Andy Fawthrop
Free Fringe Frolics
Another day, another venue, and the Devizes Arts Festival is now getting into its stride. This afternoon was the first of the five FREE events in this year’s programme, and what a cracker it turned out to be.…
Texas Tick Fever hail from that there Stroud, up in the Wild North Country, and rolled into town full of energy on a beautiful sunny afternoon in the courtyard of The Three Crowns. The Vize was about to be treated to some bluegrass, y’all. Although they’re a firm fixture on the roots music circuit, they’re a band I’d not personally run into before. Took ‘em about two numbers and I was quickly hooked.
The boys’ marketing BS had talked about their music being “moonshine-fuelled”, but this being The Vize, it was more Wadworth 6X and ice-cream-fuelled. Not that that mattered in the slightest, as they were on absolutely top form.
Their blend of Americana/ roots/ hillbilly/ Appalachian/ backwoods/ hayseed and good old bluegrass quickly had the crowd applauding. With plenty of wise-cracking and self-deprecating humour on the side, this was just perfect stuff for a lazy afternoon at the pub. Featuring banjo and guitar, occasional harmonica, kick-drum and harmonising vocals, the guys made some great music. There was new and original stuff, and plenty of covers, including Sittin’ On Top O’ The World, It Takes A Worried Man, Down In Mississippi and (believe it or not, older readers look away now) that old theme to The Beverly Hillbillies. Amazing. And who could forget their fully-deserved encore of Duelling Banjos? Terrific stuff.
They’ve also won my “Best Introduction To A Song” Award for one of their intros. Following a decent re-telling of the urban myth, where legend has it that Robert Johnson met the devil at a crossroads and gave him his soul in exchange for mastery of the guitar, Stretch leaned into the mic and grinned, saying “well, anyways, this next song has absolutely nothin’ to do with that”. Comic timing at its best.
Absolutely terrific entertainment, and an early highlight of the Festival for me.
And there’s more FREE Fringe next Saturday 10th June in Condado Lounge with Jukebox James, next Sunday 11th June in the British Lion with Sisters & Brothers, and the following Saturday 17th June with Carrie Etter Poetry.
The Devizes Arts Festival continues at various venues around town until Saturday 17th June.
Tickets can be booked at Devizes Books or online at www.devizesartsfestival.org.uk
devizine.com 