The first full album by Wiltshireโs finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. Itโs called Turfinโ Out The Maniacs, which perhaps should be fact-checked as it sounds to me like theyโre letting them all in, as they arrive on yellow submarines and check into Frank Zappaโs 200 five-rhombus rated motelsโฆ..
Self-described as โeasily triggered, dishonest, cryptic yet flirty deluded jangle rockers,โ Clock Radio have produced a string of catchy slacker pop wonders here, as they continuously reach inside the box, like theyโre four elfish Rowan Atkinsons all cast as Paul Atreides. But one thing is for certain, Chris Genner, Oliver Daltrey, Gary Martin and Fraser Wilson will entertain you.
Turfinโ Out The Maniacs sound like the results of the Coral offering The Divine Comedy a hashpipe in a moulded teenage boyโs bedroom; thatโs a compliment by the way.
The opening tune Blood on Chrome certainly reeks of that breezy retrospection of Merseyside garage bands or sixties surf-rock, with an added preliminary Quo guitar riffs. Stoned at the Dojo, which follows emphasises the mock lounge style of The Divine Comedy. Itโs vaudeville throughout, all Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Bandโs twirling circus, and an accordion welcomes in the next song, yet the tempo is upbeat indie rock. Handsome Weeping Man might leave you questioning if itโs necessary to connote the narrative, but it will leave you amused.
Clock Radio knows precisely what buttons to press to evoke a mood, and press them with free will. To say itโs a tad bonkers, itโs only a tad, and Mountains Beyond the Sun kindles a gentle side, drifting surf-rock, sunny side of the street vibe.
Thereโs ten three minute heroes on this impressive debut album, recorded, mixed and mastered by Dominic Bailey-Clay at Nine Volt Leap Studios, with Fender Rhodes piano, percussion by Dominic and a triangle by Shoshi B. If weโre content with getting halfway through and assuming theyโve calmed slightly, No Death takes us back onto the weird and wonderfully expressed if questionable muses of the opening.
Turfinโ Out The Maniacs is a comfy yet nippy prank, like being stung in the bottom but launching away from it to splash into a chocolate lake. Not so unlike Noรซl Coward playing a Bond villain, with Bowie as Bond; something you couldnโt imagine happening, but being Marie-Georges Mรฉliรจs directed it and itโs on FilmFour at 3am, you might as well grab a bag of cheesy puffs and thirty grams of Amber Leaf, stay up watch it in your pants. โCactus is cooler, Iโm no Ferris Bueller, I do as Iโm told,โ is just one line Iโm cherry picking to illustrate my point, youโll be amused and rocked in plentiful equal measure.
It has an acoustic ending called Complex 5 which will leave you incarcerated in the meandering yet meticulous peculiarly pulp portrayals of Clock Radio, as if you melted into a bubble sofa. It is available now on the streaming platforms, or buy the digital album from Bandcamp.
Bradford-on-Avon Town Councilโs annual festival, aptly titled The Bradford on Avon Live Music Festival is back this weekend, championing local talent with an eclectic line-up of impeccable performers across its multiple venues and in association with the Wiltshire Music Centreโฆ..
The festival launched in 2022, sees music pouring out of venues across the entire town over three days of music. From indie to rock, pop, jazz and blues, there really is something for everyone at this yearโs festival. โOur town is a hub of creativity,โ organiser Katie explains, โand weโre proud to keep that spirit alive through the BOA Live Music Festival.โ
It runs from Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June; itโs a long listed lineup, hereโs what weโve found and recommend you donโt miss if youโre attending. Throughout the weekend there will be music at eight venues: Westbury Garden, Trinity Hall (St Laurence School,) Lamb Yard, Timbrellโs Yard, The Three Horseshoes, The Castle Inn, The Canal Tavern, and of course, Wiltshire Music Centre.
On Friday 30th May at 7.30pm, Wiltshire Music Centre brings Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart to the festival. As a bassist, Jah Wobble is well-known for his heavy, hypnotic bass grooves, which often serve as the backbone for atmospheric, genre-crossing tracks. Covering everything from reggae to rock, dub bass to drum and bass, and global influences, his deep, melodic, and trance-like bass is central to the experience. He will open Bradford on Avon’s Live Music Festival for the Centre, along with this band of world-class musicians- the Invaders of the Heart.
Jahโs career speaks for itself, spanning over 40 yearโs heโs played on countless albums, with performers such as PILโs John Lydon, Brian Eno, Bill Laswell, U2โs The Edge, Sinead OโConner, Primal Scream, Bjork, The Orb, The Cranberries Dolores O ฬRiordan and many more, as well as a regular on the hit TV show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
Jah Wobble and the Invaders of the Heart at Wiltshire Music Centreis ยฃ27 / ยฃ14.50 U18s + students, but observe this special offer code: 30% off at checkout using promo code BOA30. Highly recommend it.
Also on Friday you can find The Bowie Experience, 8pm at the Trinity Hall of St Laurence School. I highly recommend Karport Collective with Jess Chivers in support at The Castle Inn. Find some carnivalism at The Three Horseshoes from 5pm with delinquent fuzz jugernaut The Bucky Rage, BullyBones and Glasgow nuggets of Kosher Pickles!ย And with Bird is the Word taking over music at The Boat House, who has Band of Others on Friday, you are spoiled for choice.
Nothing Rhymes With Orange @ The Exchange ~ The Last Big Devizes Gig
Decisions get even harder on Saturday 31st May, at the main stage at Westbury Garden youโll find Retro Electro headlining at 9pm. The penultimate act is our favourites, Nothing Rhymes with Orange. All after a lineup of Karport Collective, Feast of Fools, Funky Monkey Bubble Club, Sian & Rob Colquhoun, the incredible Becky Lawrence and the Jazz Factory.
Meanwhile, at Lamb Yard I highly recommend Melkshamโs indie pop band The Sunnies headlining at 9pm, after JPQ, JB & the Mojomakers, Lorikeet, Lone Sea Breakers, Body & Soul, and Jess Chivers from 3pm. The Castle Inn has The Relayz, Westward, This Way Up, I highly recommend Dylan Smith, Broken Focus, Lee Broderick, Joe Hunt, and I highly recommend Becky Lawrence, all from 1pm
Saturday night at โThe Shoesโ youโll find The Bucky Rage, Kitchen Lover, Kosher Pickles – Well Brined, and The Borough. The Canal Tavern has Star Shaped Pegs, Mojo & Yuji, Lloyd & Art, and Jake Lockhart. Timbrellโs Yard has Lorikeet, highly recommend Ruby Darbyshire, Sian & Rob Colquhoun, Jess Chivers, Sour Apple and Feast of Fools.
Itโs all afro-beat at Wiltshire Music Centre on Saturday with The Gasper Nali Band, highly recommend it. Famous since a film of him went viral, Gasper Nali is a not-so-traditional babatoni player from Lake Malawi. The babatoni is an African one-string home-made 3-metre long bass guitar, and with a stick and an empty beer bottle. Together with a cow skin kick drum and catchy melodies, he creates the most amazing and danceable original Afro Beats possible!
Gasper has toured the UK and Europe several times since his breakthrough video, playing in all environments from seated arts centres spaces to major festival stages. This year, Gasper will be transforming his customary one-man-band show and perform with a three-piece band for the very first time in the UK. Along for the ride is Malawi born songsmith and cultural proponent Luhangah on additional vocals and percussion, as well as Gasperโs long-time producer and collaborator Mattias Stรฅlnacke on guitars.
Gasper Nali Band: Bradford on Avon Live Music Festival at Wiltshire Music Centre starts at 7.30pm. ยฃ16 / ยฃ9 U18s + students. Another SPECIAL OFFER here: 30% off at checkout using promo code BOA30.
Sunday is the first of June, and what a way to see the month in. At The Three Horseshoes from 3pm, for some mod, funk and RnB with The Convulsions. Trinity Hall has The Hipcats: A Century of Sinatra with support from JPQ from 7.30pm, and Judas Goat & the Bell Weather from 3pm, who we highly recommend too!ย
Four Dauntsey’s Sixth-Formers have been awarded travel scholarships, and plan to cycle all the way from their school to Bonn in Germany, shortly after completing theirโฆ
Leading Wiltshire digital entrepreneur Natalie Luckham, AI Educator and founder of award-winning Wiltshire social media consultancy Naturally Social is hosting a free โIntroduction to AIโ webinarโฆ
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts key into the town’s majority demographic for its first annual event of the year, mature couples, with an affection for sampling theโฆ
Well, I admit, the Black Dog Crossroads has reopened with shiny new traffic lights and looks pretty groovy, as far as road junctions look groovy. Butโฆ
The Wiltshire Music Awards 2026 entered an exciting new era when Stone Circle Music Events announced was as official sponsor and organiser. Backed by their Galway,โฆ
Images from KieshaFilms I confess my motivation to venture out this winter stagnated, like sludge in a drain. Akin to a hedgehog, I poked my twitchingโฆ
by Ian Diddams images by Chris Watkins media โChicagoโ is a stand out example of the musical theatre genre โ great songs, great characters, great murdersโฆโฆ
I loved it, but if the jury was out in March over Isn’t She Lovely, the last single from George Wilding under the production of Jolyon Dixon for its experimental vaudeville ambience of Queenโs later material and sprinkles of doo-wop at the intro, the third single comes out punchingโฆ..
Shoot Me is released today across all platforms, and if we’re used to George’s wispy moments of psychedelic Velvet Underground, this rather takes on Lou Reed’s more edgy rock n roll. In line with the blossoming tendency of many local bands, from Nothing Rhymes With Orange to Talk in Code, this adopts the timeless indie-rock angle of The Killers and Arctic Monkeys. It’s lively, fire in the belly driving music, I can imagine a crowd hailing it back at him within a relatively short time.
A slight move sidewards for George and a wise decision; millennials to gen z, and even Britpop nineties kids are going to lap this up. It’s a timeless belter. My immediate thought laid with the La’s when the song opened, the notion quickly shifted to something more contemporary, of Franz Ferdinand, and the others I’ve already mentioned.
Yet George is a force in his own right and needs no comparison. Shoot Me contains those recognisable vocal delicacies we’ve come to love him for, that understanding he could shift into any pigeonhole and come up trumps.
Devizes-based The Big Sound Choir will take to the stage at St Georgeโs Bristol on Wednesday 4th June as part of Aled Jonesโs nationwide Full Circle tour โ and audiences are in for a real treat….
Known for their dynamic energy and uplifting sound, The Big Sound Choir will open the evening with a rousing set of feel-good songs before joining Aled Jones live on stage for a powerful finale.
Aled, the beloved boy treble who captured hearts with Walking in the Air, is back with a brand-new show thatโs packed with songs, stories, and surprises. โItโs time to come Full Circle,โ says Aled. โIโll be telling stories about how it all began, then taking the audience on a journey through my career โ from meeting Royalty, singing all over the world, to being sat between Elton John and Billy Connolly at Bob Geldof and Paula Yatesโs wedding!โ
The concert promises previously unseen photographs, live performances of Aledโs favourite songs, and the chance for the audience to ask him questions. Itโs a warm, funny, and nostalgic evening that celebrates a remarkable career โ and for The Big Sound Choir, itโs a chance to shine alongside one of Britainโs most recognisable voices.
SPECIAL OFFER: 50% OFF TICKETS Book now HERE and use code: 50ALED at the checkout!
Donโt miss this joyful collaboration โ a night of beautiful music, heartwarming memories, and one unforgettable finale!
Adam Woodhouse, Rory Coleman-Smith, Jo Deacon and Matt Hughes, aka Thieves, the wonderful local folk vocal harmony quartet of uplifting bluegrass into country-blues has a four track debut EP; who knew?!
I only found out through talking with Adam about a merch table at our forthcoming RowdeFest, where you can, incidentally, find Thieves playing, but at any gig youโre lucky enough to catch them at, I suggest you pick up a copy of this little showcase disc; theyโre our very own resident Carter Familyโฆ.
Opening with Calneโs Jo Deacon on lead vocals, who also sings solo and with soul function band the Midnight Hour, Coming Back For Me is beguiling and uptempo, refreshing bluegrass fashion. Yet Working Man, which follows, slides the divine ambience into mellowed country-rock. With Adam on lead vocals, Iโm thinking Neil Young, the Byrds, and all those irresistible Americana classics, which imagines youโre heading west through Oklahoma on a Harley with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.
Probably the highlight of this EP is the penultimate, Now You’re Around. Five minutes of total bliss, with Jo back on vocals and some seriously intricate melodies, combining the talents of Roryโs resonator, Adamโs mandolin, and Mattโs upright bass, you can sense Joโs soul experience, as it rings out as authentically Americana as Janis Joplin playing Woodstock with Crosby, Stills & Nash. And still I hear something decidedly UK folk here too, of Fairport Convention, perhaps. Iโm no connoisseur, just know what my ears like; itโs all a melting pot,ย and Thieves stir it with delicate precision.
And in that, Iโm unsure about the name Thieves. Certainly the genuine sound of America is pinched if not more agreeably heavily influenced by, but it might suggest thereโs something edgy going on, when this is dinkum, universally appealing sunny side of the street melodies; the kind of folk the eldest in the crowd will tap their toes to while children will merrily twirl barefoot on the grass.
It was a series of coincidences when I first saw them at Bradford Roots Festival a few years ago. From a distance I thought โthat guy looks just like Adam Woodhouse,โ (and maybe a smidgen like MacGyver too!) but upon hearing them perform I thought of The Lost Trades, turned to tell the person standing next to me, who just happened to be Phil Cooper of the Lost Trades, who nodded his trilby in approval; a fine accolade indeed. โIt is Adam,โ Phil replied! Oh, yeah, so it is; I didnโt need to go to Specsavers, because their wonderful sound pulled me closer.
We finish the EP with a ballad called Lately, which Adam and Jo duet, and itโs so beautiful and moreish, leaving you suspended on whatโs to come from Thieves, but rest assured, hereโs a wonderful quartet which can hold a crowd spellbound.
Find where Thieves are playing on our local circuits by following socials FacebookInsta for gigs, and hopefully catch them at Rowdefest on Saturday 31st May? Itโs free, bring me a haslett and cucumber sandwich, Iโve arranged the acts, I wonโt let you down.
After much deliberation, Devizine is to pull out of any further organisation of the Wiltshire Music Awardsโฆ.. It has not been an easy decision, andโฆ
It seems Shrove Tuesday celebrations in Devizes have fallen as flat as aโฆ.well, you get the gagโฆ Traditionally organised by Age Concern Wiltshire, and oftenโฆ
The mighty mighty Minety Music Festival announced The Bluetones as their Sunday headliner at their Eames Laurie Main Stage, and The Dub Pistols on theโฆ
The celebrated Shindig Festival at Malmesbury’s Charton Park announced their headline act for May bank holiday 2026, and being that it’s Bob Vylan, it isโฆ
Drizzly Sundayโฆagain. Iโve just finished designing the poster, so allow me to reveal the lineup for Rowdefest this coming May, might cheer us up aโฆ
He might be between two worlds but he can also be in your home, in your very own ears, and that’s the best place for Ruzz Guitar to be. With a striking Funk-O-Pop styled cartoon cover, Ruzz Guitar has a new album out and yeah, just yeah!
Shadowing the Shadows with a belter of an opening track, Ruzz slips into Bo Diddley like a glove, then it’s off to those foot-tapping honkytonk ballads for a few tracks; oh yes, Ruzz is back and it’s a Gretsch-grappling beautiful monster.
There’s not a great deal I can say about this which I’ve not said about our Ruzz before; if it’s not brokenโฆ.
Ruzz Guitar is a tour de force, a sublime blues rocker meshing blues into a unique and prolonged ecstatic ride into the rock n roll formula of yore, it just jumps, jives, and doesn’t come up for air. And if he does, five tunes in with Forever Yours, it’s like standing in a burning sugarcane field; the sweetest air you’ll ever breathe.
Ruzz brings in stellar backing, with some mind-blowingly soulful vocals from Shannon Scott and Julhi Conlinn. Drummer Brian Fahey, both Chris and Steve PelletierSmith on bass, pianist Paul Quinn and special guest appearances from Tyrone Vaughan, Paul Pigat and Mike Eldred.ย
Recently he’s been two and fro across the Atlantic more times than Concorde, hence the title of this ten track whopper, but I never find myself wondering how he goes down on the other side, you know, delivering something they invented back to them. It worked for The Beatles, you simply know they’ll love him as deep down as Texas, because it’s impossible not to.
Right here though, we’re in Devizes and via the โMel Bush effect,โ the Hoax and now the Long Street Blues Club we’ve equally been conditioned with high expectations when we receive a blues dosage, but no one does it quite proper job like our Bristolian Johnny-be-Goode, Ruzz Guitar. He’s so good they named the guitar after him.
This is class in a tall glass, I was expecting it, it never disappoints. Thereโs a number of tracks weโve tasted before, revised and polished for the ultimate road trip soundtrack; itโs got a new version of Sweet as Honey on it, which for some reason always makes me go bananas!
It could be bigger than Diggers! See what I did there? Okay, you youngsters might need Google, but while you’re researching Chippenham’s hedonistic past, aโฆ
There’s no sophomore slump for Monkey Bizzle; prolific in their art, these rural chav-choppers return with a second album, Agricultural Appropriation, only five years andโฆ
Featured Image:@jenimeadephotography Just another rainy Saturday afternoon in Devizes, whereby I watched a profound fellow dramatically sacrifice himself to the devil, then popped to Morrisonsโฆ
Stone Circle Music Events announced today that all proceeds of CrownFest will be donated to Wiltshire Hope & Harmonyโs Dementia Choir. CrownFest is an all-dayโฆ
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On his fourth tour of the UK throughout May and June, Ernestโs tour coincides with the release of his new single, โJust Onceโ, coming out on 23rd May. I had the opportunity to give it a listen before the big release, and it is nothing short of fantastic.
The song opens with some plucked guitar strings and then leads into flawless vocals and harmonies. As a whole, it tells the story of an unseen love and all the emotions that go along with it. The minimalist instruments give it a down to earth, human feel and all in all itโs a truly enjoyable listen. I truly would recommend it!
Aines is becoming quite a big name in the Folk world, particularly in his home turf of Melbourne where he has been twice nominated for Australian Artist of The Year, at the Folk Alliance Awards.
Heโs not as big over here in England, so if you do want to check out some of his stuff, I would strongly recommend his 2023 album โSpiral Boundโ as a great place to start โ or his new single when it comes out would also be a good starting point.
His tour is taking him all over the place โ from Cardiff concert hall, to live at the BBC studio, but luckily if you do want to see him thereโs no need to travel too far, Ernestis playing at The Deanery Theatre in Swindon on the 24th of May.
With only a guitar and a stomp box heโs known as a master of the stage. As an amateur musician myself, I can understand how difficult it is to fill a stage with just yourself and an instrument, but he has it down to a tee.
I really do advise getting tickets while you can, or at the very least giving his new song a listen, Iโve got a feeling weโre going to start to hear a lot more about Aines, and wouldnโt it be cool when heโs worldwide famous to be able to say you heard him first?
Aines will be playing at the Deanery Theatre in Swindon on the 24th May, tickets are available here and โJust Onceโ, out on the 23rd can be pre-saved here.
If Devizes Scooter Rally has already established its base at Whistley Roadโs Park Farm and Full-Tone are moving to these new pastures, last year theโฆ
Dubiously biased and ruled with an iron fist, the mighty admin of the once popular Devizes Facebook group, Devizes Issues, is using the iconic Greatโฆ
Under the new management, live music will be making a triumphant return to The Boathouse in Bradford-on-Avon and that Cracking Pair, Claire and Chloe of Bird is the Word are controlling bookingsโฆ..
They excitedly announced today on their Facebook page that they are โworking in partnership to make sure that you are brought the most excellent entertainment!โ
Due to taking control of bookings acts as of 1st June, they’ve already organised a regular and loved band and DJ at the venue for the relaunch.
We look forward to seeing what they have in store. Bird is the Word said, โfrom 1st June onwards there will be new bookings of bands, artists and events of a super-duper standard that will be well looked after – ‘musicians supporting and promoting musicians’. That means good pay, good treatment, good advertising, and timely response to emails and enquiries.โ
All bookings will be managed via the email address: Boathouse.Events@sdhospitality.com
So keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information. Great news, and best of luck to Claire & Chloe!
Always a happy place, our traditional record shop Vinyl Realm in Northgate Street Devizes is back in the game of hosting some live music afternoons. First up was the dynamic duo and purveyors of all things goth, Deadlight Danceโฆ.
Owners Pete and Jackie were glad to announce the return of some live music afternoons atย Vinyl Realm, and between us we couldnโt recall how long itโs been since they last did this. A welcomed visit then, where you can leave your penny-farthing outside, browse some records while youโre there, and take in some locally sourced, unplugged acoustic sounds.
From 2:30pm Deadlight Dance played through stripped back versions of their originals and plenty of classic covers of the eighties new wave and gothic scene, claiming it was World Goth Day, though Google reckons itโs next Thursday, but whoโs arguing? Deadlight Dance were covering these songs when Google was an itch in Ask Jeevesโ web crawler.
Always a pleasure to hear Nick and Tim play, though attired in their black jackets, white shirts and shades, it seems Tim drew the short straw and stood window-side with the sun beating in and a wasp groupie hovering overhead! Mandolin and guitar Echo Beach rinsing through the rafters though, while everyone outside is shopping for a birthday card for their pet cat, or Iceland hot dog stuffed crust pizza; plenty of time that malarky afterwards. I found a 7โ of Chaka Khan, and another from Neil from the Young Ones, so there.
Next up is our wonderful Devizes singer-songwriter Sammi Evans, next Saturday 24th May from 2:30pm. Iโve asked Jackie for a list, but this was vague at the moment; watch this space. Of course JP Oldfield is on for a suitcase drum and kazoo sesh at some point, so if youโre an acoustic performer I suggest you pop into Vinyl Realm and put your name down!ย
Looking for something to do next weekend? One of Wiltshireโs biggest festivals is happening just up the road in Chippenham all over the late May Bank Holiday weekend.ย Itโs also one of the largest folk festivals in the UK, and one of the longest running โ this year theyโre clocking up their 52nd festival……
The festival happens over four days at venues all over the town, and provides several streams of entertainment to suit most tastes.ย With over 650 performers already confirmed covering music concerts, workshops, dance/ ceilidhs, Morris dancing, storytelling and spoken word, and a wide range of childrenโs and other entertainment, thereโll be something going on in every town-centre street and pub, to say nothing of the thirteen dedicated stages and dance venues.ย ย
And the good news is that, aside from all the ticketed camping and music/ dance events, thereโs plenty of FREE stuff too.ย Down at Island Park thereโll be community stages, a session beer tent (run by Moongazing Hare this was highly popular last year, and Iโd thoroughly recommend it!), lots of pop-up food vendors (crepes, churros, Sri Lankan, vegan, Mexican, Japanese, ice cream etc), and craft stalls โ allย located alongside the beautiful River Avon. Itโs got a great vibe and is a good family-friendly place to relax, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy a session and entertainment with children, family and friends.ย
But with so much going on โ you should see the bulging programme with its literally hundreds of events – we thought weโd take the chance before all the fun starts to preview and pick out some of the best stuff, and to highlight some of our favourite picks.
Overall, thereโs a brilliant line up of music concerts featuring over 75 different acts, including:
The East Pointers – hailing from Prince Edward Island in Canada. Their dancefloor-shaking, electro-trad glorious combination of folk/ pop sounds has already seen them acknowledged as musical trailblazers internationally. Their debut album Secret Victory won the 2017 JUNO Award for Traditional Roots Recording of the Year. Their 2023 EP House Of Dreams was nominated for a JUNO Award, and won Contemporary Roots Recording of the Year, Group Recording of the Year and Pop Recording of the Year at the 2023 East Coast Music Awards. Their headline show is on the Sunday night;ย
Phil Beer & Paul Downes โ two of the stalwarts of British folk music, and truly great musicians both.ย Their shows are not only musically entertaining but always delivered with great bantering humour.ย Their headlining set is on the Saturday night;ย
Miranda Sykes โ another of the folk worldโs all-time great performers, Miranda has played bass with countless bands and line-ups, and has worked for over 20 years with folk royalty Show Of Hands. In 2024 she toured with Hannah Martin, paired a new Baring-Gould Centenary project with Jim Causley, and has toured a wide range of summer festivals. Catch her on the Monday night;ย
Seth Lakeman โ will be playing material from his new album The Granite Way.ย Catapulted into the spotlight after his album Kitty Jay received a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005, since then heโs produced multiple albums, toured worldwide and participated in several high-profile collaborations, most recently with Robert Plantโs band The Sensational Shape-shifters.ย His fiddle playing is simply stunning, and a joy to behold in live performance.ย Heโll be doing his thing on the Monday afternoon.
And then thereโs a nearly forty different bands, including a great calling team for the dances and ceilidhs, with bands including Banter with Fee Lock, Sawney White Bird, Doug Eunson & Sarah Matthews, Portmanteau, Hinny & Joe Wass with callers Andrew Swaine, Bernie Culkin, Geoff Cubitt, John Stewart, Susanna Diamon, and more to meet every style.
Add to this nearly seventy different Morris sides from all over the UK, and over twenty-five childrenโs entertainers (including the simply hilarious and highly-talented Keith Donnelly), featuring music, dance, puppets, dressing up, play, workshops, meet-the-entertainer sessions, and youโve got plenty to choose from, with different things for all members of the family.
Apart from the main venues and stages, thereโll be stuff going on in just about every pub, in the main streets, and anywhere else the performers can find a space. Thereโll be some open mic sessions too.
Having been to many Chippenham Folk Festivals over the years (and indeed performed at a few!), I can highly recommend a trip out to one of Wiltshireโs best events โ itโs colourful, itโs noisy, itโs busy, but most of all, itโs entertaining!
Thereโs still a limited number of day and event tickets, as well as full weekend season tickets (with or without camping) available. Or thereโs also still time to volunteer to help with stewarding and venues (which qualifies you for a FREE ticket). All the information is on the festivalโs website, together with ticketing information at www.chippfolk.co.uk/Tickets
Itโs been way too long since I saw the irrepressible Jake Martin, and he did not disappoint, classic songs as ever, open, maybe even anarchic delivery.. he found himself in front of mostly familiar ears….
On tour with some friends on a multi head bill, having fun whilst often singing and talking of lifeโs serious side, all of them; relationships, drinking games and mental health, all up for dissection and deliberation through song.ย
Mexican Dave opened, a wisecracking confident man with a definite penchant for singing fast, and getting us to sing whilst other key figures in this scene, Gaz Brookfield and Ben B-Sydes become improvised captains for each side of the room in a chorus battle.. as you do! My friend and I sat either side of a table at the front wearing our respective captains tee shirts by coincidence amused us and Dave..!ย
Blake Cateris, was the middle man in the line up, a little more settled and profound.. an Aussie in our midst. Perhaps more reflective, though, are some great songs, and having a look at his poetry book this morning, he is a great writer. About to set off for a 22 date tour in Germany before returning to Sydney, wish him well and hope to see him againโฆย
The headline, the main man, Jake Martin. Heโs famously self deprecating and among the most appropriately described musicians in the folk punk remit. Your mother may not appreciate every turn of phrase, but his crowds always will!
I consider him an anthemic hero, all on the bill actively involving us, but none with such fervour, perhaps through widespread familiarity of his rousing songs. I am one to try for instance, of loving, failing and trying in equal measure.
Songs about relationships, poor decisions, mental health, and all with an openness that rarely is found in larger yet less enveloping venues and in many artists. Foot stomping common ground, for many present will have had these problems, for my part my antidote to the modern condition is music, so thatโs how perhaps I should wrap up my ramblings, Jake and all the wonderful musicians that grace our venues are the antidote. All you need to do is go find some that work for you.
I am pretty sure Ed (Dyer) will forgive me for likening last night as it nostalgically did for me, to the venue which opened this world for me, the fold in Devizes. It literally changed my life. Sadly gone yet seeing old friends and musicians alike roll eyes, and wax lyrical of shared nights such as this many years past, aware how important it is to seize the moment.
There are great venues around and tirelessly passionate people, many among my friends, itโs as simple as doing a little research, and getting out to support them.
Thankfully I wonโt wait too long as aside from town gigs this weekend , I shall be back to Old Town for the incredible Wilswood Buoys at next week’s Thursday night club at the Castle.
Oh hear ye, for a foretelling I behold. A prog-rock shamen of extensive knowledge and sorcery will enter our sacred vale during the moon to cometh.…
A mysterious lone traveller stands at the Trow Bridge, as steadfast as the mist surrounding him. Behind him, the home he departed, the market Frome across the Somerset border. In front as he strides barefoot across the downs, resides the unsuspecting kind folk of the White Horse. He arrives clasping under his cloak, a magical multi-track looper known as a Boomerang III Phrase Sampler, a gatefold sleeve album of yore in his other hand he holds high above his brimmed kappell, and he hath a celebration to bequeathโฆ.
โฆ.or he might have a van, Iโm not 100% certain! But James Hollingsworth returns to Wiltshire to pay homage to Pink Floydโs ninth studio album Wish You Were Here, which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. With loop pedalboard and other such tech, he bravely attempts it solo, but if any one can, he can.
In our writer Andyโs extolled words of a review long past, when James did similar at the Devizes Southgate on Dark Side of the Moonโs fiftieth birthday, Andy called him a โtour de force, a stunning effort of both musical versatility, but also of concentration. Itโs the music he loves, and it really showed.โ
Unlike Andy, Iโm not of that era, being only two when Wish You Were Here was released, and as a result Iโm more critical about prog-rock. Though Floyd are a timeless band, whose lyrics we chanted on the playground, inciting us not to need education or thought-control. And of James I said in a 2022 review, again at the Southgate, โfor any music lover from folk to prog-rock, from the era of mellowed Floyd-eske goodness, James Hollingsworth works some magic,โ so, I must have loved it!
To make sure, James sent me his latest outpouring, an intense collaboration with keyboardist Steve Griffiths called Lost in the Winds of Time. With tolkienesque charm, swirling soundscapes and whimsical storytelling, Lost in the Winds of Time is a sea shanty rock opera, nine lengthy tracks strong, each flowing beautifully like the whistling winds, into a narrative, mystically.
Though Lost in the Winds of Time might be better comparable to the album Meddle, with its gorgeous circulating psychotropic-inducing effects and riffs which roll over like waves on a calming sea caressing the shore. Jamesโ silky vocals drift across the ether, like Wiltshire’s own Justin Hayward narrating a Victoran fantasy adventure, or Harry Potter Goes to Sea with Gandalf!
Itโs an impressive trip, to me, as Iโm one who, during the intervening period between undesirable commercialised electronica and the more welcomed acid house, sought the archives for lost psychedelia to suit my blossoming journey into the psycheโs nirvana (I was at art college, it was part of the curriculum!) The older Floyd albums were an inevitable discovery I revelled in, horizontally in a moulding bedroom. Wish You Were Here stood out, for its vivid masterpieces of alienation and mental health, attributing original Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett, and paying their respects to him in such sublime manner reflected by listeners to anyone they once loved and lost.
Not to be confused with a tribute act, James Hollingsworth more simply pays homage to his influences in his own manner, and plans to play some of his compositions alongside. How will he do it? Bet you wish you were here to hear itโฆ (see what I did there? Iโll get my fur-lined Afghan coat!)
He takes his show to Melksham, at the Grapes on Saturday 17th May. At the Southgate in Devizeson bank holiday Monday, the 26th May, which are both free, and as part of the Bath Fringe on Thursday 29th May at The Ring O Bells, ticketed event. Also at The Creative Innovation Centre in Taunton on Friday 23rd May.ย
If weโve had a keen eye on Swindonโs Sienna Wilemanโs natural progression as an upcoming singer-songwriter since being introduced to her self-penned songs via her father Richard Wileman some years ago, her songs have always reflected her dadโs penchant for combining curious and experimental soundscapes with acoustic vibes. Working with the more rhythm-driven Auralcandy this single is a change of directionโฆ.
Just a Mirrorball released yesterday, with a pop sound of nineties nu-cool, as if Sophie Ellis Bextor was on the Madchester scene with Deee-Lite. It’s an instant love from me, and couldn’t go any other way really. Itโs sassy, Maroon 5, danceable, but Auralcandy requests no one ask them for the โboringโ backstory on this interesting collaboration, and to stop them if they ever try to tell it! Weโll just have to see it for what it is, a working combination made in heaven.
Sienna shows her versatility as a recording artist here, from acoustic folk to musical theatre, now this is decidedly pop, the timeless variety.
โSienna is an absolute joy to work with, an obvious talent but with a complete nonchalance that comes with being one of those pesky kids Scooby Doo warned me about,โ they said, โthe middle vocal is all Sienna’s invention. And, to me, reeks of 1960s pop Franรงoise Hardy, Brigitte Bardot et al; effortlessly cool.โ
And it is so! So much so, it needs wider attention, it deserves to chart, and put them both on the map, but they’re both modest with their talent, so allow me to plug it!
A week into the voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards and things have been moving forward fast. Weโve had the best part of 500 voting forms already submitted and weโre busy spreading the news about these new awardsโฆ
The voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards went live on the 1st May, and if it was overshadowed by some other voting thing going on that day too, this far more important election is gradually gathering pace. And unlike the other elections, no one is jumping on anyoneโs back, making up stories to derail other candidates!
Eddie Prestidge of Wiltshire Music Events UK and I have been busy promoting the concept, and weโre delighted and extremely grateful to everyone who has helped us with this. From visiting Castledown FM to meet Kev Lawrence and waffle on his drive-time show, and future such gigs like Peggy-Sueโs Donโt Stop the Music Show on Swindon 105.5, to features in Swindon Link and Salisbury Radioโs blog, and everyone who has shared our news on social media, word is getting around thanks to you all.
Of course individual musicians, bands and studios have taken to their social media platforms begging for their fans to vote for them, and, donโt worry, this is encouraged! Itโs also our most treasured venues such as The Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon who are sharing our news. I believe this is all vital, to ensure weโre making it comprehensive and spanning across the entire county. If you can help us with this, please do get in touch.
Nominations will close on 10th June 2025, so we need your picks by then! Itโs not easy, I know; Eddie messaged me a few hours into the voting process to say he hadnโt seen my submission yet, and I had to tell him I was still making my mind up!
Thereโs so many talented musicians around here, it is difficult to decide whoโs name to put in those boxes. But, in this I feel is a point worth making about the Wiltshire Music Awards; we are doing this to promote, encourage and celebrate everyone creating music locally, from DJ and cover band to original artists and sound engineers. This isnโt intended to make our circuits competitive in any way, as we all enjoy the communal and friendly ethos of our local circuits, and vow to maintain this. The hard work they all do to entertain us is recognised and appreciated; while some of our many friends on the music scenes in Wiltshire might not pick up an award, it doesnโt mean weโve forgotten them!
Eddie says, โthese awards recognise the individuals and groups whose efforts make a real difference. If you know someone who deserves recognition, or want to showcase your group, now is your chance to give them the spotlight they deserve.โ
Weโve just opened a Facebook group for the Awards you can join HERE. People have joined and are making connections there already, which is great and exactly what we want to achieve with this venture; itโs not the Oscars!
Thereโs loads of questions which have been fired at us over the week about how the awards work, despite many of them being answered on the FAQs pageof the website! Some others have come up, and we thank you for raising some valid points. One good one I had by Rich of Minety Music Festival, who asked if we could have a category for festivals. We pondered how we could do this as the categories have already been set, thereโs 17 of them already, and feeding it into the venues category might not be fair on the smaller grassroots venues. So, we decided to add festivals as a category for next year, and make a list of festivals in Wiltshire for the judgesโ perusal. I mention this to say, hey, weโre open to ideas and things we might have overlooked.
The most frequent question Iโve been asked is โcan I vote for myself?!โ To which the simple answer is a big fat YES! Why not? Show off your ego, youโve earned it, go for it! The less frequent but similar question Iโve had is, surprisingly, โcan I vote for you?!โ The answer is, yeah (blush,) if you must!
Weโve been browsing trophies and medals from a catalogue by Avon Trophies like weโre kids drooling over the lingerie section! And over the next couple of weeks we will be sending invites for people to be judges. Choosing experienced people with dedication to promoting music in the county and trying to set one in each area, we have a list of possibles, but if youโre interested in this let me know this coming week. It is also vital that this event receives sponsorship in order for it to work as well as whatโs in our minds. Please contact us if you would like to sponsor an individual award or the whole shebang!
The award ceremony will take place in Devizes at the Corn Exchange, on Saturday 25th October 2025, tickets are here. We hope it will continue annually, this all depends upon your input and support, which has so far been so encouraging I might even be moved wear a dickie-bow at the event, and that’s worth the ticket price alone! Please vote and share our news, thank you!
Organised by Kingston Media – to raise money for Dorothy House and Wiltshire Air Ambulance – the 3rd of May saw Bands At The Bridge come to the Bridge Inn, Horton …
With the sun peeking out and the rain clouds temporarily parting I had the opportunity to head on down to Bands on The Bridge, a mini festival-style event at the Bridge Inn on the outskirts of Devizes. Organised by Kingston Media โ in a step away from their usual publicity/catering work โ the event saw eight bands and solo performers stretched across the afternoon and evening of the Bank Holiday Saturday, all in aid of Dorothy House and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
From the moment of entering, you could feel a strong sense of excitement, and although the crowd wasnโt big, they definitely had the enthusiasm side nailed as each of the performers was met with cheers and dancing.
The first band I had the opportunity to see that evening was Burn the Midnight Oil. They started with a cover of Dreams and soon had everyone singing along, before launching into a set of original songs, which saw dancing, cowboy hats and even people howling like wolves for a short time (there was more context to it than that, I promise!).
Although all songs they played โ other than one โ were originals, they played them which such skill that without knowing their setlist beforehand you wouldnโt have known that they werenโt just covers of songs that you just didnโt know, which can take a lot of skill to do right. All their songs were great, but Iโd like to give a mention specifically to Scapegoat and Werewolf, which were my two favourites of the evening. It was clear their focus was on well played and polished originals, which they were fantastic at and which the audience clearly appreciated.
Dreamcatcher came quickly next, a band that originally started as a Fleetwood Mac tribute, but their tastes broadened to encompass a load more songs of the same sort of style – although rest assured, they still had a healthy dose of Fleetwood throughout. Their 45 minutes setlist saw a variety of different songs, broken strings and even the sun (for a short appearance, which had everyone cheering) with a main focus on stuff from the 60s and 70s, the sort of songs that everyone would know and have a little dance to.
The Dreamcatchers played well, and despite the small crowds, it was clear the audience enjoyed their material and it fit in well for that kind of event.
By far the most appreciated band of the evening were The 789s, a Bristol based events band. Itโs fair to say they were some of the most skilled players of the evening, with their four-person line up seeing drums, bass, guitar and vocals. Once again, their setlist focused on well-known and easily danceable songs, seeing performances of Come On Eileen, Donโt Look Back In Anger and many more that had everyone excited.
I had a quick chat with their lead singer Ally who said a lot of the songs she enjoys performing are 70s funk and disco style numbers and that that was what she grew up with around the house. Their high energy songs soon had everyone up dancing and singing along and it seemed that 45 minutes wasnโt enough for the audience, after two back-to-back encores at the end of their set leading to a few extra songs, which were just as impressive as โ if not better โ than the rest of their set.
With their skilled instrumentalists, incredible talented singers and a well-polished setlist I thought it was perfect for this kind of event and clearly the rest of the audience agreed. Ally went on to say that the energy people gave her made it a really fun gig to be playing at.
The last performance of the evening saw headliner Almost Elton take to the stage. By this point the audience were invested in whatever performance would come next, so he was met with a great reception after setting up a keyboard and mic followed by a quick outfit change into a feathered coat and a not entirely convincing wig.
He had a longer set than others, and being an Elton John tribute act ran through all the favourite songs of Mr John โ even bringing some random audience members on stage to โhelpโ with the vocals on Donโt Go Breaking My Heart. It was a good way to round off an event like this, everyone knew the songs, everyone sang along and everyone danced.
All in all, Kingston Media pulled off an enjoyable event with some fantastic performers throughout the evening. As well as the four Iโve babbled about above Iโve heard great things of both Jane Bennetโs and The Sitting Ducksโ sets (and actually all of the rest of the performers) and was sad to miss them.
Although the crowds were a little small, that is completely normal and to be expected for the first year of this sort of event (and in fact, their first ever event of this type). They had the traditional festival atmosphere nailed and a great venue to go along with it. So, hereโs hoping for it to be done again next year, maybe with a bit more sun though?!
Christmas has come early for foxes and normal humans with any slither of compassion remaining, as the government announced the righteous move to ban trailโฆ
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward โEโ) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunesโฆ
Trowbridge singer-songwriter and one third of The Lost Trades, Phil Cooper has actually been doing more than playing solitaire, heโs released a new solo album called Playing Solitaireโฆ..
Released yesterday (2nd May) Playing Solitaire is Philโs first solo album in five years. The last being These Revelation Games in 2020, which was a varied bunch where Phil experimented extensively. Perhaps lockdown inspired artists to scrutinise and pilot new ideas, though through his part in the Americana harmony trio The Lost Trades, fronting the harder rocking The Slight Band, and BCC project, where Phil dives into synth-pop, heโs never been one to shy away from testing new waters. But the principle beauty of Philโs work lies in the simplicity of his idiosyncratic and solitary acoustic outpourings, a clear and clean line of self-reflection, drenched in honesty and poignancy, and thatโs precisely what youโre getting with Playing Solitaire.
Apologise for the delay in announcing this; I had to take one more listen this morning, before deciding if I should call this his best work to date, as heโs a prolific artist with an outstanding discography already. But I think I can safely say, because of the wonderful way this flows, coalescing in mood and style, I think I can safely suggest that it is.
If an all-out anarchistic thrash of rock n roll is what you require, this isnโt for you. For everyone else Playing Solitaire is beautifully crafted and passive, gorgeously taut and accomplished. Thereโs no whimsical introduction. โLook out world, Iโm here to stay,โ Phil confidently announces without warning; good! Because Phil knows precisely how to construct a song, and itโs this dedication to composition where he shines best. The opening song, Still Holding My Breath is quintessential Phil Cooper. Itโs the acme of his observational writing, a homage to the notion hard work pays off, a characteristic we know Phil well for.
Moving to the next tune, romantic dejection is his soft play centre topic, and oh, how you wrote that note, disregarding how it might be interpreted by the receiver; perhaps weโve all been there. If itโs a personal reflection, you identify, and the magic lies at the feet of this contemplation, the very magic of Philโs words, song and ability to combine them, hard at work. And this is an observation we could make to summarise the whole album.
That Easy Road, is remarkable heart on a sleeve content again, it drifts with a stormy sea metaphor to convince himself heโs loved. Another peace of mind ballad follows, then Bijou comments on struggling grassroots music venues, and even if Iโm not a musician, itโs exceptionally touching and poignant. The passion Phil delivers this with and the construction of the riff, itโs my personal favourite on the album, maybe replacing Road Songs, my past fav Phil Cooper tune.
Halfway mark of this ten strong album, and weโre in another foreboding place with Beauty in the Cracks, a frustration at progression, perhaps. Uptempo, and weโre on a lighter note next, followed by a live favourite, They Will Call Us Angels. Eric Bogle fashioned or Guthrie, even, if we suggest an Americana route, but weโve definitely arrived folk inspired by his work with The Lost Trades. Phil glows through a moving account of a frontline medic, and itโs something kinda wonderful.
Maybe Phil lessened on the deeper narrative in the middle of this album and left three moreish golden nuggets to finish on. Directionless is as it says on the tin, it drifts, and rises halfway through. And we finalise akin to where we began, a little self-help guide type lyrics, but hey, Phil is always on-point. It is an almost one-man choral twinkle, defining Phil as a perfectionist.
If you worked with Phil in an office, he might be the friendly confidant you relay youโve prepped nothing for this meeting, and heโll assure you heโs done equally poorly, and then, at the meeting heโd turn up with a full presentation! Not a show-off by any means, just a dedicated precisian, motivated to the hilt, but seemingly oblivious of the haphazardness of the more spontaneous type, and thatโs a rare trait in a musician, making for something individual, solitary, like the one who plays solitaire when they could engage in a two-player game, usually with our Jamie!
This album gets top marks as it reflects his personality sublimely, even by title, and you take a little bit of Phil Cooper away with you. In other news, The Lost Trades are back in the picture since the departure of Tamsin Quin. Jess Vincent takes her place as the third Lost Trader,their touring dates are announced, and we look forward to seeing them with the new addition. For now, Playing Solitaire is out, and you can find it HERE.
Wiltshire Music Centre Unveils Star-Studded New Season with BBC Big Band, Ute Lemper, Sir Willard White and comedians Chris Addison and Alistair McGowan revealing theirโฆ
Daphneโs Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in theโฆ
Part 1: An Introduction March 1936: newlywed French telecommunications engineer Pierre Schaeffer relocates to Paris from Strasbourg and finds work in radio broadcasting. He embarksโฆ
Yesterday Wiltshire Council published an โupdateโ on the lane closure on Northgate Street in Devizes as the fire which caused it reaches its first anniversary.โฆ
Join the St Johnโs Choir and talented soloists for a heart-warming evening of festive favourites, carols, and candlelit Christmas atmosphere this Friday 12 th Decemberโฆ
This afternoon I find myself contemplating what the future holds for historical discovery and learning for all ages, fun and educational exhibits and events inโฆ
Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlboroughโs singer-songwriter Gus Whiteโs debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and itโs moreโฆ
Having to unfortunately miss Devizesโ blues extravaganza on Friday, I crossed the borderline on Saturday to get my prescribed dosage of Talk in Codeโฆwith aโฆ
The voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards goes live today; there might be some other voting thing going on too, but this is far more important!
In conjunction with Wiltshire Music Events UK, Iโm delighted Devizine will be actively assisting to organise this new county-wide music awards. Weโve mentioned it a few times now, but today the moment has finally arrived for you to cast your votes. Nominations are open for the ceremony from 1st May 2025, and will close on 10th June 2025.
The award ceremony will take place in Devizes at the Corn Exchange, on Saturday 25th October 2025, tickets are here. We hope it will continue annually, this all depends upon your input. Please get voting, and we call upon everyone actively involved in music scenes across the county to get involved too.
Hereโs some FAQs about the process, and other than to say Iโm mega-excited about it all, and to please share this news far and wide, thereโs not a lot else I can waffle on about it for now; everything relies on you all to help us find the talented in Wiltshire, so get voting!
Who can be nominated?
Anyone involved in music based in Wiltshire or primarily active within the county can be nominated. This includes solo artists, bands, DJs, instrumentalists, music promoters, and venues.
Can I nominate in more than one category?
Yes, you can submit nominations in multiple categories. However, each artist, band, group, DJ, or venue may only be nominated in one category overall, so please choose the most suitable one.
Who decides the winners?
A panel of music professionals from across Wiltshire will review the shortlisted entries and select one winner per category. The panelโs decision will be final.
Big congratulations to Devizes DJ Greg Spencer this week, the creator of Palooza house nights at The Exchange nightclub, for he made the prestigious bill of Fatboy Slimโs All Back to Minehead festival in November at Butlins; we have to celebrate him, baby, and praise him like we should!
Palooza launched in March last year, to bring back regular house nights in Devizes, and fantastic they are too. A year later and Greg excitedly messaged us with the news he was potentially booked for Fatboy Slimโs annual shindig at the Butlins in Minehead, we just had to wait for confirmation, which he now has. โIโm a bit overwhelmed by it,โ Greg told us at the time, describing the news as one of the best days of his life when he announced it last week.
Goldie, K-Klass and a DJ set from Leftfield are among the highlights of who will be larginโ it with Norm at this annual dance music extravaganza; we wish Greg all the best with it. But if you want to get Paloozaโd closer to home, theyโre back at the Exchange nightclub this Friday, 2nd May. And weโre leaking future dates for Palooza nights to put in your diary, the 27th June, 29th August and 19th December.
This Friday sees the crew playing house, old skool, techno and tech house with DJs Floormover, Leggy, Rodj, Eldridge and Grit. Pay on the door, Facebook event page is here; let them know if youโre going!
If I’ve been galavanting recently, gorging on other local townโs live music scenes, what better way to return to Devizes than a visit to the liveliest watering hole, The Three Crowns, to see a band with our town’s name all over it, No Alarms And No Devizes? How apt!
Iโll confess, while I know most of the members of this five-piece as individual musicians in their own rights or as members of various other groups, I was yet to see them in this setup, despite them forming the best part of a year ago. Naughty of me, I accept, but Iโm overly glad to finally tick them off my must-see list, and on the strength of last nightโs performance, it wonโt be the last.
Aware of their talents as individuals my only pre-gig apprehension being it can sometimes be a case whereby groups formed of members whoโve met at open mics sadly donโt equate to the sum of their counterparts. This minor angst I quashed before arriving; I could hear them from the carpark as they rang out Steve Harley & the Cockney Rebelโs Make Me Smile with gusto. โCome up and see me,โ the song suggests, yeah, Iโm nearly there, and already glad I did. Again, how apt!
But itโs not just in the word-playing a Radiohead songโs band name to give it a local spin, nor the coincidental meaning of the song they were covering when I arrived which makes me happy to report that they know exactly what buttons to press, rather on the tightness of the band and their comradeship too. Frontman Tom Harris, known for also fronting extreme-metal band Kinasis and a stalwart locally as a blues solo artist, is a force to be reckoned with. His lively vocal range knows no bounds, and thereโs joyful connotations within his energy and often amusing facial expressions which rub off on the audience.
If, as it suggests, โextreme-metalโ is too extreme for me, itโs in his lighter fashions which makes me smile, and during lockdown the few funky tunes he created really brought Tomโs natural talent to entertain to my attention. With No Alarms No Devizesโ varied range of cover choices in their arsenal, Tom is free to explore his funky side or whatever fancies his tickle, and I loved this about the No Alarms And No Devizes show the most.
Tom is backed by proficient guitarist Pat Ward, once modest about his abilities, today moving through the audience whilst strumming, like a pro! Bassist Jonny Jam, whoโll you see blessing his skills in many local bands. A new drummer, Nick Wood, who sure found his feet and sticks last night. And with the additional Matt Pryor on keys, the lineup gives them the scope to nail a vast range of pop songs into their repertoire, and they do them all with impressive confidence and showmanship.
Keyed in to precisely what the varied crowd at the Three Crowns want, they ventured through anything and everything from Nina Simone and the Beatles to the obligatory Radiohead, the Proclaimersโ crowd-pleaser, and eighties pop such as my personally most welcomed Men at Workโs Down Under, with a gradual fade from melodic to a frenzy. They slipped in a few great originals too, but whatever direction they took themselves into they did so with flow, precision and enthusiasm, making for a universally highly entertaining night I cannot fault. Even their break was no longer than a wee-stop!
I do ponder if the bandโs name implies itโs just a bunch of guys from Devizes when they arrive at other townโs venues. They played Swindonโs Rolleston recently, they played HoneyFest at the Barge and Salisburyโs Coach & Horses, among others, but Matt assured me theyโre welcomed wherever they play, leaving me only to assure venues outside Devizes, they may be announcing theyโre guys from Devizes within their very name, and banter between towns might be a thing, but once No Alarms And No Devizes are in full swing, youโd be glad you booked them!
Another wonderful night at the Three Crowns, then. It never fails to please. With the Brewery Shop opening next door, seeing visitors stopping into the pub, the live music and gourmet burgers, The Three Crowns is surely a testament to what a pub can achieve if they put their heads into what punters want, particularly in these uncertain times. It was as busy as ever in there, hospitable and lively, with a varied age demographic out to party and nothing baleful.
We clashed events with the wonderful Facebook page dedicated to promoting local live music, Bird is the Word, which had to happen at some point! Go give them a like if you do Facebook, theyโre doing good things over there, with higher quality photos and video streams than my tiddly tries of getting into focus while dancing and balancing a cider!
No, I didnโt imagine for a second they would, but upcoming Take the Stage winners, alt-rock emo four-piece, Butane Skies have released their second song,โฆ
Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Ladeโs latest offering of soulful pop. Itโs timelessly cool andโฆ
Words by Ollie MacKenzie. Featured Image by Barbora Mrazkova.ย The creative process can be a winding, long, and often confusing journey. Seeing a project comeโฆ
Whoโs ready for walking in the winter wonderland?! Devizes sets to magically transform into a winter wonderland this Friday when The Winter Festival and Lanternโฆ
The premise is really quite simple, the prospect is positively glowing with brilliance, the result remains to be seen, but on Sunday the 4th May Devizes will know for sure where the future of events in the town rests โฆ.. No pressure Devizes Yea team!!
It was never a nice thing to have to announce our beloved Street Festival had to be cancelled due to arts funding cuts, but being as the Market Place was booked for an event on the date, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts are determined to put on a show regardless.
The fantastic part to all this is that DOCA has brought together teenage volunteers to create a new annual festival in Devizes Market Place, under the name Yea Devizes. The most important thing for all to note about this is, this is not the street festival, nor a replacement for it, it should not be compared to it, and most important of all, it is NOT just for teenagers. Even if the committee of organisers are youths, this event welcomes everyone, of all ages.
DOCA say they โnoticed very few young adults attended traditional local events and therefore sought out youth ambassadors eventually creating Devizes Youth Event Area (Devizes Yea). The youth volunteers wanted to represent their own interests, making local events appeal to our young adults. Theyโre using their skills and collaboration to create this festival, with an aim of bringing together all generations of our community.โ
I met up with the team at their weekly planning meeting, and over a massive map of the Market Place, plastered with sticky notes highlighting all the great ideas theyโve collectively worked on, I was mightily impressed. Under the direction of DOCA expert Annabel, Elsie, Bea, Jo, and Sam are the Devizes Yea core ambassadors, learning the tricks of the events trade, and likely how much hard work goes on behind the scenes to create large scale eventsโฆ. and thereโs more than you imagine.
Jess, my daughter, just joined as press officer, (which puts us ahead of the game of telling you about it!) But Devizes YEA are still looking for teenage volunteers to help in the build-up to and the event itself. So, if you are a young person living in the local area and want to get involved contact: yeadevizes@docadevizes.org.uk or find out more on the DOCA website or Instagram.
โThere will be something for everyone at this outdoor event,โ Devizes Yea promises, โwith a range of live music, circus acts, poetry open mics, plot35 Devizes community gardening, cooking demonstrations, food traders and more. There are also chances for teenagers to get involved on the day with sound tech and learn from professional sound engineers who will be setting up the main stage.โ
We think this is a great idea, and look forward to seeing the results. Oh, and wish them all the best of luck with the first event on 4th May, obviously. This could be the start of something amazing, and I must stress the point once again, that this day is designed and intended to be for everyone, not just our younger residents. Even middle-aged young-at hearts, duty bound to show them how itโs done on the dancefloor; Dad-dancing mode switched to crazy legs… and I’m off, nobody attempt to stop me!!
Two people asked me in Frome what the music scene was like in Devizes. I replied it’s great, but by comparison it’s conventional, and this was prior to witnessing the sublime close encounter which was Hengeโฆ..
Before you read further, note, I use the word โweirdโ as a compliment. But yes indeedy, those friendly aliens, who take the term space-rock literally, landed their interstellar craft at Frome’s glorious centrepiece The Cheese & Grain last night for an eccentric, electric showdown of universal proportion. It was, in short, out of this world.
Excited about catching Henge live after fondly reviewing their album Journey to Voltus B in January, it was every bit as enthralling as I’d have imagined. The Cheese was brimful of kindly weirdos akin to the rooftop scene in the popcorn-munching abomination that is Independence Day; other than no one punched an alien like Will Smith! From aspiring space cadets to ageing hippies and middle-aged ravers, Henge remotely charged their plasma ball hats and casted a musical tractor beam over them, compulsing them to dance.
With phasers set to fun, Henge launched their wild show much like the energetic take off sequence of their latest album, and I pondered if they plotted to play out the album and be done with it, as is a common occurrence for established earthbound bands; not a chance, us humans were bequeathed a cosmic, extraterrestrial proportioned party.
There’s a space journey narrative to the album which includes an Orb-esque plodding ambient period of hypersleep, a convenient opportunity for them to avoid, and divert the live journey to play some past album tracks, to keep the show’s pace consistent. These aliens of superior knowledge and proficiency made a wise choice, the place was positively throbbing.
Here’s the music which should’ve been playing in the Cantina scene of Star Wars. Here’s the music which would’ve caused both Miles Davis and Eat Static to have seizures. It’s jazzy, uptempo electronic skullduggery somewhere between prog-rock and trance techno, perhaps, or rather, in a field of their own playful invention.
Yet to pigeonhole it would take a textbook of notes. Henge are toytown, rave vaudeville, a guitar circus in space; they’re alien, unique and clearly on a higher plane of existence. The beauty of them is, they want to share it with you, lovingly. As a spectator you are welcomed on their, what’s best described as, an encapsulating musical space trip.
They analysed our planet, took a murky sample of the River Frome, and advised on the best path for the future of humankind; seemingly to demilitarise and direct its funding towards either ecological revitalisation or space colonisation, and they mastered it hilariously with a peacenik singalong finale.
But they did so as they did with everything, an uplifting sonic musical experience, the likes I’ve never seen before, and I’ve raved with glow sticks at Longleat’s UFO Club, partied worldwide, done, dusted and worn the T-shirt out of many a groundbreaking festival. This was on another planet, truly fantastic; please abduct me again sometime soon!
I’ve seen some weird street theatre in my years on this planet, but I awoke this morning, trying to recollect if I’d ever seen any musical band as weird as Henge. I’d like to say I hadn’t, but an earth half-hour prior I witnessed the support act.
A rib-tickling one-man-band Mancunian hedge monkey called Paddy Steer, who, dressed in the single-most bizarre illuminated space-wizard costume ever, delighted us with a set of experimental percussion and low-fi fluctuations, the likes you’ve never heard before. If Henge owned the mothership, Paddy was his own microsatellite, orbiting a stratosphere of his own mind-bending imagination, and it was as equally mind-blowing as it was hilarious and engagingly original.
Paddy Steer has found a new level of eccentricity. They broke the mould when they built this alien Gandalf come Frank Sidebottom, on a mushroom journey to Lala Land with S Clay Wilson, and his music is inspired by the fable of it. Making the Mad Professor seem sane, he kept a perfect instrumental harmony as his decorative kit wobbled and a billion and one leads dropped out of their ports, much to the frustration of the sound engineer, but with nonchalant precision and scratch of his wizard beard, Paddy amused the audience by continuing nonetheless, profoundly. It was something to behold and impossible to wipe the smile off your face until Paddy had packed up and returned safely back to Discworld.
Together they made for the kind of fantastically bizarre gig you’ll never find in Devizes, unless you intoxicated yourself with mushrooms and imagined the whole thing. It remains to be fact, Frome is the diverse local centre for counterculture and the eccentrically creative; Henge and Paddy fit like a glove, if The Ozric Tentacles were born here. But it was my second night in Frome, after a Dadโs taxi adventure saw me drop the kids off at the Cheese for Lucy Spraggan on Thursday, a kind of Gen Z Lily Allen.
Lucy Spraggan on Thursday, local rural skullduggery with The Wurzels on Friday, and space adventuring rave circus aliens Henge on Saturday, The Cheese & Grain is punching above Fromeโs weight. To trek elsewhere in the town might not be as bustling, but certainly doesnโt disappoint. From the Merlin Theatre to The Sun and 23 Bath Street, entertainment options are vast here, but when in Frome, I did as the Fromans and found solace while waiting for the kidโs gig to end, at the Rye Bakery by Frome station.
Hereโs a hidden gem wine bar, pizzeria and generally cool hangout away from the live music tourist trail, hosting music Thursday and Saturday nights, in which our own Jon Amor Trio appear on the 24th. For our entertainment on this particular Thursday some groovy modern jazz was supplied proficiently by a quartet called Fushal. They were wonderful, the whole scene is, I might relocate and call this blog Fromzine, if only those aliens of Henge would land here again!
One part of Swindon was in perfect harmony last night, and I donโt mean the traffic circumnavigating the Magic Roundabout. Rather The Lost Trades wereโฆ
Raging expressions of angered feminist teenage anguish this month, perfectly delivered by Steatopygous via their mindblowing debut album Songs of Salome, I hail as theโฆ
Sometimes I believe we donโt know how lucky we are in Devizes. Sunday afternoon live music is a thing here, and weโre often spoiled for choice. This Sunday Phil Cooper played the White Bear, and it was the celebrated Jon Amor Trio monthly residency at the Southgate. But the meter was running on Dadโs taxi and I was left with a few hours to kill in Swindon; at least this means I might find something new to me, which I did, and was pleasantly surprisedโฆ.
More sporadically the trend seems to be in Old Town. The usual circuit pubs like the Vic, Beehive and Castle were mostly having quiz nights (which my general knowledge level doesnโt permit me to engage in,) or nought; the place was relatively void of entertainment; shocking! I scanned social media, assuming there had to be something going on in a town this size on such a sunny afternoon. I guess itโs a case of knowledge of the scene, of which I thought I had some, but being I could only find one happening, it had to be this.
On a pastel-pink cloud poster, Fran Daisy was advertised to be singing at the Plough on Devizes Road. As I know neither, and she looked like one of these singers who karaoke with a PA and phone, which isnโt usually my cuppa, but I shrugged at the notion it was this or nothing, and took a chance.
The surprise element is far stronger than knowing the venue and the act, and was certainly true last Sunday. Starter for ten, The Plough is a humbling pub, simple L-shape plan with a low rising stage area, friendly staff and regulars, and comfy too; I felt quite at home there. Though itโs slightly off Old Townโs main drag, there are three pubs on that corner of Devizes Road and Newport Street, The Wheatsheaf and Royal Oak, and The Steam Railway is a lively sports bar a stone’s throw away. The Plough holds its own against this competition, hosting regular music nights on Saturdays with a variety of local acts on the circuit; I must add them to our event calendar.
But the biggest surprise was Fran herself, while, yeah I was right, she was singing pop covers over a karaoke app from her phone, she delivered them with crystal clear precision, gusto and were vocally powerful and confident. An era-spanning repertoire of sing-a-long classics, I arrived an hour into her set, where I recognised the contemporary tune but after a trio of Abba songs forgot what it was! Because Fran Daisy has the skill to adapt her voice to suit the cover, and she nailed Abba, in fact, she nailed them all. She asked for requests, gave the audience options, and joyfully put in the overtime.
An encore involved a song from Greace, in which she explained she performed it with a theatre group some years ago, to the hail of her entourage who obviously appeared in it too. It was clear through the diversity of her song choices and her lively, amusing audience banter alone, although Fran told me she had only been doing this on the local circuit for a year, that she had musical theatre experience.
It never ceases to amaze me when I discover a DIY singer on the circuit, seemingly content to do the rounds, promote and cart their own kit around, that is as an amazing performer as Fran is, that which should be fronting a popular function band, at the very least. But Fran explained she was a full-time nurse when I put this to her, so as a sideline perhaps this is a big enough bite for the additional workload, and dammit, we donโt need to be convincing nurses to follow the star! All said and done, though, Fran has the proficiency and potential to go much further, should she wish to, and the gorgeous voice to mimic divas and legends.
There are a few Iโve found in a similar position, our Kate Mills for one, who also works in the acoustic duo Sour Apple, and has stolen the voice of Alison Moyet! For the customary pubs without a reputation for hosting regular progressive or risque bands, who want their punters entertained, the karaoke-style singer is an affordable option. But when youโve got the skills of someone like Kate or Fran, this is a guaranteed chicken dinner. Therefore Iโm warming to the option, and judge accordingly on if it does what it says on the tin, and Fran goes above and beyond to create that engrossing entertainment.
A landlord would need to know the tried and tested, or take a leap of faith, but if you want your whole pub up singing along, Fran Daisy is a perfect option.
Follow her Facebook page, or deliberately injure yourself, cross your fingers and hope Fran Daisy is your appointed nurse!!
Itโs nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisburyโs Radio Odstock ย picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oil andโฆ
In thanking everyone who supported this year’s Wiltshire Music Awards, Eddie Prestidge of Stone Circle Music Events revealed his intentions of continuing with the awardsโฆ
Featured Image: Lillie Eiger Frome Festival is launching itsย โ25 for 25โย fundraising campaign with a very special concert featuring three locally based acts:ย Tom Mothย โ best knownโฆ
Iโve got some gorgeous vocal harmonies currently floating into my ears, as The Lost Trades release their first single since the replacement of Tamsin Quinโฆ
Rolling out a Barrelhouse of fun, you can have blues on the run, tomorrow (7th November) when Marlborough’s finest groovy vintage blues virtuosos Barrelhouse releaseโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ben Swann and Ian Diddams Self-appointed โMoroseโ Mark Harrison was once again on totally top form at Komedia last Sunday entertainingโฆ
To suggest I’m knowledgeable about the music of the 1920s because I lived through the era is plain cheeky, though I wouldn’t put it past you! I like to think I know just enough to hold my own in a drunken waffle on the subject. Such is that Jellylegs Johnson suggested a resurgence of 1920s jazz was pending, to which I agreed, or at least I would appreciate it if it was soโฆ.
Cos I love digging to discover the roots of music, although I cannot be certain a gig of the era resembled what occurred down the Bear’s Cellar Bar last night, even if it was labelled thus, but it was an entertaining night for sure. This much is guaranteed whenever The Devil’s Doorbell has moored nearby.
Yeah, that’s right, I said The Cellar Bar, that central cobblestoned cosy dungeon which holds as many fond memories for Devizions than it does history. It feels great to be down there, as it’s been a while, and this sentiment is shared with the modest audience.
Backstory to why we’re here goes, after our interview with Devizesโ rising star of kazoo-blowing, suitcase drumming idiosyncratic delta blues, JP Oldfield, he landed a gig at Chippenham’s Old Road Tavern supporting the bonkers jazz skiffle duo and boaterโs royalty of double-entendres, Devil’s Doorbell.
Being he was unaware of them at the time, I assured Josh he was in apt company. For if JP’s style is quirky, Nipper, a freewheeling James Baskett/George Formby crossover, and Jellylegs Johnson in sequined hot pants, feathered flapper girl headband and marigolds, audaciously but not impudently salvage long-lost rags, nuggets of bebop and gypsy jazz with tenor ukuleles, a kazzumpet, and Jellylegs on a bass handmade from a washtub and broom handleโฆ and that’s beyond averagely quirky!
It’s also a hard act for anyone to follow, as the agenda was switched for Nipper and Jellylegs to open the show JP Oldfield had arranged. They rang the doorbell for surety, with their unique cheeky tunes and banter, which Jellylegs told me afterwards are often assumed to be of their own pen, rather than outrageous long-lost 78s of a golden jazz era. It’s always a pleasure to hear them play, and so playful with the circus-cabaret they are, it’s infectious.
JP contends with more sombre moods versus a need to be jocular, but his ability to find that perfect balance is his unique spin on delta blues, that and using a kazoo where a harmonica is usually positioned, and both are something blossoming with each gig. His masterwork to date, The Ghost of Spring-heeled Jack is the verification of this balance.
I don’t believe confidence was ever an issue for JP, but that’s grown too, and he proficiently pulled a stunning set of originals and rare covers, neatly chosen to compliment those of his own labour; Tainted Love perhaps not so rare, but with added kazoo, welcomed!
Though on this occasion JP proved he’s no one trick pony as he turned to harmonica for a song, and excused himself for any amateur delivery of it, which was unnecessary as it was sublimely done. As was his entire set.
If we fondly reviewed his debut EP last month, JP Oldfield astutely replicated the magic on stage and guided the crowd to his chosen mood. Likewise, we fondly reviewed Devil’s Doorbell live recording from Trowbridgeโs Pump a couple of years ago, and their excellent stage presence sticks like mud. Two acts, complimenting in a manner others might find it tricky to do, makes for an entertaining night, which it was, and back in the Tin Pan Alley days of yore, of course instruments were handmade or secondhand, salvaged from wherever they could be sourced.
Maybe a gig in the 1920s wouldn’t have been so different to this after all, as both JP and the Devil’s Doorbell are authentic enough and value the retrospection, and when sprinkled with this fun element, does it even matter?!
One of Swindon’s premier grunge pop-punkers, The Belladonna Treatment released their debut single, Bits of Elation, with London-based SODEH Records earlier this month. I spoke about the single, the band and local circuits with the bassist in the band, Ian James, as he was the most punctual at a recent gig at the Vic!
Bits of Elation is fifteen seconds under a three-minute-hero which doesnโt come up for air, compensates for those missing seconds with a dynamic and retrospective Ramones-fashioned riff and the feelgood vibe of pop-punk this side of the millennium.
It is far from the Belladonna Treatmentโs first outing to a recording studio, there was a single last year The Torture Garden, and a three-track EP called Pleasure from 2023, which cherry-picks the best elements of many punk subgenres and moulds them into an imitable and infectious house style. Though Ian expressed working with SODEH has opened doors for the band popular in Swindon, evidently blossoming elsewhere. โItโs being played on radio stations in Belgium, Brazil, USA and Canada,โ he told me with delight.
The Belladonna Treatment I witnessed live once, in awe at how they rammed the Castle with adoring fans at Swindon Shuffle. Tonight they play a double-header with I See Orange, who alongside Liddington Hill and a number of others usually on this burgeoning Swindon grunge scene, have turned my head toward the subgenre which passed me by at its inception, save Smells Like Teen Spirit. The Belladonna Treatment are ahead of this game, their appeal is universal and seemingly not confined to aficionados of the grunge subgenre. That was clearly evident at the Castle gig, but other than playing Minety last year, I rarely see their name pop up on local circuits other than Old Townโs lively route of The Vic, Castle and Beehive.
Understanding thereโs a number of local grassroots venues where The Belladonna Treatment would fit like a glove, I was surprised to note they hadnโt yet ventured to Trowbridgeโs Pump, Bradford-on-Avonโs Three Horseshoes or even Chippenhamโs Old Road Tavern. I pondered on bands which seem to get stuck in certain fanbase circuits, despite being fully deserved to be showcased across the county and beyond. โIt all depends on what everyone wants to do,โ Ian began, โthings like this pop up and itโs nice to do them, but we do want to expand and do other gigs.โ
โIt is very easy to get stuck into that circuit, of doing the Castle, and those,โ he expanded, โbut itโs nice to get out too. I mean, we played a gig in London at the end of January; a cracking venue, which James put together. There were other bands there, all different, but it was a brilliant show, packed out. We were two or three under the bill, so there were loads of other bandโs fans watching us and we can get more followers this way.โ
Guitarist James has recently moved to London, hence the opportunities for gigs there, but originally the band were all from Stratton, and knew of each other prior to forming The Belladonna Treatment just over two years ago. โLee and James accidentally got together about five years ago, wrote some songs and went around as an acoustic duo, but weโve all known each other our whole lives. Then they decided they wanted to get a band together. I hadnโt seen either of them for about twenty years, but I was getting back into playing. Stu, our drummer has been around in lots of other bands, played Glastonbury and stuff like that, and again, weโve known him, and for the last two and a half years we’ve been playing as a full band.โ
The Belladonna Treatment have been honing their sound since, and Ian felt Bits of Elation is a milestone. Pigeonholing their style he cited Nirvana and The Manic Street Preachers as influences they grew up on, and also mentioned Bowie, โbut if you listen to the songs theyโre melodic, itโs not just head down thrash punk, itโs more melody-orientated, grunge too. That’s why we like playing with I See Orange, thereโs a whole nineties feel about us, similar to them.โ
We rapped over the idea of levelling off the thrashed out element for a more melodic preference might once have been considered as โselling out,โ in punkโs heyday, rather now itโs more of a natural progression and causing the sound to become viable to a wider audience. โIt can do,โ Ian agreed, โitโs also a case of, you want to sell more records and if you want to be popular, you have to do this.โ Such progressionis kingpin to crowds turning up at the Vic tonight and ramming the Castle at The Shuffle, knowing thereโs a motivated band which rocks!
So I threw in the labour of love concept, and we talked cheerfully about while theyโre sharpening their style to suit wider appeal, theyโre also determined to strive for individuality, create their own methodology and not clone existing successful bands. Ian spoke of three new songs ready for release, the snowballing of radio plays and their determination to accomplish wider appeal, โthatโs what weโre going for.โ
It was great to meet Ian, and the rest of the band briefly, when they turned up! Dadโs taxi was on duty and I could only remain until the end of the Wildcats game, unfortunately missing the gig. A valid reason for highlighting bands seemingly confined locally to our larger towns and encouraging venues to book them around here, because you only need to stream some of their infectious tunes to see what I mean, and why The Belladonna Treatment should be popping up at grassroots venues across the UK, at the very least; fingers and toes crossed.
Wiltshire Council confirmed Blue Badge holders can park freely in council-operated car parks again, following a vote at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday 21โฆ
Featured Image Credit: Jamie Carter Special guests Lightning Seeds to Support Forest Live, Forestry Englandโs summer concert series presented with Cuffe & Taylor, has announcedโฆ
Wiltshire country singer-songwriter Kirsty Clinch released a Christmas song only yesterday, raising funds for the Caenhill Countryside Centre near Devizes, and itโs already racing upโฆ
It was never just the fervent ambience created which made me go tingly with excitement about Melkshamโs young indie band Between The Linesโ demo singleโฆ
A second track from local anonymous songwriter Joyrobber has mysteriously appeared online, and heโs bitter about not getting his dream jobโฆ.. If this mysterious dudeโsโฆ
Itโs not Christmas until the choir sings, and Devizes Chamber Choir intend to do precisely this by announcing their Christmas Concert, as they have doneโฆ
If Devizesโ celebrated FullTone Festival is to relocate to Whistley Roadโs Park Farm for next summerโs extravaganza, what better way to give it the rusticโฆ
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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, this is the definite RnB sound of now, with nods to nineties RnB like Macy Gray and Mary J. Bligeโฆ.
Though this is fresh, I believe itโs fair to compare Chloe to such RnB queens, for the elements are composed accordingly; the poignant relationship prose of passionate writing, and the sensual tone expressed simply both rinse out those sombre amatory vibes commonly associated with the genre, especially with female vocalists.
Chloe Iโve just discovered, but itโs an immediate like from me. Soul is not the typical style we find much of here, therefore when it does youโve got to take it on the hip and make the most of it! Itโs been six months since her last single On The Run, which takes a slightly more ballard approach, and followed by a five track EP called 7 Months, tending towards a pop sound, and that RnB style reliant on and spliced with dancehall, and even house. But, when youโve finished listening to the moreish Situationships, youโre duty bound by your ears to delve deeper into Chloeโs back catalogue.
But more importantly, now we know of Chloe Hepburn we look forward to hearing what she will do next, as I believe this emerging soul artist has not yet reached her peak, and we need to be there when she does. Situationships filled me with the confidence Chloe is destined for greater things. Itโs a gorgeous single, oozing with potential and only trickling with the necessities to produce something groundbreaking.
I’m delighted to announce Devizine will be actively assisting to organise a new county-wide music awards administration, in conjunction with Wiltshire Music Events UK. The public will be asked to vote, and the award ceremony will take place in Devizes at the Corn Exchange, on Saturday 25th October 2025, with hope it will continue annually…..
Wiltshire Music Events UK in conjunction with Devizine, have decided it is overdue to acknowledge and celebrate the creativity, innovation and dedication of musicians, music promoters, and venues in Wiltshire. Therefore, we have created The Wiltshire Music Awards, an annual award ceremony reflecting and commemorating musical talent within the county.
Nominations are open for the ceremony from 1st May 2025, and will close on 10th June 2025. We are excited to unveil the categories, which reflect the diverse ways people bring music to life within their respective communities, county-wide.
These awards will recognise the individuals, groups and organisations whose efforts make a real difference. If you know someone you believe deserves recognition, or want to showcase your group, this is your chance to give them the spotlight they deserve.
Wiltshire Music Events calls for anyone promoting music locally to get involved and help create diversity and coverage for their own communities. A panel of professionals from across the county will be elected to assist in judging the nominations. With a finale date of Saturday 25th October, when an award ceremony will take place, central to the county, at the Corn Exchange, Devizes.
I have pushed for this event to take place in Devizes, for while it’s geographically central to the county, I’m sure you’ll agree, there is also a powerhouse of talent emerging in this area and it will be a positive attribute to Devizes and hallmark its rightful place in the arts scene of Wiltshire.
Why get involved?
Music has the power to unite communities, foster creativity, and change lives. The Wiltshire Music Awards will honour those who make this possible and provide a platform to showcase to local talents. Whether youโre a performer, organiser, or supporter, these awards are an opportunity to highlight the hard work that often goes unseen.
To receive an award will bring more than just a trophy. It will elevate profiles, help with funding applications, and energise the community.
There is plenty of time to recognise the people and projects that inspire you. Nominating will be easy and online, and we will release the website in which to do so nearer the time for voting. There will be categories. The public can nominate their choices in all of the categories. Once the nominations process is completed, the top three of each category will be presented to the judges, who will then decide the winner of each category. The judges decision will be final, and we shall then announce to the public the top 3 of each category with the result announced at the ceremony.
The 2025 Categories:
Best Solo Male Artist – Best Solo Female Artist
Best Covers Band – Best Original Band
Best Duo – Rising Star Newcomer
Tribute Artist /Band – Music Venue
Best Original Song – Best Vocalist
Best Guitarist – Best Bassist
Best Drummer – Best Instrumentalist
Best Original Song – Best DJ
Lifetime Achievement Award
Outstanding Contribution to the Wiltshire Music Scene
Outstanding Contribution to Music in the Community:
It’s a rarity that I should drag myself off the sofa on a Sunday these days, one usually reserved for the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency at The Southgate. But beyond doubt my favourite young singer-songwriter right now, Ruby Darbyshire, is down my favourite watering hole, and such an occasion would be unmissable even if she did it weekly; twist my arm, why don’t you?!
This raw and self-disciplined talent when I discovered Ruby a little under two years ago was so breathtaking it caused me to state, โRubyโs music will grow into a phenomenon, and you need to hear it blossoming.โ I’m honoured to note it’s quoted on her website, one which everyone took heed of, on our local scene and beyond, and one which we can safely convert to past tense; Ruby’s music has blossomed and is now phenomenal.
Everyone was held spellbound throughout, this is now standard protocol wherever Ruby plays. Though Ruby remains modest and โshowyโ simply doesn’t equate for her performances, alongside her refined multi-instrumentalism, her confidence to present herself and engage with an audience has accelerated to level up with the naturally sublime soulful voice she’s blessed with. A voice which may be kingpin to her excellence, but is really only the cherry on a cake with top marks all round.
A cake which covers virtuosos Nina Simone to Freddie Mercury, and makes them her own homages, then flips to bring Rag’n’Bone Man’s magnum opus to an older audience, and slides her own compositions in so effectively it’s divinelyย encapsulating. Then, there’s the additional nods to her Scottish roots; folk sing-a-longs and her distinctive introduction to the second half of her set, with bagpipes. Even if you know it’s coming, you’ll never tire of it or any of it because that’s simply the magic Ruby brings to any venue.ย Ruby Darbyshire is the whole deal now.
Tickets for the headline acts at Devizes Arts Festival are up for grabs now, and the rest will follow for general release on April 28th, unless you become a โfriendโ of the festival, in which case it will be the 7th Aprilโฆand why wouldnโt you?!
We all love Devizes Arts Festival here at Devizine, which opens on Friday 30st May and runs right up to Sunday 15th June. If you promise not to go breaking my heart, Iโll tell you whatโs happening thereโฆyeah, I know, you couldnโt if you tried!!
The festival opens with headliners, Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri at the Corn Exchange on the evening of Friday 30th, and an exhibition by local landscape artist David OโConnor, who draws inspiration from Paul Nash, and ceramicist Richard Phethean. The exhibit will run throughout the festival at White Chalk Gallery in the Old Swan Yard.
Saturday 31st May sees multi-award-winning teacher, composer and organist Chris Totney returning to Devizes to give this yearโs Festival Organ Recital; one of the very first times youโll get to experience the new pipe organ that has taken the best part of a year to install in St Johns Church. Followed by one of the UKโs finest Latin bands, KโChevere, at the Corn Exchange.ย
Sunday 1st June, thereโs a walk with Judy Hible of Wiltshire Geology Group, and furniture-maker Stewart Linford hosts a fascinating and informative talk on โLuxury in Woodโ at the Peppermill (free fringe event.) But all eyes will be on the skies, when space scientist and BAFTA-nominated presenter of โThe Sky at Nightโ Maggie Aderin-Pocock, pops in for an inspiring exploration of the universe.
Monday 2nd is time to get interactive, in a writing session with members of Devizes Writersโ Group, exploring writing fiction or nonfiction, one of the first workshops at the festival this year. Tuesday sees an enthralling and earth-moving evening of gardening talk with TVโs top gardener Frances Tophill. Wednesday is the turn of bestselling crime and thriller writer Felix Francis, for a fascinating talk on mysteries in the world of thoroughbred horse-racing. And Conan Doyle expert David Stuart Daviesโ โSherlock Holmes: The Last Act,โ directed by award-winning director Gareth Armstrong, plays at the Wharf Theatre, with a second performance on Thursday. Also find guitarist and singer-songwriterAnna Ling at St Andrews on Thursday.
Friday 6th, join Rowdeโs only botanical artist and author, Ann Swan, for a workshop in her studio, while ceramicist Keith Brymer Jones will talk about his life as a creative potter and his experiences as a judge of The Great Pottery Throwdown at The Corn Exchange.
Saturday 7th June, and youโll find the Sunday Times bestselling author of โMiss Austenโ, Gill Hornby talking with Mark Jones from Fantasy Radio, a demonstration by the Devizes Regency Dancers (free fringe event,) and an electrifying country show with all-female Country Chicks.
Another walk on Sunday, gosh, they do like their Sunday walks, this time with Wiltshire Wildlife Trustโs Nick Self, conservation lead for North Wiltshire. Then itโs over to The British Lion for some Welsh frontier roots music with Whiskey River, (free fringe event.)
Monday 9th June you can join print-maker Hannah Cantellow at her Printmaking Studio in Rowde, or learn some crossword secrets from Times Puzzle Master Tim Moorey, who has been solving Times crosswords for over 50 years, on Tuesday. Tuesday also sees virtuoso clarinettist Sarah Williamson and soloist and chamber musician Simon Callaghan.
Wednesday 11th sees singer-songwriter Miranda Pender presenting a darkly humorous talk which includes five original songs based around some of the more bizarre stories unearthed from her family history. And Two Queens, One Nation at the Wharf Theatre, Miriam Cooperโs one-woman show exploring the unavoidable collision of dynamic sovereigns and cousins, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.
Photographer and naturalist Stephen Davis is at the Cheese Hall on Thursday 12th, and jazz saxophonist Julian Costello brings his quartet to the Town Hall.
Friday is comedy night as Mark โTaskmasterโ Watson, celebrates twenty years in standup. Multi-award-winner, YouTube cult figure, Radio 4 favourite and recently โBaby Reindeerโ actor, Mark comes to Devizes after seasons at the Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Edinburgh comedy festivals.
Author of English Civil War historical fiction series โDivided Kingdomโ, Charles Cordell is with us on Saturday 14th June. His writing has received high praise in editorial and readersโ reviews alike, his latest novel, โThe Keys of Hell and Deathโ, is set between Wiltshire and Somerset in July 1643. Followed by the Bath Male Choir in St Johns, and Torbayโs five-piece 80s party band Riviera Dogs at the Corn Exchange.
For the final day of Devizes Arts Festival, Sunday 15th June, author Charles Cordell finishes his talk with a guided walk and discussion of the Siege of Devizes in July 1643. Journalist, writer, and experienced skydiver Sally Smith is at Devizes Books talking about her book โMagnificent Women and Flying Machines.โ And Bath-based instrumental jazz-infused blend of Levantine mystery, Balkan passion and Latin rhythms quintetย Radio Banska bring the Arts Festival to a dynamic close at the Cellar Bar. Both of these last two events are free fringe events.
This afternoon sees the inaugural grand ceremony of Stone Circle Music Eventsโ Wiltshire Music Awards taking place at the Devizes Corn Exchange. Itโs a selloutโฆ
In association with PF Events, Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts introduces a Young Urban Digitals course in video mapping and projection mapping for sixteen to twentyโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Penny Clegg and Shakespeare Live โAntony & Cleopatraโ is one of Shakespeareโs four โRoman Playsโ, and chronologically is set after โJuliusโฆ
Unlike Buck Rogers, who made it to the 25th century six hundred years early, Devizesโ most modest acoustic virtuoso arrives at the 21st just shortโฆ
Last week, I had the privilege of seeing the Fulltone Orchestra perform at the beautiful Tewkesbury Abbey beneath the Peace Doves art installation.…
The entire concert was breathtaking, divided into two halves. The first featured a mixture of orchestral pieces and solos, beginning with the theme from Blue Planet, which was my favourite piece of the evening. The acoustics of the church, combined with the sheer talent of the orchestra, completely captivated the audience. It felt as though, if you closed your eyes, you could almost believe you were watching the programme itself.
This half included a range of music, including a stunning violin solo that provided a striking contrast to the rest of the programme. It concluded with a wonderful rendition of Youโll Never Walk Alone, which was the perfect piece to lead into the second half.
The second half featured Karl Jenkinsโ The Peacemakers, performed by the Fulltone Chorus and Orchestra. There was a fascinating contrast between the different pieces – some were slow and melodic, while others were more rousing and intense. Many had African and Celtic influences, with a driving beat towards the end.
To me, it felt as though the music gradually built in intensity, symbolising the lengths to which people will go in their pursuit of peace. The concert ended with a powerful crescendo that left me feeling both hopeful and deeply moved. Performing this music beneath the Peace Doves installation felt so intentional and uplifting; hearing music about striving for peace in such a setting truly enhanced the experience.
The variety of music worked beautifully together, giving the impression that it represented the world itself – how it changes and how our approaches to peace evolve over time. The inclusion of words from great peace leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. made the performance feel deeply personal, yet simultaneously vast in its significance.
This was my first time attending a concert of this kind, and I found it profoundly moving. The passion and dedication of the performers were evident in every note, and I experienced a wide range of emotions throughout. If you ever have the opportunity to see the Fulltone Orchestra and Chorus in one of their upcoming projects, I would highly recommend it – it is a truly special experience.
Pip is sixteen and studying film at college, with the hope of becoming a journalist.We wish Pip all the best with her career and are grateful for allowing us to publish this insightful and brilliantly written review.
With our roads being the state theyโre in, is it any wonder on the 5th April Hells Bells, rated as the UKโs top AC/DC tribute, are taking the highway to hell, via Devizes Corn Exchange?! But they are! Better to be thunderstruck than burst a tyreโฆ..
Hells Bells are Europe’s longest established AC/DC Tribute Band who have performed all over the UK as well as Portugal, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Czech Republic and the Middle East since 1996.
And theyโre bringing Dead Zebras, who claim not to be your typical rock revivalists. They’ve mastered the art of blending eighties nostalgia with a fresh, modern sound, and creating a cocktail that sounds like a wild ride in a DeLorean with a Van Halen soundtrack, apparently!
Tickets are a snip at ยฃ15, which you can grab online here, and Let There Be Rock!!
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 might be some scientific theory for this, equally there may not. What is more probable is that it is an occupational hazard for members to get as lost in space as Dr. Zachary Smith. Cracked Machine, here tonight to provide the entertainment at the Devizesโ Southgate, are also prone to getting through some keyboardists and drummers, though if the lead guitarist-frontman and bassist remain steadfast, this propensity is not the only element to them comparable with Hawkwind, and thatโs a good thing in my opinionโฆ..
If youโve any hazy recollection of a maintaining a horizontal posture in a bedroom for the duration of a scratched long player with a gatefold sleeve, staring at patterns either in the mould on the wall or blu-tacked Mandelbrot set posters covering them up, in a smoky haze proportionate to your memories and stenching of wood burner and red Leb, whether only with a bong for a friend or a few stragglers with no more conversation than the bong, save a few comments like โoh wow, man, can you see it?!โ then Cracked Machine is the band to seek such fond memories, and bring them to the forefront of your fragile cerebral cortex, through a preponderance of sublime bassy rock bliss.
For if space-rock is a natural progression from Led Zeppelin, Flyod or Hendrixโs overextended bridges of swirling sonic electric guitar skullduggery and wobbly sound effects, Cracked Machine nailed it some years ago and show no sign of altering their methodology. In fact, the tendency is to get harder. Though Hawkwind allowed vocals, Fromeโs Ozric Tentacles may be a better comparison for space-rock aficionados.
In this, itโs been some years since Iโve caught up with them live, despite reviewing albums one, two and three. It was left up to Ben Niamor and Andy Fawthrop to review their last two appearances at the Southgate, respectively in November 2022, and October 2018. For me, I will always have the 2019 Devizes Street Festival, when Pete of Vinyl Realm paid and hosted our local stage idea on the corner of St Johnโs and townsfolk slow-roasted on deckchairs while Cracked Machineโs definitive sound caressed their very souls. But while Cracked Machineโs lineup has changed since then, their devotion to the sound and ability to knock it out to the shimmering rafters, isnโt.
In that, I knew what I was letting myself in for. It was another one of those birthday things for me, which always seems to charge me with ever-increasing speed. There wasnโt actually much else happening in town Saturday night, much I wouldโve missed this for a wanton jig to Motown or some-other such-like, elsewhere. Suppose I had the option to go down the Bin afterwards, but as it was advised by Vince Bell who I met on the bus, such a recommendation had to be taken with a pinch of salt, and was best at 52 to get a taxi direct to my duvet! For a while there though, it was a party, as it is in The Southgate, with itโs no frills hospitable atmosphere, affordable range of drinks, and general โproper pubโ tenet. The affectionately dubbed โGateโ doesnโt change like band members of a space-rock band, and itโs a cracking party there more often than not.
Tom Harris kicked off the proceedings with his guitar, belting vocals and the expressions of a hyperalgesic at the dentist. Impossible to fault, Tom delivers the banter as well as his songs, divides covers equally from originals, so if heโs not charming an emotive blues ballad of his own pen, itโs perhaps a scatological one or heโs made amusing entertainment from a slyly chosen cover. Rob Thomasโ Santana summer smoothie reflects the unusually clement climate for March, and Tenacious Dโs hilarious Tribute was surely perfect for Tom, and he handled them with might, until drummer Gary Martin arrived from a support slot at the Pump with Clock Radio, and the main act was completed and ready to rock.
They didnโt come up for air throughout these lengthy compositions of prog rock formulated instrumentals, and as a result of not taking advantage of the customary break, their set ran off too early. Landlord Dave encouraged them to pull something else out of the bag, saving the necessity of the crowdโs cliche call for an encore, which you know wouldโve happened anyway. To which they considered how to continue, yet what elapsed was another drifting spacey masterpiece of fifteen minutes or more. We loved it.
If the template of Cracked Machineโs sound is arguably narrow, and narrative is vague due to only being expressions of instruments, their nature is stylised, and works wonders, creating a spellbinding ambience. Cracked Machine are always welcomed by the Southgate regulars, for even if the pub strives to diversify, itโs electric blues and prog rock which they favour, and this, with those wobbly keyboard noises and subtly placed samples, is simply a psychedelic progression from it which is decades old, yet Cracked Machine proves itโs worth in the modern world.
Space rock, or acid rock, a direct descendant of Pink Floyd and Zepโs tolkienesque The Battle of Evermore, also acts as the bridge from rock to electronica and ambient house, a bridge the guarding troll usually confounds most rock subgenres with a riddle and renders them unable to cross, thatโs why I love it, and thatโs while I will only have good things to say about Cracked Machine.
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Media and Ian Diddams Whilst probably best known for his editorship of โPrivate Eyeโ magazine and thirty-five years asโฆ
I mean, Devizes own contemporary blues throwback, JP is getting bookings, and rightly so. He’s off to Trowbridgeโs Lamb next Saturday for a double-bill withโฆ
As the excitement continues to detonate to an exploding point for our very first Stone Circle Music Events Wiltshire Music Awards on 25th October, weโฆ
The second single from Georgeโs sessions with Jolyon Dixon is out today, Isnโt She Lonely. With the vaudeville ambience of Queenโs later material and sprinkles of doo-wop at the intro, this whisps around crooners with subtler psychedelic undertones than usual. One could ask if this is tongue-in-cheek or a mature direction for George, to delve into post rock n roll influences, yet, of course, it retains, through its incredibly inventive uniqueness, the definitive George Wildingโฆ..
For his fans itโll remind them somewhat of Terrible Little Secret from his decade past Being Ragdollian EP; how George is skillfully capable of frolicing vocally with the schlager of artists like Tony Christie, and remain cool throughout by splicing this music hall vibe ironically with a degree of melancholy in the narrative. It is, in short, impressive.
โThe lyrics were born out of the idea of changing one letter of โIsnโt She Lovelyโ so it takes on this whole desperate air,โ George explained. โIt goes from so celebratory to a real longing when you change it to โLonely;โ the instant flip side of love. When I wrote it I had it as a 60โs thing in my head; think Bobby Veeโs โTake Good Care of My Baby.โโ
George Wilding
My immediate reaction was Stevie Wonder was referring to his newborn daughter in the title, rather a romantic interlude, but this take only bears resemblance to it by title, and just like how George can make a cover his own, Isnโt She Lonely is not in any way a parody of Wonderโs 1978 hit. Though the commercially viable element rings home, and sticks.
Just as Madonna did with True Blue, yesteryear pop hooks will be recalled and reused so not to be archived in an impenetrable chest, and in that they become timeless, precisely summing up this song. If the last single back in October, Signs of Life, bore elements of gothic and most definitely indie, this is George being more playful, different, yet still being George!
Isn’t She Lonely is across streaming platforms today….
by Mick Brianimages from Lauren Arena-McCann The playwright Tom Stoppard is probably best known for his work โRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Deadโ, his absurdist comedyโฆ
You might think it’s a laryngologist’s dream come true, this Lewis Capaldi-led decade’s penchant for the blue-eyed soul singersโ melismatic strain to cause Mick Hucknallโฆ
Nothing cruel about our George Wilding; with his perfect match and another local legend of local music, Jolyon Dixon, they’re knocking out great singles likeโฆ
Thereโs a new single from Bristol-based Nothing Rhymes With Orange out tomorrow (Saturday 20th September) which takes the band to a whole new level, andโฆ
July 1986, Madonna was asking her papa not to preach, Chris De Burgh was fantasising about a lady in red, and they were the only two things preventing a feelgood summer cover called My Favourite Waste of Time reaching the top of the charts. It was recorded by Owen Paul, who arrives in Devizes for a โtribute to the eightiesโ gig at the Corn Exchange on Friday 21st March. I caught up with him ahead of this, and we chatted merrily about the hit, his origins and influences, mullets and all things eighties, oh and what to expect from the showโฆ.
After clearing up uncertainty over his two forenames, Owen is his, Paul derived from a younger brotherโs name, we moved onto the way I envisioned this meeting. I imagined weโd be dancing on some tropical beach in white sleeveless t-shirts and sporting mullets, as was the video to his pop smash.
โYeah,โ he laughed, explaining about a gig last Saturday in Exeter with Radio 1 DJ Pat Sharp, โit was the battle of the guy that used to be the world champion of the mullet people!โ
A tropical theme was so eighties too, I said, from Wham to Blacklace, we all wanted to go on holiday, we all wanted to be on that beach in the My Favourite Waste of Time video. โYou’re absolutely right,โ Owen responded, pointing out the gig last weekend was in a theatre called Tropicana. โIt was one of the strangest shows I’ve ever done. Club Tropicana, just for the event, right? ย The show started at 2pm and run โtill 8pm. I said to my manager, โweโre gonna play in the afternoon?โ She was like, โyeah. You do the thing in the afternoon, people come dressed in eighties clothes and they forget their lives for five minutes.โ Apparently, itโs a thing; adults like to go to a show between 2 and 6pm, so they can get back to watch Casualty!โ
I assured Owen I must be the exception to that rule, but Owen was still giggling, โor Strictly!โ
But were the contents of the show like what we can expect to see in Devizes on the 21st, I had to ask. For the record, while tagged with the idiom โone-hit-wonder,โ Owen is a prolific recording artist who is still releasing new original material; will he be playing these? โEven though I still do songs, when it’s an eighties show like in Devizes, it’ll be full on eighties-tastic, girl singers, dancers, and weโll sing Bowie, U2, Deacon Blue, Crowded House and more.โ
Time to drop my million-dollar question which had been floating around my excuse for a brain since knowing I was to chat with Owen. That the term one-hit-wonder, which Owen was bequeathed at the time, must be quite disparaging for an artist with a wealth of other works. I asked him how he felt about it at the time, and how he feels about the label now.
Not to blow my own trumpet, he replied, โif I think of all the interviews I’ve done in recent times, that is the best question I’ve ever had! No one has ever asked that of me because they’re always scared. And youโve asked, so thatโs fine. Iโve got to tell you the truthful answer, right? And I mean this with all my heart. I know a million acts whoโve never had a hit. And I have. That ahead gave me the doorway to be here forty years later, playing festivals all over the world. So I don’t think it’s disparaging at all. I think it’s a complete opposite. I think I’ve had a hit, when I know people more talented than me,โ Owen exampled a mildly successful Scottish band called The Blue Nile, โthey had โTinseltown in the Rain,โ the closest thing to them having a hit, (reached No. 87 on the singles chart in 1984) Theyโre an incredible act, but I had a smash that went global. They never had. So I don’t think of it as disparaging at all.โ
In this I think Owen misunderstood my question, that it wasnโt the having a one-hit-wonder which I thought might be disparaging, rather being labelled a one-hit-wonder which could be, but hey, it was a calculated and flattering response anyway!
Being Iโm walking Owen down memory lane, I wanted to take him further back, being aside My Favourite Waste of Time being an acoustic guitar-led feelgood anthem delineating eighties pop, Wikipedia claims it was the Sex Pistols which first inspired him.
โThe basic story is this, and this is completely true,โ Owen elucidated, โwe had a basement, which makes us sound posh, but it was a council flat. My brother and his mates from school used to come back to our house, and they used to rehearse and make an absolute racket of a noise! And this is like 1975-76ish. I was too young; I wasn’t allowed to go downstairs. I used to sit upstairs and listen to what they were doing, and they would play singles of whatever was going on, and they played the Damned, The Clash, The Strangers, and then played the Sex Pistolโs Anarchy in the UK, and I’m upstairs going, what, the, hell, is, that?!โ
โAnd I’m going off the back of the seventies when it was prog rock and all the stuff where you had to be a virtuoso and play for ten hours. And it really changed me, and the guys who’s downstairs in our basement, turns out to be Simple Minds; you wanna write that down?!!โ
Noted in awe, Owen, thank you. His brother Brian was the Simple Minds drummer, and guitarist Charlie Burchill, he informed me, โwould come upstairs to my room, ’cause I was not allowed down there, and I had a guitar. My dad was publican, and when people couldnโt pay their bill, you make them get on and perform.โ Owen told how Charlie showed him an E chord, an A chord and a D chord, โand he said that’s all you need, and I said โthanks!โโ
We talked of the 3-chord simplicity of eighties pop, Owen extended this by getting technical on learning structures from the likes of The Velevt Underground. โAnd then,โ he explained, โoff the back of that, I started to make my own noise.โ
On his first band, Venigmas, Owen explained how at just sixteen they left Glasgow for London, and he told his mum, โI don’t think we’ll be back.โ Owen spoke of the changing scene, the new romantics, but was adamant he was a โrock guy.โ
โBecause everyone thinks you’re an overnight sensation. I was eight years or more in the industry before I got signed to Sony. They signed me as a rock act, and then I stupidly made a pop record! And that became my real problem. Because I saw myself as a Bowie guy, I thought you could do anything.I thought you could do funk, you could do rock, soul, and pop; that’s what I thought. How naive was I?!โ
Owen recorded two songs for Sony, the one we all know was nominated for a Brit award. He spoke fondly of recording it and how they immediately knew it was a hit, then suggested โbut at the same time, in my heart I went oh-no. I’m in trouble here.โ
I speculated aloud, asking him if it was because the music industry will typecast him as pop, and he replied, โyou’re absolutely right; that’s what happened. So the record comes out, it’s a worldwide smash. It got me on Smash Hit’s cover, on Saturday morning, telly; I’m shiny, bubble-gum pop guy. That’s where I am, right? Now, the record label wants ten more tracks which sounds like thatโฆ. but Iโm a rock guy!! You can see the problem?!โ
If all sounds weighty, I must point out Owen finished this sentence with a giggle, recalling his moment in the spotlight playfully. But we compared it to his freedom now to write, and his new song Fly With Me, which I observed reminded me of Cat Stevens or George Harrison. Again, he found my question about it, โinteresting. I don’t get it asked much. I think ultimately, I’m a Celt, Scottish and folk music is everything to us. I’ve always been like that, every song I hear in my head, when I’m doing new tracks sounds like a folk song. But when you’re in the eighties and you’ve got a record deal, they donโt want that, you turn that into a pop song.โ
Owen continued to explain how, with his guitarist Howard, decided to produce a folk album after an acoustic gig, but clarified, โfolk is the fifth of it all.โ This seemed like a convenient time to move away from the roots and back to idea he was coming to Devizes to do an eighties show, and people will lap that up. โI love that about eighties shows,โ he revealed, โI didn’t do them for a long time, nearly twenty years. I pretended that I wasn’t Owen Paul or sang that song. And then, I did a thing on telly called Watchdog, Rouge Traders. They were investigating this company with security cameras and asked me to walk in at the end and sing (and he did sing it for me!) youโre mineโฆ!โ
โI thought, hang on a minute. Is this because I didn’t pay my tax bill?! Are they actually chasing me?! I double checked, and it turned out that it was the BBC, and it was fantastic and really funny! The next day, my phone was exploding. My website was exploding with pictures going โoh my God, Owen Paul isn’t dead,โ can you do this show?!โ
Owen recalled with joy, how it felt to now do retro festivals where, โthe most amazing thing occurred to me. After me not wanting to be Owen Paul, that guy, that song. I get to the beginning of the song, and obviously it’s not like there’s an intro, it just goes bang, you know? And then suddenly, I’ve got 20,000 people singing that back at me.โ
Regardless of how you might feel about the commercialisation of it, I try to imagine that and offer to Owen that it is truly is the testament to his work. โYeah,โ he responded so positively, โI think I grew up as well. You know, I’ve been doing this for a while now and I’ve realised if you’re the wrong side of forty-five, so youโre an eighties kid and you’ve got two kids, a mortgage, bills and you’ve got all your rubbish; you want five minutes away from it all.โ
Which is, in turn, the best advert for the upcoming show! We continued for some considerable time, I was enthralled he spoke about Howard Jones on first name terms, being asked to do a number of celebrity shows, like Strictly. We talked about dance music, Britpop, and the changes these brought, and even from the effect of streaming services on the industry, to the youth of today identifying with the songs of the eighties. It was becoming clear one of us needed to break the chat through fear of day becoming night, and maybe back again.
It was a wonderful conversation which knew no natural end, because though I was honoured and slightly in awe of Owen Paul, we chatted like old school friends at a reunion. If the nineties saw me shun the commercialisation of the pop of my youth, Owen caused me to rethink it again, and it was a pleasure.
Owen Paul brings his eighties show to the Corn Exchange on Friday 21st March. Tickets are aptly ยฃ19.80, because itโs promised youโll be transported back to the 1980s! Have I got time to grow a mullet?
The Wiltshire Music Awards are delighted to confirm a new headline partnership with Stone Circle Music Events, who will sponsor the Awards for 2025 andโฆ
Following the excitement and success of the first meeting of โYour Partyโ in Swindon, a second meeting has been arranged for 18th September 7.30 -โฆ
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 circuitโฆ
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 areโฆ
Formerly known as Judas Goat and the Bellwether, the now renamed band have announced the release of their latest single, โDrill Baby Drillโ (coming outโฆ
Photograph byย Simon Folkard It’s been a rocky road for Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts (DOCA) these last few years, and I didn’t mean the crushed biscuitsโฆ
In 1998 a pair of pigs escaped while being unloaded off a lorry at an abattoir in Malmesbury and were on the run for a week. The brother and sister pigs were dubbed the โThe Tamworth Two,โ during the huge media sensation. I didnโt remember this bizarre scoop, I was told about it in 2022 by London-based artist Gecko, on stage when Kieran of Sheer Music used to do gigs at Trowbridge Town Hall, as an introduction to his new song; itโs a track on his latest album, The Big Picture, due for release this Friday, 7th Marchโฆโฆ
If the storyโs location, or the gigโs, is a feeble excuse for reviewing something not locally produced, as I vowed to uphold, neither matters; Iโm willing to make an exception for something so uniquely satisfying as Geckoโs humble and sentimental outpourings. For in these days where the pop song template is generally concerned with how compassionate someone is in the sack, or how ignorant someone was in the sack, thatโs why they dumped them and now both parties involved are agitated, Gecko breaks the mould so absolutely ingenious and inventively. His singing of a song about two pigs escaping their fate is surely proof!ย ย
Gecko
And if Iโm intending to pigeonhole such outpourings I must go broadly with hip hop, though nothing remains of the ostentatious machismo stereotype of the genre, quite the opposite here. Iโd only mention it with a flux capacitor in hand, ready with Doc Brown to form an alternative timeline where the mixture of sounds to suit a cosmopolitan society still resides in hip hop, and the bullshit doesnโt.
For Gecko is a inoffensive dreamer, like the rare influential teacher who inspired a class, his songs drizzled with the utmost sentiments, and innocuous observations, sprinkled with humour. In which case his intelligent writing better fits indie rather than hip hop, his DIY stylistic choice of lo fi electronica reflects the contemporary, and will suit the mood of the narrative.
Thereโs three songs as examples to what I mean, before the one about the pigs. Geology opens with a retrospective thump, elucidating the overall theme of The Big Picture rests on environmental concerns, though nothing about Geckoโs delivery is vexed, rather calm and reflective. Darn it, itโs a good start, I expected it would be. Though the second track threw me, in general the humour is subtler than 2020โs Climbing Frame, the sentimental wordplay remains, and this one, Itโs You (That I Find) parodies a conventional love song, using a jazzy beat and favouring singing over rap, as if Jamiroquai is a Gecko tribute!
Whereas the third tune, In This Tree, raps over a tropical or tribal bassline, Iko Iko fashion. Gecko always fits the soundโs style around the narrative, in this case a luxuriant rainforest, the next a racing acoustic guitar celebrating the Tamworth Twoโs break for freedom, orchestrated for the uplifting sentiment, kazoo applied for tongue-in-cheek underscore!
If heartfelt sincerity is key throughout The Big Picture it builds in layers of emotion. The Dawn Chorus is a piano based ballad to the morning reflecting an awakening, like the most memorable primary school assembly youโd ever be blessed to be present at! The lounge-jazzy Family to Me follows, extending the positive attributes of friendship. Itโs a lengthy journey of goodness, ten family-sized tunes. The Lost Boys beautifully tells a story of precisely what it says on the tin, and the sense of adventurousness is so overwhelming you assume itโs a memory, only using J. M. Barrie as an analogy.
Gecko at Trowbrisge Town Hall 2022
Being The Tamworth Two has a backstory, I assume Bowling in Madison has too, but how Gecko makes the motivation of a bowling team so concentrated and purposeful, one can interpret it more vaguely, as the importance of any achievement. But if the run up to the finale has become the best possible saccharine vibe, the penultimate Take a Look Around is a formulated Gecko at his best, with the observational and uplifting rap sprinkled with humour. And lastly, The Universe is another lounge jazz parody which is the most perfect ending to a live show ever. Itโs a goodbye message which incorporates every golden element to this most perfect album, the mindful study of deeper meaning to the everyday, pondering the stars above, and everything in between which nature gifts us with.
It is, in short, beautifully executed with the best ingredients, thoughtful prose and ingenious blending, the sum of which can only leave you spellbound. Do not delay, listen to it, tomorrow, your ears will thank you.
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 catchโฆ
Valedictorian graduate of Bates College in Maine, and with a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard, neuroscientist Lisa Genova self-published her debut novel, Still Aliceโฆ
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 goingโฆ
There was a geographical population imbalance this bank holiday Monday in Devizes which risked the entire town conically sloping into the back of Morrisons;โฆ
An awards ceremony to celebrate the outstanding musical talent within the city, aptly titled The 2024 Salisbury Music Awards, was held on Saturday at The Winchester Gate, and the results are inโฆ.
Members of the Salisbury music community came together yesterday to celebrate the incredible musical talent the city has within its music scene.
The Thom Belk Community Fund, named after the founder of the Salisbury Music Awards who sadly passed away in 2023, wanted to ensure that the awards continued in his memory. They collaborated with Salisbury Live, Sounds of Salisbury, The Winchester Gate and Rock The Boat DJs to bring a spectacular night of celebration and music to Salisbury.
The musical talent on offer for the event was a showcase of the superbly diverse music scene within the City. With a DJ set from Radio Odstockโs Kev Lawrence kicking off the proceedings, the fantastic crowd were also treated to live music on two stages. Luke Hall, Lauren & Hardy, Sock Puppet Jukebox and Black Iris entertained on the acoustic stage, with sets from Solarbird, Charmtype, KINKi and headliners Pugwall lifting the room off of the band stage area.
And when the live music was finished, a silent disco provided the perfect end to a wonderful event via DJ sets from StreetLife, No Gimmicks and Bad Gxrls Do It Well.
The Awards, voted for by the public and collated by the team at Wade Digital, were announced over two breaks in the live music schedule, to allow acts and audience to show appreciation and support for winners and nominees. With voting up 16% on the previous year, there were an incredible number of nominees in each category.
There was a truly emotional moment during the second awards segment, as the Belk family accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of Thom Belk, given in recognition for his many years of supporting and promoting Salisbury music and the community as a whole.ย
His sister Charleigh said, “Thom would be incredibly proud and humbled to see his legacy continuing with these awards and extremely happy to see so many acts continuing to prove Salisbury has such a superb music scene.”
The family also recognised the extremely positive influence of Colin Holton and Robb Blake on Thomโs musical and life journeys, gifting them special commemorative gifts as token of their appreciation.
Here at Devizine, we would like to congratulate all the winners. In particular, Rosie Jay for picking up the award for best breakthrough act. An incredible soloist we’ve keenly followed the career of. And to Lucas Hardy for best solo act.ย
Award results are as follows:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Thom Belk.
Outstanding Contribution to Music in the Community: Lilli Badcock (Evolution Choir.)
Outstanding Contribution to the Salisbury Music Scene: Sounds of Salisbury (Ellen & Alex Morgan-Wardrop.)
Best Band: Lump
Best Original Song: Love is Enough for their song โ1 in 4โ
Without sounding like a stuck record, itโs the same unfortunate news for Devizes Street Festival as it was last year; Arts Council England has not awarded DOCA funding for their programme of summer events in 2025โฆ..
DOCA was sorry to announce today, a spokesperson saying, โfunding across the country has diminished significantly and demand for it has increased. As a result our already small staff team will be reduced to a minimum as we try to secure funding for the future.โ
โThis means that the Street Festival cannot go ahead as intended on 4th & 5th May. We will, however, still be delivering an exciting event in town that weekend. The YEA Devizes project (Youth Event Area Devizes,) which has been funded by National Grid, will present a youth-led event in the Market Place, created and delivered by the incredible young people of our town.โ
Devizes Yea would like to connect with other community groups and individuals, so if you are a young person interested in being a part of it, or an organisation or club that would like to support the event please get in touch at: yeadevizes@docadevizes.org.uk ( For all non-youth related enquiries please use info@docadevizes.org.uk)
Alongside this DOCA will host Grow Devizes that weekend, a concept that encourages and combines both growth in nature, and growth in our community. To this end, the Out and About project will take the performing arts out into a rural village and in turn invite people from those areas back into all they do in town.
โWe are still navigating the best way forward for our other summer events,โ DOCA continues, โsuch as Colour Rush, Confetti Battle, Picnic in The Park and Carnival, working with our partners around town and funders to come up with the best solution. Please bear with us while we consider all available options and weโll update you as we know more about each specific event.โ
This was such a special event in Devizes, loved by all. It is such a shame to hear this terrible news for a second year running. The effects of the governmentโs 16% cut in real terms across the UK to arts funding since 2017 is beginning to impact significantly on free events such as town carnivals and village fetes.
Earlier this month Wiltshire Council confirmed an increase in funding to its arts and heritage partners. The council funds four arts organisations across the county; Pound Arts in Corsham, Trowbridge Town Hall Arts, Wiltshire Creative in Salisbury and Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon. Funding also goes to Wiltshire Museum and Salisbury Museum.
We support, of course we do, all additional funding for arts in the county, but Devizes gets zilch for arts. They stated this demonstrates WC, โis committed to the delivery of culture in the county by agreeing to uplift each of its grants to arts and heritage partners by 10% in 2025/26.โ Yet this excludes every charitable event organisation in the county dedicated to providing arts and culture freely, as while many of their heritage partners fundraise for important charities, all events at the venues require tickets.
The failing of funding for community events is the remnants of a conservative austerity ethos that arts and entertainment will only be available to those able to pay for it, and if Wiltshire Council were as thoroughly dedicated to arts and culture as the claim they are, they would provide budgets for town carnivals as well as the ticketed venues affiliated with them. Instead, and to illustrate by example, one of our Conservative town and county councillors and area board managers criticised the beloved Street Festival for not having a โdiverse audience.โ
The statement was, obviously, poppycock and only made to favour profit-making events in the town; Street Festival was, by a country mile, the most diverse event Devizes has ever seen and attracted the most diverse audience, being it was free and open to all.
Street Festival was a true colourful display of music, arts and theatre, and was once a testament to all which can be accomplished freely when a community comes together. It is heart-breaking to have to mention the event in the past tense, but this sad news today casts a shadow over any hope the Street Festival will ever return.
Whilst dispersing highly flammable hydrocarbon gases into the atmosphere is not advisory, Butane Skies is a name increasingly exploding on local circuits. The young andโฆ
The excitement and hope generated by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana announcing a new political party has reached Swindonโฆ.. A broad range of people haveโฆ
If I was bowled over backwards by Rubyโs teaser single last week, its title, Crowned Lightbringer, now also belongs to this five-track EP, released today,โฆ
Image: John Kisch Legendary songwriter and original Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell has announced a run of UK dates this November, accompanied by special guests Theโฆ
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We remain in awe of the deserved success of indie-pop band The Sunnies, which has continued to flourish since winning Take the Stage at the Neeld two years ago. But is their hometown ready for the next big teen sensation? If so, Iโm predicting it will be Between the Lines, because it should be Between the Linesโฆ..
Last weekend The Sunnies headlined a town councilโs 4Youth โNext Gen Gigโ at The Melksham Assembly Hall. Being just a smidgen over the age limit I missed this, but a video of the support act, Between The Lines, shared on social media caught my eye, or at least, my ear!
Formed five months after The Sunnies took the Neeldโs stage, in October 2023, Between The Lines are smooth indie-rock female-fronted four-piece, consisting of bassist Belle upfront, lead guitarist George, and Ethan and Louis, who both switch between drums and guitars, the latter being the rhythm guitarist.
They put out a demo single, Fading Time earlier this year, with an irresistible classic rock riff, some nonchalant and confident vocals, and an enchanting hook. Itโs raw, for sure, but a grower. Its ingredients blend wonderfully, painting a melancholic picture of adolescent romance; the tune is moreish, and blossoming to bursting point with potential.
โFading Time was the only song we recorded in that session,โ George explained, as I thought I should catch up with them, sooner rather than later, โbut there are exciting new ones due to be released very soon.โ I look forward to hearing them; progression feels imminent with this promising new band; you should keep an eye out for them.
With the band members currently studying music courses at either college or sixth form, I always like asking teenage groups what their music teachers thought of their band, poorly assuming it’ll break the ice! Even if referencing their education is highly unlikely to do that, I tend to stereotype teachers in retrospection of my own, wondering if they retain the doddery notion rock music is the โwork of the devil,โ and attempt to throw classical violin at them, or theyโve modernised, least enough to be hip to be square on a Huey Lewis level!
Louis answered this one, elucidating Georgeโs and his music teacher had, โsupported our band on multiple occasions, with gig opportunities and equipment in the past, and has always been enthusiastic about it. Fortunately, no classical violins!โ Ah, got you. Our music teachers used to be funky too, though only in the archaic definition of being unpleasantly smelly!
Ethan expanded on this, and moved onto their first few gigs. โMy drum teacher was always telling me to form a band and after talking with Isobel,โ He said, โshe was adamant to get something going. Through music GCSE, we started Between The Lines, playing songs with each other for assignments and eventually starting regular rehearsals. Weโre still new to the gigging scene, and have performed at the Kings Arms in Melksham and The Queenโs Head in Box.โ The latter being a fortunate venue to play so early, Ethan also went on to reveal theyโre on the bills for Box Revels in May and CorFest at Corshamโs rugby club on June 21st.
George explained how theyโd heard of The Sunnies before they had formed, upon me cheekily asking them if they thought they were the next big thing to come out of Melksham; youโve got to big yourself up in the Sham, theyโve got a golden arches, and Henry Moule inventor of the dry earth toilet, as claims to fame!
โWell, hopefully!โ he laughed, but remained modest. โIt really was great to play with people that youโve looked up to, in a way, and of course they bring such an energetic and fun performance which is something to be fond of. As for us, it’s exciting to see lots of new people enjoy what we do and it brings a lot of motivation for us to keep moving forward and expand as much as we can, it’s only up from here.โ
Based solely on this single, I strongly hope and suspect it will be, so we moved on to the demo, Fading Time. I suggested the opening riff reminded me of the intro to Sweet Home Alabama combined with a dollop of Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn, even if itโs showing my age, itโs an accolade. I wondered if this smooth feel-good indie-pop rock was the kind of quality they were going for.
โThe song itself came from a simple melody idea that I had for ages never necessarily taking any inspiration from others,โ George expressed, โand we bounced back and forth from each otherโs ideas until we recorded it in the short space of time we had.โ
Ethan expanded on the backstory of Fading Time, in answering that cliche question I fired at them about their working process. โSo far,โ he clarified, โour originals have stemmed from one idea. For example, โFading Timeโ came from a melody idea from George and our unreleased single developed from a project I created for a college assignment. We then developed the song together to add a little bit of each otherโs personality in our parts. We are fairly new to songwriting as weโre mainly a cover band but we all develop our own little ideas and send them to each other!โ
Their current repertoire includes covers of The Foo Fighters, Radiohead, and Chris Isaak, among others. โWe try to choose covers that are both crowd-pleasers and that reflect the same vibes as our originals,โ Belle expressed.
Between The Linesโ website cites Radiohead and Matt Maltese as influences, Belle expanded on this, โas the main lyricist of the band,โ she suggested she took inspiration from โvery poetic artists, like Boygenius, Fiona Apple and Bon Iver. Ethan focuses on instrumentation, inspired by Big Thief and Better Oblivion Community Centre. George is all about the hooks and guitar riffs, heโs influenced by Wallows. Louis works on a strong rhythm, taking from Foo Fighters and Seal.โ
Phew, at least the last two my dilapidating database has heard of! Youโve got to love Seal, I saw him live once, but he didnโt do Kiss From a Rose nor Crazy, just balanced a beach ball on his nose and clapped his flippers. That was the last time I went to a gig at the Sea Life Centre.
As a finale, I pondered whatโs in the band name, perhaps they met in a history class about WWII, you know, between enemy lines … .perhaps, ah, forget it, Iโll get my coat! When actually, Belle revealed rather than history, they did meet in GCSE music, โdoing a project for the Christmas concert!โ Not too far off the mark then, just the wrong lesson, which goes in line with my own schooling. I was often found in the wrong lesson, and if I was in the right one, I tended to be somewhere else mentally; kind of explains a lot.
โChoosing a name for the band was quite difficult,โ Belle said, signalling her vast music knowledge supersedes her age, โeveryone suggested different names every day. Ethan suggested the name In Between The Spaces, which reminded me of two things – Between The Bars by Elliot Smith and especially the album Between The Lines by Janis Ian. After numerous ideas for names we decided on Between the Lines!โ
Deliberating on a band name is important, it might fatefully fade into obscurity as the competition of a tough market to break takes its toll, or it could be that name in lights for decades to come. I wish Between The Lines all the very best with their ambitious beginnings, and very much hope the result is the latter.
I advise you to support new local talent and follow their socials, TikTok, and website here, as while Iโm no clairvoyant, I know what I like, and predict we will be hearing a lot more good stuff from Between The Lines in the near futureโฆ..
Atmospherically anthemic and reinforced with that infectious rhythmic groove weโve come to love Talk in Code for, More Than Friends is chockfull of it, andโฆ
by Mick Brian With Sandcastles Productions marking its debut production with Charlie McGuireโs original play Glass House, the cast and crew behind this production are clearlyโฆ
Wiltshire Music announces a new season for Autumn Winter: and the first under the new leadership of Daniel Clark, Artistic Director and Sarah Robertson, Executiveโฆ
If youโve seen Jess Self performing at the Wharf Theatre, singing at the FullTone Festival or elsewhere Iโm certain youโll agree with us; Jess hasโฆ
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 toโฆ
Devizes annual orchestral festival, FullTone got underway yesterday afternoon with a showcase of local talent from Devizes Music Academy,ย and finalised Friday night with theirโฆ
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 Market Place. One cries out her desperation for the loo, but there’s no detours to another bar en-route for relief, they’re steadfast to their destination, The Three Crowns; a wise choiceโฆ.
I’m heading that way too, trying to pick up pace and overtake them, so as not to convey I’m some creepy codger following them from the bus! Some lads intervened with a wolf-whistle down the Brittox, I gathered at them and not me. I’ll quip with them to break the ice, in hope they see it’s coincidental that our destinations are the same. It worked, they seemed unconcerned, and giggly.
With a fresh lick of paint it really didn’t need in comparison with others, and a scrumptious selection of designer burgers, The Three Crowns is the go-to pub for gen z coming of age, millennials, and a number of elder diehard party heads who still think they’ve โgot it,โ because they have, bless โem!
But the greatest thing about these cross-generational gatherings at The Three Crowns is the carefree atmosphere without division. Everybody is here to enjoy themselves. They crave a live band to throw high-energy covers at them, era-spanning songs they know, love and can sing along with, and they’ll party trouble-free together. Younger attendees will high five the elders, and dad dancers mingle without mockery, I hoped!!
I’m at the back gate chatting to landlord Simon while tonight’s band is sound checking. It’s this Marlborough-Swindon based band’s debut at The Three Crowns, but I assure him what I suspected, that Static Moves will fit like a glove. Not wanting to blow my own trumpet, but I was bloody right anโ all!
Static Moves are a side-burns, flat caps and pork pie wearing, two-Clives five-piece covers band with keyboards, in self-promoting black t-shirts. Even if these other elements don’t convey Static Moves are bringing a touch of new wave eighties mod retrospection to the table, any band boasting two Clives is a win-win!
Being honest, there have been occasions when I’ve dropped into the Crowns to see a great cover band, yet my desire for originals redirects my zimmer frame over to the trusty Gate, and I’m faced with two half-reviews; not this time. Static Moves are irresistible, and enthral any audience.
The systematics of Static Movesโ repertoire appears to be anything which can be delivered loud and proud like it’s Coventry in 1980 or Madchester in 1990. If a particular song choice isn’t, they make it so it is. Taking no prisoners they were greyhounds out of the starting traps, rarely coming up for air, save a short break.
The frontman isn’t Luciano Pavarotti, needs not to be, but is commandeering, can hold a note, and a dynamic showman, with a habit of launching his tambourine either airborne or into the crowd.
The band compliment the lively mannerisms, though fairly recently formed, all members hold a wealth of experience, which shows. It looks like a tight ship, a new drummer slipping into the kind of camaraderie which reflects onto the audience; they’re having fun, you will too.
Static Moves compact a party into their pocket, and, for want of a less Potterhead analogy, like a Choranaptyxis it expands to fit the available space when they catapult it out upon an anticipated crowd. They told me they were working on some originals, we’ll hold the front page.
There were components to their set, it kicked off seventies, absolutely scorched Primal Scream’s Rocks, then launched tongue-in-cheek into early eighties pop hits like Nena’s 99 Red Balloons, Kim Wilde’s Kids in America and even found time to make one-hit-wonder Tiffany’s smash their own! As you might imagine, this was my personal summit, โcos I bought those singles, but I also observed all generations present acknowledging and lapping up those bubblegum classics.
It moved as swiftly as their tempo onto tracks I’d consider were their own favourites, the more less commercial punk anthems like The Buzzcocks, by which time they had the audience eating out of their hands and could’ve pulled any cheesy bygone slush puppy out of their bag and still rinsed it! As it was they took to The Beastie Boysโ Fight for your Right, which was only amusing until they followed it with a grand attempt at Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Despite the diversity, the template of loud and proud prevented pigeonholing, a party band with a big sack of crowd-pleasers and an unrivalled enthusiasm to deliver them. The finale alongside Billy Idol, were millennial showboats, Britpop anthems, you know the one from The Killers, and yeah, they did Wonderwall, but while I deem that clichรฉ, they did it well, and it always gives the youngsters an opportunity to show everyone they have torches on their phones!
Ahem, that’s irrelevant against the positivity of a diverse crowd throwing away their cares for a moment and enjoying themselves. That’s what’s infectious; you’re duty bound to follow suit with a band like Static Moves. I couldnโt physically leave until the deal was fully sealed.
The Three Crowns revel in this infection, and is the reason it bucks the trend of a decline in pub culture. Here is a Devizes lesson in how to do it, they deserve the praise but don’t really need it. Stalwart for a number of years now, most know the Three Crowns is a testament to a memorable night, including, it seems, girls bussing in from Bath.
A feast of Salisbury musicians have recorded the single Edge of Reason, a powerful tribute to the irreplaceable ThomโฏBelk, a champion of Salisburyโs music sceneโฆ
Devizes Food & Drink Festival launched their 2025 programme of events today. Running from Saturday 20th to the 28th September, the Box Office opens onlineโฆ
With your standard festivals two-to-a-penny, some consisting of not much more than a bloke with a guitar in a pub selling undercooked and overpriced hotdogs,โฆ
Contemplated headlining this โClash of the Titans,โ but that evokes the idea of a dramatic power struggle with fierce consequences rather than proof Devizes canโฆ
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 openingโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Sandcastle Productions A very new addition to Bath based theatre companies, Sandcastles Productions brings their self penned piece of theatre toโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Next Stage Theatre Company and Mike Stevens Florian Zeller is a contemporary French playwright and screenwriter, who received criticalโฆ
Once the demonic entity Spring-Heeled Jack entered folklore it became subject to many books and plays, diluting the once real threat of this Victorian bogeyman into a mockery of mass hysteria and hoaxes. If our local upcoming blues soloist JP Oldfield is resurrecting the legend as an opening to his forthcoming debut EP, Bouffon, the trackโs haunting ambience is broken by the usage of his kazoo, implementing the very vaudeville element of satire the albumโs title reflectsโฆ.
Bouffon, being a French theatrical term for a performance of mockery, much like a jester becomes subtly apt once youโve listened, but thereโs deeper prose at work. โI threw a lot of names around in my head for this project but nothing seemed to fit,โ Josh told me, โI wanted a name that summed up everything that these songs, my style, stood for. As such Bouffon, I think, is an unexpected title for my debut EP but I’ve never really seemed toย like following the mould with any of this musical stuff and despite at first I rejected the idea, it sat in the back of my mind and wouldn’t go away.โ
In a town where blues is taken extremely seriously my initial reaction to this EP was โthere he goes again, blowing that kazoo when traditionally there should be a harmonica!โ But it soon dawned on me, this, and his beaten up suitcase pedal-drum looking like a juke joint throwout, is all part of the unique and idiosyncratic approach JP Oldfield has forged, and its originality works wonders.ย ย
If thereโs one notable eccentric kazoo-blowing duo on the local circuit itโs Devilโs Doorbell, who Josh supported at Chippenhamโs Old Road Tavern. But whereas those crazy boaters with ukulele and washtub bass rely solely on the jaunty and jocular, thereโs a much deeper tenet to JP Oldfield, richly layered, psychologically.
โTo me a Bouffon clown holds a mirror up to the audience,โ Josh explained, โat times it can be hard to look at, deeply sad, and presents you with things you’d rather not face, but in the end it doesn’t pull its punches, and allows for anything to be possible, a blank space where youโre truly free to explore. I really resonate with the idea of this. I’ve always enjoyed the strange, quirky and unlovable. Elements of this have bled far enough into my music to feel a need to name my debut after it.โ
The second tune asks this directly, if the singer has the blues, as if the melancholic disposition of blues is an affliction the doctor can diagnose. But three tunes in and weโre blessed with such melancholy, Last Orders is a gorgeous ballad to vainly justifying alcoholism. Magpie which follows delves much deeper in its narrative.
โA lot of people associate me with lively suitcase drum playing, jazz chord kazoo mania,โ Josh expressed, โand I get it, but that’s not the only side to my music and I would be doing myself a disservice if that was all that I recorded. All my songs are dark but sometimes it needs to bubble up fully to the surface and see the light of day.โ
He examples the two as those which โreally fill out the point of the recordings.โ โLast Orders is a deep dive into my previous alcohol abuse and really aims to look behind the curtain on the inner workings of a lonely alcoholic. Magpie is a story told from the point of view of a child whose parents have just lost a baby and the confusion that comes from that as the parent’s attempt to hide and dress up the truth. It was actually written in half an hour, the afternoon before hitting the studio, when I put it down on tape it was only the fifth time I ever played it. I had the lyric sheet in front of me and sat real close to the microphone. We did it in one take, the studio went silent and we all seemed to be in agreement that despite it not being perfect, it was exactly the take we needed for that song.โ
I suggest, in its rawness, Magpie is the most emotionally driven track on the album, the song an audience will take away with them. Though achieving the balance is key here. When we first met for an interview, the topic rested mainly on his powerful basso vocal range, likening him to Cash or Leonard Cohen, and while Josh should pursue this angle in his recording, his live show wouldnโt be the same without the more kazoo blowing mockery of his macabre topics. For the finale Josh pulls in all resources. By title and topic, Satanโs Bar one could imagine weโre off in a similar style as Last Orders and Magpie, but no, mate, itโs jump blues and off he goes with that kazoo again! I suppose, solving the dilemma on how to go out, Satanโs Bar has both sides toJP Oldfieldcovered nicely.ย
If I tend to relate baritones to Jim Morrison, and his ability to induce his crowd hypnotically, (taking into account their probable intoxication!), one can suggest JP Oldfield has a similar commanding voice, and thatโs a high compliment, but deserved on the strength of this EP alone.
Oliver Stone projected this well in his 1991 biopic, though those who knew Morrison criticised his persona as deeper layered than that which was represented. They claimed while Morrison was the unbalanced and sometimes vexatious character portrayed, that Stone missed his more playful and humorous side. Josh undoubtedly has the capacity and skill to mesmerise a crowd, like Riders on the Storm, yet if those middle tracks on the EP proves this, the beginning and end ones suggest his favourite Doors track might be the more gamesome Alabama Song, showing Morrison to the way to the next whiskey bar.
Bouffon is released on 25th February 2025, it certainly wonโt disappoint his live fans. With this original balance of melancholic delta blues with a sense of vaudeville satire, thereโs deep personal reflection versus folklore and contemporary narrative, all encompassing and blended superbly.ย
When I first heard Josh perform, I figured this needed the kind of guided hand only the legend Nick Beere at Mooncalf Studios could master. Coincidentally I bumped into him the weekend after Josh sent the album, and Nick not only confirmed he had recorded it, but agreed the kazoo and all JP Olfieldโs gubbings were all part of the uniqueness of the act.
โNick’s not only very knowledgeable but also a great guy,โ Josh finished on. โWe’d met a couple of times before, at open mics, and he already had a fairly good idea of what I sounded like. I left the production side completely in his hands, he’s the master, I just make the sound. It was the first time Nick had ever recorded a kazoo and a suitcase so I was happy to be the first!โ
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,โฆ
If youโve popped into Wiltshire Music Centre recently; for a concert, workshop, screening orย even a meeting, you might have noticedโฏchanges in the foyer: recorded music,โฆ
Photo credit: David Leigh Dodd Pioneers of the indie-rock sound which would lead us into the nineties, Transvision Vamp lead singer Wendy James has announcedโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Luke Ashley Tame of Acadia Creative Around 2 million women are victims of violence perpetrated by men every year, thatโs 3,000โฆ
Family run premier auctioneers of antiques and collector’s items, Henry Aldridge and Son announced a move into The Old Town Hall on Wine Street, Devizes;โฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Ian Diddams and Shakespeare Live Is it post watershed? Then I shall beginโฆ The etymology of the word โNothingโ is quiteโฆ โฆ
Amidst another packed summer weekend’s schedule laid that lovable large village Pewseyโs turn to shine; always a law unto itself, things went off; if itโsโฆ
Just over two years ago I was privileged to be in the audience when Jazz Sabbath played their only previous show in D-Town.ย And what a night that was. The musical skill on show simply blew me away.ย No surprise then that weโre mightily looking forward to their next gig here on 1st March….
Jazz Sabbath are a jazz trio headed by Adam Wakeman, son of Rick Wakeman on keyboards, Dylan Howe, son of Alan Howe on drums, and Jack Tustin (son of his parents Iโm sure), on upright bass. Theyโve just started on their 2025 UK tour, and many of the venues are either already sold out, or very close to doing so.ย And one of those dates is in our town, long in the calendar, thanks to the forward thinking of long-time fan Paul Chandlerโs Longcroft Productions.
Adamโs credentials are absolutely second to none. Apart from having a famous father, Adam has played with the elite of the music world. Recent credits include Tony Hadleyโs world tour, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Rick Wakeman, and at Ozzy Osbourneโs induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Heโs also booked to play with Ozzy and the mighty Sabbath themselves at the recently-announced farewell gig in Birmingham this Summer. Thatโs a pretty impressive CV in my book.
Their offering is to present jazz interpretations of Black Sabbath classics. It sounds utterly mad, but it isnโt. Adamโs jazz arrangements are an almost unrecognisable world away, and the bandโs shows also feature plenty of Adamโs own contemporary compositions. To my ear itโs very little Sabbath, and very much Jazz, but the only way to test that supposition is to get yourselves a ticket and head on down to The Corn Exchange!
The band will be playing material from their latest and third album โThe 1968 Tapesโ which, as usual, is promoted in the bandโs straight-faced spoof mock-documentary style. Itโs worth the ticket price alone just to see and hear the whole comedic wrap-around, never mind the excellent music. So take it from me โ youโll be in for a superb night of entertainment.
Get out and get those tickets โ this is going to be a real one-off!
1st July marks International Reggae Day, and I want to jam it with you. Why? Because as something of a reggae connoisseur I cringed when someone once asked me if Eric Clapton or Bob Marley recorded I Shot The Sheriff originally. It didnโt deserve an answer! It occurred to me, going on this, old raversโฆ
With the Three Crowns being the liveliest pub in Devizes for some years now with live music every weekend and the Brewery Shop as a new neighbour, it seems sensible to upgrade the idea to a free Wadworth mini fundraising festival ….yay! On Saturday 12th July The Three Crowns will pull all stocks out, withโฆ
Britpop icons Supergrass will headline Frome Festival as a fundraising event for grassroots community action group โPeople 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 siteโฆ
Hold on tight, the new single from I See Orange, Mental Rot embodies everything I love about this Swindon grunge trio, and takes no prisonersโฆ..
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, I See Orange is the kingpin to this personal change of tide; proof youโre never too old!
With sublime professionalism abound, theyโre creating riotous rock anthems; my untrained ear evaluates what I deem to be the conventions of grunge, and this tune in particular, while sits into the subgenre only subtly, relishes more in orthodox, good old punk rock, with perhaps a slice of metal, to be savoured, and not overly-pigeonholed.
In the words of Chuck Berry, who, face it, knew what he was talking about when it comes to rock n roll, โyou can’t lose it, any old way you choose it.โ Iโm getting more Joan Jett than Nirvana with this one, a timeless sound you cannot ignore, to that of what the Smalltown Tigers are more recently putting down.
Upon hearing the title was to be Mental Rot I wrongly assumed this new one would drift in the layers of melancholy and emotionally rise and fall, in that grunge formula many their past tracks follow, but this rocks out from beginning to end and sustains an explosive feel good energy aging punkers like me simply cannot whinge about! If, as the lyrics suggest, itโs โgnawing up and getting to the claw,โ hey, I like it like that!
They’re one of six finalists to play The Finsbury in London tonight for a place in The Musos Awards Soccer-Six finals at the Electric Ballroom in March; we wish them the very best of luck. Play like this new single, and I reckon you’ve got it in the pocket I See Orange.
There are only a few tickets left for this yearโs Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, an important fundraiser for DOCAโฆ..
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.
Saturday 15th February 2025, is the date, at Devizes Corn Exchange. Thereโs an Early Session โ 11am โ 5pm and a Late Session โ 5:30pm โ 11pm.
This year they welcome Glorious Productions, who are excited to bring a taste of their legendary Social Club Cabaret to the Festival of Winter Ales. While you sip your ales and relax they provide comedy, skills and the unexpected! Compere โ Goldie Fiasco, Cabaret โ Jon Udry and Jude Elizabeth. And Vince Bell and Adam Woodhouse play the early session, while Burn the Midnight Oil and Junkyard Dogs take the later session.
New for 2025: based on attendee feedback, there will be a slight difference between the 2 sessions this year. Both sessions will have the same great selection of beers, alongside brilliant entertainment from bands and cabaret. However, the Early Session (11am โ 5pm) will be slightly more low-key for entertainment, geared more towards those who are mostly interested in beer tasting. The Late Session (5:30pm โ 11pm) will be slightly more entertainment focussed for those looking for a buzzier vibe alongside their beer.
This is a fundraising event to help meet the costs of DOCAโs free annual programme of outdoor arts events and activities, including the Street Festival, Confetti Battle, Carnival, Winter Festival and Lantern Parade.
The Festival of Winter Ales is an 18+ event. The layout will be similar to 2024 with some seating, and some standing. If you require a seat for accessibility reasons, please contact DOCA at info@docadevizes.org.uk
More information on the Winter Ales entertainmentโฆ
Goldie Fiasco โ This yearโs Festival of Winter Ales will be compered by the โwonderfully bonkers and totally endearing!โ Goldie Fiasco. Goldie is a veteran performer with thousands of shows under her belt including โ Glastonbury Festival Circus Big Top, Edinburgh Fringe, The Social Club Cabaret, Bestival, Shambala, Komedia, and Main Stage Redfest. She will preside over a smorgasbord of delectable entertainment for your delight. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Jon Udry โ There are jugglers. There are comedians. And there is Jon Udry. Jon combines the two to such a brilliant effect that his unique performance has his audience roaring with laughter from entrance to the final curtain. Formerly the British Young Juggler Of The Year and New Act of the Year Finalist 2018, Jonโs skills and stage persona have brought his show onto various television and radio shows, as well as being a regular on the bill at prestigious festivals like Glastonbury.
Jon travels internationally, working on a host of luxury cruise lines, at festivals and events, and โ due to his unique comedy style โ his show is also at home on the domestic comedy club circuit. Jonโs repertoire is not the normal type of speciality act โ instead, itโs young, offbeat, quirky and hugely impressive. His current show โJon Udry Punches Gravity in the Faceโ is quickly becoming his most successful to date with a host of bookings around the UK, Europe and beyond.
Jude Elizabeth โ Jude trained as a professional ballet dancer but turned to Circus over a decade ago specialising in Aerial arts and Handbalance. Now internationally renowned, she has performed alongside Hugh Jackman at The Brit Awards, performed for the Royals and at some of the most prestigious venues in the world. We look forward to bringing her exceptional talent and elegance to our stage.
Vince Bell โ A talented singer-songwriter based in Devizes, Vince Bell is a prominent figure in the local music scene. Known for pouring raw emotion into his songwriting, he creates deeply personal yet universally relatable songs. His music is meticulously crafted and delivered with a captivating sincerity, showcasing his artistry and passion. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences, including the likes of John Martyn, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, and Richard Thompson, Vinceโs sound is both unique and richly textured, resonating with audiences on a profound level.
Adam Woodhouse โ Guitarist and singer, Adam Woodhouse has a love of country, blues and folk music. As a solo acoustic performer, these influences are always apparent, no matter what musical genre he is playing. Adam covers a wide range of music from across the decades, bringing his own style, vibe and humour to a collection of well-known hits.
Burn the Midnight Oil โ are a powerhouse trio that skim the surface of blues, country, folk, rock and pop with an all-original repertoire.
Junkyard Dogs โ Junkyard Dogs are a group of seasoned musicians with a shared love of Blues and goodtime Rock & Roll. Donโt forget your dancing shoes and let the good times roll!
A sublime evening of electronic elegance was had at Bathโs humble Rondo Theatre last night, where Cephidโs album, Sparks in The Darkness, was played out exclusively to a packed house. It was, in a word, breathtakingโฆ.
The type of genius who built a laser-harp at seventeen years old, Cephid‘s composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Moray McDonald is bound by modesty, and appeared, prior to the show, understandingly nervous about the prospect of performing. He hadnโt contemplated ever reproducing this masterwork on stage, for the project began as a collection of demos he created โfor fun.โ โWith all my focus being on creating an album that would live up to the grand ideas in my head,โ he explained, โI didnโt stop to think about whether this music could be performed in a live environment.โ
Seems he shies from being centre of attention, his comfort zone on stage favouring the many occasions he hides as a keyboardist in prog rock bands. Moray, currently residing in Lavington, cut his teeth touring with progressive rock and metal artists such as That Joe Payne, Godsticks, Kim Seviour and Ghost Community, more recently he remixed for OMD.
Moray was adamant this was a totally exclusive show which wouldnโt be taken on the road, although it has the magnitude of doing so. The show was produced and promoted by his partner Charlotte, whoโs theatrical flamboyance encourages Moray to overcome his reservedness. Therefore a communal air bloomed in the audience, that this was a one-off treat, and we were the lucky few; because we were.
Being I was there to review, it probably didn’t help his anxiety any telling him I’d seen Kraftwerk at a Tribal Gathering of yore, where from every tent of every subgenre ravers descended to observe the roots of it all. โKraftwerk was the beginning of everything,โ he agreed.
While itโs an accurate summary of the origins of electronic pop music, Sparks in The Darkness delves beyond this for inspiration. Itโs orchestral on a Jean-Michel Jarre level; even if the show wasnโt to the same scale it was in spirit. It nodded to the trial phase of electronic music, prog-rockโs psychedelic swirls found in Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin et al, and continues to the ambient house pioneers like The KLF and Orb. It rests on the heyday of electronica, the quirky experiments of new wave post-punk like New Order, and early US electro outfits, like Newcleus. Yet it incorporates contemporary technological advances, the variety of modern subgenres stemming from it, and it evoked in me a fascination with the history of electronic sound.
To contemplate futurist Luigi Russoloโs 1913 The Art of Noises theories, that music would change due to the ear becoming accustomed to mechanical, industrial and urban noises, and the dadaists flouting this, is to consider the eighties clunkiness of the engine sampling of the aptly named Art of Noise, or Yello, or the piercing hubbub of acid houseโs 303s, for the sake of artistic expressionism rather than melodious music. Sparks in The Darkness doesnโt go there, it doesnโt tumultuously provoke, rather itโs polyphonically beautiful, sampleless, and tonally complimentary on the ear. In this, the decades of electronic music progression has become an epoch, therefore a โfolkโ music, effectively turning music full circle; Cephid is on that cusp, and proved it last night.
But not beforeThat Joe Payne, who later returned to the stage to provide vocals for Cephid, supported with an astounding original set. With just keyboard and voice he acoustically gifted us with a one-man rock opera, the like Iโd never seen before. Combining camp comedy with tragedy, reminiscent of Elton Johnโs heyday and expressed divinely with the vast vocal range of Freddie Mercury, this was delicious vaudeville. Though I cite these clear influences, they broke the mould when they made That Joe Payne, and that is the only shame about this highly entertaining character.
If That Joe Payne was something which bucked my norm in the nicest of methods, the whole evening was equally different for me, who these days is used to traditional rock, folk, or blues bands, and even with a history of dance music under my belt, this wasnโt a rave anymore than it was a gig in the tradition of, even if the effect was similar. This was a showcase of modernism, an electronica fantasy in fruition. If at any point I likened it to something visually, it was Howard Jones meets Orbital, and thatโs a high compliment.
The Rondo ignited with laser lights after the interval, colouring the subtle smoke machine output, and doused with a building ambient drone. Moray appeared onstage with electric percussionist Graham Brown, both dressed in white bodysuits with scarlet tie-belts. Layers developed and the album was played out sublimely, stretched to fit the show. The skill of the pair, to unite in sound and highlight exactly how these tunes were accomplished was insightful, and amazing. The only analogue instrument being a snare, the rest was digital technology caressed to evolve the most refined musical topography, an audio landscape masterpiece.
The grand finale was the usage of the triangular centrepiece, the laser harp Moray created at seventeen but had never used publicaly. Even if many in the crowd were connected in some way to Moray or the team, akin to a family party, everyone was held spellbound when the laser harp strings lit up, and Moray took position behind it.
If the perfect composition of this groundbreaking sound, with the laser show and theatrical performance wasnโt enough to convince anyone in the crowd to the monumental importance to the artist, and the rare and wonderful occasion this was, it was Morayโs expression of sheer joy, at the audienceโs standing ovation. It was confirmation that this project, so immensely well received, is surely the testament, plus an ego boost, to the diffidence of a creative genius!
You might have missed this show, but you can (and should) buy the album HERE.
Another Triumph for WHO Andy Fawthrop Following the excellent recent production of La Belle Helene at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre back in March (see here), Whiteโฆ
Five Have An Out-of-town Experience You canโt always get that live music experience you crave by simply staying within the walls of D-Town.ย Sometimes, andโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Charlotte Emily Shakespeare wrote several plays that were termed in the late nineteenth century โProblem Playsโ. These wereโฆ
Together in Electric Dreamsโฆ. at The Corn Exchange Fashionably late for Devizes Arts Festival, I’d like to thank Andy and Ian for informative coverage ofโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ian Diddams, Play on Words Theatre, and Devizes Arts Festival Who was paying attention in history at school when they coveredโฆ
โThis 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 Februaryโฆ.
The immediate hook to this song is in the simplicity of the riff, it glides with a summer breeze echoing in feelgood ambience. Refreshingly vehement and not overworked, Just a Little caused me to think of Natasha Bedingfieldโs Unwritten, and further back to how Madonna secured her queen of pop title with the Latino hook in La Isla Bonita, or am I going too far back for you now?! Noah Kahan brought back fervency, this goes along similar lines, though Sam likened it to Coldplay and Bastille, stating, โI hope people can connect to it.โย
Itโs certainly miles beyond his beginnings in Devizes School boy band 98 Reasons and the duo Larkin with fellow member Finley Trusler, in commercial viability. It shows a maturity, but if weโve followed this natural progression I could argue his previous songs were growers, whereas this was an instant like, and swift appeal is whatโs needed in the fast-paced industry.
Sam scribed this beauty whilst travelling the States over summer and produced it once home. โThis song is for everyone whoโs ever felt like they were giving their all but still wondering if itโs enough,โ he expressed, โI wanted to create something that felt vulnerable, yet comforting, that also feels personal.โ Yeah, Sam, I think youโve captured that!
Just a Little is out across streaming platforms from 7th February. Check it out HERE; it’s already top ten on UK iTunes – deservedly.
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 Iโll never see a chap strum a guitar again!
I was only at the Beehive for ten minutes before wishing Iโd got here sooner, three days sooner! Swindon Shuffle organisers decided to create a winter version for last weekend, and speaking with both Ed Dyer and Jamie Hill of Swindon Link and Ink, they were wary if it would be as successful as their annual summer extravaganza. Exhausted by Sunday but still positively beaming with enthusiasm, Iโm glad to report Ed signed the event off as a huge triumph.
Crowds turned out to the respective pub venues on each day; Thursday at the Hop, Friday at the Vic, Saturday at The Castle, and Sunday at the Beehive. A colossal selection of the South Westโs finest musical talent united to raise some wonga for the Prospect Hospice, as they do with The Swindon Shuffle and My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad festival.
The team assembled for the final showdown at the Beehive, which is a crazy-good watering hole aptly on Prospect Hill; I could resist no more. From Courting Ghosts and Canuteโs Plastic Army to Will Lawton, George Wilding to I See Orange I sadly missed many of my favourites, even our wonderful M3G and Devizes-own Nothing Rhymes With Orange; what can I say in my defence? Would central heating, cosy sofa or homemade stew cut the crust?!
Despite it being a whistle-stop, I was so glad to be reunited with Swindonโs premier Americana collective Concrete Prairie. At one point I was close to becoming their groupie, unfortunately our paths havenโt crossed for a while. Seconds into their set why Iโve claimed theyโre better than sliced bread came flooding back. They were, for want of a technical evaluation, absolutely and steadfastly, one-hundred and fifty percent on fire.
I donโt know if it was the fact the Beehive is one of their favourite venues to play, if time had eroded my expectations of them, or theyโve polished their already proficient skills, or maybe because they opted for their more high-energy originals, or possibly now those songs have become classics fans chant them back at them, but wow, just wow!
I was introduced to Clarie, their new fiddler, previously informed she fitted like a glove into this astounding band, and they weren’t fibbing. It is in their unification where sparks fly, if individually theyโd reach a level of greatness naturally, together theyโre solid and tight. Concrete Prairie is the whole deal for dark and foreboding themed country-blues-rock which takes you on a mood-changing journey; they could play disco and still rouse the hairs on the back of your neck, dammit! (they donโt though, for the record!)
Prior to their invigorating explosion I was delighted to find a new love. From Newport, Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy were truly a blessing. Described as a chameleonic presence, in so much as he plays solo, or his masterful originals are fleshed out with the three-part vocal harmonies, guitar and keyboard combo of his backing band the Royal Pharmacy. Joe explained the versatility of his band contained missing elements today, of drums and bass, which when added could evoke the harder rock ambience of a five-piece, on occasions, but the harmonious delivery of folk-rock masterpieces was plentiful for me to decide this outfit is something I could perpetually return to.
Perfectly pitched between smooth and rustic, Joeโs authentic raspy call of expressionism is breathtakingly emotive, his canvas is projected outwards but his brush operates inwards. It conveys that timeless fidelity and sense of personal reflection and identification of Guthrie or Dylan, with the gusto of Geldof or Petty. It is, in a word, gorgeous; music for the soul.
Through his self made independent record label, Dirty Carrot Records, thereโs a selection of their recordings to check out, I recommend you do, and theyโre showcasing their local circuit with five other artists on the books. Joe Kelly & The Royal Pharmacy timelessly embrace every classic element of folk-rock, the emotional poignancy, sincere homespun fashion, the evoking sound, and project them outwards nothing short of sublimely, encapsulating an audience you really need to be in!
And that was only two of the thirty three acts booked to perform at the inaugural Swinterfest last weekend; imagine the length of my waffling if Iโd see anymore! Jamie at Swindon Link wore the Swinterfest T-shirt out and gave a more comprehensive evaluation, here. Me? Iโm more of a Catchphrase contestant than a music journalist, I just say what I see, and those bottles wonโt deliver themselves, so, I had to retire from the bustling Beehive, disappearing into the night; milk and honey not mixing well this time. Shame, because I missed Erin Bardwell and the Subject A gang, and SN Dubstation, despite knowing theyโre both up my street and knocking loudly on my door.
The most important part to all this was questioning the big chief organiser of the Shuffle and now Swinterfest, Ed Dyer, if heโd make this an annual thing, and there was absolutely no sign of doubt in his tone that he would. Interestingly he suggested incorporating other arts into the mix, suggesting comedy, poetry and drama. The idea was to separate it from the music dominated Shuffle, so it lives in its own domain and isnโt viewed more simply as a winter version of the Shuffle. But as Jamie expressed, what they know best is music, so they went with that to begin with, and they certainly do!
Poulshot’s Award-winning chocolate studio Hollychocs is proud to launch a heartfelt charity campaign in support of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK, with a charming chocolateโฆ
Events with diversity, be they ethnic, cultural, or life choices, must be welcomed, encouraged and viewed positively as assets offering variety in our local calendarโฆ
Swindon Palestine Solidarity continues to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for aid to be allowed to enter Gazaโฆ.. Their three recent roadside signโฆ
I want Devizine to be primarily about arts and entertainment, but Iโm often pathetically persuaded by bickering political factions to pass opinion on local politicsโฆ
Okay, I canโt keep the secret any longer or Iโll pop! While all the hard work is being organised by a lovely committee, because they showered me with biscuits Iโve been doing the easy bits of arranging some live music and designing a poster for Rowde Fest 2025โฆ..
Itโs happening on Saturday 31st May from 1-7pm, itโs free, you can roly-poly down Dunkirk Hill, and join our village family fete-like festival at the Rowde Small Playing Field (next to the church); no pressure, but I think youโll like it!
Burn The Midnight Oil
Already confirmed we have music from Thieves, Adam Woodhouseโs marvellous Americana quartet. With a village connection, the most wonderful new band on everyoneโs lips, Burn The Midnight Oil are playing too. The incredible Sarah C Ryan Band are up for it, and local legend Andrew Hurst is also on the blossoming line-up.
Sarah C Ryan Band
And I believe we may have some super-duper, and I mean super, surprises, like, โpossiblyโ the best indie pop band in Wiltshire, and acoustic god, and oh, did I say itโs super-duper?!
Hold the front page!! More great acts to be confirmed!
Update: Wiltshire’s finest indie-pop band Talk In Code have just confirmed; you’ll love these guys!
Thieves
Thereโs Devizes Jubilee Morris dancers, childrenโs activities, face painting, food and drink and side stalls, and more. You all should know by now Rowde has the best ice cream this side of Italy, so yes, Rowdey Cow are sure to be there.
Talk in Code
It is all free, but, you lovely people, we really need some kind donations on the gate, if you can, so we can ensure we can make it an annual occasion.
If you’ve an idea for a side stall, please let us know and I’ll pitch it to the committee, they don’t bite, or at least I’ve seen no evidence of it yet.
Andrew Hurst
Iโm even over-excited to share the poster with you! Subject to alterations, as if I could possibly find any more room on it for other acts yet to confirm, the poster has been collated by me, but is also the fine artistic work of three pupils from Rowde Academy. So a huge thank you to Luca Dowling, Theo Doherty, and Lila Ransome for their inspirational pictures, which were incorporated into our poster.
Photo credit: ยฉ Rondo Theatre Company / Jazz Hazelwood A gender-queered production of William Shakespeareโs classic play, โThe Taming of the Shrewโ, will be performedโฆ
The first full album by Wiltshireโs finest purveyors of psychedelic indie shenanigans, Clock Radio, was knocked out to an unsuspecting world last week. Itโs calledโฆ
Bradford-on-Avon Town Councilโs annual festival, aptly titled The Bradford on Avon Live Music Festival is back this weekend, championing local talent with an eclectic line-upโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Chris Watkins Performing Sondheim isnโt the simplest of tasks. Or, rather, singing Sondheim isnโt the simplest of tasks. With his dissonantโฆ
The phenomenally talented Ruby Darbyshire is performing at Silverwood School in Rowde on 27th June. Ruby has kindly offered to support Silverwood Schoolโs open evening…..โฆ
Adam Woodhouse, Rory Coleman-Smith, Jo Deacon and Matt Hughes, aka Thieves, the wonderful local folk vocal harmony quartet of uplifting bluegrass into country-blues has aโฆ
If weโre nearly out of the prolonged gloom of January, note itโs still winter but weโve climatised and are ready to party. February this year looks positively booming with music events. This weekend alone looks hotter for events than it will probably be climate wise!
Leading us up to the start of the month, Swindon Shuffleโs new wintery thang SwinterFest is covering days all this coming weekend from Thursday and onto the 1st and 2nd; Saturday is at the Castle, Sunday at the Beehive, check the poster for the fantastic lineup. Another amazing fundraiser for Prospect House.
Thursday 3oth Jan
Also in Swindon find Ian Barrett Band with Bare Knuckle Asylum and Tiddles the Hellcat at The Vic. Ignacio Lopez at Swindon Arts Centre, and Jack Deeโs Small World at The Wyvern Theatre.
New Writing Night at The Rondo Theatre, Bath, and Tom Jonesโ favourite singer Mim Grey is at Chapel Arts.
Follow Comedy Club at Qudos in Salisbury, Alistair McGowan at Salisbury Playhouse, and Limehouse Lizzy at Salisbury Arts Centre.
Friday 31st Jan
Jamie Hawkins is at The Bridge in Horton. The Tipsy Gypsies are at The Royal Oak in Pewsey.
The Blunders are at the Pump in Trowbridge, with The Lindup Brothers & Hometown Devilry. Morphew School of Dance presents A Wish Come True at the Civic Centre.
As well as SwinterFest, Last Train Smokinโ are at The Beehive, Swindon. Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde at Swindon Arts Centre,and Cirque Enchantment at The Wyvern Theatre.
Stable at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
Lucy Loves Liquor at the Coach and Horses in Salisbury. Diamond Froggs at Deacons, andย Barnstormers Comedy atย Salisbury Arts Centre. Salisbury Playhouse has Thatโll Be The Day.ย ย ย
Sound of the Sirens at The Tree House in Frome. Dire Streets at The Cheese & Grain.
Saturday 1st
Falls on Deaf Ears at the Southgate in Devizes, and thereโs a Long Street Blues Club night at the Cons Club with The John Martin Project. Devizes Scooter Club promises a soul, Motown, ska and reggae DJ night at the Football Club, and Mr M & The Original PJ have a soul night also, at the Bear Hotel. DJ Karl Maggs playing club hits at the Exchange.
Bodge It & Scarper at The Bear, Marlborough, Jam Night at The Barge, HoneyStreet.
Three upcoming local DJs, ET Tronic, FLAM and Artoid play a Future Sound of Trowbridge night at The Pump, while Junkyard Dogs are at the host pub, The Lamb. Morphew School of Dance presents A Wish Come True, a matinee at the Trowbridge Civic Centre.
Dโ Ska Assassins are at Prestbury Sports Bar in Warminster.
Mustard Allegro at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon. Colin Hoult: Colin at The Rondo Theatre, Bath.
As well as Swinterfest in Swindon, Mojo plays The Swiss Chalet, Still Marillion at The Vic, and Peter Andre stars in The Best Of Frankie Valli at The Wyvern Theatre!
Thereโs a Winter FiggleFest at Figheldean Village Hall. Jetpack at The Ram, Tidworth.
Wiltshire Creative Comedy Club with Lucy Beaumont at Salisbury Playhouse. Sarumโs Lot at Qudos. Lucas Hardy, Rosie Jay and Rich Butcher at The Avon Brewery Inn Salisbury and Graffiti Classics: The Comedy String Quartet at Salisbury Arts Centre.
Laurence Jones is at The Tree House in Frome, and there’s an Retro Electro at the Cheese & Grain.
Sunday 2nd Feb
Jon Amor Trio with guest Shannon Harris at The Southgate, Devizes.
Everyone Says Hi are Instore at Sound Knowledge in Marlborough, which we previewed.
Super Blue Moon at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.
The Roy Orbison Story at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon.
Sunday Session at The Coach & Horses, Salisbury with Ben Nicholls
Open Mic at George and Dragon, Salisbury.
CSF Pro Wrestling Showdown at the Cheese & Grain, Frome.
But of course, youโd know all this if you keep checking into our event calendar! We are not running the weekly roundups any longer due to it being time consuming which basically just repeats whatโs been listed already. It was just that this weekend seems to have really opened up for events again, and see this as a gentle reminder to keep checking into Devizine, as the calendar is always updating, as fast as I possibly can add listings!
Do contact us if weโve missed your event out, and we can list it free for you.
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 Timbrellโs 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 theyโve 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.
This summer David is returning with a brand-new show “Historyโs Missing Chapters”, a show made to uncover why, throughout history, some people and events haveโฆ
Under the new management, live music will be making a triumphant return to The Boathouse in Bradford-on-Avon and that Cracking Pair, Claire and Chloe ofโฆ
Always a happy place, our traditional record shop Vinyl Realm in Northgate Street Devizes is back in the game of hosting some live music afternoons.โฆ
One of Wiltshireโs Best by Andy Fawthrop Looking for something to do next weekend? One of Wiltshireโs biggest festivals is happening just up the roadโฆ
If weโve had a keen eye on Swindonโs Sienna Wilemanโs natural progression as an upcoming singer-songwriter since being introduced to her self-penned songs via herโฆ
In November last year I was mightily impressed with Bristol soul-reggae producer Kaya Street, and reviewed their EP The Soul Sessions, read it here for thereโs no reason to go back through rewriting it, everything I said stands, except for one sectionโฆ.
At the time I praised Kaya Street for the experimental fusions which seemed to switch from four-beat soul and jazz into offbeat reggae, simultaneously evoking sounds of Africa like soukous. I said, โitโs not the ingredients in Kaya Streetโs melting pot which makes it prominently interesting and beguiling, rather the way they stir it, the method in the composition and production.โ
Despite taking into account albums like Mo Waxโs 1996 Money Markโs Keyboard Repair Kit, which used short fragments and splinters of ideas deliberately juxtaposed to create a kind of musical mosaic, I did make a slight criticism about The Soul Sessions, and that was that they were underdeveloped and tended to end abruptly and far too soon. I stated at the time, โIf I am to find some niggly, itโs a lack of intro; the songs tend to jerk right in, but I guess itโs because I have the single edits here, and Kaya Streetโs impressive lineup is plentiful to convince me they know the formula to extend and polish.โ
I am glad to hear that has now been amended and extended versions of the radio edits have been uploaded to Spotify. Each tunenow runs at an average five to seven minutes, and sounds complete. Itโs now time to fully ingest the absolute magic of Kaya Street, in which youโre taken in smoother and played out satisfied by more wholesome versions of their interesting and wonderful fusions, and melting pot of influences, and, in turn, the journey is now complete.
One of Salisburyโs most celebrated acoustic folk-rock singer-songwriters Lucas Hardy teams up with the Wiltshire cityโs upcoming talent who’s name is on everyoneโs lips, Rosie Jay, forโฆ
A week into the voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards and things have been moving forward fast. Weโve had the best part of 500 voting formsโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages byย Chris Watkins Media One could argue that Anne Frank is possibly the most well-known civilian of the WW2 years, and certainly of those totallyโฆ
Trowbridge singer-songwriter and one third of The Lost Trades, Phil Cooper has actually been doing more than playing solitaire, heโs released a new solo album called Playingโฆ
The voting process for the Wiltshire Music Awards goes live today; there might be some other voting thing going on too, but this is far more important!โฆ
An effervescent musical, full of promising young talent Written by: Melissa Loveday Images by: Gail Foster After the success of SIX last year, Devizes Music Academy isโฆ
A photo is circulating on X of Calne’s Reform UK candidate Violette Simpson, which for some reason doesn’t appear on her election campaign….I wonder why? Just toโฆ
Big congratulations to Devizes DJ Greg Spencer this week, the creator of Palooza house nights at The Exchange nightclub, for he made the prestigious bill of Fatboyโฆ
If I’ve been galavanting recently, gorging on other local townโs live music scenes, what better way to return to Devizes than a visit to the liveliest wateringโฆ
Four years of hard work in the making, and it sure shows, Man Made of Glass, the third album from John and Jolyon, aka Illingworth, is released across streaming platforms this week. If youโve seen this Salisbury duo performing on the circuit, the unyielding passion they inject into the obligatory classic rock covers set isnโt half of what they put into their own compositionsโฆ..
Pardon me if you came here for a respite from the onslaught of inflammatory international headlines and toread a nice music review, Man Made of Glass contains much prose on the tyranny of contemporary politics. As the idiom is defined, this narcissistic disorder of egotistical figureheads is fragile and therefore likely to shatter manifests abstractly, particularly in the title track and single Gaslight, but hey, I think itโs safe to say we know the people it is directed towards.
Itโs a floating opening, building in layers, this title track, richly written even if poignantly critical of power corrupting. As ever with Illingworth thereโs this breezy air of feelgood rock too, of Foreigner or The Cars, which enriches the sound naturally. Soulless might be the subject, but soulful is the expression; itโs a contrast.
Superior single Gaslight does similar theme-wise, but as powerful as an indie rock anthem, and rolling on a tougher riff than the title track, throughout, it takes the manipulation of its titleโs term to the worldly encouragement of avoidance; this โdonโt be convinced by propagandaโ concept.
Bittersweet is the general ambience Illingworth delivers with here, and thatโs no new thing in rock, but they do so with such passion and expertise it polishes the delivery and leaves you feeling alive and stimulated, with nothing bad you could possibly say about their songs. They are rich with honesty over vanity, reflecting on the theme. Gaslight may be the kingpin to the album, the running motif becoming less prominent in the other tracks. Every tune is a beauty though, embracing all stimulating elements of being uplifting, inspiring and catchy, just subtly with differing moods and tempos.
We Donโt Have to Try is a country-rock ballad on an eternal love subject, whereas, Heart To Rule Your Head, is an inspiring โyou can get it if you really wantโ upbeat track.
Another Passion is upbeat too, of if, buts and maybes, whereas New Year is arousingly paced, reflecting on the unification and love perpetrated by the annual occasion. Love conquering over evil becomes the inclusive factor as the album drifts archetypically. This conquering notion to avoid the brainwashing of those seeking power lessens somewhat in favour of identifying affections, yet never fully expires. The finale is not to let it worry you, as the matter will shatter like glass.
While great, if previous Illingworth albums can feel fragmented, like randomly placed collections of their memorable songs you rarely hear enough of when theyโre gigging, Man Made of Glass is more rounded, it has an overall concept. Like a classic rock album, the tracksโ narratives combine and flow wonderfully. Itโs not a โconcept album,โ per say, but in the same classic fashion, and thatโs a welcomed rare find these days of media overload and the average attention span of a goldfish!
Man Made of Glass is more suited to a vinyl, CD or cassette format, of a time when album composition contained an all-inclusive message, and you sat in the dark listening to it. Just like those albums of yore it feels like something to cherish, a testament to a bleeding heart of sentiment you identify with and get emotionally involved with, rather than simply hearing it while you wash the dishes. But hey, streaming is the mainstay these days, and thatโs where youโll find this treasure buried.
Melksham & Devizes Conservatives released a statement on the 7th April explaining an internal audit revealed one of their candidates was โnot qualified by residenceโฆ
Last month we were pleased to announce our involvement with the new Wiltshire Music Awards in conjunction with Wiltshire Events UK, details of which areโฆ
And there was me thinking nothing good comes out of a Monday! Today local bistro Soupchick, popular in the Devizesโ Shambles opened their second branch,โฆ
Normally Iโd be raving about just how good the live music was at The Southgate on Sundayย afternoon. ย And it was indeed brilliant, featuring the amazingly talented bluesman Eddie Martin, withย his band The 58s (the year he was born apparently). ย The band consisted of Tom Gilkes on drums,ย Jerry Soffe on bass, and the wonderful Patsy Gamble on saxophones. ย And normally Iโd write a longย incoherent full review of that gig on its own, but thereโs just too much other stuff to tell you about!
The previous day was the first Devizes International Blues Festival. ย And hereโs the low-down.
Nobody could ever say that Long Street Blues Club and its wily leader Ian Hopkins (currently alsoย Lord Mayor of this parish) doesnโt keep on trying to push the boundaries of live music in D-Town, andย to present some really top-notch entertainment. Not content with a full programme of events at theย mothership venue of The Conservative Club (see below), there was still ambition enough to doย something even bigger in terms of both entertainment and venue.
So, in the interests of blowing out the post-Crimbo and New Year cobwebs, I felt it was only fair to reward such bravado with my own presence on Saturday afternoon and evening (yes it was an all-dayer, not just the normal simple gig format of band + support). This was altogether more than that with no less than five, yes five, headliners playing their way through the six hours or so of the two main sessions.
This is (as far as anyone knows) the first indoor Blues Festival Devizes has ever staged (if you donโtย count the blues events at the club itself this time last year). Being January, it was cold, damp, and wetย outside, so I think everyone was pretty glad to be on the inside! This was definitely not the same as,ย say, Saddleback of a couple of years ago sitting outside at Devizes Rugby Club in the middle ofย summer! ย
The team had attempted to create an intimate blues club in the Ceres Hall, using tables and seating,ย but with some room for dancing at the front near the stage. ย It was always going to be a big ask withย the high ceilings and the big windows and aircon units much in evidence, but they did a pretty goodย job, by closing the curtains and excellent use of both main hall and stage lighting. And the rewardย was a virtually-full room of music-hungry people.
First up the afternoon double-header was harmonica player extraordinaire Giles Robson. Although based in Jersey, and the only UK resident amongst this star-studded otherwise Chicago cast, Giles was entirely at home, having in the past played with all the American greats, and having toured with his own band all over Europe. I think I last caught him a year ago at the Blues Club playing support to another of todayโs line-up John Primer. Giles, accompanied by only an acoustic guitarist, served up a portion of (somewhat unusual on the UK scene) acoustic blues. His wailing, crooning, imploring style of playing, together with his laconic inter-song chat style, soon had the audience hushed and listening intently. His last offering, which Iโm sure had to be a parody on a whole raft of suggestive blues songs, involved milk in the ice-cream mixer. Donโt ask. Seriously, donโt ask.
After a suitable pause for stage changes and (ahem) refreshments at the bar, it was the turn of Oscarย Wilson. Here was the real deal (in my book at least). ย Although not great in physical stature, andย leaning heavily on his customised stick, this guy had a commanding presence and provided some bigย sounds, with deep gravel vocals right from the outset. ย Growing up in Chicago, his major influencesย were Muddy Waters and Howlinโ Wolf, and there was plenty of that on show right here. ย Workingย with a โhouse bandโ that he didnโt know, Oscar soon built a rapport with his musicians, commandingย every move with subtle moves of the hand, a flick or a bounce of the stick, or a wry smile to the side.
They were winging it a bit but (honestly) you could hardly see the joins. His set was a real switch from what weโd just heard from Gilesโ solo set. It was instantly deeper, faster, and with much more intent. There was more variation, changes in tempo and altogether much more heft. Even with Giles himself joining the band and providing the frills and the infills, the full band sound was much more to my taste. Weโd definitely moved up a notch, and the crowd were loving it.
At this point there was a break in proceedings for a couple of hours, and we were tipped out into the D-Town afternoon to find what other pleasures we could discover. I guess the gap had a sound logistical reason behind it, but it felt strange to kind of lose all of the atmosphere that had started to build up. Maybe it was sound checks, but the โhouse bandโ was still the same guys upporting the evening performers. So Iโm not sure about that one.
Anyhow, after the break and the crowd had reassembled itself once more, the next four and a halfย hours gave us three cracking performers of the Chicago blues.
First up was Nora Jean Wallace, a Chicago blues singer with Deep Delta roots. ย A striking figure of aย woman, sporting a fine silver wig, Nora Jean delivered a set that was far funkier than what had goneย before, almost leaning towards Motown at times. ย Clearly unwell with a stinking head-cold, sheย declared โbut ahโm gonna give it ma bestโ, she absolutely delivered on that promise. ย The singingย was strong and high-powered. ย Only between songs could you see that she was struggling a little, andย you had to feel a little sorry for her. ย Her detailed control of the now-regular โhouse bandโ wasย slightly less tight than Oscarโs had been, but with Giles once again on stage with the harmonicaย support, the overall sound was terrific.
Toronzo ย Cannon came up next, sporting a nice line in hats, and a guitar that he used withย devastating effect. ย His song lyrics (and indeed the inter-song patter that introduced them) was wittyย and truth-telling. ย His topics included sex, divorce, insurance, his various health issues (again, pleaseย donโt ask), his mid-life crisis (pubes turning grey anyone?) and so on. ย These were all original songs,ย and topics not normally covered by the mainstream blues, but massively entertaining nevertheless. ย But it was his blistering and inventive guitar work that impressed more than his impassioned vocals. ย Like all the artists who preceded him on the bill, he worked hard at engaging the audience, crackingย jokes and engaging in plenty of call-and-response numbers. ย Giles did not join the band on this oneย occasion, and Toronzoโs sound was all the better for it. ย I love blues harmonica, but weโd had quite aย lot of it already by this stage in proceedings.
Almost finally, it was the turn of John Primer, another one of the kings of Chicago blues. Originally aย guitarist in Muddy Watersโ band for many years, he also played with another Chicago legend, Willieย Dixon. Here was another of these great performers, having also played in Long Street club about aย year ago, which was where Iโd last seen him. ย Compared to Toronzo, John seemed more focused andย down to it, a little more serious, with less chat and humour. ย And still the โhouse bandโ were thereย with him, together with Giles Robson once more. ย There was more of a feeling of just cracking onย with the show now, but never in any kind of hurry. ย โAhโm jusโ takinโ ma timeโ, he declared at oneย point, which was absolutely how it felt. ย He also described himself as โan old man, but with youngย ideasโ and then cracked the broadest smile of the evening. ย He delivered (to my ears at least) superbย versions of โGot My Mojo Workingโ and โRainy Night In Georgiaโ. ย What a great performer.
But there was one final thing still to enjoy when the whole ensemble hauled themselves back onย stage for a final encore, sharing vocals and guitar licks. ย And finally also โ huge applause for theย โhouse bandโ whoโd managed to play backing band to four different headliners, staying on stage forย over four hours. ย Unfortunately, I couldnโt catch all their names, but a definite hats off to those guys. ย
Overall, it was a great day out, packed with some great performances and musical gems. ย My favourite? โย Oscar Wilson was the guy who really nailed it for me, but these things are often a matter of personal taste. All five headliners gave great performances, and difficult to fault any of them. So, well done,ย once again, to Ian and his team for putting on such a great event in our town. Brilliant.
Future gigs at Long Street Blues Club:
Saturday 1st Feb โ the John Martyn project
Friday 21st Feb โ Brave Rival (at the Corn Exchange as part of the Lord Mayorโs Dinner)
Friday 14th March โ Jimmy Regal & The Royals
Friday 4th April โ Tommy Castro & The Painkillers
Saturday 12th April โ Billy Walton Band
Saturday 3rd May โ Alastair Greene
Saturday 17th May โ Fullhouse, with special guest Innes Sibun
Developed in Devizes, blossoming in Bristol, as well as a snazzy new website, indie-punk phenomenon Nothing Rhymes with Orange released their next single, and itโs stepping up their spines … apparently!
A narrative of pending infatuation in the hope the feeling is mutual, Stepping Up My Spine is instantly lovable, projecting a more lenient and ubiquitous indie-pop sound than the bandโs raw punkier past; a direction they seem to have been progressing towards with each new release.
Image: Gail Foster
I cite many local bands like Talk in Code and Atari Pilot, reflecting a national indie trend to return us to an eighties pop-rock vibe, and this follows suit, but only slightly. It retains the โreal instrumentsโ rock ethos theyโve sworn to uphold, thereโs no electronica influence, thus maintaining the edge we know them for. Letโs call it a natural progression rather than a desire to follow a trend, not forgoing itโs still stylised to their sound and is bound to appease their maturing fans.
If weโve keenly watched Nothing Rhymes With Orange and their devoted fanbase evolve and proliferate, this new single reflects and preserves that continuation. And long may it be so!
Keep up the good work, guys! You catch NRWO at SwinterFest next Saturday, at the Castle.ย
Yet to witness it myself but heard on the grapevine, the blossoming liveliest place to be in Pewsey at the moment, is, apparently the Royal Oak. Wiltshire Music Events, who brought us CrownFest in Bishops Cannings and sold out Devizes Corn Exchange with The Marley Experience, has been at the forefront of furnishing the pub with gigs from the growing wealth of talent on their books. Tempted to drop by and check it out asap, but if all else fails, Saturday July 5th sees them holding a debut mini-festival, which is double-underlined on my personal calendarโฆโฆ
The Oak Festival is an all dayer boasting seven bands, food and outside bar, but itโs the lineup which will really wow. Three, no, thirty yeses from me, to The Marley Experience headlining, being smitten with Bob Marley & The Wailers since day dot and after much deliberation, these guys recreate their music and vibe with such unprecedented precision itโs unmissable.
Thereโs also a lively Irish folk element to the festival with The Tipsy Gypsies, and Pouges tribute, The Phogues, both Iโve yet to tick off my must-see list, but they also dive into indie with the blues edge of The Leon Daye Band, and our favourite-most indie-pop masters Talk in Code, who need no introduction here neither further praise; forget sliced bread, theyโre the most electrifying exciting local act we have.
Thereโs two acoustic singer-songwriters too, Lucas Hardy who Iโve heard only good things about, and Salisburyโs Rosie Jay, who with her poignant writing and exquisitely unique delivery overnight clocked into our all-time hall of fame here at Devizine!
Later the price goes up but only slightly, to ยฃ32.50, which, once youโve seen The Marley Experience, youโll realise the ticket stub was worth it just to see them alone, and why Iโm all excited about this one!
It could be the best thing to happen in pea island since carnival, since the coronation of Alfred the Great; trust me on this one!!
Seems odd the perfect combination between Devizesโ only theatre, The Wharf, and one of the longest-running performance group, White Horse Opera hasnโt linked before, but they are set to do so in March with a performance of Jacques Offenbachโs Opรฉra bouffe, La Belle Hรฉlรจneโฆ..
Okay, this is not exactly true. Barbara Gompels of the White Horse Opera told us many years ago there was a one night show at the Wharf with the operaโs touring show, but this will be the first main opera held at our wonderful theatre here in Devizes, so Iโm not totally fibbing!
La Belle Hรฉlรจne is a comic opera in three acts parodying the story of Helen of Troy’s elopement with Paris, which evoked the Trojan War. The premiere at Parisโs Thรฉรขtre des Variรฉtรฉs in 1864 rekindled Offenbachโs operas with his audience, after six years attempting to emulate his success with the risquรฉ satire of Greek mythology, Orphรฉe aux Enfers.
Having been promised the most beautiful woman in the world by Venus, Paris arrives disguised as a shepherd boy with the aim of cashing in that promise. Helene, currently married to Menelaus, wards off his advances. However, when Paris comes to her while she is sleeping she believes it all to be in her dreams so it must therefore “be all fine.”
Do come and see the fireworks that ensue when Menelaus comes home early and discovers the lovers!
Fully staged and sung in English with an orchestra, tickets are now available, and the show runs from Tuesday 11th until Saturday 15th March.
Stuffed my dinner, scanned the brief, headlonged out the door, forgot about the road diversion into the Market Place, made a u-turn, arrived at Wiltshireโฆ
It was a fantastically successful opening night for Devizes Musical Theatre at Dauntseyโs School for their latest show, Disneyโs Beauty and the Beast, and Iโฆ
Renowned Devizes auctioneers and valuers, Henry Aldridge and Son announced today they are relocating their auction rooms to The Old Emporium, a Grade II listedโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Ann Ellison. What can possibly be better than watching a performance of โBlood Brothersโ by Willy Russell? Watching TWO performances ofโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Josie Mae Ross and Richard Fletcher John Hodge is well known for his screenwriting of โShallow Graveโ, โThe Beachโ, โA Lifeโฆ
A sunny July in 2018 and Iโm in Hillworth Park for a Fantasy Radio live session, finally witnessing a Devizes based band Iโd been adding the gigs of onto our calendar. With an especial distinctiveness People Like Us complimented Coldplay, nailed as Oasis, and breezed through Crowded House, but it was when they covered Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, and gifted us with their timeless rendition of Mr Blue Sky, sparks flew. It is sad to see them announce today that โPeople Like Usโ is now in past tense. โPeople Liked Usโ, because they sure didโฆ.
More appropriately, โPeople Loved Us,โ twas to have observed a typical night in the Three Crowns in Devizes, where, if ecstatic frenzies of table top dancing amidst a crammed beer garden became something of a clichรฉ (which had to be culled for health and safety regulations,) I do declare the originators who evoked such wild party vibes with such an accomplished and respected homegrown sound, was People Like Us; I might be wrong on this, but if so, well, thereโs a first for everything!
Okay, I mayโve compared the then four-piece visually to Scooby-Dooโs gang, at the time, then worried afterwards they might take offense to it as they didnโt tend to wear bell-bottoms and cravats, but it was the first time Iโd seen a band use a cajon drum, and the effect came across with a decidedly Californian sixties pop panache, though with contemporary cover choices. Yet it will go down in the history of the local music circuit, that People Like Us bucked any deliberations folk may have against cover bands by stamping their unique take on classic pop songs, and thrilled every audience.
Only a couple of years after they formed, they seemed to crop everywhere, from pub gig to fete, and wherever they did they brought the party with them, compulsively. All vocalising harmoniously, People Like Us was made up of prolific keyboardist Nicky Davis, Claire Gilchrist on kick drums, who would depart from the band a year later, Andy โPipโ Phillips on cajรณn and guitarist Dean Ellicock. Since leaving the band Claire embarked on a solo career, performed with six-piece function band LiveWired, and has created local music promotional Facebook page Bird is the Word. The remaining three, Nicky, Dean and Pip carried on People Like Us, clocking up nine years of service to the local music scene.
But in a shock Facebook announcement today, they said โweโve decided itโs time to bring People Like Us to a close. Weโve had an incredible time over the last nine years and want to thank each and every one of you who came to a gig, booked us for an event, danced and sang for us and genuinely reminded us how lucky we were to be able to entertain you. Itโs been a pretty awesome run for a project that was just meant to be a bit of fun here and there!โ
While it certainly has, the group gave the cloud a silver lining, reminding fans Pip is still part of Finley Truslerโs The Unpredictables, and Nicky continues the even longer running band, The Reason, and theyโll no doubt join again for the annual The Female of the Species fundraiser.
If this is buttering up a sad situation, itโs a good and acceptable one, still, we will miss you all as People Like Us, wish you all the best for your existing and future projects, and declare your honourable and thoroughly deserved place in our local music hall of fame, with a big gold framed portrait…..if, erm, I was a portrait artist, which I’m not, and if I attempted it you’d really look like Scooby’s gang then, so maybe it’s best I don’t. I’ll just quote Abba instead, (which is not as rare a thing as you might imagine it to be) and say, “thank you for the music!”
Riot predictor Nick Hodgson formerly of the Kaiser Chiefs has a new band, the charmingly named Everyone Says Hi, and theyโre playing an instore at Marlboroughโs Sound Knowledge, on Sunday 2nd Februaryโฆ.
Everyone Says Hi will play a number of live dates across the UK to celebrate the release of their upcoming self-titled debut album, set for release on 31st January 2025 via Chrysalis Records. The latest single from the record, Lucky Stars, is out now.ย
The band will embark on a run of UK in-store dates, in cities like London, Lancaster, Hull, Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds and Liverpool. The fact Marlborough appears on this and many other major industry playerโs giglists is a testament to the reputation and hard work of Sound Knowledge.
Prior to this, they will perform two newly announced headline shows in support of Independent Venue Week. Frontman Nick Hodgson said of the importance of indie venues, โweโve just finished a tour of small independent venues in the UK and it really brought into focus for me how precious they are. There are people all over the country working so hard to bring live music to their area and when people turn up and love the gig it really feels like the beginning of something.โ
โItโs a cliche to say that without the small venues there would be no arena bands and festival headliners but itโs definitely my experience with Kaiser Chiefs and Iโm sure for the other guys in the band that independent venues arenโt just a cute little step along the path, they are the path.โ
Nick has long been a songwriter in high demand. Since leaving his teenage band back in 2012, he has co-written for the likes of Dua Lipa, You Me At Six, Duran Duran, George Ezra, and Holly Humberstone, and collaborated on tracks alongside Mark Ronson, Kygo, and Shirley Bassey. Having racked up over 5 million cumulative album sales globally, Nick now focuses on a new challenge. You wouldnโt bet against him.
Itโs a floaty album of universal indie; instant like from me! Everyone Says Hi sees Nick adopt the role of lead singer-guitarist, and brings together musicians Pete Denton on bass, Glenn Moule on drums, keyboard player Ben Gordon (ex-members of The Kooks, The Howling Bells, and Liverpoolโs The Dead 60s respectively), alongside Leeds based guitarist Tom Dawson. The bandโs name is lifted from a David Bowie song of the same title. What you hear across its ten tracks is high-calibre, beautifully sculpted songcraft performed by high-calibre, experienced players. Not so much showing โpromiseโ here, but instantly delivering bonafide โbig songsโ that belie the bandโs status as relative newcomers. The record was produced by Nick at Londonโs Snap Studios and at his home studio. Pre-order the albumย here.
Everyone Says Hi is the fruit of a multi-platinum musician deciding to draw a line and start afresh. Back to the same bedroom floor where the first tentative notes were played, holding the same guitar that was played way back when, back to forming a band with trusted friends, and back to booking the sticky basement stages where teeth were first cut. But whilst you can metaphorically wipe the slate clean on most things, you cannot unlearn what you already know. If emotionally driven, arena-ready songs come almost second-nature, youโd be foolish to ignore the gift youโve been given.
Sound Knowledge said, โwe’re delighted to say that Everyone Says Hi will be joining us for one of our first in-stores of 2025. They’ll be playing a stripped back set in the shop itself from 3pm on Sunday 2nd February. Stick a note in with your pre-order to guarantee your place.โWhich you can do HERE.
One of Swindon’s premier grunge pop-punkers, The Belladonna Treatment released their debut single, Bits of Elation, with London-based SODEH Records earlier this month. I spokeโฆ
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, thisโฆ
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. Theโฆ
Can You Find The Wiltshire Potholes From The Moon Craters?! Now, at Devizine Towers we are far too mature and sensible to mock Wiltshire Councilโsโฆ
Review by Pip Aldridge Last week, I had the privilege of seeing the Fulltone Orchestra perform at the beautiful Tewkesbury Abbey beneath the Peace Dovesโฆ
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Bob Marley sang โjamminโ โtil the jam is through,โ Jimmy Cricketโs catchphrase was โcomeโere, thereโs more,โ but it looks like The Southgate in Devizes is combining the two. Jamsters is landlord Daveโs new initiative to provide a Friday night platform for loose groupings and associations created at their regular jam sessions each Wednesdayโฆ.
The inaugural occurrence of this happened in November, with JP Oldfield, Gordon Thompson and Sammi Evans, this Friday, 10th Jan, sees the turns of Ben Borril, Chrissy โSteenโ Chapman of Burn the Midnight Oil, Adam Spanswick and George (not the pub dog!) and they kick off at 8pm. We understand this is to become a monthly occasion,and are happy to hear of it!
Wednesdays jam sessions have been in operation for some years now at the Gate, and have become something of a regular convention for local musicians to gather and network. Perhaps more so even than open mic nights, these jam sessions not only provide entertainment, practice, and the chance of making friends and connections, but are also an opportunity for our local musicians to experiment and see who works well together. During its time weโve seen collaborations and bands formatted from it, such as Pat Ward and Ben Borrillโs Matchbox Mutiny and Tom Harrisโ No Alarms And No Devizes.
Now, with a monthly instalment of this Friday night extension of the jam sessions, we hope to see more groupings form and flourish from it. Through all the current hardships of the hospitality industry, The Southgate continue to buck the trend through their dedication to making the pub a friendly, affordable, and welcoming place and, supporting, not the recognisable big names rather upcoming local musicians; the like whoโll mingle with the punters and be glad you came. Thatโs itโs community feel and thatโs itโs grand appealโฆ I hope to see you down there soon, mineโs a pint of Rosieโs Pig, cheers!!
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 mightโฆ
The second single from Georgeโs sessions with Jolyon Dixon is out today, Isnโt She Lonely. With the vaudeville ambience of Queenโs later material and sprinklesโฆ
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 andโฆ
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,โฆ
All other image usage here was credited on the original articles, to locate sources again would take a long time, so please accept my apologises. If you see an image you own and wish to be credited for it, please ask. Thank you.
Okay so, three days into 2025 and my chicken kiev parped at me. Is this an augury?! A prediction of how this year is going to play out?! Even my dinners will be farting in my general direction? Que sera sera, weโre not looking forwards, weโre looking backwards, at how 2024 passed here at Devizine Towersโฆ..
Start with stats, โcos after 2023โs doubling on hits from 2022, we failed to make a similar hike, achieving about 9% less hits than 2023. Iโm not going to lose sleep over it, it was a great year, but figure thereโs a few reasons for this drop. Firstly, despite a shock general election, Iโve tried to avoid controversy and local political satirical slants as much as possible. Unfortunately itโs often me playing the grumpy old toad which gains attention, but I really wanted to focus more on arts and entertainment news, as thatโs our ethos, the spoof and opinion articles are just me, abusing the platform to magisterially backseat drive.
Result, though; we rid ourselves of Tory tyrants, in parliament at least, thereโs still work to be done to obliterate the impact and ingrained cluelessness of elitist robbery of the working class and have a fairer system for all. Whatโs my opinion of Starmer so far? Not impressive, thatโs for sure, but by comparison with the circus of thieves which was the last government I think weโre in a better place overall. Iโm certainly not going to jump the bandwagon in disparaging him, knowing the alternative is this growing trend for fascism. Though itโs not the shouty sort of fascism of the Third Reich, itโs more ignorance is bliss, pie n chips, pint in hand C3PO gammon nescience. But, enough said about that!
Other reasons for the slight drop in hits could be due to the rising cost, my own fatigue and motivation to head out; I do worry what will become of Devizine with my aging and possible inability to get to gigs and events. A massive thank you must go to our contributors, then. Though submissions can be sporadic, we always need budding writers, especially younger ones to keep what weโve built here, and report on happenings, because left up to local press weโd be doomed; they seem to favour national clickbait headlines over supporting local arts and entertainment, but likely they deem it is their only way to keep their heads above financial waters. I can’t blame them, but I can have a sly quip or two about it!
It is the accolades we receive from those talented locals which we promote and highlight which keeps me going with Devizine, and I thank them for motivating me. That is therefore where the concentration should be now, not on politics.
Another is top secret, but if youโve been contemplating that Devizine simply isnโt funny anymore, Iโll reveal my best jokes are being saved for a book Iโm near to finishing. I think youโll like it, itโs absolute filth! And lastly, currently Iโm so utterly fed up with social media. Itโs all so bloody serious, nothing is taken with a pinch of salt, nothing is carefree or amusing. And if I do publish something on there for fun, the jokes fly over someoneโs head, they take it the wrong way, get offended and execute a witch hunt against me. Itโs all so petty and obnoxious, akin to road rage, rather than the creative outlet of its potential, and likely, original intention.
If itโs not bombarding me with targeted adverts as a constant reminder Iโm getting old, like care homes and life insurance, it’s flooded with utter crap, often using AI to illustrate misinformation and promote the rightwing bias of the owners, attempting to sway the masses; and it works too, thatโs why they do it.
As a result Iโve massively reduced my screen time for such wet fart dribbles. Iโll share our articles on our social media platforms, but rarely feel inclined to interact with the gusto I once did. It is a shame, and it means you need to bookmark our wonderful website and check into it generically rather than wait for your social media platform to prompt you. Otherwise, fuck it, Iโm doing this for bugger all reason, nearly as less than a few pennies it might yet generate. A fundraiser event may be a necessity now, at least an excuse for a much-needed party to lift my spirits! It is January though, a depressing little bugger, our annual review usually turns into whinge!
January
January Iโm usually in hibernation, many are, so previews of events to come are more common as I hide in my hubby hole. Last year we ran ones on The Magic Teapot Gathering, the first line up announcements for My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, NโFaly Kouyatรฉ of the Afro-Celt Sound System coming to Wiltshire Music Centre, and of course, the Bradford Roots Festival of which dragged me out of my cosy pit for! Two previews for new initiatives in Devizes worthy of previewing in January too were Palooza, a house night to happen in March, and Devizes Youth Action Groupโs U18 gigs, both at The Exchange.
We announced a Lego Club starting at Devizes Library, and looked at courses in the art of chocolate at HollyChocs. I reviewed The Importance of Being Earnest at the Wharf Theatre. Andy ventured out to Long Street Blues Club, but for me, it seems the year begins with The Bradford Roots Festival, blooming lovely that occasion is, then I go back into winter hiding again!
Bookworm time, and Jan saw a review of Sorrel Pittsโ novel Broken Shadows; undoubtedly the best read weโve ever reported on. And of course, recorded music reviews came thick and fast during those winter months. Albums from Billy Green 3, Richard Wileman and Daisy Chapman. Singles from Sienna Wileman, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, and Ushti Baba.
In the news, politics was brewing for a general election, we talked to the Melksham-Devizes Primary on where best to place our vote. We also reported on the sewage in the Kennet, and the MP who voted to strip legal duty on water companies to reduce harm caused by storm overflows. Yet regardless of all of this, the highest hitting article of the month by far was about a lost dildo found by dog walkers in Quakers Walk; you canโt make up a golden scoop like that!!
February
Still wintery, we looked into SoupChickโs new art gallery in Shambles, Valentina, celebrated thirty years of the Devizes Writers Group, the Kidical Mass bike ride calling for safer streets in Devizes, the Worton & Marston Brownies needing volunteers, and the Swindon Palestine Solidarity charity dinner. But my personal favourite was Darren and The Chocolate Factory, when I joined a family workshop at HollyChocs!
Other memorable events of Feb cannot be topped after Gaz Brookfieldโs Village Hall Tour arrived in West Lavington. Though I also recall with fondness the Errol Linton Band at Long Street Blues Club, The Worried Men at the Pump, and Deadlight Dance at The Southgate. Ian gave us a review of Vince Bell at the Southgate, and Carrie at The Rondo Theatre. And we welcomed a new writer, Florence Lee who reported on Devizes Youth Action Groupโs First Club Night.
Music in review came from Cracked Machine, The Lost Trades, The Jon Amor Trio, Jol Rose, and Talk in Code. We previewed The Beat at The Cheese and Grain, the Jesus Jones tour, Devizes Pride, Gaz Brookfield, Mantonfest 2024, The Scribes at The Pump, and that The Marley Experience was coming to Devizes.
March
Politically we had a clue to the change in the tide, with a historic Lib Dem win in Marlborough Town Council, shame the trend didnโt carry onto the GE there. We reported on a Palestinian Children Memorial in Swindon, and a Palestine protest at Labour Party fundraiser. We had a recap on the good work Devizes Clean Up Squad do, and opinionated on Wiltshire Councilโs threats of prosecution against Wiltshire Music Eventsโ posters in Devizes.
I think the hero of the month goes to our bravest 7-year-old, Chloe, who slept out for Devizes OpenDoors. Though Chloeโs feat might yet have been slightly upstaged by our Brian, who discovered Led Zeppelinโs mystery thatcher, became a national hero to prog rock fans, and was the subject of a Wiltshire Museum exhibit.
We previewed FearFreeโs fashion show at the Condado Lounge, Devizes Musical Theatreโs Sister Act at Dauntseys, our Shelly on the wheels of steel at the Muck & Dunder, and Devizes Arts Festival. Andy went to Cinelli Brothers at Long Street Blues Club, Ian gave a review of โRENTโ at The Rondo Theatre. I had two unforgettable nights out, when Ian Siegal joined the Jon Amor Trio at the Southgate, and the first Palooza got me dancing my socks off for my birthday at The Exchange.
An album from Deadlight Dance and singles from M3G, Atari Pilot, and Life in Mono got covered, and we rediscovered our Chrissy from as yet unformed band Burn The Midnight Oil, providing vocals for drum n bass tracks. Oh yeah, I had a rant at those ranting about the Glastonbury line-up too!
April
April fools, of course, when we headlined โDevizes Road Resurfacing Plan Abolished Due to Dinosaur Fossil in Pothole!โ The rest, though, was sadly true. Wiltshire Police Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson lied through his teeth, Amnesty in Salisbury responded to the Rwanda Bill, and Michelle Donelanโs fake magazine campaign leaflet was promoted by drink driving fox hunter Jonathan Seed. Meanwhile, Wiltshire Council continued to gloat about prosecuting fly posters, attacking Adrenaline Stompers in Westbury this time, whilst The Marley Experience concert in Devizes was attacked by some nasty Facebook posts, falsely claiming it was cancelled.
But away from nastiness, Chloe raised ยฃ600 for Devizes OpenDoors and we previewed Devizes Lionsโ sponsored walk for the homeless charity too. The Peppermill started an open mic. We also previewed Simply The Best; Tina Turner Tribute at the Corn Exchange, The Female of the Species fundraising this time for Rainbow Early Years in Trowbridge, two teenage punks bands appearing at the Pump, Steatopygous & SHOX, a Bradford Roots session special with Bill in the Lowground, Daisy Chapman & Thieves, the Patsy Gamble Jazz Trio in Bromham, White Horse Operaโs Pucciniโs โLa Bohemeโ at Lavington School,
Six:Teen Edition, Devizes Music Academyโs first show, Paloozaโs second night at The Exchange, and Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival, which I attended and loved!
Reviews also from James and the Cold Gun, Lucky Number Seven, Nobodyโs Dad, The Real Cheesemakers at The Pump. Jinder and Mark Harrison at the Queens Head in Box. Barrelhouse at The Southgate. Roughcut Rebels and The Clones at the Three Crowns. Shox & Steatopygous supporting Menthol Lungs at The Pump. The Lost Trades at The Piggy Bank. Six:Teen Edition. โSkylightโ at the Rondo Theatre. โThe Thrill of Loveโ and โAnd Then There Were Noneโ at the Wharf Theatre, and The Marley Experience came to Devizes and everyone loved it regardless of the grandstanding whingers!
May
A month of ups and downs, we previewed Professor Elemental, Madam Misfit and the Real Cheesemakers at The Barge on Honeystreet, Frome Festival, White Horse Operaโs Mathieson Trust fundraiser with Anup Biswas and The Brand New Heavies at the Cheese and Grain. We reviewed music from LilyPetals, Courting Ghosts, Nothing Rhymes With Orange and Poppy Rose.
We talked about Affordable school costs for all, Swindon families uniting in memory of innocent children killed in conflict, and while Vicar Gerry Lynch faced a soaking at Pottenre fete, St James Devizes Vicar Keith Brindle was honoured as a Canon of Salisbury Cathedral! But sad news was to hear Devizes International Street Festival was cancelled, and funding was needed to keep Confetti Battle going ahead. And Tonka Bean was closing too.
Events picked up though, Ben hailed the Beaux Gris Gris gig the best Devizes has ever seen. Meanwhile I was with Illingworth and catching up with George Wilding at the Crown in Bishops Cannings. Andy attended Peter Knightโs Gigspanner at Pound Arts Centre. Ian covered โThe Incident Roomโ at the Rondo Theatre, โSister Actโ at St. Augustineโs, and โThe Thrill of Loveโ at The Wharf Theatre. There was a homecoming gig for Nothing Rhymes With Orange at the Three Crowns, and another one of those nights when I went on a round robin tour of live music in Devizes, at Long Street, The Southgate and Three Crowns. The only time for a spoof article that month was for one headlined โLabour Party Could Change Star Wars Day to โSci-Fiโ Day so to Not Offend Trekkies!โ
June
June is about going out! Ben gave us reviews of Jim Blair and the Mojo Makers at The Beehive, Swindon, and Robert Vincent & Ryan Davis PAs at Marlboroughโs Sound Knowledge. I caught I See Orange at The Pump with Devizes-own Steatopygous.
Ian checked out โThe Collaboratorsโ at the Rondo Theatre, and โWhereโs The Cat? Live!โ at the Wharf Theatre, and then there was Devizes Arts Festival which we all covered as extensively as possible.
A Junco Shakers at The British Lion, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, The Sound Of Blue Note, Duo Tutti, Martin Simpson, Belinda Kirk, Lucy Porter, Ida Pelliccioli, Adam Rutherford, Edward Cross Quintet, Dr. Phil Hammond, Jolly Roger and The Cable Street Collective all reviewed, mainly by Andy, but a few by myself and Ian too, even had one from the Wharfโs own John Winterton. What a great year for Devizes Arts Festival, my personal favourite? Easy, that was Lady Nade.
All this and I still found time to preview Devizes Scooter Rally, the return of Devizes Youth Action Group gig nights, and FullTone Festivalโs youth-supporting extra day. Review music from Talk in Code and Rosie Jay. But if anything kept me busiest, it was interviewing candidates for our MP post, Green Party candidate for Melksham-Devizes Catherine Read, Labour candidate Kerry Postlewhite and Lib Dem candidate Brian Matthew. It was an honour to meet them all, and I enjoyed chatting to them in New Society. Any one of them had the potential to do a more honest job, but there was something about Brian which made me think, hey, thatโs the guy for the job; the best thing about it, a majority agreed with me; crazy times!!
July
And so, it came to be. After fourteen tiresome years of Conservative lies and robbery, continuously leaning further into far right extremism, openly promoting hate and dividing the nation, they got thrown out of there, but didnโt take it on the chin! โMichelle Gonelan Makes History,โ was one article we published to make fun of the knicker-twisted attitude of those poor losers. Furious Tory supporters took to local Facebook groups, and we made fun of that too, with a headline deliberately in caps-lock, โWOK SNOWFLICKS GIT THERE KICKS ON DEVIZS ISSUES (BIT BETTER) THIS ELEKTION!โ And then, even our county council leader wept like a baby over the new government scrapping the Stonehenge Tunnel! Oh, such fun!!
We continued to focus on DOCAโs fundraising efforts, and took a recap visit to Devizes OpenDoors too. But July is festival season, and we were too knee-deep in sunny vibes to worry about the disgruntled minority upset with the election result.
Firstly, it was a shame Devizes Scooter Rally and the Full-Tone Festival had to be one same weekend, such that I attempted to do both but spent most of my time cruising from one to the other, great though they both were. And it was a time when our recommendations came to pass, as Meg was booked for a rather smashing MantonFest, and The Sarah C Ryan band played DOCAโs Picnic in the Park, in which I played compere, in a giraffe onesie! Happy days.
Ian went to My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, in Old Town Gardens, Swindon, and I popped over to check out Minety, and crowned it the best local festival Iโve been to. Other great nights out included Talk in Code & Laissez Faire at The Southgate, Ian reporting on The Rob Lear Band at The Piggy Bank, Calne, โFaithโ at the Rondo Theatre, and โMacbethโ at Cleeve House, Seend.
We also previewed the next season at the Wharf Theatre and announced there were only a few remaining tickets for Trowbridge Festival. Events, events, events, thatโs what summer is for, not worrying about politics, it all ends with the same poor results. I believe it doesnโt matter who is at number ten, and while itโs probably better to have the last lot gone, we will never recover this financial pothole until we ALL face up to the fact the cost of Brexit has ruined us, and until we accept it and freely discuss without prejudice and arguing, what we can best do to recover from it, instead of blaming the current government for problems rooted in politics long before they won, we will see those comforts the UK have become accustomed to drop from us one by one. The closure of venues, pubs, shops, event organisers, the hardship of creatives, the general disillusionment that a new government can fix it overnight, all paints a very gloomy picture. Therefore, as I said at the beginning, Iโm done with politics, and feel Devizine should focus on supporting the arts and entertainment as much as possible.
And thatโs the end of the first half of this 2024 review, weโll see a lack of political matters during the last six months of the year, and a new ethos of positivity in the face of such gloomโฆ..I hope!!
Once upon a time it seemed to me, that folk would grin and bear the winter weather for the sake of a Christmas lights switching on type of event, then batten down the hatches and hibernate like hedgehogs until spring. Nowadays you need not wait till summer for music festivals; winterfests are a thingโฆ..
For those who cannot wait for the blossoming, and need a big fix of music and arts right now, here’s some local winter festivals to unravel their scarves and remove their bobble hats:
Bradford Roots Festival
Firstly, a well established winter occasion, Bradford Roots Festival at the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon. This is happening as a Saturday only event this year, on the 18th January. Our Andy reported on this one some years ago, and I snatched coverage of it off him, realising the โRootsโ in its title refers more to hosting local acts of a variety of genres, not just a folk festival as it might be wrongly conceived as. It has become something of an unmissable winter local music convention, especially feeling like this being housed under the one roof of this purpose-built venue.
Wiltshire Music Centre are leaking names for the lineup individually on their Facebook page, the incredible Becky Lawrence being the first reveal. You can rest assured, though, based on past experience, this will be a whoโs-who of local acts, over five stages. WIth an open mic stage, late-night transatlantic folk sessions, a family-friendly daytime with Wassail and childrenโs arts and crafts, food & drink, a mini makerโs market, and more, this is a delightfully warming occasion. You can choose from an All Day ticket (11am โ 10.00pm) or an Evening Session ticket (7pm โ 10.00pm) ยฃ25 / ยฃ13.50 All Day, ยฃ12 / ยฃ7 Evening. U12 free with an adult.ย
Devizes International Blues Festival
Same date, different town, if Devizes has a penchant for the blues, luckily supports the Long Street Blues Club which hosts international blues artists, and the current Mayor Ian Hopkins is the organiser of the club, you can trust when it comes to the compulsory organisation ofย Mayorโs Appeal events itโs going to be a blast.ย ย ย ย
Saturday 18th January sees the first Devizes Blues Festival inside the Corn Exchange. It promises โto create an intimate blues club in the Ceres Hall around tables and seating is just limited to 250 guests.โ One of the greatest contemporary blues guitarists hailing from the south side of Chicago, Toronto Cannon, Nora Jean Wallace, a Chicago blues singer with deep Delta roots, John Primer, one of the kings of Chicago blues and original guitarist in Muddy Watersโ band, singer Oscar Wilson and harmonica genius Giles Robson, you can guarantee have been cherry-picked by the expertise of Long Street. Tickets on sale now. ยฃ50.00 in advance.
DOCA Festival of Winter Ales
If the Blues Festival is new to Devizes, of course the town has had a winter festival for a number of years, and surprise, surprise, itโs all about booze! The DOCA fundraising WInter of Festive Ales is on Saturday 15th February, early bird tickets are up for grabs and itโs vital to the future of DOCA to support this, if you can. There will be a massive selection of beers and ciders to try with some quality music and cabaret to entertain you, we just donโt know what they are yet!
Figgle Winter Festival
While I confess, thereโs still a lot of updating to our event calendar to be done to bring 2025 to full fruition, and no doubt details of more winter festivals will come to light. Events like Figgle Winter Fest on the 1st Feb at Figheldean Village Hall, with a great and varied lineup of All Floyd, Strange Folk, Break Cover, The P45s, Lump, The Zucchinis, and one of our favourite upcoming stars, Rosie Jay.
Swinterfest
But itโs over to Swindon where we really need to concentrate, for the Swindon Shuffle is saving one big Christmas cracker for the end of January! The Shuffle offers us a scaled down in quantity but not quality version of their annual fundraiser for Prospect Hospice, on the weekend starting Thursday 30th January. Swinterfest is now a thing, and it looks set to warm live music in Swindon. The Shuffle really is a blessing late summer, when you can wander Old Town and beyond and discover so much live music itโs impossible to take it all inโฆ and itโs free too, save for collection buckets for the hospice. It is therefore a safe bet Swinterfest will be off the scale awesome too!
Swinterfest is scaled down to one pub per day, saves wandering the nippy night air. Thursday at the Tuppenny with Courting Ghosts, Canutes Plastic Army, Will Lawton and George Wilding starts it off in style; we love all this with cherries on. Friday, the 31st Jan and itโs all down The Vic for a punkier gig with All Ears Avow, Modern Evils, Not Warriors, Adder and our personal pick of this bunch, I See Orange.
Saturday night at Swinterfest is down the Castle, with our picks Meg and Nothing Rhymes WIth Orange, and also new ones on us, Stay Lunar, Wild Isles, Oojah, The Vivas and more are promised too. Sunday is the Beehiveโs turn to play host, with our recommendations being Subject A, SN Dubstation, Concrete Prairie, and Fly Yeti Fly, and newcomers to us, Joe Kelly, Carnival Saloon and Sebastian and Me. Swinterfest may be a new venture, but, well, look at the fantastic lineup, the choicest one of all; it beats a brown snowball in the chops, in my humble opinion!ย
As I said, Iโm sure more winter festivals will come to our attention as time moves on, so keep an eye on our event calendar, but for now I think thatโs plenty to warm your cockles, and massively reduce those post Christmas winter blues.
Monsieur, with these Exchange Comedy night you are really spoiling us, for usually comedy in Devizes is just what we make ourselves; laughing at visitorsโฆ
A drone operated by Wiltshire Hunt Sabs was attacked by a second drone, twice, while surveying The Beaufort Hunt, after it recorded them illegally huntingโฆ
Without sounding like a stuck record, itโs the same unfortunate news for Devizes Street Festival as it was last year; Arts Council England has notโฆ
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 Marketโฆ
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 bogeymanโฆ
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 theโฆ
So yeah, not only has Cracked Machine and Clock Radio drummer Gary Martin added a letter A to his name to make it sound more extraterrestrial, heโs also fired a sonic blast back to planet Earth in the form of a whopper of a solo rock album! In Retrospect does what it says on the tin, taking inspiration from his most treasured rock bands of yore, and does it loud and proudlyโฆ..
Starter for ten, now Gary Martian, proves heโs a supernova of a multi-instrumentalist, taking the helm of every aspect from guitar to drum and the recording, mastering and distribution of this heavily-laced monster. If Cracked Machine are known for returning us to those heady days of space-rock, the intro to the opening track Lifeboats feels this is going the same direction, but in seconds weโre awash with slamming guitar and drum combos letting rip of a riff more akin to grunge. Whoa, it didnโt even wait for me to attach keychains to my flared cargo trozzers.
Yet while thereโs rising and falling influences from nineties grunge like Nirvana and Therapy? I also taste nods not only to pioneers of the Seattle sound like Alice in Chains, but a broader spectrum of alt-rock too, and even rooted at the few tender moments, with electric blues and the soundscapes of Floyd, such as the closing of a few tracks, one called Bang in particular. Thing is, this value for your dollar, twelve dynamite tracks perpetually exploding at an average full four minutes each, and an epilogue song, Red Handed running into the twenty-minute margin, sublimely. Time enough then to input a carrossel of nods to every influence which has inspired Gary over time.
And there are Syd Barrett moments of whimsical psychedelia, something about Your Coffee Table, thereโs metal grinding like Pearl Jam, breezy moments of The Smashing Pumpkins, such as Summer in the Autumn, and brief commercially viable moments like Jane’s Addiction. โItโs a big-olโ rock album,โ Gary told me, โinspired by the bands I love.โ
Iโm not in my comfort zone connoting such heavy rock and nailing its influences, I confess. I just say what I like, and like recent outfits coming out of Swindon, I See Orange and Liddington Hill, this is the kind of thing which causes me to regret my ignorance to harder rock subgenres, particularly during the ravey nineties. I guess it was all that slushy โsoft metalโ previously, for it was an impermanent trend which put me off track; still time for me to catch up, isnโt there?!
This album erodes the Muppetโs Animal stereotype of drummers just being drummers and bit bonkers, as Gary excels in mastering not only all the instruments required to stage an entire rock band, but also in the composition of them. In Retrospect was released across all streaming platforms and is downloadable from Bandcamp, at the beginning of the month, apologies for the delay, but this will rock your cosy Christmas foozies off!
There are only a few tickets left for this yearโs Devizes Festival of Winter Ales, an important fundraiser for DOCAโฆ.. This year DOCA has teamedโฆ
A sublime evening of electronic elegance was had at Bathโs humble Rondo Theatre last night, where Cephidโs album, Sparks in The Darkness, was played outโฆ
I caught up with an excited Jonathan Hunter, leader of Devizes Town Councilโs independent party The Guardians, and local loyal youth worker Steve Dewar toโฆ
Far from burning the midnight oil, itโs a weekday afternoon and Iโm with a cuppa, at a rehearsal for a blossoming Devizes-based trio, Burn the Midnight Oil. If youโve ever thought nothing great comes from open mics, this might be the thing to change your mindโฆ.
Itโs early days, forming in September, theyโve created a corporate identity, recorded a three-track demo theyโre planning to launch, are busy writing more songs, and sound as if theyโve been on the local circuit forever. I wanted to catch up with Burn the Midnight Oil to find out how theyโve come so far so quickly, dig a little deeper into their backgrounds and generally poke my nose into their business.
First clue, theyโve varying areas and degrees of experience in music, but have found common ground through their medical issues. Front girl Chrissy, aka Steen, spoke of her PMDD, GAD and ADHD, and coming to faith during Covid at Devizesโ St James. โThere was a day I was like, really, really sobbing my heart out, and praying,โ she expressed, claiming she heard the โbiggest, boomiest voice ever say โsing,โ and two weeks later I was having videocall with a huge hip hop artist who was part of Foreign Beggars, which were massive during the 90s and early noughties.โ Landing a deal working for a record label Chrissy liaised with drum and bass producers, who asked her to โjump in on the tracks,โ and she supplied vocals on tunes from artists like Beskar.
โIt feels a bit serendipitous,โ she said, โbecause I had no experience working as a social media manager, I had no business connecting with somebody who’s quite prestigious and I had no right to just jump on some tracks and with my first EP release going straight onto one of the biggest drum & bass labels in the UK.โ To which she compared the unforeseen development to meeting the band members, Andy โBig Birdโ Jacobs and bassist Chris Lane.
Chrissy explained Chris has Marfan syndrome, โI’ve known Chris for a while, but he’s very introverted,โ she elucidated, progressing onto finding a mutual neurodivergent connection and being a support system for each other. Chrissy formed a duo with a bassist called One Trick Pony, performed at a few open mics and organised charity fundraisers at the Southgate over the past two Christmases. When the bassist was unavailable due to other band commitments Chris stepped in, and they spawned the idea to reform the duo under a new name. Though not present at the beginning of our chat, Chris did turn up toward the end, either shy or forgetful as to just how many bands he’s currently engaged in!
Present and vocal throughout, lead guitarist Andy, told of a car accident which affected his nerves, and most of the dexterity in his fingers. Prior to this, Andy spoke of being a โvery successful professional guitarist in London,โ a session and theatrical guitar player, citing Shirley Bassey as an artist he had worked with.
โI could still play a bit,โ he explained, โbut my career was over, which was a bit of a downer.โ Playing his part in an amateur blues band, Andy went into social care management, โbut Covid triggered an illness in me called Barry Syndrome,โ he told me, โWhich completely paralysed me from my neck down overnight. I was in hospital for six months. My wife was told I probably wouldnโt last the night. On the two occasions I didn’t see her for six months because there was no access, I was told I’d never walk again.โ
Andy put his recovery down to the bicycle in the gym, and though he didnโt imagine he would play guitar again, he expressed, โit was all a bit tragic and horrible, but slowly I got a little bit back and I started picking the guitar up again. After about six months, I came out of hospital. I just started playing again, just acoustic, and I that’s when I went up to The Crown [open mic at The Crown, Bishops Cannings] and I played a couple of pieces there.โ Within those pieces, he asked Chrissy to sing them.
They trialled a drummer, โbut he wasn’t the right fit and he knew he wasn’t,โ Chrissy said. โSo he very graciously said I’m going to walk away from this because I’m not the right drummer for you, which is a really nice thing to say. But I think we’re percussive enough with how we play.โ Considering their medical tribulations they joked about getting the legendary one-armed drummer from Def Leppard. โYou know, like one arm, one leg, not as long as they’re opposite sides of one another, one each side, that would be silly!โ
Now, if music is therapeutic, I wanted to gage if that was their reasoning for the band, but burning the midnight oil isnโt best medically advised over a strong cup of coco and an early night! Chrissy explained the band name derived from her staying awake all night drafting the songwriting, rather than the notion they were rock, rolling, and burning the candle at both ends.
Chrissy passionately talked of being a survivor of domestic abuse. โIf you’re a woman with ADHD, you’re more likely to attract people with narcissistic tendencies,โ she explained, justifying her โhorrible cycleโ sheโs trying to break, โof quite abusive relationships,โ and how this is reflected in her songwriting. โThere’s a lot of resilience and hope that comes from the songs. I’m on a journey of healing. I think we’re all on a journey of healing, and Iโve always used the music as a form of therapy. If I can get my experiences onto paper, it’s like I’m not affected by it.โ
Andy agreed, spoke of his consistent neurological pain, โbut when I’m playing it just goes. I don’t think about it. I’m just so intense in the music. I mean, it’s just my passion.โ He began reminiscing of his instant attraction to guitar when, on his first day at secondary school, the music teacher putting a guitar in his hand, and that was his calling. โI wanted to be a professional guitar player, and nothing would stop me.โ
If this is all beginning to feel like Iโm in a support group here, the proof is the pudding, and the three tracks theyโve put down so far suggests otherwise. With harmonica and wavering strings opening, Lock Up has a rootsy blues feel, Chrissyโs vocals poignantlyย express the theme of the arrival of mysterious and dubious fellow, expertly, and the whole vibe is nonchalant and smooth.
Scapegoat ushers in a more upbeat bluegrass air, with a deadpan subject, and Werewolf posing similar tenet, yet tips back into blues, and probably contains the most beguiling hook. Throughout though, thereโs an intelligent balance between Americana and UK folk-rock, bags of potential, and the stylised promise of a blossoming band heading for something far greater.
In trying to think of a suitable female-fronted comparison, I changed to consider The Doors in the end, for the composition of three individuals with varying influences combining to create a timeless sound is how Iโd pitch them both. On songwriting Chrissy connoted a song she was working on called Devil You Know,โbecause statistically you’re more likely, as a woman, to be raped by somebody you know,โ she said. โIt’s not about being dragged into the bushes, and that’s been my experience I’m really trying to connect with, those darker sides of life experiences, because life’s hard, it’s not any an easy ride for anyone.โ Using a metaphor comparing a paper cut to a broken leg, Chrissy conveyed an expression she said she was fond of, that โpain is pain. I really want to connect with people of over-shared experiences like this, in the hopes that music could be healing.โ
It’s the most common conviction of dedicated singer-songwriters to want your audience to identify with your outpourings, otherwise your voice is just an instrument, and you are just a pop singer. Though within the masses of potential for Burn the Midnight Oil I hear scope for commercial viability, itโs through their personal reflections and devotion to support one another which I feel will strengthen their ability to convey the image they desire. After a successful first gig last weekend at The Kings Arms in Amesbury, arranged by Wiltshire Music Events, Burn the Midnight Oil are looking forward to a fundraiser at the Devizes Southgate on Sunday 22nd December. See the poster below, thereโs raffle prizes et al.
Chrissy has a solo set at the Lamb in Urchfont this afternoon (15th Dec) supporting Vince Bell, the most modest of Devizes acoustic legends, who Chrissy cited as assisting her in developing her songwriting talent. Promising things are afoot here, and youโll be chuffed with yourself to witness it blossoming, I believe.
โSeeing us as a brand and my understanding of working in the industry,โ Chrissy figured, โis like, actually the music isn’t the product, we’re the product and I really want to share that journey, make it personal for everybody.โ
With folk songs drafted about the origins of tiramisu, odes to Morticia and Gomez Addams, Steen justified her thought processes and random muses, the latter being an โepitome of a really healthy, loving relationship,โ in a tenacious yet optimistic manner to direct her developing subjects didnโt all focus on โthe bad things that happened to me.โ Though I find itโs the ability to use such as metaphoric examples and include them into a combination which will really make the hairs on the back of our necks stand up, and theyโve the greatest potential to do this.
ย I’m hoping one day I can write a happy song,โ she mused, โbut the style is, well, you know, you donโt choose the songs, the songs choose you.โ And so ensued a conversation about the differences between the melancholy of Dylan and wild romantic images Springsteen tended to paint, for thereโs always exceptions to the rule, they both broke their own style at times, but pictures, I think youโve got this one now; Burn the Midnight Oil is a name we will be hearing a lot of over next year.
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 onโฆ
If Iโm considering reviewing worldwide music again, why stop with this planet?! Though Iโve reasoned two tenacious links to mention this madcap Scottish interstellar outfit;โฆ
The team behind popular all-day music extravaganza, My Dadโs Bigger Than Your Dad Festival, can now reveal that nearly ยฃ11,500 was raised for Prospect Hospiceโฆ
By Ian DiddamsImages by Jeni Meade No aficionado of 1960s and 1970s horror films would have missed seeing โRosemaryโs Babyโ, a story of Satanic pregnancy,โฆ
In November last year I was mightily impressed with Bristol soul-reggae producer Kaya Street, and reviewed their EP The Soul Sessions, read it here forโฆ
Another Stunning Week-End For Live Music Andy Fawthrop Normally Iโd be raving about just how good the live music was at The Southgate on Sundayย afternoon.โฆ
Developed in Devizes, blossoming in Bristol, as well as a snazzy new website, indie-punk phenomenon Nothing Rhymes with Orange released their next single, and itโsโฆ
Salisbury acoustic singer-songwriter Rosie Jay released her debut EP today, taking its title from her first single from June this year, I Donโt Give a Damn. Thing being, I do, I give much more than a damn about Rosieโs musical outpourings, because this doesn’t sound like a debut EP from a nervous teenager warbling immature ruminations. This sounds like an accomplished artist who’s been with an agent, producer and mainstream record label for eons, and established a name for themselves by acquiring the skill to balance a hook and identifiable narrative, and compose them into a beautifully stylised soundโฆ.
Rosieโs been working with producer Joylon Dixon on these four tunes, and it shows. Likely a perfect match, for this is faultlessly fresh, like Kirsty MacColl in her prime; a comparison Iโve used before for Rosie, and though a high accolade, itโs fully deserved. For there is nothing to dislike here, the mood is breezy, the prose is thoughtful, both reaching out to her generation, while maintaining the classic template for acoustic folk rock for all to appreciate.
Beginning with her heartfelt breakup song, I Donโt Give a Damn, the opening has this easy to sing along to chorus, but defines the potent melancholic and ironic thought pattern of the victim of a relationship breakdown in its verses. Akin to Sinead O’Connorโs Nothing Compares 2U, and just as expressly delivered.
For Rosieโs voice is magnetism, flowing gracefully and earnestly, but the whole composition suits this, perhaps with no better example than the second tune, also the second single released, Sing Another Love Song. As it sounds this is a flowing, more positive angle yet while thereโs still a clever hook, in so much as McCartneyโs ironic Silly Love Songs conveys the opposite effect.
If I preferred this song from the debut at the time, the next two, so far unreleased tracks, proves Rosie though beginning with a firm base, her songs will improve each time. Mind Fuckery is her magnum opus, but only to date. Isolation and affliction brought about by addiction is spelt out in the imperfections Rosie compares within herself and her generation. Again, weโre sneaking through an open door into Rosieโs mindscape, and it’s a poignant landscape of intense pensive and evocative prose.
The measure of a good singer-songwriter is when a listener feels like they bring a little subconscious of the artist back with them, the notion they identified and made a friend through their performance, as if they knew this person all along. I had been reviewing Rosieโs singles for a few months before finally meeting her. When I did, it was exactly like this, it felt as if I had known her for ages, because even at this young age she projects herself, her thought processes and emotions so utterly exquisitely through this beautiful music. The final tune, well, despite all thatโs been before, Carry Me, is the most graceful yet.
The final song is angelic, and steeped in astute metaphors Rosie faces her โpersonal battle,โ it is, just as the other three songs, an emotive treasure wrapped in sublimity. There’s something standalone in the simplicity of person with guitar; the stripped back diploma for a musician, the final exam, and Rosie passed with flying colours. She should be setting the exam rather than taking it! What an amazing start.
Just as Iโve seen the careers of profoundly talented local artists like George Wilding, Tamsin Quin, Kirsty Clinch and Jamie R Hawkins progress from first reporting on them, I have high hopes for many of our aspiring newcomers, from Ruby Darbyshire to Meg and Harmony. Rosie Jay is high among these others, and based on the excellence of this EP I see no reason not to compare her to the likes of Elkie Brooks, The Beautiful South or Cerys Matthews. You simply have to allow yourself a quarter of an hour to take this in, released on all streaming platforms and as a CD. Follow Rosie on Insta. TikTok. YouTube. Thereโs an EP launch party at the Winchester Gate in Salisbury, tonight.
Seems odd the perfect combination between Devizesโ only theatre, The Wharf, and one of the longest-running performance group, White Horse Opera hasnโt linked before,โฆ
Featured Image Credit: Stewart Baxter Riot predictor Nick Hodgson formerly of the Kaiser Chiefs has a new band, the charmingly named Everyone Says Hi,โฆ
Bob Marley sang โjamminโ โtil the jam is through,โ Jimmy Cricketโs catchphrase was โcomeโere, thereโs more,โ but it looks like The Southgate in Devizesโฆ
The second feature film for director Keith Wilhelm Kopp and writer Laurence Guy, First Christmas enters development, to be produced by Shropshire-based production company,โฆ
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I’m loving this new tune! Swindon’s upcoming reggae singer/DJ Silver-Star has teamed up with the legendary General Levy for a drum n bass golden nugget called “Put Me Down,” with a video filmed on locations in Swindon and Highworth. The aim is to motivate people and promote Swindon town….
What a grand start for Silver-Star, to team up with Levy, his smooth vocals over the legendary toaster, but there’s more going on here than first meets the eye. Over a ragga-drum n bass roller the two contrast perfectly, but it’s no mindless banger, there’s a sunny side of the street against all odds narrative, encouraged by the brilliantly inspiring accompanying video, set in various locations across the town.
It shows the struggle with everyday issues and holds a message to rise above them, yet it retains a beguiling hook you simply have to bounce to! Eye of a tiger, it’s a local reggae Rocky!!
Do check it out, follow SilverStar on Instagram and, most importantly subscribe to his YouTube channel. I look forward to seeing more from this emerging artist, and wonder if he can top this!!
Image credit: Forestry England/Crown copyright. Forestry England Nightingale Wood invites dog owners to celebrate Walk Your Dog Month this January….. Walk Your Dog Month isโฆ
In times of pain or stress cats mimic the cry of a human baby to best attract attention. You may not like it, but if you donโt address the situation and aid the pet, you are unfortunately part of the problem. Riot Grrrl is a subcultural movement of anti-punk feminism deriving from the USAโs northwest in the nineties, which, like it or not, has found a new resting place in Devizes thanks to rising teen band Steatopygous…and with a debut demo, theyโre rightfully attracting attention too.
Not Devizes you may whimper, our affluent yet insular market town steeped in tradition, where the most commonly reported crime during October this year was violence and sexual offences, more than double the second on the list, this anti-social behaviour we’ve got a bee in our bonnets about? Seems a rather apt location for youthโs screams of anger and frustration at the inequality of patriarchy to me.
Dealing with issues facing youth, our townโs newcomers, riot front-grrrl Poppy Hillier, bassist Eliza Brindle and drummer Ewan Middleton may well have facetiously named their band after an accumulation of fat on the thighs and/or bum, but their musical subjects are far from ironic or amusing. Neither are they the female answer to NRWO, with their blithe and amicable indie-pop style. This is artistically righteous, a freedom of expression, and just like the catโs meow, you’d better take heed.
Stalwart support act at Trowbridgeโs Pump, a venue dedicated to hosting the upcoming, whereby I saw them first, in June, despite our much younger reporter Flo singing their praises prior, when headlining Devizes Youth Action Group gigs. Steatopygous delivered varying themes there, such as one song on the crisis in Gaza. But the two tracks released on this demo, recorded by Kieran Moore at Komedia, concentrate on matters closer to home and traditional to the ethos of Riot Grrrl; boys taking advantage of a male-dominated world.
Cassowary, a bird with unusual reproduction behaviour which sees the male tend the egg while the female seeks other mates, is the metaphoric name for perhaps the most composed tune of the two. With archetypal driving drums and laden guitar it’s short, fiery and in your face, but perhaps not so aggressive as the other tune, Little Boy, which is a style-defining peach. Angry and unabashed, it takes no prisoners.
It is the screech of utmost exasperation, the deliverance of cries typically bottled or only released alone. And therein lies the brilliance and reason of Steatopygous, this erudite anti-sensitive artistic licence opens a matured eye to the vexations and anguish of youth, particularly identifying the uneven game of love and all its sordid undertones. Or if you fall into the category subjected and victimised by the behaviour expressed so poignantly by Steatopygous, theoretically thereโs the emotive response of identifying with it and not feeling alone with your troubles.
This is thunderously original and raw, daring samaritan punk, released on Trowbridgeโs cassette label Sketch Book Records, which if it honours anything, itโs this wholly DIY ethos of Riot Grrrl, and though will remain niche, is something you cannot ignore; phew, I might need a little lie down now!!
Salisbury acoustic singer-songwriter Rosie Jay released her debut EP today, taking its title from her first single from June this year, I Donโt Giveโฆ
Somewhere just outside Westbury a sizable barn hosted the most memorable new year’s eve raves in the mid-nineties, but Iโd never have imagined then, that thirty years later I’d be saying I went out raving in Westbury last night, but I did, sort of!
Attendees at the Westbury Conservative Club yesterday willingly admitted not a lot happened here, but none I badgered about it, Uncle Albert style, seemed to recall any of the raves, nor can I find any record of them online. It is not all in my warped imagination, honest, that I recall a rumour circulating one year that Altern 8 played a live PA. They may have done, but with hazy recollections, my matured mind must consider the very real possibility it could’ve been any number of random nutters dressed in illuminous bodysuits and dust masks, probably was, and no one wouldโve been any the wiser if it was!
No one there at the time gave a hoot if Altern 8 played or didnโt, it was never an era for live music, (it wouldnโt have been โliveโ music anyway,) it was all about DJ culture. Likewise, events for rave die-hards today mostly rely solely on DJs, unless youโre lucky enough to trek to festivals or city gigs from bands like Orbital. That is, not to discredit them, even those who combine cheesy raves with soft play centres, just to say, when local trance-techno collective Hedge Monkey organise something of a reunion, or comeback gig in an era geared more toward actual live music, with instruments and everything, it was something matured, proper, and fantastically different.
โWe were a band years ago,โ singer Lou Cox explained for our preview piece, โeven played Glastonbury festival twice! But this was before social media, really. Iโve been recording music with Jase the whole time, but we never did anything with it. Just recently we decided to get it all back together and itโs been fab, so we decided that we need to have a comeback gig!โ Both Jase, the main man at the control tower of Hedge Monkey, and Lou, were que sera sera on what the gig indicated for the future of the band, but based on what I and a packed club of devoted fans, friends and family of the collectiveโs members witnessed, I sincerely hope thereโs more to come.
It was, in technical jargon, banginโ. If weโre at the boundary for the westcountry penchant for crusty trance-techno, historically bands emerged from it, like Eat Static, tended to knock out endless layer-building electronic beats, chuck a few samples in and tick them off as a job well done. Not that thereโs anything wrong there, itโs the beats and bass entrancing the crowds and hence giving the subgenre its name, but as a collective Hedge Monkey brought out multiple female singers, who did their parts and returned to the dancefloor with their friends, and a real drummer, with a real drum kit, and these elements gave it body and soul, something I feel often overlooked from the ambience of techno.
Alongside the archetypal gorgeous, plodding basslines of trance it was experimental too, with dubbed rises and delays akin to what Norman Cook later brought to the breakbeat party, but with a squeaking overlay of wobbly 808s it held tightly to acid house, the root of it all. But to repeat myself, for itโs worth noting, each singer brought their own styled vocals to the melting pot, one even brought alto choral tones, and the drummer watching the tempo, Hedge Monkeyโs sound is unique, as if striving to make the subgenre formulated to traditional pop music templates without rejecting its roots. At one point interpreting Nina Simoneโs Feeling Good, at most though, original compositions which wouldnโt look out of place when LFO and 808 State ruled the day.
Needless to say, without intoxication, as Iโve matured way past all that, and even booze was off the cards being I drove, I still felt the irresistible urge to shake my thang to this like the noughties never happened! There was a communal, reunion feel to the gig, without cheese, glowsticks, and the poorly researched assumptions of what symbolised the rave epoch, and though not part of that and alone, by the end I made temporary friendships in the manner the rave scene has always advocated, and this besides the sublime sounds, blessed the party with vibes of yore; top one, nice one, and all this grandad needed to be sorted was a nice cup of tea and cheese toastie when I got home!
Somewhere just outside Westbury a sizable barn hosted the most memorable new year’s eve raves in the mid-nineties, but Iโd never have imagined then, thatโฆ
A Scooby snack-sized pinch punch, first day of the month came from Minety Music Festival this morning upon announcing their headliner for 2025, The Funโฆ
by Ian DiddamsImages by Josie Mae-Ross and Infrogmation Tennessee Williamsโ quasi autobiographical drama โA Streetcar Named Desireโ was first performed in 1947 as the worldโฆ
Purveyors of perfect motion, house music promoters Palooza return to The Exchange in Devizes on Friday 20th December, for its grand finale of the yearโฆ..โฆ
Okay, so, Iโm aย little behind, recently opting to perfect my couch potato posture and consider hibernation, meaning Iโve not yet mentioned Kirsty Clinchโs newโฆ
A Scooby snack-sized pinch punch, first day of the month came from Minety Music Festival this morning upon announcing their headliner for 2025, The Fun Lovinโ Criminalsโฆ.
Set for the weekend of 3rd-6th July, the Saturday will see those infectious Fun Lovinโ Criminals headline the mainstage with their blend of cinematic hip-hop, rock โnโ roll, blues-jazz and latin-soul, stalwarts of the New York music scene since 1996.
Famed for the worldwide multi-platinum debut album Come Find Yourself, from which we all remember their famed Tarantino movie sampled single Scooby Snacks, the fun Lovinโ Criminals settled in the UK, performed an infamously raucous set at Glastonbury and have amassed six studio albums, two cover albums, and a triple live album. Their comical tales of music, drugs, crime and existential ennui as parts of life in the neon metropolis rewarded them Europeโs best-loved โcousins from New York.
Exciting news for this Wiltshire festival, but far from the only fun lovinโ thing about it. Yes, they grab some major headliners, but this community-driven, wonderful yet affordable festival supports a plethora of established and blossoming local acts, loads of side activities for all ages, and has this generally superb vibe, as I discovered when I dropped in for the Sunday this year, and felt from the one day alone, Iโd found my spiritual nirvana; most well-organised, carefree festival around these parts by a country mile or two!
Addition: You could also be dancing in the moonlight with Top Loader, headlining the Sunday night at Minety!
With Black Friday just a few weeks away, Wiltshire based Blackmore Computers Ltd, is encouraging people to think pre-loved if theyโre planning on buying laptopsโฆ
If rural West Country had a penchant for trance in the happy daze of the mid-nineties, heady nights of fluorescent-clad crusties with eyes like flyingโฆ
Congratulations to Rosalind Ambler and Paul Snook from Devizes Writers Group… At the National Community Radio Awards held in Cardiff on 16th November Together!, theโฆ
Two of the county’s top retrospective cover bands meet for a double-bill of action in Market Lavington This Saturday. Calneโs indie rock five-piece Six Oโclockโฆ
Again we find ourselves congratulating and thanking young Chloe Boyle for fantastic fundraising efforts for Devizes homeless charity OpenDoorsโฆ. With friends and family she spentโฆ
Images: Chris Watkins Media It was lovely to spend Sunday afternoon at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre, to see how this yearโs pantomime Hansel & Gretel, isโฆ
Purveyors of perfect motion, house music promoters Palooza return to The Exchange in Devizes on Friday 20th December, for its grand finale of the yearโฆ..
March of this year saw the launch of Palooza, a project from two local house music diehards to bring the good vibes of house clubbing back to Devizes, and they succeeded with an unforgettable opening night at the Exchange nightclub. Palooza returns one last time in 2024, and itโs set to be the boldest night of the year as they transform the venue into a dance music haven.
Five hours of non-stop music from 9 PM to 2 AM, featuring a stellar lineup of DJs bringing their unique sound across tech house, future house, classics, and techno, guaranteed to bring the beats and keep the energy high. The lineup consists of Grit, Fashion, RodJ, Alchemy, Sun and T-Rex, the latter Paloozaโs first female DJ, from Brighton.
Doors open at 9pm, when thereโs a happy hour until 10pm with half-price drinks.
The last Palooza of the year promises to be an unforgettable celebration of dance music culture. Whether youโre a loyal fan or new to the Palooza vibe, this is a night you wonโt want to miss! No tickets, just pay on the door.
Sheffieldโs DIY punk queer emo five-piece, Slash Fiction will be at the Pump in Trowbridge on Wednesday 20th November as part of their nationwide tour.โฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Playing Up Theatre Company When is a mousetrap not a mousetrap? When itโs written by Tom StoppardโฆIf you have seen โTheโฆ
Wiltshire Music Centre is delighted to announce the new appointments ofย Danielย Clark as Artistic Director, andย Sarahย Robertson as Executive Director.ย Danielย andย Sarahย join Wiltshire Music Centre in a new co-leadershipโฆ
Okay, so, Iโm aย little behind, recently opting to perfect my couch potato posture and consider hibernation, meaning Iโve not yet mentioned Kirsty Clinchโs new single Chapters, released at the beginning of the month, which I should have done. Why, you might ask, is it any good? Did you hear me right, itโs Kirsty Clinch?!
Eloquently sentimental as ever, Kirsty suggests it would make the perfect wedding song, and Iโm inclined to agree, though I had my turn already, choosing Ben E King; for prospective newlyweds though, take heed! This bears all the hallmarks of a breezy country classic from the likes of Dolly or Wynette, with a contemporary sense subtler than Swift, that is, added bass by local legend Pete Lamb, who also mixed and mastered this delicate beauty recorded by Kirsty herself.
It trickles like water, with a loose narrative to be interpreted to suit your dreams too, but if thereโs the opening of a new chapter of thoughtful prose, the character in the song admits to being too young to reminisce on previous chapters. In fact, it has been a few years since past chapters opened musically for Kirsty, her Evolution album was released in 2021. She has been concentrating on Westburyโs Award Winning music school, First Melodies,which she created to coincide with a series of preschool music books. I love this project as itโs perfect for Kirsty, but, itโs a warm welcome back to recording, as this song sure makes up for lost time!
By Mick Brianphotos by Chris Watkins Media Disney aficionados will need no introduction to โThe Little Mermaid,โ Disneyโs 1989 film about mermaids falling in loveโฆ
Remember, remember, weโre moving into November; leaves, loads of โem! Being as we are no longer doing weekly roundups, hereโs some highlights of events inโฆ
The simple answer is yes, very concerned. Following the publication of an article in Melksham Newsโs last issue questioning the councilโs public notice policy, Wiltshireโฆ
Dumping pumpkins in the woods is bad for wildlife says Forestry England. As millions of pumpkins hit supermarket shelves and make their way to gardens,โฆ
Being as we received a taster of wintery weather to come this week, I believe itโs okay to use the C-word; yes, Christmas!!
Hereโs everything weโve found to do in and around Devizes, so far, from now until New Yearโs Eve, in addition, of course, to decorating trees, picking all the toffee pennies out of the Quality Street tin, and enjoying watching Hans Gruber fall from the Nakatomi Plazaโฆ.
Do remember though our event calendar is constantly updating, so do keep an eye on it, as more events may well be added when theyโre brought to our attention. And if youโre in another town, check our event calendar for events in your area; sorry you are not included here, we still love you, but thereโs only so many hours in a day!
Lets go from this weekend, but be warned, thereโs a lot to get through. Ongoing photographic exhibition at the Valentina Gallery, opposite SoupChick in the Shambles, ends on 2nd December.
Thursday 21st November sees an Evening of Mediumship with Psychic Medium Nikki Kitt at the Corn Exchange.
Friday 22nd: Public Living Room is open at the Cheese Hall from 1.30-4pm. John Girvanโs celebrated Ghost Walk of Devizes, takes on a Christmas spin. You find tickets at the Wiltshire Museum website. Queen tribute Qween UK plays the Corn Exchange. Recommended trip out of town: boom-bap legends The Scribes are at the Barge on Honeystreet.
Saturday 23rd November: and thereโs a Sighthound Stroll at 12pm. Devizes Eisteddfodโs Junior Showcase at the Town Hall. The FullTone Orchestra is at the Corn Exchange with an 80s special, so get your rah-rah skirts dusted and ready.
The Sylvertones are at The Three Crowns. The Ben Fletcher Band at The Southgate. DJ Emilo is bringing in the sounds at the Exchange. And for a short trip out of town, I recommend The Killer Circus show at Market Lavington Community Hall, with a double-header of mod-indie, britpop and ska with The Killertones Underground and 6 Oโclock Circus. Or The Publicans at the Royal Oak, Pewsey.
Sunday 24th, The Duskers are at the Southgate for 5pm start, same time, itโs nice to see live music back at the White Bear too; Andrew Hurst kicks those Sunday Sessions back into gear.
Tuesday 26th sees Devizes Lions Bingo Night at the Conservative Club.
Wednesday 27th, donโt forget the acoustic jam at the Southgate.
Thursday 28th – do not miss this, the fantastic Ruby Darbyshire is doing a Fantasy Radio Live Lounge from 7pm at The Pelican. The Last Thursday of each month is also open mic time in the Cellar Bar of the Bear Hotel, from 7:30pm.
Friday 29th is the Winter Festival, on go the lights and Christmas begins officially in Devizes!
12:00 โ 20:00: Indoor & Outdoor Markets and Creative Installations. Lantern Parade at 18:30. 19:00 is Christmas Light Switch On. Window Wanderland begins and runs until 2nd Dec. Look out for the Cascade Chandelier, in the Shambles!
There will be several opportunities to get crafty over Winter Festival weekend with bookable artist-led workshops. More workshops will be dropping soon, so keep an eye on DOCAโs social media! Willow Reindeer Workshop from 10am to 4pm at the Yeoman Room, Corn Exchange. Sarah Jayne Edwards works in willow in all scales, she made the Sanctuary that appeared on the Green in Devizes 2023. Spend a day with her where she will support you to create your own beautiful willow reindeer.
All materials will be provided on these creative workshops, no experience needed. Event capacity for each is only 8 people. Participants must be aged 16 years or over. There are 2 free places allocated for low-income participants, no questions asked. If you would like to claim one of these places, please email: info@docadevizes.org.uk
Elsewhere in Devizes, the fantastic People Like Us are at The Three Crowns, itโs the Pour Houseโs official opening party, and karaoke at the Pelican. Big Plus: itโs panto season at the Wharf Theatre with the opening night of Hansel & Gretel; this is superb, Iโve seen the rehearsal, youโre going to love it, young and old. Hansel & Gretel continues until 7th December, tickets are sold out, but you can join a waiting list.
Saturday 30th sees a Devizes Lions book sale at St Maryโs Church.
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts Winter Festival continues, presenting ‘Crow’ by Avanti Display. ‘Crow’ is a beguiling, genre-defying, beautifully odd show. It teases us with strange images, magical clowning and bewitching visual images. Accompanied by a live inventive score. Video projections expand their comic and curious world, suggesting ideas both profound and absurd. This is a ticketed event at Sheep Street Baptist Church and starts at 6pm.
Also part of the Winter Festival, from 10am to 3pm, thereโs an Outdoor Market with Music & Street Entertainment, and Makery Sessions Craft Workshops at various times. Porcelain Christmas Decorations Workshop at Parnella House from 10am to 1pm, with Geraldine Francis.
Contemporary Wreath Making Workshop at 2pm to 5pm at Parnella House with Nancy Rose Stott, an accomplished maker, best known for her amazing hats. All materials will be provided, no experience needed. Event capacity: 8 people only. Participants must be aged 16 years or over. There are 2 free places allocated for low-income participants, no questions asked. If you would like to claim one of these places, please email: info@docadevizes.org.uk
Thereโs also a Christmas Wreath Making Workshop at Poulshot Village Hall, not DOCA related.
Groovedream at The Three Crowns. Red Light at The Southgate.
And relax, itโs Sunday, but it is December 1st! Curious Kids: Winter Fun at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes. The Pelican has a winter festival Christmas Lunch. JP Oldfield is at the White Bear at 5pm, the Jon Amor Trio residency at the Southgate, same time, and One More Shot at the Black Horse.
Monday 2nd, find a new open mic session at the Pour House, set up by the one and only JP Oldfield; very busy boy atm!
Wednesday 4thDecember: acoustic jam night at the Southgate.
Friday 6th sees a new regular acoustic session on Fridays at The Southgate, this week has JP Oldfield, Sammi Evans & Bryan Davies playing. White Horse Opera presents some Christmas Music at St Andrews. Itโs Christmas Mixup night at the Exchange.
Saturday 7th, thereโs a tour behind the scenes at Wiltshire Museum, and another Ghost Walk Christmas Special with John Griven.
The Shudders are at The Southgate. James Mitchell at The Three Crowns. The Coco Club Christmas Ball at the Corn Exchange. Christmas Party at the Exchange. Recommendations out of town, find a reggae night with Knatti P at the Barge on Honeystreet and Ruby Darbyshire at the Woodbridge.
Sunday 8th sees a family Christmas Party at West Lavington Village Hall in aid of Juliaโs House. Sunflower Events Christmas Fair at the Corn Exchange. Christmas Fayre at The Barge, Seend Cleeve.
Music at the Southgate from 5pm with The Wholesome Soul Trio.
Wednesday 11th, acoustic jam at the Southgate.
Thursday 12th is the second Exchange Comedy Night for The Mayorโs Appeal.
Friday 13th thereโs Devizes Good Afternoon Choirโs Christmas Invitation with Children from Wansdyke School at St Andrewโs Church. Young Curators Club: Mid-Winter Celebrations: Yule and Saturnalia at Wiltshire Museum.
Saturday 14th: Table-top Sale for Camps International to Peru Trip: 12-4pm at The Wharfside. LECTURE: Digging for Erlestoke by Leigh Chalmers and Dr Phil Harding at Wiltshire Museum. And the opening of a new exhibit at the Museum, Megalithic Connections โ Drawings & Etchings by Dave Gunning, which runs until 22nd Feb.
Christmas Market at Hillworth Park, in which Santa is fully booked, but heโs also at, Breakfast With Santa at the Fire Station! Santa! Hey! I know him!
The Big Sound Christmas Concert at the Corn Exchange. Sour Apple at the Three Crowns, The Worried Men at The Southgate. And Karl Maggs has got the Jingle Bangers in the mix at the Exchange.
Sunday 15th, Wish Tree Gathering from 3-5pm at Quakerโs Walk. Devizes Town Band Christmas Party at the Corn Exchange. And Manos Puestas at The Southgate at 5pm.
Wednesday 18th, acoustic jam at the Southgate.
Friday 20th, John Grivanโs celebrated Ghost Walk of Devizes, takes on a Christmas spin. You find tickets at the Wiltshire Museum website.
Devizes most celebrated house nights, Palooza returns to The Exchange.
Saturday 21st: Barrelhouse at The Southgate. Adam Woodhouse at The Three Crowns, and the Long Street Blues Club Christmas Party with the Thomas Atlas Band. DJ Mike Alford is at the Exchange.
Sunday 22nd is the Tractor & Tinsel Run at the Market Place. Charity Fundraiser with Burn The Midnight Oil, new band fronted by the fantastic Chrissy Chapman at The Southgate, from 5pm.
Monday 23rd: The Unpredictables at The Three Crowns, being anything but unpredictable!
Tuesday 24th: Spend Christmas Eve at The White Bear, where the one, the only Jamie R Hawkins will be singing a few songs with Vince Bell too.
Thursday 26th: The Last Thursday of each month is also open mic time in the Cellar Bar of the Bear Hotel, from 7:30. We assume this will take place as usual.
Friday 27th: Drew Bryant at The Three Crowns. Twixmas Fun Quiz at The Pelican. DJ Stevie MC at the Exchange for an after Christmas Party.
Saturday 28th: The Killertones Underground at The Southgate; nice one!
Tuesday, New Yearโs Eve: find Soundhog Karaoke at The Three Crowns. Back to Skool New Yearโs Eve Party at the Pelican. The Original PJ & Mister M at the Bear Hotel. DJ Karl Maggs at The Exchange, and NYE Party at Seend Community Centre; Happy New Year!
Thatโs your lot, unless thereโs something we missed? Tell us about it, please do, we can add it, it isnโt going to cost you anything more than being nice to me when you see me next! I hope everyone has been good all year, and wish you all a merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
If Phil Cooperโs 2018 โThoughts and Observations,โ was one of the first albums we ever reviewed here on Devizine, itโs been a while since Iโveโฆ
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts announced their upcoming project, YEA Devizes today. Made possible by a grant from National Grid Electricity Transmissionโs Community Grant Programme, theโฆ
Alberta Cross, along with the up-and-coming local bands Something Moves and BroccoliBoy, will perform at a charity gig on Saturday 30th November at 23 Bathโฆ
Chippenhamโs young folk singer-songwriter Meg, or M3G if you want to get numeric, will release her 6th single The Mist on Friday 18th October, andโฆ
Our very own illustrious orchestra, The Fulltone Orchestra, are staging live performances of Enyaโs 1988 breakthrough album, Watermark in Basingstoke, Bath and Cheltenham later thisโฆ
Forget the feud between Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, this is England’s West Country rivals The Skimmity Hitchers and Monkey Bizzle in a vicious rapโฆ
If rural West Country had a penchant for trance in the happy daze of the mid-nineties, heady nights of fluorescent-clad crusties with eyes like flying saucers and gyrating like robots at the UFO club down Longleatโs Berkeley Suite, or bumbling around a nearby forest afterparty keeping Wrigleyโs in business, trance-techno, it could be debated, tended to be heavily influenced by German Tekno and of Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream which predated it, and in doing so, often felt rather soulless when compared to rivalling subgenres spawned from the rave era, of house or drum n bass, but there’s an alternative, Hedge Monkey….
House, jungle, happy hardcore, et al, they all had their pros and cons, but I tended to saunter them all with equal love, as I arrived on the rave scene at its inception, acid house, and if any splitting subgenre related closer to those roots it was trance and techno. Louโs smooth vocal chants on Westburyโs electronic dance music ensemble Hedge Monkey blesses it with something bands like Eat Static lacked, a soulful voice and meaning. With an underlying base of trance-techno of yore, Hedge Monkeyโs engineer Jase cherry-picks other dance music influences and moulds them into the melting pot. If Massive Attack came from rural Somerset, their sway to hip hop might be lessened, and you might find yourself with a sound not so unlike Hedge Monkey.
Being honest, I hadnโt heard of them until last night; I may have completed my rave honeymoon when Hedge Monkey was blossoming. Theyโve three tracks on SoundCloud worth checking out, two new and one being a โsamba dubโ of an older tune. โWe were a band years ago,โ Lou explained, โeven played Glastonbury festival twice! But this was before social media, really. Iโve been recording music with Jase the whole time, but we never did anything with it. Just recently we decided to get it all back together and itโs been fab, so we decided that we need to have a comeback gig!โ
The comeback gig is Saturday November 30th at Westbury Cons Club, tickets are ยฃ8, from HERE. Thereโs DJs until 9pm, then Hedge Monkey swings on stage. If youโve a passion for dance music of any pigeonholing subgenre, you should take note of this gig.
Based on the tunes, thereโs more going on than mindless techno stomp, the vocals on the first tune Deeper Meanings, echoes out as 808 squeaks build in layers to a bouncing beat akin to Leftfield. Itโs uplifting, euphoric trance, like Warpโs early days, elements took me back, conjured happy memories of fluffy nuggets like Tuff Little Unitโs Join the Future, (or am I showing my age now?!) which used subtle piano to give balance to the hypnotic ambience. Similar here, actual drum beats, guitars, and vocals give it body, makes it a band, which it is, rather than the sole bedroom producer flouting the usual samples.
The second tune, Lou’s Samba Dub Lung, shakes up more experimentally and contemporarily, dubbing a chemical breakbeat. Thereโs absolutely no reason for Plump DJs or The Chemical Brothers not to spin this one in my humble opinion, yet still, thereโs still something underlyingly faithful to the trance techno of its roots, the dirty little tent on a muddy Somerset field!
Final tune to mention, then you can go take your meds; Turkish E, take us back to trance.ย Itโs seven minutes of bliss, retaining uplifting vocals, squidgy 808s, shroom-inspired twirls and block rockinโ beats. You know, I might have an efficacious relapse if I attend this reunion-type gig, just try to prevent me from waffling Uncle Albert moments; โwhen I was in the rave,โ type stuff! Ruffle your matted dreadlocks, unearth your tie-dye T-shirt from the loft, ignore me best you can, and I might see you there!ย ย
Two of the county’s top retrospective cover bands meet for a double-bill of action in Market Lavington This Saturday. Calneโs indie rock five-piece Six Oโclock Circus have diverse influences to win any crowd, but itโs always conveyed with this affirmed nod to the heyday of mod rock, new wave and Britpop. Swindonโs The Killertones Underground likewise will bring Two-Tone ska classics and new wave punk to the forefront in what looks set to be an awesome showโฆ
Saturday 23rd November, Market Lavington is treated to this one-off double-billed headlining show, at their Community Centre. I highly recommend both bands, you will not be disappointed. Killertones you may recall weโve mentioned many times before, always a hit at Devizes Scooter Rally, and members Cath & Gouldy can equally engage a crowd at the Southgate, often with the more folk-influenced sounding duo Sound Affects.
Six OโClock Circus can also be as diverse, shows at the Three Crowns in Devizes and the Southgate too, always make for a blinding nightโs entertainment, despite differences in the crowdโs demographic, proving we all love to be taken back to a time when music was our lives.
Tickets for the Killer Circus Show are ยฃ12 from here; I hope to see you down the front, giving it some like the noughties never happened!
It was lovely to spend Sunday afternoon at Devizesโ Wharf Theatre, to see how this yearโs pantomime Hansel & Gretel, is coming along. If my preview is behind me now, or if โoh, no, it isnโt,โ Iโm happy to confirm ticket holders are in for a real treat, and those without a ticket I urge you to be as quick as a quick thing being quickโฆ..
Tickets for panto at the Wharf sell out fast every year, rightfully. I believe thereโs only a handful left. It may beg the question why Iโm here to preview it at all, but with our Ian hot on the scene of anything theatrical these days, Iโve missed being at our communal little theatre. While I may not be so knowledgeable on Shakespeare’s plays, I know what I like, and Iโm smitten for a great panto.
First time panto co-director Karen Ellis, who works with Jessica Bone, told me thereโs a slightly different approach this year. I couldnโt tell, Jack & The Beanstalk was wonderful last year, Hansel & Gretel is going to be as amazing as a gingerbread house decorated with sweeties!
A few sweets need tweaking, Iโm at an early rehearsal, neighbouring seats are occupied with ladders and paint pots. Opening night is Friday 29th November, and with extra dates added the show runs until Saturday 7th December, with matinees on the Saturdays. With professionalism abound from whatโs essentially an amateur production, from my sneaky peek alone, Iโve no doubt, this show is going to absolutely sparkle and thrill young and old equally.ย
It was interesting, though, to see the inner workings of a panto developing, the many elements needing synchronisation I wouldnโt have contemplated before now, and the attention to detail to something which might seem somewhat improvised to an outsider. It might be a couple of hours of quality family entertainment to you, but from script, expertly crafted by The Wharf Writersโ Group, to this stage where only a few Iโs need dotting and Tโs crossing, has taken a year of hard work from a thoroughly dedicated group of very talented people.
And the hard work explodes like a supernova. As any panto should, the narrative is slight and loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fairy-tale. The show concentrates on slapstick, corny gags, drag, parodies of pop songs, slight tragedy, and a huge dollop of funny banter and audience participation, with a sprinkling of storyline. Brush up on your children’s TV show themes, anything more might be deemed a spoiler, but I can assure you, youโre going to love it; all these elements are in grand abundance, and it thoroughly entertained me.
Starter for ten, neither Hansel, parts shared by two great young actors, Rory Lee and Tamsin Antignani, nor Gretel, similarly played by Emily Edwards and Gigi Underwood, are the protagonists here, rather the main parts depict an investigating police officer, Buttons, and his love interest, comically named Carrie Okie. The latter is played superbly by Georgina Claridge, also responsible for choreography, and the former, Officer Buttons is sublimely brought to life by Darcey Oswin; both masterful and confidently versatile in acting and singing, they work together like the perfect double-act.
Adam Sturgesโ thespianism flare, with a natural ability for improv makes for the quintessential dame; he remained in character and high heels when I chatted to him outside! Is this the first pantomime dame to have a son, I wondered? Shaken, but not stirred and played by Lucas Dowling.
Likewise, Helen Pritchard makes for an excellent witch, and there’s supposed to be a compliment in there! Lesley Scholes is hilarious as a discluded fairy godmother, and the randomly placed comical duo is supplied brilliantly by Oli Beech and Liz Sharman.
Other singing and dancing characters are cast aptly, with Archer Leigh, Jo Benyon-Tucker, Cathy Chappell, Corrin Bishop, Poppy Lamb-Hughes, Emily Webb and Ben Bryan. It wouldnโt be Christmas without a panto, and even a Grinch like me, after watching just a rehearsal for this early in November, could sense sleigh bells jingling and ring-tingle tingling all the way home!
I cannot guarantee your Brussel sprouts will be perfectly timed to coincide with the turkey, but I can assure you without doubt, Hansel & Gretel at The Wharf Theatre will warm your hearts and send you home smiling from elf ear to elf ear!
But hurry and be lucky to pick up the few remaining tickets HERE.
Itโs been a fantastic summer for Wiltshireโs indie-pop favourites Talk in Code. I think Iโve caught them live at least four times, and only onceโฆ
I was chatting to Josh Oldfield last week, a Devizes singer-songwriter I believe weโll be hearing a lot more of. Though this interview was pendingโฆ
by Ian Diddamsimages by Josie Mae-Ross Noel Coward is probably best known for โBlithe Spiritโ but he in fact wrote sixty-five stage plays over aโฆ
Comedy in Devizes is a rare thing, unless you count visitors turning right at the Shaneโs Castle junction, reading opinions on the Devizes Issues (butโฆ
Seems like an age since I last visited Bradford-on-Avonโs wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre, though Iโve been listing their vast range of events on our calendar.โฆ
Wiltshire Music Events UK has hosted tons of memorable events locally, from CrownFest and The Marley Experience at Devizes Corn Exchange, to more everyday gigsโฆ
Long overdue a visit to the Pump in Trowbridge, Jamie Thyer, frontman of the Worried Men twisted my arm Friday night and there I was, to witness, once again, these wonderful weavers of sublime blues to rock n roll tapestriesโฆ..
Itโs been five months since I was last here in the legendary pump room converted music venue, and it feels good to return to this friendly appreciation society. Steeped in history of Trowbridge nightlife, newfound energy was, quite aptly โpumpedโ into the once adored folk club upon Kieran Mooreโs takeover some years ago, in which diversity was widened by the Sheer Music promoterโs vast knowledge of indie bands both local and international. Iโve said this before; you can see established big names at our cityโs larger venues, but at the Pump youโll see the upcoming names soon to be big, thatโs its unique appeal.
Despite the Pump bucking the concerning trend of grassroots music venues stumbling on financial difficulties, its future felt dubious at the beginning of 2024 when landlords of the Lamb, the Wadworth pub which houses the establishment planned to leave. A silver lining was emerging from the cloud when I was last there, Kieran was optimistic after meeting the prospective landlords, who were supportive.
It has to be said, my past experiences of the Lamb was such that it felt like there was a psychological barrier between it and the Pump. A thriving pub, but not interacting with a similar ethos of the venue, like the Pump was a welcome entity only for extra bar sales. But, alerted to the new landlords staging live music in the actual pub too, and hosting Brian Reidโs celebrated open mic nights as well, it seemed like the tables were, quite literally, turning.
Confirming this, I spoke to a few punters in the Pump last night, who had curiously wandered in from the pub, delighted in what they were witnessing, and dammit, if I wasnโt suspicious that the couple leaning against the wall by the actual pump itself wasnโt the new landlords themselves, lapping up the music (I shouldโve asked rather than make the assumption, but it was loud!)
If it feels like a positive new chapter has opened here, the Pump is much the same visually; if it ainโt brokeโฆ. And who could blame those curious punters and the landlords, when the Worried Men do their thing, itโs something to behold and nothing, as the name might suggest, to be worried about.
Three matured rockers, new drummer I think, doing a show Iโve seen enough times before to know what gorgeousness I was treating my ears to. With a support act awol they started their journey early, no one minded getting a little extra worried, and Jamie mocked the situation, as he does many elements, in his psychedelic surrealist sense of humour.
A grand night indeed. For anyone not versed on the occasions Iโve reviewed The Worried Men, here at the Pump, their album, and at The Southgate, hereโs how they throw it down. Yes, thereโs life in covers, Jim, but not as we know it. Renowned riffs and rhythms of rock music classics you will acknowledge, but theyโre woven into an original tapestry, a medley of homages in splinters, where the band interpret and Jamie improvs these wild experimental guitar adventures akin to Hendrix, and dare I suggest it, with equal skill and gusto? Okay, with honesty, itโs not far off that unbelievable benchmark.
On Jimi, itโs a personal favourite of mine when elements of The Wind Cries Mary come into play, but equally, the baby, please donโt go blues of Waters and Wolf, to mellowed Flyod-esque moments of sixties psychedelia, smoke on water, Louie Louie, Berryโs rock n roll finales with farewells to Johnny B Goode, all interspersed with original thoughts, observations and compositions, and a jumpinโ Jack flash encore; itโs easy riding, keepinโ on truckinโ as if the age of the Rubix Cube never happened!
And I call it a tapestry, for they are the most skilled pre-Renaissance medium created by the most proficient embroiderers, and The Worried Men are proof that practice makes perfect. Efficiently if cheekily quoting my own quotes, Iโve said in the past, โand Morpheus said unto Neo, โunfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.โ Funny cos, I kinda feel similar about The Worried Men!โ and upon discovering them at the Gate two years ago, I explained Jamieโs gestures thus: โJamie holds an expression of concentration, occasionally looking up at you through these spellbinding Hendrix fashioned excursions, as if to ask โis that alright for you?โ Like a dentist with his tools stuck in your gum, you feel like responding, โyes, fine, thank you doctor.โ
And these quotes still fit, for if thereโs nothing new to report about The Worried Men show, it doesnโt require improvement. The majority of acts at the Pump are younger, upcoming and to catch them irregularly over time you will see them progress. The Worried Men had their talents honed long before I came to report on them, it is, in a sentence, timeless bliss youโll never tire of hearing.
The Pump is the proof, locally, the message is getting out there: support live music, and I look forward to returning; just wish there was a late night bus to and fro, because if thereโs one good reason to head for Vegas, itโs their Pump! Check out whatโs coming up there.
The “Business Fit For Future” programme has launched with startups across Wiltshire seizing the opportunity to participate in free online business planning workshops. This initiativeโฆ
Featured Photo: Forestry England/Crown copyright Planned timber harvesting is set to begin at popular walking destination, West Woods, from the end of September until Marchโฆ
Despite the population of Devizes throwing confetti and paint at each other in their most celebrated annual ritual, I believe I picked the right weekendโฆ
The newly drafted forest plan for West Woods and Collingbourne is open for public consultation until Monday 7 October. The plan outlines how each woodland willโฆ
If there’s been welcomed stand-ins for the monthly Jon Amor Trio residency at the Southgate in Devizes recently, Ruzz Evans and Eddie Martin, Jon โtheโฆ
Supporters of local live music know, least they should do by now, that Swindon is the place to head this following weekend, 12th-15th September, becauseโฆ
Sheffieldโs DIY punk queer emo five-piece, Slash Fiction will be at the Pump in Trowbridge on Wednesday 20th November as part of their nationwide tour. A winter-warming double-header with their tour buddies, Londonโs math-emos, The Yacht Club, and Devizes’ own upcoming nu-gaze band Enguun, with Steatopygous drummer Ewan Middletonโฆ.
Comparable to Get Up Kids and The Wonder Years, Slash Fiction, recently released their debut album, Gender, Trauma & Friendship, which Kieran J Moore of the Pump hailed as hisย album of the year. They also claim The Yacht Club are equally as wonderful; โthink math-y guitars a la American Football combined with a Jimmy Eat World pop sensibility,โ they said. Four members fighting their guitars, The Yacht Club define their style as Revival-Revival Math Rock and have an EP out called IDTTIARTBWY.
Itโs unusual for the Pump to be open for a Wednesday night show. โThis will either prove that we’re mentalists OR that Trowbridge is great throughout the week, and not just at weekends,โ they said.
Engunn proved a hit at Devizes Youth Action Groupโs club nights in February and June. Our reviewer Florence Lee said, โwhen Enguun went onto the stage, I was simply blown away. They are insane. My ears were in euphoria as soon as Ewan Middleton and Joshua Allen started to bless the audience with their music. As a musician, their ability to capture audience attention and put everyone in a trance-like state of freaking out was out of this world.โย
Devizes is often spoiled for choice when it comes to live music. Swindon folk ensemble SGO at the Gate would’ve been an excellent decision for this Saturday night, and I considered dropping by at some point during the proceedings at Long Street Blues Club prior to the proceedings at Long Street Blues Club, but during the proceedings at Long Street Blues Club I concluded I’d have to be criminally insane to leave nowโฆ..
I might be insane, but not criminally, yet!To a packed house, award-winning, and not one to shy away from jesting about it, UK blues legend Ian Siegal came, saw, and revisited his two debut albums as requested by Long Street Blues Club organiser and Devizes mayor Ian Hopkins, enthralling the crowd; including me.
Ian Siegal is a national treasure, his 2009 album Broadside made MOJO magazineโs blues album of the year, but the theme tonight focussed on his debut album from four years previous, Meat & Potatoes, which received four stars in the Penguin Book of Blues Recordings and paved the way for Ianโs sound, and its follow on, 2007โs Swagger. With the original organist from Meat & Potatoes, Jonny Henderson, and drummer Tom Gilkes, he drove sublime Detroit, Chicago and Memphis blues fusions, authentic and raw, to the forefront of a deservedly ostentatious show. Thatโs how you play it.
I’m not up on these albums, detected a chorus mentioning Swagger, but for the most part, I was simply soaking up the sublime moment joyfully and without overanalysing; too easy to go with the flow of Ian’s sound. There were nods to his influences in splices of covers, flamboyant banter, and skilled compositions. It was, in summary, divine blues. Devizes own, Jon Amor joined him for a couple, and Ian spun blues riffs like they were childsplay.
None of this before the support act, young Ruby Darbyshire, who for the first and last time she played here I called it to be the best support Iโve seen at the club; itโs a double-whammy line-up tonight. Multi-intrumnetalist, Ruby was blowing her bagpipes for Remembrance in the Brittox earlier. Arriving a tad late due to a bus delay, I noted she was already underway, unusually behind a keyboard. Explaining she hadnโt played piano live before, she made a grand job of it, and returned to her guitar where we know and love her best.
A few originals including her timeless Insomnia, and covers from Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone to Rag & Bone Manโs Human, she puts her wonderful stamp on them all, rapturously expressive and soulful. To hear Ruby is a magic Iโll never tire of, sheโs improved her confidence, which is tricky in this appreciation society, where thereโs the silence of a library while performers do their thing. It may be respectful, but a smidgen daunting for anyone on the stage used to more clamorous venues. But hey, anyone who can make Queenโs Is This The World We Created their own fully deserves the upstanding applause she received, from a matured audience who have witnessed many talented people come and go.
Blues stalwarts at the club may have been in the know much longer than me, but Devizine was a learning curve, and when I began it I had no clue how deep the rabbit hole went, this, what I dub โMel Bush effect,โ the town’s association with UK blues. When blues supergroup lockdown project Birdmen became a live show at Long Street a couple of years ago, Dave Doherty invited me and it was my epiphany into how the club was continuing Devizes folk’s affection for the blues. This fantastic eye-opening gig was so due to the stellar lineup, in particular frontman Ian Siegal.
In its review I summarised him as โthe very definition of cool,โ but knew I’d have to expand on that next time, which was when he was a guest at the Jon Amor Trio monthly residency at the Southgate in March. So, the extended version was as โcool on a barefoot Bruce Willis pounding through the glass of the Nakatomi Plaza level, he is the Steve McQueen leaping anti-tank obstacles on a stolen Triumph of UK blues!โ
As a quote I was kinda chuffed with, I thought I’d attempt to recite it when I met him after the gig, but intoxication levels took control, and accepting I’d probably stumble out the word Nakatomi, I only mumbled I compared him to Bruce Willis. He didn’t seem impressed, assuming I was referring to the dire commercial album Willis launched in the eighties, trashing soul classics like Under the Boardwalk! Apologies to the man, for I’d archived that album to the back of my mind and wasnโt referring to it at all!
I hope he reads this so I can correct the tit I made of myself! Because last night’s gig was sublime; I never had any doubts, and my concept Ian Siegal is cool, however I express it, sticks! Plus, of course, there will be plenty of other opportunities to make a tit out of myself, Iโm sure!
As for Ian, he seems to be on a permanent tour, find dates on his website, and news of an new album, Stone by Stone, due in April, HERE.
For Long Street, John Otway & The Big Band arrives next Saturday, 16th November, promising to be something different, and with Billy in the Lowground in support. Then, Thomas Atlas Band plays with Two Smiles, A Bang, and a Legend in support, for a Christmas Party on Saturday 21st December.
Wiltshire Music Centre is delighted to announce the new appointments ofย Danielย Clark as Artistic Director, andย Sarahย Robertson as Executive Director.ย Danielย andย Sarahย join Wiltshire Music Centre in a new co-leadership model. They will join the team in late January 2025, to strengthen the Centre’s role as a culturalย andย creative spaceย andย Arts Council England NPO for Wiltshire.
Sarah is currently working as Director of Communications and Special Projects at Bristol Beacon, where she led on marketing for the rebranding and reopening of the venueโs ยฃ132 million transformation. Sarah’s had a long involvement with Bristol Beacon where she has worked for the past 17 years and been a pivotal figure in the organisation’s evolution.ย During this time, she has also commissioned and managed transformation projects funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and was a Clore Fellow in 2021. Sheโs also held positions on a number of Boards as Chair for Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory in 2021-2023, and more recently as co-Chair at Turner Sims.ย
Daniel has worked in the arts and music industry for over 25 years as a Creative Director, composer and musician. He currently leads the Creative Programme at multi-arts venue, The Story Museum in Oxford, which welcomes over 60,000 visitors a year and delivers a varied programme including learning, exhibitions, events, and participatory activities. Previously he worked as Creative Director for Libraries Unlimitedโs Evolve programme – an imaginative programme of live music, theatre, film, interactive artwork, and workshops supported by Arts Council England, was Founder and Artistic Director of EarFilms, a company exploring 3D audio storytelling for blind and blindfolded audiences, and Music Programmer for After Dark & Dartington Live โ a series of โsecretโ events and concerts on parts of the Dartington Estate.
Speaking of her appointment, Sarah said, “I am delighted to be joining Wiltshire Music Centre as Executive Director in the new year. It is a special place, much loved by audiences and artists, integral to the local community and with a team who are talented and passionate. I am looking forward to working with new Artistic Director, Daniel Clark, to build on its fantastic heritage, keeping the music and musicians at the heart of everything we do.”
Daniel commented, โI’m thrilled to be offered the opportunity to join the team at Wiltshire Music Centre during such an exciting time. This world-class venue has a rich history and an exceptional, dedicated staff and volunteer team. I look forward to working alongside the team and the community to shape an exciting new direction for the centreโone that is deeply connected to the passions and interests of the people it serves, bringing world-class music and musical opportunities to the residents of Wiltshire and beyond.”
James Wetz, chair of Wiltshire Music Centre added, โThe Board are absolutely thrilled to welcome Sarah and Daniel to the team. Their wealth of experience and passion for the music and the arts, will provide the Centre with the right blend of innovation and expertise needed to shape the next chapter. Working with the team, we’re confident they will both be able to build on our strong foundations and move forward our ambitious plans to strengthen and reimagine our place at the heart of music and cultural life in the South-West, helping to keep music accessible and live for young people and the wider community.โ
We double, triple, quadruple love Wiltshire Music Centre here at Devizine, and would like to wish Sarah and Daniel all the best for their new venture.
Devizes-own indie-pop-punk youth sensation Nothing Rhymes With Orange smashed the Exchange on Friday as a farewell to their local fanbase. They pursue a music courseโฆ
Reports of another road traffic accident at the notorious Black Dog Crossroads near Lavington today coincides with Wiltshire Councillor for the Lavington constituency, Dominic Munsโฆ
In 1985 Tenor Saw toasted the lyric, โanother sound is dying,โ in Ring the Alarm. It implied his sound was the contemporary champion, yet while it’s true reggae is competitively progressive, this particular tune’s dubplate derived from the Stalag riddim created by Ansel Collins twelve years earlier, as did Sister Nancy’s Bam Bam and numerous others. I appreciate the ethos of dubplates, for a musician to lay down a track and various singers to interpret it, but favour, if you want a true contemporary champion sound, itโs not to regurgitate existing riddims, but to use past influences to create original composition; the more the merrier! I may have opened a Pandora’s box upon receiving The Soul Sessions EP from Bristol’s Kaya Street, but it’s certainly a refreshing and interesting original soundโฆ..
In a promotional shot advertising their latest single Wild Child, getting spun on Daniel Pascoe’s BBC Introducing show, Kaya Street’s main man, Kaya, is shown wearing a Trojan Records logo on his T-shirt, it connotes awareness of their roots. I beg to differ from their accompanying quote, โlike nothing we’ve heard before,โ while perhaps not recently, the fusions Kaya Street experimented with here, reggae, soul, and afrobeat, have indeed been tried before, in abundance.
I could cite bands from Misty in Roots to the Clash, and even Bristol’s own Massive Attack. I could point to the logo on the shirt and suggest many discs sought for distribution by Trojan in the sixties experimented in such a manner; take Lord Brynner’s 1966 single Congo War as one of many examples, or even predate this with the notion mento is rooted from African rhythms. Yet, it’s not the ingredients in Kaya Streetโs melting pot which makes it prominently interesting and beguiling, rather the way they stir it, the method in the composition and production. Either that, or I’m an ageing trainspotter beyond the years of all at BBC Introducing!!
The single Wild Child is an enchanting one-drop steppers march, steeped in conscious vocals akin to Marleyโs Get Up Stand Up, denouncing the violent crime epidemic in the UK.
It’s bravely brassy too. In an electric modern world taken for granted, it will wake you up to the roots of reggae, when brass sections ruled the day, something which trends throughout the EP. Iโm more than happy for the EP to flow throughout like this, but, imagine, a pleasant surprise when the second tune, Alfie proves Kaya Street are no one trick pony.
This is positively alive in an uplifting, paced soukous-inspired sound, while the last song Sway sounds more south than east African; funky township jive, reminding me somewhat of Thomas Mapfumo, with such a saxophone solo to rival Hugh Masekelaโs trumpet, least as near as dammit! The penultimate song Be Mine is more commercially western, the offbeat is slight, the theme is romance, the overall vibe is soul, with its silky backing vocals, and again with this consistent concentration of saxophone.
But the best example to highlight my opening point is Low.Low certainly wasnโt my favourite on the EP, to begin with. It starts very lounge jazz, again with the prominent sax and silky vocals, but then subtly and unexpectedly twists into a dubby rockers riddim, so smoothly I had to rewind just to identify when and how this occurred. This alone caused my first impression to alter from, โyeah, this is good,โ to โactually, this is a stroke of genius,โ and for me to take it back to the beginning and reassess it.
Kaya Streetโs sound, like anything progressive and experimental, is a grower, it creeps up on you. Thereโs narratives to each song Iโve yet to analyse fully, but the more you listen, the more you detect an element from this vast melting pot of cherry-picked influences, and comprehend the story behind each, and I love it for this!
Being I was digging into the archives to find examples of similar past fusions, a subject I could chew your ears off about, if Brynner’s Congo War is a specimen to skaโs African roots prior to the commercial blossoming of Rasta, as opposed to the more commonly cited jump blues influence, derived from US troops leaving radio masts in Jamaica after the second world war, try The Paragonsโ lesser-known If I Were You for soul train size. Itโs so funky it could be in the Stax catalogue, and is something Be Mine reminded me of; thereโs so much going on here.
Yet as many examples of where and how the melting pot has been stirred, none are apogees; it takes Jamaican born Bronx DJ Kool Herc to reach that climax, when he maintained the procedures of King Tubby and applied it to funk and soul to appease the multiculturalism of New York, and created hip hop. Bristol in the nineties was a kingpin to pioneering a UK hip hop formula, which returned influences full circle and incorporated reggae again. Kaya Street continues this Bristol epoch, reviving it freshly. The Soul Sessions is a revisit, recorded in three sessions in 2012 at Exeterโs Valvetastic Studios, with prolific award-winning producer and musician Jolyon Holroyd.
If I am to find some niggly, itโs a lack of intro; the songs tend to jerk right in, but I guess itโs because I have the single edits here, and Kaya Streetโs impressive lineup is plentiful to convince me they know the formula to extend and polish. It consists of Revelation Roots drummer Dan Salter, bassist Mark Lee from Hot Dub and Kolo, and that gorgeous sax is provided by Ray Beavis of The Clash, Suzy Quatro, and Katrina and the Waves. Kaya himself has previously worked with dub producers The Vibronics and Dubmatix. Herein is an insight to how the influences meld so professionally, so absolutely sublime.
And sublime is a word Iโll happily use to sum this up, save me waffling further! The initial project was a limited run of CDs for gigs, now for the first time, they are being remastered and released online. Wild Child was released 1st of November, the rest, I believe, will follow, and you need to be there to hear them when they do; Don Letts is raving about this, so hereโs the socials to follow.
For that certain some-Karen who drove through town last weekend, jumped on social media to waffle off the clichรฉ rant โnothing happens in Devizes,โ butโฆ
Trowbridge-Devizes finest musical export for a decade or two, acoustic folk vocal harmony trio, The Lost Trades, step out for a nationwide tour this September.โฆ
The Fulltone Orchestra has confirmed today that their annual festival will take place on The Green in Devizes from 25th โ 27th July 2025โฆ. โItโsโฆ
Remember, remember, weโre moving into November; leaves, loads of โem! Being as we are no longer doing weekly roundups, hereโs some highlights of events in Devizes during November, but do pay attention, thereโs lots more listed on our event calendar, from all over our county, and itโs always updating, so keep checking in HERE too!
Daveโs birthday beer festival at the Southgate, for the entire weekend and into Monday. Find Sammi Evans, Josh Oldfield & Gordon Thompson there on Friday 1st, and Courting Ghosts, I believe, are there on Saturday; not sure about the rest, but I think the focus is on the beer; if you can focus on beer! Happy birthday, Dave!
Talking taps, we send our best of luck to The Pour House, taking over the old Vaults in St Johnโs Street, Devizes. Itโs their grand opening on Friday 1st.
On Saturday 2nd, there’s a tap top sale in Couch Lane, we have the Lions Club Arts Coaching Day, and Quakers Walk Community Biodiversity Group are bulb planting and preparing wildflower beds. Sunflower Events host a Christmas Market at the Corn Exchange from 11am to 6 on Saturday, 11am to 4 on Sunday.
While those Roughcut Rebels return to the Three Crowns, and Dave’s birthday beer fest continues at the Southgate, Mississippi MacDonald Band kicks off a long month of gigs at Long Street Blues Club, with Sons of the Delta in support. Isosceles Theatre Company are at the Wharf Theatre on Saturday, with a performance of Murder; Just What the Doctor Ordered. In aid of Swindon & Devizes Sands, thereโs a Back to School disco at the Wyvern Club.
Sunday 3rd, itโs Devizes Fireworks at the Football Club. Jon Amor Trio residency at the Southgate. A concert in Chirton too, see poster below!
Monday 4th, The Opening of the Garden of Remembrance at the War Memorial, 10.45hrs.
Wednesday 6th, the regular acoustic jam night at the Southgate, of course!
Thursday 7th, Devizes Film Club is at The Wharf, with a screening of Finnish film Fallen Leaves.
Friday 8th, Muck & Dunder have a DJ set from Dub Pistol Barry Ashworth. Devizes Arts Festival presents a night of comedy at the Corn Exchange. And The Devizes Eisteddfod opens for Music, Speech & Drama, and runs until 17th November 2024.
Saturday 9th has the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Associationโs Book Fair at the Corn Exchange from 10am. Stone’s Throw are at The Three Crowns. And while Swindonโs amazing folk ensemble SGO are at the Southgate, The Ian Siegal Band are at Long Street Blues Club with Ruby Darbyshire in support, both unmissable!
Sunday 10th: Remembrance in Devizes. 09.15hrs Muster in the Marketplace. 10.00hrs Church Service at St Johnโs Church. After service Reform in Long Street. 11.00hrs Last Post-Two Minutes Silence- reveille Wreath Laying and Parade Marches Back to Marketplace.
Mr Griff & The Grifters play The Southgate, Devizes, from 5pm.
Monday 11th: Remembrance in Devizes. At the War Memorial: 10.45hrs for The National Two Minutes silence.
Wednesday 13th, sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate.
Friday 15th find the brilliant Siren at the Three Crowns.
Saturday 16th thereโs a Mynt Image Craft Fair at the Corn Exchange, from 10am. Free entry and a great range of superb quality products.
John Otway makes a welcome return to Devizes, at the Long Street Blues Club, and Billy and the Lowground in support; a different night for the club, highly recommended this one!
Wednesday 20th, sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate. Devizes Flower Club is jingling all the way to the Corn Exchange.
Thursday 21st and thereโs an Evening of Mediumship with Psychic Medium Nikki Kitt at the Corn Exchange.
Friday 22nd Queen tribute act, Qween UK at the Corn Exchange, no excuses for spellings from us, that is what it is, lets hope they will rowk you!
Saturday 23rd you can find The Sylvertones at The Three Crowns, but not a lot else I’ve heard about as of yet. Time maybe to pop over to Lavington for this….
Wednesday 27th, sees the regular acoustic jam at the Southgate.
Thursday 28th head down to the Pelican, where Fantasy Radio presents a Live Lounge with Ruby Darbyshire. Also, itโs open mic night at The Cellar Bar, Bear Hotel from 7:30pm.
Friday 29th is DOCA Winter Festival, lights switching on, lantern parade, mulled wine, Devizes Town Band playing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and all the gubbings; and thatโs when Iโm officially in the Christmas mode! Window Wanderland runs from here until 2nd Dec, and the fun continues into Saturday too!
Double-whammy, the Hazel & Gretel panto opens at the Wharf Theatre on Friday too. Note, due to popularity theyโve added dates, and it runs until the 7th December now. I will be going to see it long before you, and Iโll be here to tell you about it; what? Perks of the job!!
Also on Saturday 30th, ever popular covers unique trio People Like Us will be at the Three Crowns. White Horse Opera at Market Lavington Community Hall.
That’s all for now, folks! Did I miss something out? Did you tell us about it?! We update all the time, so, rest assured more will be added when they come in, and if you cannot find something to entertain you here, you can leave town! In a nice way, you understand, we do have roads and Devizine lists events within range of Devizes as well as in Devizes; so remember, remember, to check the EVENT CALENDER!!
Devizes based White Horse Opera has a fine and longstanding tradition of a touring opera โ a show taken the length and breadth of Wiltshire (and even further!) performed at various village halls, theatres and churches as venues. Recent past operas have included โDie Fledermausโ, โThe Mikadoโ and Ruddigoreโ and their latest offering is Mozartโs slightly bonkers โCosi Fan Tutteโ. On Friday last the dress rehearsal was produced for the “Friends of W.H.O.โ another of their traditions where the great and the good gather to indulge in swathes of cheesy comestibles and stunning music.
Mozart penned his Italian language piece in the 1780s when he was in his thirties. Itโs a comedy, albeit arguably somewhat a chauvinist one leaning heavily as it does on the alleged capriciousness of women โ the title loosely translated as โWomen are like that”. The basic daft premise โ like all the best highbrow theatre of course โ revolves around the unlikely disguising beyond recognition of two men (Guglielmo and Ferrando) such that their betrothed (Fiordiligi and Dorabella) will not recognise them, and so the farcical consequences may then ensue. Naturally there has to be some neโre do wells that first set up this unlikely scenario (Don Alfonso) and abet it (Despina).
The flirtatious and easily swayed girls are played by Barbara Gompels and Paula Boyagis, who in the duets in particular sweetly complement each other. Regular watchers of W.H.O.โs performances will need no further introduction to this talented pair, as indeed they will need no further introduction to Jon Paget who played Guglielmo, more than ably twinned by Robert Felstead as Ferrando as the pair of soldiers tasked by Don Alfonso played by the evergreen Lewis Cohen to trick their girlfriends in being unfaithful as part of a wager. Toni Johnstone completed the cast as the superbly independent and uncowed maid Despina. Jon and Robert proved an excellent comedy double act throughout their shenanigans, culminating in the wonderful disguises as what appeared to be two 1980s Australian cricketers off to the disco!
As a dress rehearsal as expected the show was ready to roll โ a couple of small hiccoughs for sure but nothing to distract from the hilarious mayhem on stage. Itโs a modern setting costume wise, and the set as befits a touring opera where complex arrangements are problematical, is simple โฆย a lovely backdrop setting the countryside setting by the inimitable Chrissie Higgs, who is also set to share the role of Despina when on tour.
For those concerned that an Italian language opera will be incomprehensible to their Anglo-Saxon ears, fear ye notโฆ as ever W.H.O.s operas are sung in English, this translation by the much missed Graham Billing who having translated the opera once, then lost it, and had to redo it. The entire translation was full of clearly identified Billingisms in the jokes whether sung or spoken. His legacy lives on and arenโt we all lucky that it does.
No opera of course is complete without its orchestra, and as so often for W.H.O. the orchestra of twenty as writ by Mozart is manfully represented by Tony James on the piano, and all pulled together by Roland Melia as M.D. par excellence. Stage Direction by Lewis Cohen completes the crew.
The tour begins soon in November in Market Lavington, but is also due to visit Bremhill, Hilperton, Winsley and Devizes in 2025, with other dates being announced all the while.ย And if you would wish W.H.O. to visit your local venue, maybe as a fund raiser for a local cause etc, feel free to contact them on who-enquiries@hotmail.co.uk
If Phil Cooperโs 2018 โThoughts and Observations,โ was one of the first albums we ever reviewed here on Devizine, itโs been a while since Iโve been able to say โa new single from Phil Cooper,โ but here we are, and itโs a great place to beโฆ..
As the name suggested โThoughts and Observations,โ as Philโs songwriting template, in general, is relatable personal reflection which often provides pointers for his audience, it was brimful of such, and while the new single Still Holding My Breath does likewise, it offers a matured side to Philโs convictions. Plus, it rides that cool acoustic value we know and love him for, remarkably well.
Thereโs a definite and poignant message of perseverance here, opening with the line โlook out world, Iโm here to stay,โ and a measure of success whereby the creative mind must continue nonetheless. As is Luke 6:38, the songโs indispensable line, โI still believe the more you put in the more you will get in return,โ rewards any labour of love for the hard worker with the notion to keep at it.
Phil is one such hard worker who I see setting himself high goals, and in embarking on many projects, some formulated, others more experimental, has had varied success with them. Perhaps none more than his grouping with Jamie R Hawkins and Tamsin Quin as The Lost Trades. If this modern folk harmony trio has achieved more than the sum of all their parts as individuals, it is with hard work they’ve achieved so and with an โa little help from my friends,โ sentiment evident in the depths of this song, and more visually with the excellent accompanying video made by Jamie. The song is, besides the labour applied to The Lost Trades, something wholeheartedly solitary, an introverted savoury sentiment.ย It’s nice to see them take a short break from the trio in order to align themselves once again with their separate identities, as they were before the dawn of The Lost Trades all remarkable within their own rights.
I believe the hard work has paid off for Phil, relatively, making me wonder what his expectations or goals are, what he dreams to achieve, being Still Holding My Breath suggests quintessentially he still has โbarriersโ to overcome, but a single this good is surely proof of his worth; it is a valuable song. And in that, this is more an outward facing concept, delivering a message to us.
To the artist personally, do take a deep breath, itโs an outstanding song, Phil; inspiringly evolved from everything which has gone before it. To everyone else, decide for yourself by taking a listen!
Chandra, Hindu God of the Moon, with his own NASA X-ray observatory named after him, and also frontman of a self-named friendly Bristol-based four-piece pop-punkโฆ
Paul’s self-made cover to his latest single, Some Days depicts a fellow sitting under a tree pondering life, while an autumn zephyr blows leaves aroundโฆ
Itโs when you hear those American addresses, like house number 21,456 Park Avenue, you realise Long Street in Devizes is a long street only comparableโฆ
Impressive, in a word, is the Lawrence Art Societyโs annual exhibition at Devizes Town Hall this year, in both quality and quantity; you’ll be amazedโฆ
Following on from last monthโs email, this is a final reminder that yearโs Imberbus service will be running this coming Saturday โ 17th August 2024.โฆ
Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts announced their upcoming project, YEA Devizes today. Made possible by a grant from National Grid Electricity Transmissionโs Community Grant Programme, the Youth Event Activity Devizes will be a youth festival area within the International Street Festivalโฆ.
Working with the incredible young adults we have in our community, DOCA will support them to plan and run their own outdoor event, putting all the decisions in their hands and enabling them to show everyone their interests and capabilities. All along the way they will be able to learn and develop the skills needed to put on outdoor events and arts management.
The flyer was designed by their youth advisor, who also helped to develop this fantastic opportunity from the start. If you are between the age of 16 – 21 (up to 25 with SEND) then please use this form – https://tinyurl.com/5xnsrk4p – to let them know if you are interested in being a part of this, whether as part of the core Youth Event Management Panel or further along the line.ย
Trust me to question the SEND element to this, as it is often the case SEND people will shy away from events due to sensory overload. But Annabel of DOCA is addressing this, and enlightened us, โwe understand that it can be confronting for some people. There are behind the scenes roles where we can help them avoid most of the madness if they wish, although as you say it may be too much for some. We are happy to work with anyone to make the experience work for them if possible – and in fact having someone with lived experience of SEND on the team could help us develop more SEND-friendly event spaces.โ Ah, I like this answer!
Hereโs our bitesize look at whatโs happening in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ. Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so checkโฆ
by Ben Niamor A first outing on Saturday to Sound Knowledge for Devizes favourite Elles Bailey, whose latest album dropped Friday, and this mini tour of a handful of record stores gave us a rare intimate opportunity to enjoy an artist whoโs enormous growth and success has her playing a frequently different kind of largerโฆ
โWe can’t stop here. This is Tory country,โ I chuckled while fiercely yanking the handbrake, as if Dr Gonzo was in the car. We can say that now, (wink!) One can be infamous on Marlborough’s Facebook group by not applying sufficient handbrake on the High Street, as if K.I.T.T had a blonde moment. But I’mโฆ
Tickets are limited and selling fast for a staged reading of Oscar Wildeโs most renowned comedy masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, performed in the glorious setting of West Lavington Manor House and garden, on Sunday 8th September 2024โฆ. Itโs undoubtedly Wildeโs magnum opus, a timeless hilarity of dissimulation getting out of control, which Iโฆ
I canโt believe itโs been the best part of six months since my son and Iโs half term chocolate making workshop at Hollychocs in Poulshot, it was so much fun and I was as excited as little Charlie Bucket! Holly has released their new program of events, their Hollychocs Experiences for the Autumn & Christmasโฆ
Our very own illustrious orchestra, The Fulltone Orchestra, are staging live performances of Enyaโs 1988 breakthrough album, Watermark in Basingstoke, Bath and Cheltenham later this month. They promise to be symphonic celebrations of the bestselling artistsโ sublime and distinctive sound…..
The Fulltone Orchestra, accompanied by the magnificent female voices of The Cantiamo Choir, revive Enyaโs iconic and pioneering album in a series of live performances, culminating at The Anvil, Basingstoke on the 7th of November, beginning with Cheltenham Town Hall on 31st October, and with a date at Bath Forum in the middle, and that being the 5th November.
This is the unique opportunity music-lovers will cherish. To experience the prevalent and admired blend of Celtic, classical, and ambient soundscapes of Enyaโs ethereal and timeless sound, accomplished with the magnificence of a sixty-five-piece orchestra and the finest singers.
Watermark was not only Enyaโs breakthrough album but debatably her magnum opus. Its commercial success was renowned through its exclusivity, was honoured with glowing reviews and sold over eight million copies.
Now, obviously I’m far too young to remember Enya’s Watermark. With the geographic knowledge of an American box turtle, I only ever knew Orinoco as a Womble, and the single concerned me as to what his “flow” might have referred to!
Arranged by noted pianist and composer, Dominic Irving, this spectacular piece has been specifically written for orchestra and choir, and will transport audiences back to the late 1980s, alongside other hits by Riverdance, Enigma, Clannad and Karl Jenkins.
Conductor Anthony Brown at Fulltone 24. Image: Gail Foster
The evenings will also include the smash hit Lily Was Here, made famous by eighties saxophonist Candy Dulfer, and will be played by legendary sax player, Vicki Watson.
The Cantiamo Choir features Welsh-born vocalist Amelia Jones, recognised for her lucid tone and expressive vocal delivery. The Fulltone Orchestra is a sixty-five-piece orchestra with a variety of acclaimed musicians from the Southwest and is led by Musical Director Anthony Brown. They have past praised performances in venues such as Bath Abbey, Wells Cathedral, Marlborough College and Cheltenham Town Hall, and organise an annual festival, Fulltone, in Devizes; yay, I said Devizes! Editor’s note, the orchestra spawned here; get in, you moonrakers!
Jemma Brown, Fulltone Orchestra Artistic Director said, โWeโre absolutely delighted to be able to bring this much-loved music to audiences across the South this autumn. Watermark catapulted Enya to international fame, with the number one hit, โOrinoco Flow.โ Itโs sure to be a highlight of our performance. Thereโs something incredibly special about the sound created by a full orchestra alongside the voices of Cantiamo, and audiences can expect an exciting evening of music on a magnificent scale.โ
People from the Swindon community flocked to protect their town and itโs residents, in anticipation of the rumoured far right anti-immigration march through their townโฆ
New single out today from Swindon-based gothic-folk duo, Canuteโs Plastic Army, and itโs three yeses from meโฆCan one person give three yeses? Iโm way pastโฆ
Second impressive single from young Salisbury singer-songwriter Rosie Jay is released today. Sing Another Love Song; a sound of the summerโฆ.. Her debut breakup trackโฆ
Must confess it felt somewhat odd to return to The Crown in Bishops Cannings for my weekly ration of live music. The only pub in the village has been closed a short while, since verbal pitchforks and torches from a crotchety minority who wanted the tavern to be little more than a museum artefact drove the previous landlords outโฆ..
Prior it was a bustling community hub run immaculately with gusto and enthusiasm, hosting a variety of events and raising funds for charities. Seemed crabby witches and even a lord of a manor were prepared to gang-up, lie to police, and misquote Devizine when we failed to appeal to their better nature. It backfired, they didn’t own one, but let’s not dwell.
New landlords are in, pleasant and keen to maintain the pub’s reputation amidst the prying Karens. Sarah, the new landlady praised her new chefs, and the pub hosts an open mic every first Thursday of the month, Tuesday evening quizzes, and intends to begin a men’s mental health group and possibly a football team.
Tonight, however, will be the new owners first live music night, and they’ve wisely hoisted in promoters Wiltshire Music Events to organise it. Though without much advertising unfortunately the crowd was slight. Never the simple accomplishment it may seem when established venues have the monopoly through a regularity of gigs, to sporadically host will require endless bashing about it on social media. It is, however, easier with the increased 49 bus service, that a night bus will drop into villages enroute, of which you should take note.
I’m in attendance not only to support and encourage the importance of entertainment in villages, save the thought of losing your local watering hole. Rather it is because Wiltshire Music Events is hosting two new acts on their roster, one who’ve yet to explore outside of their Salisbury circuit. A wise choice being the neighbouring church is a mini replica of the cathedral to make the bishop feel at home in the Cannings, or at least so the myth goes!
Firstly, in support, young singer-songwriter Rosie Jay, one I’ve been dying to meet and see live since fondly reviewing her first two singles. Rosie didn’t disappoint despite the pedestal I’ve put her on. Her self-penned songs are rippled with the poignancy of the classic template acoustic wordsmiths who made it big will follow; concentration on the hook, something even more essential with the attention span of the Tik-Tok generation.
Her voice is rich, affectionate, and she delivers songs with passion and blossoming stage presence. An interesting choice of covers from a young artist, often, she explained to the audience, inspired by their usage in films. Okay, Elvisโ Can’t Help Falling in Love is timeless romantic, and The Cranberriesโ Zombie is most formulaic, but Dylan’s It Ain’t Me Babe, is a cynical rare choice to pull from her magician’s hat. Though it relates in theme to Rosie’s first song, I Don’t Give a Damn, and her general subjects. Rosie nailed them all, beautifully, with particular evocative expressions in the reclusive and heartfelt jaundiced emotions of Dylan, and likewise her own intelligent compositions.
Currently pursuing a Level 3 Diploma in Music at Wiltshire College and University Centre, Rosie told me of her work on local radio, and was enthusiastic about her forthcoming EP. Part of the growing Wiltshire Music Events family now, as Joylon Dixon has worked with her to produce it. And Joylon accompanies the next performer, the incredible Rachel Sinnetta.
Renowned for a two-year stint supporting Gerry & The Pacemakers, singing to Prince William and recording with Pete Townshend, Rachel intended to tour aย “Wuthering Heights: The Music of Kate Bush,โ project which unfortunately fell through.
Music teacher Rachel set to tour this tribute extensively throughout the UK; that’s what the blurb told me. All I know is Kate Bush is the vocal epitome of singularity, the individuality debatably overlooked in today’s pop industry, as the penchant to sound akin to Whitney Houston seems paramount.
Just like Dolly, Cher, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Tom Jones, Alanis Morissette, even KT Tunstall et al, you need a seriously powerful vocal range to convincingly take on a Kate Bush cover. And Rachel did, sublimely delivering Running Up That Hill, and popular hits of all the aforementioned. Seemingly having her own deal with god, Rachel naturally reaches the notes with ease, her husky yet divine rock voice is the eloquence and faculty able to adapt to take those powerhouse ballads on with such precision and poignancy, particularly with the female giants. She even rinsed Arthea Franklinโs Natural Women, and left me tingling, Chaka Khanโs Ainโt Nobody too simply wowed. Proud Mary in the key of Tina Turner; who would dare attempt them in an intimate gig such as this?! Rachel Sinnetta made them look childsplay.
Sassy with Tom Jonesโ Kiss, joyful with Erasureโs A Little Respect, covers came thick and fast, coupled with the secret legendary Jolyon Dixon without rehearsal was a match from heaven, and the whole shebang was utterly blissful; shame only us, a few regulars and their dogs were there to witness it. Such is the uphill struggle for new landlords to plant their establishment into a local music circuit, partially my reasoning for doing this blog.
So, take heed now, especially everyone in Pewsey; this wonderful formula, Rosie Jay followed by Rachel Sinnetta with Jolyon Dixon will be continued at the Royal Oak, in Pewsey, with a free gig from 8pm, next Saturday, the 19th October; they are in for a treat.
Tory tears welled at County Hall this week, when Cllr Richard Clewer, leader of Wiltshire Council threw his teddies from his pram over the Government’sโฆ
Weโre into August already; Christmas before you know it, so you better get outside and taste the sun while it lastsโฆ. Hereโs what weโve foundโฆ
If it’s been a fantastic weekend on Devizes Green with the orchestral Full-Tone Festival, further out of town scooterists, mods, skins and anyone else withโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.โฆ
Wiltshire Adele tribute Jodie Evans is all set to ignite the stage on Friday 18th October, at the Bear Hotelโs Cellar Bar in Devizes, with all funds made going to a Devizes School student hopeful to raise enough to visit Ecuador to work over the summerโฆ
Jodie is fast building amazing fan reviews and support for her tribute to Adele, and is taking bookings into 2025 already. Tickets are available at ยฃ10 per person HERE.ย
The Devizes School Student said, โFollowing volunteering within the Devizes area, I am passionate about giving back and I am looking forward to living and working with the local people, to experience first-hand the issues faced by rural communities in Ecuador whilst making a positive and lasting impact. I will contribute to ongoing sustainable projects that help support communities and protect the biodiverse environment in this amazing country – Thank you for supporting my cause.โ
We wish them all the best, and hope ‘someone like you’ can help and buy a ticket (see what I did there?!)
Gallivanting through festival season omits crucial visits to my local watering hole; I’ve missed it sooo much, and now feel thoroughly refreshedโฆ with a hintโฆ
Featured Image by Simon Folkard Following the announcement earlier this year about the cancellation of the Devizes International Street Festival due the loss of Artsโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this comingโฆ
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,โฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so!ย ย Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this comingโฆ
Forget the feud between Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, this is England’s West Country rivals The Skimmity Hitchers and Monkey Bizzle in a vicious rap confrontation which can only end one way; best guess, a drive-by cream tea headshotโฆ.
Seems shameless merch tarts and purveyors of self-dubbed โidiot music,โ Monkey Bizzle started it, Mrs McClusky. They put out a T-shirt with their monkey logo copulatory abusing the Skimmity’s badger at the beginning of the month, claiming they were โbetter than the Skimmity Hitchers.โ Real hardcore insults, but not an incredibly high pedestal to pop yourself onto.
Offensive on a Carry-On Camping level
As psychologically offended as a millennial watching George & Mildred, and in the spirit of big girl’s blouses, five days ago those bonkers as badgers vegetative veterans of deliberately naff scrumpy and western hip hop, The Skimmity Hitchers hit back, waxed lyrical by what appears to be their mum’s garage, filmed it like the dicks they are, and basically tore apart Monkey Bizzle. In the Facebook video the Hitchers claimed Bizzle stole the term โagricultural hip hopโ from its originator, Malmesbury grandmaster Corky, not very famous for the parody track Ginsters Paradise but a legend in his own Tweed nonetheless.
The Skimmity Hitchers laying it down
Factually accurate, Corky possibly coined the term and invented the subgenre, but shared the Hitchersโ post on the issue without comment, therefore best to assume he couldn’t give a wurzel’s combine if โagricultural hip hop,โ as a term,ย is plagiarised by either of them. Updated: Corky aligned a non-opinion on the usage of the term, but enlightened that “Agricultural hip hop has been around for years before me, and if Monkey Bizzle want to do agricultural hip hop then that’s lush. I haven’t actually heard any agricultural hip hop from them – at the moment they’re doing Scrumpy & Western rap and West Country hip hop, and I do love em.”
While this indicates it’s unclear at this time if Monkey Bizzle have ever even used the term, until they did today in a mock interview pretending this tiff was serious enough to warrant a news channel picking the story up. The interviewer has an earring, for crying out loud, itโs kind of obvious they just scrubbed up a crusty mate, paid him a teenth and put him in a suit.
Corky; staying the fuck away from it all!
The only fact we must face is neither the Skimmity Hitchers nor Monkey Bizzle have progressed hip hop as a genre any further than The Holiday Rap in 1986, and MC Miker G & DJ Sven could’ve put them both, and their legal advisors/drummers on their arses, direct into the moistest cowpats in all of Somerset; thatโs the point, and that’s why we love them both equally and feel it necessary to state the blinding obvious that the whole affair is banter, and a shameless and mildly amusing self-promotion for both parties. Yeah, impressive crusty dreadlocks or not, I’ll rise to that occasion, fill your muddy jump boots.
Monkey Bizzle at a barn
As fans and keyboard warriors jump the bandwagon to side online with either band, unconcernedly call for peace, complain their T-shirt is sleeveless, or conspire both bandโs members are actually the same people, the war shows no sign of resolution yet. When fans conspire about the musician’s members they know they have a little problem in their hands.ย
At the time of publication, the tempestuous testicle is in the Skimmity Hitchersโ court, Monkey Bizzle hitting back from the video with their own rap video, performed by a fluffy monkey puppet, and calling for the Hitchers to stick to supporting B*Witched, which is also not fact checked. As of yet The Hitchers have not responded in song, using a Japanese proverb in a Facebook post calling the Bizzleโs lyrics โvinegar strokes,โ and mocked their usage of the stuffed toy, as โhiding from the camera,โ and โrambling randomly like a Yeovil Donald Trump.โ Seemingly wanting closure, or just the final word, they asked fans if โany further response from The Skimmity Hitchers is really necessary?โย
Monkey Bizzle retort with puppet
As a Wiltshire-based blog, we at Devizine Towers are duty bound to remain impartial, and only bring the stupid subject up as a warning to take all necessary precautions not to bum rush the show if youโre planning to cross the border anytime soon to ring-rang-a-dong for a holiday. Though if we had to pick sides in a sinking boat scenario, at least we share a common ancestor with monkeys, whereas badgers are only good for one thing around here; blaming for bovine TB when thick slices of gammon deliberately dilapidated their dairy farm in order to backhand their compensation to their building contractor bestie for a new housing estate on their landโฆoopsy, too much? Of course, that Pandora’s Box is total fabrication and falsehood which would never happen around here, and I take it all back.
Wiltshire Police have published an announcement that any Wiltshire based agricultural hip hop artists living in Somerset, even Frome, should leave now for their own safety and for the sake of their pasties.
We rebuke the concept thereโs any agricultural hip hop artists from Wiltshire currently residing in Somerset, or any at all save Corky. Itโs simply not something we do here. Theyโre not like us over the cider apple border are they? Weโre all โreal ale,โ barbed wire fences and henges, theyโre all dry stone walls and tors. Theyโre as stir crazy as Shelbyville residents in The Simpsons, weโre refined, donโt you know, and thanking you kindly.
We may teeter on the edge of chap hop, but usually if itโs not a folk or electric blues driven wet blanket weโre not interested. Yet, as war often produces positive repercussions, we hope this feud will allow international attention to West Country born scrumpy & western and agricultural hip hop, cos it’s dope, literally. In the manner of fairness, though, tunes both bands are laying down are something simply worth putting up with the agro for, and Iโll drop links to them here, so we can twitch our curtains in disgust at their antics but still enjoy their porangi poetry and wackadoodle wabblings from a safe distance.
Monkey Bizzle, ready for court!
We live in hope freestyled spontaneous peace raps will commence, least The Wurzels will intervene, knock their bleeding heads together with a goldie looking chain, and they can settle the issue over a skull shaped bong, or some wacky-baccy laced fudge; you know the sort, with a postcard of the bogs at the Bridgewater drive-thru KFC poorly glued to the box.
โWe love our skimmity badger buddies like brothers,โ Monkey Bizzle showed the love like a fucking Disney adaption of Fergie and Will I Am, indicating its all showy banter. โSome of them even contain a little monkey DNA in them.โ This just eggs the keyboard warriors further into the conspiracy theory theyโre one and the same, but even if theyโre not, theyโre probably related in some form or fashion; weirdos, build a dry stone wall to keep them from gigging in Trowbridge or closer, I say!
With the unfortunate cancellation of Devizes International Street Festival this year due to Arts Council cuts, all eyes are on our wonderful Hillworth Park nextโฆ
Need to keep informed and updated on the general election and its effect locally? Don’t bother with national media sources, everything you need to vomitโฆ
Jam-packed July! If thereโs always lots to do throughout the year, July especially so! Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.โฆ
With the danceable penultimate act attracting a packed crowd, I observed a young teenager, who, on spotting a disregarded beer bottle, picked it up andโฆ
By Mick BrianPhotos by cast and arenaphotography William Shakespeareโs tragedy, inspired by real life eleventh century Scottish kings, is well known by anybody thatโs doneโฆ
Despite summer being a fleeting memory, and time to batten down the hatches for our major events, even if there’s not โmuchโ going on in Devizes at night, there’s always somethingโฆ.
Though tempted by gigs further afield, The Pump in one direction, George Wilding in Pewsey the other, I had had โone of those weeks.โ You know the sort, I’m sure; don’t ask if not! It persuaded me towards the self-indulgence of too many ciders; a rare thing for me these days, usually I’m happy to drive to a gig, but adamant I was staying in Devizes to booze, I was stuck with the โsomethings.โ Thing was, those things turned out really rather good.
If there’s always something happening in Devizes, it’s largely down to two pubs, The Southgate and The Three Crowns. But Saturday night, The Bear Hotel was hosting a soul DJ night of Motown to disco, by long-standing Melksham based DJ, Maurice Menghini, aka Mister M, and his partner on the wheels of steel, The Original PJ, or Patrick, as I was introduced to him as. Maurice has carved a flexible DJ promotional organisation called Real Music Promotions, for all manner of function, with a personal penchant for reggae. Heโs been at it for years, and is renowned locally.
My round robin, then, began at the exquisite Bear Hotelโs Ballroom, as rubbing shoulders with Maurice has been long overdue. Itโs a matured affair, a blossoming crowd of Devizes disco die-hards gathered, looking for any excuse to dance, and Maurice provided that with the unsurpassed magic of Motown classics, Northern Soul rarities and spanning into later disco discs. They know what buttons to press, supplying lively banter, and request cards on the tables. While itโs a ticketed event, they only weigh in at a fiver, with free live music elsewhere it must be said, a disco is a hard sell by comparison. Nevertheless, variety is the spice of life, all events are valid here, and Maurice and Patrick are ahead of their game; the ballroom is bouncing.
Real Music promised to return for another at the Bear, on New Yearโs Eve. Rest of the time you can find this double-trouble DJ duo regularly at Spencer’s Club at Melksham FC. The Sham, huh? Coming over here, guys, blessing us with soul vibes and forcing Devizes folk to shake their tail feathers, whatever next?!
Allowing the disco to simmer on low heat, I slipped off across the Market Place, to the trusty Three Crowns, black my nose there. Hugely popular with Millennials and a few older who think they are, The Three Crowns is bustling as usual. Itโs ever-lively, the place to be, theyโve extended their menu and have the knack to attract a variety of the Devizes demographic.
Except, rather than a full band they usually host, more often than not Britpop or classic rock covers, a working combination, the pub hosts dynamic Devizes duo, Funked Up. Also at it for years and locally renowned for it, with a keyboard and saxophone combo the duo deliver the timeless soul-filled pop classics you simply have to dance to, and they deliver them with the gusto equal to a full band. Needless to say, with the drinks flowing, this one will go off.
For the elders, come-as-you are Devizes live music aficionados, The Southgate remains the place to head for, and rightly so. The rare thing of welcoming original music, the authenticity of pub culture of yore, and the general communal atmosphere are its benefits, and we love it for them. Though I confess I preconceived the band by their name, A Smile, Two Bangs and a Legend kinda sounds quirky and loosely thrown together, you know? As if theyโre a nice, smiley conformist ensemble, attempting to break the wedding function band market! I should know better than to doubt the Southgate, as on arrival all-macho, healthy and hard rock was pumping out and A Smile, Two Bangs and a Legend were nearing the end of their first half.
The obvious question upon meeting one of those classic rock enthusiasts of the band, was who was the Smile, because they all looked equally red-blooded, who was the bangs, because as a unit they all made a noise, and who was the legend, because if there was one of those professional, ex-famous musician beatniks who occasionally played bass for some rock god and lived off the stories, it couldโve been any one of them! I stood corrected and better informed; the band name derives from a Monty Python quote, though a fan, Iโd not heard of before; from the Flying Circus series I believe, trainspotters.
But it wasnโt the origins of the name, rather the expert delivery of rock classics which turned this around. Executions of ZZ Top and AC-DC and all in-between came thick, fast and accomplished. It is precisely what the regulars at the Southgate lap up, a timeless template of prog-rock to the dawn of metal, those hard-hitting powerhouses which time will not allow us to forget. A Smile, Two Bangs and a Legend exceeded my preconceptions with smiles, bangs and were, definitively, legends in their own denims.
As imagining Iโm the soul man Sam & Dave sang about, Iโm inclined to leave the Gate, safe in the knowledge the band had it under wraps. Next time I see smiles, bangs and legends on the roster itโs a confirmed grand night at the Southgate, but then, in six years Iโve yet to be disappointed. I am, however, curious to see how our Melksham grandmasters are getting on at the Bear ballroom. On arrival things have escalated, the party in full swing is pumping, the Motown classics have progressed to disco ones, and the crowd have had their fill at the bar, and were either shaking their stuff or chatting enthusiastically.
This ballroom should have been filled to capacity, soul men and divas of Devizes, or anyone with a penchant for disco dancing of yore should take note, keep your eye on Maurice & Patrickโs future events, we will highlight them on our event calendar, your NYE is sorted there. Such it was, that on a mild night, between seasons of Long Street Blues Club, with no Arts Festival, DOCA, Food Festival, or even a show at the Wharf, that a weekend in Devizes is always on the cards, always there is a few options of something going on, and they’re usually pretty good!
by Ian Diddamsphotos by Richard Fletcher & Lisa Hounsome The concept of historical brutal dictatorships and comedy is not necessarily one that one considers asโฆ
A leopard doesn’t change its spots, and neither does a British Lion. Watch other Devizes pubs change landlord, decor, attractions, and styles. Watch them close,โฆ
Cool, Man Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday night, and it was time for a little jazz.ย As I often say (apparently)โฆ
Itโs been on my to-do list far too long, overdue to tick it off. Foot-tappin’ West Country folk ensemble, Billy in the Lowground released this album at the end of August, apologies for not mentioning it sooner, but it is worth mentioning, very worth mentioningโฆ.
Rather than baked bean stains halfway up most of my T-shirts, this seven track release Halfway Up the T-Shirt, refers to festival billing. โWhenever we play a festival,โ they explained, โwe always look for our name on the official merch, and after thirty-odd years, we’re finally working our way up, away from the bottom line.. Hooray!โ
To be frank, we donโt care where any festival organiser places them on the T-shirt, with an appealing brew of weighty Scrumpy & Western barefoot fiddles and banjo shenanigans, theyโll lift any T-shirt to expose a rotund hairy belly of upbeat Irish folk, and we love them for that here at Devizine Towers!
Ambiguous is the name, a phrase in a poem about William of Orange defeating the Irish Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne, knee-deep in a river, most likely, but other suggestions, like the poem being a parody of Hamlet’s soliloquy, a folk song about William the Conqueror, even “Billy” being slang for a Yankee soldier in the US Civil War, have been passed about, but you didnโt need to know that!ย You only need to know Billy in the Lowground have been musically ploughing their field since 1991, and have consequently become hugely proficient at it.
Halfway up the T-Shirt is seven strong tracks of goodness, not quite an album length but longer than an EP, a novelette if it was work of literature. โFact is, we could only afford to get seven tracks finished before we ran out of cash,โ they said, so buy this if only to get them more studio time, because itโs a worthy seven tracks to leave you yearning for more.
Follow My Road is a ripping opening, with guest guitarist Rob Fawcett. Itโs a hard rock groove, a blues theme, with the uplifting riff of The Levellers at their finest. All Hail the Clown follows suit, it rolls heavy with a healthy dollop of sublime fiddle. So the Story Grows, three tracks in, takes us in an irresistible, rootinโ-tootinโ bluegrass melody. With Be It Good, Be It Bad the fiddles and twangy guitars of bluegrass continues, but this one really brings out the Dylan-esque rawness of Chris Hibberdโs gritty vocals, uptempo and reminding me somewhat of Subterranean Homesick Blues, if it was recorded live at County Louthโs Ti Chairbre. Unsure why, as the whole album has that raw energy; itโs a Billy in the Lowground trademark, and itโs beguiling.
The album is stylised and flows on a lofty level, given this, Billy should be at the collar of the shirt. Fallen Queen is a monster to hail along to, fire you up akin to The Poguesโ Transmetropolitan, but paced. The penultimate Part of The Show builds in layers unlike the others, and for this itโs the most epic. Already released as a single, the finale, No Chance for a Slow Dance does what it says on the tin. Billy in the Lowground at their finest, it bears all the hallmarks of a magnum opus. Itโs rinsed with upbeat fiddle and banjo, it takes you on a journey similar to The Dropkick Murphy’s, and impossible to stay still to; yet the whole album is gold, sprinkled perhaps with some mud kicked up from the field youโre dancing to it in.
I saw them at the Bradford Roots Festival, in that purpose-built breezeblock beauty. The acoustics in there are incredible, but next time I see Billy in the Lowground Iโd favour it being in an ancient west country boozer where the carpet smells of wet dog hair and the odour of campfires drifts through the windows. Where the cider is passed around a packed crowd of steaming boaters, the band play stacked on top of each other in an alcove, knocking brass plates off the wall behind them! That said, they are at The Three Horseshoes in Bradford-on-Avon on 11th October, not that Iโm calling anyone names!
I was chatting to Josh Oldfield last week, a Devizes singer-songwriter I believe weโll be hearing a lot more of. Though this interview was pending before Iโd had the opportunity to see him perform, coincidentally the Sunday before I was fortunate enough to, at a private partyโฆ.
And it was worth a fortune, Josh has confident stage presence, a guitar soloist with soothing baritone vocals, white shirt and waistcoat, and a vintage suitcase foot-drum akin to a travelling Southern bluesman of yesteryear. ย Connoting retrospective style, the drum gives depth to an otherwise acoustic set, and the show is quirky, but oozing with professionalism, like a one-man skiffle band. Itโs something different from the norm, locally, which was the starting point to our chat.
Josh amended my description as โslightly different,โ โit’s a fair bit different,โ he suggested, โand I didn’t mean to do it on purpose, it’s just naturally how it came out.โ Fresh from Peggy-Sueโs local showcasing Don’t Stop the Music Radio Show on Swindon 105.5, he said it went โfantastic; there seemed to be people into it. And I don’t actually know what I’m doing, but it’s something different!โ
Pinning his sound only for want of conveying it to you, I jested he caused me to think a โskiffle George Ezra!โ Said with upmost respect, despite Ezraโs commercial success, he never waivers his style, possibly opening a door to others with deep vocal range. Josh ducked the Ezra comparison, concentrating on the skiffle and deepness of his range. โSkiffle’s perfect. It’s something I should have realised with gigs; people seem to like originally. Years ago I’d try and move away from how deep my voice is, because it’s not popular. Professionals and singing teachers will tell you, that because my voice is baritone, they’re like, oh, you got to learn higher range for popular music.โ
I supposed that was the appeal. โWell, yeah,โ Josh continued, โturns out people like hearing the lower ranges, as it’s not so common, and maybe there’s a comeback now, where people are kind of picking that up a little bit more.โ We waffled for some considerable time on the templates and expectancies of modern pop vocals, compared to a unique time of yore when a voice was a personal signature. Josh cited Tom Waits and Nick Cave as influences, favouring โobscure stuff,โ over contemporary pop.
He first picked up a guitar at thirteen. โMy dad just had a guitar knocking around the house. He used to play a bit, but didn’t really play anymore,โ but stressed he didnโt start singing until recently. A couple of months ago he sang at the open mic at the Cellar Bar, โthe first time my mum ever heard me sing, and I’m like thirty now. Singing is not something I’ve been doing naturally throughout the whole thing.โ
Josh comes across an earnest perfectionist, one who solitarily hones his craft and doesnโt unleash anything until itโs mastered, ergo heโs new on the scene but โoven-readyโ to give an impressive show. If now is that time to break the local scene, thereโs a valid reason. Given the all-clear from being diagnosed with testicular cancer last year, at twenty-nine years old, Josh expressed, โessentially that’s what ended up pushing me to want to pursue music. I was like, โI’ve kind of been given a second chance,โ you know? That was the main drive.โ
At the party Josh pulled some finely penned originals out of his bag as well as adapted covers of crowd-pleasing pop, such as Tainted Love; the set was instantly prodigious. On writing he expressed songs were, โflowing out. They’re just coming. I was being asked last night, what’s this song about? I don’t really have a clue what they’re about. They’re just literally being put down on paper and then, there’s a meaning in there somewhere, you know? It’s more like transposing them. There was a song I wrote on Monday, and I played it on Tuesday on the radio, because it just kind of happened. But then, when I was trying to look at what it was about it, well, I mean, I was watching Clarkson’s Farm the day before. So, there was some stuff about a farm in there, so maybe it’s linked to that in some way!โ
Capturing a moment no matter how inconsequential at the time, naturally crafting art sourced from it when inspiration strikes, and being as impossible to summarise how and why as it is to transmit a dream, is key to creative genius. That question put him under the spotlight, but he came up trumps!
Our conversation diverted to breaking the local circuits, the balance of adapting to certain venues and niches, as while many want cover bands, few prefer original acts locally, and I affirmed Joshโs self-penned vintage style would suit the matured blues aficionados of Devizes. Though we covered the upcoming more youthful indie-punk scene and talked of Kieran at the Pump. โThat’s more what I remember,โ Josh stressed after hearing me on the blues penchant of town. โBack in the day, the whole Sheer Music thing in Devizes. When that disappeared, I thought music in Devizes had disappeared. I thought it was all just, you know, pubs getting cover bands.But getting into it, there’s quite a big scene. It’s just finding it.โ
Thatโs why we, and people like Peggy-Sue are here! Josh is sourcing all the right channels and appears on Fantasy Radio on the 10th of October.
We continued onto the one-man band thing, and that authentic suitcase drum. โIt’s from America,โ Josh explained, โit’s a suitcase with the basic drum built in. There’s a Pan American drum company, only two companies in the world that do it.โ I imagined axemen of yore stopping at the crossroads and selling their soul to the devil with it! โWell, yeah, that’s the thing,โ he replied, โI want to play instruments where I can take them anywhere. So I got the kazoo as well. I can take that anywhere. I can play acoustic guitar anywhere. I can sing anywhere. When I think blues, thereโs electric, but then there’s the kind of, sitting on the front porch, playing kind; playing just cause you want play,โ which led us onto old-archaic bluesmen, of which there could be no doubt Josh has done his homework, alluding to RL Burnside and others. โNo one knew about him until he was like sixty something. He was a sharecrop farmer, and he just lived out there. He had like sixteen children or something, you know? But he didn’t care. And that’s really for me where that kind of foundation comes from,โ he said, explaining the story of a blues song he played at the party.
โThat old style of blues, I’m trying to lean towards, to be honest, has a lot in common with punk,โ he said and triggered a tangent on pigeonholing when roots intertwine, which developed onto open mic nights.
โEveryone I’ve met has been through the open mics, and I like playing them,โ Josh reacted. โThere’s this kind of community around it. Yeah, it can be a bit musician convention, and again, you mentioned Vince Bell, you know that’s where I met Vince. Me and him are looking to play a couple of shows together hopefully later this year.โ
Playing with the ethos of taking music back to its roots makes Josh flexible, his music fits into folk and blues, so itโs apt to work with acoustic folk singers like Vince, and Josh mentioned working with Jamie Tyler of The Worried Men too, electric blues, a different kettle of fish, but still fits like a glove. โThe live reaction to stuff seems to be great,โ he added. โIt’s that people like the music, to be honest, more than anything else that always surprises me. It’s like we were getting messages in while I was on the radio yesterday and people saying that they were really loving it and stuff and that’s surprising.โ
If Josh Oldfield is modest and wears his heart on his sleeve, itโs a common sign of a creative prodigy. He admitted, โI’m very reserved, introverted. In fact, part of the reason I like playing music is because I don’t have to be in the crowd. I don’t like being in crowds. So if I’m playing the music, I’m not in the crowd!โ Thereโs logic there, but in the brief time I saw Josh play, Iโm convinced of what I said at the beginning, I believe weโll be hearing a lot more of him.
A Lunchtime Amuse-Bouche by Andy Fawthrop Devizes Arts Festivalโs programme continued on Thursday afternoon with a lunchtime classical concert in the beautiful surroundings ofโฆ
Over the coming weeks I’m having cuppas with candidates of the Melksham-Devizes constituency crazy enough to indulge my political ignorance and endure my inaneโฆ
Seven-piece sui generis ensemble The Cable Street Collective were everything I expected them to be last night at The Corn Exchange; another impressive bookingโฆ
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Daft monkeys, three of โem, and I was proved wrong. It seems monkeys are indigenous to Cornwall, and they bring their monkey business to you with their stupendous new album, Information Camouflageโฆ
Believing is not always seeing; I see four members of Cornish gypsy-folk Three Daft Monkeys, assuming one doesnโt wish to identify as simian, at least not a daft one! Describing their latest release as โa rich, life-affirming tapestry that masterfully blends world folk inspirations with wild punk-infused energy and modern storytelling,โ theyโre not fibbing about that, itโs fast, furious with pithy prose and bonkers beats.
Imagine Dylan warbled The Times They Are A-Changin’ with samples, brazen fiddles, a cidered Cornish choir and breakneck Balkan beats at a west country festival chock full of drunken jester-hat wearing revellers, if you care to, and youโll be nowhere near as potty as the opening to Information Camouflage, Power to the Peaceful, causing me to believe, as I suspected, Iโm going to like this, a lot.
Iโm going to like it because Iโm eclectic and yearn for the alternative, the quirky and curious counterculture, and this bears such hallmarks. But importantly, it does so proficiently, with traditional punkish elements, but not amateurishly, as punk was, debatably, in days of yore.
Dipping into a melting pot of whatever happens to tickle their fancy without the confines of mundane normality, the title track follows, levels down the tempo, slightly, with a gypsy-ska bounce. Itโs continuing with the trenchant epigrammatic against tedious and deceitful conventions, a running theme which intensifies. The Fiji Mermaid, which follows, however, is dreamy psychedelic vaudeville, and frivolous.
First formed at the dawn of the millennium, they regularly supported The Levellers, and the next three songs reflect that tension and angered resistance to conformity. Thereโs an acute and poignant side to 3 Daft Monkeys, itโs fierce and floods you in fiddles and free party vibes, yet retains subtle elements of circus noir. In other words, no deep meaning is going to prevent you jigging barefoot in mud, with no idea or care what happened to your boots.
But itโs not the meld of the opposite sides, fun and seriousness, for thatโs common, rather the balance of the two. If Bob Marleyโs Kaya is joyful and Survival is militant, Exodus finds that perfect balance, Information Camouflage is 3 Daft Monkeysโ Exodus. This is My Call, is a prime example of this, rising and falling musically and equally in mood. Easily, which follows eight tracks in, returns us to the airy, with subtle bhangra vibes.
Itโs from a vast melting pot of influences which makes the best-defined โscrumpy & westernโ brew of UK folk, 3 Daft Monkeys stir the pot with gusto, edge and expertise. The final three tunes to this eleven track strong masterpiece doesnโt wait for you to get onboard, itโs a frenzied fiddles finale, a west country hoedown, with an acapella last tune.
All this album has done, other than entertain me highly, is confirm that, if they were playing a festival Iโm at, and my mates wanted to go do something different, Iโd be saying โsee you later,โ and making haste for the stage 3 Daft Monkeys are on!
3 Daft Monkeys funded this project with a huge independent CrowdFunder campaign, showing clearly how loved this band is by their ever-increasing global fan base.
Information Camouflage is available now as download and CD from www.3daftmonkeys.co.uk/SHOP .Release date for online streaming platforms: 1st November 2024. Thereโs an autumn tour on their website, closest to here is the Exchange, Bristol on November 2nd.
โThis is not just an album, but an experience,โ the band explained, โa kaleidoscopic journey through sound and emotion that celebrates life, love, and the resilient human spirit. Itโs a testament to 3 Daft Monkeysโ dedication to their craft and their unwavering connection with their fans, offering a soundtrack that invites you to dance, reflect, and revel in the magic of music.โ
Despite the population of Devizes throwing confetti and paint at each other in their most celebrated annual ritual, I believe I picked the right weekend to visit Swindon; deffo, or are they always โaving it there?!
The Wildcats whipped butt at their first league game of the season on Friday, but my Saturday was dedicated to exploring the arts, something criticised stereotypically by outsiders. I could sigh, with partial agreement, historically perhaps. Swindon caressed industrial boom, somewhere along the line forgoing its arts and culture. This is changing, and fast, the Shuffle is a skeleton key opening said transpose.
What’s not thankfully changed is Old Town, while central Swindon is unrecognisable compared to twenty years ago. Just as Swindon Paint Fest has decorated the walls with impressive street art, the Swindon Shuffle is the event pushing the town’s boundaries in locally sourced live music. There’s few annual events in Wiltshire showcasing entirely local music, I best liken the Shuffle to The Bradford Roots Festival at the Wiltshire Music Centre. Save, this is spread across the choicest pubs in Swindon rather than under one purpose-built complex.
And it is a mammoth simultaneous exhibition of musical talent, a taster of what the county offers, of which it’d be impossible to witness entirely; best I approach this diary-like, apologies to the many bands I missed. We’re talking over seventy acts spread across nine venues for this four-day beast in its eighteenth year, and it remains free, fundraising via donation buckets for Prospect Hospice.
Available for the Saturday only, my intention is to take as big a bite of it as I can, taste some known favourites and cross a number of must-sees off my ever-growing list.
Swindon Shuffle is a beautiful thing, a convention for local musicians, promoters, media types and aficionados. I stepped off the bus at The Tuppenny, in a hurry and frustrated I’d now missed Sienna Wileman and likely Chippenham’s singer-songwriter Meg, to bump into Sienna’s father Richard, big Shuffle chief Ed Dyer on the door, and luckily, Meg’s dad Paul; the latter meaning Meg was still playing and I managed to catch the last few songs of this unique and emotive rising star.
This tavern was bustling yet functioning happily, a crowd immersed in Meg’s magical words, set the stage for Americana soloist Jol Rose, up next. Something of a Swindon optimistic Dylan, he retains his concentrated narrative songs in favour of the more lighthearted ditties and banter to appease, though there was a poignant one on the Gaza conflict, but whichever his outlook, Jol is a proficient entertainer and skilled master of his craft.
Breaking familiar territory, new one for me, David Corrigan of The Astral Ponies followed, with an inspiring set of acoustic versions of his band’s songs. The dilemma of going tried and tested against treating the Shuffle as a voyage of discovery set in; solved by the next few hours whereby acts I’m making a beeline for I’m aware of but yet to see live. I tend to get over-excited about such prospects, and figured drinking cider like water might help.
Make no mistake, I could’ve cemented myself in at The Tuppenny, such is its comfy atmos, but, hot on this must-see list, Swindon’s Afro-Latin collective Zambalando are due in a coffee shop on Commercial Road called Baristocats, so I’m moving on. The cafรฉ was bustling and I was early, recalling a Facebook post that the Midlife Krisis sound system was set up in the courtyard of Level III, exterior to the Shuffle program. I thought I’d temporarily breach the Shuffle and check. Bass rolling down the street like the millennium never happened, I turned one corner to find a throbbing little afternoon rave going on, with their symbolic milk-float fronted DJ booth, a wall of sound and smiley ravers giving it some.
Observing street art of city magnitude I left assured, Shuffle or no, Swindon has embraced diverse arts on a level unrivalled by its recent history. Only the thought of Zambalando dragged me away from the old skool vibes, but upon arrival back at Baristocats it seemed they’d cancelled. Nevertheless I commandeered a sofa, tea and toastie, chatting to Swindon’s premiere reggae/ska keyboardist Erin Bardwell, who’s collective Subject A played the Shuffle on Thursday. Baristocats are hip, make a damn fine toastie, and XTC’s keyboardist Barry Andrews, aka Stic Basin, was taking us on a blissful journey of ambient dub.
If Iโm complimenting Swindon, may as well include some infrastructure too, for tucked behind the now commercialised Regent Circus is the steep Prospect Hill, ingeniously with a pub at both the top and bottom. This would be my resting place for the duration, the short distance from the Beehive to the Castle manageable, if uphill, to switch between multi-musician Richard Wileman & singer and saxophonist Amy Fryโs gorgeous experimental jazz-come-psychedelia at the Beehive, and Liddington Hill whoโve created their own subgenre, Celtic-grunge, and were currently giving it whatโs for at The Castle. Allowing me to cross two must-sees off my list. Liddington Hill was brilliantly loud and in your face, everything Iโd imagined and more, and crowds gathered to salute that.
Unlike the Beehive, I was unfamiliar with the Castle, yet felt immediately at home; it had been invaded by both โTalkersโ awaiting the headliner, and cheesemakers from Calne, real ones! Itโs fine, off territory, no dispute, love The Real Cheesemakersโ hilarious wurzel take on heavy rock, and boy did they blast it superbly!
Only good things heard about the next band were certainly not fibs. The Belladonna Treatment is a remedy for an off-balance in indie-rock, pop and punk; all subgenres were subtly intertwined idiosyncratically, and beguilingly delivered to sardine-packed admirers, and a new fan here. Unfortunately Trunk, the penultimate act at the Castle I had to miss due to an emergency burger mandate. Itโd be fifteen minutes wait at the chippy, I was content, itโs opposite the Victoria, Swindonโs stalwart music venue and one I unusually gravitate towards.
Age thing, the lineup was particularly heavy and aimed at the younger demographic at the Vic tonight, NervEndings headline, and Iโm well aware of their force of nature as they spawned in Devizes, adding our quintessential blues module to their furiously yet accomplished sound. A whistlestop no longer than a burger on a grill, enough to note it was equally as packed and having it there as the Castle, Lucky Number Seven were ensuring it.
But if you know me well enough youโll know if indie-pop virtuosos Talk In Code are there, so am I. Itโs a march back to the Castle for a grand finale of eighties-tinged goodness. I never doubt, Talk in Code pulled it out of the bag, the place was thumping, the crowd were jumping, and the end, for me, to Swindon Shuffle was the icing on an exceptionally tasty cake.
The show continued Sunday, had to miss Concrete Prairie, Courting Ghosts, Cooper Creek, Leon Daye, and others, but I believe I took a fair bite out of this extravaganza, this local music expose, certainly enough to know if you only spend one weekend a year in Swindon, youโd be best advised to make it this one.
You can still donate online to Swindon Shuffle’s fund for Prospect Hospice HERE.
Land ahoy me hearties! Devizes Corn Exchange was boarded last night by Cornish punk pirates Jolly Roger, for a frivolous and swashbuckling opening to Devizesโฆ
Images used with kind permission of Pacific Curd Photography West Wilts and Somerset folk-rock collective Courting Ghosts are about to release their debut album, Fallingโฆ
We’ve been chatting with the Community Organiser and Campaigns Manager of Devizes and District Foodbank, Alex Montegriffo, about an important free community conversation on Mondayโฆ
By Ian DiddamsPhotos by Gail Foster In 1971 Ken Russell enchanted film audiences with โThe Devilsโ, which incorporated nuns in the story โ somewhat controversially.โฆ
Friday evening in the liveliest of Devizes pubs, The Three Crowns, with Devizes best upcoming band, Nothing Rhymes With Orange pulling a two hour setโฆ
In recognition of his selfless ministry and leadership of St James Church, where the community and residents are at the core of everything, birthday boyโฆ
Itโs going to be all strawberries and cheese baps in pith helmets swinging in trouserland bedlam, with chap-hop shenanigans galore at the Barge on Honeystreetโฆ
Benefits of having a Mayor who runs a blues club! Devizes blues fans get a late but great Christmas present when Mayor Ian Hopkins brings us this peach, a Devizes International Blues Festival on Saturday January 18th at the Corn Exchange; this news should warm you up!
“This is the biggest show I have everย put on,” Ian told us, and he’s put on a few in his time! It promises to be an all-day festival, starting at 2pm and containing a great line-up of blues stars. Any profits will go to the Mayors Appeal.
“We will be creating a intimate atmosphere of a blues club limited to just 250 tickets. There is a special Early Bird of ยฃ45.00 prior to 1st November when price rises to ยฃ50.00,” he explained, seemingly and understandably excited, you probably are too! Book now at Long Street Blues Club website, or tickets are at Devizes Books and Sound Knowledge in Marlborough.
ย Abrilli, sole Director and owner of Tonka Bean Cafe Bar in Devizes announced today, due to โsignificant changes in personal and financial circumstances due toโฆ
White Horse Opera members, Soprano Barbara Gompels, Mezzo Soprano Paula Boyagis, Tenor Carlos Alonso together with pianist Tony James join forces with international cellist Anupโฆ
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Marlborough gothic duo Deadlight Dance are due to release an EP of new material. Itโs called Chapter & Verse and itโll be out on Ray Records on 13th September 2024โฆโฆ
Nick Fletcher and Tim Emery, aka, Deadlight Dance, stripped back a collection of their favourite new wave-goth classics and recorded them at the 12th century All Saints Church in Alton Priors last November, releasing them as an album, The Wiltshire Gothic, in March. If the Wiltshire Gothic excelled in uniqueness for acoustically recreating the sounds which inspired them, Deadlight Dance prove theyโre no one trick pony with this new EP, as while it equals to the eminence of The Wiltshire Gothic, it does so for entirely the opposite reasoning.
After this acoustic beauty of echoing mandolins the effect is immediate, Deadlight Dance pull out heavy synths on this EP, a stark difference you may also find in their live gigs, swapping from acoustic to synths at the halfway house. Itโs electronica punchy and as positively eighties as the original new wave and gothic songs they covered for The Wiltshire Gothic, of Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim, et al, but all five tracks are their own work, completely original.
The only similarities with the last album is that thereโs a theme, this time within the subject matter rather than the production, and naturally, itโs as proficiently entertaining. The concept here is something to appease their old English Lit teachers at the Sixth Form where they met, as each track is inspired by a book character, in one word titles. So, the tracks are Montag, Rosemary, Charrington, Judas and Monster, leading me to rustle my mindโs archives as to the books they represent; I got four out of five without Google, honest, sir, do I get a merit mark or something like that?!
Opening sonic, like OMD in their prime, book-burning firefighter Guy Montag of Fahrenheit 451 is the first subject and this is the only tune here which uses a sample, from the 1966 film adaptation Iโd imagine, but Iโve not seen it, only read the book like a good boy! Obviously, futurism fears, flames and the controversial connotations of Ray Bradburyโs magnum opus is ideal for a gothic related song, and we are off to an engagingly good start.
The second song is the one I guessed incorrectly, itโs the girlfriend of the neurotic Gordon Comstock in Orwellโs Keep the Aspidistra Flying, Rosemary Waterlow. Concentrating on her relationship frustrations, the song is a haunting echo in plodding synths, again, an ideal candidate for Nickโs howlingly vocals.
Sticking with George Orwell, though this one remains instrumental, the antique dealer come undercover Thought Police agent in Nineteen-Eighty-Four, Mr. Charrington is the next subject. Again, itโs a haunting sound enough, it needs no vocals, it twists in metallic scraping undertone, dark and mysterious futurism, it would evoke the perfect mood for the score to any possible remake, or in turn the soundtrack to the previous UK government who seemed to view Orwellโs masterpiece a self-help guide; apologies, couldnโt resist adding that!
Fourth tune in, is called Judas, no prizes for citing the book it comes from, but after the gloom of Charrington, the sound is surprisingly uplifting, capturing the pop side to classic goth rock, like The Cure. Iโm undecided if the song is sympathetic to the actions of Jesusโ grass Judas Iscariot, if it furthers to question the integrity of the bible more generally, or both. But itโs an interesting atheistic angle, and an astutely written song.
Thereโs a bass stomp verging on techno intro to the final song, Monster, reminding me of a fast coming of Jaws, then the synths swirl and Nickโs off thirty seconds into the melodic narrative of Mary Shellyโs Frankenstein, or the The Modern Prometheus, a gothic novel indeed. It caused me to consider Frank Millerโs reinvention of Batman, a character whoโs mysteriously shadowy edge was lost through the passage of commercialisation, particularly via TV, and how he gifted us The Dark Knight version.
Frankenstein portrayals are so commonplace, and often comical, it obscures the harrowing nature of the original story. As they do with all the book characters here, Deadlight Dance captures the mood, the intensity and torment of Mary Shellyโs monster, through music, as by Sergei Prokofiev captured the characterisations of Peter, the Wolf and other animal side characters. Itโs an absorbing prose, excellently manufactured, and brings gothic rock of yore back into the forefront. Not forgoing, when contrasted with the Wiltshire Gothic, it shows diversity in Deadlight Dance, both are returns to โconceptโ in albums, something dearly overlooked in todayโs one track Spotify world. It leaves me wondering where theyโll go next, but feeling confident each new progression will contain cognitive connotations amidst this hail of gothic rock, and these are the elements which makes each release a treasure.
Chapter & Verse will be released on Ray Records on 13th September 2024, across streaming platforms and available to buy on Bandcamp. Follow Deadlight Dance socials to keep in the know.
Find Deadlight Dance supporting Canute’s Plastic Army at the Tuppenny, Swindon on 19th September.ย
Supporters of local live music know, least they should do by now, that Swindon is the place to head this following weekend, 12th-15th September, because it’s that time of year when Swindon gets shufflingโฆ.
Yep, The Swindon Shuffle is the town’s longest running ever-growing music festival, taking place over multiple venues and it’s free save for bucket collecting for the very worthy charity, Prospect Hospice. Swindon Shuffle, eh? Swindon Dilemma more like; thereโs so, so, so many quality acts to look forward to, some clashes, thereโs tough decisions ahead!
Find the full line-up on their website HERE. But it’d be impossible to mention it all, so here’s my personal preferences for unmissable acts over the long weekend, with as many Bandcamp or Spotify (if I have to) links to the artists as I can find, so you can get acquainted before the weekend.
If I was able to attend the entire thing, which is unlikely Iโm afraid, but if I could, here’s how I’d approach the task. Thursday 12th is easy-peasy, 8:15 at the Tuppenny for Adam Woodhouse’s Thieves, impressive bluegrass goodness. Then pop to the Hop for some sonic pop rock with Atari Pilot, followed by the experimental dub of Erin Bardwell & Dean Sartain’s Subject A, with Heather O’Neill, Neil Sartain, Matty Bane, Harki Popli and others, it’s a gorgeous sound from an amazing collective.
Friday 13th gets trickier to pick. Hooch at The Castle for a 19:15 start. There’s two Hooch’s on the local circuit, one is an okay cover band, but this Hooch is the one you need, they’ll brew covers too but have a wonderful discography of originals in a Californian surf-rock fashion.
Then it would be over to the Victoria by 21:15 do NOT miss the sublime grunge of I See Orange, they’re one of my new favourite things, and that wonderful noise of Viduals follow, punking it up with Chasing Dolls for the finale. While I’ve not seen Chasing Dolls I’ve heard only good things about them, and after a blast of the other two I believe I’d be too exhausted to venture anywhere else by then anyway!!
Saturday 14th is an early start at The Tuppenny, daughter of Swindon’s answer to Mike Oldfield, Richard Wileman, Sienna Wileman is one I simply have to cross my must-see list, meaning I’ve got to get into Old Town by quarter-to-three, but it’d be worth it. Chippenham’s wonderfully unique folk singer-songwriter M3g follows Sienna, and we love M3g here at Devizine. And Meg is followed by Swindon legend Jol Rose, it’s a heaven-sent acoustic afternoon.
Then I’d be off to find Baristocats; love the name, not been there yet, but they’ve got Latino melting pot ensemble Zambalando, who, since fondly reviewing their album, I’ve been dying to catch live. Then, a bit of a dilemma, it’s a toss up between Liddington Hill at the Castle at 19:15, who, like Zambalando, I’m fanatical about after reviewing but yet to catch live, but unlike them they’ve created their own subgenre, โceltic grunge,โ donโt you know?! Yeah, this, or the aforementioned Richard Wileman with Amy Fry, same time at The Beehive. It’s about this time in the proceedings when I really need cloning technology to drastically drop in price!
Hey look, any of these bands are worth trekking to the roundabout metropolis for, together it’s heaven in Swindon; whoโd have flunked it?! As much as I’d like to be at the Vic for a very loud triple bill of Lucky Number Seven, Phantom Droid and NervEndings, I’m tempted towards the Castle to finish Saturday off in style. Calne’s comical metallers The Real Cheesemakers are on at 20:45 there, followed by Truck, who I don’t know, but will be holding out for Talk in Code as a grand finale; those boys, we love โem!
Sunday and we’re back to easy pickings, Cooper’s Creek at The Tuppenny for 15:15, onto The Beehive for a marvellous evening, Courting Ghosts, The Leon Daye Band, and Concrete Prairie at 19:30. Concrete Prairie, though, has to be done.
That would be my dream Shuffle this year, if oh, erm, that doesn’t sound a bit rude. But hey, Iโm only tuning into a tried and tested formula for choices, and thereโs so many acts on the roster here I should be paying a visit to, but which ones? Feel free to comment here on the social media shares, and let us know which ones you think we should be there to see!
I mean Iโve heard great things about Reuben’s Daughters, Abstraction Engine, B-Sydes, Emma Doupรฉ, and many others, so perhaps I need to be a little more adventurous?! Whatever decisions you make, youโll be safe in the knowledge The Swindon Shuffle cherry-picks the finest local talent and brings them to you in a mahoosive arrangement of gigs, at nine separate venues in or around Old Town, and itโs the best time youโll ever have in Swindon, unless, you never know, you might prefer shopping and a squashed Big Mac?!
by Ian Diddamsimages from Mark Harrison Facebook Last summer I was lucky enough to see Mark Harrison play at the โTangled Rootsโ festival over Radstockโฆ
In what appears to be a deliberate attempt to smear the campaign of opposition candidate for Wiltshire Police Crime Commissioner, independent Mike Rees, it seemsโฆ
If we spoke only last month about Wiltshire Councilโs threats to prosecute Wiltshire Music Events over posters advertising a Bob Marley tribute event in Devizes,โฆ
Devizes-own indie-pop-punk youth sensation Nothing Rhymes With Orange smashed the Exchange on Friday as a farewell to their local fanbase. They pursue a music course together at Bristol Uni; but is this goodbye forever, or just Chow for Now? (there’s a pun there, but only for ardent fans!) I met them at their rehearsal the day before to ask this, chat about their past, prospects, breakfast cereal intake, and Jennifer Anistonโฆ.
If you noted new songs on Saturday, why one was named Jennifer, if you observed the song Manipulation, once used as an encore, was pushed to the middle of the set, or if you’re generally wondering how they’ll cope living and studying together in one house, all will be answered!
Background first. A couple of years is all it’s taken Nothing Rhymes With Orange to build a phenomenon locally, the likes I once compared to The Hoax thirty years ago. I quoted myself to nightclub owner Ian James, who agreed, reminiscing about the Hoax playing Jools Holland’s show. They may not have reached that level yet, but this present conjunction is the make-or-break period. Many school bands fold here, as life takes them in different directions. Ergo, key to gauging their thoughts is to cast their minds to the beginning and discover how close knit they are.
So once we established the original lineup of frontman Elijah Easton, guitarist Fin Anderson-Farquhar, drummer Lui Venables, and bassist Ivor Ritson formed NRWO at Devizes school, Ritson being replaced by Sam Briggs soon after, I wondered if they were friends beforehand. โWe all knew โofโ each other,โ Sam and Lui confirmed, โkind of knew each other separately from Lavington,โ Fin added. โBut then we didn’t talk to each other!โ Sam completed. Elijah agreed, stating heโd known Lui since about twelve years old, โbut we didn’t speak until I was about sixteen,โ when they both joined another band.
Sam brought it to present day, โif youโd have asked us at the start, like five years ago, if you’d all be living in the same flat togetherโฆ.โ Which bought a round of laughs, I believe Lui bantered about Sam. โI would have been like, what are you talking about?!โ Sam completed. Youngest in the band, Fin, reminisced, โme and Sam used to play in a band together, when I was in year 7 and he was in year 9,โ then added โnarcolepsy!โ Iโm uncertain if thatโs the name of the band, or if he suffers sleep disorder!
Theyโre venturing to Bristol to study the same music course, residing at the same residence. Sam pointed out last year ago thatโs the furthest theyโd gigged. โThis year we’ve done everywhere compared to last year.โ Story checks out, alongside many festival bookings, they also made first steps in London, โyeah, Camden in two weeks,โ Sam replied. But when they get there, and people don’t know them, how does it compare to being in Devizes with fans singing back to them? And which do they prefer?
Image: Gail Foster
As harmonious as they perform, they agreed they love playing both, Elijah complementing, โwhen you go to these places and then you see people enjoying your music as well, that’s a whole other experience.โ
Sam exampled a gig at Bathโs Komedia, balancing the two, โthat was half and half. Some people at the front who knew us. But then there was about 500 other people, which was mental!โ
On the potential pressures of communal living I used an example; an occasion when I woke up one morning to discover the pasty Iโd planned to take to work had a bite taken out of it, and was placed inconspicuously back into the fridge!
Fingers for such inconsiderate tomfoolery was immediately pointed to Elijah, with milk! He confessed heโs on about seven bowls of cereal a day! โBut I buy them,โ he reasoned. โI think that’s the difference. When we were at the start of Sixth Form, I didn’t really know what I was going to do,โ he furthered, โand I didn’t know I was going to Bristol. I had no idea what I was going to do with it.โ
Image: Gail Foster
Sam added, pointing to Fin, โI think I was the only one of us three, and maybe you, who knew you were going to do music at college, maybe…โ
โYeah, because I have no other option,โ Fin complemented!
Sam continued, โI was already going to do that before I even got in the band together, I injected that into you a little bit when I turned up.โ
โI think now we’re just throwing ourselves all in,โ Elijah said, โabout two years ago, we were doing it and not sure what we were going to do.โ There was a mutual agreement it was because, โwe love it.โ
Maybe they can deal with subtle musical differences, but when it comes down to breakfast cereal, that could be the limit which pushes it over the edge! Yet when citing their musical influences, they all wanted to say the Fontaines, even when I first opened the door to see Elijah bouncing around the hall with his guitar, Sam sitting picking his like it was made from diamond, Fin with the expression of motivated concentration, and Lui holding it together on the drums, it was like a gig without the audience, and all these elements indicates mutual appreciation for their common goal, drives an instinctive pledge, a motivation to bond and therefore to work harmoniously, and hard. As Elijah expressed, โwell, it’s like we’re brothers now.โ
While the guys were taking the interview seriously, there I was back on pastry products, implementing an unwarranted light-hearted angle, joking on the Greggs steak bake falling apart lyric from their song Monday, was his own fault for going to Greggs. Yet in this I was pondering those amusing themes of pitiful everyday scenarios like Lidl Shoes too, as all good punk should, against the balance of romantic themes, and this brought about how they tackle cliches in pop when creating a song, and methods they use to compose them.
Image: Gail Foster
โI’ll probably come up with some lyrics,โ Elijah revealed, โif thereโs a lyric that is unbearably cliche or, obviously, there’s something in it that you could make fun of or compare to another songโฆ If we make a song that sounds like a YouTube montage, one of us will bring it up, and bluntly say this sounds cringe. We just get rid of that. Looking back on our old songs, we sort of did. If you think Manipulation, when I listen back to that now, I think it’s a bit cliche, but part of cliche people still have a love for.โ
Manipulation was their crowd-pleaser and often used as the encore, I had previously noted it had been pushed to the middle of the setlist for tomorrowโs gig.
Sam theorised, โthereโs a familiarity in cliche. In some sense you can find beauty in it โcoz you can try hard to avoid a clichรฉ, and write with an ambiguous sense about something, but people still need to understand it, and I think itโs easy to go away from what people know. You know what you’re thinking, other people don’t. The hardest part is the balance of trying to write something people can understand and connect with as well as not thinking it’s cliche. That’s the difficult art to master.โ
Do they have a template when creating songs, or do they sporadically come together naturally? โThey’re all different, really,โ Elijah answered, โwe all do instrumentally. I’ll think of some lyrics, but it can change from song to song. The recent ones, we’ve been coming up with loads of new ones, and the new format is, we’ll think of some lyrics, we’ll cook it quietly, maybe get the first product ready, and then get the whole band in and finish it into this final product.โ
Image: Gail Foster
Eiljah praised Samโs input. โAnother thing that’s changed is having Sam in the band, because we’ve written differently compared to when we wrote Manipulation and songs like that and didn’t have Sam in the band. Sam’s changed the dynamic again with how the template is, and now we’ve got him playing guitar, we’ve got like three songs greatโฆ.โ
Fin added, โwhen we started, we were sitting down and going, โwe need to write a song,โ now itโs like, ooh, a new song come up, letโs do that, it’s less sitting down and going, โwe are writing a song right now.โโ
I could sense professionalism establishing through experience and understanding the natural passage of creativity is to recognise and develop when inspiration strikes. The new songs are patently more skilled than previous three-minute punker blasts, to concentrated and prolonged instrumental sections akin to prog rock, yet retaining edge, NRWO are crafting a unique style and are united in perfecting it. The gig at the Exchange confirmed this.
Sam said, โthat’s the most important thing to stay with when you’re writing a song. It’s to not write a song because you need a song, but it’s to write a song because you want to write a song. We’ve done it before. You sit down and you’re like, oh shit, we’ve run out of ideas. We’ve played all these songs a thousand times. Let’s write something new, but 99% of the time nothing comes out of that. It’s more likely to come out of just sitting down and you’re jamming or you’re sitting in your room.โ
Elijah added, โFor me, you know, the song starts as an emotional output, experience. We’ll have a week of not trying to write anything, and you have like, a shit day or, you go to a party or something and then, suddenly, you wake up about 3:00 in the morning, write this song and then go back to sleep! And then I’ll wake up in the morning. I’ll send Sam a voice-note on my phone singing.โ Like the song Monday, I reasoned, that happened, didnโt it? โI’m having a typical Monday, write a song about it!โ
Image: Gail Foster
โIt’s interesting the links you can find,โ Sam responded, โEli might have written some lyrics, and then a month later I’ve wrote some guitar parts, and I’ll send it to him. What I was feeling at the time I wrote that guitar part was the same as what he was feeling when he wrote some lyrics another time. And those two things end up being a song.โ
โI think we’re sometimes technologically on a wavelength as well,โ Elijah followed with, โwe’ll literally write a song on WhatsApp, we’ve done that on voicemail!โ
Thinking this has all gone rather serious, I asked the guys, โwhoโs in it for the music? Whoโs in it for the chicks? And who’s a bit of both?!โ And you should realise I cannot divulge full details, but some decided on otherโs behalf, few suggested they were spoken for, few opted for both, but when it returned to seriousness, the music was the overall winner. โI’m definitely in it for the music,โ Elijah claimed, then professed to writing a song about his fixation for Jennifer Aniston, whoโs erm, four years older than me, โwhen she was in Friends,โ he clarified! Fin hoped Jennifer might marry him off, but they performed the song at the Exchange, none of the female fans seemed to fuss!
Nothing Rhymes With Orange at Devizes Street Festival
We moved swifty onto the course at Uni. โWe’re almost all doing the same thing,โ Fin explained, but stressed there was differences. โThere’s production,โ Elijah added, โturning it from live music into songs, how to record and how to get all the right equipment and recording settings.โ
โIt sounds like all you’re going to be doing is playing guitar or drums or whatever,โ Fin informed, โbut it’s getting bookings, arranging gigs. There’s also business and event management in it as well. Yeah. So it’s kind of it’s the performance and โaround itโ as well as like just standing and playing shows.โ
โWhich is pretty good because I mean, we’re kind of been doing it for a year!โ conveniently led me onto my next question, if they could put forward what theyโve already achieved as a project? Elijah scrubbed the โhomeworkโ idea but welcomed the thought they would โhelp us achieve more and bigger opportunities, links into festivals and meeting new people and into new studios.โ Just being in Bristol alone is beneficial to this, surely?
โWe started to struggle recently with the fact that there’s only so much you can gain from being in a little town,โ Sam expressed, โthough itโs been nice.โ This took us on the angle of finding venues wanting original music over cover bands. โThat’s the thing,โ he continued, โyou often get, โooh, can you play covers? Which is fine. What’s been good, is to get such a strong fan-base. It’s been easy because there’s not much else around.โ Using a gig from May, at the Three Crowns in Devizes, where the usual requirement is cover bands, such is the reputation the boys have attained, fans will sing their songs back to them in much the same way classic covers will evoke.
โYeah, it’s just brilliant,โ Elijah smiled. โWe met loads of people, had amazing gigs in Devizes. I’d like to think this is the start; we’ve got this band now, and we know what we want to sound like, we know what we want to play like, and we know how we want to perform. So we’re just taking the same thing, and the main goal is trying to get it as big as possible, which is a bit crazy! Crazy, but I think the whole thing is a bit crazy, because if you’d have told me and Lui like what, five years ago, we’d even beโฆ.โ
โYeah,โ Luiinterrupted, โitโs mental where weโve comeโฆ.โ
And it is. I asked of their influences, but rather they concentrated on upcoming guitar bands like Wunderhorse, found solace in the smaller stages at Reading Festival, and stuck to their guns of analogue guitar music rather than experiment with tech. I pushed them on synths and backing tracks. โI don’t think we necessarily want it for ourselves,โ Elijah said, โbut I think it’s inspiring to see a band going into mainstream with just their guitars and nothing else because I think it’s rare now.โ
Fin expanded, โa lot of the people in the top ten are just one person,โ and we spoke of the depletion of mainstream bands. โA randomly inspiring one, because I could list 1000 bands which inspire me,โ Sam added, โthat’s the obvious thing to say, but besides that, like Reading the other day, we saw Georgia Smith, and itโs cool to see, not thatโs inspiring our music, but to see there’s a band playing behind her. If you listen to her on Spotify, there’s garage beats and it’s all produced and processed stuff; that’s coming round a bit more as well. You see these people who traditionally would have a backing track and a microphone, coming out with band behind them. Which is really cool as well, on the basis, one; it gives you different points of view on what you could go to as a band later down the line, and also the fact that there’s more room for itโฆ.โ
โItโs good to see music live,โ Elijah prompted a chat about smaller gigs versus the mainstream. โI will always love loads of fans, always,โ he suggested, โwhen you see like all those faces out in front of you, and it’s like geez!โ
We spoke of naturally maturing a sound but being uniformed against selling out or diversifying your style, ending with me supposing thereโs a formula you stick to for however long that roller coaster rides.
โIf you change in the right way, you can never be wrong,โ Elijah replied, โwe’ve probably got an album of songs now that we’d all be happy recording and releasing. But if we did another one, we stick to the same formula, but say, a third album, normally people get bored of it.โ
Sam added, โthere’s changing in style, which can degrade a band potentially,โ but turned the focus onto โa loss of energy,โ for the flailing attention of the public on a band. Sam figured it wasnโt the change in style of a band, โbut if you don’t retain that energyโฆ.one thing you shouldn’t do is not change your style and try and stick to the same thing, if none of you want to do it, because then it’s just going to sound like you don’t want to do it. And I think, personally for me, and otherโs might feel differently but I find it more important if you needed to do a little change in style to promote the fact that you like what you’re doing now, I feel like that’s better and I think to an audience that’s better conveyed if someoneโs enjoying themselves on stage playing what they like. That’s better to see than someone playing what you want but not enjoying it.โ
But Iโm going to twist the narrative to influences, because I believe the lads have been a contributor to encouraging younger locals to practise and form bands too, and wanted to ask them if they had any advice for them. Iโm unsure how true this is, they suggested they wasnโt aware of it, but were happy to hear of it. But the advice was definite and unified; โdon’t give up.โ โYeah, just do it.โ โIf you wanna do it, do it. It’s clichรฉ, butโฆ.โ
โEven if you got no idea what you want to do,โ Eljah added, โif you like something and you’re enjoying it, just do it! Because otherwise you can’t just be miserable if you’re not doing it. If you listen to people who say, oh, that’s terrible, don’t do that, stop, stop playing, what are you guys doing? Yeah, there’s no one to be doing anything, if everyone just listened to them, youโve just gotta enjoy yourself!โ
It seemed to me weโve a lovable, carefree frontman, lavishing in the moment, rightfully, against Sam, the articulate analysist, pinning their thoughts, and the whole band are tight, hardworking and motivated; thatโs a winning combo. Sam added, โdon’t compromise your originality for the sake of other people, I think is the biggest thing. Because at that point you’re enjoying yourself. And that takes me back to what I said earlier on, yeah? A band enjoying yourself is a band in its best place.โ And this made a perfect summary of NRWO, our town should be proud of what these guys have attained, but the killer question is after such a great gig at the Exchange, is this us parting ways, or just Chow for Now?!
Nothing Rhymes With Orange
โThe main thing is we’ll be back,โ Elijah promised, and went off rambling slightly! If I know anything about student life, theyโll be back when they run out clear underwear! But when they do, Confucius say, Nothing Rhymes With Orange will have attained vast advances beyond the sphere of knowledge here in Devizes, and if the Exchange gig was more refined than ever before, their return will be something else! Until then, we at Devizine wish them all the best with their studies and lives in Bristol; if you can call making rock music a study, I call it shirking!! That Ain’t workin’!!
By Florence Lee Images by Kiesha Films โThey promised hardcore shenanigans which never fall below 180 bpmโ SHOX: After seeing Shox in February I wasโฆ
Girls, girls, girls, we love them here at Devizine, especially our esteemed all-female local supergroup The Female of the Species. 2024 will be their ninthโฆ
Two teen Devizes punker bands appear on Trowbridgeโs Pump triple-bill this Saturday, as the search for the Future of Trowbridge reaches its eighth instalment; unsureโฆ
There will be some foot-tapping folky goodness at the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon on Friday. This year’s Bradford Roots Festival may be aโฆ
The Light at the End of The World is a fourteen tracks strong album which scores a goal directly from the kick-off with the aptly titled opener Letโs Go. Released at the beginning of the month (August 2024) the timeless goodness of hard rock is firing off on all cylinders, and it doesnโt wait for the opponent to tie their shoelaces. What did you expect? This is a band called Bottle of Dog, who use a logo design adapted from the Newcastle Brown Ale labelโฆ.
Lady Red follows, then Push Up Push On, and this Chippenham three-piece indie self-defined raw powerhouse shows no sign of letting up. Thereโs something ZZ Top about all this love at first sight monster. The band was accidental; formed from a one-off gig, now on their two-hundredth, a splendid accident.
Their Facebook blurb pigeonholes it as indie, combining โseventies classic rock sounds with modern day indie,โ yet I find it takes four tunes to meander from the outright frenzy of early eighties hard rock. The riff of Chancing hints at mod rock of the same era, something that reminds me of the Undertones, or and especially, Secret Affair. Better Than Me, which follows immediately after tingles with a goth rock edge. Clearly thereโs more going on here than the initial blast, but through influence nods it never loses its frenetic, loud and proud edge.
Okay, The Light at the End of The World doesnโt dare to experiment, opting for the tried and tested rock template, and only moving from subgenre to subgenre, but it does so thunderously and with the โif it brokeโ notion; hard not to like unless youโre George Gershwin! And anyway, before you know it, Loveable Idiot at the halfway point has taken us back to hard rock, and you wonโt be complaining. Itโs authentic noise, lyrically felicitous and admissible for the bill.
Three quarters through the album you consider yourself safe from getting a slushy or moody angled track, Bottle of Dog give it their all throughout. Break the Page perhaps the pre-eminent, a rolling riff to make to hurry your fag and get back inside the pub to headbang! The penultimate Captainโs on Board, has an anti-establishment yell, providing adequate narrative over the rolling drums and a โHey!โ chorus, which leaves you confident the audience of a live gig will be singing back to them no matter how unaware of these confident originals they are, or pissed they happen to be!
And we finish with Zombie Town, which quotes London as the inspiration, alien to the communal Chippenham, yeah, keep your nose out, pal! Unsure if any inner meaning to this, or if this is quite a light at the end of any road, or album, as the title may suggest, but it sure is fiery fun, quality blaring and doesnโt come up for air. If a metaller went to a boozer expecting covers of Ace of Spades and Hallowed Be Thy Name, or punk wanting White Riot and Teenage Kicks, neither would go home disappointed if Bottle of Dog simply runs off this album.ย
They play the Fleece in Bristol 8th September, The Royal Oak, Corsham 2nd November, Colerne Liberal Club on 7th December.
After an inaugural midweek gig with local legend Andrew Hurst this month, it seems Bromham’s St Nicholas Church could be the unexpected new rural musicโฆ
Spring has sprung! There were two snails on my milk-float this morning, opening โdoing it,โ without shame; absolute filth! โฆ. I should have filmed itโฆ
By Mick Brian.Images by Chris Watkins Media Mention the name of the author โAgatha Christieโ and most people will immediately think of her two mainโฆ
Chandra, Hindu God of the Moon, with his own NASA X-ray observatory named after him, and also frontman of a self-named friendly Bristol-based four-piece pop-punk band Iโve recently been introduced to; busy guy, I have to tell you about themโฆ..
This band has been together since April and knocked out five singles already. The latest, Lifted is as the same suggests. Itโs feel-good factors and amusing hooks immediately warm to you, but at the same time itโs an intelligently crafted grower, simply infectious! Chandra has put six tracks into an EP, titled Lifted too.
Chandra explained, โI spent a while trying to figure out my sound and what I wanted to write about. So the first few songs are very much me finding my way. Lighters To The Sky was a eureka moment and the song where things suddenly clicked.โ You can hear this as this track is on the EP, alongside Pretty, Smile and I’ll Be There, perhaps rawer by nature, prototypes, but this upbeat sound with hints to carefree merriment has been perfected sublimely. Lifted is so commercially viable Iโm going tingly, an elevating and uplifting anthem.
โI spent 2023 releasing singles in order to put a band together because literally nobody was interested in being in an originals band when I first started looking for people,โ Chandra told us, so band members are from Bristol, Patchway, Trowbridge and Chandra himself is from Berkeley. โWe’re a bit all over the place but Bristol is our common ground and where we play the most.โ
Only geographically all over the place, I might add, Chandra sounds polished. We chatted about the desire of local circuit venues wanting cover bands, a frustrating reality for bands trying to produce original material. โBristol is basically a hive of musicians who mostly play for two or three different covers bands,โ he expressed, โand that’s fine of course, but playing covers just doesn’t give me that buzz. Originals is a tough slog but I get so much satisfaction from the reactions. It means a thousand times more to me.โ
This led me to name-drop Trowbridgeโs Pump as a venue dedicated to original music and also promoting upcoming artists too. As I suspected theyโre on this, and play there on Friday 4th October with Ben Waller & The Tell Tale Signs. Closer by date, they support Laissez Faire at the Thunderbolt this Thursday.ย
The elevation to the latest single Lifted is bursting with potential, Smile (No Fox Gibbon) marks a milestone, thereโs contemporary pop-punk goodness of Blink 182 or Green Day, yet melded subtly with English charm, whereas Lifted is defined, idiosyncratically melodious and my new favourite thing. Iโm unsure where the final song Overload fits chronologically, but it is a moralistic acoustic chicken nugget, a gorgeous committed sound, displaying a more mellifluous side to Chandra.
The scope here is encouraging, but the compelling steadfast template theyโve created is simply irresistible already. If Chandra isn’t headlining by autumn I call for a national inquiry into why not!
Wiltshire Councilโs ambitious plans to resurface all the roads in Devizes before the next ice age have been cancelled because rare dinosaur fossils have beenโฆ
November was one crazy month for our friend and researcher from the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England, Brian Edwards.โฆ
With howling, coarse baritones Nick Fletcher, the main vocalist of Marlboroughโs gothic duo, Deadlight Dance chants, โhere comes the rain, and I love the rain,โฆ
An exodus of musical lovers and, I’d assume, a healthy handful of friends and family, trekked southwards through winter’s final ambush last night, to enjoyโฆ
There was an assassination in Pewsey last night โฆ a ska assassination; pick it up, pick it up, Pewsey!
Like buses, ska bands are around these backwaters, which put me in a dilemma. Safe in the knowledge those Killertones will skank up the Southgate in Devizes, I sought to head east to the vale of Pewsey where Eddie Prestidge’s Wiltshire Music Events hosted a new one on me, at the Bouverie Hall, south west’s own D’Ska Assassins.
Salisbury based Wiltshire Music Events have fast become renowned for putting on events of the highest quality, here they gave us CrownFest, a Devizes Corn Exchange sellout with The Marley Experience and countless pub gigs. In the spire city their Tunnel Rat studio is bringing the best out of upcoming artists, but they also love gigging out in the sticks!
The sum of these parts equates to a gig with my name all over it. You know, or should do by now, how much I love my ska. You’ve got to have eclectic tastes to do a thang like Devizine, but influenced by the pop of my childhood and discovering my dad’s old Bluebeat and Trojan records, my penchant for the offbeat remains paramount.
House-duo Illingworth kicked off the proceedings of this Motor Neurone Disease Association fundraiser, which though may sound unlikely, being mature skinheads mingled with Pewsey’s curious or retrospective aficionados, their unique brand of pop-rock classics mounted to a massive appreciation from the audience. End of the day, most skinheads are aware musical links between reggae and rock are close-knit, and hey, they just love music, period.
Therefore the warm up was complete and refined, John and Joylon did their thing exquisitely as ever, to encourage skinheads to dance to Dolly Parton is one thing, but they pulled great Bowie and Boomtown Rats covers out of their bag of tricks, and everyone loves a finale of Hey Jude no matter how much hair is on their heads.
It was a quick changeover for a seven-piece ska band, which backfired somewhat, as the engineering hadn’t the opportunity to soundcheck. I sighed as adjustments were quickly made, the enthusiasm of the band seemed to wane too, and on the grounds amateurish ska cover bands we get aplenty here, often murdering the sound I love, I feared this could go Pete Tong. They slammed straight into fifth gear with archetypal upbeat Bad Manners and Madness covers and the crowds were aptly enthused. But picky me felt it wasn’t the greatest of its kind I’ve bore witness to, fortunately I was proved wrong rather abruptly.
Seems the name DโSka Assassins doesn’t include the assassination of the sound at all, and it felt like the band were merely warming up. All my fears were quashed, three or four songs in, like someone stuck a rocket up their butts. D’Ska Assassins suddenly came alive. Rock steadying the pace a smidgen, here’s my surprise; for a ska cover band to come booming out to such an upbeat intro is unusual, normally they build up and Madness and Bad Manners classics are savoured for a finale. Now concerned they’d played their trump cards too soon, despite a renovated faith D’Ska Assassins had something special; they proved me wrong a second time!
There’s always plenty of upbeat classics in a repertoire of Two-Tone, and D’Ska Assassins, after slowing the pace in the middle of the set, laid down those Specials and The Beat covers thick, fast and accomplished; the latter D’Ska Assassins frontman expressed their joy at supporting at the Cheese and Grain. It was a fairytale ending, with moonstomping in boots and braces, as the crowd didn’t really stop dancing throughout the proceedings. Equating to a brilliant and memorable night. D’Ska Assassins came, saw, and shone like proper job Bobby Dazzlers.ย
All the typical elements of a decent ska cover band they pulled out of the hat, astutely handling stage banter, especially when the keyboardist nipped out for cigarette halfway through the set, else covered Ranking Roger’s vocal contribution to Stop! But the true magic was their ability to sustain the pace and enjoyment, slipping in a few original pieces, which is rare, and rarer still, sound at best with the slower reggae tunes. Other unusual elements to the D’Ska Assassins show compared to the archetypal Two-Tone cover bands was the strength of the brass with only one, rather sublime female trumpeter, and lead guitar solos akin to Junior Marvin accompanying Bob Marley and the Wailers.
They perfectly balanced all the elements they broke the moulds of, together with those you’d expect from a ska gig, covering those versed classics, encouraging audience participation and wearing Fred Perry shirts, and they produced a frenzied and highly entertaining trouble-free show at the rather welcoming community venue Bouverie Hall.
As for Wiltshire Music Events, you only need to stay tuned here as we’ll blow their trumpets for them, they’re going from strength to strength. Finalise carnival night in Devizes with a trip to the Corn Exchange where they’ll show off their link to Kinisha Morgan-Williams from Manchester, the finest Tina Turner tribute you’re ever likely to see.
The Liberal Democratโs are today celebrating a historic election win in the heart of Marlborough, in the first contested Town Council election for thirteenโฆ
After a larger quantity of social media teasers than previous years, Devizes Arts Festival has today revealed their full line-up for 2024. Better takeโฆ
Image: Czampal Iโm laughing, not at the Glasto lineup, but the incalculable comments of negativity it has encouraged in Facebookland. It should be saidโฆ
Ian Diddams Written by Jonathan LarsonPresented by Maple Theatre Company It’s always hard reviewing a show that one has seen multiple times before, performedโฆ
In true Royston Vasey style, unfortunately due to time and resources we donโt review international music as we did during lockdown, choosing to focusโฆ
On International Womenโs Day a group of women from the Swindon community decided to organise a clothes memorial for the over 11,500 Palestinian childrenโฆ
Itโs when you hear those American addresses, like house number 21,456 Park Avenue, you realise Long Street in Devizes is a long street only comparable with neighbouring streets! Even then itโs only averagely longer, and seems quite short to walk along when you know three-quarters of the way down thereโs world class blues acts giving it whatโs for.
All hail Long Street Blues Club, home of a blues appreciation society as large as the town itself; letโs have a gander at their upcoming season, shall we?
Iโm not going to jinx the clement weather by saying it, hopefully, but it will be classed as the autumn-winter season for the established juke joint within a Conservative Club, so letโs pretend the nights are not closing in and view this a preview of whatโs to come when it does, okay, good for you? The fun doesnโt end in summer here, yโknow?!
Thursday 10th October kicks it off, with some southern fried and heavily drunk Mississippi delta blues, when Heavy Drunk, Watermelon Slim and Leonardo Guiliani team up for an electrifying Trans-Atlantic tour and see here as why weโre so fortunate to have Long Street!ย ย
Multi-award-winning Watermelon Slim was perhaps best summed up by the late Jerry Wexler (co-owner Atlantic Records, producer for Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin) who described him as โa one-of-a-kind, pickinโ n singing Okie dynamo.โ Sons of the South soul outfit HeavyDrunk has made waves with their signature raspy vocals and Americana infused sound.
Their Mississippi delta blues, powerful gospel, and hard-hitting rock โnโ roll energy charged their 2023 album You Donโt Know Me, which was released to raise awareness and funds for the crumbling grave of music legend Robert Johnson.
UK based independent musician, guitar player, and singer-songwriter Leonardo Guiliani joins The Mississippi Delta Blues Experience 2024 fresh off the release of his 2023 album Rogue. Produced by four-time Grammy award winner producer Tom Hambridge, Rogue showcases Guilianiโs talents inspired by the acoustic singer-songwriters and electric jam bands of the late โ60s and the โ70s.
It doesnโt end with this Mississippi Delta Blues Experience, for little over a week later, on Friday 18th October, the legendary Wishbone Ash will play the Corn Exchange for a Mayorโs Appeal fundraiser; thatโs what you get when the mayor is the key organiser of a blues club!
Wishbone Ash embarked on the nascent progressive rock scene in 1969, far too long ago for me to be around, but if I was I like to think Iโd be waving my bell-bottoms and freaking out to it with a flower in my hair. Theyโve a distinctive brand of melodic rock, inspired equally by British folk traditions and American jazz and R&B, and still do it fifty years on.
If thatโs not enough to twist your temptation, support comes from our one and only Johnny B. Goode, Ruzz’s Guitar Trio, and if youโve not heard of him youโve not been reading Devizine enough!!
Last gig of October is on Friday 25th, grandson of the legendary RL Burnside and legend within his own right, Cedric Burnside brings his new album Hill Country Loveโs UK tour to Devizes. He has built up a formidable reputation as one of the most original blues performers of his generation, and was recognized with the 2024 Mississippi Governor’s Art Award for Excellence in Music, which should be quite enough accolades for us. As with most of them, demand for this gig will be very high indeed so early booking is essential.
Things are no slow train running when we look at November either, on Saturday 2nd, following a sensational support slot with Giles Robson last year, Mississippi MacDonald makes a return by demand from the clubbers.ย
English soul-blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, fronting a four piece band, Mississippi MacDonald is a six times British/UK Blues Awards and three times US Independent Blues Awards nominee signed to APM Records and appearing on BBC Radio 2โs Blues Show with Cerys Matthews.
Yes, get in! Sunday 9th November sees Ian Siegal and band return to the club. No stranger around these parts, as part of the Birdsmen project with Jon Amor and the Docherty brothers, as a guest of Jon and within his own right, damn, Iโve mentioned it before, but Ian is the very definition of cool!
Heโs the multiple British Blues Awards winner and hot tip of everyone from Mojo to Classic Rock. Heโs the songwriter whose recent CD releases sound like career peaks, but are only the start. From one night to the next, he might be a solo acoustic performer or a blood-and-thunder bandleader. Siegal is known as a bluesman, but itโs just one shade in the palette of an artist who slips between continents, eras and expectations.
Saturday 16th November is the date John Otway brings his big band, and hereโs one I know so many cry at me to see, but Iโm yet to tick off my must-see list. Pop’s most amazing eccentric English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona, Otway is punk essence, remembered for accidentally misjudging a step in order to jump on an amplifier and sent it and him tumbling on the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test!
Otway’s sixth single, the half-spoken love song Really Free reached number 27 in the UK Singles Chart. An appearance on the BBC’s flagship music programme Top of the Pops, where Otway & Barrett were introduced by Elton John, Otway was finally a star!
Support comes from the foot-tappinโ folk of Billy in the Lowground, a fine choice in my humble opinion.
And thatโs it, save for the, (dare I say it while the sun is shining?!) Christmas Party onย Saturday 21st December with The Thomas Atlas Band. Garage funk in style, his band takes in members of The Brand New Heavies and The Brothers Groove. Heโs no stranger to Devizes, guesting with Jon Amor Trioโs regular Sunday session at the Southgate, returning to our answer to the O2 in his own right, and playing a gig at the club between them!
A Smile Two Bangs and a Legend support on this one, who Iโve heard about, love the name but not had the opportunity to witness for myself, but it will be Christmas party and a half, even if I donโt like to even mention the C word until December and apologise to like minded others!
Long Street Blues Club is one of those strange things if you donโt know it. Turn up, observe raffle ticket buying, check out the ham or cheese rolls on the bar, and think what have I done, is this a Saga excursion? Then correct yoโ bad self, when you witness top class blues acts from both near and as far away as possible, and realise this is the Devizes Blues Preservation Society HQ; and they shoโ got their mojos workinโ.
Newly formed and locally based collective Palooza hosted their opening night at The Exchange nightclub in Devizes yesterday, offering house music with universal appeal andโฆ
Salisbury-based event organisation Wiltshire Music Events has been ordered to remove posters advertising the Marley Experience gig at the Devizes Corn Exchange on 13th April,โฆ
The fifth single coming out from Chippenham singer-songwriter M3g on Friday, Ashes of Memory, and if Iโve said in the past what separates Meg fromโฆ
Swindonโs sonic indie popsters Atari Pilot are a prolific bunch, and have a new single out called The Rules Never Changeโฆ. And, they donโt. Thereโsโฆ
Members of Swindon Palestine Solidarity made themselves heard at the Labour Party fundraising dinner, where Jess Phillips MP was the guest of honour, protesting atโฆ
Hereโs what weโve found in the wilds of Wiltshire this coming weekโฆ.
Everything listed here is on our event calendar; go there for links and more info, as it takes too much time to link them all in. It may also be updated as more events come to our attention, so check in later in the week too!
Ongoing: A Wiltshire Thatcher: A Photographic Journey Through Victorian Wessex runs at Wiltshire Museum, Devizes, until the end of August.
Important note: events which come to our attention from now on, will be updated on the Event Calendar and NOT HERE. So, be sure to check in from time to time, use the Event Calendar to find more info on everything listed on here, and for ticket links, etc. Use the Event Calendar to check for updates and planning ahead.
Did we miss you out? Did you tell us about your event? Itโs not that we donโt like you, itโs because Devizine uses many sources to collate these listings, and sometimes we miss a few things. Listing your event here is free, but please make it easier for me by messaging or emailing the info, and then, and this is the really important part, make sure Iโve added it and let me know if not!
I was intending to start this along the lines of โyou don’t need me to provide another reason why I love The Southgate,โ but this is Devizes. Being I overheard a conversation between a person by the ticket machine in the carpark, and their friend at their car three yards away, which went: โgotta put yer registration in, int ya,โ to the reply โyou can get it off the number plate,โ I reconsidered, maybe some do need a reminder!
Thing was, festival after festival, I was supposed to have a weekend off, grandkids visiting, but the temptation of Ruzz Guitar standing in for Jon Amor for his monthly residency was too great to resist, coupled with the fact I needed a break from drawing Paw Patrol characters, litter-picking Harbio off the sofa and being a human climbing wall.
In no time at all I was sighing relief at our dependable Gate, replacing Peppa for aย pint of Rosie’s Pig; my guilty pleasure. Oh yes, you wanted yet another reason why I love the Southgate, at least a reminder; because even if you’ve stayed in for the weekend, it’s never too late to have a change of heart, Sunday afternoon sessions from 5pm are equally as satisfying as those of the Saturday night.
You knew this, I’m sure. Jon, with the fantastic drum and bass duo, Tom Gilkes and Jerry Soffe have turned this faithful and friendly tavern into a divine monthly juke-joint for many moons now, with guests the calibre you’d gladly fork out a ticket for. They’re also the kind of gig which appeals to the guests, nearly always returning within their own right to the Southgate.
So with Saturday a guaranteed hoedown with Marlborough’s blues giants, Barrelhouse, for a Sunday with Jon unable to attend, the cavalry was called in. There’s some great guitarists in the south-west, there’s the sublime few, and then there’s Ruzz, so good they named the guitar after him. In America they’re calling our regular Johnny B Goode the “Pistol from Bristol,” and the boot fits.
They got our mojo working for an encore, preceded by the perfect execution of Ruzz’s slide guitar interpretation of Armstrong’s Wonderful World, and my personal favourite original, Sweet as Honey. It was a superb finale to a spellbinding set, the likes you can always rely on with Ruzz, fronting his trio, Blues Revue or, evidently, Tom & Jerry too.
The guitar is what Ruzz is a virtuoso of, Gretsch knows this and endorsed him. If he was a chocolatier he’d be endorsed by Teuscher, if he was a stamp collector it would be a stamp collection worth seeing! What a fantastic afternoon at the Southgate, again!
Ruzz is back in Devizes Friday October 18th with his Trio, in support of legends Wishbone Ash at the Corn Exchange, it’s the first gig with profits going to the Mayoral Appeal; a welcome advantage to having a Mayor who runs a blues club!! Tickets here.
Swindon indie popsters Talk in Code return tomorrow (1st March) with a new single, Something Of Nothing โฆ..hold tight to your Deely-Boppers, things are aboutโฆ
Think early nineties dance-indie crossover and the Madchester circuit might understandably spring to mind. Yet Pop Will Eat Itself were Brunmies, The Shamen were Scots,โฆ
I trouble procrastinating upon being gifted a previously released CD from an artist for review, unfortunately they land on the backburner, prioritising upcoming news items.โฆ
Ian Diddams Regular readers of Devizine may be well accustomed to hearing the name โVince Bellโ. For those less frequent readers or those that haveโฆ
Bit Wintery, innit? Calendars are going forward, weather is going backwards! Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold ontoโฆ
Hey, teacher! Leave those sausage rolls alone. Hereโs whatโs happening over the coming week in the wilds of Wiltshire, hold onto your hats, there beโฆ
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