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 calendar……
The Oak Festival is an all dayer boasting seven bands, food and outside bar, but it’s 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 it’s unmissable.
There’s also a lively Irish folk element to the festival with The Tipsy Gypsies, and Pouges tribute, The Phogues, both I’ve 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, they’re the most electrifying exciting local act we have.
There’s two acoustic singer-songwriters too, Lucas Hardy who I’ve heard only good things about, and Salisbury’s 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 £32.50, which, once you’ve seen The Marley Experience, you’ll realise the ticket stub was worth it just to see them alone, and why I’m 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!!
I woke up yesterday morning long before the rising sun, but I did have a smile, because I witnessed the sheer magic of The Marley Experience at CrownFest last summer, and knew Devizes would be beautifully showered in one love; it didn’t disappoint….
They came to our Corn Exchange, rarely blessed with reggae, to pay a respectful and sublimely entertaining homage to the undisputed king of it, and raised the roof considerably higher. With professionalism, astute attention to detail and a prodigious heap of gusto,The Marley Experience is a live phenomenon must-see for anyone with so little as just a passing interest in reggae; and who hasn’t?! It’s the offbeat, isn’t it? That little jump which makes it so appealing, that, and its marriage between narrative in songwriting and danceable beats we rarely see in other pop genres; well, it is for me!
I’d only seen a few tribute acts prior to starting Devizine, thus was critical of their worth to begin with. Then my investigations led to an invitation to see a different Bob Marley and the Wailers tribute in the Sham. I thought of this as a true test, to impress me by tributing an artist I idolised rather than one I could take or leave. But they delivered, and this reinforced my devotion and commitment to tributes in general; at the time I never imagined a Bob Marley tribute could’ve topped it.
Amazing as this other Wailers tribute was, particularly visually, I felt the show was, at times, rather unmalleable, or structured, by comparison to the loose and causal vibrations of the real McCoy. To have been lucky enough to have seen Bob Marley and the Wailers perform during their peak would, I’d imagine, have been an experience less lucid, more spontaneous and extempore. While arguably not quite as meticulous visually, The Marley Experience seem to have a better handle on this looseness priority, projecting a far more relaxed and comfy attitude, and resulting in something less ostentatious, joyful in ambience; precisely how I’d imagined a real Bob Marley concert to have played out.
Amusing story from a documentary, when the original Bob Marley and the Wailers lineup with Peter and Bunny attended an Old Grey Whistle Test for the BBC in 1973. A BBC engineer had a wonky preconception of the mechanics of the reggae style and tried to intervene, claiming what the band were playing wasn’t reggae! Whatever his presumption was didn’t matter because reggae, from ska to dancehall, is progressive, never stagnant; these were raggle-taggle Trenchtown rudeboys doing what they do, I think they knew full well what reggae was, and that you’d have been extremely foolish to question them about it!
Reggae branches on equally as many tangents as rock or soul, perhaps more. It’s this pliability which rewards it with its charm and magic. No tribute act is supposed to be Madame Tussauds, particularly a reggae one! It’s surely a musical commendation and adulation, something The Marley Experience clearly acquired, proudly and ingeniously; musically precise, and that is, after all, what we surely want from a tribute act, not a duplicate, but an interpretation of, a homage.
There’s a plentiful beloved back catalogue of Bob Marley and the Wailers not to have to delve deeply into rarities, rather provide the audience with a setlist of the songs they know and love, and they did this. From One Love and Three Little Birds, they sure moved the crowd. Ballads like Stir it Up and Waiting in Vain were irresistibly causing partners to embrace, and his militant songs of unity, Buffalo Soldier or Get Up Stand Up were performed with such superlative passion, well, it might as well have been the real thing. And as Bob Marley & The Wailers fanboy number one, that’s definitely the highest accolade I could reward.
They held Exodus off until the encore, leaving the crowds screaming for more. Perhaps the most obscure song choice being Soul Rebel, they marched on through the known classics with certain professional ease, and appeared to have a lot of fun doing it. The joy of performing reflects on the audience, and I didn’t notice one face in the crowd not in awe of what they were witnessing, much less attempt to stand still!
The atmosphere was enhanced by the quality of sound and lights, and the perfect engineering we’ve come to expect from Wiltshire Music Events; they promise to return to Devizes in style; watch this space.
The brilliance of The Marley Experience took flight only after a wonderful set from John and Joylen, aka Illingworth, an acoustic duo with said worth, active on the local pub circuits and a cut above the rest. Favourites of Wiltshire Music Events and session musicians for their Tunnel Rat Studio in Salisbury, the pair did themselves proud, I’d have expected no less from them. With some wonderfully executed covers of rock classics, it made for an alternative to the more common option of a reggae DJ to support, and Illingworth saw it as a convenient opportunity to add a higher number of their own compositions as they might usually perform in a pub scenario; something you’ll never see me grumble about.
But, if there was a natural mystic blowin’ through the air last night in Devizes, if you listened carefully you’d have heard; watching the news and international tensions unfold, there’s timeless words in Bob Marely’s writing equally as poignant and relative today as they were when he wrote them. Yeah, we have this film, yeah we have Marley grandchildren sampling his works, but more grounded and achievable to go see, the strength of a good tribute act to him will do more than entertain, one hopes, it will serve to continue and resound the plain and simple message he profoundly wailed, and The Marley Experience have that commitment, passion and skill to do exactly that, plus get us easy skanking, naturally!
Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, M3G (because she likes a backward “E”) has a new single out tomorrow, Friday 19th December. Put your jingly bell cheesy tunes on hold for a moment, because this is a beautiful, epic journey…. M3G’s seventh release, Rooks, poignantly pulls on the heartstrings when presented by the rise and fall of a…
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 their classical music talents….. Wiltshire Music Centre announces new Spring season with some extraordinary listening experiences on offer in the new year. Wiltshire Music Centre is a unique and contemporary 300-seated…
Daphne’s Family & Childhood Connection to Devizes Celebrations of Daphne Oram have been building in London since the beginning of December, for those in the sphere of electronic music and music technology. On the first Thursday of the month The Barbican held a concert commemorating Daphne’s centenary, where sound and music fair access partner, Nonclassical,…
Dreadzone, the Phoenix rising from the ashes of Big Audio Dynamite’s success, when drummer Greg Roberts and keyboardist Dan Donovan teamed with Julian Cope’s sound engineer Tim Bran, were the prolific electronic dance triumph of post-rave….
Owing their accomplishment to the fine blend of reggae into the contemporary melting pot of dance culture, harking back to Two-Tone yet too encompassed the burgeoning breakbeat house scene which in turn would fuel drum and bass. But Dreadzone never went there, the final piece of the jigsaw was bringing in vocalist Earl 16, and they stuck to their guns producing memorable anthems of techno-reggae dub bliss, particularly unforgettable being Little Britain sampling Carl Orff’s Auf Dem Anger.
But if you, like me, were bouncing around a muddy field like Zebedee on a day out from the magic garden to a 1937 classical symphony you might not appreciate me reminding you, Dreadzone celebrate their thirtieth anniversary this year; but it might cushion the blow by letting you know you can join the party at Frome’s Cheese & Grain on Friday 21st April.
Still in the forefront of the festival scene, in 2022, Dreadzone refocussed their show after MC Spee was forced to step back from touring and they explored different aspects of their history and catalogue ahead of their 30th anniversary this year. With a reconfigured line-up for 2023, the band’s live shows will feature core members Greg Dread and original bassmaster Leo Williams, plus legendary reggae vocalist Earl 16, as well as Bazil on technology and Blake Robert (Greg’s son) on guitar.
They have been releasing albums and progressively bettering, refining, and perfecting their own unique and inimitable take on dub since their inception in 1993. Dreadzone opened the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 1994, though if memories of that are hazy at best, I fondly recall a night at Shepard’s Bush Empire in 1995 when I was still dancing to an imaginary dubplate in the cloakroom queue!
With plans for their 30th Anniversary firmly underway, standby for a new studio album later in the year too.
Presented a punter-based cautionary piece on the hopeful move forward for live music this year, and how chancy it all is at this stage. If the playground remains uneven, I never intended the article to be pessimistic, though it may’ve been perceived that way. I just advised applying caution may be necessary prior to a compulsory detonation of over-excitement.
The other side of the coin of this vicious circle is that, without ticket sales there will be no show. While many organisers have cancelled their regular events, some keep their fingers and toes crossed, others are trying to work through it, and are dowsing a silver lining to this cloud with a summer of festivals planned.
Let’s hope and pray it pays off. Festival websites report that it is, and tickets are selling fast, which agreed, could be a sales pitch. So, you’re left to risk the call, and snap up tickets, especially for the most popular ones. I have faith most festivals will refund you if it either goes Pete Tong, or Pete Tong is booked to DJ, or else ask to retain your ticket for another year, because they organise festivals, and festivals are all about openness and sharing. Booking agents on the other hand, might be another story.
Personally, I’ve done gone got the festival t-shirt many moons ago, and the jester’s hat too, come to think about it; I can bide my time from power-napping in a spinning canvas pyramid, paying over the odds for a baggie of basil, and sliding headlong into a ditch of piss. For many though, particularly younger generations, festivals are essential, and vital, for their wonderful feeling of togetherness. For the music industry it’s crucial to maintain this notion; ignore my aged rant, there is no ditch of piss, not really, not in this clean-cut era!
Let’s run through the locally based choicest ones, which sound too good to miss… but remember to check the individual planned conditions of entry, some will ask you to provide evidence of licensed vaccination or negative PCR test within the previous 48 hour period.
June
11th – 13th: Kite Festival
Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire
Born from a Kickstarter campaign in January 2020, but cancelled for the obvious reasons, it’s this festival’s maiden voyage this year. KITE aims to combine incredible music and breakthrough ideas in a unique programme of live performances and interactive discussions. “We wanted to bring together contemporary and legendary performers, thinkers, writers and public figures from the world of music, politics, business, technology and the arts and give you the opportunity to engage with the people who are influencing the way we live.”
Cultural icon Grace Jones, multi-Grammy-Award winning jazz singer Gregory Porter and gospel legend Mavis Staples were set to lead the music programme for the original date last year, we wait in anticipation to hear the line-up now, as Kite announce they’re working on their 2021 programme. Sign up for their newsletter for updates.
18th-20th: Bigfoot Festival
Ragely Hall, Warwickshire
Another first outing cancelled last year sees its debut this June. Just the map is enticing enough, with a boating lake and woodland and all that stuff. Local breweries and bands, who share the stages with a great line up, including Primal Scream, Fat White Family, Hot Chip Megamix, Maribou State (DJ) Baxter Dury and Dinosaur Pile-Up. There’s also an intersting wellbeing programme with hip hop yoga, boxercise, Let’s Talk About Sex Meditation & Mindfulness, and biscuits & burpees; I’ll just have the biscuits, thank you! Find Bigfoot here.
July
2nd – 4th: Minety Music Festival
Hornbury Hill, Malmesbury
Fourth outing for this popular do. A community non-profit triple day extravaganza, run entirely by volunteers which raised funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and local schools and charities last year. Guaranteed excellent music, a great, wide range of food and a well-stocked house Bar, Gin & Prosecco Bar and Cocktail Tiki Bar! There will also be a range of FREE activities in the Kidzone, including rock climbing wall, rock climbing digi-wall, an inflatable slide and assault course, bouncy castles, circus skills workshops and kids craft workshops, plus many more activities.
Line-up includes, Dr & The Medics, Space, Jesus Jones, Dreadzone, Crikey Minogue & Six Packs, a Ministry of Samba workshop, and a great local roster of Devizine favourites The Tribe, Talk In Code, The Dirty Smooth, A’La-Ska, Navajo Dogs, Sloe Train and Plucking Different. This is going to be a brilliant one, make sure there’s room in your backpack to sneak me in! Info Here.
Should get you in the mood…..
8th-10th: 2000trees Festival
Withington, Cheltenham
A largely rock and indie festival, 2000trees has a good reputation and won awards. This year sees Jimmy Eat World headline, with Thrice, Creeper, The Amazons, Dinosaur Pile-Up, The Menzingers, The Get Up Kids and many more to make me feel old! Tickets & info Here.
9th-11th: – Cornbury Festival
Great Tew, Oxfordshire
Still in the planning stages, this ever-growing festival in the most beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswold location think it’s enough just to announce on headline act, yeah, but it is Bryan Adams; show offs! Should be good though. Info here.
22nd-25th Womad (?)
Charlton Park, Malmesbury
Still hopeful, Womad are holding off announcing acts, but you know, I know, we all know it’ll be the crème de la crème of world music on our doorstep, if all goes well, they’ve secured the date and tickets are here.
31st Mfor 2021
Lydiard Park, Swindon
A family orientated, affordable, one day pop-tastic festival I’ve only heard good things about, could be just the thing to introduce kids to festivals. And with Craig David, Rudimental, Ella Henderson, Phats & Small, Mark Hill (Original Artful Dodger), Lindy Layton on the line-up, it’s easy to see how this party is going to go down. I believe local acts will also be on agenda, certain our friends Talk in Code feature. There’s even an over 18 Friday night special additional event, with Five, S Club, Liberty X, Baby and Rozalla; everybody is freeeee, to feeeel gooood, apparently. Info & Tickets.
August
5th-8th: Wickham Festival
Fareham, Hampshire
New one on me this, but The Wickham Festival is an annual four-dayer of music and arts. Boasting three stages, and rated as one of the safest, most relaxed and family-friendly festivals in the UK, Wickham was voted ‘Best UK Festival, cap. under 15000’ at the Live UK Music Business Awards in October 2015; so, they know their stuff; I mean, they’ve got Van the man, and The Waterboys. Note also, Devizine favs, Beans on Toast, Gaz Brookfield, Tankus the Henge along with Nick Parker on the agenda; sweet! Tickets & Info Here.
6th: Love Summer Festival Devon: SOLD OUT.
7th- 8th: The Bath Festival Finale Weekend
And what a finale it is, Saturday; McFly, Scouting For Girls, Orla Gartland, Lauren Hibberd, George Pelham, Josh Gray, Novacub, Dessie Magee and Luna Lake. Sunday; UB40 featuring Ali Campbell & Astro, Billy Ocean, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Seth Lakeman, Bloco B, Hannah Grace, Casey Lowry, Port Erin Life, and Life In Mono, with more to be announced… Tickets HERE.
21st: Mantonfest
Manton, Marlborough
Any closer than this and it’ll be in your back garden! But that’s not the sole reason to grab a ticket for MantonFest! Just thirty notes for adults, a tenner for teenagers, and a fiver for kids, but that’s not the only other reason. Reports on this family, broad ranging charity fundraising annual do has never been negative, and we’re glad to hear it’s back for 2021. Number one Blondie tribute Dirty Harry headline, along with Dr. Feelgood, Ex-Men (five members of original 60’s bands), Barrelhouse, Jo Martin with his band, Devizine favs Richard Davies and The Dissidents, Josie and the Outlaw and homegrown Skeddadle. We previewed it last year before shit hit the fan; tickets bought in 2020 are valid for 2021. Mantonfest say, “we may have to introduce some anti-covid restrictions. These will be announced nearer the time and will be in line with the latest developments and best practice;” let’s hope this goes off this time. Tickets & Info here.
21st: Live at Lydiard
Lydiard Park, Swindon
Anne‐Marie, Sean Kingston, Roman Kemp [DJ set] Artful Dodger, Chaney, Fabian Darcy on the line-up over four stages for this day festival at Lydiard, with a dance tent, boutique cocktail bar and food court. Info & Tickets here.
21st: Bath Reggae Festival
Now pushed back to August bank holiday, this is the maiden voyage for the Bath Reggae Festival, and we bless them with the best of luck. With a line-up this supreme though, I’d imagine it’ll sell itself. Legends Maxi Priest, Aswad, Big Mountain, Dawn Penn, and The Slits solo extraordinaire Hollie Cook, Laid Back and lovers rocker Wayne Wonder, this is a must for reggae fans. Tickets & info here.
September
4th-5th: Concert at the Kings
All Cannings, Devizes
For locals little more can be said about how awesome this ground-breaking festival raising staggering funds for cancer research is. Since 2012 it has bought international headline acts to the sleepy village outside Devizes; legendary fables and the fondest memories have been had there. No difference this time around, save for some social distancing. Billy Ocean, 10CC, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Sweet, Strawbs, Lindisfarne and Devizine favs Talk in Code, with more to be announced; twist your arm anymore, sir? No; no need to! Tickets & Info here.
9th-12th: Swindon Shuffle
Venues across Swindon
A later date for this annual extravaganza of local live music, spread across Swindon’s premiere venues and hugely supportive of original homegrown talent, this is weekend to head for the railway town. Since 2007 the Shuffle raises funds for MIND, and is largely free to attend. Ah, there’s plenty time to arrange a line-up, which is underway, but you can guarantee a truckload of our local favourites will be there, somewhere! Info.
10th-12th: Vintage Nostalgia Festival
Stockton Park, Near Warminster
The mature place to glamp this summer if you want to get retro; classic cars is the concentrate, but there’s no shortage of great bands from rockabilly, doo-wop, blues to mod skiffle, boogie woogie jazz and beyond. Sarah Mai Rhythm & Blues Band, “Great Scott,” Shana Mai and the Mayhems, The Bandits, Junco Shakers,The Flaming Feathers, The Harlem Rhythm Cats, Little Dave & The Sunshine Sessions, The Rough Cut Rebels, Riley K, The Ukey D’ukes and loads more. Info & Tickets Here.
You know, this one could be for me, rather than trying to look youthful clutching onto a marquee pole for dear life while a hoard of sugared-up teeny-boppers check Instagram amidst a soundtrack of dubstep! But look, I reckon there’s something for everyone here, but if I did miss yours, let me know, for a squashy cup of cider at the festie bar, I must just add your do here too!
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