Tag: the sunnies

Between the Lines; Melksham’s Upcoming Teen Band

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, I’m predicting it will be Between the Lines, because it should be Between the Lines…..

Last weekend The Sunnies headlined a town council’s 4Youth “Next Gen Gig” 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 Neeld’s 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. It’s 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.

“Fading Time was the only song we recorded in that session,” George explained, as I thought I should catch up with them, sooner rather than later, “but there are exciting new ones due to be released very soon.” 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 “work of the devil,” and attempt to throw classical violin at them, or they’ve modernised, least enough to be hip to be square on a Huey Lewis level!

Louis answered this one, elucidating George’s and his music teacher had, “supported our band on multiple occasions, with gig opportunities and equipment in the past, and has always been enthusiastic about it. Fortunately, no classical violins!” 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. “My drum teacher was always telling me to form a band and after talking with Isobel,” He said, “she 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. We’re still new to the gigging scene, and have performed at the Kings Arms in Melksham and The Queen’s Head in Box.” The latter being a fortunate venue to play so early, Ethan also went on to reveal they’re on the bills for Box Revels in May and CorFest at Corsham’s rugby club on June 21st.

George explained how they’d 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; you’ve got to big yourself up in the Sham, they’ve got a golden arches, and Henry Moule inventor of the dry earth toilet, as claims to fame!

“Well, hopefully!” he laughed, but remained modest. “It really was great to play with people that you’ve 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.”

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 it’s showing my age, it’s an accolade. I wondered if this smooth feel-good indie-pop rock was the kind of quality they were going for.

“The song itself came from a simple melody idea that I had for ages never necessarily taking any inspiration from others,” George expressed, “and we bounced back and forth from each other’s ideas until we recorded it in the short space of time we had.”

Ethan expanded on the backstory of Fading Time, in answering that cliche question I fired at them about their working process. “So far,” he clarified, “our originals have stemmed from one idea. For example, ‘Fading Time’ 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 other’s personality in our parts. We are fairly new to songwriting as we’re mainly a cover band but we all develop our own little ideas and send them to each other!”

Their current repertoire includes covers of The Foo Fighters, Radiohead, and Chris Isaak, among others. “We try to choose covers that are both crowd-pleasers and that reflect the same vibes as our originals,” Belle expressed.

Between The Lines’ website cites Radiohead and Matt Maltese as influences, Belle expanded on this, “as the main lyricist of the band,” she suggested she took inspiration from “very 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, he’s influenced by Wallows. Louis works on a strong rhythm, taking from Foo Fighters and Seal.” 

Phew, at least the last two my dilapidating database has heard of! You’ve got to love Seal, I saw him live once, but he didn’t 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 what’s in the band name, perhaps they met in a history class about WWII, you know, between enemy lines … .perhaps, ah, forget it, I’ll get my coat! When actually, Belle revealed rather than history, they did meet in GCSE music, “doing a project for the Christmas concert!” 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.

“Choosing a name for the band was quite difficult,” Belle said, signalling her vast music knowledge supersedes her age, “everyone 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!”

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 I’m 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 future…..

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Doctor Faustus Sells His Soul…. in Devizes!

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 Morrisons…

Chandra Finds Heaven on Earth

Usually I just write what I think, but if I had a point-scoring system this new single from Bristol-based indie-pop outfit Chandra would tick every…

Devizes Issues Wants You!

Dubiously biased and ruled with an iron fist, the mighty admin of the once popular Devizes Facebook group, Devizes Issues, is using the iconic Great…

Who Broke into Joyrobber’s Car?!

Poor Joyrobber, got his car broken into, on his birthday too, but avenged them in song! Requiem for my Car Window is this mysterious character’s…

Way to Start the Year; Bradford Roots Festival 2024

Hibernating since Christmas, now I feel like a turkey, making up for it, stuffing eighteen bands into eight hours, such is the beauty of Bradford Roots Festival…..

Impossible to provide detailed analysis of each with such a sizable quota, not without an essay-length review, and there’s the handful I missed. Suffice it to say, every act I witnessed at Bradford Roots Festival was top notch, and locally-sourced, just as we like it here on the De-viz-ine!

Over two years from 2019, our man Andy returned from the annual convention and reported back. I skipped through it and published. I need not doubt his words, dedicating my time writing something else. I wrongly assumed at the time, likely from its name, that the Bradford Roots Festival was a folk festival, rather “roots” I now believe refers geographically; it’s the music of the here and now. I discovered this for myself attending last year’s and unexpectedly hearing jazz and youthful grunge bands you wouldn’t usually hear at a folk festival!

Open any fire door to the wonderful Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon, and there’s another surprise behind it. The festival is an annual indoor feast of music over four stages, fundraising for the Centre itself, their Zone Club, a musical group for disabled adults, and a chosen charity, this year’s being Parkinson’s support. I like to define it as a convention of local musicians rather than a festival, only because it’s all indoors and winter, but it doubles up as either. Either way you view it, it’s a brilliant event for all ages. For the elders there’s a bar and food options, for the youngest there’s craft rooms, workshops and naturally for a festival in January, ice cream!

You could also see it as a taster for the wealth of musical acts we have on this circuit; you’ll find them performing in our local venues. Some I’ve previously tried and tested, others were new to me, and some essential to check off my ever-growing must-see list.

The latter true of the first, gutted to have been too late for Daisy Chapman at the acoustic Gudeon stage, Jol Rose followed. He’s the Swindon-based Americana soloist I met at a Swindon Shuffle of yore and been meaning to catch perform. Like all others, he didn’t disappoint, despite only catching his finale. Here’s a prolific acoustic magician with the experience under his belt to engage an audience. An open mic hour followed at this stage.

If Jol, though, came as no surprise, Thieves did. My next venture to the Wild & Woolley stage where blues is the order by day, and youth gather for indie by the eve, Thieves were playing an acoustic harmony not unlike the Lost Trades, and hey presto, I’m standing next to the one only Phil Cooper, one third of said Trades! He’s compere for this stage, and will perform at the bar stage later. As Thieves progressed through a sublime set of bluegrass I likened it more to Concrete Prairie, and of similar quality. I’m staring at the frontman from a distance, thinking, by Jove, that’s Adam Woodhouse, who I know as a soloist with a penchant for rock n roll covers. This new outfit, Thieves, only formed in June and is barking up his alley, you’d imagine the four-piece to have done this all their life. Adam tells me they’re playing a Sunday at The Southgate, Devizes, in April, well worth your attention.

The festival breaks for its foyer tradition of Holt’s morris dancers and children’s parade, known as the Wassall, then Phil Cooper takes the Bar Stage, kicking off with his own Road Songs, finding time to superbly cover Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Such is diversity on offer, when it’s time for some jazz hey presto, again, I’ve finally made my way to the Main Stage for The Graham Dent Trio. Jazz pianist with a double-bass player and Nick Sorensen on sax, this is divine melodic invention, contemporary and unique, though I knew what I was letting myself in for, I saw them last year.  

Drag myself away, for Bristol Uni indie four-piece, LilyPetals. New to me, confident youngsters with funky basslines over the archetypal rock, big tick from me. And a tick off my must-see list, Be Like Will on the main stage, a varied strong female-fronted three-piece pub circuit band who used the festival to play through their originals rather than their usual covers to appease a pub audience, which, either way, they’d accomplish with bells on. The new tune finale was a definite article to how rousing this band can take an audience.

The showstopper though, and it’s a big show to stop, came from Ruby Darbyshire at the Gudgeon. An absolutely spellbinding performance left the crowd in awe as others mingled outside praying someone would leave to replace them; few did. Ruby’s stage presence has drastically improved in a relatively short space of time, her talent to adapt from acoustic folk to jazz scat need not. With just the right balance of originals and covers, she held us in awe, was the only artist to get an encore, and through Sinéad O’Connor, Dylan, Bob Marley and Springsteen covers she nailed them all and made them her own. Particularly poignant, Ella Fitzgerald’s Misty, simply, wow!

Beguiling building layers of goth-rock were sounding from the Wild & Woolley, though, as Bristol’s female-fronted Life in Mono took to the stage. Evanescence in shape, yet solely idiosyncratic, here’s a euphoric original band to look out for. With Life in Mono indulgently ticked off my must-see, a new one on me rocked the main stage, the steady gypsy-dad-folk of The Mighty Rooster, prior to ensuring I was at the Bar for the unmissable Chippenham folk singer-songwriter, Meg. A passionate and thoughtful young artist, Meg delivers in such a unique yet proficient way I deem it impossible for anyone not to love her.

Such is the tight schedule though, should I need waiver artists we’ve seen and featured before in favour of ones I’ve yet to catch live? Trowbridge soul artist extraordinaire, Frankisoul is due on the main stage; anticipation brewing from the crowd while the band frustrate themselves with minimal setup times, resulting in a few technical mishaps, would, in any other circumstances be somewhat off-putting, but, fact is Frankisoul is such a character, and such a vibrant and sublime soul vocalist, hiccups were easy to polish over, still, they came up smiling and were my second showstoppers of the festival.       

Cliché is putty in Frankisoul’s hands, if his only cover, Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive is so, and they rinsed their originals with gusto and stylish proficiency, even down to a moment of hilarity upon Frankisoul mimicking the coat stage gimmick of James Brown. It’s these originals which gravitated me towards them, reviewed here, I shivered apprehension comparing him to likes of Luther Vandross, particularly Otis Redding, and yeah, live there’s a hint of eighties soul, of Kool & the Gang, but now I know he can live up to these.

Meanwhile the wonderful Courting Ghosts were unplugged at the Bar Stage, with their amazing blend of folk-rock, and Melksham’s finest youth band The Sunnies rocked the Wild & Woolley. One I’ve been aching to catch, yet I didn’t catch enough of due to Frankisoul gluing me to my seat, if I liken The Sunnies to Devizes-own sensation, Nothing Rhymes With Orange, I think it’s fair to now state, The Sunnies angle slightly to more indie-pop, their originals tinged with a carefree and indeed, sunny-side-of-the-street feel; a blessing to watch, bloomin’ marvellous!

With lively function band the Corporations attracting those left standing to the main stage, crowds lessened at the Wild & Woolley, sadly just when the epic finale was due. Yeah, it’s Devizes’ Nothing Rhymes with Orange’s headliner; those in the know and a few curious punters stayed to observe our hometown’s fever as the boys pulled out their typical energetic and competent show. Evermore is their attraction spreading, with gigs lined up as far as Manchester now, NRWO, I’ll be banging on about their brilliance for a while yet it seems!

Conclude this now, Worrow, in some manner, you’re sounding boring! I Know, but, over a colossal word-count only teetering on covering all the happenings at Bradford Roots Festival, and only the one day of it too, I struggle to find anything to grumble about. What a way to start the year, Bradford Roots Festival is amazing, the shell, The Wiltshire Music Centre is a blessing to our county, the value for money is righteous, the atmosphere is equable and convivial, and long may it be so.

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Lady Nade; Sober!

Dry January, anyone? Well, Lady Nade just plunged into an outdoor 4°C eucalyptus sauna for a social media reel. But whilst I’d require a stiff…

Ha! Let’s Laugh at Hunt Supporters!

Christmas has come early for foxes and normal humans with any slither of compassion remaining, as the government announced the righteous move to ban trail…

Rooks; New Single From M3G

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…

Who Knows, RAE?

With my boat sailing unchartered territory on this voyage of discovery for local talented youth, the rabbit hole continues deeper the further we network and rare findings simply keep coming, and today is no exception; singer-songwriter RAE is something rather special….

At seventeen, Corsham-based RAE most recently played Chippenham Pride, where she duetted with Jarret Brown of Melksham’s upcoming-now-household name The Sunnies. The tune is called PJ’s, and it features on her own self-penned debut four-track EP, Who Knows, which was launched early last month.

There’s subtle innocence in Rae’s acoustic opener, Do You Want Me Too? Simplicity is the key, capturing this truckload of potential in Rae’s delivery, and the ghostly musing of youthful romantic doubt. There’s even a studio moment of discussion left in, to create that personal touch. This is followed by the aforementioned duet with Jarret, PJ’s. Here is where Rae’s ability to compose the perfect acoustic ballad shines, clearly there’s a lot of thought and emotion wrapped in the beguiling chorus, and those verses are sublimely crafted.

Title track comes next, again dealing with mixed young romance emotions, a steady tempo enchants you, RAE knows precisely how to pluck the heartstrings. Yet the finale, I Hope U Don’t Miss Me is moderately uptempo by comparison, the moreish peach of the EP, the catch of which will have you chanting along, guaranteed, and as it fades you are left hanging cold, wanting more.    

It left me more than pleasantly surprised; there’s a sparkle here, like tasting iced sparkling spring water, with a slice of lemon, when you thought you were about to drink tap water! On Rae’s Soundcloud there’s also a cover of Niall Horan’s Heaven, which she puts her own stamp on; though this captures the skill of her delivery, through her own intelligently drafted lyrics, this EP goes the extra mile. Something about the clarity in a voice and guitar combo which is the raw essence of talent, and Rae has this natural bewitching ability to make you stop and listen.

As we continue sailing, to discover more locally-based talent, Rae is one you may have overlooked, but I urge you to anchor up and take a concentrated listen, as I tingle with anticipation at what she will produce next, for Who Knows is a wonderful and highly accomplished starting block. Do please have a listen, and tell me it’s not just me!!

LinkTree to RAE Music 

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Burning the Midday Oil at The Muck

Highest season of goodwill praises must go to Chrissy Chapman today, who raised over £500 (at the last count) for His Grace Children’s Centre…

For Now, Anyway; Gus White’s Debut Album

Featured Image: Barbora Mrazkova My apologies, for Marlborough’s singer-songwriter Gus White’s debut album For Now, Anyway has been sitting on the backburner, and it’s…

Box Rocks; Spend August Bank Holiday Monday in Box?

Not a typo, even if my irritating grammar check says it’s so, and not ruling out some might like to spend bank holiday Monday “in a box;” each to their own. But Box Rocks, at the Queen’s Head, in Box is an institution, and this year is looking decidedly tempting…..

Forever a bank holiday Monday thing, Box Rocks actually started on Whitsun in 1994. The idea, concocted over a few drinks between like-minded musicians, was to perform a charity gig on the roof overlooking the gardens and car park at The Queens Head in Box; their very own Apple HQ, Savile Row!  

The First Box Rocks, 1994!

“After the first few years,” they tell, “we were advised that putting musicians and alcohol eight feet in the air was not the best idea, so we moved the stage into the garden at ground level!”

In 2002, due to the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, it was shifted to the August Bank Holiday, and due to its blossoming attraction, moved to the carpark, where it remains to this day, with the slogan “8 bands over 8 hours.”

Over the years Box Rocks has raised thousands of pounds for the RUH Forever Friends appeal and other local charities, the past couple raising over £7,000 for Dorothy House. 

Danni W

But enough of the history, Box Rocks goes ahead come rain or shine, on Monday 28th August this year, it’s a fiver or more donation to the Dorothy House on the gate, no animals except guide dogs, only food and drink purchased on the grounds and under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange

And the lineup is looking a little something like this: from 2pm the Phoenix River Band kick off, 3pm is Danni W, whose album we recently fondly reviewed but yet to catch live, Tom Petty homage, Petty Minded from 4pm, a fine choice, sirs, Nothing Rhymes With Orange take the 5pm slot, followed by The Sunnies, indie-punkers similarly taking the Sham by storm, and From Jovi at 7pm, which may/may not be a tribute act!

The Sunnies

After dinner, those fantastic Bristolian new wavers The Radio Makers at 8pm, still got their forthcoming album to review, I’m getting to it, honest! And a finale of Fleetwood Mac, with Fleetwood’s Back. So, yeah, might catch you there, if they let me out of my box.

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One Of Us; New Single From Lady Nade

Featured Image by Giulia Spadafora Ooo, a handclap uncomplicated chorus is the hook in Lady Lade’s latest offering of soulful pop. It’s timelessly cool and…

Large Unlicensed Music Event Alert!

On the first day of advent, a time of peace and joy to the world et al, Devizes Police report on a “large unlicenced music…

Winter Festival/Christmas/Whatever!

This is why I love you, my readers, see?! At the beginning of the week I put out an article highlighting DOCA’s Winter Festival, and…

Devizes Winter Festival This Friday and More!

Who’s ready for walking in the winter wonderland?! Devizes sets to magically transform into a winter wonderland this Friday when The Winter Festival and Lantern…

Snow White Delight: Panto at The Wharf

Treated to a sneaky dress rehearsal of this year’s pantomime at Devizes’ one and only Wharf Theatre last night, if forced to sum it up…

Hometown Gig for Nothing Rhymes with Orange

First one in what I hope to be a series diverting negative local social media hysteria about wayward youths in our area, must be a Devizes-based indie-pop band of young hoodlums with nothing better to do with their time than pick up guitars and drums, practise like crazy, self-promote themselves, and name themselves with a rational band name, like Nothing Rhymes With Orange……

Even though we have a mountain in Wales called Blorenge, and, the technical term for a sac where spores are made, sporange, all of which they could’ve Googled, but perhaps were too busy becoming the band the best upcoming band in the South West, Salisbury’s Carsick, cite as the best upcoming band in the South West…. maybe!

Whatever the reason for them overlooking these obscure words which do rhyme with orange, the guys are really at the top of their game right now, something we all should tip our hats to. Since fondly reviewing their EP last November, they’ve ventured off to perform in Bristol, Bath, and Trowbridge, as well as Chippenham’s Take the Stage contest. I’ve be encouraging some home-turf gigging too, which is never easy being they and their prospering fanbase are predominately under eighteen.

Seems my bleating to DOCA paid off, and all looks set for the guys to perform at Devizes International Street Festival in May, for here’s something without age limitations which can all enjoy. This is an opportunity I’d like to see become an annual thing, where we recommend a local upcoming band of the year to play the main stage, rather than any kind of bolt-on substitute. Because these guys thoroughly deserve all the attention they’re getting, and you thoroughly need to see them perform.

Which you can do sooner, Saturday April 22nd to be precise, as they play a hometown self-organised gig at West Lavington Hall, with support from three bands new to me, Stoneface, Paradigm, and Frankastre. Showing my age, maybe, but Nothing Rhymes With Orange’s accomplishments are also sharing the attention with a next generation circuit developing, and without trying to sound like a Mandalorian, something which has been “the way” since the eve of rock n roll!

If you don’t wish to take my word for it, someone you should never doubt when it comes to music, Sheer Music’s Kieran Moore, sung their praises after a sell-out show last night at The Pump, alongside Chippenham-based (I believe?) band The Sunnies, currently taking a similar route. Kieran had this to say, “wow, just wow. When the bands first played, they were a bunch of teenagers looking for opportunities. Fast forward a year, and they’ve both been hitting up Chippenham’s Take The Stage and St James Wine Vaults in Bath, played a number of gigs for us at The Pump, and begun hosting their own gigs in Lavington and generally have grown astronomically quick.”

“That furious year of activity have seen the bands stream line their abilities, build their craft and become the anchors around which we will hang off our scene. Their sounds have become dynamic, more focused, and concise. The crowds now know all their lyrics, and sing and dance accordingly, and the teenagers come and are so respectful. It’s a pure treat to watch this all unfold, and The Pump is beaming with pride, because it’s not just the bands who have been developing, but the team there too.”

Don’t save me a seat, I’ll be crowd-surfing, and hope to see you there! Tickets are just eight quid, HERE. And I’d also like to thank The Pump for continuing to showcase upcoming talent, for more info on forthcoming gigs at the Pump, check here. But, if it’s one incredible thing to see a Springsteen gig, it’s a whole other ballpark to see a Springsteen gig in New Jersey, and wager, least hope for a similar effect in the Lavingtons!

Wayward youths are in the minority, and historically always have been. Sweeping generalisations, tarnishing groups according to age is counterproductive, probably making matters worse. We want to focus on the positives, highlight those youths out there doing good, for really, stuff the clickbait bad press, they’re in the majority, and here is the proof. If you know of more examples we’d like to hear from you.

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Chatting With Burn The Midnight Oil

It’s nice to hear when our features attract attention. Salisbury’s Radio Odstock  picked up on our interview with Devizes band Burn the Midnight Oil and…