Tag: Steatopygous

Steatopygous Album Marks Pinnacle for Sketchbook Records

Raging expressions of angered feminist teenage anguish this month, perfectly delivered by Steatopygous via their mindblowing debut album Songs of Salome, I hail as the pinnacle of Sketchbook Records to date. But it’s only been a year since Simon formed the label. It’s DIY, a contemporary local counterculture ethos; welcome to the Wiltshire underground of the now; there’s more to discover….

There was me, showing my age, assuming Gen Z required Google to know “cassette tape!” But, due to the expense of pressing vinyl and burning CDs, Sketchbook’s Simon looks towards this affordable format, with digital downloads also, to showcase the upcoming talents he finds working at Trowbridge’s Pump.

December marks the label’s first year. A demo by Steatopygous was put onto hand-designed cassettes to punt to Pump visitors last year, but Simon has taken on other bands to feature. Yes, we must praise Steatopygous’ album, but we must also highlight the others too, as they’re released onto Bandcamp for all to access….and buy, people, buy!

“Vinyl has gotten way too expensive and takes way too long to manufacture to make it feasible for short runs,” he explained when chatting about the Steatopygous demo. “For this release, Kieran recorded the band for free, it cost less than £80 for the blanks which I’ve dubbed at home myself. Eliza’s making the inlays by hand and we’ve been able to turn it around in 3 weeks. A 7″ would be, like, £800 for 100 copies and take months to arrive. A cassette means I can just give the band twenty or so tapes to sell themselves, knowing I can make the money back on the rest, and even if I don’t, it’s been such a fun thing to do that it really doesn’t matter. And that’s punk rock, right?!”

Take it from someone who contributed to more punk zines than I care to recall, that is precisely punk! The trading of tapes was the pre-internet equivalent of file sharing, and similarly with photocopied zines, with good intentions variably more sharing or swapping, their distributors sucked it up as a labour of love. I know I did, but I’ve a cathedral of tapes, vinyl, zines and comix, which hold sentimental value, mostly from swapsies. 

It may seem surprising to note the DIY ethos remains today, and I’m glad to hear of it. In reviewing them I take into consideration these are produced on shoestrings, that they’re young upcoming acts, and it’s going to sound raw. But just like Ol’ Dirty Bastard in more ways than one, I like it raw!!

Working backwards through the discography then…..

Steatopygous: Songs of Salome

Recorded and mixed in summer 2025 at Nine Volt Leap Studios with Dominic Bailey-Clay, and released this month, Songs of Salome, is a brave and stupendous collection of six outrageous riot grrrl screamo punk tracks, from a Devizes-based female-fronted young band named after the state of having substantial levels of tissue on the buttocks and thighs! Implying, not only a running theme on the psychoanalysis of body image and society’s expectations, but also that they don’t give a flying fuck if you think they create nothing more than a “screamy noise,” will twist any such misdemeaning negatives into positives, and post them as stories on their social media; just one of the two-fingers up at the status quo aspects I love about Steatopygous!

Yet it’s not only the idea if they’re not pissing someone off they’re not doing it properly which makes them punk, there’s solid riffs of what I shouldn’t describe as “traditional punk,” because that’s surely an oxymoron to be spat at; nothing about punk was ever traditional, but I guess what I mean is, it reflects punk’s origins honourably, while still pushing the anger it conveyed to future generations. And in this, I cannot compare them to another of the same subgenre and ask them to excuse my ignorance of nineties riot grrl bands, like Bikini Kill or Bratmobile, though they’ve inspired me to listen to them now, and my finding is, if Steatopygous strives to be an English equivalent, they’re not just on the right road, they make them look tame by comparison.

No one I know of is expressing their poetic frustrations quite like Steatopygous, these six songs prove it. If you identify, if you rethink, it’s in your face if you want it or not. Wall Plug Slug is self-harm themed, depressing in ballad, but still easing us in gently. Cassowary takes no prisoners of patriarchy and sexual relationships, something which rings throughout the album. Marie’s Wedding Song takes us to riffs and themes The Slits might have, but Little Boy is the most poignantly contemporary…. and screamy, making grunge sound like easy listening!

Image: Kiesha Films

Sceptic really raised an eyebrow when I reviewed it earlier this month, Female CD simply thrashes out till the end of this monster; it’s breathtaking, doesn’t come up for air, and overall, Steatopygous are provocateurs against what’s acceptable, and Songs of Salome launches it back at you in a desirable frenzy, and I don’t believe they care.

It’s an outstanding debut of which I encourage them to drive more in the same direction, avoiding any requests to sell it out.

Until the Last Sunflower: Between Maturity

If mainstream labels require a textbook style artists are contracted to adhere to, the beauty of counterculture is there are no barriers. Until The Last Sunflower is Trowbridge’s Joshua Allen. Between Maturity was recorded in a bedroom early 2025, released in May, and is so vastly different from Songs of Salome it’s at the opposite side of the scale. 

It includes tags unfamiliar to me, but “sadcore” and “slowcore” speak for themselves. Lo-fi ambient rock, I’d best pigeonhole it; poignant shards of thoughts and observations from a young eye, dubbed with basslines, piano or acoustic guitar, sometimes building layers, harking back to Spiritized or even the mellowed nu-cool of Bristol’s nineties trip hop scene at its jazzier moments.    

Yet its eight tracks literally require horizontal listening. With the deep prose of Syd Barrett being dumped at sixteen years old, I’d have to have had a really shit day to totally appreciate this, but shit days aplenty and Morrisey is a prick anyway; this is melancholy done smoothly!

The lengthy lowercase track names attend to the curious: perks of being a wallflower, please let me forget this memory; just this one, i miss my selfish and ignorant youth, and particularly, cupid vs disgusting men who take advantage of little children. And it certainly takes a gulp of melancholic dejection in an ambience more provoking than chilling. For this, it bucks positivity like raindrops, happy to watch them dribble down a window pane; sombre, emotive, mindful music, I like, on a particular day.

Hurts Worse: Love is Death and Death is all that’s Left

Released last April, Hurts Worse are Mikey and Emma, from Nebraska. A not so sober Simon messaged them to ask if they wanted to do a tape, “and somehow they said yes,” he explained!

This is a collection of eight from their various singles and EPs. Again, dark slowcore, you might gather from the title. Death, graves, bleeding hearts and the one tune most commercially viable called “if you love me please check yes next to the skull carved in my desk,” give an overall of morose subject matters, but it rolls so smoothly, gloomy and angry but not bad tempered in sound. It’s romance at its most bitter, Coldplay gone sour, and for such it’s unique and moreish.

Kurt Alexander: I stepped out into the world and it no longer exists and all was good.

Also released in April, this is a compilation of two albums, originally released late in 2024. Again, best pigeonholed as slowcore punk, though there’s moments upping the tempo, akin to folktronica. It’s dreamer than the others and breaks for some refined bridges of funky bass guitar, electronica and voice samples of poetry or recordings of phone calls.

It’s seventeen tracks strong, often short, experimental in that one blip is the previous tune backwards, and in production I get vibes of Money Mark’s Keyboard Repair. Though I think the downtempo Bristol nineties scene also takes an influence, probably why I’d favour it over the previous two mentioned, personally. But there’s rock here too, crashing metal guitars and acoustic guitar tunes over violin, but so subtly dubbed, it really is an interesting melting pot. If there’s emotive prose like the past couple mentioned it’s done soulfully, and less bitter. Think; Tricky was an indie kid.

Nobody’s Dad: Mixtape

“Not a dad?” this band asks on their Insta account, “don’t worry, neither are we,” leaving no explanation what to do if you are, but you still love this band! I reserve my right to play this mixtape on the school run in dad’s taxi; see how they like that!! The thing is, age is only a state of mind, I absolutely love this, so does my son!

Released in January, this is undoubtedly the most universal and commercially viable of Sketchbook’s back catalogue. That enthral shoegaze sound, female-fronted, drifting and dreamy with hints of grunge. Angel opens the four tracks, with a kick, and I’m contemplating The Cranberries as a comparison. Margo is a please return to me ballad, and is sublime.

@jenajphotos

You Don’t Communicate, and You’re all I Ever Wanna Be rock it back out, smoothly with those gorgeous grunge layers, akin to I See Orange, and leaving you aching for more. I think I’ve found a new favourite thing. Nobody’s Dad deserves a renowned producer to refine this, as it’s yeah, raw, but booming with so much potential, and that’s the nature of a DIY label like Sketchbook, opening eyes to upcoming talent without the professional angle of “how can I make money from this?” Nobody’s Dad, huh?! Topping this dad’s playlist now.

Kurt Alexander’s cassette covers are individually unique hand-dubbed with green or orange paint and they used a typewriter for the text. Eliza from Steatopygous hand designs their covers and a number of others too. There’s a timeless and individual charm about DIY punk culture which Sketchbook embraces, and in days of AI this is wonderfully personal, genuine, and uncommercially dedicated to a fashion of yore.

I look forward to hearing what’s next, and of course, Sketchbook presents gigs at The Pump, the next is a Christmas party with Nobody’s Dad, Parkii and Kurt Alexander on Saturday 13th December; the kids are alright.

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Steatopygous go Septic

If you believe AI, TikTok and the rest of it all suppress Gen Z’s outlets to convey anger and rage, resulting in a generation of anxiety and mental health concerns, I might take your point as marginally valid, but I’d add politely as I possibly could, “have you, perchance, had the pleasure of listening to Steatopygous? They’re from Devizes, don’t you know?!” Then I’d await the pending detonation of a shocked expression…..

That’s punk, and what it set out to do decades ago, and that is the quality hidden within the rolling drums, raging guitars and screaming vocals of this homegrown riot grrrl four-piece who with their latest single Septic will shake the foundations for as far as it’s willing to travel. Septic, if anything previous from Steatopygous will be the baseplate on how they move from here. Whilst it remains DIY, as it should, it has the produced balance of natural progression and leaves you anticipating what’s to come from this emerging band.

Image: Kiesha Films

It’s punk on a SmallTown Tigers level, in your face and demanding you pay attention.

On the theme of body image, it takes no prisoners. Fronted by Poppy Hillier with bassist Eliza Brindle, drummer Ewan Middleton and an additional Rufus on guitar who wrote the song, Steatopygous, you’ve really gone and done it now; this is a pinnacle track to your development as a force to be reckoned with, this is outrageous, and I love it!

I See Orange at The Pump with Devizes-own Steatopygous!

Being our reporter Flo was unfortunately unable to attend the Devizes Youth Action Group’s second sell-out gig on Friday, I sought to catch up with stars of that show, Steatopygous, who were supporting at The Pump on Saturday too…

Three birds, one stone. The Pump’s overdue another praising plug from us, being such the absolutely fantastic venue we’re smitten about. A chance to finally hear Steatopygous for myself, a band Flo’s been raving about, is a second reason to be here tonight. Third is to tick Swindon’s I See Orange off my must-see list; jobs done within an exuberant night, ears still ringing this morning!

You realise the Spanish understandably keep all the best oranges for themselves and send us the tasteless non-perishable ones, right? Try oranges there and they’re the tastiest ever. Well, this is one of those which evidently slipped through the net. Their name pops up as if set in my algorithms, I See Orange at the Vic, at Minety, and so on; now I’ve seen I See Orange, effectively I saw Orange, past tense, but I would see I See Orange again, if this makes any sense?!

Nestled between two Swindon drummer and bassist grunge lads, a strikingly attractive Latino girl confidently thrashes out stylised and euphoric originals in a manner sublimely nodding at punk’s heyday, fused with a thousand post-punk influences. It’s loud, proud, it’s imagining The Sugarcubes played Nirvana style, the Smalltown Tigers aimed a smidgen more metal, but it certainly doesn’t hang around for you to pigeonhole it!

Three minute heroes is their punk traditional ethos, with doll symbolism, a bubble machine and a penchant for bending backwards whilst maintaining remarkable handling of her lead guitar. It was showy, tight and, dammit, I never knew grunge could be so sassy and alluring! I See Orange are ones to watch, lively, original, producing some electric shock recordings and their debut show at The Pump fitted like a glove; I was suitably wowed by their presence and dynamic sound.

Such is it that while most celebrated venues seek the big names past or present, The Pump strives to showcase the next big names, especially when promoted by Sheer. Though my attendances past tend to be established local greats, the smooth folk of The Lost Trades, of Will Lawton, or chap hop Professor Elemental, it was tonight I witnessed the legendary Pump, literally pumping out it’s full potential with the names the youth there will boast to future grandchildren they saw them in their prime. That’s the spirit of this once folk club now small axe, and it stamps Trowbridge on the live music map of the UK with unrivalled gusto.

We’ve passed a short lived era of doubt, when Wadworth flagship the Lamb, which contains The Pump, changed hands. Pleased to hear of a fairytale ending where the new owners welcome its addition and also hosts conventional music nights of its own, largely open mics; phew!

Indeed there’s an air of greater potential at the venue, despite already punching above its weight. Any musician should consider a gig there as a benchmark to their achievement. I know Devizes-own Steatopygous have been building to this point, working hard, and now, since Sheer promoter Kieran asked me for their contact details, and staged them under the Future Sound of Trowbridge banner, here they are again, thrown off any potentially patronisingly and perhaps amateurish connotations of “youth” or “teen band,” they’re here with their own pride and right, and largest fanbase tonight.

Steatopygous are a trio to repel stereotypically passé half-centenarians, who’d likely label them “witches,” being Fishy Rishi and his gang has receded us to medieval, yet it’s precisely these redeeming qualities I salute them for; I’m weird like that, historically! It’s punk in quintessence, and if you’re not offending someone you’re not doing it properly.

Riot grrrl is not only musical subgenre though, more counterculture tenet, an expression of feminist anarchy exposed equally via poetry, political standing and DIY zine culture as well as music, and it was through illustrating those punk-paste zines of the nineties I became aware of the movement and bands like Bikini Kill, encompassing it. Ode to my days of blim-holed Letraset, Pritt-Stick, and stapling your finger to photocopied pages for a return of 10p!

It deals with the anger and frustration of inequality. While considered socially acceptable for male musicians of past eras to express enraged emotions, the suppression of women to do likewise is riot grrrl’s angle, and Steatopygous embody this superbly. Such as it is, after they’ve screamed the house down, all is vented, so a chat with them was hospitable, intelligent, and involved subjects like completing their exams and future hopes.

On stage though, they’re a force, hammering out originals with thoughtful prose and screeching emotion, you cannot prevent them embedding their prose into your soul if you wanted them there, or not! On subjects keyed to the movement, yet contemporary, they shine. A cry to Israeli occupation of Gaza, for example, but their personal favourite shaming laddish behaviour, a quick blast called Little Boy.

If Nothing Rhymes With Orange set a high bar for current Devizes bands, Steatopygous will nuzzle underneath it and come up trumps via their own methods. I hope they don’t change this energy to be commercially viable, as it was a unique fuzzbox frenzied experience to savour and the young audience lapped it up.

Between these two divine outbursts saw perhaps a more archetype nod to punk roots. Hayden Lloyd as a Midlands trio provided a wonderfully delivered moment of sanity for elders present, blessed in the mod blues reminiscent of Paul Weller at his edgiest, and polishing his set with an astute cover of Hendrix’s Foxy Lady; deffo not riot grrrl! His was heaped in retrospection, of The Who and the progressive advances which got us to this stage, and it was done exceptionally well.

Another triple header night of excellent original music from the pride of Trowbridge, worthy of the short journey. The Pump is where it’s at, The Pump showcases what others wouldn’t dare to, and such is the other’s downfall. I saw Orange, that would’ve been enough to warrant an awesome night’s entertainment, Haydon and Steatopygous were bonus balls we’ll see headlining in future I don’t doubt for a second, both their performances last night surely sealed such a deal.

When Flo reported on the first Devizes Youth gig, she thought to interview Steatopygous, you can read it here, whereas I popped out for a damn tasty chicken burger from the stall down the street; it’s my reward for telling local live music aficionados The Pump is your pilgrimage!

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Devizes Youth Action Group Gig Night is Back!

The first gig and club night by Devizes Youth Action Group exclusively for secondary school aged youth in Devizes back in February was hugely successful, so they’re doing it again, on Friday 21st June at the Corn Exchange…..

In conjunction with St James Church, the Devizes Youth Action Group has organised this event for youth, run by youth and created by youth. The first time our youth reporter Florence was on the scene, which you can read again HERE, and you should, because the same bands SHOX, Enguun, Steatopygous are playing, with a DJ set by Flam. The bar will be non-alcoholic, ticket prices kept affordable at £4 online. 

If Flo can’t make it this time, I might dust off my Chinos and gate-crash it!!

Tickets HERE.

Shox & Steatopygous; Devizes Bands Support Menthol Lungs at The Pump’s Future Sound of Trowbridge

By Florence Lee

Images by Kiesha Films

‘They promised hardcore shenanigans which never fall below 180 bpm’

SHOX:

After seeing Shox in February I was expecting to have a great time, and for them to expand on their ideas which they showcased at the Devizes youth night; however, they managed to smash my expectations once again….

Their set list included ‘Back To School’ by the Deftones, ‘Florescent Adolescent’ by the Arctic Monkeys and ‘Drown’ by Bring Me The Horizon and included some insanely smooth add-in’s using the DJ set. The transition between playing ‘Happy Song’ by Bring Me The Horizon and ‘Killing in The Name’ by Rage Against the Machine had a syren playing and what I can only describe as ‘The music and voice that speaks to you before you go onto a terrifying roller coaster.’ I am not quite sure how to describe it, but I have never heard anything like it before. It was pretty incredible – it drew the audience in and it was a really interesting experience. Their set was very much a journey rather than just some music. SHOX have come on leaps and bounds since the youth night and with some more gigs under their belt, I can only imagine their sound will continue to develop.

Image: Kiesha Films

I wanted to know some more about them, so after getting in contact, I asked them a few questions. Jamie (drummer) and Ed (singer/rhythm guitarist) played together in primary school and wanted to get into a band in secondary school. So, when they joined they went out and looked for a band. Zac (guitarist) and Dylan (bassist) came along around two years later when they got paired to do an academic music project together. Once they had played a few times, they realised they had ‘great chemistry’ and formed SHOX. They are looking to start the rollout of their debut album called ‘To Be Honest, I Couldn’t Be Bothered’ and are hoping for a release in November. They also have a ‘Big announcement in the middle of June,’ which I am sure many are looking forward to. If you haven’t seen them live, I would really take the next opportunity!

Image: Kiesha Films

Steatopygous:

If you haven’t read my interview with Steatopygous, I would recommend reading it as you get the ‘inside scoop’ on what Steatopygous really means.

Image: Kiesha Films

In a nutshell, Steatopygous is a riot girl (and boy) band, which truly could not get any better. With front girl Poppy Hillier, playing guitar and singing, the memorising Eliza on bass and drummer Ewan. They played three originals: ‘Marie’s Wedding Song’, ‘Female CD’ and the new ‘Little Boy’. It is safe to say that since hearing Little Boy, it has not left my mind since. You can tell the song came from somewhere close to their hearts, and is now embedded within the audience’s. Both Female CD and Maire’s Wedding Song are also well written songs, that I cannot wait to be able to listen to online.

Image: Kiesha Films

With three admirably well executed Bikini Kill songs – Carnival, Feels Blind and Star Bellied Boy, they enticed the audience so much, we were demanding “one more song”. And wow, they performed Deception by le Tigre, which truly exploded the mosh pit, not that we had stopped dancing since Steatopygous had entered the stage. I just want to say an incredibly well done to Eliza, Poppy and Ewan, as during their set, they had to stop for a tech issue, but carried on, dare I say, better than before. As a performer myself, I can understand how gut wrenchingly scary it can be to play on stage, let alone have to stop and start again, and they dealt with it like the pros they are becoming. I have been told they are working towards an EP and I, like many others, am beyond excited to hear how it comes out. So, like SHOX, if your ears haven’t been blessed by the music of these beautiful people, then I would really take your opportunity.

Image: Kiesha Films

Menthol Lungs:

While I heard both Steatopygous and Shox before, I was pumped to be able to listen to Menthol Lungs as I hadn’t heard of them and all I can say now is that I was missing out. As soon as they started to play, I was transported into the world of Subhumans and Minor Threat and felt the immediate need to find my skateboard and go stagedive off a speaker stack! Their heavy punk rock music was awesome, and I was even more blown away when I realised that eight of their ten songs were originals!

Image: Kiesha Films

Menthol Lungs are anarchistic hardcore, which was appreciated by me and the crowd. The deeper meanings to what could have been simple lyrics, elevated their performance as they spoke for what they truly believe in. If I thought their performance couldn’t get any better, they then performed ‘The Combine Harvester’ by The Wurzels, which had the audience in stitches and singing along in true Devizes harvest-core fashion :-). I was lucky enough to be able to speak to the amazing Ava, who sings and ask a few questions about their band:

Image: Kiesha Films

Can you introduce your band?

‘We have Corey, who is on rhythm guitar. Sam, who couldn’t make it today, is on lead guitar – he is great.  Zeth right here is on drums, Fergus on bass and I am Ava. I do vocals.’

How did the band form?

‘So, about two years ago, I got kicked out of a sh**** pop, punk band, called Corner Shop Liquor. I then turned around to my mate James, an artist as well, and said “I want to start a new band, can you help me out?” and he introduced me to Corey who could play guitar. Then my fiancé Ash joined us as bassist, but then replacing Ash was Fergus; Fergus and Zeph kind of came as a package deal.’

‘We met Corey at a gig about a year and a half ago and so he vaguely knew us.’

‘Yeah, so about a year and a half ago, we got Zeph and Fergus in a band and we record some stuff and start rehearsing on Zeph’s farm, in some stables. We got our first gig last December.’

Special mention to their six-string bass, which I had to ask questions about:

‘May I just say your six string bass is insane. Looks sick’ – me!

‘There is actually a funny story about that. Fergus left one band rehearsal with a five string bass and he left it at the rehearsal space. When he came back, he had a six string bass with him. It’s brilliant.’

How do you write your songs?

‘So, usually Cory will sit down and write some riffs and upload them onto Songster. He will add some drums and lead guitar and a bit of bass. Then, I usually have some lyrics lying around in my notes app and write them up into a full song, or Corey will write lyrics as well. Then at rehearsals we see what works and it usually ends up in a song.’

How do you think tonight went?

‘Do you know what, it was killer. Best vocals I think I have ever managed, to be honest.’

 What’s your next step?

‘Next step … We have an album coming out hopefully later this year. We are hoping for August, but aiming for the end of the year. We have a gig coming up with Disorder in July. We love Disorder. July 25th – go buy your tickets!’

Thank you Ava for spending some time speaking to me; you and your band are great and I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing how you guys progress in the future!

Image: Kiesha Films

So, in conclusion, the audience and I had a brilliant time, dancing, sweating, slamming, singing and getting to know these sick bands. If these bands are not on your radar, please go give them a follow and see how they progress as the gifts they have for your ears are extensive and they have years beyond them of only getting better.

Finally, I just want to say a massive thank you to Kieran and everyone at the Pump. It is an incredibly special, intimate place, which holds thousands of memories for us kids. I wouldn’t be able to recommend going more. If you haven’t been, you are not just missing out on amazing music, but also an experience that you won’t be able to forget for years. Thank you for letting bands be able to share their music with everyone. What you are doing with ‘The Future Sound of Trowbridge’ is unbelievably special and loved by so many people.

P.S. the drummer from SHOX, Jamie, has a DJ set at the Pump on Trowbridge on the 10th of May. Go get your tickets!

The Future Sound of Trowbridge #9

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Two teen Devizes punker bands appear on Trowbridge’s Pump triple-bill this Saturday, as the search for the Future of Trowbridge reaches its eighth instalment; unsure if Flo, our youngest reporter (by a country mile!) will be on the scene, so I’m tempted to leave my embarrassing grandad cap in the drawer and have a nose myself….

A new one on me, Menthol Lungs headline the show, with an ambiguous base I’m taking a wild stab in the dark to be Trowvegas. They promise hardcore shenanigans which never fall below 180 bpm. I might try to attempt to keep up with that, but kids, please stop me if you see me turn purple!

Now, our town’s newcomers, riot front-grrrl Poppy Hillier, bassist Eliza Brindle and drummer boy Ewan Middleton, aka Steatopygous, take the middle slot. In accordance to Flo’s recent interview with them, in true punk DIY fashion this band formed at Devizes school, and was the one she was most excited to see at the youth gig set up by Devizes Youth Action Group at the Corn Exchange in Feb.

Progressive indie fusion with a drum n bass DJ, apparently, SHOX also played the gig, and Flo had only good words to say about them too, concluding thus, “these guys have some awesome ideas, which makes them stand out and make a unique sound that I would love to hear some original songs with.” A concept that leaves me intrigued, I must say.

There’s one damn decent way to further these band’s progression locally, and that’s to feature at the one true venue dedicated to being their, and so many other upcoming talents’ launchpads, The Pump. Whereas most venues want to bring in a big name, The Pump strives to introduce you to the next big names…. Bloomin’ lovely place too.

Bucking the trend of depleting support, this Trowbridge golden nugget goes above and beyond grassroots schematics to host what will surely be, The Future Sound of Trowbridge. Hats off to all who sail in her, and I’m over the moon if it is to be suggested Flo’s excellent coverage of the Devizes Youth Action Group gig on Devizine encouraged Mr Moore, our favourite-most promoter, to book these two. But, hey, if we’re talking hats, there’s bound to be some other codger to share gardening tips there, surely? What the hell, if I do attend this gen z hoedown I might take my grandad cap after all! Best of luck to Menthol Lungs, Steatopygous, and SHOX. 

Tickets are only a fiver, go, invite your grandad along too! HERE.

The Future Sound of Trowbridge #8

Devizes Youth Action Group Host U18 Gig at The Exchange

The first gig and club night exclusively for Secondary school aged youth in Devizes is set for Friday 2nd of February at the Exchange nightclub. In conjunction with St James Church, the Devizes Youth Action Group has organised this event for youth, run by youth and created by youth…..only making me wish I was a little bit younger, just a little bit you understand?!

Two local upcoming youth bands, Steatopygous and BellaDonna, of which we’ve heard great things about and will no doubt hear more, will play the night with Devizes School year 10 lads, Shox, headling the bill, and a DJ set from their drummer, Flam. The bar will be non-alcoholic, and here’s hoping this will spur on further youth gigs and club nights in Devizes.

This night is hosted by Devizes Youth Action Group (DYAG), a newly formed group of youth wanting to make things happen for young people in and around Devizes. It is supported by Devizes School and Devizes Town Council. If it’s one thing to see and hear of youth creating their own bands, it’s another to organise such events for them to play and for all to attend, and furthermore, all going well, Devizine’s brilliant young reporter Flo should be on hand to review it.

This night is exclusively for Secondary School aged youth only. No entry will be permitted for those younger or older. Online tickets are £4. Tickets on the door on the night are £6. All profits from the bar and ticket sales will be used to support future DYAG events. There will be professional security on the door during the event.

Devizes-based Steatopygous are Eliza, Poppy and Ewan, and define themselves as post punk/riot grrrl, BellaDonna are B on lead guitar, bassist Ems, and drummer Roxie, headlining are Shox, new to me, but then, I’m passed it! Please give them a follow on Insta. Well done to everyone for organising this, and good luck to the bands and Flam; we show Gen Z in a positive light and fully support your efforts!

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