently, due to difficulties of the pandemic era being โ€œsomething we’d really like to address, and find out how we can make it easier for everyone.โ€ A meeting about the results of the survey will follow, and really, you cannot ask for a better response than this, in my humble opinion!

There was one Facebook rant recently, comparing Devizes carnival with Pewseyโ€™s, something I felt a tad unfair as Pewseyโ€™s renowned reputation has taken decades to build, and a carnival is formed by people, Pewsey works because everyone comes out to play. โ€œIt takes an awful lot to get it to that level and keep it continuing,โ€ Annabel mused, โ€œitโ€™s not a straight forward thing to do, and throwing in the spanner of a couple of years of nothing happening, and, yeahโ€ฆโ€ I trailed back to the tricky subject of satisfying everyone.

โ€œThe way we want to move forward is taking away the concept of us and them,โ€ she expressed, โ€œitโ€™s all of us together, and that collates what you said as well, it needs to be something that everyone can feel they can get onboard with and get involved with, whether itโ€™s something theyโ€™re already familiar with, or shared love of something new.โ€

If only those so quick to criticise could see, what I described as an iceberg, whereby itโ€™s equal in size underwater as it is above, the inner-working of what it takes to stage these huge town events, theyโ€™d not, as dubious they do, take it somewhat for granted. Volunteering at this yearโ€™s street festival, which mightโ€™ve ended with me just clearing bins, opened my eyes to the mammoth task.

โ€œYes,โ€ Annabel agreed, โ€œand when youโ€™re doing a good job, itโ€™s when people donโ€™t realise whatโ€™s going on behind the scenes, the amount of pre-planning, private funding, all of that sort of thing to bring it together, itโ€™s a huge amount, especially these days when youโ€™ve got all the red tape, but we trying to open it up, find out whatโ€™s going to make it easier for people to get involved, and do something about it. Thereโ€™re a few different ideas weโ€™ve outlined in the consolation, one idea was a โ€˜makers week,โ€™ which could be weeks prior to carnival, where people who want to make something for carnival can come together and learn different skills.โ€

โ€˜Togetherโ€™ was becoming a word of the day, Annabel talking a lot on widening the volunteer spectrum to an almost โ€˜festival training coreโ€™ concept, and between this and her parenthood reasons for wishing to reduce her, what she described as โ€œnomadicโ€ festival life and be based here, โ€œbecause I just love it,โ€ is whyI came away positive from our chat.

The Winter Festival will be the proof in the pudding, Annabel and Ashleyโ€™s first DOCA event; had to wonder if this was possibly the most difficult of them to find a balance. โ€œItโ€™s all systems go,โ€ she replied, โ€œbut Iโ€™m really excited about it already,โ€ then told of the anticipation surrounding schoolโ€™s lantern workshops, adding methods for creating similar enthusiasm for carnival.

For some unexplainable reasoning, I commenced waffling about Glastonbury festivals of yore, the different the weather makes, and we settled returning the conversation back to the beginning; changes, after Annabel spoke of Winter Festivalโ€™s indoor craft markets. โ€œitโ€™s difficult,โ€ she responded, โ€œbut times do change. Thereโ€™s a lot to be said for tradition, but a lot also to be said for new experiences; itโ€™s about finding the right balance between the two, and making it work for as many people as possible, for the right reasons.โ€

As I said, I came away from our chat at New Society positive this opens a new chapter for DOCA, and I sincerely wish Ashly and Annabel the very best with their roles in our delightful carnival committee.

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Opera Meets House at Devizes Full Tone Festival

Featured image above by Gail Foster

It has been undeniably a variety music show at the Full Tone Festival this bank holiday weekend on the Green in Devizes, of tremendous proportions and matchless quality.

The stage I’ve previous dubbed “like something out of the Jetsons,” was once again erected, deckchair city assembled around it, with a bustling collection of food and drinks stalls beyond, and the sun with his hat on, shining down on all the shiny happy people.

It is a remarkable achievement and something to be truly proud of, to have here in our humble market town. The Full-Tone Orchestra taking their show to prestigious venues like Bath Abbey and Marlborough College, returned home, looking even more professional than ever. Conductor Anthony Brown waving his hands around like manual control of the world’s air traffic; it was, in a word, magical.

Highlights came thick and fast, Dominic Irving thrilled, heading a Tchaikovsky concerto on piano, for an opening of obligatory classical elements. The stage emptied as Will Foulstone took control of the keys, solo. Full Tone platforms young talent, like TikTok trumpeter Oli Parker, on Sunday, to an audience majority unlikely to know what TikTok is. Similarly, Will performed some videogame themes among Coldplay and contemporary pop, which is better in reality than it sounds to my generation bought up on ZX Spectrums or Mega Drives!

Will’s finale was an astounding cover of Elton John’s I’m Still Standing, and the orchestra realigned for a concentration of movie scores, largely dependent on the western themes of the late Ennio Morricone; liked this.

Then, BBC Introducing DJ skateboarder, James Threlfall took to digital wheels of steel and blasted the zone, and across the road to the chippy, with a set of contemporary and commercial high-energy house; lights came on blazing like the Green was the Ministry of Sound. Here is where I need to revert to my reviewing template, which resides on two major contributories. One is, did the event appease me personally, the second, more importantly is, did it do what it said “on the tin,” i.e., was it everything it posed to be. For the latter, the Full Tone Festival 2022 hit top marks, without a doubt. I watched the joy on hundreds of faces, as they danced the night away to James and the following Full-Tone Orchestra set of “nineties smash hits.”

The grand finale of Saturday night was certainly intrenched with nostalgia, perfected by an orchestra where no penny was left unexpended, no rehearsal was spent playing tiddlywinks, where the professionalism is first rate and the atmosphere was nothing short of sublime. The Full-Tone Festival was superb last year, this time around comes the typical stigma of a sequel, the โ€œhow can we ever top that” enquiry, and I’ve a duty to be honest, based upon the imperative Saturday evening, I’m not completely certain they did, on personal reflection, you understand?

Image: Gail Foster

Song choice at this conjunction was the only thing which let it down, for me. Started off okay, the Britpop beginning I can tolerate, but as it progressed to the pop hits of S Club 7, Britney Spears and Cher’s I Believe, et al, these, for me, were the excruciating pop slush of a generation below; I detested them at the time, and retain said detestation.

It was a far cry from the club anthems of last year’s, because that’s the point where creatively, electronic music technology truly challenged the orchestra. But, sigh, it’s all subjective, I told you about the hundreds of faces, didnโ€™t I? They matter, it did what it said on the tin, with high gloss, it just wasn’t my cuppa.

Image: Gail Foster

I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to Sunday’s extension, we don’t all have bank holidays y’ know? But I can rest assured with the years of rock n roll experience of Pete Lamb’s Heartbeats, Kirsty Clinch’s angelic country vocals, and the fact Jonathan Antoine has been done BGT, it’d have been alright on the night.

Image: Gail Foster

Feedback on the orchestra’s big band showcase has been fantastic, with particular praise of vocalist Will Sexton. On opera, spellbinding local soprano who could turn even me to opera, Chloe Jordan, said, “it was my dream to sing ‘Song to the Moon ‘Resulka with an orchestra. Thank you so much to The Full Tone Orchestra for allowing that dream to come true!” And that, in a nutshell, is the kingpin to assessing this spectacular; if dreams come true there, you can’t argue how special an occasion it was.

Image: Gail Foster

Though the headcount was slightly lesser-so than last year’s, trouble to many events this, as a sad reflection on economic issues, here’s hoping this awesome weekend on the Green will be enough to convince Full Tone to make this a permanent fixture on our event calendar. Devizes loves you Full Tone, that much is certain.

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Full-Tone Stands Alone

Full Tone Festival August Bank Holiday then, penny for your thoughts on that oneโ€ฆ…

Five irritating wannabes handpicked for their conflicting personalities vote on each otherโ€™s dinner parties while a poor manโ€™s Harry Hill narrator insults them in a heavily edited sham of a television show. Yet, despite this perpetual cycle of formulated garbage, Come Dine with Me attracts millions of viewers. Itโ€™s the same thing every darn episode; oh, how original, theyโ€™re looking in her knicker draw, saucy!

Give me strength; familiarity is prevalent, between three to five million people slouch in front of The Chase daily, when face it, aside differing questions, itโ€™s monotonous; eat, watch The Chase, sleep, repeat. Still, from a few branches of the grapevine, Iโ€™ve caught this tosh: โ€œThe Full Tone Festival is the same as last year.โ€ Shut the front door!

Honest, I feel like tapping them on the head, inquiring, โ€œhello? Anybody in?!โ€ Even if it was the same, which Iโ€™m out to conclude itโ€™s not, so if you agree you need not read on, but even if it was, Iโ€™d reply, โ€œyeah? Good!โ€ for the simple reason, last yearโ€™s was absolutely, off-the-scale fantastic, and nothing, I repeat nothing, around these parts could match it.

I sincerely hope theyโ€™re not the same substandard detractors who hypocritically whine-hole when DOCA, for good reason, change the dates or the route of carnival! I attended the astounding MantonFest last weekend, it was a similar setup as last year, because the formula works, regulars flock to it safe in the knowledge they know what theyโ€™re getting, and if itโ€™s not brokenโ€ฆ. Face it, most events are samey. Glastonbury might host some different acts annually, but even they have the same stages in the same fields year after year; fresh cowpats, same mud!

Bottom line is, Iโ€™m unsure if itโ€™s possible to improve on the sound, stage and pyrotechnics from last year, unless we forward-wind technology a few decades. The acoustics on that stage were mind-blowing, and if the price-tag is another niggly issue, you could see where your dollar was offloaded. It looked like something out of The Jetsons, didnโ€™t it?! And I hope its shape will become iconic symbolism as to what can be achieved right here in Devizes. As an inimitable annual party, itโ€™s one of a kind around these waters, itโ€™s our ravey-davey Last Night of the Proms! The Full Tone Orchestra toured Bath Abbey, Marlborough College, the Wyvern in Swindon and beyond this year, but what they return home to produce is something really superior, something to congratulate and celebrate.

Musical director and conductor, Anthony Brown tells us heโ€™s โ€œbeen looking forward to this yearโ€™s festival from the moment I put my baton down last year, and Iโ€™m thrilled to have the opportunity to share what we do with so many people. Thereโ€™s something here for everyone, no matter what your musical tastes are, and I guarantee that even those who have never experienced orchestral music before, will leave wanting more!โ€ Summing my angle up nicely; far from a restrictive Proms, last year it opened doors to those otherwise sceptical of the magnificence of an orchestra and changed their preconceptions of them, and thatโ€™s a glorious achievement.

But the biggie still remains, what can we expect from this yearโ€™s Full-Tone Festival on August Bank Holiday weekend (27th & 28th August)? The family-friendly music festival promises to be even bigger and better than ever, with two full days of back-to-back music, performed by this spectacular 65-piece orchestra conducted by Anthony Brown, we know and love as the Fulltone Orchestra.

The programme divides into six orchestral concerts providing the ultimate variety of live music from popular classics, opera and big band to movie themes and huge nineties hits. The grand finale on Sunday evening will see The Green at Devizes transformed into its very own Studio 54, with the orchestra and singers performing a full two hour set of seventies inspired disco classics; oh, that can ring my bell, have I got time to grow an afro?!

So, if it is as I suggested, impossible to improve on the sound, stage and pyrotechnics, enhancements in the line-up are the logical steps, which has been done. Special guest artists performing on stage include the formidable voice of Jonathan Antoine. A classically-trained tenor, Jonathan rose to fame after appearing on the sixth series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2012, as half of the classical duo Jonathan and Charlotte. He went solo and his debut album, Tenore, was released in 2014, and subsequently followed with a further two albums.

Wiltshireโ€™s own presenter and skateboarder, DJ James Threlfall also appears. James works radio for the BBC, and hosts football platform, 433. With a 95K Tik-Tok audience, Full Tone Festival also welcomes trumpeter Oli Parker, local legendary rock n rollers, Pete Lamb & The Heartbeats, and Iโ€™m delighted to see the most amazingly talented country-rock star Kirsty Clinch added to this fine bill; surely the icing on the cake.

Talking cake, food and drink will be available from local vendors, and t-shirts will be on sale and raising funds for Dorothy House. And thatโ€™s that, Bowie said it best, ch-ch-ch-changes. All you need to do is grab a ticket, from Ticketsource, or Devizes Books. While children under 14 go free, itโ€™s going to set you back forty quid, yet you can guarantee its money well spent, for this unmissable entire weekend show right on your doorstep.

And for anyone casting a shadow of โ€œsamey,โ€ Iโ€™d argue only in as much as everything is formulated; Albert Einstein had seven of the same suits, so he didnโ€™t have to decide which one to wear! What are you expecting from them, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, digging up Beethoven? One ponders if they even attended last year, and I donโ€™t mean the unofficial gathering on the little green, because they didnโ€™t receive the benefit of being encased in the incredible acoustics of that Jetsons stage, they had not one iota of the splendour, the all-encompassing effect of it. But to say, if you were there, youโ€™d surely take the โ€œif it isnโ€™t broken,โ€ opinion and want nothing more than to do it all again.

Of course, itโ€™s your prerogative to stay home watching Come Dine with Me on an endless cycle of repeats while everyone else is having a truckload of fun! For more information about the Fulltone Music Festival on The Green, Devizes, and to purchase tickets, please visit the Fulltone Orchestra website.

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Bands At The Bridge

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Miracle at MantonFest!

Ah yeah, Paul McCartney whisked Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl out of his hat at Glasto, and no one can top that, no one dare try, but on the other side of the west country The Fab Four were rejuvenated on stage, and miraculously commanded the weather!

Okay, allow some exaggeration for artistic licence, but being the only sour point about MantonFest last year was spates of torrential downpour, and the forecast foreboding a repeat, note it tried its uppermost to drizzle, but on the one occasion the crowds thought, โ€œthis is it,โ€ Nottinghamโ€™s fantastic Beatles tribute, The Fab Four broke into George Harrisonโ€™s Here Comes the Sun and lo-and-behold, the sunshine returned, to a rapturous applause.

Coincidence, or should these guys try a Paul Daniels tribute next, is besides the point; there were numerous memorable happenings at MantonFest this year, the Beatles tribute controlled clement weather was just the tip of the iceberg.

For eleven years strong MantonFest has been Marlboroughโ€™s little gem, punching well above its weight. Itโ€™s both communal and friendly, but professionally executed too. If Glastonbury is a city of tents, this day festival is a village of gazebos. Picnicking families return year-after-year, and MantonFest prides itself on a loyal fanbase.

Nit-picking, the focus is entirely on the music, but kids seem unperturbed by any lack of facilities aimed at them. They naturally make their own entertainment, organise a game of football in the ample surrounding fields, more so join the already extensive age demographic and genuinely enjoy the music. Perhaps why The Fab Four were so apt, the Beatlesโ€™ early music is the eve of bubble-gum, beguilingly simple for the masses, which makes it timeless.

Talking to them backstage they delighted in the notion theyโ€™re a platform introducing Beatles music to a new generation, and in that, plus the fact they are an archetypical four-piece rock band setup without strings and effects, they blasted out the earlier, simpler 45s such as Love me Do and Hold my Hand as a baseplate. And they did it fantastically, with a nod to later Beatles creations such as Yellow Submarine and Sgt Pepperโ€™s Lonely Hearts Club Band, but perhaps most absolute to exposing their skills in ballads, such as Something the aforementioned, Here Comes the Sun, and a grand finale of Hey Jude, this was a very entertaining package.

Take a Beatles tribute as red, my mum, caught up in Beatlemania, thrust it willingly down my throat, so Iโ€™m bound to enjoy, but the real surprise of MantonFest 2022 was the second tribute, Jean Genie. As it suggests, accomplished musician and writer in his own right, John Mainwaring becomes David Bowie, more so in sound than appearance.

You can rough me up for this, but note while I fully recognise and accept Bowieโ€™s importance in the progression of pop, and understand why he is idolised, Iโ€™m a smidgen too young to have been caught up in the fanaticism surrounding him. But this guy wowed, as simple as; assessment is this is way up on my best tributes leader-board, forcing me to view Bowie in a new light. I mean, the guy toured with Bowieโ€™s own band The Spiders from Mars in the nineties, explaining to me backstage the gradual progression to this career point was, as he sounded so much like his influence, through his own original music, he was persuaded first to attribute the fictional persona Ziggy Stardust, โ€œas Bowie killed him off anyway.โ€

This performance was truer to the definition โ€œtributeโ€ than the standard tribute act, it was part John Mainwaring, being himself hugely inspired by Bowie, but it was also part Bowie, sublimely, his voice and showmanship as close as you could possibly get, and as Starman echoed out, it was a totally mesmerising performance, my highlight of the day.

Unfortunately, while professional and accomplished, I have to say, I donโ€™t think the headliners The Animals topped this. Maybe it was just me, feeling the strain of not drinking myself stupid, of which, looking back on, Iโ€™m proud, but at the time at tad niggly! Iโ€™d say the line between a real act and a tribute act are blurred, when a man like Mainwaring, with such experience and close relationship with the act heโ€™s attributing is a tribute, but a band with only one original band member is considered the genuine article. I mean, yeah, itโ€™s labelled as The Animals and Friends, but grammar comes into play somewhat. Itโ€™s not plural; The Animal and Friends. A rather plodding show, a bit meh in comparison with what went beforehand.

Between the two tributes stood the testament to MantonFest, Marlboroughโ€™s pride, Barrelhouse. With bassist Stuart Whant as artistic director, MantonFest is the Barrelhouse fan clubโ€™s annual beano, but theyโ€™ve the knack to make their show something watchable on repeat. If you ever figured the timeworn blues of Muddy Waters, Howlinโ€™ Wolf and Bo Diddley,or even when they slip into bluegrass, couldnโ€™t enthuse teenagers today, you need to bear witness to the enduring methods of Barrelhouse, with the growling mysterious frontman Martin Hands, his proficient band, and the reaction of their loyal fans at the one place theyโ€™ll guarantee to rule the stage, Manton Grange.

But if Barrelhouse are guaranteed goodness, The Fab Four were what they said on the tin, fab, and Jean Genie was a sublime homage, there was an equally talented act upon my arrival. Rocking up a bit late to catch previous performances, Southend-on-Seaโ€™s Rosalie Cunningham was all I needed as confirmation this was going to be a great day for live music. Program a hundred personas of legendary rock heroines into a computer, from Patti Smith to Suzi Quatro and Debbie Harry to Alanis Morissette, and ask it to compute something analogous, itโ€™d likely create Rosalie Cunningham. She looked the part, she sounded like the part, and in all essence, she was the part.

At first it came across prog-rock, all King Crimson type, but there were riffs to punk, nods to rock n roll, and the band explained they liked it like this, prevented it getting tedious for them. For an audience it was astutely performed, original rock, steady, flowing; the like youโ€™d think you knew already.

All-in-all, Mantonfest is a credit to Wiltshire, but as I said last year, absent are the faces of our own live music aficionados, just a stone-throw away. Marlborough is not the Upside Down from Stranger Things, Devizions, yet those rolling downs seem to divide us into little circuits.

In fact, the only connection to my hometown I made was thinking about my stomach! Yes, amico, that trusty airstream caravan, The Italian Job, usually parked upon the Green in Devizes, was pitched at MantonFest, the wonderful aromas of basil and garlic were as alluring as the seating inside, and for want of a cup of Rosey-Lee, I came bundling out with gorgeous homemade lasagne, garlic bread and rocket, and slouched in a chair below the beautiful slopes of Treacle Brolly; now thatโ€™s festivaling Marlboro’ country, something youโ€™re really missing. Iโ€™d highly recommend you etch MantonFest 2023 into your must-do-list.

Saddleback Back!

In July 2019, straight after the Devizes Rugby Clubโ€™s Saddleback Festival, they announced July 11th 2020 for their next festival, but we all know the rest of that sad story. Since 2017 the club organised an annual Saddleback, named after Devizes Rugby teamโ€™s nickname, and the event quickly gained an outstanding reputation for bringing some quality acts to Devizes….

If Iโ€™m honest, being they held off during 2021, with tears from the memories of a great local all-dayer in my complimentary beer cup, I thought weโ€™d seen the back of Saddleback. For want of repeating the same gag, coordinator Rick Kibby tells me, โ€œWe thought it was about time we brought the Saddleback Festival back!โ€ And Saturday 18th June, 2022 marks the very day, at Devizes Rugby Club from 2pm, until late.

There was me thinking this cup was an emblem of a long lost Devizes festival!

Originally dedicated to blues, though the tag mightโ€™ve been dropped to allow more scope over the pre-lockdown years, blues is very much the mainstay, which is bound to satisfy Devizes aficionados, as local blues legends Jon Amor & King Street Turnaround, and Ruzz Guitar Blues Revue welcomingly headline; say no more.

The slightly more pop-rock acoustic, though with a definite hint of blues, Joe Hicks is also on the line-up. We love Joe here at Devizine, a true class act, prolific and generally all-round nice guy! Check out his latest offering double A-side, One More Step.

The other acts are new to me, which is all good, bit of well sourced mystery and all that. The drifting acoustic goodness of No Manz Land. Bristolโ€™s big, stomping disco sound of Carolyn McGoldrick, retro-rock with Matt Peach, the beguiling Artic Monkeyโ€™s fashioned Public Eye, and the The Best of Ratcat, of which Iโ€™ve no info on, think of them as the wildcard!

But the real change for Saddleback is the side project, Lottiefest, as while the festival has always had a charity fundraiser base, this is the first time it has incorporated another festival in its title. โ€œLottiefest is in memory of Lottie,โ€ Rick explained, โ€œwho was the daughter of one of our members who suffered from Ataxia, and the Lily Foundation raises funds for the fight against mitochondrial disease.โ€ Lottie Rapson was diagnosed with Friedreichโ€™s Ataxia at the age of 6, and sadly passed away aged just 27 in December last year.

โ€œShe taught us all so many thingsโ€ the blurb on Saddleback Festival website reveals, โ€œto focus on what you can do rather than worry about what you canโ€™t, to see the good in everyone, to make the most of every day and never walk past an opportunity to do something mad!โ€ And it goes onto explaining how much Lottie loved festivals, โ€œoften dragged to bed by her carers in the early hours of the morning.โ€ Therefore Saddleback will be raising for The Lily Foundation and Ataxia UK.

This fitting tribute transcribes into dancing the night away in a club fashion with some carefully selected DJs, Matter, Rappo, Retrospekt, Astral Pipes, who fuse house and intelligent drum n bass into a diversity of dance music, something wholly different from anything weโ€™ve seen at Saddleback before. A welcomed change to shake up the later hours, until 1am.

Thereโ€™s camping on site, ยฃ15 for a tent, ยฃ25 for campervan.

You know, Iโ€™m so glad to see Saddleback on our event calendar again, the 2018 Battle of the Bands contest really bought to my attention the wealth of talent on our local circuit. Iโ€™d just befriended every local musicianโ€™s favourite photographer, Nick Padmore, who introduced me to George Wilding, Jamie R Hawkins, Sally Dobson, Jordan Whatley, Jack Moore and Mike Barham. Then, to have them play at the festival was the icing on the cake, really felt like I started something very worthy; they might disagree!

After that unforgettable year seems there was a little communication breakdown, Devizine was to cover the festival, but I wasnโ€™t informed I was invited! Never mind, as now we are all informed; Iโ€™m telling you now, The Saddleback is back, and itโ€™s going to be an amazing show right here in Devizes town!

Saddleback is on Saturday 18th June, Tickets start at ยฃ30, online here, or from

Devizes Books
Handel House
Sidmouth Street
Devizes
SN10 1LD
Tel โ€“ 01380 725944

Avon Trophies
Wharfside
Devizes
SN10 1EB
Tel โ€“ 01380 724630

The Peppermill
40 St Johnโ€™s Street
Devizes
SN10 1BL
Tel โ€“ 01380 710407

Professional Books
Old Kingdom Hall
Avon Terrace
Devizes
SN10 2BH
Tel โ€“ 01380 820003

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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

Folk Festival to Return to Chippenhamโ€™s Streets

After two years of being restricted by the global pandemic, Chippenham Folk Festival returns in person this Spring with three internationally renowned headline acts among its highlights.….

Over the past five decades, Chippenham Folk Festival has become a mainstay of the local events calendar, with people travelling from destinations far and wide to sample some of the greatest British and international folk artists.

For many local residents, it is what the second May Bank Holiday weekend is reserved for. However, as with events around the world, the festival has been hit by the effects of the global pandemic. In 2020, there was no festival, and in 2021 the team could only run a pared back virtual version of the event.

This year, however, plans are in place to bring it back to Chippenhamโ€™s streets and venues to give people a much-needed lift. The festival  is planned for 27-29 May 2022, so get the date in your diary.

Whatโ€™s on?

A host of acts have already been booked with the line led by the three headlining artists:

Belshazzarโ€™s Feast

Acclaimed musicians Paul Sartin (oboe, violin, swanee whistle and vocals) and Paul Hutchinson (accordion) are notorious for their superlative ability, wit, rapport and depth of experience, creating a concert to remember.

3 Daft Monkeys

With a fiery helter-skelter blend of influences from east and west, 3 Daft Monkeys inject a unique wildness into their music, producing a symphonious cacophony of styles.

3 Daft Monkeys (yes, you can count, there is four of them. Maybe that’s the “daft” part?!)

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have long established themselves as one of the UK folk sceneโ€™s rewardingly enduring partnerships. Always bold and innovative, they mix traditional song arrangements with their self-penned material that reels from the bitter to the sweet, the wry to the sad, the political to the passive

There will be many many more exceptional acts in venues around the town during the course of the weekend.

As well as these fantastic concerts there will, as usual, be:

  • folk dance events
  • ceilidhs
  • family events and workshops
  • free events and morris displays through the high street
  • arts and crafts
  • street market.

Dedicated to traditional English dance and music

Chippenham Folk Festival Chairman Torquil Macinnes said, โ€œnot only does Chippenham Folk Festival offer an extremely high calibre of artists, but it is dedicated to traditional English dance and music.

โ€œWhat sets it apart from other events is its opportunities for participation and education. It truly is a social occasion.

โ€œIt is for this reason that the global pandemic has hit us so hard. We are interactive. We need to be face to face with the people of Chippenham and beyond. I am delighted, therefore, that we are going full steam ahead to bring the event back to the streets of Chippenham in 2022.โ€

A crucial few weeks

As live, in-person events slowly continue to make their way back, audiences and organisers are understandably cautious. While the festival team is working around the clock to make the event happen, the next few weeks are crucial for its fate.

Torquil continued, โ€œwe have an absolutely brilliant team of organisers, made up entirely of volunteers. They are doing everything in their power to bring the festival back to the people of Chippenham and the thousands of visitors we get every year.

โ€œHowever, with uncertainty around live events still rife, we do have a cut-off point by which we must have reached a certain sales target to guarantee it will happen

โ€œWith the fantastic lineup we already have, we are very confident it will go ahead, but we need to ask people to consider buying their tickets a little earlier than usual to make sure of it.โ€

Book your place now

Early bird tickets have already sold out for this yearโ€™s event, and tier 1 weekend tickets are on sale now. These offer a saving of almost 15% off the full ticket price.

Tickets are available at https://www.chippfolk.co.uk/tickets-2022/ and are fully refundable if the event cannot go ahead in light of any changes in the COVID-19 restrictions.

Get involved

The festival is entirely reliant on a dedicated army of brilliant volunteers all who give up their time and provide their skills and expertise to the event free of charge. There are many different ways in which you can get involved. We need:

  • stewards
  • tradespeople
  • set designers and builders
  • radio comms specialists
  • buskers
  • bar staff

To find out how you can get involved, visit https://www.chippfolk.co.uk/get-involved/

Find out more

Keep your eye out on https://www.chippfolk.co.uk/ for further information and lineup updates.

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Wiltshire Music Awards Website Goes Live

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

Bit of a Shindig; The Most Luxurious Festival in The West?

Glamping and other plush extras add to the allure of a modern-day festival, but how far are you willing to go to make your festie experience that bit more luxurious? Established dance festival Shindig, which takes place 26th-29th May in the glorious grounds of the Dillington Estate in Somerset, boasts the only festival in the UK with a hotel on site, and I donโ€™t mean slumming in a Travelodge!

โ€œYou can either stay in the beautiful main 18th Century Dillington House,โ€ they announced, โ€œor in the incredible contemporary Hyde complex.โ€ The Superior Rooms are the largest and most luxurious, which are mostly found in the Hyde. Many come with their own private decking or balconies with views over the stunning Somerset countryside. Plus, hotel guests have their very own entrance straight into the festival, so you wonโ€™t miss any of the action.

And that action is headliners De La Soul and Roy Ayers, with a massive host of live acts and DJs, including Nightmares on Wax, and Don Letts with Terry Hall, its own after-hours nightclub with Goldie playing among others, and a general good vibes atmosphere where the entire family is catered for. Thereโ€™s the Kids Kingdom, which will be fully programmed with activities to keep them busy during the day, and performance shows and cinema for kids.

Okay, big question, yeah, hotel rooms start from ยฃ1,000 for four nights bed & breakfast, but this includes secure parking, room service, bar and restaurant. Other boutique camping options are bell tents, yurts and squirts, airstreams, or bring your own camper with a ยฃ70 in advance ticket.

All this wows me, how far the festival scene has come, and Shindig truly is a testament, for the glitzy side of dance music. But in this, it got me reminiscing of the downside to festivals of yore, lying flat in the cheapest prism one-man tent money could buy, with a burnt-out tealight, a little pond of muddy Special Brew and grass blades, telling myself it was all part of the festival experience!

Once, camping halfway up the side of an Andalusian Mountain, graduated to a dome tent, yet having to anchor my feet in the sleeping bag in a bottom corner and fasten myself diagonally across, supported either side by my rucksack and other paraphernalia, in order to prevent waking to find myself, and all my gear too, slumped into the bottom corner like I did on the first morning!

I find myself thinking back to people-watching at a bygone murky Glasto, where within the mud-drenched surrounding akin to an apocalyptic movie, I perchance to spot a glamorous young girl dressed totally in white, white leggings, white top and trainers. She was just standing there, in the midst of it all, spotless and looking horrified at the desolation around her. With frazzled mind I had to ponder how sheโ€™d even got that far, I mean, without resembling everyone else, who were covered head-to-toe in mud and shit.      

The only conclusion I could muster was teleportation, but Iโ€™m now certain of one thing, that chick needed Shindig, possibly more than anyone! Phew, if I were her, or you, Iโ€™d get my ticket here, forget the past and relish in the festival indulgence of a new era!

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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

Bath Reggae Festival Ticketholders Still Await Refund

Ticketholders for the hugely publicised Bath Reggae Festival still awaiting a refund after the festival was cancelled in August last year are getting understandably disgruntled, as the organisers are reportedly unresponsive to emails and messages….  

Like many others, I jumped on this when first announced in November 2020. With a real community feel to their reggae scene, and Fairfield House, where Emperor Haile Selassie I spent five years in exile, what location in the southwest could be more apt to hold a reggae festival than Bath?

Wowed but slightly dubious when I saw the inaugural festival announce their line-up later in the month, for a first-time festival it seemed too good to be true. Legends of reggae were billed; Maxi Priest, Aswad, Big Mountain, Dawn Penn, Hollie Cook, Sister Nancy and more. Due to Covid restrictions the event was postponed from June to August, but over 2,000 reggae fans were disappointed to learn, due to the organisers being unable to source port-a-loos, the festival at Kensington Meadows in the city was again called off.

Spokesperson for event organisers, VIP Productions, Jack Wilkinson told the BBC at the time, โ€œthere has been a mention of September but again that can’t be guaranteed.โ€ VIP put out a plea on their Facebook page, encouraging ticketholders to retain their tickets as they would be honoured once a future date was arranged, but promised a full refund if not. This was the last post published on their Facebook page in August, as punters rally to inquire to their refund, and receive no response.

Some managed to obtain a part-reimbursement from their bank or PayPal, but Iโ€™ve yet to find anyone who actually received a refund direct from the organisers. I emailed the festivalโ€™s website and the messaged VIP Productions, to no reply either, but since discovered, according to the .gov site, the company dissolved in October. VIP also presented another similar reggae festival, same month, in Huddersfield, called Sunup, of which I can find no evidence of it happening either. Going on this, Iโ€™m sad to say, I wouldnโ€™t hold out much hope, guys.

I would not go as far to suggest the whole shebang was a scam; the festival industry is not a swindlersโ€™ market, as it is not enormously profit-making. An event of this scale takes hard work, dedication, experience and a huge pot of funds long before stages are erected, and folk are downing cider and chewing on falafels. Admin, marketing, council permissions and insurance are just some of the mountains of red tape you need to get through just to get your foot on the first run of the ladder, therefore thereโ€™s far easier methods of defrauding people.

Just one day prior to the event in August, Somerset Live reported VIP were โ€œcriticised for their last-minute approach and lacking basic information in the application, making it โ€˜extremely difficultโ€™ for Bath and North East Somerset Council.โ€ Somerset Live also spoke to a senior environmental health officer, Sara Chiffers, who expressed concerns, โ€œweโ€™ve had extensive dialogue with the organisers about elements of the event management plan that were unclear, contradictory.โ€

This would suggest my initial hesitancy was justified; perhaps their intentions were honourable, but they tried to run before they could walk. For to have one of these big names booked would have been enough for an inaugural festival, as you need to start small and build. You cannot run off looking at Glastonbury, Reading or Bestival, these are well established with generations of experience, if they book Bowie, or Bruce Springsteen itโ€™s because they know they can, they know tickets will cover it. Festival organising is a massive risk, and fundamental organisers get an event co-ordinator with experience. But to fail over a trivial aspect like toilets is, aptly, a bit shit!

More so it looks bad, creating a riff between punter and organisers in general, and right now, this is the last thing the hospitality industry needs. I know of one festival organisation shut up shop because they depended on advance ticket sales to host the next event. An honourable, trustworthy little festival, and while Iโ€™d rather advocate folk entrust such organisers, stories like this are bound to create understandable uncertainty.   

My advice would have to be, in order for the festival scene to thrive and especially for new-comers to become established, folk have to put their trust in events and buy tickets in advance. Yet I urge punters to use their noodle, be wary of festivals promising too much at one time, especially the first time, or events which may have sister operations elsewhere in the UK under a similar banner. But it is detrimental for the future of festivals that organisers remain faithful to their customers, that they insure thereโ€™s reserves for refunds should it fail, and that they keep in communication with the ticketholders in such an occasion, as it is not only the customers you are bothering, but other event organisers too; common decency really, isn’t it?

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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

Itโ€™s Beginning to Look a DOCA Like Christmas

Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts are in the thick of planning for the Lantern Parade and Winter Festival, set to take place at the Market Place on Friday the 26th and Saturday 27th of November, but it looks doubtful the usual mass-gathering to see Santa Claus switching on the Christmas lights will be possible this year.

Divided in opinion on controlling the pandemic and vaccinations we may be, but Iโ€™m certain, though disappointed, it would be an understandable move to spread the festival out for safety reasons, as it did so well with the townโ€™s celebrated International Street Festival in the summer. Not forgoing, weโ€™ll all agree, the last person we need to test positive at this time of year, is Santa!

โ€œTraditionally Devizes Lantern Parade,โ€ DOCA announced, โ€œa huge magical community event comes to our streets on the last Friday of November, it is usually part of the Town Councils Light Switch on.  Things may be a little different this year.โ€

 But, letโ€™s look forward for the positives; posters are going up around town this coming week, lantern making workshops in schools and at the Wiltshire Museum will take place on the 7th and 21st of November, and DOCA is gearing up to present the town with a wonderful parade and market. โ€œWe can confirm that we will have an amazing festive market,โ€ they delight to inform, โ€œwith carefully selected sellers and makers bringing unique gifts, tasty food, and drinks to our Market Place.โ€

โ€œThe Makeryโ€ in the Corn Exchange will hold independent crafter stalls on both days, where youโ€™ll find beautiful handmade gifts. Fantasy Radio will be playing festival tunes in the Market Place, Devizes Town Band will bring class brass to the Market Place, from 6-7pm each evening, with fireworks straight afterwards, and the highlight lantern parade starting off at 6:30pm.

There is a revised route for the parade, DOCA advises checking maps on lampposts around the town. Collect your lanterns from St. Johnโ€™s Church between 5pm until 6pm. Leave unwanted lanterns under the Christmas Tree in the Market Place for recycling.

Other first-time things to look out for include the Air Giants, outside the Corn Exchange and the Town Hall at 5:30pm and 8:30pm. Amazing gentle giants, Triffid and Luma are huge illuminated, emotionally expressive, soft robotic creatures. โ€œYou may think the wind is blowing them, but they can actually sense you and will interact with you as you approach them,โ€ DOCA claim. This I have to see for myself; who knows, by the end of the evening weโ€™ll be best buddies and probably stop off for a pint at the British!

Also look out for Ghost Caribou; part caribou, part spirit, roam a mystical world after dark. That being outside the Mayflower on Long Street at 5:30pm and 7:10pm, and theyโ€™ll go walkabout along the High Street and Long Street afterwards. Join them as they clear a space to perform their other-worldly ceremony, with music, song and shadow puppets they tell stories of lost homes, impossible migrations and seeds of hope before continuing the journey into their hauntingly beautiful dream-world of the night.

Spooky! Hope to catch you there, with mulled wine and mittens! Find out more, HERE.

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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

Marlboroughโ€™s Festival Gem; Manton-Fest

Reading Wiltshire Liveโ€™s article this morning, in which attendees were evacuated at Swindon festival Live at Lydiard Park yesterday due to looming thunderstorms, somewhat reflected my own weekend. Music Director Stuart Whant of Mantonfest near Marlborough looked solemnly at me and said if we had thunderstorms, heโ€™d have to pull it. I tried to deflect it with flippancy, doubting it would come to that, but his expression told the story of how passionate and dedicated he is about Mantonfest.

Fortunately, despite one passing downpour, bad weather held off for the tenth anniversary of this magical and beloved little one-day festival. If Barrelhouse, the band Stuart plays bass for, performed the most excellent cover of Muddy Waterโ€™s โ€œGot my Mojo Working,โ€ wasnโ€™t the only muddy element to this event, it certainly wasnโ€™t going to upset the mood of the crowd.

Here, the port-a-loos are sectioned off according to gender, I duly noted; definitely a very Marlborough occasion! And for the locals Mantonfest has become a cherished institution. With Stuart organising, means Barrelhouse are firm fixture, as the crowdโ€™s explosion of delight when they came on revealed, if the amount of folk attired in the bandโ€™s T-shirt didnโ€™t.

I saw, and heard their reasoning, Barrelhouse seriously have their mojo working. Vintage blues with a hard edge groove their strapline, and apt. The cover of Hoochie Coochie Man sealed the deal for authenticity, but more captivating was the way they sublimely adjusted The Ace of Spades to said strapline, breathing a delta style into the metal anthem. Frontman Martin Hands is one cool dude in shades, playing no instrument he sullenly strides around the stage like a young Jim Morrison, and he has the rich, gritty voice which allures like him too.

For want of a plug, Barrelhouseโ€™s signature tune and title track of their latest album, Mainline Voodoo appears on our Juliaโ€™s House compilation album, and the instant magnetism of its riff is the central reason why Iโ€™m here; they did not disappoint, rather kick over the pedestal the tune caused me to put them on, and replaced it with a much higher, more expensive one! A Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, and Honky Tonk Woman finale sealed the deal.

This band, domestic and obviously essential to the festival, were far from the only thing to impress. Due to congestion Marlborough is currently experiencing due to roadworks, they swapped places with Richard Davies & The Dissidents, who as a band made their debut appearance at Mantonfest, with very proficient free-flowing feelgood rock n roll.

The causal, untamed beatnik frontman though has previously performed here in different bands. As a persona he very much reflects a mellowed Jagger-Petty mesh, and has the skill to support the accolade. Backed by a professional bunch, their wavey folk-blues is perfection, told in our review of their debut album, Human Traffic. Youโ€™re washed over with the sensation youโ€™ve somehow known these original songs all your life, theyโ€™d blend so wonderfully into a collection of Steve Winwood, Springsteen in all his Darkness glory, Traveling Wilburys and particularly, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, yet with a subtle hint of English punk, and amusing stage presence, theyโ€™re clearly one to watch.

No expense had been spared to make the stage centrepiece, with great acoustics whatever angle you’re situated, as the semi-circle shaped festival, overlooked by the beautiful surroundings of Treacle Brolly embraced it. Top-notch pyrotechnics breathed professionalism into the show as dusk became it, set for Dr Feelgood. A band formed in 1971 which never waned the passing of their frontman, Lee Brilleaux and various member changes, is one I confess my knowledge to not be up to much more than their name, therefore through their qualified skill at projecting some raw-edged blues with expertise ease and passion knocked me for six, particularly, a memorable guitar solo. Even if the encore felt forced when the frontman called it, Milk & Alcohol caused me to realise I knew more about Dr Feelgood than I gave credit for!

Another surprising revelation is the age demographic here, first impressions was an expected older crowd, with their umbrellas and collapsible chairs, but as I enjoyed a rather tasty Sumblers hotdog at the bar, I observed calculating an average age group was near impossible. To nit-pick being kid friendly, couldโ€™ve warranted some activities for them, but they seemed as content dancing as the teenagers and twentysomethings who rolled in to enjoy the show; some, I might add, better prepared for inclement weather than I!

But side provisions were adequate for a festival of this size, the upper-end of the food options being a pricey but worthy selection by Green Farm, based in Urchfont. The bar, provided by Ramsbury Brewery was of fair price, and the staff were extremely friendly. And this goes for as a summary of the festival, it was exceptionally localised and welcoming, the organisation of which was untroubled and willing to help with any inquiry.

Working in the morning made me fashionably late, as ever, sorry for missing local band Catfish the most, and only catching the end of The Ex-Men. First act for me to witness was impressive enough. Easy-listening folk Americana filled the bowl from a proficient Joe Martin and backing band. With a golden, rich voice soaring above his age, his originals were astutely written, one called Heartbreak Cult doubly-so, and covers of James Taylorโ€™s Fire and Rain especially wonderful.

I was tipped off to the excellence of this regular event by Devizesโ€™ local music enthusiast and photographer, Nick Padmore some time ago, and on his recommendation made a bee-line for it; it did not fail to live up to it. Yet I didnโ€™t bump into anyone I know from our area, causing me to ponder my notion of a superficially psychological wall on those downs.

Honestly, decades ago when I announced I was moving from Marlborough to Devizes it was met with a horrified reaction, as if Iโ€™d suggested moving to Tijuana, or some other murder capital of the world, and equally Devizions perceive to Marlborough to be as affluently cliquey as the Bullingdon Club of 1870, when neither stereotype is true; only a lack of a direct bus route separates them. Yet if such a barrier does exist, it means thereโ€™s another circuit of local talent worth exploring, operating literally a twenty-minute drive away. Mantonfestโ€™s dedication to local music proves this, but itโ€™s prone to bringing in some big guns to top it off, too.

The icing on this case, if the mind-blowing Dr Feelgood wasnโ€™t enough, was a welcomed Blondie tribute act as finale. Scotland-based Dirty Harry is the crรจme de la crรจme of tribute acts, genuinely and professionally mirroring the magic of Blondie in their prime. The lights shone over the returning drizzle as Mantonfest 2021 came to an enchanted end, tambourine-butt-tapping Dirt Harry, found time to banter with the crowd, young and old, bash out every known Blondie classic, some rarities and even The Ramones The Blitzkrieg Bop unto an appreciative bopping crowd.

Union City Blue, Heart of Glass, Denis and Call Me showcased the culmination of what was a wonderful return for live music in the area, and an area which should take heed, like other towns county-wide; ignore the relation to Devizes in the name Devizine, thatโ€™s just our base, we welcome news, events and stories from further afield, including you! And if Mantonfest is anything to go by, Iโ€™m taking this show on the road! meanwhile, you should bookmark Mantonfest 2022….

Trending…

Bouffon! JP Oldfieldโ€™s Debut EP in Review

Once the demonic entity Spring-Heeled Jack entered folklore it became subject to many books and plays, diluting the once real threat of this Victorian bogeyman into a mockery of mass hysteria and hoaxes. If our local upcoming blues soloist JP Oldfield is resurrecting the legend as an opening to his forthcoming debut EP, Bouffon, theโ€ฆ

Jamie Hawkinsโ€™ Teeth and Side Owl Short Films

Devizes singer-songwriter Jamie Hawkins, famed for poignant narrative in his songs and one-third Lost Trade, has always had a passion for filmmaking; Teeth is the breakthrough worth chatting aboutโ€ฆ.or chattering about! What started as simple yet amusing animations as Team Biscuit and the obligatory music video for his sole projects and those with The Lostโ€ฆ

The Emporium in Devizes to Close

If Devizes boasts an abundance of independent gift shops of unique and exquisite or often novelty items in the face of a national pandemic of boarded up storefronts, itโ€™s saddening to hear today The Emporium on St Johns Street is to closeโ€ฆ.. It has been a stalwart in our town centre for generations, as longโ€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.. If there are few bands on the local circuit to have turned my head and caused me to wallow in self-pity that I sorely missed out on the grunge zenith,โ€ฆ

Last Few Tickets for Devizes Festival of Winter Ales This Saturday!

There are only a few tickets left for this yearโ€™s Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, an important fundraiser for DOCAโ€ฆ.. This year DOCA has teamed up with the Southgate Inn, who have provided a fantastic selection of thirty ales and ciders, there are pies from Padfield Porkies and sausage rolls from Pig in the Middle.โ€ฆ

Electric Dream Comes True; Cephidโ€™s Sparks in the Darkness at The Rondo

A sublime evening of electronic elegance was had at Bathโ€™s humble Rondo Theatre last night, where Cephidโ€™s album, Sparks in The Darkness, was played out exclusively to a packed house. It was, in a word, breathtakingโ€ฆ. The type of genius who built a laser-harp at seventeen years old, Cephid’s composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Moray McDonaldโ€ฆ

Just a Little New Single From Sam Bishopย 

โ€œThis song speaks to anyone who’s ever felt like they weren’t quite enough for someone, yet still held out hope for just a hint of validation,โ€ Sam Bishop explained to me about his latest release, Just a Little which is out today, 7th Februaryโ€ฆ. The immediate hook to this song is in the simplicity ofโ€ฆ

SwinterFest Broke Me Out of Hibernation!

Like a hedgehog poking his nose out of the bracken, just a few hours on the Sunday at Swinterfest was enough to cure me of my hibernation, which seems to lengthen with each year and causes me to worry the attraction of warm, cosy nights in might seclude me forevermore, and Iโ€™ll never see aโ€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 they showered me with biscuits Iโ€™ve been doing the easy bits of arranging some live music and designing a poster for Rowde Fest 2025โ€ฆ.. Itโ€™s happening on Saturday 31st May fromโ€ฆ

September Munchies: Return of The Devizes Food & Drink Festival

A festival of gluttonous magnitude descends on Devizes, as the market town welcomes the return of The Devizes Food & Drink Festival. As per-usual, with the exception of the write-off year last, no corner has been left unturned in order to burst the box office when tickets go live on in fortnight, Monday 16th August.

Running later this year, Saturday 25th September to Sunday 3rd October, The Devizes Food & Drink Festival has a full schedule and a variety of interesting food and drink related events, of which I will attempt to sum up here, without getting the munchies and having to nip off for a fish finger sandwichโ€ฆ what? Nothing wrong with a fish finger sandwich, staple diet, mate!

The celebrated Street Food & Artisan Market kicks the show off, itsโ€™ free, itโ€™s my favourite in years gone by, primarily because of the free Fโ€™s; Food, Festival and Free! From 10am to 4pm, on Saturday 25th September, Devizes Market Place will be โ€œcheese toastie oozing deliciously,โ€ with a generous selection of stalls, sampling wonderful dishes and take-home buys from local producers and traders, not forgetting the Wadworth Bar and live music.

Soul food, also on that day, as author of two successful cookery books and currently cooking up a storm on Weekend Best, ITV Saturday mornings with Martin and Roman Kemp, Shivi Ramoutar will be demonstrating pulled pork shoulder tacos with a pineapple salsa and jerk mayo, 10.30 at the Corn Exchange for ยฃ3.

Food writer and columnist for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Great Taste Award judge and author of several cookery books, Xanthe Clay will help save on the washing up with a demonstration of delicious one-pan dishes at midday, for another ยฃ3.

Kitty Tait, the teenager from Oxfordshire whoโ€™s setting the baking world alight at The Orange Bakery in Watlington, Oxfordshire, is on from 2pm at Corn Exchange.

And the evening can be spent at Belle Bathrooms on Sidmouth Street where you can dine somewhere different.

On Sunday, forget the Wurzels, you can get some scrumpy โ€˜round โ€˜ere; itโ€™s all down to Bromhamโ€™s Cider Shed at 11.45, where craft cider maker, Roger Blake conducts you through the cider-making journey from apple blossom to bottle, seeing orchard, press and end product.

Later, for the younger, Hillworth park has a teddy bearโ€™s picnic, for just ยฃ2.50, for storytelling, games, and a healthy picnic. There will be a special guest, possibly the largest teddy in all Devizes โ€“ the Juliaโ€™s House Bear.

Salem Chapel, on New Park Street is where to dine somewhere different on Monday 27th September, lunchtime Loaves & Fishes, and Eveโ€™s Pudding and enjoy a glimpse of days gone by in Devizes courtesy of local historian Dave Buxton.  

Peter Vaughan shows you how to prepare some deliciously fragrant dishes from Goa, at his Cookery School, on Hopton. The cuisine is a unique mix of Mediterranean with a tropical Indian blend.

And Monday evening could be spent at The Literary & Scientific Institute for the Great Foodie Quiz, or stargazing in a pod at Erlestoke for an out-of-this-world five course meal.

Zooming back to earth Tuesday, to have lunch among the flowers of Superior Plants in Market Lavington, and an evening meal at the Bear Hotel. The five-course menu will be created by Wadworthโ€™s Executive Development Chef, Andrew Scott, who has worked in several Michelin starred restaurants as well as appearing on BBC2โ€™s Great British Menu, and the meal will be paired with wines chosen and described by experts from Wadworthโ€™s wine supplier Bibendum.

Gin masterclass, is a wise way to end Wednesday 29th September, at the The Vaults on St Johnโ€™s Street. Local distillery Scout & Sage invite you to learn all about gin, or Devizes Books presents readings from Kipling, Tagore, a Plain Tale from the Raj and some Spike Milligan, with three courses of the delicious cuisine of the sub-continent, at St Johnโ€™s Parish Rooms.

Cheese Hall, at Devizes Town Hall has foodie written all over it. An illustrated talk by art historian Clare Ford-Wille on Food in Art from the Romans to Cezanne on Thursday 30th September. Or perhaps a murder mystery dinner might be your thing? Also at Devizes Town Hall, with The All Cannings Players, bringing you a murder story, Rough Justice, involving an amateur dramatics group, and, naturally, a three-course dinner.

Friday 1st October, is foraging day, meeting points will be supplied with tickets, as small group walks search for edible and usable plants within the boundaries of Devizes. Lunch at the studio of Devizes contemporary artist, Bee Thomas, or take an expert tutorial at Wadworthโ€™s Brewery in signwriting with Wadworthโ€™s sign painter, Wayne Ritchings.

Then the firm fixture on the festival calendar, Friday, the Come Dine With Us experience without the cameras and annoying narration!

A new weekend upon them, thereโ€™s an invitation to Horton House Farm on Saturday 2nd October, and the grounds of Parkdale House has a steam engine, on the old Devizes Branch Line; you could be dining underneath the arches, barbecue style.

But thus, this sees the end of The Devizes Food & Drink Festival, with one of the most ingenious events the festival has launched. The World Food event, free at the Corn Exchange Sunday 3rd October from 12.30. Explore the globe on a plate. An event for all the family, where local residents with far flung roots invite you to sample a family favourite from their homeland. Basically, you get little taster portions for 50p a pop. Such a novel idea, and wonderful way to end the festival

ย Iโ€™m hungry mentioning all this, anyone got a biscuit? No, not a garibaldi, I want nothing less than custard cream, thank you! More info, and to book tickets, click here.

Spend August Bank Holiday at Manton-Fest!

Got your ticket for Manton-Fest yet? Well, hurry up, I need you to give me a lift!

โ€œTickets for this summerโ€™s Manton-Fest are up for grabs, a one-day festival Iโ€™ve heard only good things about;โ€ thatโ€™s what I said in a preview last January, oblivious to what was about to be thrown up in our faces. At least all my typing did not go to waste with this one preview, as Manton-Fest is back for 2021 and set to go ahead on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday, the 21st.

Here comes a clip-show then, part-copy and paste, as some of the faithful acts booked for last year are intending to come to this one. As Iโ€™ve said before, write off 2020, pretend it didnโ€™t happen, and look forward to this summer. Nesting in the water meadow of Manton Grange, below Treacle Brolly, Manton-Fest is surely one to put in your diary.

The tickets are online only: ยฃ30 for adults, ยฃ10 for teenagers 12 to 15 years and ยฃ5 for 7 to 11 years. But hurry, as thereโ€™s a pre-crowd; tickets bought in 2020 are valid for 2021 and ticket numbers will be restricted to allow social distancing.

The headliner is Edinburghโ€™s Blondie tribute, Dirty Harry. While thereโ€™s Blondie tributes aplenty, the band say, โ€œthe essence of Dirty Harry is to put on a show Blondie would give the nod to and in true punk style.โ€ Call me, Iโ€™m convinced, and slightly hot under the collar. Iโ€™m lucky enough to have seen the real McCoy, so expect me to be critical!

The legendary hard-driving rock n roll- blues virtuosos, Dr Feelgood are also booked. A band which never left the road, from forming in 1971 to lead vocalist, Lee Brilleaux’s untimely passing in 1994, theyโ€™re still strong.

The Ex-Men are next on the hierarchy, as the name suggests, itโ€™s an amalgamation group made up of Alan Sagar ex-Big Country, Graham Pollock ex-The Hollies, Peter Barton ex-The Animals, Phil Bates ex-ELO and Geoff Hammond ex-Denny Laine; you get the idea. A stimulating sounding assembly, with a wealth of experience between them it couldnโ€™t possibly go wrong.

Vintage blues with a hard-edge groove is the ethos of Barrelhouse, a band who delivered such a mind-blowingly addictive riff on our (plug) 4Juliaโ€™s House album, and one Iโ€™m very much looking forward to. Another unticked on my must-see tick-list is the excellent Richard Davies and The Dissidents. Since glowingly reviewing their album Human Traffic, theyโ€™ve also kindly contributed a track to our Juliaโ€™s House album, an outtake from the album.

Richard Davis & The Dissidents

Lancashire singer-songwriter Joe Martin returns after being a hit in previous years. Josie & The Outlaw are โ€œMantonFest veterans,โ€ a 4-piece Americana multi-genre band, blending rock n roll and rhythm & blues into country. Marlborough based beat-combo Catfish are a returning favourite, and Skedaddle are Mantonโ€™s very own six-piece semi-acoustic band.

All of this, and perhaps more, will be compered by Marie Lennon for BBC Radio Wiltshire. This festival has a long history, with Katrina & The Waves, Toyah, The Troggs and Led Zeppelin tribute Whole Lotta Led on the billings, so they know what theyโ€™re doing; me, Iโ€™m looking forward to finally breaking my MantonFest cherry; is there time to buy a festival-jester’s hat?!

tickets and info here

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

DOCA Receives Culture Recovering Funding

The future of Devizesโ€™ carnival and Outdoor Celebratory Arts is looking great, as DOCA announce today some exciting news; they are delighted to have received funding from the governmentโ€™s #CultureRecoveryFund.

The much-needed funding will cover their overheads in the coming months. Allowing investments in developing their Board of Trustees, employ a Volunteer Coordinator and begin reconnecting with the existing โ€œfamilyโ€ of volunteers. They also seek new recruits to help deliver the fantastic program of events. Such as new volunteer coordinator, Holly Solo-Hawthorn, who joined the team in last November. If volunteering with DOCA is something you are interested in please email: docavolunteer@gmail.com

Chair of the Trustees, Kelvin Nash said, โ€œwe know people canโ€™t wait to get out and meet up with others and enjoy all the things we might have taken for granted before COVID. We also know we are very privileged to receive this funding that will help us continue bringing great events to Devizes. We hope everyone will continue to support us this year to make these events happen safely, plans are still tentative of course, but it does feel like there is now a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Artistic Director, Loz Samuels expressed although DOCA are able to start planning Summer events, not all of the usual events will be back this year. โ€œThis year will have a different feel but we know that it will be just as amazing as ever. There will be no Confetti Battle this year we hope to combine the Colour Rush with the Street Festival which will add an explosion of colour to the day and we hope to attract some new people along to the event.โ€

As we look forward to future events in Devizes, DOCA will be touching base with market traders and coordinating a hopeful new season of celebrations. Hereโ€™s the plan to date:

Sunday 22nd August 2021 โ€“ Picnic in the Park

Monday 30th August 2021 โ€“ Devizes International Street Festival

Monday 30th August 2021 โ€“ Colour Rush

Friday 26th November 2021 โ€“ Winter Parade

Saturday 27th November 2021 โ€“ 31 Trees and Counting

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th Feb 2022 โ€“ Festival of Winter Ales

Image: Gail Foster

Hoping for a Summer of Local Music Festivals

Presented a punter-based cautionary piece on the hopeful move forward for live music this year, and how chancy it all is at this stage. If the playground remains uneven, I never intended the article to be pessimistic, though it mayโ€™ve been perceived that way. I just advised applying caution may be necessary prior to a compulsory detonation of over-excitement.

The other side of the coin of this vicious circle is that, without ticket sales there will be no show. While many organisers have cancelled their regular events, some keep their fingers and toes crossed, others are trying to work through it, and are dowsing a silver lining to this cloud with a summer of festivals planned.

Letโ€™s hope and pray it pays off. Festival websites report that it is, and tickets are selling fast, which agreed, could be a sales pitch. So, you’re left to risk the call, and snap up tickets, especially for the most popular ones. I have faith most festivals will refund you if it either goes Pete Tong, or Pete Tong is booked to DJ, or else ask to retain your ticket for another year, because they organise festivals, and festivals are all about openness and sharing. Booking agents on the other hand, might be another story.

Personally, I’ve done gone got the festival t-shirt many moons ago, and the jester’s hat too, come to think about it; I can bide my time from power-napping in a spinning canvas pyramid, paying over the odds for a baggie of basil, and sliding headlong into a ditch of piss. For many though, particularly younger generations, festivals are essential, and vital, for their wonderful feeling of togetherness. For the music industry it’s crucial to maintain this notion; ignore my aged rant, there is no ditch of piss, not really, not in this clean-cut era!

Letโ€™s run through the locally based choicest ones, which sound too good to miss… but remember to check the individual planned conditions of entry, some will ask you to provide evidence of licensed vaccination or negative PCR test within the previous 48 hour period.

June

11th โ€“ 13th: Kite Festival

Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire

Born from a Kickstarter campaign in January 2020, but cancelled for the obvious reasons, itโ€™s this festivalโ€™s maiden voyage this year. KITE aims to combine incredible music and breakthrough ideas in a unique programme of live performances and interactive discussions. โ€œWe wanted to bring together contemporary and legendary performers, thinkers, writers and public figures from the world of music, politics, business, technology and the arts and give you the opportunity to engage with the people who are influencing the way we live.โ€

Cultural icon Grace Jones, multi-Grammy-Award winning jazz singer Gregory Porter and gospel legend Mavis Staples were set to lead the music programme for the original date last year, we wait in anticipation to hear the line-up now, as Kite announce theyโ€™re working on their 2021 programme. Sign up for their newsletter for updates.

18th-20th: Bigfoot Festival

Ragely Hall, Warwickshire

Another first outing cancelled last year sees its debut this June. Just the map is enticing enough, with a boating lake and woodland and all that stuff. Local breweries and bands, who share the stages with a great line up, including Primal Scream, Fat White Family, Hot Chip Megamix, Maribou State (DJ) Baxter Dury and Dinosaur Pile-Up. Thereโ€™s also an intersting wellbeing programme with hip hop yoga, boxercise, Let’s Talk About Sex Meditation & Mindfulness, and biscuits & burpees; Iโ€™ll just have the biscuits, thank you! Find Bigfoot here.

July

2nd โ€“ 4th: Minety Music Festival

Hornbury Hill, Malmesbury

Fourth outing for this popular do. A community non-profit triple day extravaganza, run entirely by volunteers which raised funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and local schools and charities last year. Guaranteed excellent music, a great, wide range of food and a well-stocked house Bar, Gin & Prosecco Bar and Cocktail Tiki Bar! There will also be a range of FREE activities in the Kidzone, including rock climbing wall, rock climbing digi-wall, an inflatable slide and assault course, bouncy castles, circus skills workshops and kids craft workshops, plus many more activities.

Line-up includes, Dr & The Medics, Space, Jesus Jones, Dreadzone, Crikey Minogue & Six Packs, a Ministry of Samba workshop, and a great local roster of Devizine favourites The Tribe, Talk In Code, The Dirty Smooth, A’La-Ska, Navajo Dogs, Sloe Train and Plucking Different. This is going to be a brilliant one, make sure thereโ€™s room in your backpack to sneak me in! Info Here.

Should get you in the mood…..

8th-10th: 2000trees Festival

Withington, Cheltenham

A largely rock and indie festival, 2000trees has a good reputation and won awards. This year sees Jimmy Eat World headline, with Thrice, Creeper, The Amazons, Dinosaur Pile-Up, The Menzingers, The Get Up Kids and many more to make me feel old!  Tickets & info Here.

9th-11th: โ€“ Cornbury Festival

Great Tew, Oxfordshire

Still in the planning stages, this ever-growing festival in the most beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswold location think itโ€™s enough just to announce on headline act, yeah, but it is Bryan Adams; show offs! Should be good though. Info here.

22nd-25th Womad (?)

Charlton Park, Malmesbury

Still hopeful, Womad are holding off announcing acts, but you know, I know, we all know itโ€™ll be the crรจme de la crรจme of world music on our doorstep, if all goes well, theyโ€™ve secured the date and tickets are here.

31st Mfor 2021

Lydiard Park, Swindon

A family orientated, affordable, one day pop-tastic festival I’ve only heard good things about, could be just the thing to introduce kids to festivals. And with Craig David, Rudimental, Ella Henderson, Phats & Small, Mark Hill (Original Artful Dodger), Lindy Layton on the line-up, itโ€™s easy to see how this party is going to go down. I believe local acts will also be on agenda, certain our friends Talk in Code feature. Thereโ€™s even an over 18 Friday night special additional event, with Five, S Club, Liberty X, Baby and Rozalla; everybody is freeeee, to feeeel gooood, apparently. Info & Tickets.

August

5th-8th: Wickham Festival

Fareham, Hampshire

New one on me this, but The Wickham Festival is an annual four-dayer of music and arts. Boasting three stages, and rated as one of the safest, most relaxed and family-friendly festivals in the UK, Wickham was voted ‘Best UK Festival, cap. under 15000’ at the Live UK Music Business Awards in October 2015; so, they know their stuff; I mean, theyโ€™ve got Van the man, and The Waterboys. Note also, Devizine favs, Beans on Toast, Gaz Brookfield, Tankus the Henge along with Nick Parker on the agenda; sweet! Tickets & Info Here.

6th: Love Summer Festival Devon: SOLD OUT.

7th- 8th: The Bath Festival Finale Weekend

And what a finale it is, Saturday; McFly, Scouting For Girls, Orla Gartland, Lauren Hibberd, George Pelham, Josh Gray, Novacub, Dessie Magee and Luna Lake. Sunday; UB40 featuring Ali Campbell & Astro, Billy Ocean, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Seth Lakeman, Bloco B, Hannah Grace, Casey Lowry, Port Erin Life, and Life In Mono, with more to be announced… Tickets HERE.

21st: Mantonfest

Manton, Marlborough

Any closer than this and itโ€™ll be in your back garden! But thatโ€™s not the sole reason to grab a ticket for MantonFest! Just thirty notes for adults, a tenner for teenagers, and a fiver for kids, but thatโ€™s not the only other reason. Reports on this family, broad ranging charity fundraising annual do has never been negative, and weโ€™re glad to hear itโ€™s back for 2021. Number one Blondie tribute Dirty Harry headline, along with Dr. Feelgood, Ex-Men (five members of original 60’s bands), Barrelhouse, Jo Martin with his band, Devizine favs Richard Davies and The Dissidents, Josie and the Outlaw and homegrown Skeddadle. We previewed it last year before shit hit the fan; tickets bought in 2020 are valid for 2021. Mantonfest say, โ€œwe may have to introduce some anti-covid restrictions. These will be announced nearer the time and will be in line with the latest developments and best practice;โ€ letโ€™s hope this goes off this time. Tickets & Info here.

21st: Live at Lydiard

Lydiard Park, Swindon

Anneโ€Marie, Sean Kingston, Roman Kemp [DJ set] Artful Dodger, Chaney, Fabian Darcy on the line-up over four stages for this day festival at Lydiard, with a dance tent, boutique cocktail bar and food court. Info & Tickets here.

21st: Bath Reggae Festival

Now pushed back to August bank holiday, this is the maiden voyage for the Bath Reggae Festival, and we bless them with the best of luck. With a line-up this supreme though, Iโ€™d imagine itโ€™ll sell itself. Legends Maxi Priest, Aswad, Big Mountain, Dawn Penn, and The Slits solo extraordinaire Hollie Cook, Laid Back and lovers rocker Wayne Wonder, this is a must for reggae fans. Tickets & info here.

September

4th-5th: Concert at the Kings

All Cannings, Devizes

For locals little more can be said about how awesome this ground-breaking festival raising staggering funds for cancer research is. Since 2012 it has bought international headline acts to the sleepy village outside Devizes; legendary fables and the fondest memories have been had there. No difference this time around, save for some social distancing. Billy Ocean, 10CC, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Sweet, Strawbs, Lindisfarne and Devizine favs Talk in Code, with more to be announced; twist your arm anymore, sir? No; no need to! Tickets & Info here.

9th-12th: Swindon Shuffle

Venues across Swindon

A later date for this annual extravaganza of local live music, spread across Swindonโ€™s premiere venues and hugely supportive of original homegrown talent, this is weekend to head for the railway town. Since 2007 the Shuffle raises funds for MIND, and is largely free to attend. Ah, thereโ€™s plenty time to arrange a line-up, which is underway, but you can guarantee a truckload of our local favourites will be there, somewhere! Info.

10th-12th: Vintage Nostalgia Festival

Stockton Park, Near Warminster

The mature place to glamp this summer if you want to get retro; classic cars is the concentrate, but thereโ€™s no shortage of great bands from rockabilly, doo-wop, blues to mod skiffle, boogie woogie jazz and beyond. Sarah Mai Rhythm & Blues Band, “Great Scott,” Shana Mai and the Mayhems, The Bandits, Junco Shakers,The Flaming Feathers, The Harlem Rhythm Cats, Little Dave & The Sunshine Sessions, The Rough Cut Rebels, Riley K, The Ukey D’ukes and loads more. Info & Tickets Here.

You know, this one could be for me, rather than trying to look youthful clutching onto a marquee pole for dear life while a hoard of sugared-up teeny-boppers check Instagram amidst a soundtrack of dubstep! But look, I reckon thereโ€™s something for everyone here, but if I did miss yours, let me know, for a squashy cup of cider at the festie bar, I must just add your do here too!

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Just Another Lockdown Festival

JMW Promotions have a free online festival coming this Saturday and Sunday (9th & 10th Jan.)

There’s a lot of names I don’t recognise, which is the best thing about festivals in general, but especially online; local artists without borders. In fact the only performer I have heard of is the brilliant Jess Silk, on Sunday.

Line up looks like this: Just Another Lockdown Festival

Saturday
1pm Sam Draisey
2pm Shotgun Marmalade
3pm Kyle Parsons
4pm BICKERmusic
5pm Harrison Rimmer
6pm Warren Ireland
7pm Brian Stone Music
8pm JollyRoger
9pm Davey Malone

Sunday
1pm ALEX CAVAN MUSIC
2pm michael webster
3pm Have A Go Hero
4pm Doozer McDooze
5pm Sam Tucker?
6pm Maelor Hughes
7pm Ellie Keegan
8pm Brad Dear
9pm Jess Silk

Tune in from the artists Facebook pages which can be found on the event page, or check them out on JMW Promotions or in JMW Promotions Community.

Jess Silk (Image credit: Olver Gray)

Best of luck to JMW and all artists for the weekender, there will be a PayPal bucket linked, please support the artists, you know the drill. I’ll defo be popping in as and when and hoping to hook up with some new talent defo. Might even don my festival jester’s hat, put my cider in a squashy cardboard cup and take a piss behind the sofa!

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Shiine Weekender Festival 2021

Imagine, a festival. Right now, imagining Joe Bloggs from the down the road clonking the ivory and singing a ditty down your local is wishful thinking. Itโ€™s hard to envisage an autumn a year away, and I accept, not ideal to invest in a ticket until you are sure this fiasco is blown over. However, if we donโ€™t least assume it will have and buy advance tickets for events, there will be nought sorted for when we can and are itching to go out.

While festivals, for me, are something of a past reality, I just know Iโ€™m going to aching to get out as much as feasible. So, we have to tip our hats at those ambitious organisers trying to arrange bonza events on the hope things will return to relative normal. Hereโ€™s a blinding example, the Shiine On Weekender at Butlins Minehead. Itโ€™s not due until November 2021, when if it hasnโ€™t blown over by then, I think weโ€™ll be clinically insane! Check out the knockout line up.

The festival returns for itโ€™s sixth year, with Feeder, Cast, Peter Hook & The Light, The Coral, Black Grape, Glasvegas and The Bluetones all headlining. Plus 808 State, Asian Dub Foundation, Sice Boo & The Radleys, Nedโ€™s Acoustic Dustbin, Jim Bob, Chameleons, The Pigeon Detectives, Milltown Brothers, Neville Staple Band, and more. Ding dong, I say, tickets are on sale now.

The rest of this piece Iโ€™m copy and pasting direct from the press release, save a bit of typing! Go knock yourselves out.

Staking its place as a stalwart of the UKโ€™s Winter festival scene, the Shiiine On Weekender returns for its sixth instalment on the 12th, 13th and 14th November 2021 and boasts an unbeatable crop of indie and dance as always.

Taking over Butlinโ€™s Minehead Arena for a long-weekend escape of music and mayhem, the fest will be hosting a trio of legendary headline acts of the highest order…

Getting the festival underway in style, Friday night headliners FEEDER will see dynamic duo Grant Nicholas & Taka Hirose blasting through over 20 years of hits, from โ€˜Buck Rogersโ€™ to โ€˜Just A Dayโ€™ and airing cuts from their revitalised comeback LP of 2019: โ€˜Tallulahโ€™. Marking the 25th anniversary of their seminal โ€˜All Changeโ€™ album, Saturday night will see CAST top the bill with their electrifying live show to remind us just why they were crowned โ€˜The Who of the 90sโ€™; expect a healthy dose of classics in a confirmed Greatest Hits set too. PLUS, closing-out the Shiiine On Weekender with a Sunday showdown of pure substance: PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT will bring a set brim-full of Joy Division and New Orderโ€™s very finest moments.

Giving plenty of reasons to get down the front early, there will be superior supporting sets across the weekend from some long-established festival heroes. Merseyside psych-pop sorcerers THE CORAL (Friday), Shaun Ryderโ€™s rabble-rousers BLACK GRAPE, plus a long overdue return from Scottish shoegazers GLASVEGAS (Sunday), will throw down the gauntlet to the headliners each night.

And of course, the mainstage is just the tip of the iceberg. Revealing its full and complete billing today, the Shiiine On Weekender will pack the holiday park with incendiary indie acts from all eras….

Thereโ€™ll be sets by Brit-Pop powerhouses like THE BLUETONES who will be arriving for an all-guns blazing greatest hits slot; PLUS, a Shiiine On 2021 festival exclusive set from SICE BOO & THE RADLEYS, which will see Sice reunited with the Boo Radleys rhythm section Tim Brown and Rob Cieka to โ€˜Wake Up, Boo!โ€™ and their many dormant classics at long last. There will also be sets from The Seahorsesโ€™ CHRIS HELME, JAMES ATKIN (of EMF), REPUBLICA, BENTLEY RHYTHM ACE, MOLLY

HALF HEAD, THE CLONE ROSES, and THE SPACE MONKEYS will all be flying the flag for that seminal era of British music.

Elsewhere, 21st Century alternative torchbearers like HUMANIST, THE PIGEON DETECTIVES and GOLDIE LOOKINโ€™ CHAIN will be showcasing their own tried-and-tested modern festival anthems.

Showing the kids how itโ€™s done, vintage indie veterans including: CHAMELEONS, NEDโ€™S ACOUSTIC DUSTBIN, JIM BOB (of Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine), THE MILLTOWN BROTHERS, and the JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET will be bringing timeless tunes and experience to the fest.

And with a packed programme of music day and night, the entertainment wonโ€™t stop when the mainstage lights go up. Throwing their doors open from 10pm – 4 am, the Shiiine On Weekenderโ€™s Centre Stage and Reds Stage promises to be the-place-to-be for top tunes late into the night. Full live sets from proven party starters inc. Acid House innovators 808 STATE, original rude boy NEVILLE STAPLE BAND (ex-The Specials), plus an unmissable closing party set from Electronic/Dub overlords: ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION. In addition, late-night slots from ALISON LIMERICK, DUB PISTOLS, SHADES OF RHYTHM, SUNSCREEM, plus DJ sets from SLIPMATT, JON DASILVA (Hacienda), RHODA DAKAR (Bodysnatchers), radio legends STEVE LAMACQ (BBC 6 Music) and CLINT BOON (XS Manchester / Inspiral Carpets) will ensure thereโ€™s good reason to keep the candles burning at both ends.

Announcing nearly 80 artists and performers today, the Shiiine On Weekender can also confirm a huge array of new and established acts who will also be making tracks for the seaside resort come this November. Across the weekend, look out for: ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE, DEJA VEGA, TOM HINGLEY, MARTIN BLUNT, ANDY BUSH, HOLY APES, MATT McMANAMON, THE WALTONES, SECTION 25, THE CHESTERFIELDS, MIDWAY STILL, THE CLAUSE, THE SHAKES, PSYCHO COMEDY, DERMO, DJ MILF, PHIL SMITH, LEO STANLEY, SHADER, UKE2, OASIS (UK), TAM COYLE, DIRTY LACES, CUT GLASS KINGS, THE ROOM IN THE WOOD, THE JACQUES, CROSS WIRES, THE IDLE HANDS, THE MALAKITES, GOOD MIXER, TRAPPSY, DAN FULHAM, WELSH LEE,  LEE HOWE,  DJ STARKEY, DAVID DUTTON, MISFIT MAN, ALEX LIPINSKI, NIRVANALOT, and STEVE ADJ; all of whom will be making the festival’s sixth edition its biggest and best yet.

Itโ€™s not all just about the bands either. The Shiiine On Weekender will also be throwing one big holiday park house-party to rival the best, crammed end-to-end with even more entertainment inducing: CLUB NIGHTS, POOL PARTIES, LIVE COMEDY, CINEMA SCREENINGS, a SOCIAL RECLUSE EXHIBITION and much, much more. 

TICKET DETAILS

Taking place 12th, 13th, 14th November 2021, tickets and packages for the SHIIINE ON WEEKENDER 2021 at Butlinโ€™s Minehead Arena, Somerset are on sale now. All packages include 3 nightsโ€™ accommodation on-site at the Butlin’s Minehead Holiday Resort. (A deposit scheme is also available for customers who wish to pay by instalments.)

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE:

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EXCLUSIVE EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

** PLUS, early bird customers who use the promo code NCB10 will also be offered a discounted rate. This is an 18+ event only. For more T&Cs please visit the website.

Devizes Winter Festival

The weekend traditionally for Devizes Lantern Parade, 27th-28th November, there promises to be a huge magical community event this year, because of circumstances beyond their control, DOCA are doing things a little differently, and invites you to be apart of the Devizes Winter Festival. There are plenty of things to do, see, and get involved in.

FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT
For your delight, they will have roaming performers and an amazing walking trail for you to visit, suitable for all ages.

Projector Boom Bikes by Sound Intervention

Dan Fox will be bringing his amazing projector bikes which will fill the streets with music and light. Interact with all the strange and familiar creatures the bikes project onto the buildings of Devizes.
Location: Leaving from the yard of the Black Swan
Appearing: Friday 27th 17.00 -17.45, 18.30-19.15 &
20.15-21.00 Saturday 28th – 16.45- 17.30 & 18.00-19.00

Celestial Sound Cloud by Pif Paf

Dance and wave and the Sound Cloud will react to you to create a unique conversation in sound and light. Donโ€™t be shy, itโ€™s your chance to be the conductor to create beautiful harmonies and make light patterns like youโ€™ve never seen before. Access to the SoundCloud will be managed by volunteers for your safety.
Location: Wiltshire Museumโ€™s garden, Long Street, SN10 1NS. Access through the rear car park
Times: Friday 27th – 16:00 โ€“ 21:00, Saturday 28th – 16:00 โ€“ 19:00

The Bell Orchestra by Beautiful Creatures

This amazing supersize instrument is waiting for you to come and play. Created by Beautiful Creatures Theatre who will invite you to experiment with these giant illuminated chimes. Come and enjoy some safe togetherness and make some beautiful music in this lovely Devizes square. Suitable for all ages and abilities
Location: The Chequers Garden, High Street, SN10 1AT
Times: Friday 27th 16:30 โ€“ 18:30 & 19:00 โ€“ 21:00

Devizes Town Band

Devizes Town Band will bring the sound of festive tunes that you know and love to the Market Place.
Saturday Morning โ€“ times to be announced soon

Virtual light switch on by Father Christmas From his home

Like most of us Father Christmas is having a trickier year than usual! To make sure everyone is safe he wonโ€™t be appearing in person at the Light Switch on this year but heโ€™ll do it from his home.
Heโ€™s asking children to write to him, to help you he has sent us a letter template which you can pick up from the Shambles Market between the 31st of October and the 14th of November. If you want him to write back youโ€™ll need to tick the box on the back of the letter and post it into the red letterbox in the Shambles by 4pm on the 16th of November. All the letters will be sent to Father Christmas who will be reading out a selection on You Tube at 7pm on the 27th along with a tour of his house and workshop. Heโ€™ll also write back to you, your letters will be ready for collection on Saturday the 5th and 12th of December between 9am and 12 noon from the Shambles.
The YouTube channel address is http://bit.ly/DevizesSanta

FOR YOUR SHOPPING NEEDS

Doca have selected the best traders in the area, offering a host of fantastic flavours, amazing tipples, beautiful handmade gifts and more. Explore the expanded festive markets in safety over 3 days at your leisure. Please view trading times below.

Friday 27th
Market Place 4 – 9pm
Corn Exchange  2.30 – 8:30pm
The Shambles 10:00am – 8:30pm
Town Hall 2.30 – 8:30pm

Saturday 28th
Market Place 10am – 7pm
Corn Exchange 10am – 7pm
Town Hall 10am – 7pm

Sunday 29th
Market Place 10am – 2pm
Town Hall 10am- 2pm

BE APART OF THE MAGIC  with Window Wanderland

Doca have invited homes, venues and shops to get creative through this Internationally known event, and hope it will become a new tradition in Devizes. Look on the Window Wanderland website or follow the link from ours for more information.
http://www.windowwanderland.com/event/devizes-2020/
Times: 17:30 to 21:00 each night.

Shambles Festive Makeover

With your help DOCA are attempting to transform the Shambles, the roof will be decked with baubles made by the community. Check their website for details for dates and opening times.
docadevizes.org.uk/make-a-bauble-for-the-shambles-installation

HELPING TO KEEP YOU SAFE

Attendees and audiences will be required to follow safety measure. Please ensure you use our track and trace system, scan the QR code in all venues and register using your smartphone
Use hand sanitizer provided
Wear a mask at all times
Maintain a safe distance from people
Bring your own cups for drinks and help the environment too

For more information on Devizes Winter Festival please visit the DOCA website https://www.docadevizes.org.uk/winter-festival/

โ€œStaticโ€ Shuffle; Swindon Shuffle Live Streams This Saturday

If you rarely venture into Swindon, July is the month in which to make the journey. Swindon Shuffle celebrates and backs local music, since 2007 hosting a weeklong town music festival at its hottest venues; namely The Victoria, The Beehive, The Hop, The Tuppenny and Baila Coffee & Vinyl. In association with Swindon Link and the West Berkshire Brewery, last year they presented forty-four bands over the weekend, all free, and supported mental health charity MIND.

I was forgiven in thinking this year would be virtual, saving some petrol money at least, but the organisers inform me this weekendโ€™s Virtual Shuffle is only to breeze over this gloomy, Groundhog Day isolation period, and they cross their fingers for the real thing on the 16th-19th July; crossing my toes too!

shufflepost

So, yeah, but yeah, whoop-whoop, Swindon Shuffle will indeed fill this gap with plentiful live streams this Saturday 11th April, kicking off at 3:15pm. Streamed direct from their Facebook page, expect to catch all local acts; Jim Blair of Hip Route, the bearer of Devizineโ€™s heart Miss Tamsin Quin, Mr Love & Justice himself, Steve Cox, jazz pianist, singer-songwriter Will Lawton, Harry Leigh, frontman of indie-pop outfit Stay Lunar, experimental Karda Estra project runner Richard Wileman, Onze from Atari Pilot, Joe Rose and Nash.

mrlove
Mr Love & Justice, Steve Cox

Our favourite Swindonian music journalist, the one and only Dave Franklin, if thereโ€™s another heโ€™s a phoney, is all over helping organise this sofa bash. He states โ€œobviously thereโ€™s more important things going on in the world right now than worrying about a local music festival, but it is also at times like these that music, art, creativity in general, helps get us through or at least offers an oasis of calm where we can retreat to and forget the day-to-day worries for a bit.โ€

karda estra
Karda Estra

For me personally, Iโ€™m continuing to toil with the worth of the live stream against a real gig, ponder itโ€™s currently all we have, worry either punter or musician are forced onto the ropes when it comes to how they should be arranged and financed and have even encountered and engaged in heated debates as we scramble in the dark trying to make this work best for everyone. This said, if anyone can Iโ€™m reckoning the Shuffle team will make an amazing job of it. If there is an upside to it, it is that one can check these artists out for when the gig scene does take off, and boy, Iโ€™m predicting itโ€™ll go off like an atomic blast, and it will encourage many to take the journey to festivals such as Swindon Shuffle, in this example.

Will Lawton

In the meantime, enjoy the streams and not let it miff us too much at missing the real thing. I tell myself the scene is dormant; it will erupt again. It should go without saying, but Iโ€™m going to spell it out; B, for BUY, U for Yourself (sort of,) Y for some local music, (okay, that didnโ€™t work) Look, just support the artists and buy their music from their websites and Bandcamp sites!

A (hic) Festival of Winter Ales

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Call them Ale

Proper quality celebratory glasses here yโ€™ know, no squashy disposable cups; something of a memento. There are flowers in a jar on the table, aroma of hot pie, and a bulky fellow juggling knifes, while straddling our own Ian Diddams while he lies flat on his back on stage. If your preconception of a beer festival is a marquee in a muddy field, think again, this is the prestigious Devizes Corn Exchange and DOCA, our Outside Celebratory Arts association, are holding their annual Festival of Winter Ales in conjunction with the Stealth Brewery Company.

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Splat the Rat

Iโ€™ll come clean, Iโ€™m breaking my Festival of Winter Ales cherry tonight, and Iโ€™m also fashionably late. Friday night was a sell-out, Iโ€™m informed, today is near equal in success, but Iโ€™d better hurry on in, the beers were running out. Another confession, I be a cider drinker, part of my five a day. Our man Andy cannot report, heโ€™s here in a professional capacity, tending the bar, least lengthy set of tables. I would have kept him on his toes, but heโ€™s attending to the ale end of things, Iโ€™m occupying the cider corner. A rhubarb laced cider is my first glassful, despite the eventโ€™s name, thereโ€™s ciders aplenty, but the choice of ale was extensive and over the whole weekend you could possibly, but unlikely to, pursue them all.

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Vince Bell

With a customary token system functioning, and barrels aligning the length of the grand hall, thereโ€™s part of this event which reflects the standard beer festival format, in a grand fashion. Yet it has a civilised angle, prementioned flowers on tables, etc and surrounding the magnificent stage as if it was an awards evening rather than a beer festival. Donโ€™t get me wrong, this is not a complaint but a compliment, twas a splendid arrangement for a splendid evening; no one need a muddy field in a rain drenched February, save perhaps the odd duck.

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Matt Barnard

If Iโ€™m honest, which you know I blatantly am, Iโ€™m not surprised by the impressive event, Stealth knows good beer, and DOCA know what theyโ€™re doing and could arrange a party on a glacier off Antarctica and itโ€™d still be awesome. Winter beanies off to them both, for this inviting and warming occasion which is, essentially, an important fundraising event which will help fund the carnival and massive summer events such as the beloved annual street festival.

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It’s Complicated

Through the three sessions over two days, our best local bands and musicians played, the wonderful Itโ€™s Complicated, Splat the Rat and Vince Bell. I was there in time to catch the finale of Matt Barnard, who has amused as compere, and all-round entertainer through the festival. Heโ€™s a confident, comical and cheery chap with that unique Saturday Night at the Palladium ability to cover all aspects of showbiz proficiently. Kris Dollimore followed, with an extensive rรฉsumรฉ, this member of Del Amitri drove from Cornwall to pick a guitar akin to an illusionist vanishing the Eifel Tower. I pay particular astonishment to his beautiful rendition of Marvin Gayeโ€™s Inner-City Blues.

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Kris Dollimore

What a most splendid event, one worthy of your attention for next year, and priced at a tenner with first pint free in your keepsake glass, you cannot go wrong.

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ยฉ 2017-2020 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

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A Dirty Harry, some Ex-Men, a One Love Orchestra and more @ MantonFest 2020

Tickets for this summerโ€™s Manton-Fest are up for grabs, a one-day festival Iโ€™ve heard only good things about.

The date is Saturday 27th June. A ยฃ20 Early-bird ticket will guarantee youโ€™re in for this previously sold-out mini-fest, this year you can book a plot for your gazebo for ยฃ5, parking has been moved to a separate field allowing more space, but letโ€™s see what your money will get you this year shall we?

The headliner is Edinburghโ€™s Blondie tribute, Dirty Harry. While thereโ€™s Blondie tributes aplenty, the band say, โ€œthe essence of Dirty Harry is to put on a show Blondie would give the nod to and in true punk style.โ€ Call me, I’m convinced, and slightly hot under the collar; with the advantage of YouTube you can judge for yourself, modern technology eh?

The Ex-Men are next on the hierarchy, as the name suggests, itโ€™s an amalgamation group made up of Alan Sagar ex Big Country, Graham Pollock ex The Hollies, Peter Barton ex the Animals, Phil Bates ex ELO and Geoff Hammond ex Denny Laine; you get the idea. A stimulating sounding assembly with a wealth of experience between them couldnโ€™t possibly go wrong.

the-ex-men-Peter-Barton
The Ex-Men

Vintage blues with a hard edge groove is the ethos of Barrelhouse, who promise up-beat original tracks and classic covers. You be forgiven for assuming the Swinging Blue Jeans would headline, but this classic-sixties rock n roll group have no members of the original skiffle sextet. Yet the band went through constant changes throughout its expansive history, with replacements dating back as far as 1963, when they had their memorable hit, โ€œHippy Hippy Shake,โ€ and frontman Alan Lovell has led the band for over twenty years.

London-based Bob Marley tribute, the One Love Orchestra could well be my arm twister. Formed in 2010, by musical director and lead guitarist Marcin Bobkowski, One Love Orchestra comprises of reggae musicians whoโ€™ve worked with legends like The Wailers, Max Romeo, Johnny Osbourne, Lee Scratch Perry, and UB40, and bring a moving tribute to the legend.

Lancashire singer-songwriter Joe Martin returns after being a hit last year, Mantonโ€™s own mellow blues-based Ed Witcomb will also appear, along with local rock covers band @59, and Skedaddle open the show with their mix of soul, blues and jazz. More are promised, if this isnโ€™t enough to be getting on with, and I dunno, it just sounds like a splendid day. For what begun as an event to aid much-needed restoration funds for Manton Village Hall, its grown into an important occasion on our local circuit and aids other local charities.

Ed
Ed Witcomb

More info and for tickets look ‘ereโ€ฆ.

at59
@59

ยฉ 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

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Street Festival, Yeah!

Images used with the kind permission of

Tanya Jurkiewicz Photography

and Gail Foster

 

Gigantic bouncy slide outside the trusty Pelican, where we usually wait for a bus. Beyond, a superior stage surrounded by pockets of circus acts, charity stands, clothes stalls, and street food heaven wraps the Market Place, where DOCA gave information and a Pimms bar bustled. Happenings snaked down Snuff Street, over St Johns, and across the town centre, the atmosphere buzzing. Whatโ€™s not to like?

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From fudge and churros, to Tibetan cuisine and crocodile burgers, food and drink was diverse. Stealth Brewery held the most aesthetic bar and seating area, The British Lion occupied the other, functional side, frantically serving the cider which gives this event itโ€™s local auxiliary namesake. Yes, Black Rat Monday, or as the wonderful organisers would favour you call it, The Devizes International Street Festival. Upon us, the customary bubbliest, most multicoloured and all-round brilliant community-fuelled event to bless our spirited market town.

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If many a festival constitutes packing camping gear, blagging petrol money off mates and trekking through town and country to attend, DOCA bring the spirit of festival to your doorstep, and do it with bells on. As the crowd bobbed and gyrated at the main stage, I spotted a musical statue, poised to snap a photo, or ten. Gail turned to me with a smile, โ€œitโ€™s my favourite day of the year,โ€ she uttered. Whatever I write of it will be deficient and incomplete, for thereโ€™s so much going on. Itโ€™s our Mardi Gras; you wander, you catch what you can, go where you like, impossible for me to document it all, especially half-toasted as I was! Gail summed it in a sentence.

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As the sun shone, I must say yet again, this was the fantastic event it traditionally always has been, and improves annually. Impossible to stage something so vast and varied without slight hip-cups. Iโ€™m not rising to grumpy hecklers taken to Facebook to whinge their futile vendetta against DOCA, all over a carnival date change so volunteers can take a well-earned break and schools can be encouraged to participate. Drunkenly calling for the artistic directorโ€™s head on a platter, as if they were the manager of Newcastle is pathetic. Did you slip through a wormhole and appear in an alternative reality, because I thought it was awesome? Take your storm in a teacup to Rio, least upon return from Lalaland give yourself the directive to resist the urge to post when sozzled!

tanya1

Ha, an opinion piece it be, refraining from writing journalistically as I do, itโ€™s my belief we should praise DOCA, award the highest accolade. This weekend was tremendous. Budget didnโ€™t stretch to quite as many cosplayers, walkers and random street theatre than previous years, something funding will help towards, or hey, the attendees maketh the festival; maybe dress up yourself! No Andy; Spiderman onesie is in the wash, thank you!

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My attention was drawn to an apparent lack of activities at the Northgate end, usually the child-friendly zone. Iโ€™ll say Sunday on the Green is more geared towards our younger, still itโ€™s fair feedback. Though, itโ€™s all the criticism I will accept as constructive. Yes, unobtainable was sitting around The Market Cross; it was fenced off due to structural damage and danger of pieces falling; no fault of DOCA. Similarly, a band mistaking their performance time is an unavoidable calamity. This caused a rather vacant period on the main stage, which was a shame, yet well-oiled crowds laughed between themselves, and thus away with the fairies went such trivial issues.

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However, it did mean many flocked past the Town Hall, an area which usually fizzles out back to the reality of everyday Devizes. Iโ€™m so happy to say, prompting DOCA to take onboard our local music scene, I suggested something I really couldnโ€™t commit to; had to work in the morning. But it was so, that Pete of Vinyl Realm had similar ideas, and executed a second zone of music in a manner I couldnโ€™t have. My dream to have a little marquee with some acoustic singers was transformed into not only a trailer stage, but acoustic area and vinyl DJ, adding that extra dimension and rounding off the festival site with a definite border.

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It was here where some excellent sets played before an audience larger than we anticipated. Strange Folk were amazing, yet it was Daydream Runaways who really bought the stage to its pinnacle. Sweltering, this upcoming pop-indie amalgamation of Swindon and Devizes, who Iโ€™ve been hailing with praise since I discovered, really delivered an energetic and proficient set of favourite covers and their own accomplished originals.

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Often supporting the guys, Ben Borrill acoustically owned the area next, followed by Devizes space-rockers Cracked Machine. Having not managed to catch this headline act live up till now, I pondered if they could recreate the sublime atmospheric ambience they do on record, and I was not disappointed. This Pink Floyd of the vize volleyed it out of park. With trickles of intoxication, the sound apt under the heat of the sun, the crowd were whisked away blissfully.

 

This was, quite honestly, a highlight of the day, the whole idea to have the second stage was. So, a massive respect goes to Pete, Jacki and all at Vinyl Realm for organising and funding this, and to the Lamb who supplied the power, in more ways than one; I saw Sally wander over to band to hand them all some well-deserved hot dogs!

 

If this doesn’t convince DOCA to support our local music scene, nothing will! Pete has already suggested interest in doing it again next year. But, feeling the need to cover as much of the festival as possible, I scarpered back to witness the most gorgeous African fusion band on the main stage. Blinking heck, sโ€™ all going on, so much so, itโ€™s going off.

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Truly fantastic DOCA and everyone who contributed their share, worked the bars, hosted side stalls and attractions and of course, the bonded spirit of you, the revellers; dotted with the special events, leaving next weekend for Confetti Battle and Colour Rush, I call to embrace this change, as this is destined to progress annually, we should be the envy of all of other towns and be proud of what has been achieved this weekend.

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ยฉ 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

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How Does Devizes Confetti Battle Compare to the Worldโ€™s Most Bizarre Festivals?

Perhaps the most interesting part of our chat with DOCA coordinator, Loz, and definitely, the most controversial was the carnivalโ€™s date change. Still social media comments groan that Confetti Battle was traditionally on a Wednesday. Yet, bringing it to a Saturday makes it feasible for higher attendance, particularly tourists and day trippers.

Loz expressed it could be as renowned as the Cooperโ€™s Hill Cheese Roll, and intends to diversify and extend the concept to interest a wider audience. In Devizes we take it for granted people annually gather in the Market Place to fling confetti at each other, without contemplating how bizarre this notion is to outsiders. Bizarre attracts adventurous visitors, hunting for something different; theyโ€™d come, theyโ€™d spend money, but less likely on a Wednesday evening.

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This morning I read a blog about The Rainforest World Music Festival, three days partying in the rainforest near Kuching, Sarawak in Malaysia. Okay, the English was poorly translated, but the photos wowed. Given Iโ€™ve jested the word โ€œfestivalโ€ these-days seems to be a new-fangled soundbite whereby anyone can pop up a gazebo, hire a man with a guitar, sell some tinnies and allow gatherers to piss on his rhododendrons, and dub it a festival, it got me thinking exactly what constitutes a festival, internationally, how bizarre do some get, and how does our Confetti Battle compare?

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Investigation exposed some pretty outlandish and curious events, and some complete bonkers. Many youโ€™d need to pack a suitcase for a lengthy flight for, others it seems are not so far away. The Coopers Hill Cheese Roll in Gloucestershire cropped up more times than injuries undoubtedly caused there, but nowhere have I discovered mention of Pewseyโ€™s locally eminent Wheelbeerow Race, or Devizes and the weird custom of lobbing confetti at each other. Think outside the box, or Brittox, it is a tad weird, guys; but both on weeknights.

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Do they compare in weirdness to a moose dropping festival? Talkeetna, Alaska, itโ€™s not snow falling from the sky, but moose poo, painted white and dropped from a helicopter! Or the International Hair-Freezing Contest in Yukon, Canada, where, as the name hints, using only water and the frosty air, contestants freeze their Barnett Fair into the most peculiar and eccentric shapes?

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Go under, check my pubes

While some are just ascetically bizarre, like the Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada, or Floridaโ€™s Underwater Music Festival, itโ€™s the theme of many which alarms or amuses; Roswell obviously has a UFO Festival. Devonโ€™s Blackawton International Festival of Worm Charming, is a thing. The World Bog-Snorkelling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells and Ashbourneโ€™s toedium smack down, the World Toe Wrestling Championships are too.

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I want to be just like him when I grow up

Wife Carrying Championship, anyone? The wedding vow of husbands metaphorically carrying spouses in times of sickness is taken a smidgen too literally in Sonkajรคrvi, Finland. Awards for the swiftest, toughest and amusingly costumed pairs are handed to contestants who carry their wives across a 254-metre obstacle course. But at the Festa del Cornuto, outside Rome, the Festival of the Horns, the men of cheating wivesโ€™ parade, crying and smashing possessions they gifted them to honour and console their woe.

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I’ll give you put the cat out!

Confetti Battle is a tad more family-orientated, like Krampusnacht in Germany, where every December an anti-Santa hands every naughty kid a lump of coal. Why not dress as devils and jump over our babies, because it has constituted a festival for over four-hundred-years in Castrillo de Murcia, Spain? If you think Don Quixote in a Lycra Satan suit leaping over your darling isnโ€™t quite psychologically traumatic enough for them, how about Tokyoโ€™s Naki Sumo, where oversized sumo-wrestlers square-up in a ring, each holding a baby, the contest being the first to make the otherโ€™s baby cry? Supposed to ward off evil spirits, so if your kid sees no fear in the wrester, the referee jumps in donning a scary mask to ensure a change of nappy is needed.

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Think that’s scary? You should check my nappy, pal!

Some are pleasant, like the Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong, where competitorsโ€™ climb sixty-foot towers of sweet buns which line the streets. Or the Floating Lantern Festival in Hawaii, and Beer Floating in Finland; steady, floating down a river in an improvised raft gulping Carlsberg. Others equal this pleasantness but add humorous elements, like the village of Brawby, where the Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race takes place over Bobโ€™s Pond.

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Who left that sausage in here?

Food leftover fights are commonplace, La Tomatina in Spain, The Battle of Oranges in Ivrea, Italy. I mean, sure, Rayne in Louisiana has a Frog Festival, and turkey testicle eating contests are widespread across the USA. Alongside the sinister Day of the Dead Festival, Mexico has Noche de Rรกbanos at Oaxaca, or โ€œThe Night of the Radishes.โ€

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We are the Radish Army, arm your salad!

Korea has the Boryeong Mud Festival, where if you thought Pilton can get pretty filthy on a rainy July, you should see these lot engaging in mud photography workshops or having mud massages. But mud is great for the skin, ambiguously, especially the Boryeong mud used in their cosmetics. Or the valued tradition of Hadaka Matsuri in Okayama, where 9,000 naked Japanese men wrestle for sticks thrown by a Shinto priest. If the winner puts the sticks into a wooden box with rice, he will be contented the whole year.

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Anyone got a chewing gum?

Equally as cringeworthy to me, but hey, you might fancy the Japanese Kanamara Matsuri, or festival of the penis. They have penis artworks (unsure if theyโ€™re pictures of dicks or drawn with one, like drawing using a fat, wax crayon in your left-hand,) penis-shaped sweeties and carved vegetables, decorations, and a phallic mikoshi parade. Yet again the logic centres around a shrine once popular for prostitutes to pray for protection from sexually transmitted diseases. But legend has it, a Vagina Dentata demon lurks inside vaginas to castrate young men on their wedding night. If told that, youโ€™d be celebrating the prosperity of your manhood.

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I always dress like I’m Nigel Farage

Finlandโ€™s Air Guitar World Championships claims the ideology would end wars, stop climate change and eradicate all bad things. So, all of them have a history, or logic behind them, no matter how bizarre they may seem. Peruโ€™s Cat Food Festival, for example, you may think this annual gathering in Caรฑete, where they munch on cats is to cull an overpopulated stray cat problem, but no, they breed the animals especially for human consumption at the gig. Apparently, cat meat has aphrodisiac properties and also prevents ailments in the bronchi; Iโ€™ll skip it and just try the veg, thanks all the same.

At least Thailandโ€™s annual Monkey Buffet Festival isnโ€™t as bad, despite the alarming name, itโ€™s the monkeys who get a feast, not us nibbling on monkey meatloaf. They honour the descendants of a monkey warrior in Lopburi, and itโ€™s a crowd-puller. Seems disease-spreading blood-sucking pests get honoured, The Great Texas Mosquito Festival brings three days of carnival to Clute; food, drink, games and rides, craft or cooking workshops.

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Hey, where’s the KP Skips?

Confetti Battle roots to 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, started by Jim Jennings, but the reason is unknown. Maybe we need to make one up; a noblemanโ€™s wedding that went horribly wrong?

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I’m just nipping into Greggs

Even bulls rampaging around the streets, averagely injuring three hundred people and killing fifteen at the Fiesta San Fermin, doesnโ€™t stop people gathering and making a festival out of. Why then, should changing our relatively harmless confetti battle from Wednesday to a Saturday bother you?! Iโ€™m not suggesting we have a penis fest, or eat cat, but what Devizes has is unique, and could be on this list!

Devizes Confetti Battle
Devizes Market Place โ€“ Saturday 31st August 2019
Entertainment starts from 7.30pm
Battle commences 8.00pm

ยฉ 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

 

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Choo-Choo, Train to Skaville Supported Neville Staple at Parkfest!

Some years back I was told a ska band played the previous night in the village across the dual carriageway. Being an aficionado of the genre, I was disappointed to hear Iโ€™d missed it; good enough reason we now have Devizine so you need not be like me and can hear of events before they happen!

Informed the band was called Train to Skaville worsened matters; such a great name, taken from the 1967 single of Jamaicaโ€™s harmony group, The Ethiopians. The launchpad for a UK tour when it hit our charts, the songโ€™s riff has been applied to many later songs, including Toots & The Maytalโ€™s 54-46 and heralded the concept of the chugging train sound used in a plethora of later ska and reggae songs.

Despite ensuring Iโ€™d added all their local gigs to the event guide here since day dot, and befriended singer Jules Morton as part of the all-female fundraising supergroup, The Female of the Species, the must-see box on my perpetually cumulative to-do-list remained unticked, until last night. Unfortunate weather clouded sanguinity early on when I ventured over to Melksham for the opening of Party in the Park. An evening dubbed โ€œParkfest,โ€ separated from the main event happening today, as what once may have been a welcoming gig, has spawned its own identity; the main event builds on universal pop appeal, Parkfest has a more matured feel.

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It was in chatting with Bruce Burry, event coordinator at the Assembly Rooms, which revealed this forthcoming grand line-up of ska. I was taken aback, Party in the Park is Bruceโ€™s baby, and boy, does he take care of it. Impressive and vast is the setup at King George V park, professional is the stage, sound and effects. Iโ€™d heard of it before, but when Bruce uttered the name Neville Staple, my heart whacked into hyperdrive. Some months on, I was kindly invited backstage, as the support, none other than my burning-box-to-be-ticked band, Train to Skaville, prepared and tuned. Attempting optimism, my mutterings that once they took the stage the drizzle would cease met with sullenness, but guys, I was right, wasnโ€™t I?! Call me Michael Fish.

 

Naturally, headline act, the original rude-boy, formerly of The Specials and who later formed Fun Boy Three with Terry Hall and Lynval Golding, Neville Staple excelled with sleekness and anticipated competence. His combo group, The Neville Staple band has become the stuff of legend amidst the ska scene since 2004. Again, akin to our review of Trevor Evanโ€™s Bardbwire at Devizes Arts Festival last month, Nevilleโ€™s outfit merges two-tone and punky reggae back into its precursor ska, for this explosive melting pot, prevalently fermented the anniversary of Two-Tone Records, the Coventry record label which spurred a scene and both aforementioned artists played a pivotal role in.

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However, this was not before Neville and friends ran through some Specials classics, and if classics are the given thing in this retrospective amalgamation, Train to Skaville knocked it out of King George Park, prior to this fabled performance. For the headline act was grand, this should be taken as red, and despite my pedestal I popped Train to Skaville onto, they surely flew above all expectations.

For blending 007 (Shanty Town) into The Tide is High, as a teaser, the burgeoning crowd began to yearn for their start time, as gratis was handed to DJ setup, Fun Boy Two, Train to Skaville stepped up to an audience clearly familiar with the panache of this local band.

Train to Skaville have been on the circuit for eight years, albeit it a number of roster variations through their time, partly the reason, Jules told me, for not putting down any original material. This if-it-ainโ€™t-broke attitude fitting, for the majority of ska followers just want to hear the anthems. While this is done timelessly by many-a-cover-band, Train to Skaville sit atop this standard, their unique style, singerโ€™s Tim Crossโ€™s witty repartee and entire bandโ€™s expertise reeks of good-time ska and explodes with party atmosphere.

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For what seems to be a rare thing, a ska band from the Trowbridge/Melksham area, they set the bar high, and through Israelites, Too Much Pressure, and Rancidโ€™s Timebomb to name but a few, they launched back on stage, slowing for reggae and rock steady classics, Hurt so Good and Is This Love, and detonating the finale by slipping back into ska with Prince Busterโ€™s Madness, followed by Madness, Selector and Bad Manners hits and a sublime versions of Tears of a Clown.

Yet this train doesnโ€™t seem to call at Devizes, and if word of the group of friends from Devizes I was delighted to meet there, Vince Bell, Tamsin Quin and significant other halves, isnโ€™t enough to convince you I donโ€™t know what is! The last train pulled out of our town in 1966 and I canโ€™t wait for the Devizes Parkway project to become a reality, the angle of this piece is simply that someone needs to book this lively band in our town, we canโ€™t let the Sham take all the spotlight! Theyโ€™ve rammed pubs, gigged The Cheese & Grain, supported Neville a couple of times previous, and become hot favourites westward, we just need to stop them buffering at Seend!

 

As for Party in the Park, the main event kicks off this afternoon, a more pop-feel, theyโ€™ve some awesome local legends, including Indecision, Kirsty Clinch, Burbank, Forklift Truck, along with a fire-show, unicorns, fairground and food and drink stalls, topped off with a Take That Tribute. You can get a ticket on the gate, this an affordable event and the pride of the Sham.

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ยฉ 2017-2019 Devizine (Darren Worrow)
Please seek permission from the Devizine site and any individual author, artist or photographer before using any content on this website. Unauthorised usage of any images or text is forbidden.

 

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Two Family Friendly Festivals in Swindon

If family-friendly festivals these days are two-to-a-penny, and you pop with the kids, like you are a kid, one thing is certain, and cool, you donโ€™t gotta trek miles to catch one. Swindon has two upcoming Iโ€™d like to mention, if I may?

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Firstly, a massive congratulations to Talk in Code, Swindonโ€™s own indie-pop outfit rising to fame through excellence and dedication, we will be hearing a lot more from them methinks. They open the main stage at M is for Festival in Lydiard Park on 27th July. Alongside a plethora of contemporary pop acts such as Years and Years, Ella Eyre, HRVY, Becky Hill, Phats & Small, Jahmene Douglas and another BBC Music Introducing in the West upcoming band, She Makes War. Oh, not forgetting Top Loader will be dancing in the moonlight.

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Tickets start at thirty quid, under fives go free, which isnโ€™t half bad for such a grand line up, in such a nice setting too.

But if youโ€™re all like Phats and who now, or years and years too far back, you could rustle up some hairspray and don your old leg warmers for Red Sky Promotions may just have the family festival for you, like as early as next week; I donโ€™t think Iโ€™ll find my diddy-boppers in time, theyโ€™re in the loft somewhere.

Eighties fans, who isnโ€™t? Bookmark 29th June, and grab a ticket for The Back to the Eighties Festival at the Old Town Bowl, in Old Town Gardens.

Throughout the day until 6pm all kids can have festive fun with everything from hair braiding, 80โ€™s neon face paints and glitter designs, hair sparkles and hair chalk colouring, temporary transfer and glitter tattoos to neon nails and more, free of charge. Relax, youโ€™ll even get to create your own T-shirt memento of the day.

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There will be stalls, food, drink and a host of other activities to accompany the musical time machine that the festival promises to be.

The day offers a range of 80’s music delivered in unique ways; opening with Sonore String Quartet rendering classic songs into lush classical sounds, 80:Three deliver two sets of pop gems, Emily-Jane Sheppard will bring her solo singer-guitarist set of classic covers and the headline act is the awesome Ghetto Blasters, a lively brass ensemble popping and rocking their way through the decade. DJโ€™s will be spinning all the tunes you love from the era; big chart favourites to half-forgotten gems will play between the main acts.

Your ZX Spectrum may not load this page, but tickets are here; ยฃ25 for adults, ยฃ15 for the nippers, and a price range for groups of four or more. Wham!

 

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Vinyl Realm Hosts New Stage at DOCA Street Festival

Yeah, itโ€™s a toasty secret Iโ€™ve been busting to spill the beans on for eons; and weโ€™re gathered here today to announce the line-up!

Sometime ago I suggested a local affair for DOCAโ€™s amazing street festival on 26th August, just a small marquee-fashioned area, I imagined, set aside to highlight our local acoustic musicians. Like most of my ideas though, I throw away all practicalities and left it up to a fellow worker to causally whisper itโ€™s a Monday and Iโ€™d be working in the morning!

Similarly, though, Pete of Vinyl Realm wanted to do something along these lines, and Iโ€™m delighted to announce he has taken the project under his wing and only gone done it, with bells on. The idea has expanded to a full-sized stage, with a great line-up that Iโ€™m here today to tell you about.

So, well done to Pete, Loz, et all, whoโ€™ve worked tirelessly to sort this out. Next week Iโ€™ll be chatting with Loz of DOCA about carnival and the street festival in general, but for now, all eyes on this, set to be the loudest alternative corner of the street festival, ever!

At this point, times of the bands performing are unconfirmed, as it needs to coincide with acts on the main stage. While DOCAโ€™s booking of some fantastic international acts each year, it leaves us eager to know what theyโ€™ve in store for August; itโ€™s secret left for you to buy a programme. But do save some room in your wandering for the Vinyl Realm Presents stage at the corner St Johns and Long Street, bang outside the shop.

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Ah, the new four-piece indie-rock band Iโ€™ve been harking on about recently, Daydream Runaways will be playing. Wiltshire-based Ben Heathcote on vocals, Cam Bianchi on Guitar, Nath Heathcote on Bass and drummer, Brad Kinsey. Citing influences from the likes of The Killers, The Strokes and Sam Fender, Airborne, they also praise Fleetwood Mac, The Stones and Talking Heads. We reviewed their excellent single Light the Spark a few months ago, and have high hopes for this youthful bunch.

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Whisked away on one awesome, blissful journey through sound after just one listen of their debut album, I, Cosmonaut, Cracked Machine have been mentioned and rightfully praised on Devizine over the last year. Formed in Wiltshire also, in 2015, local space-rock hypnotists, weaving โ€œmesmerising grooves, infectious riffs and layers of sonic texture to create compelling and original soundscapes which take fellow cosmic explorers on an exhilarating trip through the cosmos.โ€ This is Pink Floyd likened space-rock, meeting ambient trance for a new generation, yet their second album, The Call Of The Void, reflects a harder, rock edge, weโ€™re talking Hawkwind here, and itโ€™s reverie style will hold you spellbound.

 

Deemed the headline act, Cracked Machine is a quartet of experienced musicians, brought together in a quest for aural mayhem; Bill Denton on guitar, Clive Noyes on keys samples and vocals, Chris Sutton on bass and Blazej Gradziel on drums. They play the Southgate today, and are a welcome blessing to our local scene.

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Vibrant retro-rock fusion with folk and neo-gothic, Somerset/Hampshireโ€™s Strange Folk UK is one Iโ€™ve not heard of, and look forward to. The bandโ€™s roots are in folk, and distinct rock aspirations are tempered by a recognisable folk vein running through their songs to varying degrees. Dark impressive vocals ride the crest of a truly great sound that transports the listener to another time.

Quoting their influences may divulge that time; sixties psychedelic legends such as Dylan, Janis Joplin, T-Rex, The Doors, Free, Hendrix, and Jethro Tull, thereโ€™s mod influences too like The Who, and Genesis, and harder rock like Zeppelin and Judas Priest.

Between bands, we announce acoustic artists, Devizes singer-songwriters, Marland favourite Tom Littlefair and the brilliant Ben Borrill, topped off with a local funky soul DJ set from Usaf. Iโ€™m truly delighted to bring you this news, reckoning this is addition is going to really add a whole new musical dimension to this already fantastic gem on Devizes event calendar. As well as all of DOCAโ€™s exciting circus, street theatre side stalls, rides and games, it now stands at two stages large, double the fun!

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Oh, and I do believe Devizine has the exclusive on this one; expect a plagiarising Gazelle or Herod along any moment. Please feel free to share our posts, but if republishing them observe copyright and quote Devizine as the source; basic etiquette, thanks!

 

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Back on the Saddle!

Tipsy suggestions to those Saddlebackers at their gurt lush day festival at Devizes Sports Ground were poo-pooed from the off! With this yearโ€™s line up rolling out across social media, itโ€™s easy to see they took my expansive notions as nonsensical dribble. A dance tent; yeah, right, circus and performing arts acts; get outta town, even a reggae stage is not to be. Feasibly, they know what they like!

With seemingly no plans to overinflate or cater for revellers outside their chosen target audience, this yearโ€™s Saddleback Festival drives surely on quality not quantity, and if good olโ€™ rock and blues music is what you want, and face it, itโ€™s the most desirable around these backwaters, then it looks like Saddleback return to deliver.

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Deliver they intend to, on 20th July, at a busy time with The Full Tone Orchestra promising a free event on the Green and Melkshamโ€™s Party in the Park on the same date, Devizes Carnival, Trowbridgeโ€™s Once Upon a Time in West Fest and the Swindon Shuffle the weekend prior, the Beer Festival and Devizesโ€™ first scooter rally at the beginning of the month, perhaps itโ€™s a reasonable move for Saddleback to stick with the working formula of previous years.

No extra acoustic stage for local acts has been announced, like the โ€œbolt-onโ€ last year. While being just that, it was at least a presence for them. Itโ€™s all focus on whoโ€™s performing main stage then, and tribute acts seem to feature predominantly. The longest running, full-time professional tribute to Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Led headline; and we all like a lotta Led.

Significant changes to their original line-up from 1996, six years ago, has seen considerable progress with the Whole Lotta Ledโ€™s customary two- and half-hour shows, receiving international acclamation from Zeppelin fans. With over 1,300 shows under the belts, theyโ€™ve performed Stairway to Heaven more than any other band in the world, interestingly, including Led Zeppelin!

To truly dedicated fans who witnessed the real McCoy at their prime, Whole Lotta Led avoid wigs, costumes, and look-alike paraphernalia to focus on recreating the music to an astonishing level of accuracy. Theyโ€™ve recreated some of Led Zeppelinโ€™s legendary live shows; 2001 they performed the โ€˜Bath Festivalโ€™ set, in 2003 staged the โ€˜Earlโ€™s Courtโ€™ tour, in 2005 they recreated Zepโ€™s last shows in England with the โ€˜Knebworthโ€™ set, performed the live CD โ€˜How The West Was Wonโ€™ in 2006 and in 2008 they completed the โ€˜2007 O2 Reunion Showโ€™ tour.

In a similar fashion, Creedence Clearwater Review are the UKโ€™s premier tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival, capturing the feel, sound and atmosphere of the short-lived late sixties American band. With audience involvement, singalongs and plenty of rousing choruses the Review promise an authentic and power packed tribute to the Creedence legacy, sticking as closely to the album tracks as possible. Thereโ€™s also a nod to John Fogertyโ€™s solo career in the show.

To concentrate on original acts, most are Bristol-based, like Elles Bailey is that wonderful hard-blues chick weโ€™ve covered on Devizine before. With a prolific and authentic blend of country and blues, Elles is the UK dynamite on the scene.

The second name to continually popup locally is Ruzz Evans, who since 2014, with drummer Mike Hoddinott and Joe Allen on upright bass make up Ruzzโ€™s Guitar Blues Revue. The trio house a powerful, soul-injected mesh of Blues, R’n’B and Rock’n’Roll of retrospective energy. The opportunities to open for some class acts, from Rockabillyโ€™s the Delta Bombers and the Rhythm Shakers from Vegas to Dr Feelgood and The Blockheads. Plus, the newly released studio album, Burn Out, which features Pete Gage from Dr Feelgoodโ€™s band, certainly shows enthusiasm, skill and passion; this one is going to get lively.

 

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Also booked is four-piece blues/funk outfit, The Will Edmunds Band, who perform interpretations of classics from the likes of Robert Johnson, BB King, Albert King and The Meters. Their sound promises to be tight and fresh, yet retaining old-school mojo!

And thatโ€™s what weโ€™ve been told so far. No mention of Jon Amor; surely, heโ€™ll drop in, wouldโ€™ve thought? Ah, one step ahead of you. The Friday before , 19th July, heโ€™s at the pre-festival event at the Sports Club, where for a tenner youโ€™ll get Saddleback favourites Innes Sibun and Jon, with Mike Hoddinott of Ruzzโ€™s Guitar Blues Revue and whatโ€™s worth the entire weekend price-tag in my humble opinion, for all itโ€™s worth, the awesome UK-USA blues conglomerate, Beaux Gris Gris who weโ€™ve reviewed a night of before.

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A further tenner means you can camp for the weekend, from 5.00pm Friday 19th July, with campers asked to leave the site by 10.30am on Sunday 21st July. It may be whacking the total from ยฃ25, for a main ticket, to ยฃ45 for the whole shebang, and in all honesty the mods may have it cheaper than the rockers this year, the Scooter Rally tallying to ยฃ25 for the whole weekend with free camping, but a considerable donation of Saddleback is off to chosen charities Juliaโ€™s House and Care If, and going on the sturdy and reliable security, strategic setup and organisation that went into last yearโ€™s event, together with an awesome line-up, Saddleback will not go unnoticed, even if promotion of it seems somewhat lessened this year.

 

Here’s last year’s snaps to get you in the mood; all images by Nick Padmore

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Twit Twoo: Owl Fest Announce Line Up

Breaking and brilliant news as Adam Dempsey pings over the line up for this yearโ€™s Owl Fest on Saturday May 25th in Bromhamโ€™s social club, The Owl. Chained to that kitchen sink again, I dried my hands on a tea towel quick as I could to reply what a fantastic line up, I reckon it is. He thinks itโ€™s their best yet.

 
So, no more suspense, and in no particular order, itโ€™s that five-piece classic rock covers band, Homer. Citing influences as wide as The Undertones and Buzzcocks to Thin Lizzy, Steppenwolf and Red-Hot Chili Peppers to AC/DC, Homerโ€™s been on the local scene since 2012. Frontman Pete Pig, Danny Silvers on drums and backing vocals, guitarists Paul “Winger” Weinling and Les Vegas, with Graham the crazy bassist, are sure to rock Bromham.

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Devizine favourite Jamie R Hawkins will be there, with acute and sentimental storytelling brilliance, Jamie never fails to impress.

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Everyoneโ€™s favourite, Mr George Wilding will also do his stuff. With natural ability and ease, astounding originals solo and with Wilding, George is surely Wiltshireโ€™s imminent legend.

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And you must love tiny country-pop princess, Kirsty Clinch with her bountiful talent and energy.

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Malmesburyโ€™s Corky also returns with his hilariously original brand of acoustic โ€œscrumpy and westernโ€ agricultural hip hop, had me in fits of laughter before the cider even took its natural course at last yearโ€™s.

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My wild card, The Gentle Crows appear; not heard of these guys, I confess, but acclaimed rock covers they promise with great reviews online to date.

 
Topped off with Trusler seniorโ€™s Funked Up duo with Mark Colin Jones, with their brand of eighties funky-pop-rock, not forgetting the great selection of ciders on offer, food, Iโ€™m sure youโ€™ll agree, The Owl is worthwhile heading towards on May 25th. See our review of last yearโ€™s here, and see you there, I hope!

 
The day is FREE, but if you want to use the Cider bar, you’ll need a wristband and plastic glass which sets you back a whole ยฃ8, and includes two tokens; why wouldnโ€™t you?!

 

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Feeling the Force of The Devizes Arts Festival

If thereโ€™s a stigma among the typical denizen surrounding the Devizes Arts Festival that itโ€™s all rather pompous and geared toward the elder generation, all walks and organ recitals, and that sounds like you, then I bid you look closer at this yearโ€™s newly announced line-up.

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Devizes Arts Festival has pulled a colossal rabbit out their hats for this Juneโ€™s festivities; really, I donโ€™t know where to begin. Yes, some of it conforms to the customary Arts Festival bookings, such as an audience with international journalist and veteran reporter John Simpson (Corn Exchange. Friday 31st May) and an organ recital by the Sub-Organist at Durham Cathedral, Francesca Massey (1st June St Johns.) Thereโ€™s even a two-hour festival walk; Historic Devizes (2nd June. Devizes Town Centre,) guided by experts from the Wiltshire County Archaeology team, and a Civil War Battlefield walk at Roundway Down on 9th June.

 
Now, donโ€™t get me wrong, while thereโ€™s no bad about any such events, and chatting with organiser Phillipa Morgan, who is keen to point out, โ€œwe had fifteen sold-out events last year,โ€ thereโ€™s many-a darn good reason to cast off this erroneous label.

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I assure, many acts are set to blow some interest in the direction of those whoโ€™d not considered the Arts Festival before. Ska, for instance, (you know me, fancy picking on this one first!) with Skamouth favourites, Coventryโ€™s (the home of Two-Tone) Barbโ€™d Wire (1st June Corn Exchange) who boast legendary and original rude boy himself, Trevor Evans, combined with local songwriter/singer Lloyd Mcgrath. This is certain to raise a few eyebrows; perfect for the 40th anniversary of Two-Tone.

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You can zip your soul boots too, for seventies pioneers in funk, The Real Thing are confirmed, (8th June. Corn Exchange.) Known for legendary hits โ€œYou to Me Are Everythingโ€ and โ€œCanโ€™t Get by Without You,โ€ Devizes is sure to feel the force!

 
Wiltshireโ€™s own Nick Harper is at The Exchange, 13th June, contemporary Congolese and Cuban music 15th June at the Corn Exchange with Grupo Lokito, and experimental prog-rock with CIRCU5 (16th June. Cellar Bar.)

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The brilliant radio, television and stage comedian Ed Byrne (12th June. Corn Exchange) was the other to immediately catch my eye. Joined by special guests, David Haddingham and Sindhu Vee, this one promises to โ€œhave you rolling in the aisles.โ€ With sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, and the West End, it reminded me of a conversation I had with some organisers last year, about how they travel to Edinburgh to source acts for the Arts Festival. This dedication has paid off, it seems, and weโ€™re set for an explosively good year.

 
I asked Phillipa if this stigma was something the committee addressed, as it certainly is a line-up of variety. โ€œClassical music is still there but weโ€™ve tried to broaden the appeal. I think we’ve just moved in that direction as a result of an awareness that the requirement is changing and we’re trying to be more inclusive.โ€

 
So, what else is up for grabs this year? Childrenโ€™s author Clive Mantle will be entertaining youngsters with illustrated readings from his time-travelling, Himalayan adventure and talking about his writing and his own travels in Nepal (1st June. Devizes Town Hall 2:30pm.) Although familiar as an actor to audiences of Holby, Vicar of Dibley and Game of Thrones, Clive Mantle is also now a successful childrenโ€™s author: his first book โ€œThe Treasure at the Top of the Worldโ€ was short-listed for the Peopleโ€™s Book Award and a second book in the series is due out in June. This is suitable for eight-year-olds and above.

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Also, for young-uns, Blue Peter Award winning author and performer, Gareth P Jones presents Aliens in Devizes! (8th June. Town Hall) Pet Defenders, a secret organisation of dogs, cats, rabbits and rodents dedicated to keeping the Earth safe from alien invasion. Suitable ages from six to nine, but sounds like fun to me!

 
The best jazz violinist in the country, Christian Garrick and John Etheridge, one of the most stunningly versatile guitarists, presents Strings on Fire (3rd June. The Exchange.) Meanwhile, two siblings that make up the exceptional violin and viola duo, String Sisters, Angharad and Lowri Thomas String Sisters are at St. Andrews Church on the 5th June. Multiple award-winning musicians, whoโ€™ve played with Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, Paloma Faith, Marc Almond, Boy George and Robbie Williams.

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2nd June at The Bear Hotel Ballroom, thereโ€™s a quirky, funny and poignant award-winning solo show about Nick Drake; a celebration of music, photography, life, coincidences and the legacy of one of the most influential singers/song-writers of the last fifty years.

 
Competitive improv as youโ€™ve never seen it, The Shakespeare Smackdown (4th June. The Exchange,) is from the creators of Olivier Award-winning โ€œShowstopper! The Improvised Musical.โ€ Britainโ€™s favourite celebrity organic gardener and Gardenersโ€™ Question Time star panellist, Bob Flowerdew has An Audience with on the 5th June at Devizes Town Hall.

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From Atila singing the Nat King Cole Story (6th June. Town Hall) to the dark comic and eclectic music of Moscow Drug Club (7th June Corn Exchange) and from An Audience with grand dame of English literature, Fay Weldon (8th June. Bear Hotel) to Elspeth Beard, the first British woman to motorcycle around the world (8th June. Bear Hotel) no one can deny the quality and variety is extraordinary this year. Talks on Sci-Fi influences on evolutionary linguistics, a homage of renditions of Eric and Ernie, author Clare Mulleyโ€™s on her third book, โ€œThe Women Who Flew for Hitlerโ€, open mic poetry session with Josephine Corcoran, in fact thereโ€™s too much here to list in one article, my wordcount exploding and I fear youโ€™ll be bedazzled by it all.

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So why donโ€™t we regroup tomorrow, when weโ€™ll highlight, in particular, the free fringe events? Phillipa, in charge of the fringe events, notes surprisingly, that although โ€œthe fringe events are subsided, for some reason they donโ€™t seem to attract that many people, compared with ticketed recent events such as Rick Wakeman at ยฃ45, which sold out.โ€ I think this is down to the aforementioned stigma, and here at Devizine Iโ€™m dedicated to prove it wrong. So, same time tomorrow then?

 

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Storm in a Teacup; Concerns Over DOCAโ€™s Carnival Change….

Images by Gail Foster

 

Itโ€™s easy to make a storm in a teacup in this hurtling era of social media: put one slightly erroneous newspaper article into a mug, brew some pretty strong local feelings on the issue, add a poll to a Facebook group as required; best served boiling.

 
Face it, itโ€™s a lot harder to motivate yourself into actually helping out.

 
Itโ€™s clear the Front page in this weekโ€™s Gazette and Herald has been wrongly perceived as scaremongering, and failed to focus on the relevant points. Perhaps a slow news-week, but the intention to highlight the Devizes Outside Celebratory Arts (DOCA) need for funding has exploded into a social media frenzy over its date change, and employment of its key manager, Loz Samuels.

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If you felt like the article โ€œwas more concerned with one job loss than possibly losing an historic carnival,โ€ consider without someone in Lozโ€™s position, there would be no carnival at all. Besides, Loz expressed she only breezed over the fact her contract runs out with reporter, Joanne Moore, it was not supposed to be the key angle of the piece.

 
When a newspaper decides to run an article, itโ€™s their prerogative which images they place, not the subjectโ€™s. Loz was as much surprised to see her own face on the front page as you, and is keen to point out, while funding for carnival, and the plethora of other events DOCA arrange is getting harder each year, itโ€™s much the same as any year.

 
Loz herself works tirelessly with a team of volunteers to provide us with these fantastic, and mostly free events in Devizes, for what my tuppence is worth, she needs to be saluted and thanked, rather than dismally criticised for changes the committee as a whole have decided upon, and in their expert judgement, for good reasons.

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I ask Loz if she feels some people simply donโ€™t like change, being the poll revealed a huge majority feel the date for the carnival should remain the same, in September, as opposed to being shifted forward to July. โ€œMore sceptical than not liking I think, until they see it, theyโ€™re afraid of the change.โ€ She points out that Weymouth carnival has had to be stopped, expressing her concerns about the number of volunteers, and fund-raising needing to raise over half the cost, after the Town Councilโ€™s contributions. The Arts Funding Council require twenty-percent of costs secured before paying out, and in struggling times, local businesses and organisations find it hard to sponsor as much.

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I ponder if popular opinion has not considered every tiny element which makes up DOCA events, every factor which needs to be taken into consideration. The Arts Funding doesnโ€™t cover anything non-art, such as road closures and insurance, the availability and commitment volunteers are able to contribute thins, and yes, while Loz has concerns, and with less time now to arrange the carnival procession, she also confirmed sheโ€™s feeling far more optimistic than the newspaper article conveys. โ€œIn March,โ€ she elucidates, โ€œwe should know.โ€

 

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Loz pointed towards the schoolโ€™s eminent participation in the Christmas Lantern Parade and its workshops, to highlight the potential of the carnivalโ€™s date change. There is hope local schools will be able to organise themselves better, given the procession is within term-time, that the Confetti Battle and Colour Rush, the latter a vital fund-raising event, can be popularised shifted from midweek to a Saturday, but most of all, Loz stressed on the fatigue of the volunteers after a fortnightโ€™s full schedule of activities, by the time the actual carnival arrives โ€œtheyโ€™re shattered!โ€

 

I find this very easy to believe, as a punter, I confess I overdo it at the Street Festival and by the following week, when carnival moves through town, Iโ€™m like โ€œreally? Can I be bothered?!โ€ Given the choice Iโ€™d take the Street Festival over the carnival any day, but I think both are as vital as each other. A reply suggesting organising positions should be unpaid infuriated me, considering how much work is necessary to stage such events; could you do that as a hobby, my friend?

 

In fact, go against popular opinion as I may, I fully support the change of date, seeing it as a great decision which although mustโ€™ve been tricky to call, will benefit the town as a whole. Many a comment on this Facebook poll incensed me, truth be told; a stab at why DOCA paid for outside bands to play at the festival, when this year, as previous, Iโ€™ve felt the bookings have been justified and welcomed; didnโ€™t see anyone complaining when we danced in the Market Place, a place usually reserved for wandering across from the shops to catch the bus.

 

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I did stress to Loz Iโ€™d like to see the wealth of local musical talent represented too, though she pointed out timeslots and the need for breaks in performances on the main stage, so that the circus side acts and street theatre could be heard. I offered the idea of a second stage for our local heroes, and Loz remarked itโ€™d be another grand for a PA, and weโ€™re back to stage one with the lack of funding.

 
Giving more clout to the need to support and attend the yearโ€™s fund-raising events, such as the impending Devizes Festival of Winter Ales at The Corn Exchange on the 15th and 16th of Feb. With a beer and cider selection curated by local Stealth Brew Co, it does indeed host local musical talent, such as George Wilding who will be playing this year, โ€œand a cabaret too!โ€ Loz enthusiastically added.

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We breezed over successful city carnivals, such as Bath, whose sponsorship from local business are obviously more plentiful, attraction much wider, and solely concentrate on carnival, unlike DOCA who take the Street Festival, Picnic in the Park, The Confetti Battle, Colour Rush, Christmas Lantern Parade, and Winter Ales Festival under their wings; forgive me if Iโ€™ve missed one out, but thatโ€™s a truckload of things to arrange.

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In an area as affluent as this, Arts Funding will always give with one eyed squinted, it really is up to us support and fund DOCA. So please treat this bulletin as cautionary, consider damage done by taking our major events for granted and do whatever you can to help DOCA. One phone call with Loz, confirmed my already concrete notion that she is thoroughly dedicated to this position, is worthy and capable of the task. Think, while we have other great events in our wonderful town, they usually come with a price tag.

 
You know what? I blame the bad weather, yeah, the stresses over national politics and so on; understandably tetchy in February, but decent summer entertainment is that one time to put cares aside, let your hair down; donโ€™t let austerity take it away.

Devizes Outside Celebratory Arts (DOCA)

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Saddle Up! Devizes Most Prestigious Festival Steps Up Their Game

Your creative sorts usually appreciate music, but, stereotypically, entertainment for โ€œsporty-typesโ€ would rather be waving fists and hurling abuse at a team projected to them via a widescreen TV, seemingly oblivious; television is a one-way communication devise. Itโ€™s not until someone puts โ€œEye of the Tiger,โ€ on a jukebox, or Bonnie Tyler croaks sheโ€™s holding out for a hero, that they get all sweaty, and start flexing biceps in a dance comprising of getting friends in a headlock and rubbing knuckles atop their cranium.

 
It couldnโ€™t be further from the truth for the Devizes Sports Club, and anyway, my generalising just a witticism in hope the ladyโ€™s rugby team might fulfil my daydream and chase me down the street! The Sports Club, enthusiastic for the remaining month before their Saddleback Festival, are serious about presenting the town with an exciting and professionally organised festival.

 

Itโ€™s the music festivalโ€™s second innings, after the sun-drenched blues event last year, and theyโ€™re determined to up their gameโ€ฆ..not a lot, no point in running before they can walk, but enough to make this, in my opinion, our most anticipated event of the year.

 
For starters, theyโ€™ve dropped the โ€œbluesโ€ tag from its title, making it less specialised. While the concentration on blues music still sturdy, itโ€™ll be joined predominantly with rock, acoustic and folk.

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Certain other moves are to be introduced, Iโ€™m at the British Lion, having a pint with organiser, Mirko Pangrazzi, to find out what they might be.

 
I suggest they could drop the โ€œmusicโ€ label too, add a comedy tent, or possibly street theatre. Mirko considers, but stops at the idea of a โ€œdanceโ€ tent. Their chosen genres equate to a family-styled event. A mass of fledgling โ€œraversโ€ descending brings its own issues.

 
Thereโ€™s an air about the conversation which leads me to believe the organisers value quality over quantity, with no intentions of expanding to Glasto proportions. We laugh as Mirko recalls people last year leaving, only to return with chairs in which they would switch the angle of to face their chosen stage; that is sooo Devizes and surely associates this family ethos.

 

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Jon Amor

Mirko is keen to show me a list of activities theyโ€™ve organised for children; a fun bus, inflatables, face painting, a bungee run, Striker game, slot machines and of course, a sweet stall, to name but a few. Plus, it goes without saying itโ€™s at a sports club with abundant space to kick a football till you drop.

 
For hereโ€™s a thing, Iโ€™m convinced no one is to get fleeced at Saddleback, the food stalls enter freely, organisers only asking for a donation to chosen charities; Juliaโ€™s House, Wiltshire Air Ambulance and others, while punters get value with a wealth of talented acts for a reasonable twenty-five quid, and their kids under 13, well, they get in for FREE and for 13-17 itโ€™s just a fiver.

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Mirko introduces me to John, a newcomer to the committee but with a wealth of experience on the festival scene. What John doesnโ€™t know about coordinating a festival could be written on the back of a matchbox, with diagrams, pie charts and a few dirty doodles on the bottom.

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Mollie Marriott

Having worked on littler-known events like, say, Glastonbury and Boomtown, John is a welcomed asset to provide a fully professional team, determined to make this work wonders. Thereโ€™s more than meets the eye to arranging such an event, a note others need take heed of in these clichรฉ days of any Tom, Dick, Harry, or Harryโ€™s pet dog attempting to hold one. Theyโ€™re delighted to have halted construction plans for a new pipeline running through the site, due bang on the 14th July when Saddleback takes place. For when music promoter Mirko and Sports Club owner Rick get going on a project, theyโ€™re the sort who work tirelessly to make it the very best they can.

 
It didnโ€™t matter of the success of last yearโ€™s, though Mirko was pleased with the result, theyโ€™ve assigned themselves to this ongoing project and intend to make it an annual event.

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Marcus Bonfanti

So, the second major change is camping. People will be able to set up a tent this year, from Friday to Sunday, for a tenner, or just fifteen smackers to bring their campervan on site. This will add an extra dimension to the ambience, with visitors able to mingle with locals. Add this to the real ale and cider bars, prosecco, Pimms, wines, soft drinks, and craft beer from Devitera, merge it with a wide assortment of food stalls, such as Happy Hog Catering, Asian cuisine, obligatory barbeque and a tea/coffee and crepe bus, I think theyโ€™re building the perfect recipe for a blinding day which will go down in Devizes history and will firmly put our town on the festival map.

 
Notwithstanding an unforgettable line-up, with blues singer, songwriter and guitarist, Marcus Bonfanti, rockers Bad Touch, ballad-esque pop-rockette, Mollie Marriott, daughter of Small Faces and Humble Pie singer and guitarist Steve Marriott, Devizes-own blues/alternate rock deities The Jon Amor Band, Bradfordโ€™s legendary John Verity, Blues/Rock guitarist Innes Sibun and Aveburyโ€™s own George Wilding.

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George Wilding

If you need further proof of the authenticity of my recommendation, bear in mind it was a great thing when George Wilding won his place at the festival at the Battle of the Bands earlier this year and said heโ€™d do it, if the other contestants could have the opportunity to play too. But itโ€™s an even greater thing when Rick and Mirko took heed, and before we knew what was what, a third โ€œacousticโ€ stage was added, introducing local heroes and heroines Mike Barham, Jamie R Hawkins, Alex Cash, Sally Dobson and Clare, who was coincidently serving at the British Lion at the time!

 
She smiled when we chatted, not realising who I was she said, โ€œbut Iโ€™ve known you for years!โ€ That is whatโ€™s special about Devizes, that is what Saddleback will adhere, and that is also whatโ€™ll make Saddleback a knockout.

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So, donโ€™t miss out, leave a comment on a local Facebook group, giving it, โ€œwhats that wonderful music I can hear from my garden?โ€ – thereโ€™s tickets on the gate, or in advance, here.

 

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Shuffling in Swindon

Swindon Shuffle has been mouthed around my earshot recently, whazat? Some kind of euphemism? Nope itโ€™s Swindon’s longest running contemporary music festival; been ‘appening since 2006. It now consists of four days of original live music spread over Swindonโ€™s finest music venues, much of it locally sourced, and it’s free entry to the whole shebang!

 

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Swindon being cultureless is an old wifeโ€™s tale as ancient as carrots helping you see the dark, I learned this when drawing my little goldfish cartoon for the free rave/rock zine De-Railer in 1992, and nights at Queenโ€™s Tap when the Skanxters shook the rafters. Swindon always has had a healthy music scene, donโ€™t let anyone tell you any different, and even if they do, hereโ€™s a chance to prove that itโ€™s staying more alive than John Travolta in a hot tub time machine.

 

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So, for a cheap article, Iโ€™ve cut and pasted the line-up, check it out and dribble! But also take note, sponsor the West Berkshire Brewery will be brewing an ale especially for the event called 5 Knuckle, which will be available in venues. Our friends at the Ocelot have been long-time supporters and a partner of the Shuffle, alongside Swindon Viewpoint, Britainโ€™s original public-access television service, and venues The Beehive, Vic, Tuppenny and Castle. The Shuffle will also be raising money for the Swindon branch of Mind, a mental health problems charity.

 

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Yeah, so blow me down and call me David Murray John, it looks a little bit like this:

Wednesday 11 July 2018 โ€“ The Beehive Stage
19:30 Swindon Shuffle Music Quiz

Thursday 12 July 2018 โ€“ The Castle Stage
22:15 Slagerij
21:30 Street Outlaws
20:45 Post 12
20:00 Flour Babies
Thursday 12 July 2018 โ€“ The Tuppenny Stage (acoustic)
21:45 Canuteโ€™s Plastic Army
21:00 Tamsin Quin
20:15 Atari Pilot (acoustic)
Thursday 12 July 2018 โ€“ Baila Stage
(time tbc) Live Hip Hop Jam Session

Friday 13 July 2018 โ€“ The Victoria Stage
22:50 The Harlers
22:00 GETRZ
21:10 Monkfish
20:20 The Oxymora
19:30 Falls On Deaf Ears
Friday 13 July 2018 โ€“ The Castle
22:15 SN Dubstation
21:30 Wilding
20:45 Basement Club
20:00 The Compact Pussycat
19:15 Matthew Bryant
Friday 13 July 2018 โ€“ Baila Stage
(time tbc) After Party DJs

Saturday 14 July 2018 โ€“ The Victoria Stage
22:50 Wasuremono
22:00 Fabian Darcy
21:10 SHORE
20:20 Palm Rose
19:30 Moleville
Saturday 14 July 2018 โ€“ The Beehive Stage
22:15 SexJazz
21:30 Aural Candy
20:45 Grasslands
20:00 The Illustrations
Saturday 14 July 2018 โ€“ The Tuppenny Stage (acoustic)
18:30 Josh Wolfsohn
17:45 Sarah C Ryan
17:00 Steve Cox
16:15 The King In Mirrors
15:30 Sumita
14:30 Raze*Rebuild (acoustic)
Saturday 14 July 2018 โ€“ Baila Stage
(time tbc) After Party DJs

Sunday 15 July 2018 โ€“ The Beehive Stage
20:15 True Strays
19:30 Hip Route
18:45 Sunset Service
18:00 Cobalt Fire
17:15 Richard Wileman
16:30 Strange Tales
Sunday 15 July 2018 โ€“ The Tuppenny Stage (acoustic)
15:30 Emily-Jane Sheppard
14:45 Jack Moore
14:00 Special Guests
13:15 The Shudders (acoustic)

Swindon Shuffle Website

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OwlFest, and a Supreme Village for Live Music

Argh, seen one Wiltshire village, seen โ€˜em all, so they say.

Who be “they” anyway? Course they all seem the bleedinโ€™ same from the angle of a flippinโ€™ Costa Coffee cup, while belting through at eighty miles per bleedinโ€™ hour, texting about the far more important place they be pretending to be? Who do they fink they arrre? Sum kinda superstarrr?

Yous an me knows each individual village is actually quite unique really, with their own folklore, customs, and weird faces. If you donโ€™t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it. Although, welcoming visitors is often accomplished with a cold stare. For the outsider it feels alienating, but it’s done in want of gossip and not malice; โ€œooh art be rand ere den?โ€

Certainly not the way I felt when I smuggled myself across the border; St Edithโ€™s Marsh on Saturday. Despite being from a neighbouring village, and initially weary of possible gazing, I was met by Adam, the organiser of the event I’m here to participate in. The things I do for a story; โ€œpop over and check out the Owlโ€™s Music and Cider Fest,โ€ it’s a dirty jobโ€ฆ.

Handed a plastic logoed cup, wristband and some tokens we briefly discussed; this was the first of its kind, previous cider festivals not being so musically based and The Owl, a section of the Bromham Sports & Social Club dedicated to bringing the village quality live music, has never combined with the cider festival.

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Seems it’s a welcomed merger, with a modest but enthusiastic local crowd. In scarlet dress and spectrum shades, Jezilyn Martyn was just finishing her set as I perused the program’s sublime cider menu and decided to chronologically work my way through; when in Rome. Upon request they even supplied a pencil so I could mark the tried and tested ones, should later, it all become a bit much.

Perhaps there was a bigger local festival happening on the other side of the Vale of Vizes; no one here cared. This was cosy, friendly and typically Bromham. I asked if they expected many from the town, or other places. They hoped so, but didnโ€™t seem particularly concerned about it, for while Bromham may be a just village, plentiful loyal supporters hung out in the garden.

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Picking a face from the unknown crowd, I made a beeline for the superbly talented George Wilding. Unsure the weather would hold up till six, when he was booked to perform, or else concerned people might be more interested in the football final, George can come across shy, until he’s in the spotlight. Still, enjoyed getting to know this local legend.

Next up though was the mighty Mike Barham, who after stopping for a brief word and responding to my request for his ever-amusing cover of Danger Zone from the Top Gun soundtrack, towered over the marquee and blasted good vibes. An hour passed until, bang on cue, Tamsin, opens a mini-case containing her new CD, whips on her guitar and takes over with songs and smiles.

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Iโ€™d worked my way halfway through the cider selection when George Wilding added to the line-up of indigenous aptitude, for me what a local festival should be about. With ease he continued the sound vibes, a few originals and making covers his own. House of the Rising Sun as red, but most interesting was the Ronettes “Be My Baby,” how one can acoustically convert it to a sombre ballad is nothing short of genius. He performed the set with Tamsinโ€™s case still open to punters in front of him!

With sizzling barbecue and dependable punters propping up the bar, Owl Fest was humble, typically Bromham, and so warm and welcoming it’d be the envy of other villages. Well done to all, but for the months after this fest the music continues, as the Owl and Bromham’s social club in general dedicate themselves to sporadically bringing a wealth of talent to the village, to the point it challenges any entertainment establishments you’ll get in its nearby towns. Check out their future evenings and open mic events to see where I’m coming from.

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Next up is the The Hoot on the 2nd June, their acoustic night in The Owl with Phil King from Bristol, Ian O’Regan and Fromeโ€™s Al O’Kane. But with horse racing nights, charity quizzes, a week-long carnival celebration and popular local acts such as Larkin (25th Aug), Jamie R Hawkins (7th July) booked, thereโ€™s loads going on up here, including names you may not have heard of.

Appearing after George, prime example was Corky, a singer/songwriter creating what he dubs โ€œagricultural hip hop.โ€ I was intrigued; how does this work? Very amusingly is the short answer, when in the able hands of this Malmesbury yokel, whose naturally hilarious adaptions of classic rap tunes are parodied for the ears of rural West Country folk, as if the Wu-Tang Clan were in an MC battle with the Wurzels. Rural poverty lined subjects apt for our area, such as escaping Devizes and using red diesel, converted from hip hopโ€™s usual themes of bling, guns and hoes, and delivered with audience participation and heckling was nothing short of dazzling.

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Gradually the event was hoisted inside, with the Surfinโ€™ Turnips and Bilbo Baggins & The Bargain Hunters preparing to take them into the night. Unfortunately, I had to go, Iโ€™d worked my way through the ciders till the lead of the pencil snapped, and was getting wobbly. For a free event and only six pounds for the wristband and first token, this was an outstanding little do; long live the Owl โ€“ twit-ta-hooooo!

Check the Owl Facebook page for forthcoming events, here!

 

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