email: [email protected] website: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net Free every month. NIGHTSHIFT Issue 176 March Oxford’s Music Magazine 2010

BBC Oxford Introducing celebrates five years on air with a tribute to a local masterpiece - interview with presenters Tim Bearder and Dave Gilyeat inside plus

Oxford music news, reviews and seven pages of local gigs

NIGHTSHIFT: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU. Phone: 01865 372255 NEWNEWSS Nightshift: PO Box 312, Kidlington, OX5 1ZU Phone: 01865 372255 email: [email protected] Online: nightshift.oxfordmusic.net

ALL-VENUE PASSES FOR THIS May. Acts already confirmed YEAR’S OXFORD PUNT have include Tunng, Fionn Reagan, gone on sale. 100 laminated passes, Martin Simpson, Danny & The priced at £7 (plus booking fee) are Champions of the World, Peggy available online at oxfordmusic.net Sue, Nick Cope and Dusty and the or from The Scribbler in Oxford city Dreaming Spires. Wood, now in its centre and The Music Box on third year, features solar and cycle- Cowley Road. This year’s Punt powered stages, a cinema and disco MEW are the first headline act to be confirmed for this year’s Truck takes place on Wednesday 12th as well as other renewable energy Festival. This will be the band’s only UK festival appearance this May, showcasing 19 of the best projects. The festival features a summer. The Danish rockers’ show at the Zodiac in 2005 was one of new acts in Oxfordshire across five wide rage of workshops and family the most incredible gigs Nightshift has witnessed in recent years. Mew city centre venues on one night. activities as well as organic food and released their fifth album, ‘No More Stories’, late last year and recently With Thirst Lodge planning to turn beer. Tickets for the event are on supported Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction around Europe. into a lapdancing club, CoCo Royal sale now, priced £70, from the Tickets for Truck are already selling fast. The festival takes place over has become the latest venue to be Scribbler and Inner Bookshop in the weekend of 23rd-25th July at Hill farm in Steventon. Adult weekend included on the Punt circuit, along Oxford as well as various outlets tickets are £80; tickets for 13-17 year olds are £60 with under 13s with Malmaison, The Purple Turtle, around the county and online. Visit going free. Tickets, including a limited number of Supertrucker tickets The Wheatsheaf and The Cellar. www.thisistruck.com for more which allow entry to both Truck and Wood festivals for £120, are on Bands wanting to take part in the details. sale from The Scribbler in Oxford, Oxford Guitar Gallery in Punt have until 12th March to Summertown, The Music Box on Cowley Road, Rapture in Witney and submit demos. Send Myspace links, OUT GRAZE FESTIVAL returns Local Roots in Abingdon as well as online at Ticketweb, See Tickets and clearly marked Punt, to for its third year in June. The three- other outlets. Visit www.thisistruck.com for more ticket details and [email protected], or send day dance festival runs from 11th- festival news. CDs, again clearly marked Punt, to 13th June at an as yet undisclosed Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, location in Oxfordshire. The festival OX5 1ZU. The line-up for the is co-promoted by local dance clubs place at the Cellar on Saturday 27th year. The pair recently supported event will be announced on the Bassmentality, Slide and Simple and March, featuring Cheap Thrills Hole in London, following on from Nightshift online forum on March features a mix of dance tents playing signing Rico Tubbs, plus Simple DJ tours with Placebo, Eagles of Death 15th. house, dubstep, reggae, funk and Emily Watson, Angus Cowan, Metal and Alice In Chains. more and was shortlisted for best Mush and Melodize. FRANK TURNER is among the dance event at last year’s UK OXFORDBANDS.COM has latest acts to be added to the bill for Festival Awards. Tickets are on sale LITTLE FISH release their debut become Oxfordbands.co.uk after this year’s Wood Festival. The eco- now, priced £40, from album in May. ‘Baffled & Beat’ is experiencing problems with their friendly festival takes place at Wegottickets.com, with profits released on Linda Perry’s Custard internet provider. The site features Braziers Park, near Wallingford, going to the Oxford Wheels Project. Records. Jules and Nez recorded the regularly updated interactive over the weekend of the 21st-23rd A launch gig for the festival takes album with Linda in the States last reviews of local gigs and releases.

YOUTHMOVIES HAVE SPLIT. Jonquil. Their hard work and DIY year. will be all around us. We’ve never The band will bow out with a final ethic found them regularly touring Youthmovies singer Andrew Mears been that comfortable on big, gig at the O2 Academy on the UK, often with other Oxford spoke to Nightshift about the split. detached stages but obviously as Saturday 27th March. bands supporting, as well as “We are miles apart and it’s time the band went on and the shows Originally called Youthmovie releasing their own , and other acts’, for something new. For me that’s got bigger it was something that Soundtrack Strategies, the band are albums on their Try Harder label. my new project Pet Moon and the was a necessary evil. We’re trying rightly considered to be one of the Their first CD was a Nightshift book I’m writing, Songs Without to get back to what was fun and most innovative and influential Demo Of The Month and they Restraint. Sam is playing with essential about the early shows. bands to have come out of Oxford, twice graced the cover of the Jonquil and solo stuff under the Asked about Youthmovies’ very their diverse, genre-defying style magazine. The band have been on name Solid Gold Dragons; Al has significant legacy on local music, inspiring the likes of Foals and indefinite hiatus over the past just started a band with ex-members Andrew said, “I think for the most of Murder of Rosa Luxembourg and part bands do what they do under House of Brothers; Graeme is doing their own steam. I guess if some amphetamine-tribal-shit for anything we’re just another in a clubbers with a conscience, and line of bands that have shown that Ham’s in Liverpool making his first you can do what the fuck you million, building microchips that want and people will like it, that turn white noise into birdsong. they’re not stupid, that the music “The best things about the past industry as it’s understood, and few years have been all the travel, being musically industrious aren’t working with people like Adam mutually exclusive.” Gnade, Ant Theaker, Foals and Long-time collaborator Adam Jonquil, and basically getting paid to Gnade supports Youthmovies, be antagonistic vagrants. with various guest appearances “For the final show we’re playing promised. Tickets for the show downstairs at the Academy, on the are on sale now at floor, in the round, so the crowd wegottickets.com. Stornoway photo: Johnny Moto to his film See this month’s main See this month’s with the release of `Round Anyone Can Play Guitar, tune into BBC Oxford Introducing every Saturday evening between 6- on 95.2fm, and as a podcast 7pm The all week at bbc.co.uk/oxford. dedicated local music show celebrates its fifth anniversary this month The Bends’, featuring local bands covering songs from Radiohead’s classic album. interview feature. AS EVER, DON’T FORGET last month. The independent video last month. The independent Videosyncratic are offering local bands a STORNOWAY, THE CANDYSKINS AND RICHARD WALTERS CANDYSKINS THE STORNOWAY, to local acts who played a special in-store gig were amongst a host of mark the closing of on Cowley Road and in Summertown, were and DVD rental shops, changes in the rental forced to close due to spiralling losses due to in Oxford. As well as market and the costs of running a retail outlet sold tickets for local gigs and videos and DVDs Videosyncratic renting stock a wide range of festivals and was the only store in the city to only the county’s now remains in Witney, CDs. Rapture, bands’ Oxford independent CD retailer. gig in the Cowley Road arranged the impromptu Walters Richard unable to gain entry to store, which attracted hundreds of fans, many were The Family the shop, due to the size of the crowd. Also playing Machine, Ute, Huck and Ben Walker. owner Jon Spira lamented the to Nightshift Videosyncratic Talking passing of local independent shops. outlet for to have been Oxford’s “It has been an absolute pleasure and staged many local music. I got to meet some brilliant people will pick up the memorable gigs in the shop. I really hope someone or one of the instrument slack now we’re gone. Maybe a pub or venue are important. We really take up much space and it’s shops; it doesn’t music shop at all. That is now a city which has no form of independent Use it or lose it.” a fucking tragedy. Jon is in the final stages of finishing documenting the Oxford music scene over the last 30 years. documenting the Oxford music scene over the TRUCK special spring deal of £150 a day recording at the studio on the site of the annual festival. Bands who have recorded at the studio in recent times include Foals, Stornoway, Alphabet Backwards and Danny & For World. The The Champions Of bookings call 01235 821262 or email [email protected]. Visit for www.thisistruck.com/studio more details. th th Charlbury hosts a March Fat st and London’s . The prize for . The prize th -31 th . and Tiger launch a new st th May. Events already May. April and features returns to Oxford in th th , InLight and Empire th House and Australian House and March when heavyweights , a film and zine fest on the 15 . Ladyfest organisers are looking March to enter. Email March to enter. th th th th Lil’s plays host to rising young plays Lil’s blues guitarist Krissy Matthews, bluesy r’n’b act Big London’s Mama’s as well as its bluesman Rob Tognoni regular monthly blues jam. LADYFEST showcasing female bands, May, performers, film makers and zines. The event runs from Thursday 13 Mendoza and Mammoth & The Drum on the 31 – Sunday 16 and a benefit disco for Oxford Abuse and Rape Crisis Sexual Centre at Baby Simple, also on the 15 for any local female bands, solo acts or DJs, or anyone wanting to get meetings take involved. Weekly place at Far From The Madding Crowd every Thursday at 6.30pm. There is also a Facebook page for the event or you can email Sally Jones at [email protected]. CAFÉ TARIFA weekly live music night this month. Different Light is a semi-acoustic forclub local bands to experiment with a different side to their music. Wednesday The launch night is on 10 [email protected]. holds its The venue, meanwhile, month. second blues festival this Running from 26 MARC OF ZORRO MARC OF Blue Flowers launch a new monthly will Yoof April. club night in showcase a host of rising bands and DJs. The opening night is on Saturday 10 confirmed include Madam and Baby on the Tavern Gravy at the Jericho 14 Phantom Theory and Gunning For have a chance to get mellow. Tamar play Train A The Minor Coles and on the 17 Safari on the 24 the winners includes a recorded gig the winners includes a the main a place on at Fat Lil’s, Cornbury stage at this summer’s from PMT Festival and equipment will get a in Oxford. Runners-up at slot on the main stage Acts have until Riverside Festival. 14 Egyptian Hip Hop, plus Yuck Egyptian Hip Hop, plus (featuring former members of Cajun Dance Party) and Ray Dar Vees. Facebook page for Join the club’s updates on acts booked to play. Blues show are online at show are online Blues www.famousmondayblues.co.uk. WITNEY IN LIL’S FAT bands competition in battle of the looking for local acts April and are Heats will take place to participate. with April throughout on Sundays May 7 the final on - th th . April. th th release their brings his show, God’s show, have been invited returns over the returns March. The band are th club at the Bullingdon hosts , renowned country singer March as part of a gig in aid of ). The annual festival takes place takes annual festival ). The th th st THE HALF RABBITS 19 debut album on Monday for more details. www.myspace.com/wittstockrock Band Project are welcomed. Visit Band Project are welcomed. and the Oxford Young Women’s Young and the Oxford donations to Cancer Research UK donations to Cancer Research Although the festival is free, Although the festival is Barry & The Beachcombers. Quadrophobe, The Roundheels Quadrophobe, The Roundheels and Hats, Laima Bite, Baby Gravy, Hats, Laima Moiety, Small Machine, The Black The Small Machine, Moiety, Spasm Band, Vicars of Twiddly, Vicars Spasm Band, include The include The Original Rabbit Foot Abingdon. Acts confirmed so far Acts confirmed Abingdon. at the Railway Inn in Culham, near at the Railway the O2 Academy on Saturday 17 the O2 Horizon To The Map’ with a gig at The Map’ To Horizon rockers will launch ‘From The rockers will launch ‘From The local new-wave inspired Saturday 13 Maida Vale for broadcast on Vale Maida favourites will record five songs at Jukebox. The local ‘chav-jazz’ Lamarr’s Radio 2 SPASM BAND SPASM to record a session for Mark THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT advance, at wegottickets.com. show are on sale now, priced £6 in show are on sale now, Night Portraits. Tickets for the Travolta, The Dead Jerichos and bill comes from The Rock Of April. Support on an excellent local 15 usual Monday night slot on March Loomis performing at the club’s well as blues guitarist Hamilton BLUES As week this month. Texan a special THE FAMOUS MONDAY THE FAMOUS Details of all the famous Monday wegottickets.com. are on sale now, priced £10, from are on sale now, Scholars and Just Morale. Tickets the Brookes bill are Junkstar, The Festival last year. Other bands on Festival last year. including their headline set at Truck second guitar on tour for Supergass, Rob on keyboards and played France. Charly has since filled in for he broke his back in an accident in years ago, filling in for Micky when and Rob in Supergrass a couple of Tumbleweed, joined brothers Gaz began his musical career with A Wish Foundation. Charly, who Foundation. Charly, Wish A Sobell House Hospice and the Make WITTSTOCK (28 weekend holiday May bank appearance on Thursday 18 Cowboys make a rare UK Heather Myles & The Cadillac 31 27 Oxford Brookes Union on Saturday new band, The New Breed, to CHARLY COOMBES CHARLY later in the year. their debut album, due for release currently in the process of recording a quiet word with Tim Dave Bearder & Gilyeat

the editor at the time wouldn’t play ball and rather annoyingly Northamptonshire got a radio show on air before us, but when our current editor arrived we were away and haven’t stopped since.” What particular opportunities and restrictions does working for the BBC bring? TIM: “For me Introducing is proper public service broadcasting, it is exactly what the BBC should be about. We might only have an hour a week but I don’t think there are many musicians in Oxfordshire that haven’t had some kind of relationship with the show. Perhaps they might not have been played but they know we are there to play them once they get good enough. That raises everyone’s game. “Nightshift fulfilled that role for me when I was in a band. I made singles THIS MONTH BBC OXFORD Five years later, long-since renamed, old married couple. in the hope that you might say they Introducing celebrates its fifth Introducing is an essential fixture for We wonder, first, what inspired were good and if you didn’t I’d go anniversary. The show, produced and local music fans, broadcast every them to start the show and what the away and try harder. But Nightshift presented by Tim Bearder and Dave Saturday evening between 6-7pm and initial obstacles they faced were. is a rarity and for most places in the Gilyeat, has consistently showcased available as a podcast online. The TIM: “Dave and I never really left country local music needs fostering, the best new music coming out of show consistently unearths the best music behind as we grew up. In 2000 encouraging and developing and the Oxford and championed the likes of new acts in the area, possessing a I came back from travelling the BBC has the resources and now the A Silent Film, Little Fish, Winchell great knack of spotting, and world and set up an online music will to achieve that.” Riots and, in particular, Stornoway, supporting, those bands destined to website called Amazingbands.com. DAVE: “There are restrictions to helping them all to move onwards go on to greater things. In fact, We wrote really shoddy reviews and what we can say or play though. The and upwards along the way. being part of the BBC’s nationwide copied out Nightshift’s gig guide and conversation can often be a bit edgy, To commemorate the show’s Introducing network has given Tim tried to stream band’s tracks. It was with the potential to offend local landmark achievement, Tim and and Dave access to contacts, like all very experimental, which is a radio listeners; Tim sees to that. And Dave have compiled a tribute to Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, who take euphemism for terrible, but it got me there can’t be any swearing in the Radiohead’s seminal ‘The Bends’ their recommendations to a higher noticed by the BBC and once I had a songs of course. Some bands send us album, which coincidentally level. Stornoway earned their slot at toe in the door I started working to expletive-ridden tracks that are not celebrates its fifteenth anniversary Radio 1’s Big Weekend festivals get a local music show on the radio. I going to go down well on a Saturday this year. Featuring thirteen of the through Introducing’s knew nothing about BBC local radio night before Strictly Come best new bands in town, ‘Round The recommendation, while Little Fish and when I heard they didn’t have a Dancing.” Bends’ is Oxford music’s tribute to found themselves recording a local music show I couldn’t quite TIM: “If you count our internet the band that, more than any other, session at the legendary Maida Vale believe it. It took years of show then we probably were the first put Oxford on the world’s musical studios. campaigns and dedication to get it dedicated local music show in the map. off the ground. country but we certainly haven’t ON AIR THERE IS A REAL “Neither off us had done radio been alone and we didn’t set up LIKE SO MANY OF THE GREAT chemistry between the two before and the BBC wasn’t in the Introducing. Only time will tell if we things about Oxford’s music scene, presenters. Tim is effusive, right frame of mind to have new are remembered as the Charles it’s easy to take Introducing for occasionally wacky and prone to music on its local radio network. Darwins or the Alfred Russel granted, but, like so many great launch into outlandish flights of Those were the two things we needed Wallaces.” things about Oxford’s music scene, it fancy. He also likes to interview out- to fix and it was a monumental task. DAVE: “That must be the first only exists because of the of-town bands in the most ridiculous We started by running a 15-minute mention of Alfred Russel Wallace in enthusiasm and perseverance of manner. Dave, by contrast, is more internet only show on a Wednesday Nightshift. Hurrah.” dedicated individuals. sardonic, an anchor that brings evening. We did it for a year! Initially called The Download, the necessary cohesion to the show. In Considering we could only play 30 WHILE TIM AND DAVE show took the form of a fifteen- the flesh the pair, long-time friends seconds of each track because of present the show as a team, as far as minute internet-only programme. and former bandmates (in the online music rights and the fact that producing the show goes, they have The first ever hour-long broadcast frankly godawful, even by their own absolutely nobody listened, even I’m very defined roles, roles they have went out on BBC Radio Oxford admission, Toshi Station, who were impressed with our dedication. to fit in around all their other work 95.2fm on March 4th 2005 and once Demo Dumped in Nightshift), “It was invaluable though because it for the BBC. featured Harry Angel, Twizz Twangle are just as much a team: whether taught us how to put together a show TIM: “Basically I do absolutely and Nine Stone Cowboy, as well as an jointly waxing lyrical about a new and gave us time to change the everything and then Dave picks the interview with Supergrass. favourite band, or bickering like an mindset in the BBC. Try as we might music. But then it is a local music show so Dave’s role in the grand further. Skydiving with Young helped them along and where do you ‘Round The Bends’ is almost the scheme of things is hardly negligible. Knives was fun and interviewing Get see them going from here? ultimate tribute album. How did the We basically argue about everything Cape. Wear Cape. Fly! at an TIM: “It feels really amazing to be idea come about? that we do. Hopefully that keeps imaginary murder scene, where I part of their success. It validates DAVE: “We knew we wanted to everything fresh and honed.” implied he had shot Lorraine Kelly everything we do when bands make celebrate our five year anniversary DAVE: “Tim often works into his was quite funny. He knew what I was it onto the next level and what is so in spectacular style. It’s hard enough free time to put the show together. I like because the time before I’d nice about the guys in Stornoway is covering Radiohead, but to attempt respect and admire that. We get sent broken my leg rock climbing on the that they continue to acknowledge to do a whole album? I’ve heard hundreds of songs to us a month via White Horse with him. The worst that support. They just did an cover albums before and they’re the BBC Uploader and I trawl one was Zero 7 when I pretended we interview in The Guardian and always patchy. And here we’d be through that and schedule the good were on a territorial army training mentioned our efforts. I don’t want covering one of the greatest albums tracks on the playlist accordingly. day and for 15 minutes I went crazy anyone to get carried away - I didn’t of all time. Never let it be said that It’s a big job, but not a hard one, and with them ducking and diving over write any of their songs and they we don’t like a challenge.” it’s always exciting not knowing furniture in the studio and imagining very probably would have made it Did you have a fixed idea of which what’s going to come up next. explosions and then at the end I without us but having them on-side bands you wanted to get involved What particular talent do the pair realised I hadn’t pressed record. As I and acknowledging that really helps and which songs you wanted them to think each other brings to the show? pressed what I thought was stop and justify our existence and make it do? TIM: “Dave brings tolerance. I’m realised it was record I looked at tenable long term. They are such Tim: “We invited bands that we very pushy and always want to do them and they said: `You’re a bit of lovely people as well and I’ve had love and let them choose their own more than is humanly possible. I a knob aren’t you’. I pressed stop the time of my life with them. tracks. We argued a lot about this as think you need to be extremely and that was my Zero 7 interview. It While hanging onto their coat tails well because we love a lot of bands tolerant working with a man like ain’t all a bed of roses.” I’ve got to interview Jools Holland and there are only twelve tracks. In that. He’s also the polar opposite to and given Michael Eavis a hug. the end we tried to feature bands that me, so hopefully if my zaniness gets A TYPICAL INTRODUCING Frankly I’ve got more to thank hadn’t featured on previous albums a bit much the show has something a show features a wide spread of local them for than they have me but and, with a few exceptions, it is a little more reserved to offer. He music, oblivious to genre, but each hopefully I’ll be able to continue the fresh new crop.” always insists on `bringing it back to year Tim and Dave pick one local charade that I’ve put them where Which is your favourite song on the music’.” band and dedicate a whole show to they are today all the way to my the album? DAVE: “Tim brings enthusiasm. I’m them. So far Fell City Girl, Little dotage, when I get to talk about TIM: I love The Evenings’ ‘Street very happy for Tim to be the face Spirit (Fade Out)’. I think Dave and of the show. I’m not good with I both agree on this one. It’s so people, I’m completely socially “For me Introducing is proper incredible the effort that has gone inept in fact. But he understands the into making something to help us need for promotion, for getting the public service broadcasting; it is celebrate our birthday but I think it show out there and he tends to be is the competitive spirit that has the one dealing with the bands on a exactly what the BBC should be pushed them on more than anything one-on-one basis. He’s very creative. about.” else and Mark Wilden has put It’s not to everyone’s taste but it together an incredible rendition of forces you to have an opinion!” one of my favourite tracks. It’s What’s the most annoying thing Fish, A Silent Film and Stornoway them on a late night Channel 4 simply gorgeous.” about each other? have had hour-long programmes documentary.” DAVE: “Yeah, I kind of want my DAVE: “Tim is stubborn, grouchy dedicated to them. It’s another of DAVE: “They were irresistible from funeral to take place tomorrow just and has the feeblest grasp of pop Introducing’s ways of giving that their first demo. Brian wrote a nice so I can have it played. I don’t think culture and music history that you extra little push to the bands they letter praising Tim’s duck jumper that’s morbid. Having the original will ever find in a person.” particularly love. that he’d worn to one of our live played would be morbid but this TIM: “That’s true, I don’t have a TIM: “I like to think that we pick a nights. Tim stuck with them ever version is life-affirming.” mind for music trivia. I find it tricky band that everyone else on the local since, which has been a long time.” Any versions that were particularly to differentiate between my Gary music scene would agree deserve to Tim’s love for Stornoway nearly surprising? Numans and my Gary Oldmans – and be featured. We watch Nightshift cost him his job at the BBC a couple TIM: “I guess it isn’t surprising but I’ve met the Numan one! But Dave closely, go to a lot of gigs and listen of years ago, though. Alphabet Backwards have made has an equally feeble grasp on to a lot of music. The best dedicated TIM: “I did eight months `Sulk’ sound like one of theirs and current affairs, science, technology, shows we’ve put together have been presenting the early breakfast show. Stornoway have done the opposite politics and basically anything that when we’ve featured the bands that I used to have to get up at 3am and if and made something that doesn’t isn’t music, film or literature.” we frequently covered and these tend I’m honest I started to go a little bit sound anything like them. There are to be the more prominent bands that loopy. I forgot there were rules about no alarms but plenty of surprises.” TALKING OF ZANY, A have done lots of exciting things. So playlists and things and decided to DAVE: “To be honest, we expected characteristic part of Introducing is far they’ve all been obvious. This take my wacky band of breakfast them to be good – the choice of acts Tim’s often, ahem, unusual interview year there perhaps isn’t one stand- show characters on a `Storn-Away- guaranteed that – but I was still technique, especially with bigger- out act. We’ve still got a few months Day’ to bond around the music of my surprised at how good. Every band name out-of-town bands. before we have that argument so favourite band. We went zorbing and not only covered each song; they TIM: “When I was very young I there’s plenty of time for bands to pigeon shooting in a crazy fantasy reinvented them in their own image. used to listen to the Hitch Hikers’s do some incredible things.” radio world with me doing all the silly Naturally, doing a straight Radiohead Guide To The Galaxy on long car DAVE: “That’s not a bad thing: voices and madcap antics. The boss cover would be fruitless, a losing journeys and realised that with radio there’s a lot of exciting smaller acts happened to be driving to work at the battle, and everyone got that. I you could be literally anywhere your breaking through right now. It’s time and when he walked into the think the passion for Radiohead imagination could take you. I lovely to be spoilt for choice. And building he quite understandably shines through on every track. The combined that principle with what we’ve had a good run so far. Maybe suspended me for the rest of the sheer talent of the bands here in Simon Amstell was doing on we should make a bigger deal about week. Like I said I was very tired, the Oxfordshire shouldn’t still be Popworld. His genius was realising it, make it more official, give them a rest did me a world of good.” surprising me, but it does.” that people were bored of the clichéd trophy or something. Or at least a pop star interview, as Youtube groovy plaque with Tim’s face on it. STORNOWAY, BBC Oxford Introducing is exposed the fact that they were Introducing has been particularly unsurprisingly, feature on ‘Round The broadcast on 95.2fm every Saturday saying exactly the same thing to associated with the rise and rise of Bends’, which is available as a between 6-7pm. The show is every reporter. He put them in Stornoway; how does it feel to be download only, with all profits going streamed online at bbc.co.uk all unusual situations and asked silly among the very first people to pick to Children In Need. Following on week and is available as a things to get something unique out up on their potential, what’s it like from the show’s album of Bond downloadable podcast. ‘Round The of them. I just took that a lot to have worked with them and theme covers last year, the album Bends’ is available now on iTunes. RELEASED... VARIOUS ARTISTS SPRING OFFENSIVE ‘Round The Bends’ ‘Pull Us Apart’ (Download only) (Friars Music) Like an alignment of planets BBC Oxford We love spring best of all the seasons – It’s so Introducing’s local music show shares its fifth ripe with potential, so showered in positivity. birthday with the fifteenth anniversary of Even Spring Offensive’s name leaps up at you Radiohead’s ‘The Bends’. While the latter is one like an eager puppy dog: love us, we’re fun, of the greatest albums ever made and we’re fresh, let’s frolic! instrumental in taking Oxford music to the world, Amid the never-ending stream of great new the former has quietly – okay, usually not so bands forming around Oxford, few are drawing quietly – continued to give airtime and admiring glances from so many different opportunities to new generations of Oxford directions as Spring Offensive; as well as nearly bands, from Foals to Stornoway. nabbing Nightshift’s Demo Of The Month a few Following on from last year’s ‘A Quantum Of issues back (only beaten by The Scholars) Covers’ compilation, wherein assorted local they’ve already picked up airplay from Tom luminaries – from Borderville and The Epstein, Iron Lung’ before injecting a bit of Bunnymen Robinson on 6Music as well as recording a to Witches and Xmas Lights – covered classic bombast into proceedings, while Ute’s ‘The session for BBC Oxford Introducing and Bond themes in aid of BBC Children In Need, Bends’ is introverted and considered contributed to that show’s new ‘Round The here a cast of Oxford’s finest reconstruct ‘The compared to the original’s rampant squall. Bends’ tribute album, and the reasons why Bends’ in its entirety for the same cause. It’s a Aside from Winchell Riots, the best takes here everyone seems to love them are abundantly fun, if artistically risky conceit; Radiohead are come from bands you wouldn’t normally think clear throughout this debut mini-album. much-covered but rarely with much success or of in relation to Radiohead: The Evenings’ Ostensibly Spring Offensive are a folk-rock originality (Prince, Mark Ronson and Eliza playfully spaced-out ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’ band dressed in a spangly indie t-shirt and come Lumley being prime culprits). But maybe getting that sounds like Queen pretending to be Jon & armed with a bag of cute frills and furbelows that Oxford bands to remodel Oxford’s greatest band Vangelis; We Aeronauts’ cutesy ‘Fake Plastic make everything they do feel airy and alive, will reap greater rewards. And so, for the most Trees’; Jessie Grace’s overwrought treatment where lesser bands might sink into generic part, it seems it has. of ‘High & Dry’ that could be a lost Bond doldrums. Singer Lucas Whitworth can spit and Stornoway’s opening take on ‘Planet Telex’ is an theme; Little Fish’s raw, garagey ‘Just’ and in snarl on songs like ‘Every Coin’ but he’s equally oddity as the band dispense with their particular Alphabet Backwards’ deliciously capable of a sweeter, almost keening lament on characteristic folksiness for a more scrambled ebullient synth-pop splattering of ‘Sulk’ with ‘The Cable Routine’. electronic approach that cheekily seems to derive its chirruping boy-girl vocal duelling. The guitars jink and twinkle, songs drift along more inspiration from ‘Kid A’ than ‘The Bends’. Obviously as a local artefact ‘Round The before rousing themselves for big choruses; one Of the bands here who owe the most direct Bends’ is both curio and essential purchase. minute they’re marching along with a snarl across musical debts to Radiohead, The Winchell Riots How much of its appeal will extend beyond their face, the next they’re nestling down to toast come out on top with a brilliantly dreamlike Oxford remains to be seen, but the very idea of marshmallows on a deserted beach with Jonquil choral take on ‘(Nice Dream)’ that reminds us as a local music scene celebrating its greatest sons and Stornoway. Like Winchell Riots they can mix much of Julee Cruise’s ‘Mysteries Of Love’ and respectfully but for the most part not too intricate textures with epic intent and Lucas even is possibly the album’s high point. The Scholars reverentially is surely worthy of attention. gets to sing “We’ve already lost the plot, now go a bit ‘Dear Prudence’ on their version of ‘My Dale Kattack we’re losing our way” without attracting derisory mirth from passing cynics. In the end, what Spring Offensive are doing isn’t anything wildly innovative, just knitting together result of getting on the wrong side of one would their often quite obvious influences, but as doubtless be similar to Baby Gravy keyboard Funboy Three and Bananarama so wisely once player Dale White’s synth jabs, which viciously said, it ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you punctuate the band’s latest single. do it, and, as Lord Summerisle might have added, Part of Baby Gravy’s very substantial charm you did it splendidly my dears. After that he’d has always been their refusal to polish off those doubtless launch into a chorus of ‘Sumer Is rough edges, preferring to steer their singularly Icumen In’, but for now, spring feels just great. wayward path through pop with rough’n’ready Dale Kattack punk-inspired abandon; ‘Not Waiting’ lacks the thrill of last year’s ace ‘Did It Again’, preferring an uncharacteristically brooding approach. Iona Roisin is typically bullish and stroppy, but it’s those nasty old-fashioned synth stabs that bring to life a song that might otherwise feel too much like any other new young band trying to find their own personality. B-side ‘Hot Night’, though, is Baby Gravy doing what they always do best, partying with BABY GRAVY jerky, robotic intent, a retro-futurist synth-rock hum backing up Iona’s Pauline Murray-styled ‘Not Waiting’ holler and all wrapped up in two short minutes. All of which goes to prove that Baby Gravy are (BG) at their best when they’re wired and showing off If wasps were as big as people and came armed instead of sulking at the bottom of the stairs. with boxing gloves instead of stings the end Dale Kattack HIPBONE SLIM & THE KNEETREMBLERS ‘The Kneanderthal Sounds Of’ (Voodoo Rhythm) NINE TON PEANUT SMUGGLERS ‘Drop Some Leg’ (Nine Ton) Like buses, you wait an age for a Sir Bald bluesy, harp-led boogie with dirt under its Diddley album to turn up, then three come at fingernails and gravel in its throat, while ‘Camel once. It’s coming up to twenty years since Neck’ is pure Dick Dale-style surf shimmer, Sir Mark Painter, aka Sir Bald Diddley, set out his Bald a master of the guitar but more than ably stall as Oxford’s curator of classic rock’n’roll, bolstered by Gez Gerard’s superb bass playing. surf rock, r’n’b, and more recently ska. His Further in there are forays into more prolific output in that time has seen him emerge countrified surf on ‘No End In Sight’, in various guises (he’s presently also leading reminiscent of Lee Hazlewood; a comic aside in As with everything Sir Bald does it’s The Keejerk Reactions who released a new ‘Dig That Grave!’, and a full-on steal from authentically done but maybe lacks some of the album last month) but it’s his meticulous Buddy Holly’s ‘Not Fade Away’ on ‘Primitive unfettered fun of Hipbone Slim as he’s vocally attention to detail and unbridled enthusiasm for Rock’. Bo Diddley’s trademark rhythms carry far more suited to belting it out blues style. classic lost authenticity that makes him stand everything along with real gusto, particularly From jaunty opening skank of ‘If The Coast Is out and has made him a far bigger name beyond the barrelling ‘Untamed Love’ and the album Clear’, it’s a pretty laid-back party piece, Oxford than he’s ever been in him home town. only loses its momentum when Sir Bald dips ‘Everybody Ska’ and ‘Baldhead’ standing out He was recording albums at London’s Toerag into almost crooner-like territory on ‘Fire’s Still from the rest, all life and bounce, while the long before The White Stripes made it the Burnin”. That aside it’s rollicking fun from start loping ‘Pempelem’ sounds insubstantial and the hipsters’ studio of choice. to finish, utterly timeless and made with a love instrumental ‘Hugh Mingus’ feels like an As Hipbone Slim, Sir Bald explores old- that’s never too reverential. incidental afterthought. As with Hipbone Slim’s fashioned rock’n’roll, rocking blues and surf- Nine Ton Peanut Smugglers is Sir Bald’s tribute album its attention to period detail is undeniable rock with a primitive raw edge, a hootin’ and a to original Jamaican ska and r’n’b, featuring a and you can’t doubt the heart and soul put into hollerin’ in with the near-primal ‘Eye Of The more expanded band line-up, including full horn it but it feels more like it’s been prepared to Storm’, nods to early Elvis and Little Richard section. The album is a collection of singles and please nostalgists rather than a new audience. along the way. ‘Hung, Drawn & Quartered’ is a b-sides the band have released in recent years. Dale Kattack

great Kate Garrett, to whom ‘Let The Music SMILEX Out’ is dedicated. Unsurprisingly, given all this, the album is ‘X’ rich in musical accomplishment and eclectic in style, while leaning towards warm, mellow (Quickfix) pastoralism. “It’s quite mellow for Smilex” says the While Matt’s vocals tend towards the Damien accompanying email, which boils down to Rice/Jeff Buckley scheme of things, with the slightly less screaming from frontman Lee odd hint of Van Morrison, a cast of guest Christian, although there is still a fair amount of musicians bring jazz, psychedelia, 1940s-style that towards the end, plus a hefty dose of lounge music and country to a gathering of swearing and stuff about sex, but mostly shoved songs that comes with an all-together-now slightly into the background as Smilex make with hippyish vibe. Best of these are ‘Still The a poppier take on their short-cropped heavy Machine’, an amiable piano-led jaunt with its rocking. Initially this makes it sound like The odd trombone skronk coda; the wafting Cure, but the bombast slowly creeps in and by psychedelic whimsy of the album’s title track the climax they’re pumping away like Tommy with its sultry smooch and multi-part Lee at a Hollywood pool party. Smilex will female vocal harmonies and ‘In Love With A always be more fun to watch live, where they’re MATT SAGE Boy’, a country porch lullaby where Matt still consummate entertainers; while their work in ‘Let The Music Out’ duets with Sharon Lewis while Max the studio displays their melodic talents far more Moonlight adds a little night-time colour on clearly, that spark, that chemistry the band have (Halcyon) pedal steel. with each other, doesn’t always come across. It’s impossible to review Matt Sage without Sometimes Matt dips too far into generic Dale Kattack mentioning the Catweazle Club, but it’s highly folk-pop meandering, as on the Radio 2-lite relevant. ‘Lilia’ or the disappointingly shapeless album Under Matt’s stewardship Catweazle has closer ‘Holding On’, while his earnest, long-since established itself as Oxford’s reflective lyrical style can feel mawkish at premier acoustic music club and open mic times. evening, helping scores of local players and There’s the occasional feeling too that he’s singers to find their feet in a welcoming throwing too many ideas into some songs in environment. Running Catweazle has also the hope that something will stick and lift the given Matt both exposure to myriad styles of whole thing out of its comfort zone. But that’s music that now inspire his own songs, and not dismiss the ambition to pull simple introduced him to a host of talented local acoustic pop songs into new shapes and for musicians who he can call on to play for him. the most part ‘Let The Music Out’ succeeds in On this new album you’ll find the likes of the same aims as Catweazle Club, providing a cellist Barney Morse-Brown, violin player gentle, inclusive atmosphere in which everyone Jane Griffiths and bassist Colin Fletcher, as is welcome to warm themselves. well as the unique vocal talents of the late, Ian Chesterton gig guide

th MONDAY 1st THURSDAY 4 THE BILLY WALTON BAND: The Bullingdon ANTLERS: The Jericho Tavern – Brooklyn’s – New Jersey blues-rock guitarist in the vein of MARCH isolationist songwriter Peter Silberman brings his Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. harrowing concept album, ‘Hospice’, to the stage, TUBELORD: The Jericho Tavern – Deliriously be melted down into their component plastic parts evoking the spirit of Sylvia Plath in his intimate, energetic spazz-funk-rock and precision grunge- and used to make something even vaguely useful, melancholic and ultimately cathartic story of pop from Kingston trio Tubelord in a Biffy Clyro- like novelty toys for Christmas crackers. That terminal illness, musically recalling Neutral Milk gone-dance vein. tonight’s gig sold out in a matter of hours, at over Hotel, Death Cab For Cutie and Bon Iver. thirty quid a ticket, just goes to prove that some LAST DAYS OF LORCA + SAM POPE BAND nd folks shouldn’t be allowed to vote, breed or leave + SILVANITO + PEACH: The Bullingdon - TUESDAY 2 the house unaccompanied. Moshka club night with epic alt.rocking in a Muse PETER ANDRE: 02 Academy – In an age where FIELD MUSIC: 02 Academy – Sunderland and Radiohead vein from Last Days of Lorca, plus the future of our planet hangs in the balance, wars brothers David and Peter Brewis return to action in Latino-flavoured party rock from Silvanito. continue to rage across the world, religious their Field Music guise, having seemingly split back SPIN JAZZ CLUB with JAMES PEARSON: extremism is on the rise and there’s a World Cup in 2007. In the meantime Peter formed the rather The Wheatsheaf – Renowned pianist James coming up, it’s a damning indictment of why half ace The Week That Was, but now reunited with his Pearson, a former Ronnie Scott’s resident, is the the human race fully deserve to go to hell in a brother and a new album, ‘Measure’, due, they’re special guest at tonight’s Spin. handcart that the primary concern of some back at their slightly proggy orchestral pop best. CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford people’s lives is whose side they’re on – Pete’s or ERRORS + SO SO MODERN: The Jericho Community Centre – Weekly open mic club Katy’s. The correct answer being they should both Tavern – Glasgow’s superb post-rock-cum-electro featuring a varied selection of singers, musicians, noisemakers Errors hit the road in aid of new poets, storytellers and performance artists. Wednesday 3rd album ‘Come Down With Me’, signed to Mogwai’s WE.ARE.ECLECTRICITY: The Cellar – House Rock Action label and coming in somewhere club night with Jac The Disco and Get Your Geek FIRST AID KIT: between Battles and LCD Soundsystem. Frenetic On. electro-math rocking from New Zealand’s So So NEVER MEANS MAYBE + ELYSIUM WAITS: The Jericho Tavern Modern in support. Fat Lil’s Witney – Post-hardcore and metalcore First Aid Kit aren’t what you’d probably JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – The Bully’s noise from Never Means Maybe, plus thrash and expect from two teenage singing sisters from free weekly live jazz club celebrates its tenth screamo from Witney’s Elysium Waits. Stockholm. Their own description of anniversary tonight with a special party. Club ELECTRIC BLUES JAM: Bricklayers Arms, themselves on Myspace is promising enough: regulars The Howard Peacock Quintet play live Old Marston “What Gary Numan would sound like if he with their funky keyboard-led jazz groove. ROCKET 88: Baby Simple – Rockabilly, jook made folk music,” while their cover of Fleet AMYY CAN FLY + HEART IN HAND + joint blues and r’n’b club night. Foxes’ `Tiger Mountain Peasant Song’ made CANADIAN WATER + MARVEL + ATTACK OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon them a huge Youtube hit last year. But they’re PLAN + STATIC ACTION: The Cellar (6pm) – OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern – some way beyond what all that might Rock, metal, punk and industrial club Discord Slam poetry champ Pete the Temp hosts the suggested; the pair, Johanna and Klara presents an extended evening of heavyweight weekly open mic night. Soderberg, aged 19 and 16 respectively, are bands, including Bournmouth’s punky electro-pop possessed of fantastically powerful, mature types Amyy Can Fly and metalcore noisemongers FRIDAY 5th Heart In Hand. voices that make them sound more like old TOM McRAE: 02 Academy – Chelmsford’s SAMUEL ZASADA + KIMWEI + STEPH time Kentucky bluegrass singers. The effect is master of mirth returns to town after his Academy NEWTON: Café Tarifa – Top quality acoustic enhanced by the duo’s subject matter, show last September, continuing to plumb the sounds at tonight’s Creative Tuesday session. crooning and harmonising on songs about depths of musical sorrow and melancholy in rather Nightshift Demo Of The Month winner Samuel middle-aged housewives and broken marriages. splendid style and with a featherlight vocal touch Zasada plays folk and country-inflected pop with a Like Fleet Foxes, they sound so much older that leavens his tales of gloom and lost love. keen lyrical edge and an inventive treatment of his than they are. The result, on their recently VICARS OF TWIDDLY + FROM LIGHT TO simple songs, alternately rootsy and ethereal, released debut album, `The Big Black & The SOUND + THE ROUNDHEELS + NICK coming in somewhere between Bon Iver, Jose Blue’, is a wonderfully dreamy mix of TINGAY: The Jericho Tavern – Benefit gig for Gonzalez and Nick Drake. Kimwei, meanwhile, sweetness and world-weary washed-out regret. Helen House Hospice, featuring classic surf rocking brings an inventive guitar playing style along to There are faint echoes of Vashti Bunyan and from Vicars Of Twiddly; electro-tinged post-rock augment her breathless, emotionally taught folk- Karen Dalton in their porch songs, as well as from From Light To Sound and bluegrass-tinged pop. the rustic feel of Midlake, but First Aid Kit are folk from The Roundheels. ACOUSTIC NIGHT: Coco Royal – Weekly the most surprising and refreshing old- KLUB KAKOFANNEY with BODY GLASS + acoustic session with Scott Gordon and guests fashioned band of the year already. AGE OF MISRULE + SMALL MACHINE: The Wheatsheaf – Characteristically mixed bag of rd WEDNESDAY 3 rocking sounds at tonight’s KK. FIRST AID KIT + MOUNTAIN PARADE + SKYLARKIN SOUND SYSTEM: The Cellar – MESSAGE TO BEARS: The Jericho Tavern – Great mix of classic reggae, dancehall, soul and hip Stockholm’s teenage Youtube sensations bring the hop from Count Skylarkin, with a live set from folky love – see main preview Zion & The White Boys, plus Mancafarian MC FREE RANGE: The Cellar – Drum&bass and Kwasi Asante (Aim/Grand Central Recordings). dubstep club night. BOOTLEG BEATLES: The New Theatre – ASHER DUST: Baby Simple – Dub, psych-rock, Original and still the best Beatles tribute, featuring breaks and wonky beats from AJ on the decks. authentic reproductions of the old classics. ACOUSTIC LOUNGE: Fat Lil’s Witney – SACK SABBATH: Fat Lil’s Witney – Black Weekly acoustic open mic session. Sabbath tribute BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon – debut album, ‘Baffled & Beat’, due out in May. Classic soul, funk and r’n’b every Friday. Perry’s golden touch has added a pop sheen to TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS: James Street Little Fish’s tunes but live Juju and Nez’s primal Tavern – Punk, rock and indie tunes every Friday garage rock remains untainted and raw. Support night from 9. comes from glacially epic indie rockers Winchell GET DOWN: The Brickworks – Funk, Latin and Riots, highly eclectic pop trio Ute and promising Afrobeat every Friday. newcomers Spring Offensive. SKYNY NYRDS: The Chester Arms – Lynyrd EXLOVERS + VULTURES: The Jericho Tavern Skynyrd tribute. – Lovely, wistful boy/girl harmony-heavy folksy DENNY ILETT Jr + ADY DAVEY + MIKE indie jangle in a Teenage Fanclub mould from DAVEY: The Port Mahon – Local guitarist London’s Exlovers. Denny plays a set of Hendrix covers. GODSIZED + DESERT STORM + EYE FOR AN Thursday 18th EYE + CARAVAN OF WHORES: The SATURDAY 6th Wheatsheaf – Monster bill of heavyweight noise NEW YOUNG PONY with London’s rising metal stars Godsized currently LITTLE FISH + WINCHELL RIOTS + UTE + picking up the plaudits for their crunching groove- SPRING OFFENSIVE: 02 Academy – BBC CLUB: O2 Academy led thrash. Support from local stoner-metal tyrants Oxford Introducing celebrate their fifth Back in September 2007 New Young Pony Desert Storm and Banbury’s sludgy heavy rockers anniversary with this joint promotion with TCT Club headlined the opening night of the Caravan Of Whores. Music, presenting four of the bands who have Academy. At the time it seemed like a perfect JETHRO TULL: The New Theatre – Ian match: the band’s sleek synthetic pop sheen contributed to the new ‘Round the Bends’ album. Anderson and Martin Barre’s enduring English It’s a homecoming headline show for local stars reflecting the clean, shiny new venue. Back folk-rock pioneers return. then NYPC were riding high on the back of Little Fish, who have spent most of the past year JALI FILY CISSOKHO + TARIK BESHIR: in the States, working with Linda Perry on their critical acclaim and a Mercury Prize Holywell Music Room (2pm) – Part of the nomination for their debut album, ‘Fantastic Offshoot festival that’s running all month, Playground’, and had just come off an NME Tuesday 9th showcasing music rooted in traditional folk sounds Nu-Rave tour with Klaxons and CSS, but from around the world. This afternoon’s session things have been quieter since. Now they FRIGHTENED finds locally-based Kora player Cissokho return with a new album, out this month, and a performing his Senegalese griot music, while headline UK tour. That gig showed there was RABBIT: O2 Academy Brickwork Lizards’ Tarik Beshir brings his middle- plenty more to the band than Hoxton-led Re-arranged from last November, Frightened eastern and north African folk along in support. hype and studied coolness: singer-cum- Rabbit’s profile has risen considerably since the ERIC CHENAUX + THOMAS TRUAX + cheerleader Tahita Bulmer is like a proper pop original planned date, with new single ‘Nothing BRAINDEAD COLLECTIVE + LUM COL CON star, looking like a fabulously bored debutante Like You’ a fixture on 6Music and the Glasgow PIX: Holywell Music Room – An evening of but with a streak of dirty, low-down blues siren band’s third album, ‘The Winter Of Mixed experimental music from Offshoot Festival. and the spirit of a young Debbie Harry running Drinks’, looking set to catapult them further Thomas Truax should be familiar to local gig goers through her veins and she could pump a crowd towards crossover success. Frightened Rabbit for his assembly of weird and wonderful home-made while her band hit a rich electro-rock vein and were formed by and centre around singer- instruments, while French-Canadian improviser Eric mined it with steely robotic precision. Lou songwriter Scott Hutchinson and have, oddly, Chenaux utilises electronics and guitars to create a Hayter’s Numaneque synth lines dominate the been dubbed Celtic-emo, probably due to the woozy mix of jazz, folk, country, electronica and angular, funky bass and guitar and they conjure convergence of the singer’s broad Scottish psychedelia. Multi-turntablist Lum Col Con Pix a party vibe like an android Go! Team. accent and often painfully emotive lyrics, but creates strange, bewitching glitchscapes on the Infectious and irresistible, like all great pop don’t let that put you off. The band’s mix of decks, while Oxford-London improv ensemble music. melancholic folk, bluegrass, indie and even, Braindead Collective are tonight joined by Stornoway’s Jonathan Ouin and Jonquil’s Sam Scott occasionally, grunge, is wholly engaging, rough SPIERS & BODEN: Thomas Hughes for a journey into psychedelic electro, folk and hewn, jagged and raw but wrapped around soft Memorial Hall, Uffington – The English trad drone noise, inspired by the likes of Sun Ra, A acoustic melodies that can be simultaneously folk revolutionaries hit the wilds of south Silver Mt. Zion and Animal Collective. scathing, rousing and tender. At various times Oxfordshire. MARTHA ROSE + REBECCA NEALE + MATT the foursome recall early REM and The Arcade LAUREN PRITCHARD: The Jericho Tavern – WINKWORTH: Folly Bridge Inn – Acoustic Fire, as well as cult Scottish band The Reindeer Tennessee’s emotive balladeer out on a UK tour. blues and folk from Martha Rose; fluffy folk-pop Section, but Hutchinson’s lyrical outpourings SUNDAY ROAST: The Cellar – Rock’n’roll and from Rebecca Neale and burlesque piano-led are always highly personal. The band toured as soul club night with live bands tbc. tomfoolery and wit from the rather splendid Matt support to Death Cab For Cutie and Modest NICK TINGAY + MINOR COLES + Winkworth. Mouse around the UK, ended 2009 in most ALPHABET BACKWARDS ACOUSTIC: CABARET CLANDESTINO: East Oxford magazines’ end of year polls and now look Malmaison – Semi-acoustic session at the Castle forward to finally getting the recognition they Community Centre – Music, poetry and cabaret deserve in 2010. with host Pete The Temp. Tonight’s happenings include rowdy marches and scuzzy waltzes from Binewski Muden; poet Byron Vincent and prog- folk from the Potato Potato Band. TRANSFORMATION / TRASHY / ROOM 101: O2 Academy – Weekly three-clubs-in-one session with indie and electro at Transformation; glam, trash and 80s at Trashy, plus alt.rock, punk and metal at Room 101. SIMPLE: The Bullingdon – House, techno and dubstep with Boorly, plus club residents. DIRTY EARTH BAND: Fat Lil’s Witney – Rock covers. WAX ON WAX OFF: James Street Tavern – Weekly dose of funk, soul, disco, breaks and hip hop.

SUNDAY 7th STIFF LITTLE FINGERS: O2 Academy – Jake Burns’ punk vets head round the block once again, cranking out ‘Alternative Ulster’ et al. Of Love, but with a slightly folkier edge. A great IT BITES + THE AYNSLEY LISTER BAND: 02 trip down memory lane for obscure indie Academy – Melodic prog rocking from the aficionados. Local support comes from nu-gaze recently reformed Cumbrian collective It Bites, sonic architects International Jetsetters and best known for the 1986 pop hit ‘Calling All The harmony-heavy 60s-styled popsters Dirty Royals. Heroes’ but closer in style to Porcupine Tree and ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK: The Cellar – Marillion. Support from heavy-duty blues rock Classic 50s and 60s rock’n’roll club night with a guitarist Aynsley Lister. live set from George Wright & the Keynote CHRIS TT: The Jericho Tavern – Brighton’s Speakers, plus DJ Na Na Lips. personable folk-pop singer-songwriter returns to OXFORD IMPROVISERS: Folly Bridge Inn – town after supporting The Broken Family Band Oxford Improvisers tackle John Zorn’s game piece here in October and having previously played Thursday 18th ‘Cobra’, plus there are sets from Pete McPhail with everyone from The National and The (reeds) and Roger Telford (drums) and Sean Booney Divine Comedy to Frank Turner and Elbow over FRANZ NICOLAY: (poetry) and David Stent (guitar). the years, now out on a headline tour to promote new album ‘Love Is Not Rescue’. Café Tarifa TUESDAY 9 th WILD DOGS IN WINTER + CHAD VALLEY: The Cellar – Sleepy-eyed, sparse and Although best known as the effervescent, FRIGHTENED RABBIT: 02 Academy – heartbroken ambient folk-pop from Hampshire grandly-moustachioed keyboard player with Rearranged gig for the Scottish folk-core stars – see duo Wild Dogs In Winter, plus Jonquil’s Hugo The Hold Steady, Brooklyn’s Franz Nicolay is main preview Manuel re-adopting his Chad Valley persona in a whole lot more – as well as his five-year HADOUKEN!: 02 Academy – The indie-grime support. stint with The Hold Steady, he founded the crossover champs follow up ‘Music For An SPIN JAZZ CLUB: The Wheatsheaf Anti-Social Music collective, played in gypsy- Accelerated Culture’ with new album ‘For The THE HAMSTERS: Fat Lil’s Witney – Classic klezmer group Guignol and has sat in with Masses’. rocking blues in the style of Hendrix and ZZ Top Bruce Springsteen on occasion. A talented JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With The from the UK’s premier touring crew. multi-instrumentalist, he’s adept on piano, Howard Peacock Quintet. STEVE CARROLL: The Boat Inn, Thrupp – guitar, mandolin, accordion, saw, harmonica MOUTH MUSIC: Wesley Memorial Chapel – Covers and originals from the folk and pop multi- and banjo as well as a sterling vocal talent in Offshoot festival show with The Wright Family, the style of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. His Pete Hope Evans and Jonathan Cope. debut solo album, ‘Major General’, was widely- MATT KILFORD + KAT GADSDEN + NIGEL Friday 19th acclaimed for its eclectic and ambitious mix of BROWN: Café Tarifa – Acoustic folk-pop from punk-informed folk, jazz and world music, local troubadour Matt Kilford, plus mellow jazz-pop THE BIG 10”: while live he’s renowned as a flamboyant from singer and pianist Kat Gadsden. entertainer, almost in the Vaudeville tradition. INTRUSION: The Cellar – Goth, industrial, The Cellar Tonight’s show should carry extra spark, being darkwave and 80s club night. Skylarkin’s Aidan Larkin has a habit of set in the intimate confines of Oxford’s ACOUSTIC NIGHT: Coco Royal hosting some of the best parties in town; in increasingly prolific Café Tarifa. Great local recent times he’s attracted ska legends like support too from surf-pop outfit The Long WEDNESDAY 10th Alton Ellis and Skatalites as well as Ska Insider, coming on like a latterday Lee AUDIO BULLYS: 02 Academy – Make or break Cubano to Oxford as well as legendary Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra, and the raw, time for Simon Franks and Tom Dinsdale as they Bristolian ska man DJ Derek, while the regular rootsy country rock of Huck and the head out on tour, hopefully to plug long-delayed Skylarkin Soundsystem nights air the best in Handsome Fee. third album ‘Sunday Night Fever’. With 2003 debut classic ska, reggae, rocksteady and soul. This ‘Ego War’, Audio Bullys’ lively, inventive mix of new club night aims to present the best in complex hotel. Dark, sparse acoustic folk-pop breaks, hip hop, punk, garage and house was equal classic jump blues, r’n’b and rock’n’roll as well from Nick Tingay, plus sweet-natured indie pop to Basement Jaxx and things looked good but their as his beloved ska and tonight’s opening night from Minor Coles and ebullient pop anthems follow-up, ‘Generation’, utterly lost the plot, a is a corker. There are live sets from Sir Bald from Alphabet Backwards’ James Hitchman, poor-man’s Streets rescued only by a vocal Diddley’s Hipbone Slim & The Knee- playing solo tonight. contribution from Suggs and the excellent Nancy Tremblers and Nine Ton Peanut Smugglers SUE & PHIL + HEADINGTON HILLBILLIES Sinatra-sampling hit ‘Shot You Down’. projects. The former kick out raw period + BEARD OF DESTINY + RIVERSIDE ANONYMOUS TIP + BLACK POWDER + rock’n’roll, rocking blues and surf-rock, while VOICES: Donnington Community Centre – UNDERSMILE + CHARM ASSAULT + EIGHT the latter reawaken classic Jamaican ska and Free live music session with Redox’s Phil & Sue DIRTY PAGES: The Wheatsheaf – Hardcore r’n’b, both acts carrying Sir Bald’s superb and bluegrass combo Headington Hillbillies. punk from London’s Anonymous Tip, with support stamp of authenticity. But the star turn from local thrash-punk ogres Black Powder, tonight is a rare chance to catch dance legend th former-Caliber grungers Charm Assault, doomy Andrew Weatherall on the decks in such an MONDAY 8 intimate setting. From remixing Primal THE AUTOMATIC: 02 Academy – Return of the grunge types Undersmile and acid rockers Eight Dirty Pages. Scream and New Order, through his time with Welsh ‘Monster’ hitmakers, continuing to enjoy a Sabres of Paradise and Two Lone Swordsmen new musical lease of life since the departure of PHANTOM THEORY + GUNNING FOR TAMA: Café Tarifa – Launching Café Tarifa’s to his recent solo albums, taking in an screechy keyboard monkey Alex Pennie and the astonishing production CV along the way, arrival of former-Yourcodenameis:milo guitarist new weekly semi-acoustic live music night, Phantom Theory tone down the high-octane guitar Weatherall remains one of the most Paul Mullen, who brought with him a more diverse important figures in UK dance history, and and aggressive sound that’s apparent on new album noise and thunderous beats, while Gunning For Tamar bring their riff-heavy post-rock. you really don’t get a better man in to help ‘Tear The Signs Down’. launch a new club night like this. GWYN ASHTON’S TWO-MAN BLUES PHAT SESSIONS: The Cellar – Fortnightly ARMY: The Bullingdon – Return of the Aussie open-jam session with in-house band Four Phat blues-rock guitarist to the Famous Monday Blues Fingers, plus DJ Geenee spinning a mix of funk, club, playing electric blues inspired by The Stones reggae, hip hop, dubstep and drum&bass. and Led Zep, singing with a raucous, gutsy style. OXFORD FERAL CHOIR: St Michael’s POWER OF DREAMS + INTERNATIONAL Church – Phil Minton brings his experimental JETSETTERS + DIRTY ROYALS: The Jericho choir to town as part of Offshoot Festival. Tavern – Dublin’s late-80s/early-90s indie cult ACOUSTIC LOUNGE: Fat Lil’s Witney stars regroup as their minor classic ‘Immigrants, th Emigrants and Me’ is re-released. Often associated THURSDAY 11 with fellow Irish arty rock types A House, Power TURIN BRAKES: 02 Academy – Olly Knights Of Dreams tended more towards the shimmering and Gale Paridjanian return with more earnest power pop of Echo & The Bunnymen and House rock emoting in aid of new album ‘Outburst’. instrumentalist and singer. BARBARE11A + GUNNING FOR TAMAR: CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford The Port Mahon – Benefit gig for the Multiple Community Centre Sclerosis Society with camply theatrical rockers ELECTRIC BLUES JAM: Bricklayers Arms, Barbare11a and riff-heavy post-rockers Gunning Old Marston For Tamar. OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern TRANSFORMATION / TRASHY / ROOM OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon 101: O2 Academy KINO MACHINE: The Bullingdon – Classic FRIDAY 12th and modern indie club night. FUN LOVING CRIMINALS: 02 Academy – WAX ON WAX OFF: James Street Tavern Full live set from Huey Morgan and chums, still SKITTLE ALLEY ACOUSTIC NIGHT: The Ox, documenting New York City life, fifteen years Abingdon – Unplugged sets from A Pint & A after their biggest UK hit, ‘Scooby Snacks’. From Half Of Blues plus Mark Bosley & Mark Sollis. hip hop, funk and rock to lounge, there’s an th endearingly gleeful satire entrenched in their SUNDAY 14 crime and drug narratives and Huey’s innate star TROUBADOURS & TROBAIRITZ: The Half quality should still make the band worth a visit. Moon (2pm) – This afternoon’s Offshoot UTE + NIGHT PORTRAITS + VIXENS: The Festival acoustic session features Roxy Brennan, Sunday 21st Wheatsheaf – Great triple bill of local bands Ben Walker, King Of Cats and Kimwei. with eclectic rockers Ute supported by thrash-pop WE AERONAUTS + JOE ALLEN + BLEEDING THE JOY types Night Portraits and post-punkers Vixens. HEART NARRATIVE + JUJU FISH: Holywell BOSSAPHONIK: The Cellar – Latin dance, Music Room – An evening of local folk-inclined FORMIDABLE: Balkan beats, afrobeat, world sounds and nu-jazz bands as part of the Offshoot festival. Expansive, club night, tonight featuring a live set from Arcade Fire-influenced sweeties We Aeronauts O2 Academy Alejandro Toledo and the Magic Tombolinos headline, with support from emotive local Sometimes a band comes along who, while playing an eclectic mix of hip hop, Balkan, troubadour Joe Allen and multi-layered classical- hardly taking the world and its shark-hungry middle-eastern and gypsy-flavoured dance. folk-electronica outfit Bleeding Heart Narrative. media by storm, taps into a particular vein of FIXIES + HUCK + PINK ROOM: The Port Little Fish’s Juju presents her stripped-down passion among Oxford gig goers and we take Mahon – Stripped-down show from some of acoustic versions of the band’s taut, battling them almost as our own. As it was with Rolo Fixers and chums. garage-rock. Tomassi, so it seems too with The Joy THE ORIGINAL RABBIT FOOT SPASM Formidable, whose local gigs have been rapid, BAND + SQUEEKY + SCOTT ROWSON: The MONDAY 15th cathartic celebrations of a band who know how Stocks Bar, Crown & Thistle, Abingdon – HAMILTON LOOMIS: The Bullingdon – to behave exactly like rock stars on stage, Untamed speakeasy jazz from Oxford’s finest Texan bluesman mentored by Bo Diddley, Albert make a ferocious racket and write more than party band. Collins and Clarence Brown, a virtuoso multi- their fair share of cracking pop songs. The BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon instrumentalist, as adept with piano, drums and three-piece, led by Welsh childhood TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS: James Street blues harp as he is on his trademark Strat guitar sweethearts Ritzy Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd, Tavern and adding a funky dash to traditional Delta blues. tend to sound like a motorway pile-up GET DOWN: The Brickworks involving Sonic Youth, Kate Bush, The TUESDAY 16th Breeders and The Ting Tings, all chiming SATURDAY 13th guitars, furious distortion and the sort of THE COURTEENERS: 02 Academy – Planet HEAVEN’S BASEMENT + DEAR SUPERSTAR: thunderous drumming that wouldn’t seem out Earth’s least remarkable bunch of guitar-bothering of place in a death metal band. Amid all this 02 Academy – Double dose of hard’n’heavy rock oxygen users return with a new album, the title of the old school tonight with Heaven’s Basement the diminutive Roxy more than holds her own, and content of which we have forgotten already. her voice apparently delicate but equal to the fresh from supporting Papa Roach on tour and JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With The kicking it out in the style laid down by AC/DC huge, fizzing grunge-goth pop noise the band Howard Peacock Quintet. create. She’s not averse to throwing herself decades previously. Heavily-tattooed Motley NATUREBOY + AIDEN CANADAY + ADAM Crue-style rockers Dear Superstar support. into the moshpit either, where the teaming BARNES: Café Tarifa – Pastoral, Beatles-y pop hoardes of devotees are always ready to catch VON BRAUN + SAMUEL ZASADA + and nu-jazz grooves from Natureboy at tonight’s PICTUREHOUSE: The Wheatsheaf – Cure- her and bear her aloft back to her natural Creative Tuesday session, plus amiable folksy playground, the stage. Back in town after last inspired new wave and alt.rock from Von Braun, rocking from Aiden Canaday and soulful acoustic plus esoteric roots pop from Samuel Zasada. summer’s fantastic showing at Truck Festival, pop from Adam Barnes. if you’re not already a convert, get down here SPRING OFFENSIVE + OUR LOST ACOUSTIC NIGHT: Coco Royal INFANTRY + WAITING FOR WINTER + and be ready to be awed. SLEEPING PASSENGERS: The Cellar – th Album launch gig for highly promising local WEDNESDAY 17 singer and guitarist Emma Pollock, whose solo newcomers Spring Offensive, mixing up folksy THE STRANGLERS: 02 Academy – The punk- career sees her move into more gently crafted melodies with tricksy alt.pop angles and twinkles. era hitmakers hit town, still a going concern folk-pop territory, while retaining some of that Aldershot’s Our Lost Infantry bring their punchy twenty years after the departure of Hugh old dark indie mystique. indie-pop along in support after gigging with Cornwell. Those old classics, from ‘Peaches’ and MINOR COLES + THE A TRAIN: Café Tarifa Johnny Foreigner and Frightened Rabbit. ‘Down In The Sewer’ to later hits like ‘Duchess’ – Semi-acoustic set from promising local indie TROUBADOURS & TROBAIRITZ: The Half and ‘Golden Brown’ were masterclasses in types Minor Coles. Moon (2pm) – Part of the Offshoot festival, an malevolence and sophistication and lifted the WORDPLAY: The Cellar – Featuring afternoon of local acoustic acts, including band well above bands considered by the press to Blackalicious’ Gift Of The Gab. Catweazle supremo and world-folk singer Matt be more pure punk. How it’ll all sound now with ACOUSTIC LOUNGE: Fat Lil’s Witney Sage, wordy anti-folk chap Faceometer in a the old helmsman long gone is unsure. Jeffrey Lewis vein, plus Ed Pope and Sam Taplin. JOSH PYKE & EMMA POLLOCK: 02 THURSDAY 18th Academy – Aussie singer-songwriter Josh Pyke TREMBLING BELLS + THE FAMILY NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB: 02 Academy – returns to the Academy after last year’s acclaimed MACHINE: The Jericho Tavern – 60s folk Ace party synth-pop action from the returning show, set to finally release his new ‘Chimneys revival revivalism from Trembling Bells, fronted London cool kids – see main preview by the Sandy Denny-like vocal talents of Lavinia Afire’ album over here. His delicate folk-pop melodies hide a more painful lyrical content, not THE ROCK OF TRAVOLTA: The Cellar – Blackwall and coming on like a latterday Fairport Oxford’s kings of instrumental rock action return Convention and Incredible String Band. dissimilar to Elliott Smith or even Evan Dando at times, and he’s gradually earned himself a loyal after a long lay-off, which they’ve spent STATE OF UNDRESS: Fat Lil’s Witney – recording their third album, due for release in the following. He’s joined tonight by former-Delgados Folk-rock. summer and giving us a timely reminder of why Dwight Yoakam and Merle Haggard and released a VACUOUS POP NIGHT: The Cellar – fistful of albums, including a brace for the Esoteric sounds from Vacuous Pop, with bands to renowned Hi-Tone label. be confirmed. SPIN JAZZ CLUB: The Wheatsheaf – SUNFLY: Fat Lil’s Witney London saxophonist Josephine Davies is tonight’s TRANSFORMATION / TRASHY / ROOM guest. 101: O2 Academy RELIK + COWBOY RACER + SECRET DUB POLITICS: The Bullingdon – Dubstep RIVALS: The Jericho Tavern – Melodic heavy club night. rocking from Relik, plus sultry electro-pop from ASHER DUST: Cricketers Arms – Dub, breaks, Cowboy Racer, featuring former-Salad singer wonky beats, ska and jump blues from AJ on the Marijne van der Vlugt. decks. DEAF HAVANA + ALL FORGOTTEN + THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Dolphin, FRANSCESQUA: Fat Lil’s Witney – Wallingford Metalcore and post-hardcore from King’s Lynn’s WAX ON WAX OFF: James Street Tavern Deaf Havana. CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford SUNDAY 21st Community Centre THE JOY FORMIDABLE + BADDIES: 02 ELECTRIC BLUES JAM: Bricklayers Arms, Academy – Honey-dipped rock noise from the Old Marston rising starlets – see main preview OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern CHRIS REA: The New Theatre – The nd Monday 22 OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon Middlesborough growler brings his gravel-voiced PATTI SMITH: The FRIDAY 19th th PUSSYCAT & THE DIRTY JOHNSONS + Friday 26 Holywell Music Room SOHO COBRAS + PHANTOM MACHINE: Tonight’s concert is billed a ‘A night of music The Wheatsheaf – Supremely entertaining THEE SILVER Mt and words with Patti Smith’, and given the punk-inspired rockabilly and surf-rock from ZION MEMORIAL slightly rarefied surroundings, it’s uncertain if Basingstoke’s Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons at this show will be anything like her gig at the tonight’s Stone Free promotion. Fronted by the ORCHESTRA: Academy two years ago – an astonishing irrepressible Pussycat (kind of a mix of Polly display from the greatest female vocalist in Styrene and Poison Ivy), the band kick it out raw The Regal rock history in which she belted through the and energetic in the mould of The Cramps, Gun A first appearance in Oxford for three years best bits of her classic ‘Horses’ and ‘Easter’ Club and Plasmatics. Support comes from former- albums, but it’s likely that large chunks of her for A Silver Mount Zion tonight, playing as Pistol Kixx people Soho Cobras, now female- part of Pindrop Performance’s Offshoot old classics will be unearthed once more in fronted but still in awe of The New York Dolls, some form and for those alone it’s worth festival. Originally formed as a one-off side Dead Boys and Ramones, while Phantom project by Godspeed You! Black Emperor trio trying to track down a ticket for what is Machine features members of Phantom Theory already a sold-out event. The ‘words’ bit isn’t Efri Menuck, Sophie Trudeau and Thierry and Family Machine playing a set of Nirvana Amur to record a tribute to Efri’s deceased unexpected though since Smith was always a covers. Punk rocking action all round. What’s not poet who drifted into punk’s orbit, along with dog, Montreal’s A Silver Mt Zion rapidly grew to love? from their 1999 inception to a seven piece Tom Verlaine bringing an arty, literate bite to THE BIG 10”: The Cellar – Skylarkin’ launch the freshness and aggression of punk. She’s a that has become full-time employment with their new 50s and 60s jump blues and rock’n’roll Godspeed on indefinite hiatus. Sharing a great raconteur too, weaving seemingly club night with sets from Hipbone Slim and The abstract, rambling monologues together similarly desolate miserablism to Godspeed, A Nine-Ton Peanut Smugglers, plus a DJ set from Silver Mt Zion lean more heavily towards between songs that suddenly fall into place, Andrew Weatherall – see main preview often hilariously. But it’s her voice that’s the classical music, adopting its stately presence TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB + CITADELS: into their eloquent take on post-rock (in its real wonder – undiminished almost forty years 02 Academy – Northern Irish indie-electro types on from her debut, it’s a potent primal howl truest form), utilising drones, drifting, Two Door Cinema Club arrive in town in support portentous peaks of noise and gentle of a voice, full of rich emotion and power that of debut album ‘Tourist History’, contentedly makes songs like ‘Because The Night’, dissipation of tension. Another major cool on Kitsune, inspired by Bloc Party amongst difference between the bands is that ASMZ use ‘Dancing Barefoot’ or her peerless take on others and having supported Foals, Autokratz and ‘Gloria’ amongst the greatest pieces of music vocals, despite Efri’s apparent discomfort with Delphic ahead of this headline tour. both singing and being the centre of attention. ever made. A great chance to witness a true PLUMP DJs: 02 Academy – Andy Gardner and legend in action. Still, his poetic, political lyrical style helps Lee Rous return to the Academy decks for a night define the band. Having undergone numerous of nu-skool breaks. elaborate name changes to match their BEAUTIFUL SOUND: Fat Lil’s Witney – they’re such an inspirational band, somehow perversely wordy album titles (try ‘He has Beautiful South tribute. bridging the gap between Stravinsky, Spinal Tap Left Us Alone But Shafts Of Light Sometimes BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon and Add N To (X) with their flamboyant electro- Grace The Corners Of Our Room’ on for size), TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS: James Street classical noise. tonight they perform as Thee Silver Mount Tavern FRANZ NICOLAY + THE LONG INSIDERS + Zion Memorial Orchestra, joined for the GET DOWN: The Brickworks HUCK & THE HANDSOME FEE + DANNY evening by Bleeding Heart Narrative and CHIVERS: Café Tarifa – Special solo show Pindrop Performance’s own Braindead th from the former-Hold Steady multi- SATURDAY 20 Collective. instrumentalist – see main preview TRIVIUM + CHIMAIRA + WHITECHAPEL: HEATHER MYLES & THE CADILLAC 02 Academy – A night of big ol’ metal noise with COWBOYS: The Bullingdon – Second Texan Florida’s Trivium increasingly leaving those show of the week for the Famous Monday Blues, Metallica comparisons behind as they move away making a rare foray into Thursdays and with good from thrash and into a more melodic and reason. The Texas-bred, Nashville-based singer is progressive form of metalcore. Support comes firmly in the Bakersfield tradition of country from Ohio’s metalcore types Chimaira and best of music, inspired by Loretta Lynn and George all Tennessee’s relentlessly monstrous deathcore Jones, likened to Tammy Wynette and Patsy outfit Whitechapel. Cline and a firm favourite on the US country THE CRUSHING + BEELZEBOZO + RISEN circuit for her fresh approach to traditional IN BLACK: The Wheatsheaf – Local metal country. Along the way she’s collaborated with night. MOR rock back to town, touring last year’s Best BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB + LUCY ROSE + Of compilation. Having defied the vagaries of DUTCH UNCLES: The Jericho Tavern – fashion for 30 years now his music continues to Return to town for the north London teen be rooted in traditional 60s American rock. rockers, kicking out a heavy rock thrash, packed Expect all the hits - ‘Road To Hell, ‘Let’s with slacker fuzz and melodic fragility that earns Dance’, ‘On The Beach’ as well as plenty of them a secure perch between The Strokes, My crowd pleasers for the loyal masses as he digs deep Bloody Valentine and Pavement. into his extensive 24-album back catalogue. KID PANG + HREDA: The Cellar – Many- CHRIS THOMPSON + EMPIRE SAFARI + angled spazz-core from Canterbury’s Kid Pang, THE NEW MOON: Malmaison – Semi-acoustic plus local post-rock instrumentalists Hreda. local bands night. THE ROCK OF TRAVOLTA: Fat Lil’s Witney th – Return of the orchestral post-rock heroes. Friday 26 MONDAY 22nd BEAVER FUEL: The Port Mahon – Alternately ELLIE GOULDING: PATTI SMITH: Holywell Music Room – witty, satirical or just plain abusive punk-fuelled Possibly the greatest female rock singer of all indie pop from the Fuel. In the words of the wise man, Fuck Off, I’ve Got Tourettes. O2 Academy time brings her words and music to the rarefied With a BBC Sound of 2010 win and a BRIT environs of the Holywell – see main preview CATWEAZLE CLUB: East Oxford Community Centre Awards Critics Choice award already to her KING KING: The Bullingdon – New rising name, and with her debut album not even out stars of the UK blues circuit following on from ELECTRIC BLUES JAM: Bricklayers Arms, Old Marston yet, you could say things have moved pretty their debut show at Monaghan Festival. Fronted quickly for Ellie Goulding. Having grown up in by Nimmo Brothers chap Alan Nimmo, they play OPEN MIC SESSION: James Street Tavern OPEN MIC SESSION: The Half Moon Herefordshire and moved to Kent to study rocking blues inspired by BB King, Albert Collins drama, while writing her own folk songs, a and John Mayer. th chance encounter put her in touch with FRIDAY 26 Frankmusic and the producer’s silicon touch rd TUESDAY 23 ELLIE GOULDING: 02 Academy – Sold-out gig has found her swept along on a tidal wave of BOYCE AVENUE: 02 Academy – Sick-inducing for the BRIT-winning songstress – see main critical acclaim and record company hype. acoustic rocking brothers from Florida with an preview Last year’s ‘Under The Sheets’ single got the over-earnest approach, midway between Crowded A SILVER Mt ZION: The Regal – Epic, right people very excited and a collaboration House and Boyzone, that will have zombiefied esoteric post-rock from Canada’s finest orchestral with Starsmith kept the wave rolling. Goulding Jesus Army warriors swinging their hips with gay ensemble – see main preview is now signed to Polydor, has appeared on abandon. Or maybe not. Being gay is a sin, TWILIGHT SAD + TAKE A WORM FOR A Later… With Jools Holland and supported apparently. WALK WEEK + CAT MATADOR: The Jericho Little Boots on tour. Thing is, amid all the JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With guest Tavern – Epic melancholy from Glasgow’s excitement, few people seem prepared to ask Alvin Roy. Twilight Sad, brewing up a potent wall of noise if she’s really as good as all that suggests. Any JAMIE FOLEY + REBECCA NEALE: Café that mixes Tindersticks, Glasvegas and Mogwai. comparison to Little Boots herself won’t go Tarifa – Creative Tuesday acoustic session. DIAL F FOR FRANKENSTEIN + ACE BUSHY in Ellie’s favour, that’s for sure, and while ACOUSTIC NIGHT: Coco Royal STRIPTEASE: The Wheatsheaf – Sharp- she’s got a sweet, sleepy-eyed voice, she’s no elbowed post-hardcore noise from Dial F, with Florence Welch. A closer match would be La WEDNESDAY 24th support from Birmingham’s ramshackle thrash- Roux, whose Elly Jackson similarly started off pop and twee-prog rockers. singing and writing folk songs before heading MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK: 02 Academy STATES OF EMOTION: The Bullingdon – into electro-pop territory. That’s the problem – Emo-tinged power-pop in a Get-Up Kids and Rabble-rousing nu-baggy pop in the vein of with the modern music industry machine – Jimmy Eatworld vein from Minnesota’s Motion Reverend & The Makers and The Twang from acts are thrust into the limelight and heaped City Soundtrack, over in the UK to tour their new Essex’s States of Emotion. with plaudits before they’re really ready and ‘My Dinosaur Life’ album. KRISSY MATTHEWS: Fat Lil’s Witney – Ellie Goulding probably deserves a fairer crack KILL IT KID + A GENUINE FREAKSHOW + Rocking blues kicking off Fat Lil’s blues festival. the whip than the one she’ll get if she doesn’t MINOR COLES + SPRING OFFENSIVE: The BACKROOM BOOGIE: The Bullingdon immediately repay all that expectation. Wheatsheaf – Authentic sounding American HQ: The Cellar – Drum&bass club night with blues-roots from Bath’s Kill It Kid at tonight’s Metalheadz’ Loxy and Jubei. Coo promotion, led by Chris Turpin’s raw, MARK BOSLEY & STELLA SHAKECHI: St and releasing a host of great albums and singles, passionate voice and epic fiddle playing. Reading’s Michael’s at the Northwall not least when they were collaborating with intense, epic indie types A Genuine Freakshow TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS: James Street tonight’s support act, poet Adam Gnade. come in somewhere near Radiohead and Tavern Tonight’s show should be a fitting send-off if the Puressence at times, while local support comes GET DOWN: The Brickworks band’s commitment to inventive performance is from sweetly inventive local indie types Minor PETE FRYER BAND: The Nelson, Wantage anything to go by and a timely reminder to Coles and promising newcomers Spring Offensive. everyone of just how to break barriers and genre INLIGHT + EMPIRE SAFARI: Café Tarifa – SATURDAY 27th boundaries while also rocking like bastards. Semi-acoustic sets from local stadium-pop types SMITHS INDEED: 02 Academy – Tribute to GAPPY TOOTH INDUSTRIES with FROM InLight and occasionally funk heavy rockers The Smiths. LIGHT TO SOUND + FLASH BANG BAND + Empire Safari. BENNI HEMM HEMM + MESSAGE TO ROZZ McDONALD: The Wheatsheaf – PHAT SESSIONS: The Cellar – Open jam BEARS + ADAM BARNES: The Jericho Elegantly turbulent electro and post-rock session. Tavern – Tastefully quirky, heavily-orchestrated soundscaping from From Light To Sound at country pop and folk from Iceland’s Benedikt H tonight’s GTI gig. Brighton’s Flash Bang Band th Hermannsson and his fluctuating cast of THURSDAY 25 bring their quirky take on funky psych-rock, like musicians, which tonight features members of MADINA LAKE: 02 Academy – Chicago’s a Blaxploitation Flaming Lips at times, while Sigur Ros and Múm. Ranging from discreetly epic punky power-poppers continue to build on their Rozz McDonald adds her breathlessly emotive to rousing and joyous, it’s a fresh twist on what 2007 Kerrang! Best International Newcomers piano-led acoustic balladry to the eclectic mix. people might have come to expect from Icelandic award and last year’s Vans Warped Tour. YOUTHMOVIES + ADAM GNADE: 02 pop. Jerome Alexander and chums’ Message To SPIN JAZZ CLUB with HARRY BECKETT, Academy – And so it’s farewell to one of Bears support with their bucolic folksy CHRIS BISCOE & PAT THOMAS: The Oxford’s most consistently inventive and experimentation, while singer-songwriter Adam Wheatsheaf – A masterclass in free jazz and inspiring bands. Youthmovie’s often sublime blend Barnes opens the show. improv at the Spin tonight with veteran of visceral rock thrills and cerebral avant-rock JUNKSTAR + CHARLY COOMBES & THE trumpeter Harry Beckett teaming up with multi- experimentation inspired the likes of Foals and NEW BREED + THE SCHOLARS + JUST instrumentalist Chris Biscoe and local keyboard Jonquil, while their hard-working commitment to MORALE: Brookes University Union – wizard Pat Thomas. the DIY ethic saw them touring around the UK Benefit gig in aid of Sobell House and the Make A Wish Foundation, featuring electro-bolstered impersonated the likes of Etta James and Ella TREV WILLIAMS + BETHANY WEIMERS: disco-punk crew Junkstar, plus sometime Fitzgerald in her acting job, she’s found her own Café Tarifa – Emotive acoustic rocking from Supergrass chap Charly Coombes with his new voice on Top 10 debut album ‘Do You Want The Trev, plus sweet-natured folky pop from Bethany band, leaning back to 60s rock and soul, Editors- Truth Or Something Beautiful?’. Weimers. influenced indie starlets The Scholars and DAN LE SAC Vs SCROOBIUS PIP: 02 ACOUSTIC NIGHT: Coco Royal Coventry’s rock and rollers Just Morale. Academy – The poet’n’producer duo keep on BIG MAMA’S HOUSE: Fat Lil’s Witney – keeping on with new album ‘The Logic Of WEDNESDAY 31st Blues and r’n’b. Chance’ after their peerless Noughties classic GLAMOUR OF THE KILL: 02 Academy – OUT TO GRAZE FESTIVAL LAUNCH: The ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’. Part popsters, part York’s melodic post-hardcore and metalcore Cellar – Cheap Thrills’ Rico Tubbs heads a night pranksters (check out their X-Factor spoof on warriors steam into town, releasing ‘The of dance to launch the local festival. Plus Youtube if you haven’t already), their wit and Summoning’, their debut album proper following Melodize, Emily Williams and James Weston. inventiveness continues to shine through. on from acclaimed mini-album ‘Through The OXFORD CONTEMPORARY MUSIC OPEN SOPHIE GARNER: The North Wall, Darkness They March’ and supports to Avenged SESSION: The North Wall, Summertown Summertown – Jazz and blues from the Perrier Sevenfold and Bullet For My Valentine. TRANSFORMATION / TRASHY / ROOM Jazz Vocalist Award winner. THE ROUNDHEELS + AGENTS OF JANE + 101: O2 Academy BLUES JAM: Fat Lil’s Witney – All-comers CRAYON + MEW & WOOSTER: The SELECTA: The Bullingdon – Drum&bass with blues open jam session. Wheatsheaf – A night of folk and bluegrass at Modified and Motion. SUE SMITH & PHIL FREIZINGER + tonight’s Coo promotion as part of Oxfringe. WAX ON WAX OFF: James Street Tavern KNIGHTS OF MENTIS + STRANGE VINTAGE FREE RANGE: The Cellar – drum&bass and THE PETE FRYER BAND: The Seacourt Arms, + PETE FRYER: Eurobar – Acoustic session dubstep club night. Botley from the Klub Kakofanney Krew. ROB TOGNONI: Fat Lil’s Witney – Return SMALL MACHINE + QUADROPHOBE: The of the Aussie blues-rock guitarist. th Stocks, Crown & Thistle, Abingdon – Heavy MONDAY 29 BABY GRAVY + ASHER DUST: Baby Simple rock action from the former-Phyal people Small DEBBIE GILES’ NIGHT TRAIN: The – Electro-punk disco noise from Ver Gravy at Machine plus ska-pop types Quadrophobe at Bullingdon – Funky blues and soul from the tonight’s benefit gig for the Mill Centre, plus AJ tonight’s Skittle Alley bands night. Guildford singer at tonight’s Famous Monday playing an eclectic mix of sounds on the decks. MUNDANE SANDS: The Port Mahon Blues club. MATT DA CAT: The Port Mahon - Big band jazz. th SUNDAY 28 TUESDAY 30th PALOMA FAITH + LA SHARK: 02 Academy – JAZZ CLUB: The Bullingdon – With a live set Riding high on the back of Jools Holland’s from The Hugh Turner Band. enthusiastic endorsement and already being hailed as The New Amy Winehouse, the former- magician’s assistant and burlesque dancer turned Nightshift listings are free. Deadline for inclusion in the gig guide is the 20th of each month - no actress, turned singer brings her decidedly old- exceptions. Call 01865 372255 (10am-6pm) or email listings to [email protected]. school soul, blues and gospel to town. Having All listings are copyright of Nightshift and may not be reproduced without permission March Every Monday THE FAMOUS MONDAY NIGHT BLUES The best in UK, European and US blues. 8-12. 1st THE BILLY WALTON BAND (USA) 8th GWYN ASHTON’S TWO-MAN BLUES ARMY (Australia) 15th HAMILTON LOOMIS (USA) 22nd KING KING (UK) 29th DEBBIE GILES’ NIGHT TRAIN (UK)

Plus! Thursday 18th HEATHER MYLES & THE CADILLAC COWBOYS Part of the Famous Monday Blues Texas week.

Every Tuesday THE OXFORD JAZZ CLUB Celebrating ten years of live jazz 2nd / 9th / 16th THE HOWARD PEACOCK QUINTET 23rd ALVIN ROY 30th THE HUGH TURNER BAND Free live jazz plus DJs playing r’n’b, funk and soul until 2am

Every Friday BACKROOM BOOGIE Funk, soul and R&B. 10.30pm-2.30am; £4.

Early Friday show 26th STATES OF EMOTION Includes entry to Backroom Boogie afterward

Saturdays 6th SIMPLE – House, dubstep, techno with BOORLY. 10-4am; £7 13th KINO MACHINE – Modern and classic indie. 10-3am; £4 20th DUB POLITICS – Dubstep. 10-3am 27th SELECTA – Drum’n’bass with MODIFIED / MOTION. 9- 3am; £6 Sponsored LIVE by

EBSEN & THE WITCH / THE RIFLE VOLUNTEER The Jericho Tavern Having just released a record on Too Pure’s singles club, The Rifle Volunteer come with a certain pedigree. Previously members of assorted hardcore bands they’ve traded their punk in for an ethereal indie shimmer, more reminiscent of undervalued 90s pop types Geneva or

Huck photo by Johnny Moto Radiohead’s more wistful moments. Featuring a guitarist sporting an unnerving tweed, tie and ‘tashe combo, they’re the ultimate in geek chic and as the set progresses it’s apparent they’re never going to stand up against the incessant chatter of the crowd. They’re musically too timorous and probably best listened to alone in the dark. It’s difficult to tell here whether their airily brooding songs come with any real substance. Ebsen & The Witch’s ghostly gothic folk-pop might suffer a similar fate if it wasn’t so intense and simply terrifies any yahoos at the back into silence. With an opening salvo that sees singer Rachel hammering a sparse drum kit with venomous intent, while unleashing an unearthly howl as guitar fuzz and electro pulses swarm around her, the Brighton trio, last seen here supporting The XX, are deceptively ferocious. Frequently compared to Björk and Bat For Lashes, there are undeniable traces of both those acts lurking in the shadows of Ebsen and the Witch’s sound, but really they hark back much further, the portentous, spidery guitars are pure Bauhaus, while Rachel’s haunting shriek reminds us of orchestral Aussie gothsters Dead Can Dance. As hallucinatory electronic noises swirl around her, Ebsen and the Witch could be the perfect soundtrack to Tim Burton’s new remake of Alice In Wonderland, and there’s more than a hint of Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’ about them too. The music builds ominously before dissipating with the eerie sound of the tide against a pebble beach, Rachel’s multi-tasking is almost as breath- taking as her voice; perhaps the most astonishing thing is the band manage to keep the tension alive for the entire set, exploring myriad shades of black along the way and keeping the crowd spellbound throughout. A little bit of witchcraft on a chill Saturday night. Ian Chesterton

WE AERONAUTS/ ALPHABET BACKWARDS/ MESSAGE TO BEARS The Wheatsheaf Outstanding ensemble WLTM song for meaningful relationship. and spraying swine flu serum, these are possibly the most liberating, Message To Bears are phenomenal musicians. Every bucolically plucked uninhibited, spring-loaded pop songs in Oxford’s history, and if you guitar, subtly controlled rhythm and delicious violin lick is impeccably haven’t heard them yet get ready to be swept up in the euphoria or sent phrased and beautifully balanced. On its own this is enough to make the back to your miserable little life even more enraged than before. set a joy, but how much better it would be if they had just one Band looking for…err…not sure. memorable composition. Every piece chugs and arpeggiates its way along We Aeronauts suffer partly from being uncertain what they are. Epic like a refined folky Mogwai – Implosions In The Sky, if you will – and pop? Folk shanty singalong? Belle & Sebastian delicacy? Stornoway we yearn for a soaring line from the violin to lift proceedings. Nick one eloquence? Here’s an idea: how about starting by becoming a band who from Sibelius or an Irish air or something, we don’t care, just give us a sound like they’re all playing in the same room, who have discernable reason for this astonishing band to perform. One for late night headphone tunes, and whose concept of “arrangement” doesn’t approximate “seven listening rather than a swamped Wheatsheaf, perhaps. people play simultaneously until we end up with an indistinguishable Band seeks audience for inconsequential frolics. VVVVGSOH essential!!! sonic hummus”? Perhaps it was the atrociously muddied mix, making As they’re a perky cross between Blur and Erasure, with two children’s them sound like they were playing in a wellington on Botley Road, or TV presenters on vocals and a keyboardist who ought to be in Air, perhaps it was an off night, but in a blind test we’d never believe this singing songs about low end High Street retail and duff sex, we’ll concede was the band we found so good at Punt. If you believe this is one of that Alphabet Backwards can verge on the infuriatingly wacky. But, by Oxford’s best bands, then you’ll believe the people in lonely hearts ads God, give us sugary, day-glo, shimmering pop songs like these and we’ll really are slim, attractive, charming and into Chekhov. forgive any peccadilloes. As catchy as Ricky Ponting covered in Velcro David Murphy LAURA VEIRS O2 Academy Although essentially a folk artist in old favourites, most heavily from the North American roots singer- her previous album, ‘Saltbreakers’. songwriter tradition, Laura Veirs Although varied there is a lot of likes to take her influences from consistency in her material; her everywhere. Tonight’s gig, to style is to marry a couple of showcase material from her new apparently disparate influences album ‘July Flame’, takes influences and weave them into a song where from a whole host of genres from any transitions or fusions are Ryan Adams-style alt-country to seamless, subtle and organic, as on Nada Surf-esque post-grunge. This the ‘Saltbreakers’ track ‘Pink is no surprise from someone who is Light’: it opens like a dirty Alice In the female personification of Chains number, before employing eclecticism; the sort of eclecticism electronic beats a la Beth Orton. you might expect from a woman If a criticism can be made, it is of who studied geology and Mandarin her slightly distanced approach to at university in Minnesota. her song writing. Although there is Laura delivers a substantial set warmth applied at suspiciously lasting around ninety minutes, regular intervals, it’s hard to get which for someone so heavily much sense of personality pregnant as she currently is, is no emerging from much of her mean feat. She is supported by a material. Her stage manner can be three-piece band who compliment equally as cool, despite dips into her tricksy genre-bending friendly chatter. It’s possibly a surprisingly well. Although not a reason why she has remained a naturally gifted singer, she is a critical darling, and failed to reach a gifted multi-instrumentalist; she wider audience. That said, Veirs puts on several metaphorical puts many of her contemporaries musical hats, and is as happily at to shame, and her technical song home plucking a banjo as she is writing expertise and variety keep with an acoustic or electric guitar. the wow factor ticking along just Although material comes mostly nicely. from her new record, she features James Benefield

VIV ALBERTINE / LITTLE ERIS / BABY GRAVY The Cellar Baby Gravy’s single launch for musical movement. The band’s ‘Not Waiting’ is not going to plan: guitarist and principle songwriter, The CDs have got the tracks in the Viv Albertine, joined their re-formed wrong order and drummer Zahra’s line-up last year, with Madonna just sprained her ankle. Undaunted, their biggest fan, but quit after two they give away the single and Zahra gigs, finding the experience just drums her way through the “awkward”. Tonight a couple of pain. This four-piece line-up is hopeful hecklers shout for some old more focused and less wild than the songs, but Viv’s clearly moved on. band’s original version, as well as She introduces tonight’s set as largely guitar-free. Singer Iona is still having an anti-Valentine theme, and the born show-off, and you wonder does seem almost obsessed with the whether they would amount to bittersweet power of love and much without her powerful, agile relationships. Backed by a small voice. They’re still a lot of fun but band, the songs are more fragile and there’s further potential in their thoughtful than expected, and futuristic, keyboard-led wackiness decidedly un-commercial. The result to unlock. is a somewhat poignant, even Next up, more lo-fi 80s electronic uncomfortable, atmosphere noodling from Cardiff’s Little Eris, compounded by a Robert Downey accompanied by her dancing mate Jr lookalike on keyboards glaring at and a sparse percussionist. the small audience. As with The Possessed of a haunting voice, the Slits, her guitar-work is sparing and songs are a little dark and understated, with some of the quirky inaccessible but intriguing enough, little runs that typified their sound. if suggestive of a good mushroom Clearly enjoying being back on stage season. after a long spell directing for TV and The Slits are best remembered for film, she’s been taken up by being the only, or certainly the first, Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace! all-female band of the first punk era label and a new EP is imminent. Just to break into what was a heavily don’t expect punk rock. male-dominated, even macho, Art Lagun photo: Harry Wade tempo, it’s safe to say the band tempo, it’s attention. never loses the crowd’s Add to this a cover of Orange and a reference ‘Rip It Up’ Juice’s to the Righteous Brothers’ ‘Unchained Melody’ at the end of ‘Precious Time’ and the result is a feverishly exhilarating set, both delightful and diverse. Lisa Ward MacKinnon, entertained no less) keeps us throughout. us by the hand from the lead The Empty Vessels 80s and take us to a southern states biker bar as imagined by a Hollywood exec – one full of non- threatening rednecks. What you get is some good, honest southern fried rock which lacks a real cutting edge, but is nonetheless impressive in its Despite their amps commitment to authenticity. melting during their first number, The Empty as you of adversity, soldier on in the face Vessels from Led their chops Taking would expect. Zeppelin and Creedence Clearwater Revival, it’s pretty hard to find fault with a band content to live in the past, beyond the fact that they’re content to live in the past. Occasionally they drag songs out beyond breaking point, but given that they’ve got a vocalist in Matt Greenham that can they get away with belt it out like John Fogerty, it. The rest of the band is remarkably solid too The Empty impossible not to join and it’s a bar stool and indulge in their world, pull Vessels heavily in some real bourbon liver killing– if only we weren’t driving. Sam Shepherd minute wonder out the haunting ‘Love You Better’. You the haunting ‘Love The secret of The Maccabees seems to lie in their grasp of brevity. Short, stabbing numbers are their forte, every number climaxing at around three minutes to ensure maximum impact and while there is a small amount of longing for them to pull an eight- of the bag just to mix up the Having spent most of the evening swearing at 20mph limit signs, lack of parking, road works and gaggles of students who seem to all be in search of a barrel full of chins we finally arrive at The Wheatsheaf and hope that we’ll be transported to a different place, anywhere but the Oxford we left outside. The Halcyons seem to be up for the task, but we’re not entirely sure we want to go where they As vocalist Emma de Lacey want to take us. emotes wonderfully with an almost professional About All assurance (that she reminds us of Julianne Regan is an added bonus), the rest Eve’s of the band seem to be intent on replicating the Wall ambience of a 1980s bar full of suits on The Halcyons are cruising say that To Street. down the middle of the road is something of an understatement; they seem to be terrified of wandering off to explore edgier options. When one half of the band seem intent on getting a little other half balance everything the grimy or gothy, out by going all Monkees on them. Still they do have a superb vocalist in Emma and the Thunderbird incarnation of Ian Paisley that Colin inhabits the keyboards (Oxfordband’s THE EMPTY VESSELS / THE HALCYONS The Wheatsheaf recent acclaimed ‘Wall Of Arms’ Of recent acclaimed ‘Wall album, which really bring The Regal Arcade Fire to life. Hinting towards and Maximo Park, before taking off in their own right as exhilarating rock anthems in waiting. Whilst at a slight risk of times there’s sounding similar to so many other indie bands, Maccabees’ poignant particularly lyrics save the day, Awards tour, the Awards NME

like ‘No Kind Words’ from their Words’ like ‘No Kind Nevertheless, it’s the newer songs, Nevertheless, it’s them as chart-topping classics. we could be forgiven for mistaking are propelled out with such force, waters commercially, tonight they waters commercially, seem to have failed to ripple the of arms. Whilst these older songs the crowd becomes a frenzied sea ‘Toothpaste Kisses’, during which ‘Toothpaste Your Rows’ and the much loved Rows’ Your Older fans are graced with ‘All In rightfully deserved. upcoming sell out tour as show simply confirms their final kick to the cocktail, tonight’s brass ensemble that delivers the Monkeys. Finished off with a frenzied revamp of the Arctic frenzied revamp of the something that sounds like a through each song, culminating in unbridled beats, they pulsate background. Mixing in with their background. Mixing in Doyle’s drumming linger in the drumming Doyle’s while Rupert Jarvis’s bass and Sam bass and while Rupert Jarvis’s other with effortless precision, flawless vocals, merging into each flawless vocals, merging heightened melodies over Orlando’s heightened melodies over Hugo and Felix White’s guitars add White’s Hugo and Felix efforts from the rest of the band. efforts from the rest of up a vocal storm, amid thunderous up a vocal storm, amid Frontman Orlando Weeks whips Weeks Frontman Orlando style in front of a packed house. style in front of a packed band command the stage Thatcher band command the stage forthcoming forthcoming warm-up show for their warm-up show consciousness. Tonight, however, a however, Tonight, consciousness. perimeter of wider public perimeter of seem to have lurked just below the seem to have The Regal The The Maccabees Up until now, THE MACCABEES THE photo by Sam Shepherd Sam by photo DEAD JERICHOS / THE BLACK HATS / THE SCARLETTS / NIGHT PORTRAITS The Chester Arms Not all of Oxford’s best music comes and that’s a shame because lyrically they’re armed with intellectual intent or a great – the bloke next to me is grinning like theatrical flourish. Tonight’s four-band bill a loon throughout ‘Fifteen At The Bus finds a keen-eyed sense of yobbism alive Stop’, while their cheery vigour papers and kicking, the night’s raw, punk spirit over any lack of subtlety. accentuated by the surroundings – a PA The Black Hats are the most musically having to fight its own small battle and a accomplished and melodic of tonight’s 876084 lack of proper stage that increases the bands but even they sound like they’re intensity of the band-crowd interface five- looking for a fight. Moddish urchins in the fold. The Chester probably hasn’t seen a mould of The Jam and The Who, they’re moshpit like this before, but you feel it’s strident enough to fit in at a punk party, perfectly suited to doing so a lot more in but with songs like ‘Just Fall’ and ‘We the future. Write Things Down’, they’re anthemic Night Portraits don’t seem to have yob-savants of pop’s highest order. changed an iota since we clocked them a Last month’s Nightshift cover stars Dead year ago – rough, ragged and raucous to an Jerichos kick in with tangled afro-funk almost pathological degree. ‘Otters Of rhythms, uptight post-punk twinkle and a Beirut’ is still screamed out with speed- spidery morass of guitars and the front freak zeal and they’re impossible not to few rows start to go bonkers. Everyone is get caught up in, but we wonder if they right in frontman Craig’s face and he’s can make this a real riot. right back in theirs, his voice broken and The Scarletts are possibly the coolest twisted by the sound system, the band’s looking young band in town at the moment, militantly clean-cut post-punk dance with a bassist who looks like Luna reduced to a riotously vibed-up noise Lovegood and a singer who might just have that’s fighting its corner on adrenaline fallen out of the space-time vortex from the alone. And when they finish, everyone coolest new wave club night in 1979. He’d wanders out into the night, meek and mild do himself a few favours to learn some as you like. Still Oxford after all then, but microphone technique: virtually swallowing for a few hours at least, a proper it means his words come out as distorted spit’n’sawdust sound of the suburbs. mush too often, especially through this PA, Dale Kattack

VIENNA DITTO / 1877 / SMALL MACHINE The Wheatsheaf If you like your scuzzy metal with added Small Machine, also hailing from grunginess and a primal Foo Fighting-style Aylesbury, 1877 (isn’t that the year the roar, then Aylesbury’s Small Machine is microphone was invented?) should really for you. Singer Sam Wadsworth, who be called 1982 such are the nailed-down We are looking to manage a new young, original looks like Marcus Brigstocke’s younger Depeche Mode influences bursting out. and ambitious band or singer songwriter. brother, teams up with parts of Bicester What I find most satisfying though, is, Please send a demo to: rockers Phyal, and the legendary Jim dispensing with the services of a drummer, Spunkle on bass, to pound out tight, clear they have instead added a wall of Johnny RADIATE MGMT air turbulence rock, that jostles the shit Greenwood guitaring, so that typical PO BOX 5038 out of us like we are Michael Flatley’s tracks like ‘Narcolepsy’ or ‘All Our CHECKENDON testicles. Caustic songs like ‘Corner Of Flawed Efforts’ become The Human The Eye’ and ‘Covered’ cavity search the League’s ‘Seconds’ by way of Sigur Ros OXFORDSHIRE room with gardening gloves and bad intent, and a fabulous hybrid genre is born. RG8 0AW and overall there is a deft flourish of There is enough buzz about Vienna Ditto [email protected] functional brutality. to bring people up from London tonight, Any song (‘I Am An Antagonist’) that but they don’t quite bowl me over. The Currently managing Stornoway, with previous A&R intones “No Future”, Dave Gahan-style, band are a Home Counties trio, in which experience with Willy Mason, Stereophonics, Daft Punk, Placebo, The Spinto Band over the click and spank of a computerised the dog-on-a-string scruffiness of Nigel industrial beat has got my attention. Like Firth on storming guitar, and Scotty Lawrence’s rampant jungle drums are both offset by Hatty Taylor’s swingout sister Records, CDs and metropolitan iciness. Its appeal to the slick, Hollyoaks, Q DVD Fair Magazine side of the Channel 4 industry is obvious, but I never got the Sophie Ellis-Bextor routine the first time out, and SUNDAY 14th MARCH while rockabilly numbers like ‘Long Way 11am-4pm Down’ and the stomping pop of ‘Shake It Down’ hit the mark, I would love a bit ROCK-POP-DANCE-GOLDEN OLDIES-INDIE- more Va Va Voom, as too often the band SOUL-TECHNO-HIP-HOP-JAZZ-LATIN-REGGAE- simply plays the songstress off the DRUM&BASS-GARAGE—R&B-DISCO-1950s- boards. 2000s. Brand new back catalogue CDs £4 - £7 Paul Carrera photo by Johnny Moto DR SHOTOVER (QC) Guitar Lesson One two, one TWO... TWO [skreeeee]... Harumph. Testing, testing... Ah yes, good evening [skreee]... it’s wonderful to be back here, at the East Indies Club Enormodome... [dee-duh dee-duh dee-duh]... Just tuning up the old acoustic guitar... [dee-duhhh... snap-PLINK]... Argh, bastard G-string’s broken, nearly took my bloody eye out! No, Merryweather, that is NOT AT ALL funny. You come up here and have a go... oh yes, of course, we’ve just heard your rendition of “The Streets of London”, haven’t we? Bloody awful it was too. What a marvellous idea these Open Mic Nights are – I DO NOT THINK. Load of old jockstraps, if we’re going to be brutally frank. But yet extremely, incomprehensibly popular. That is why the East Indies Club fund-raising committee, in its ineffable wisdom, has decided to start putting them on. “Overheads much lower... blah blah... easy to license... blah blah... goes down well with the Youngsters... blah blah... and where else on a Tuesday night could you hear a kazoo and mandolin duo?” etc etc. Now, when have I ever, EVER wanted to go down well with the Youngsters? Mm? And when have I ever, The guitar before... EVER claimed to like kazoo-and-mandolin-duo bollocks? Frankly I would pay good money to be brandishing my 1964 Telecaster Custom onstage right now... or indeed that star-shaped guitar I used to have when I was a part-time member of The Glitter Band. Let’s face it, Mr Les Paul and Mr Leo Fender went to all that effort to update the instrument – and now a lot of stupid kids with bad facial hair want to “go back to basics” and UNDO nearly a century’s worth of hard work! [Throws acoustic guitar onto stage and storms off]... [storms back]... Oh, and another thing – my favourite shop on the Cowley Rd has just closed, you worm-eaten ingrates... yes, that’s right, Videosyncratic, where a man could get a pie, a pint and a DVD for a fiver and still have change to cross the Channel! I AM NOT HAPPY! Next month: Dr Shotover Is Not Happy ... and after science Introducing….

Nightshift’s monthly guide to the best local bands bubbling under Telling The Bees Who are they? Purveyors of darkly crafted folk, Telling The Bees met at the Catweazle Club, the band coalescing around Andy Letcher’s song-writing – Josie Webber (cello) Jane Griffiths (fiddle, concertina) and Colin Fletcher (bass) all joined in quick succession. Although Andy (mandolin, vocals, English bagpipes) brings the songs and tunes to the band, everyone has a creative input and often the process brings unexpected results, with everyone coming from such different musical backgrounds. Andy cut his teeth in various drone- based tribedelic bands at festivals and road-protests. Classically trained Jane emerged out of local Irish folk sessions. Colin played in the Sonic Catering Career highlight so far: Band (making music out of making food). Josie played with the late Richie “Closing the very first Wood festival in 2008, with the entire tent singing Haines in Soma and with funk rockers The Conscripts, and has apparently along to our song, `Wood’. seen every major main stage gig at Glastonbury in the last ten years. And the lowlight: Telling The Bees have played gigs and festivals across the south of England, “Driving for three hours to the Gower peninsula to play to ten people in a and supported Three Daft Monkeys and Jon Boden. They have released two soggy gazebo in the pissing rain probably wins it.” albums, 2008’s ‘Untie The Wind’ and last year’s ‘An English Arcanum’, Their favourite other Oxfordshire act is: which was nominated for a Spiral Earth Award for Best Album in 2009. “The Brickwork Lizards.” What do they sound like? If they could only keep one album in the world, it would be: Theirs is a very traditional form of English folk music but infused with “`Authentic Music of the Snake Charmers of India’ by Igbal Jogi and Party.” darkness and a subtle psychedelic edge. Nightshift’s review of ‘Untie The When is their next gig and what can newcomers expect? Wind’ pitched the band as close to The Dirty Three and John Cale as to more “Oxford Folk Festival, supporting Bellowhead, on April 16th. Expect typical folk fare, mainly due to Jane and Josie’s superb string arrangements, haunting troubadour songs, funky folk rabble-rousers, angsty pagan paeans, while Andy’s warm, rich vocals bring his tales of working class protests, rustic and Andy bantering rude innuendo with the audience.” living and more pagan subject matter to life. Like all good traditional folk Their favourite and least favourite things about Oxford music are: music, they accept modern life without surrendering their old world appeal. “Favourite? Catweazle – consistently brilliant and quirky performances with What inspires them? consistently brilliant and quirky audiences. Least? Bring back the Zodiac!” “Folklore; the weird things that the English get up to at the weekend, from You might love them if you love: Morris dancing to witch-burning; the stuff that Frazer gets frothy about in Fairport Convention; John Martyn; Kris Drever; Magnet, Dirty Three. The Golden Bough. Oxford, with its trippy Alice In Wonderland vibe; Hear them here: colourful characters, history and stories.” www.myspace.com/tellingthebees

Whatever happened to… those heroes reference to magical kingdoms hidden in mysterious wardrobes. We liked them. WHEN? While the band’s origins went back to the start of the decade it was the arrival of Leigh on vocals that turned them into local favourites and saw Wonderland WONDERLAND at their peak. Bad management meant they turned down a series of record company offers before Luscious Peach stepped in. Despite the singles being WHO? well received the label decided against releasing the band’s album. With the Darlings of the local scene for most of the 1990s, Wonderland were a band in various members pulling in different directions the band disintegrated. constant flux. They formed in 1990 and split in 99 and the only two constants WHY? in that time were Richard Hobin (guitars) and Joal Shearing (bass). The original While Wonderland could be considered just another ‘nearly’ band, in Oxford at line-up came together in 1990 when school friends Hobin, Shearing, Simon least they were much loved and for a long time many on the scene believed Holmes (vocals), Piers Lawrence (drums) and Matt Featherstone (guitars) they were destined to go on to far greater things. While their legacy might not rehearsed together in a factory unit in Slough – opposite the building The Office stretch to much now, at the time there were few bands equal to them for sheer was supposed to be set in. Holmes was replaced first by Helen Marshall and then unadulterated pop pleasure and those songs that were recorded and released Leigh Witcher, with Stuart Hawe taking over drumming duties in 1993 and still sound as precious and otherworldly as they did back in the day Jason Coppock replacing Featherstone in 96 before being supplanted by Martin WHERE? Newton in 97. At their peak, with Leigh fronting them, Wonderland toured Joal and Stuart went on to form Theremin with Richard Walters, with Martin with Echobelly, played at the first Truck Festival and at Oxford Radio 1 Sound as their manager, before Richard went solo. Joal now runs the music at the City, signed to Tim Healey’s Luscious Peach label and released two singles, Wheatsheaf and is a pivotal figure on the local scene. Stuart moved to the ‘Children Of The Sun’ and ‘Kissing A Caribbean where he lives with his wife and Stranger’, as well as appearing on the 1996 family. Leigh is now a teacher in Oxford. compilation ‘OXCD’. Richard lives in Kidderminster and wrote a WHAT? book about his time with Wonderland, It’s The clash of Leigh’s glacial, ethereal vocals A Band Thing, which wasn’t published, for and the brooding, often ferocious guitar legal reasons. Martin spent his time post- noise made for an intoxicating form of break-up building a recording studio and gothic pop, at their sweetest, not far from playing keyboards in various pub bands The Sundays, all twinkling guitars backing until invited to join Witches. He claims not Leigh’s chirruping voice, but at their to have had sex since giving up playing heaviest they cannonballed like Senser, all guitar and holds the world record for powerhouse drums, overdriven guitars and membership of most internet dating sites Leigh singing like a songbird lost in a storm. without ever getting a date. ‘Falling Down’, their contribution to the HOW? scene-defining ‘OXCD’ and the single None of Wonderland’s releases are still ‘Children Of The Sun’ were perfect pop available, although there is a fan site at moments. Nightshift reviews of the band www.myspace.com/wonderlandoxford with came filled with suitably purple prose and a selection of tunes on it. DEMOSDEMOS Sponsored by Demo of the Month wins a free half day’s recording at Keynote. Call 01189 599944 to claim your prize and get special deals for local bands!

pathological degree. Along the way they DEMO OF sample both BBC Oxford’s Tim Bearder and Nightshift’s editor and have one track called `Gary Numan After All’ and they THE MONTH cover more bases in seven minutes than many bands will manage in an entire career. The pair claim that after Xmas Lights they EMPTY VESSELS wanted to take their math-core roots to a Last time we reviewed Empty Vessels, less more dance-orientated format, though we than a year ago, we concluded that their doubt anyone other than an electrocuted laborious classic rock and constipated speed-freak could even start to dance to Robert Plant-alike singer would best be this. dealt with by semi-automatic weapons and a good hiding from Beelzebub himself. So this new offering is little short of a TEMPLARS revelation. The late-60s / early-70s-styled Faringdon-based folkies who seem to be heavy rocking is still there; the singer still trying to follow in Stornoway’s bucolic sounds like Robert Plant, and initially at footsteps by the sound of this three-song least, for the first minute or so of ‘Blood demo. There’s a distinctly similar air of On The Streets’ we feel another critical romantic wanderlust about the singer and kicking might be due, sounding a bit too the way they weave in the harmonies, but much like a cross between Reef and Ocean opening track ‘Nameless’ sounds too Colour Scene, but really, this rocks. Like earthbound: earnest and overwrought when the proverbial bastard. Frontman Matt it should be airy and uplifting. ‘Alias’ is Greenham leads the charge from the front – lighter, the vocals softer, a high tenor, while an unreconstructed rock warrior and we the track is a simpler acoustic thrum, less like to think he’s wearing a leather tied to rock’s constrictions, but it still waistcoat whilst unselfconsciously tends to wander off-melody without really bellowing and howling sky-touching getting anywhere interesting and the sax anthems like ‘It Moves Me’. Best by far of break at the end seems chucked in simply the four songs here is ‘Take A Hard Look’, to stop the whole thing simply dying out. all Led Zep riffery, Hendrix-y psychedelia They pick up considerably, though, with and a touch of Rush’s operatic prog, each ‘The Other Side Of The Wedding’, the bar hammered down as hard and solid as emotional heart of the song starting to the last. Some will say it’s just old make itself felt and the singer finally fashioned; others will call it timeless, but coming into his own. Templars have a way lost in another era it might be, Empty to go to emulate the mighty Stornoway but Vessels, like Desert Storm, simply take a even over the course of this demo they classic sound, give it a bare excuse for a show they’re perhaps heading in the right polish and kick it out as fresh and alive as direction. you could hope for. MUNDANE SANDS Well whoopee doo, there’s a band name to COLOUREDS inspire untethered party abandon. But Coloureds are made up of Matt Mooney again we’re being too hasty. Mundane and Nick Brewer, both formerly of local Sands might cite The Velvet Underground industrial hardcore spazz-metallers Xmas and Joe Strummer as primary influences Lights. They were previously described in but this is nothing like that might suggest. these very pages as the sound of “A closing Instead ‘Wishing Well’ is a brooding time punch-up involving a pissed-up campfire folk-country amble that pitches in Cyberman” and that description still stands somewhere at the point where Chris Rea as the pair riot through three tracks in and Robbie Robertson sat down to toast seven minutes of mental electronic marshmallows with Dire Straits back in the mayhem, sounding like an ADHD-afflicted days when they were actually quite good collision of Aphex Twin, Pendulum, Daft (yes, it’s true). Alan Foulkes leads ably Punk and Skinny Puppy, hammering hard with his softly gravelly voice and and heavy, if arhythmically, on the mad- discreetly used accordion, while Rachel sane door of musical normality. Each track Hughes adds sweet, soft backing vocals. plays skittish musical rabbits, switching ‘Setting Sun’ finds the band trying to get a from Terminator-like grinding one minute bit funkier, while clinging on to the vestiges to rapid flitting the next, their self-designed of folk and ending up stuck between Del circuit-bending keyboards and Dalek voices Amitri and The Waterboys, indulging in keeping everything restless to a unnecessary rock histrionics that spoil the old-time r’n’b rhythm and, given the song’s six-minute duration, could easily be snipped MANJAM MONKEY out completely. The same tripwire greets Manjam Monkey’s Myspace blurb suggests ‘Mundane Sands’ itself, only Alan and they might be a previously unimagined Rachel’s harmonising leavening an over- hybrid of Nick Drake and Red Hot Chili egged arrangement of what could be a fine, Peppers, but the reality is as far from that simple song. But the closing ‘Rathmullen proposition as you would expect. They Boy’ is an absolute gem – Rachel given full start off promisingly enough with ‘Kill The reign on lead vocals, the band allowing Nation’, apparently an attack on reality themselves to give in to those old world folk show pop stars, a prairie ramble enhanced temptations and coming out sounding like by 80s-style funk bass that oddly ends up June Tabor’s dalliance with The Oyster sounding a bit like Love & Rockets, but it’s Band. There’s a full album on the way, all downhill from there. Firstly there’s the apparently, and Mundane Sands should be a utterly pointless ambient guitar instrumental band well worth investigating further. called ‘Melancholy’ whose only notable feature is a passing resemblance to John Williams’ version of ‘Cavatina’; then there’s THE COURTYARD STUDIO SEAN STEWART ‘Prozac’ (oh come on, simply everyone’s A one-song demo here from the local singer, necking Ritalin these days, daaaarling…), PROTOOLS HD2, MTA 980 CONSOLE 32/24/ entitled ‘Are You Out There?’, which would which appropriately enough induces a hazy 24, OTARI MTR90 MK2 24 TRACK TAPE be a good question to ask Sun-Ra or Captain numbness in the listener and then we’re MACHINE, 2 TRACKING ROOMS, SUPERB Beeheart, but maybe not someone whose really moping with the sullen, soporific CONTROL ROOM WITH GOOD SELECTION Myspace site finds him described as “A jangle that is ‘Never Mind The Rain’, the OF MICS & OUTBOARD GEAR, + MIDI bohemian Noel Gallagher” even if it’s by band sounding like they’re weeping silently FACILITIES (INC LOGIC AUDIO, AKAI local gutter jazz crooner and Nightshift fave into their weak lemon drinks and we just S1000, OLD SKOOL ROLAND ETC.) Desmond Chancer. And for the first minute know it’d be the kindest thing to do to get Residential facilities included. or so it sounds like the only “out there” that the bolt gun out and end this misery before might apply to Sean’s doleful strumming it deepens any further. www.courtyardrecordingstudio.com and moaning is that it sounds like someone PHONE PIPPA FOR DETAILS dying slowly out there in the freezing cold. ON 01235 845800 But, hark! What’s this? Why, it’s Mr THE DEMO Chancer himself lending his earthy operatic growl to proceedings and suddenly it’s a DUMPER grime-covered gospel lament, heavenly choir DUMPER and all. Lovely. And as it drifts off in a fading mist of collapsing piano, sha la la MARIALAGUA choruses and odd Beatles-y backwards bits, If the name is a bit of a tongue-twister it’s we conclude that yes, in its own sweet way, because Marialagua are an Argentinian band, it is a little bit out there. in love with English rock music from the 60s and 70s, who have relocated to Oxford and are currently in the process of translating all FOR YOUR EYES their lyrics into English. We simply can’t Blast beats, shredded guitar riffs, ogre-ish imagine a bunch of English tango aficionados backing vocals and a song called ‘Love Like moving to Buenos Aires and singing Leeches’ – this is the sort of demo we everything in Spanish, so respect is due always look forward to. The only problem there. What we find difficult to stomach is is, the female lead vocals simply don’t the hotchpotch of lumpen rock clichés that sound like they belong in this band. They’re seeps endlessly from Marialagua’s just too… well, nice. A bit conversational. Myspace: the T-Rex boogie of ‘Loner’ is It’s like listening to Avril Lavigne having a passable if rudimentary, but ‘De Cristal’ is chat on the phone to a mate while playing a genuinely painful as the singer sounds Killswitch CD in the background. And we’re increasingly constipated and the band heap sure she sings “I’m pastry” at one point. shovel-loads of stolen riffs on top of each The band are seriously tight and pretty other, demolishing any semblance of ferocious in a typically metalcore fashion character as they do so. With crushing and as they up their ante the singer sounds inevitability ‘Yya’ is a rocking power ballad like she’s having to try harder and harder to with the intense desperation of a man stuck keep up and we’re shouting “Get nasty!” at at the back of a long queue for the loo while her and willing her to crack up and go on trying hold a giant poo in. There’s a vague some demon-possessed screamfest and nod to ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ show us that, yes, she’s really an evil devil but in the end it’s just torture. The whole harpy in disguise. By the time For Your thing becomes increasingly overwrought, Eyes get to their last number, ‘Judgmental’, desperate and lacking in cohesion as it goes she’s showing signs she might just get there on and by the sixth or seventh song we’ve and everything gels far better. For the given up because it feels cruel and intrusive immediate future, though, we suggest a solid to dwell on such musical pain. What’s diet of bourbon, fags and a couple of My Spanish for “Please stop. Now”?. Or “A Ruin albums. That should do the trick. single to Dignitas, please”?

Send demos for review to: Nightshift, PO Box 312, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1ZU. Or email MySpace link to [email protected], clearly marked Demo for review. IMPORTANT: no review without a contact address and phone number. No more than four tracks on a demo. If you can’t handle criticism, please don’t send us your demo.